The Girls of Good Fortune - by Kristina McMorris

About the Book

Includes recipes, a reading group guide, an author Q&A, and excerpts from The ways we hide and Sold on a Monday.

Book Synopsis

A Washington Post Must-Read

BookBub's Best Historical Fiction of 2025

The New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Ways We Hide shines a light on shocking events surrounding Portland's dark history in this gripping novel of love, lore, and betrayal.

She came from a lineage known for good fortune...by those who don't know the whole story.

Oregon, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of Portland's notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival--being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment--she fears that far more than her own fate hangs in the balance.

As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets could prove deadlier than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface.

Review Quotes

"A captivating blend of intrigue and heart, celebrating the resilience of a woman determined to reclaim her life. Richly layered, this novel reminds us that even in the darkest places, light and love find a way to endure." -- Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee

"Celia's strength of character shines, as she seems to bring out the best in people she has no good reason to trust. McMorris' latest brings fresh focus to real atrocities committed in the burgeoning American West." -- Booklist (Starred Review)

"In this page-turning tale of a young, half-Chinese woman's quest for survival in the late nineteenth-century, anti-Chinese American West, Kristina McMorris delivers a story of resilience and power." -- Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Personal Librarian

"In this page-turning, propulsive read, McMorris shines a light on a forgotten corner of America... A gripping tale of family, identity, and redemption that I simply couldn't put down. One of McMorris's best yet." -- Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

"In 1888, Celia Hart wakes up imprisoned in a dank room with only one thought: She must find a way to escape. In an alternate storyline set three years prior, Celia's past unfolds...As the past catches up to the present timeline, Celia faces significant obstacles as she seeks safety, self-sufficiency and maybe even justice." -- The Washington Post

"McMorris deftly weaves a tale about identity, love, and resilience. This poignant story of courage and defiance will please fans of Kristin Hannah and Lisa Wingate." -- Library Journal

"McMorris is a master in the art of storytelling, weaving a heart-pounding adventure of freedom and survival. With vivid characters and a history long buried now unearthed, The Girls of Good Fortune brings legend to life. A must-read you don't want to miss." -- Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Story She Left Behind

"Novels like this are why I read historical fiction. A thoughtfully crafted, intimate, and deeply felt tale... McMorris once again kept me up all hours reading to learn how her heroine would find justice...and love." -- Janie Chang, Globe & Mail bestselling author of The Phoenix Crown