Reviews

(2.75)

overall this was a fun read. gemma grew a lot as a character and it was super fun to see. Eric and Gemma were also p cutie.

what brought the rating down ig was the execution of the secret family history and how gemma was characterized early on in the book >.<

overall the book was fun and I really like the idea !!

asteries's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

neminaf's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

librarylizzie's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

veecaswell's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Gemma Huang is a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Illinois, having abandoned plans for college to pursue a career in acting, much to the dismay of her parents. Now she’s living with three roommates in a two-bedroom hovel, auditioning for bit roles that hardly cover rent. Gemma’s big break comes when she’s asked to play a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly filming for the summer in Beijing. When she arrives, she’s stopped by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realizes she may as well be the twin of one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing. Thus kicks off a summer of revelations, in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from—one her mother would conceal from her daughter at any cost.

I do really appreciate Diana Ma’s style, she has a really nice voice throughout this book and with this book being own voices, of course this book has references that make this book feel genuine and originally told with little things dotted in that make this book feel authentic and Gemma is introduced well along with her friends and date.

However it does feel like everything is moving at a pace that feels strange. I do feel like in some aspects this book could be longer and sometimes it could be shorter - which is confusing I know! I feel like there’s no room for Gemma to grow and this book needs to explore that but also it move so fast in the first chapters with everything happening all at once.

A book at the beginning of a series with a lot of potential, Heiress Apparently is a good read with a lot of care dealing with issues such as racism and LGBT rights and the history that weaves into the book is good, the history especially when it came to her family which I feel is where the book really got going.

(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).

alongreader's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

This book will fill your Rich Crazy Asians pangs. It's well written, the characters are great, there was only a very small bit of people not telling each other things...inside the story, there wasn't too much of it.

I liked Gemma. She was awesome, going for what she wanted, and even when she backed off for a bit it was just so she could come back stronger. I was pretty sure what was going to happen with that suit, and it was even better than I hoped for when it paid off.

I'll be back for the next book. But knowing me, I'll have forgotten the characters by then!

More...