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The Leftover Woman
Jasmine Yang arrives in New York City from her rural Chinese village without money or family support, fleeing a controlling husband, on a desperate search for the daughter who was taken from her at birth—another female casualty of China’s controversial One Child Policy. But with her husband on her trail, the clock is ticking, and she’s forced to make increasingly risky decisions if she ever hopes to be reunited with her daughter.
Meanwhile, publishing executive Rebecca Whitney seems to have it all: a prestigious family name and the wealth that comes with it, a high-powered career, a beautiful home, a handsome husband, and an adopted Chinese daughter she adores. She’s even hired a nanny to help her balance the demands of being a working wife and mother. But when an industry scandal threatens to jeopardize not only Rebecca’s job but her marriage, this perfect world begins to crumble and her role in her own family is called into question.
The Leftover Woman finds these two unforgettable women on a shocking collision course. Twisting and suspenseful and surprisingly poignant, it’s a profound exploration of identity and belonging, motherhood and family. It is a story of two women in a divided city—separated by severe economic and cultural differences yet bound by a deep emotional connection to a child.
This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with WILLIAM MORROW/HARPERCOLLINS.
Book club questions for The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
Think about the title: The Leftover Woman. This is a Chinese phrase referring to women who are unmarried by their late twenties. How does the title inform your reading? Who is “leftover”? Are there multiple meanings?
Think about Jasmine’s experiences as an undocumented worker in New York City. How does this impact her relationships with different classes and her employers, even as she rubs shoulders with them?
How would you describe the differences in these characters’ attitudes toward motherhood?
The Leftover Woman Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the The Leftover Woman discussion questions
“At once a hugely atmospheric and suspenseful mystery and a compelling exploration of motherhood and belonging that packs a profound emotional punch. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book long after I’d read the final page.”
— Lucy Foley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List and The Paris Apartment
“A heart-tugging exploration of love, belonging and the meaning of family.”
— Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The It Girl
“Jean Kwok delivers again with The Leftover Woman—a magnetic meditation on secret histories, motherhood, love, and how we show up for each other in the most surprising of ways. A beautiful, propulsive story!”
— Laura Dave, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me
“A haunting, emotionally powerful story about motherhood, family, oppression, immigration, and power. Kwok is an impressive talent whose books resonate with deeply felt emotion and expertly crafted plotting.”
— Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Pieces of Her and the Will Trent series
“Jean Kwok has done it again. Her newest novel will make your heart race as it follows two determined women: one whose choices have been limited, and one who has the world at her feet. Jean’s heroines cross languages, borders, and cultures to collide in a confrontation that leaves blood on their hands. As gorgeous as it is thrilling, The Leftover Woman tells a story of identity, ambition, and love that makes us look again at who we are and who we're forced to be. It asks us: How far would you go to get what you want?” — Julia Phillips, bestselling author of Disappearing Earth
“The Leftover Woman is an unforgettable, beautifully written page-turner that’s about so many things at once: a courageous woman fighting to escape an abusive husband, a mother’s love and sacrifice, and how culture and language dramatically change the lens through which we are seen and evaluated by others. Jean Kwok uses an intricately layered plot to ensnare and mesmerize us with fierce, complex characters. I absolutely adored this novel, from its tantalizing first pages to the poignant ending.”
— Angie Kim, bestselling author of Miracle Creek
“What a page-turner! The Leftover Woman asks aching questions about family and love even as it hop-scotches across cultures and classes, bringing both tragedy and hope. A marvelous read.”
— Gish Jen, award-winning author of The Resisters
“An utterly riveting novel about two very different mothers, The Leftover Woman is not only an absolutely propulsive thriller but also a profound exploration of poverty and privilege, oppression and escape, desire and the self. This spellbinding narrative of immigration and hidden identity proves in so many ways that love has no boundaries.”
— Lan Samantha Chang, author of The Family Chao