Sophie Wan, a Wharton student, has published her first novel, writes Kristen Hunt for PhillyVoice.

The novel is titled, “Women of Good Fortune,” and it’s about a heist that takes place inside a ritzy Shanghai wedding. It follows the journey of three friends — Lulu, Jane, and Rina — as they attempt to steal the gift money from Lulu’s upcoming wedding.

Each of them seeks to delay parenthood to continue their careers and address their insecurities.

Through their characters, readers will learn the Chinese term, sheng nu, which translates to “leftover women.”

The label refers to women over the age of 27 who are unmarried, which is the case for Rina.

“I was really fascinated by the concept of the leftover woman in China,” said Wan. “I think a lot of it is relatable because, well, I’m Chinese. A lot of my friends are Chinese American. And I think around our age, like late 20s, early 30s, we start getting a lot of pressure from our parents around being married and getting settled down.”

Wan began writing the story in 2021, and hopes to write more. 

On March 21, Wan will be involved in an author event at the Barnes & Noble on Chestnut Street in Center City.

Read more about Sophia Wan’s inspirations and cultural references in her new book in PhillyVoice.

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