Did a quick re-read of this fun novella because I really couldn't remember much about it from when I first read it. After a few pages most of it came back to me and it was a delight to read again. It's bright and snappy with wit to spare. Jade cracks me up and her Ravi is worth a swoon or two. I do wish our h/h pair had had more time together on the page. It's almost like he's an after-thought to her "educational" endeavors (haha). The story is, of course, about Jade so I'd expect (and want!) to spend most of my time with her. I'm not suggesting Ravi need be another main character but I swear there was more of Hardie than Ravi and, for me, I would rather have had more Ravi. That small disappointment aside this is such a fun read and highly recommended. ( )

I truly enjoyed it! An interesting read, so well written with a combo of touchy anecdotes. Looking forward to read this author's other works.

You can read my full review here:
http://www.sholee.net/2016/03/mpov-perilous-life-of-jade-yeo.html ( )

This is an enjoyable novelette about a Malaysian Chinese girl who went to London for school and stayed for adventure. It's set in the 1920's (which was refreshing: I don't think I've read something from that era that wasn't focused on a white protagonist) and is told in diary & letter form. (The entries are all long, though, so there were plenty of times I forgot that it was meant to be a diary.) At its heart, this story is a historical romance, but there's plenty of humor in it as well. Definitely worth the read. ( )

{Stand-alone. Fiction, set in England 1920} (2012)

This was a short, sweet novelette about a young Malaysian Chinese girl living in London in the 1920s because she wants to have adventures. It is written as a series of diary entries beginning in August and ending with a letter dated April 1921. As an expat currently living in Singapore I could relate to her. ('"I should have gone home and tried writing for the Straits Times' - that's our local/ national newspaper.)

It opens with an entry with Jade, whose Chinese name is Geok Huay trading barbs over afternoon tea with her rich but stingy aunt.

"No more absurd than Bee Hoon," I said. "I've always wished I could name a daughter of mine Bee Hoon."

A vein in Aunt Iris's temple twitched.

"It means 'beautiful cloud'," I said dreamily. "Why doesn't Uncle Gerald ever call you Bee Hoon, Auntie?""

Although the author's website emphasises that it does, indeed, mean 'beautiful cloud', in Singapore 'bee hoon' is rice vermicelli noodles.

Jade keeps body and soul together by writing articles for fashion magazines and reviews for the Oriental Literary Review which is run by her friend Ravi. When she writes a damning review about a book by well-regarded, well-connected author Sebastian Hardie, Ravi is worried about the backlash if he publishes it in his journal.

"But I shouldn't think anyone of importance will read it."

Ravi's mouth quivered.

"Thank you," he said. "It's good to know you're excited about being published again in the journal."

Jade is surprised to receive an invitation from Sebastian after the review is published. She decides to go to the party (on my birthday - if I had been alive then) and finds him 'good-looking, in the style of a Romantic poet living in the Lake District' and decides to be 'properly bad'. (At this point, I must admit, her adventures caused me some raised eyebrows. And I found references to 'the worm' a bit jarring; I thought she could have used a better word.)

I liked this book; the humour appeals to me and I highlighted so many quotes on my Kindle that I had to stop for fear of highlighting the whole book.

4.5 stars ( )

Why set a story in the 1920s and have zilch period feel. This tale was a little bit clever, but not as clever as it thinks it is, and it has very little originality. ( )