The Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel

The Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel – 429 pages
ARC from Lake Union – Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for an honest review

Book Blurb:

In Japanese-occupied Shanghai, two people from different cultures are drawn together by fate and the freedom of music…
1940. Aiyi Shao is a young heiress and the owner of a formerly popular and glamorous Shanghai nightclub. Ernest Reismann is a penniless Jewish refugee driven out of Germany, an outsider searching for shelter in a city wary of strangers. He loses nearly all hope until he crosses paths with Aiyi. When she hires Ernest to play piano at her club, her defiance of custom causes a sensation. His instant fame makes Aiyi’s club once again the hottest spot in Shanghai. Soon they realize they share more than a passion for jazz—but their differences seem insurmountable, and Aiyi is engaged to another man.
As the war escalates, Aiyi and Ernest find themselves torn apart, and their choices between love and survival grow more desperate. In the face of overwhelming odds, a chain of events is set in motion that will change both their lives forever.

My Review: 4 stars

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The Last Rose of Shanghai by Wiena Dai Randal was a educational and wonderful escape into Shanghai during the1940s. If you’re a long-time follower of mine, you know that I read a lot of historical fiction. This was an era I’ve read a lot about but never had I read what it was like in Shanghai during this time. Who knew that Shanghai was a safe harbor for Jews escaping Nazi Germany? Certainly not me and I’m so glad that the author introduced me to this part of world history. 

Aiyi is a complicated, strong and smart woman, which make her unique as most women have the desire or are encouraged to stay at home to raise the kids. Aiyi owns one of the hottest clubs in town and has a passion for music. When she meets Erwin, a young Jewish refugee, her life changes in ways that were never expected.

Erwin is musically gifted and his gentle nature is something Aiyi isn’t familiar with in a man. In her culture, men don’t show emotion, so Erwin is a breath of fresh air.

This novel covers a wide breadth of topics including arranged marriages, race, unknown history of WWII, motherhood, sibling relationships, hope, love triangles, music, women’s’ rights and so much more. Historical fiction fans will love this book. 

Quotes I liked:

We built a barbed wire fence between ourselves and turned away from the suffering of others, but we forgot the immunity to pain was delusional.”

“Jazz makes us feel alive; it helps us forget about reality. Classical music is different; it’s about remembering.”

“…a family without a mother was like a pearl necklace without a string.”