While I enjoyed this book, it took about halfway through for me to get fully drawn in. Some of the scenarios seemed a little far-fetched, but it was a fun read and I loved the setting!

I have to admit, i found the pacing a little slow and some parts didn't seem to work for me but overall i liked the character, Gemma. I also found the story around elements of Chinese history interesting.

This book was a fun story of a family reuniting and a young girl finding riches, love and long-lost family. Some parts of the book moved along slowly and I was less impressed by the main characters' romance than I was with the story of Gemma finding a long-lost relative. The surprise at the end of the book made it worth the read and I will be back for the next one.

-Genre

Contemporary Young Adult Romance

-About the author (from https://dianamaauthor.com/)

I’m a Chinese American author who writes YA and MG books that feature kickass Asian American heroes. Growing up as a Chinese American girl, these were the kind of characters I hungered to find in books. I believe that it’s important for all kids to recognize themselves as the heroes of the books they read and that diverse books help us create a better world. I have two wonderful kids of my own and want them to grow up with books that represent them.

-Your description

Gemma Huang is trying to make it as an actress in Hollywood, when she gets a break: the lead in a rom com remake of Madame Butterfly. It films in Beijing, the one place her parents told her she can’t go.

Now she’s lying to her parents, running from paparazzi due to mistaken identity, falling for a guy she just met (not her type) and realizing making movies is harder than she thought (How can she convince the director that his ideas about the Chinese culture are wrong?)

-How it made you feel

Interested in learning more about modern Chinese history.

-Favorite part

There is mention of Chinese soap operas. This reads like I imagine one must be!

-One-word description

Secrets

-Would you recommend?

Yes! Fluffy sweetness, with HEA on multiple levels, while also having heft. Exploring stereotypes and identity, recent history and ramifications that remain in current times, I love that Ma gives readers something substantive to go with this romance. This would pair nicely with A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow.

This was a laugh out loud super cute heartwarming story. Heiress apparently is one of those books that will make you giggle and the world melt away.

Right off the bat, I enjoyed Gemma's character. She was relatable and I came to care about what happened to her. Along with liking Gemma, I enjoyed all of the Chinese history that was thrown in. What made my rating drop? The romance was a pass along with all the drama with Alyssa.

While I did enjoy parts of this, there were things I could have done without and I still have so many questions that weren't answered.

Gemma's family has resisted her requests to visit China, but when she lands on her big career break and it just happens to include filming in China, she jumps on the chance. From the moment she steps foot off the plane, she is mistaken for a popular and very wealthy influencer, something she initially shrugs off as just one of those weird things in life. However, it does lead to some unusual interactions and may also be the clue to finding out more about her family.
Not willing to let the mistaken identity distract her from her ultimate goal, she throws herself into the film, though the script is sub-par and has some cringe-inducing lines. Not everyone working on the film is eager to hear her opinions, but thanks to the director's guidance, Gemma pushes back and states her case. While she's dealing with the film dilemma, she may also be falling for Eric after leaving behind her not-so-great boyfriend Ken in the States.
Everything works out a little too perfectly for Gemma, but if you go into this story wanting just a fun and quick read with a happy ending, you'll get exactly that. There is quite a bit of jumping around, which can make the pacing feel off in sections and somewhat disconnected. However, I still enjoyed the story as a fluff novel with a pretty cover, so I'm rating it 2.5 stars.

Well this was an entertaining and solid read. I loved Gemma! But it did feel a little disjointed in places and there was a lot going on. I will read the next one in the series for sure.

This was such a sweet book that i had a good time reading. What i liked with this book is that we were kind of following two different storylines with the acting and character development being one story line and then the family mystery being the other story line but they both interconnected. It did take me a little bit to get in to as i felt at the beginning while she was still in america i think it was it seemed to be all over the place but once we got to china and into the storyline more i really began to enjoy it. I liked the chinese aspects of the book as we got to learn a bit about the culture as Gemma learnt about her own family. I really liked the friendship and bond that grew between Gemma and Alyssa. I like that they grew into and acknowledge that they are more then cousins and more like sisters which was lovely to see. I really enjoyed the representation that we got in this book, we have chinese heritiage and lgbt representation. I really enjoyed the romance we got come the end of the book, Eric was so sweet and caring even though their were things like a family feud in the way.

Heiress Apparently filled the Crazy Rich Asians void in my heart. I loved this book!

Gemma, a young debut actress has just landed the movie role of her dreams...an updated rom-com based on M. Butterfly. She travels to Beijing to film this role alongside an Asian director she has admired all her life. It seems perfect in theory, right? Not quite. Her parents haven't told her anything of their past, except that she must never, under any circumstances, visit Beijing. They don't know that's exactly where she's headed.

Once Gemma arrives, she realizes she looks EXACTLY like social media influencer superstar Alyssa Chua. She meets Alyssa, and her family's past begins to come to her. Gemma must face this past, her parents, and be true to herself if she ever wants a thriving career as an actress.

I loved this book! It was so much fun, full of lush descriptions of China (and the food! I need the food!), and I loved reading about Gemma's experience on set. It was a true delight, and was the bit of light reading that got me over my reading slump.

As we are facing Asian prejudice in America due to Covid-19, the author's note really put this book into perspective for me, and was an important part of the story. Thank you for including it!

Content: There was little to no profanity. I don't recall seeing one swearword, and I was looking for it. There are a few kisses. I'd call this one a clean read! Great for middle school and up.

I truly enjoyed this book! The main character had such a great arc and the romantic interest was so swoon worthy! I also love the ending and how things wind up between the main character and her family!

