Atlanta, 1890s: 19-year-old Jo Kuan is a talented milliner but she’s let go quite unexpectedly because some patrons of the shop are uncomfortable with her. Old Gin, her adoptive father, tells her she should go see the family he works for. The lady of the house hires her as a lady’s maid for her daughter. The job keeps her occupied, because the lady in question tries to lose her every time they go for a ride so she can meet her paramour.
Old Gin and Jo live in the basement of a printer’s. Hidden away, so the printer and his family don’t know they’re there.
At night Jo is Miss Sweetie, an agony aunt with progressive ideas. Pretty soon, all of Atlanta is talking about Miss Sweetie’s witty advice and her columns about social issues.
I love this book, and after reading it for the first time a few years ago, I’ve pretty much read all of Ms Lee’s books. I love the style, the wit and the characters – I think it’s important to know how the Chinese were treated in the United States in the past. For instance, even though Jo was born in Atlanta, she was not considered American until 1898. And Chinese people were not allowed to become American citizens until 1943 which is quite appalling!
This book also deals with suffrage, women advocating for equality – however, sadly that equality didn’t apply to women of colour! Some of the other characters, women of colour, want to get involved in the suffragette movement and are told their concerns are not women’s issues. Aside from being annoyed with my fellow white women in the past in this book, there was one progressive lady that hid her past – a past that involved Jo’s biological parents.
Fabulous read!
Many of the Reese’s Book Club choices I have read so far have been excellent reads. So much so that when I see the Reese’s Book Club sticker, I will purchase it.
Read for the Read Between the Lines Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 5: Reese’s Book Club Choice
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️