Now You See Us: A Novel

Written by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Narrated by Angela Lin

Crazy Rich Asians meets The Help! From Reese’s Book Club veteran Balli Kaur Jaswal comes a wildly entertaining and sharply observed story of three women who work in the homes of Singapore’s elite, and band together to solve a murder mystery involving one of their own.

“Tender and heartfelt, Now You See us also manages to be laugh-out-loud funny. An uplifting story of courage and hope that will keep you enthralled until the very last page.”—Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee

""A truly irresistible read. Intricately plotted, propulsive, and provocative, NOW YOU SEE US showcases an author at the peak of her talents.""--Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Counterfeit

Corazon, Donita, and Angel are Filipina domestic workers—part of the wave of women sent to Singapore to be cleaners, maids, and caregivers.

Corazon: A veteran domestic worker, Cora had retired back to the Philippines for good, but she has returned to Singapore under mysterious circumstances. Now she’s keeping a secret from her wealthy employer, who is planning an extravagant wedding for her socialite daughter.

Donita: Barely out of her teens, this is Donita’s first time in Singapore, and she’s had the bad luck to be hired by the notoriously fussy Mrs. Fann. Brazen and exuberant, Donita’s thrown herself into a love affair with an Indian migrant worker.

Angel: Working as an in-home caregiver for an elderly employer, Angel is feeling blue after a recent breakup with the woman she loves. She’s alarmed when her employer’s son suddenly brings in a new nurse who may be a valuable ally...or meant to replace her.

Then an explosive news story shatters Singapore’s famous tranquility—and sends a chill down the spine of every domestic worker. Flordeliza Martinez, a Filipina maid, has been arrested for murdering her female employer. The three women don’t know the accused well, but she could be any of them; every worker knows stories of women who were scapegoated or even executed for crimes they didn’t commit.

Shocked into action, Donita, Corazon, and Angel will use their considerable moxie and insight to piece together the mystery of what really happened on the day Flordeliza’s employer was murdered. After all, no one knows the secrets of Singapore’s families like the women who work in their homes…

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Mar 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063161634

Balli Kaur Jaswal

The daughter of a diplomat, Balli Kaur Jaswal was born in Singapore and grew up in Japan, Russia, and the Philippines. She received a BA in Creative Writing from Hollins University in Virginia and a PhD from Singapore’s Nanyang Technical University. Her essays and op-eds about diaspora, censorship, racism, and sexuality have appeared in the New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, The South China Morning Post, Harper’s Bazaar, and Salon.com. She lives with her family in Singapore, where she is a professor at Yale-NUS.

Reviews for Now You See Us

[sam johnson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is refreshing to read a book highlighting the plight of foreign domestic workers. Having worked as an expat in Saudi Arabia, I can relate to the story. The Singaporean and Filipino accents are spot on, making the audible version that much more enjoyable.

[Sharla Nicole · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book I've read by Balli Jaswal, and just like the first it was an easy, enjoyable read which only grazes major issues, in this instance, racism and mental health.

The characters were well developed and compelling, but the story itself fell short of being impactful.

[Lillian Merriam Wilcox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the best books I've read this year. The characters and their stories are beautifully interconnected and the perspectives are so relatable. I'm a white American with family in Singapore and this is a book I will be handing out to everyone I know.

[rsyates · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the story, it’s beautifully written with so much humanity. The narrator, Angela Lin is pure perfection in bringing the words to life.

[janna dorry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Story about real humans , sisterhood and righteousness, this story of maids took me ny storm , touch my heart and made more then ever appreciate the enormous effort and held of domestic helpers. Really good read.