Diana Ma

When budding actress Gemma Huang flies to Beijing to star in a film of M. Butterfly, she is mistaken for a notorious socialite, kicking off a series of revelations her parents had carefully concealed from her.

Heiress Apparently (Daughters of the Dynasty)

Shareca

I love the style of this book and the representation. I thought the voice and tone were just fantastic from the beginning. It did take me a while to read this one, as I kept losing interest in it. I don't know exactly why, but maybe the setting was something I was into. The whole "Hollywood" setting in YA stories can be a bit of a yawn since that is all we see on television nowadays. However, the representation was fantastic. I missed the romance, I didn't have that aspect which is why I wanted to read it, but it was a good read. I have to say, this is one of the few that I regret not finishing in one sitting. It did have a lot of what I expected and wanted, aside from the lack of romance.

Alice Myles

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy

Initially, I wasn't entirely sure how to feel about this book. It felt a little immature for a book that really could have been new adult with the age of the characters. I come from a YA background and prior to this year, I read almost exclusively YA contemporaries so I don't know if I've just outgrown the genre or if this book just wasn't written well in that aspect. I found a lot of the characters fairly lacklustre despite their opulence and generally didn't care much for the plot. It was still an enjoyable read and while it took me a while to really get into I found myself really enjoying it by the end. I loved the relationship between Gemma and Eric though, that was definitely the stand out for me and I found myself reading mainly to get to more of their scenes. I'd possibly consider continuing with this series as I'm interested to see where the story goes.

Campbell Berry

I liked this book. It had a really unique plot and I loved the relationship between the characters. I did wish we had more scenes involving filming the movie, because those were my favorite. The ending also fell a little flat for me.

The epic first novel in a sweeping series following the romantic lives and intrigues of the fictionalized descendants of a Chinese empress--now in paperback! Behind every great family lies a great secret. There's one rule in Gemma Huang's family: Never, under any circumstances, set foot in Beijing. But when Gemma, and aspiring actress, lands her first break--a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly, which just so happens to be filming in the Chinese capital--Gemma heads to LAX without looking back. It's an amazing opportunity for her burgeoning career, and she'll get to work with her idol. Of course, there's also the chance of discovering just exactly why she's been forbidden from entering the city in the first place. When Gemma arrives in Beijing, she's instantly mobbed by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realizes she may as well be the twin of Alyssa Chua, one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing. Thus kicks off a season of revelations and romance in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from--one her mother would conceal at any cost.

Heiress Apparently

Simone Rhodes

Actual rating (2.5/5)

The writing was subpar and felt quite disjointed and cringey at times to me. I didn’t care about the characters at all - there wasn’t any emotional connection. But there were parts of the story I enjoyed such as the historical presentation about Chinese culture and the approach to sensitive issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and racism.

Celia Adams

I'm so excited to know this will be a series!! I really liked this book, too me even when I read contemporary romance I prefer there to be more emphasis on character growth and discovery than romance, and this has the perfect balance for me!!

Jane Krauss

Another doppelgänger story. It's an interesting narrative, but I didn't connect with it. 
The main character accepting a role in a film that sounds like the Asian version of Yentl. Her boyfriend decided to not be exclusive with their relationship during her three-month filming. Why is that his first thought? If my boyfriend did that to me, I wouldn't like that at all; I think I would break it off straight away.
The Parent Trap reference was exactly the way I thought it would go. It wasn't a surprise, and it seems to take forever to be revealed. I like the book than hate it; it is great, then it is super repetitive. That is how I began to think of this book. At the beginning of the book, there is a lot of focus on Gemma's acting, and it seemingly got lost with family drama. 
I had hopes that this book would better. It makes me nervous to read Crazy Rich Asians. This book made me want to keep reading, not because I couldn't put the book down but because I wanted it to be finished to get the whole story in a quicker, less frustrating way.

Navya Adipudi

The first book in an epic and romantic YA series following the fictionalized descendants of the only officially recognized empress regent of China 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.

Heiress Apparently (Daughters of the Dynasty)

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