“Money can’t buy happiness… but it can buy a decent fake.”

 

Clever, fast paced, and all around fun.  This is the perfect book to throw in your pool bag.  

 

Ava was always a very driven woman.  But as a stay at home mom, she couldn’t find her stride.  Just as she reached a breaking point, her college roommate returned from China with a designer handbag on her arm…. the first of many couture handbags to be handled by these two Chinese American women as they build a global counterfeit handbag enterprise.  

 

This book is a total page-turner that is high in entertainment value.  I felt strong Crazy Rich Asians vibes but with a heist type storyline.    

 

Chen created morally gray characters that I couldn’t help but root for, even at their most conniving.  And the storyline delivery felt very fitting.  As Ava talks to the detective recounting the details of their scheme you get a sense that you know her fully.  Yet do you?

 

But it may have been the look into the world of counterfeit goods that was the most revealing part of the book.    

 

If you love couture fashion mixed with a dose of drama and deviousness, you’ll enjoy this book.  

 

I enjoyed mixing the print and audio versions of this book.  Catherine Ho’s narration on the audiobook is exceptionally executed.  

 

Thank you to @williammorrow @bibliolifestyle and @librofm for the #gifted copies.

 

Also of note, Counterfeit is the @reecebookclub pick for June!