On my visit to Paris last year, I made a stop at Galleries Lafayette because I really wanted a YSL Kate. I didn’t end up buying the bag — my brain and my bank account were in cahoots and talked me down — but one thing that stood out was just how big a market luxury handbags were.
Don’t get me wrong. I did know people lost their minds over these, but it was at the tax refund line with all the tourists and their little bags from the Guccis and Louis Vuittons of the world that it became real in my eyes.
Counterfeit took this one step further and made me realize just how big a market for the fakes can be as well. It captivatingly explores the motivations and consequences of this multi-billion dollar industry, all through the lenses of two women who are not what they seem at the outset.
Read on to find out what I thought of this Reese’s book club pick.
Note: While there are no outright spoilers in this review, some hints may reveal to you the direction of the story. Skip this review if you want to go in to the book not knowing anything beyond the synopsis.
About Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen
Ava is a Chinese American lawyer who did all the right things in life and is still unhappy. With a smart doctor husband and an adorable toddler, she should, by all means, be happy. However, her distance from her husband keeps growing, and her son Henry is finding it challenging to get into any pre-school being in his terrible twos. She’s also left her high-paying lawyer job that she didn’t enjoy anyway to take care of Henry.
Enter Winnie, Ava’s old college roommate from Mainland China who’d abruptly up and left uni back in the day. This time around, she waltzes in promising Ava a life of independence and fulfilment thanks to a highly successful counterfeit luxury handbag business. Though initially reluctant, Ava eventually gives in and gets in on the scheme. What happens when Winnie once again abruptly leaves with the cops on their trail and how Ava handles the heat forms the rest of the story.
My review
From the synopsis, Counterfeit may seem like your usual con artist story. Boohoo, a gullible mom got swept into a life of glitz and glamor before her eventual downfall. Except…nothing is as it seems in this captivating read.
Kirstin Chen has mentioned in interviews that she set out to write this novel wanting to burst the “model minority” myth and she definitely delivered. Ava and Winnie are both leads who defy stereotypes and challenge assumptions anyone — and this includes us, the readers — may form about them as we go through the book.
The novel starts slow but surprises you multiple times, making it suspenseful and engaging. The first part is written in the form of Ava’s confession to a detective, except this is one-sided and not a conversation. She’s quite vulnerable as she divulges her problems with her marriage and the toll motherhood is taking on her. At one point, while she’s recounting one of Henri’s meltdowns at school, I let out a deep sigh, fetching me some weird looks from other commuters (oops?)
The reader can’t help but feel for her and her emotional turmoil, and hope she gets off with a lighter sentence. To masterfully pull this off while at the same time subverting expectations is a testament to Chen’s plotting and writing prowess.
Speaking of, the writing style is vivid and Catherine Ho’s spectacular narration beautifully brings the story to life in the audiobook. The writing brings out the emotional impact in every single part of Ava’s confession and I for one loved it!
Overall, Counterfeit is a snappy, fast-paced novel that’s perfect to devour over a weekend (like I did!) or choose as a book club read. It will definitely flip any assumption you’ve formed on its head and hopefully, you love it as much as I did.
That’s all!
Have you read Counterfeit? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!