meghan_readsbooks 's review for:

Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh

4.25

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for the review copies of Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh. 

This read surprised me—in the best way. What starts off a bit choppy and slow settles into a compelling, K-drama-style story filled with wealth, secrets, and emotional depth. Ahdieh mixes high-gloss family drama with thoughtful reflections on identity, ambition, and the pressures of being the child of immigrants—all while delivering a twisty, addictive plot that doesn’t lose its soul. Michele Lee’s audio narration is a standout, perfectly capturing the characters’ complexities and the story’s polished, gossip-laced tone (plus a mystery narrator that adds a unique flair). 

Though the book leans into contemporary fiction’s current love affair with therapy as a growth device, Ahdieh manages to complicate and question that reliance while never losing sight of story. Definitely recommend if you’re craving Crazy Rich Asians with a darker edge—and a heroine you’ll root for.