Paper Wife

Posted on by

From the bestselling author of Yellow Crocus comes a heart wrenching story about finding strength in a new world.Southern China, 1923 Desperate to secure her future, Mei Ling s parents arrange a marriage to a widower in California To enter the country, she must pretend to be her husband s first wife a paper wife.On the perilous voyage, Mei Ling takes an orphan girl named Siew under her wing Dreams of a better life in America give Mei Ling the strength to endure the treacherous journey and detainment on Angel Island But when she finally reaches San Francisco, she s met with a surprise Her husband, Chinn Kai Li, is a houseboy, not the successful merchant he led her to believe.Mei Ling is penniless, pregnant, and bound to a man she doesn t know Her fragile marriage is tested further when she discovers that Siew will likely be forced into prostitution Desperate to rescue Siew, she must convince her husband that an orphan s life is worth fighting for Can Mei Ling find a way to make a real family even if it s built on a paper foundation Free Read [ Paper Wife ] Author [ Laila Ibrahim ] For Kindle ePUB or eBook – kino-fada.fr I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review Mei Ling s parents arrange a marriage to a widower in California To enter the country, she must pretend to be her husband s first wife a paper wife Set in early 1920 s, California, Mei Ling is forced to protect her fragile marria...This was a wonderful book I really enjoy Laila Ibrahim s writing I loved the first book I read by her, Yellow Crocus This story has similar pacing.I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story Some of them werewell rounded than others, but I still enjoyed hearing their stories A couple of questions were left open, so you don t know everything you want to about all of them, but you know them all well enough I would have given the story 5 stars except for a couple of minor thi This was a wonderful book I really enjoy Laila Ibrahim s writing I loved the first book I read by her, Yellow Crocus This story has similar pacing.I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story Some of them werewell rounded than others, but I still enjoyed hearing their stories A couple of questions were left open, so you don t know everything you want to about all of them, but you know them all well enough I would have given the story 5 stars except for a couple of minor things towards the end that I didn t love view spoiler I wasn t a fan of the ghost and I didn t really like that Mei Ling killed Jack Wong, even if it was to save Siew I was wondering how much her gold coins are worth and wondering if she would pay him off with those coins, which were meant to help her children I don t take issue that he died I m just not thrilled with the way that whole situation played out hide spoiler These issues were minor to me and I would still recommend this story to fans of the genr...It is difficult to review a book like Paper Wife because there is just so much there and any review would have to include spoilers and I am not that kind of review writer typically So I am trying to think of a way to encourage you to read this lovely book without giving anything away If you read the blurb on Goodreads, it does just that, so I encourage you to NOT do that I was so glad that I didn t look at that until I wasthan halfway in and already knew some of the stuff that they sp It is difficult to review a book like Paper Wife because there is just so much there and any review would have to include spoilers and I am not that kind of review writer typically So I am trying to think of a way to encourage you to read this lovely book without giving anything away If you read the blurb on Goodreads, it does just that, so I encourage you to NOT do that I was so glad that I didn t l...This book drew me in from the first page and didn t release me until the last even then, I didn t really want it to end.The novel begins in 1923 in China Already, that has my interest as I love historical fiction books with the added bonus of life and traditions in China thrown in I was hooked.Mei Ling s sister was to become the paper wife of a widower with one small son whom he has yet to meet who will be living in California When her sister becomes very ill just before she is to leave This book drew me in from the first page and didn t release me until the last even then, I didn t really want it to end.The novel begins in 1923 in China Already, that has my interest as I love historical fiction books with the added bonus of life and traditions in China thrown in I was hooked.Mei Ling s sister was to become the paper wife of a widower with one small son whom he has yet to meet who will be living in California When her sister becomes very ill just before she is to leave with the widower, Mei Ling s parents tell her she must stand in for her sister to preserve the family honor after making a promise to a matchmaker Mei Ling finds herself bound to a man she doesn t know with a small child to boot She marries Kai Li and will use the voyage to California to learn all about his fir...Interesting but a very slow read in my opinion I felt the characters needed a lotdepth This is my least favorite read by this authorI loved this book This book deserves all 5 Stars I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down A beautifully written story Laila, you ve got a winner with this oneWith immigration currently being a hot button issue in the United States and many other countries around the world, the publication of this book could not betimely Although this story begins ninety years ago in 1923, there are many alarming similarities between the discrimination faced by immigrants during that time period and the discrimination faced by those who have chosen to emigrate to the United States in modern times Mei Ling was happily living out her young life in China when the With immigration currently being a hot button issue in the United States and many other countries around the world, the publication of this book could not betimely Although this story begins ninety years ago in 1923, there are many alarming similarities between the discrimination faced by immigrants during that time period and the discrimination faced by those who have chosen to emigrate to the United States in modern times Mei Ling was happily living out her young life in China when the matchmaker arrived at the door of her parent s home A suitable match had been found for Mei Ling s older sister and the wedding date was set But, as fate would have it, her sister fell ill and her parents told Mei Ling that she would have to take her sister s place This deception early in the story is only one of many deceptions and white lies that occur throughout the book It is obvious that author Laila Ibrahim did her research for this book as the facts and traditions writte...This book is exactly what comes fo mind when historical fiction is mentioned The time, place, and circumstances engage the mind while the characters and the challenges they face navigating that landscape capture the heart There is quite a bit of cultural historical content, but the book still flows smoothly and rather quickly I read way past my bedtime night after night because I was so engrossed in Mei Ling s story This was my first Laila Ibrahim book, but I seriously doubt it will be my la This...Five stars all the way.Eighteen year old Mei Ling and her sister Jah Jeh are living in a village with their family It is 1923 and times are hard as China rebounds from famine, war and disease A matchmaker has been employed and a husband has been found for Jah Jeh who is destined to travel to California with her merchant husband and his orphaned son Bo Unfortunately she is stricken with a fever and Mei Ling must take her place as the matchmaker will not refund her fee Such is the desperation Five stars all the way.Eighteen year old Mei Ling and her sister Jah Jeh are living in a village with their family It is 1923 and times are hard as China rebounds from famine, war and disease A matchmaker has been employed and a husband has been found for Jah Jeh who is destined to travel to California with her merchant husband and his orphaned son Bo Unfortunately she is stricken with a fever and Mei Ling must take her place as the matchmaker will not refund her fee Such is the desperation of the family that they may never see their daughter again and she may provide much needed help from her new position.Mei Ling travels to Hong Kong with Kai Li and from there by boat to San Francisco Mei Ling has assumed the identity of her sister to deceive Kai Li On his part he...Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review This was a fascinating and beautiful read about a small part of American history that I knew nothing about.Meh Ling is a Paper Wife forced into a marriage to a Gam San Haak a Chinese man who lives in California He needs a new wife to replace the one who died, leaving behind a small child Meh Ling will lose her family, her country and her name to this new life but she has no choice, to refuse will bring shame Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review This was a fascinating and beautiful read about a small part of American history that I knew nothing about.Meh Ling is a Paper Wife forced into a marriage to a Gam San Haak a Chinese man who lives in California He needs a new wife to replace the one who died, leaving behind a small child Meh Ling will lose her family, her country and her name to this new life but she has no choice, to refuse will bring shame to her family.So she embarks on a sea voyage from Hong Kong to California, making friends along the way and becoming a surragote mother to a orphaned 6 year old girl who s Uncle is bringing her to America for a new life This tiny band of women and children provide love, friendship and strength to each other during the boat trip and subsequent internment at Angel Island, waiti...

Paper Wife
  • 04 December 2018
  • Paperback
  • 298 pages
  • 1503904571
  • Laila Ibrahim
  • Paper Wife