Heiress Apparently is a sweet new contemporary novel centering Gemma's relationship with her family--previously shrouded in mystery that evaporates when she travels to Beijing.

I loved Gemma and Alyssa's relationship. They're strangers at the beginning of the book, but as they learn more about their family they grow closer and it's so adorable. As they acknowledge, they're more than cousins--they're sisters. They share a glamorous heritage which Gemma knows little about but Alyssa is eager to share. I'm really hoping the next book in the series is about Alyssa! The ending moments especially... I don't have much to say other than it just made me feel all the warm and fuzzy feelings. I was just so happy for Gemma, because I'd grown to care for her so much throughout the novel.

I hesitate to call this found family, because technically Gemma is learning about her blood family, but it operates on a similar premise. So much of the novel finds Gemma bringing people together and expanding her family from the small group she'd had in the US. I also enjoyed her narration through the hard time she faces as a Chinese-American and not feeling fully accepted by either community. This really resonated with me because as an Indian-American, I feel the exact same way. Not Indian enough for some, not American enough for others. It can be so difficult to be part of a diasporic experience, and even more so in Gemma's case where she's got this pressure on her as an actress to represent millions of people on the silver screen. I couldn't imagine how tough that must be--but I don't have to, since Ma narrates it brilliantly in the novel.

There's also a bit of a romance! It's not quite a Romeo-and-Juliet situation (if you want R&J set in China please check out These Violent Delights) but there IS a family feud and many complicated feelings. Love interest Eric is interested in sustainable fashion (to the benefit of our girl Gemma--I would LOVE to see fan art of her in that suit!) and protecting his sister Mimi from being manipulated by Alyssa (no spoilers, but that's so far from the truth of what's going on). He's so sweet with Gemma, and just all-around amazing. I totally shipped them, and always hoped she'd break up with her jerk of an LA boyfriend to get with Eric instead.

Overall, I'm giving Heiress Apparently 4/5 stars for general adorableness and also being a wonderful permutation of the modern-royalty trope. Will definitely be recommending this one in the future.

While this book is listed as YA and I’d definitely one that teens and young adults would like it is also a book “grown ups” would enjoy. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It tells a great story while also dealing with some deeper issues with families and relationships. I was happy to see it is the first in a series- this is definitely a story I would want to continue.

This book was just okay. It’s not bad by any means but I’ve definitely read other books featuring royalty that kept me interested the entire time.

DNF this book sadly.
I made it through 45% before I just quit.
The story just dragged so much for my liking.

The writing was not my favorite. For most of what I read I couldn’t tell it was meant to be a YA book.

I also wasn’t a fan of the main character.
I’m very disappointed as I really thought I would love it.

I received an copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

DID NOT FINISH! Stopped at 32%, which makes me REALLY sad. I was SO excited for this novel and ecstatic when I was approved, then I get this disgusting subtle hate filled novel that was unrealistic by any means and I have to be done. Too many good books in the world to waste time on a novel that spews hate. But hey, where the hell is the cancel culture for this novel? All the other ones people highlight and complain about, but it's okay in this one? I don't think so.

I have to say, everyone got so up in arms with Deadly Education making a remark about dreadlocks and NOT specifying any race, yet this novel has a line that said, "why are white people so obsessed with Asians hair?" and THAT was okay?! Because that is ACTUALLY a racist statement, certainly didn't hear any hoopla about that comment though...And again as I continued to read, more racist comments about "what is wrong with white people pronouncing names?" And another side comment about "white people" at the concert with friends. Why are these all okay but people freak out about so many other comments? THESE ARE RACIST. Hate is hate is hate and that's enough for me to not want to continue.

With the actual story, no real bomb was dropped when we find out her connections in Beijing, the title ruined that one for everyone. Then we have a pretty sheltered 18 year old who seems to be acting like she is worldly and in her 30s or something. Plus, NO director on the planet is going to listen to a super junior actress who has never done ANYTHING before and start giving direction of how she thinks the storyline in the film should go.

Beyond the hate this novel was spewing, it was just unrealistic and disappointing.

What a cute, fun read! I really enjoyed the story and all the characters. Wonderful! It had all my favorite aspects of an Asian Drama with a happy ending.

I really loved this book! It was American Royals meets the Parent Trap, and so fun. I loved the characters and how fast paced it was.

This was a stunning story focusing on Chinese culture and shedding light on those Asian stereotypes. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and could definitely see a lot of people, including myself, wanting to see more!

Heiress Apparently was absolutely one of the most fun books I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. This book is basically Crazy Rich Asians for a Young Adult audience, but it does Crazy Rich Asians 100x better. It is obvious that Heiress Apparently is heavily influenced by Crazy Rich Asians and other popular culture, but instead of eating into the stereotypes of rich Asian culture, this book uses Asian culture to destroy those stereotypes and almost breaks the fourth wall to tell us about those stereotypes and how to avoid them, which I really liked. Despite this, the book stays light, airy and fun as well as having some harder-hitting, more emotional moments which I think offers the audience a greater variety.

The main characters in this book had a variety of personalities, from wannabe actress Gemma, whose feminist ideals are shown without being overbearing, to renowned Chinese social media star Alyssa, whose character growth and development are impeccable in this book.

There was a lot of development and growth for each character in this book which is something I really enjoy, seeing the characters pure emotions as they experience new situations. I also really enjoyed how the author, Diana Ma dealt with LGBT rights in China and showed the more progressive side of China that isn't often seen in Western media and really addresses that.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Heiress Apparently and I'm very grateful to ABRAMS Kids, Amulet Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.