by Susie Yang
Published on November 3, 2020 by Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 1982100591
Format: ARC
Pages: 368
Genres: Adult, Contemporary
Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you’d never know it by looking at her. Raised outside of Boston, she is taught how to pilfer items from yard sales and second-hand shops by her immigrant grandmother. Thieving allows Ivy to accumulate the trappings of a suburban teen—and, most importantly, to attract the attention of Gideon Speyer, the golden boy of a wealthy political family. But when Ivy’s mother discovers her trespasses, punishment is swift and Ivy is sent to China, where her dream instantly evaporates.
Years later, Ivy has grown into a poised yet restless young woman, haunted by her conflicting feelings about her upbringing and her family. Back in Boston, when she bumps into Sylvia Speyer, Gideon’s sister, a reconnection with Gideon seems not only inevitable—it feels like fate.
Slowly, Ivy sinks her claws into Gideon and the entire Speyer clan by attending fancy dinners and weekend getaways to the Cape. But just as Ivy is about to have everything she’s ever wanted, a ghost from her past resurfaces, threatening the nearly perfect life she’s worked so hard to build.
Filled with surprising twists and offering sharp insights into the immigrant experience, White Ivy is both a love triangle and a coming-of-age story, as well as a glimpse into the dark side of a woman who yearns for success at any cost.
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A Compelling, Lyrical Story
The Highlights:
- Ivy is such a compelling character
- Lyrical prose
- A story full of stories
- A slow building story that doesn’t disappoint
Here’s the thing: White Ivy is not the kind of book I would normally pick up. When I read the synopsis though, something just grabbed me. This turned out to be foreshadowing of sorts, because this book grabbed me. Right from the start. And then it never let me go.
I adored Ivy. I don’t know if I was supposed to, I mean, she’s not a good person. But she’s so complex and I just fell in love with her. She made a bad decision? I didn’t care. The way she was written, the way her story was presented, I couldn’t help but care deeply for her character. I wanted more, every detailed that was revealed about her was welcome. So yes, while I didn’t like her choices most of the time, I liked Ivy. All the way to the end. And while the other characters were good, they paled in comparison. This was Ivy’s story, and for me, she was the only one who mattered. It made for a different, a unique reading experience, and it was so much fun.
The writing in this book was gorgeous. Every sentence was beautiful. They was the story was told, unveiling bits at a time, occasionally jumping back to reveal something from Ivy’s past, it was all so natural and lyrical. I was engrossed from the beginning, and though I never felt that intense urge to keep reading that comes with some books, I did find myself picking this book up every time I had a few spare minutes. I read it in bits and pieces over the course of two days, and when I wasn’t reading my mind still kept going back to the story. It was a quiet sort of excitement, and it suited White Ivy so well.
I’ve seen a few others mention in their reviews how slow Ivy’s story is. And to an extent, I agree. I can see some readers getting bored and giving up. But I implore you to just keep chipping away at this book. It’s soft and quiet and it builds and builds toward its ending. And while I definitely saw the ‘twist’ coming from very early on, it was still an excellent ending, because I didn’t feel that it was about the twist. It was always about Ivy, about her choices and decisions, and that’s what always compelled me to keep reading, regardless of any level of excitement or how slow the story moved along.
I’m shocked by how much I loved White Ivy, and I’m so glad I did. It tells me that I need to expand my reading habits, explore new genres, which is something I’ve wanted for a long time now. If you enjoy character driven stories, morally gray decisions, lyrical writing, or a slow burn, this book is for you. I can’t wait to see what Susie Yang writes in the future, and White Ivy is definitely a book I’ll be recommending over and over.
About Katie
I'm a twenty-something aspiring writer who really, really needs to get back to revisions. I've been reviewing books since 2014, and am determined to somehow make stories my day job. I truly think that every book out there contains something good and is meant for somebody.
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