HEIRESS APPARENTLY

Eighteen-year-old Gemma Huang lands her first major acting role—and in a film co-directed by her idol, veteran actress Eilene Deng, no less.

She hops on the plane to Beijing for filming with only a twinge of guilt for breaking her parents’ cardinal rule: never go to China, and especially not to Beijing. Gemma’s always wondered what’s kept her parents away from their homeland, but she only begins to understand the extent of their secrets when she’s nearly mobbed at the airport. Turns out Gemma looks identical to Alyssa Chua, a Chinese socialite and fashion influencer—and the cousin she never knew she had. According to Alyssa, Gemma’s mother was banished from their affluent family years ago after stealing a priceless Tang dynasty painting. This revelation stuns Gemma, who, in addition to family drama, also has to contend with a film script full of tired stereotypes and a White co-director skeptical of her talent. Light historical context around the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square protests lends weight and realism to the plot, as does commentary about Asian American representation in Hollywood, mainly presented through Gemma’s conversations with Eilene and her struggles to demand a more nuanced treatment of her film character. Readers will also enjoy Gemma's will-they, won’t-they flirtation with handsome Eric Liu, whose family has had a decadeslong feud with the Chuas.

Soap-opera–worthy twists are grounded by ties to significant events in contemporary Chinese history in this meaningful debut.