I heard about Vanessa Hua’s A River of Stars over on Books and Bao, and I was instantly intrigued by the pregnancy-tourism premise. Scarlett, a pregnant xiaosan, goes to a birth center to ensure American citizenship for her future son. It made sense that her very wealthy and very married boyfriend, Boss Yeung, would want his baby born with US citizenship, and would want to send his pregnant girlfriend far away from his wife and legitimate daughters.

Without revealing too much from this complicated web of loyalties, the story expands to include Daisy, a pregnant teen who escapes the birthing center with Scarlett and hopes to find her boyfriend again. Back in China, Boss Yeung enlists the help of his powerful frenemy, Uncle Lo, to track down his missing mistress and baby son, but even powerful friends can’t solve Yeung’s secret medical issue. And Mama Fang, former mistress of the birthing center, won’t let money escape. Her determination to wealthy makes more sense when her background is revealed.

There are so many layers of connection, loyalty and secrecy in A River of Stars. And there are so many secrets. I gasped out loud when I realized who Vivian’s father was, but at the same time, it made everything else make sense. Of course Uncle wouldn’t want her to marry his son! Of course Taitai Yueng would turn religious! The motivations of even the minor characters are explored in this novel.

This is a compelling story of reinvention, with Chinese characteristics, showing characters reinvent themselves in a new city or with a new profession but keeping the same relationships and the same secrets.