Good fortune

Vincent and Jade Chen and their five daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia, live in a small apartment on Essex Street in Manhattan. Not only are the Chens a close family, the entire Chinatown community watches out for each other, for good or bad. When out-of-towners Brendan Lee and his friend Darcy Wong purchase the beloved but rundown Greater Chinatown Neighborhood Youth Recreational Center without clear intentions, Elizabeth steps up to protect the space for her friends and neighbors. Sparks fly between these strong-willed individuals, adding a little heat to everyone's life. Readers looking for a new, entertaining, and contemporary perspective on Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice will be thrilled with Chau's debut. Each of the key characters displays their strengths, weaknesses, and sense of humor as they confront cultural expectations of older and younger generations of Asian Americans, while also embracing current views on education and employment and navigating relationships. Janeites will love the creativity of Chau's updated approach, and fans of romantic comedies will want to see this as their next favorite television series.

Chau's witty and entertaining debut puts a contemporary spin on Pride and Prejudice in New York City's Chinatown. Elizabeth Chen, the second born of the large Chen family, feels nothing but pride for her community. So when her realtor mother, Jade, secures an offer on a rundown local recreation center from business partners Darcy Wong and Brendan Lee, who say they hope to "clean up" the neighborhood, Elizabeth is furious, fearing the men really mean to strip the area of its identity in an inauthentic makeover. Elizabeth sets out to stop the stoic, pompous Darcy, even while her meddling mother plays matchmaker. Once Elizabeth starts to see Darcy's layers peeled away, however, she's forced to balance her desire to protect her community with the simmering romantic tension building between them. Chau nails the characterization of her leads, who are as charismatic as they are flawed, and hits enough familiar plot beats to please Austenites while still delivering some surprises. With sharp dialogue, a vibrant backdrop, smart explorations of gentrification and family duty, and, above all, an endearing central romance, this should win Chau many fans. Agent: Isabel Kaufman, Fox Literary. (July)