Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma

“My parents didn’t rage or threaten. It was much worse than that.” I drop my voice to a theatrical whisper. “They were disappointed.”
Gemma Huang is a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Illinois, having abandoned plans for college to pursue a career in acting, much to the dismay of her parents. Now she’s living with three roommates in a two-bedroom hovel, auditioning for bit roles that hardly cover rent. Gemma’s big break comes when she’s asked to play a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly filming for the summer in Beijing. When she arrives, she’s stopped by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realizes she may as well be the twin of one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing. Thus kicks off a summer of revelations, in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from—one her mother would conceal from her daughter at any cost.

This was a pretty smooth read. The plot is paced well, and there were enough twists to keep me interested. Though the story wraps up a little too cleanly, it was an overall wholesome read. The characters have multiple layers, and feel realistic. Gemma flounders, a lot. But, honestly, so would anyone, if they had to deal with everything that she’s going through. I absolutely cannot believe that Gemma had time to go on all these adventures while shooting a movie. She’s a literal superhuman. Heiress Apparently talks about representation in Hollywood, women in the workplace, the art and history of China, all without getting preachy or heavy (The Always be My Maybe references were my personal favorite!).
The reason why Gemma’s parents fled China, though, is insanely heavy. As is the reason behind the family’s feud with another socialite family. It really felt out of place with the breezy attitude of the rest of the book. Though it was probably intended to add weight to the story and tie in China’s history, it really stuck out like a sore thumb.
However, the blend of cultural appreciation and ability to point out issues in government is one that is unique to second generation American immigrants. Second gen immigrants grow up in their parent’s culture, but are imbued with the American government values, which makes us likely to appreciate the culture and history of our parent’s homeland, but be able to see the flaws in its society and government. Heiress Apparently strikes and maintains this delicate balance throughout the novel.
Though it’s got a few bumps in the road, I’d recommend Heiress Apparently for its fresh take on Asian American women in Hollywood and its dramatic family saga.