Center Stage

Center Stage follows Rosalie Lang, an 18-year-old actress in 1931 Shanghai who performs at the Ritz Theatre. Between shows, she works as a spy for a nationalist organization attempting to gain power against the ruling party. The city's criminal underground intersects with political intrigue as Rosalie takes on a mission to infiltrate a high-end social club. Her target is a French businessman with connections to both Shanghai's elite and its shadowy power players. Dangerous secrets and shifting loyalties shape the narrative as Rosalie balances her stage performances with covert operations. Her growing attraction to someone who may be an enemy further complicates her mission. The novel examines questions of identity and performance, exploring how the roles people play on and off stage blur together in times of social upheaval. Through its historical setting, it considers the personal cost of choosing sides in a city divided by politics and power.

Readers commend the enemies-to-lovers romance, fast-paced plot, and rich 1930s Shanghai atmosphere. Many note the tension between the main characters and the blend of murder mystery with showbiz drama. From positive reviews: "The murder subplot keeps you guessing until the end" - Goodreads reviewer "Perfect balance of romance and suspense without being too dark" - Amazon reader Common criticisms: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Romance felt rushed in parts - Several readers wanted more historical details - A few noted similarities to other 1930s Shanghai novels Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (12,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (2,100+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.15/5 (2,800+ ratings) Most readers who enjoyed Gong's These Violent Delights series also recommend Center Stage, though some felt it wasn't as strong as her previous work.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong A 1920s Shanghai retelling of Romeo and Juliet follows rival gang heirs who must work together to stop a mysterious threat to their city.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao In this reimagining of Chinese history, a young woman avenges her sister's death by joining a military system where women pilot war machines through a psychic bond with male pilots.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon A clairvoyant woman in a supernatural alternate London works secretly against a powerful government while navigating complex political alliances.

For A Muse Of Fire by Heidi Heilig A shadow player in a French colonial Southeast Asian setting uses forbidden magic to control puppets while hiding her powers and seeking a cure for her illness.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim An East Asian fantasy reimagining of "The Wild Swans" features a princess who must break a curse on her brothers while keeping her own magic hidden from her stepmother.

🎭 The book is set in 1930s Shanghai, a time period known as the "Paris of the East" due to its vibrant arts scene and cultural fusion of East and West. 📚 Author Chloe Gong wrote her first novel, "These Violent Delights," while studying at the University of Pennsylvania, becoming a New York Times bestselling author at age 21. 🎬 The story's protagonist, Rosalind Lang, works as a spy within a "floating theater" - a real historical phenomenon where theaters were built on boats in Shanghai to evade certain regulations. 🗡️ The novel incorporates elements of "Phantom of the Opera" while weaving in themes of Chinese mythology and the political tensions of pre-WWII Shanghai. 🌟 Like its companion series "These Violent Delights," "Center Stage" draws inspiration from classic literature but features an entirely Asian cast of characters, addressing historical representation in young adult fiction.