Aspiring actress Gemma Huang has the opportunity to really hit it big working with her idol and taking on a role in an updated version of M. Butterfly filming in China. But her parents have forbidden her from traveling to her ancestral home which means she'll have to keep her casting a secret while convincing them she's still in California. Before long, Gemma starts to get hints as to why her parents don't want her in Beijing in the first place and it's a story of international intrigue she can hardly believe.

Like a lot of other readers it would seem, I was really excited by the premise of Heiress Apparently but ultimately found the execution to fall a bit flat. The most glaring issue for me came down to the pacing, which seemed to be largely driven by the distribution of plot points and lackluster prose. Despite the relatively low page count, I found myself again and again struggling to get through pages of Heiress. As other reviews have pointed out, the title effectively giving away the "twist" of the book may also have had something to do with this. It was difficult to feel motivated to read on and find out what happens next when the title already gave it all away. One thing that kept me reading on was not even the book itself, but rather the sequel, which goes back in time to explore Gemma's mother's past.

As far as narrative structure goes, the book operates as books should, pacing aside. Gemma experiences ups and downs and ultimately some character development aided in part by her idol-turned-mentor. She meets a boy and, naturally, falls for him. Refreshingly, Gemma starts out with a boyfriend and their relationship's questionable future adds some interest, as does Gemma's relationship with her new-found cousin and romantic interest's sister.

Heiress Apparently was just okay for me and I recommend checking out reviews from Chinese-descended readers for evaluation of the elements specific to identity in the book.

Wow. This book is just, wow. One of the best books I’ve read, and definitely top 10 in my YA reads of all time. Gemma is such a wonderful heroine, and the other characters are the perfect complement. Their journeys to find themselves, accept themselves and each other, and just love, is extraordinary. The events of Tiananmen Square are something I remember vividly from my teen years, and play an important part in this story. I cannot wait to read more by this author!

Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley

I stayed up until after 3:00am reading this straight through. It's a fun rom-com that has a bit of a family mystery twist. The movie making aspect is interesting and the romance is sweet. It's the proper amount of unbelievable for a romantic comedy. A little bit, but not too much. It's a book that made me smile and decide that I didn't care if it was a little far-fetched.

This is a lovely summer read or book to pick up when you need a few giggles and sighs.

Well this was an entertaining and solid read. I loved Gemma! But it did feel a little disjointed in places and there was a lot going on. I will read the next one in the series for sure.

Almost all the mysterious questions was answered. I just can’t believe her grandpa would cause all these trouble just keep away Gemma’s mom and dad. The ending of the book was sweet. Overall the book was good.

This book needs more love. A Chinese-American actress travels to Beijing for a movie against her mother's expressed wishes. Gemma was to never visit her parents' country. When she arrives, she starts to find out why. Dark secrets are hidden in their long lost family. Sprinkle in a little tiny bit of romance. The secondary plot line of the stereotypes in the movie she is filming as she has to learn how to stand up for herself if she ever wants to be the person she wants to be.

The characters were FLAWLESS. Of course somethings are going to be coincidental, it's a book. But they were all so full and rich with their own stories and opinions. The pacing was fantastic. Never a dull moment but nothing was rushed. Honestly, more people HAVE to read this book. It's fantastic.

I loved the end result of this book (and I actively teared up in some big scenes at the end), but overall, I ended up being very frustrated while reading. It takes a while for the plot to kick in at the beginning: the first three chapters essentially are just info dumps to lead into the story and, while stuff technically happens, nothing really happens there, you know? It was incredibly frustrating. Until Gemma gets the movie roll, it’s not that interesting. Her roommates, while fun characters, are barely there the whole novel and feel more like plot devices and representation checks (especially to horn some LGBTQ+ rep in there, which is crazy and unnecessary if you’ve read the rest of the book). And don’t get me started on Ken. I honestly think you could cut him out entirely and the book would be much stronger. All that character growth Gemma goes through can be done without him. The more important themes of this are the ideas of family and cultural identity. That’s where the heart is. That other stuff was simply filler; unneeded and, as a reader, unwanted. But when the book focuses on Gemma’s identity and her growth as a person, it hits the nail on the head. I loved reading the Chinese history and finding out about her own family’s convoluted past. It might be my addiction to Asian dramas that kept me in this story! Overall, 3.5 stars rounded down for a padded plot.

Diane Ma’s Heiress Apparently is a delightful first book in a series that I know my students won’t want to put down. I craved hearing more from Gemma, our entertaining, self-assured protagonist as she navigates her burgeoning acting career, revelations of her identity, and discovering her voice. I know that my students would connect to the realistic portrayals of Gemma’s friends, relatives, and acquaintances. I look forward to adding Heiress Apparently to my classroom bookshelf and the inevitable fight to who can check it out next.

Trigger warnings:

Spoiler

car accident, homophobia (challenged)

Diversity: Chinese American MC, a majority of the cast of characters is Chinese. There is an f/f relationship as well.

I had a lot of fun reading this book! I really liked the story, the main character as she slowly tries to uncover her family's past and loved seeing her grow, too. A fun, entertaining read overall :)

Thank you to the publisher for granting me an e-ARC through NetGalley. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.

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