The Downstairs Girl by Stacy Lee

This is a story of 1890’s Atlanta, with a Chinese-American heroine. The book opens with Jo being fired for being too opinionated so you know you have a pungent hero. Jo later works as a ladies maid by day and, by night, she’s an advice columnist who grows to engage all of Atlanta with her columns. But there are vicious gangster fights, horse races, ladies gossip and more in this book! Jo’s life is certainly circumscribed due to her heritage and it is painful to see the emergence of Jim Crow at this time as well. Fascinating history, great characters, and also very funny! (Jo is a wit.) Read it now!

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