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Virginia Gray
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Spa Girl: An emotional and inspiring saga based on a True Story Kindle Edition

by Virginia Gray (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 126 ratings

Desperation will make you do things you never dreamed of...

Fifteen-year-old Mei Zi leaves her poor farming village to try to make a better life for herself. Suffering one misfortune after another, she finds herself lured a thousand miles from home, penniless and on the brink of starvation.

After a series of failures and catastrophes, Mei Zi throws herself at the mercy of a Shanghai spa owner, finally willing to do whatever it takes to survive.

Determined to make her family proud, Mei Zi still dreams of something more. When she meets a man from a seemingly different world, she must decide whether to throw caution to the wind and leave everything she’s ever known behind or continue swimming upstream in familiar waters.

An emotional and inspiring saga spanning five decades and two continents, this astonishing story of a mother’s boundless love and a daughter’s incredible courage is a testament to hope, resilience, and the power of family. A must-read for Amy Tan and Lisa See fans, and anyone who loves to root for the underdog.

★★★★★ "Spa Girl is an authentic saga demonstrating the true tenacity of the human spirit. With captivating prose, Virginia Gray will take you along this fascinating journey of one woman’s fight to find her place in this world." —Kay Bratt, International Bestselling Author of Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters

★★★★★ "At times heartbreakingly naïve, at others admiringly competent, it is a pure delight to witness Mei Zi overcome her often desperate circumstances with a tenacity that astounds." — Kelli Estes, USA Today Bestselling Author of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk and Today We Go Home

★★★★★ “One of my most valuable reads of this year...This heart-warming story reminded me of some of the great classics with its quality and storyline, and spotlighted those things we have and take for granted, while others must fight and burn for them.” — Goodreads

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  1. Print length
    427 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    November 16, 2020
  5. File size
    585 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08CXBHHNN
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 585 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 427 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0990523680
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 126 ratings

About the author

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Virginia Gray

Virginia Gray

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Bestselling Author Virginia Gray looks for humor in every situation. A graduate of Wake Forest University, she spent part one of her career as a college professor. But after years of research, eighty-hour work weeks, and generally trying to take over the world, she stepped away from academics to pursue her love of writing. And because no task is more daunting than making sense of the senseless male psyche, her stories always explode from the glorious mouth of chaos. (You're welcome.) Until she packs her bags and moves to the beach, she lives in the Midwest with her wonderful family and far too many pets.

To leave a personal message or sign up for her newsletter, drop by virginiagray.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
126 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story engaging, with one review highlighting how the author effortlessly narrates the main character's journey. They also appreciate the character development, mentioning they loved all the characters in the book.

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6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one customer noting how effortlessly it follows the main character's journey.

"...What a fabulous story you have created from a chance meeting. God bless you, and continued success in all of your writing! So well done!" Read more

"...SPA GIRL which is based on a true story, Virginia Gray writes a compelling story about the experiences of one of these girls...." Read more

"...This is a fantastic novel and would love to see a miniseries based on it." Read more

"Great story. Glad I bought this book. Turn out great. Love to read more stories like this. Of women going for what they dream about for their future" Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in the book.

"...I fell in love with the characters, some rough and tough, others just trying to survive from one day to the next!..." Read more

"...Loved all the characters, particularly Mama, Wai po and Nancy! This is a fantastic novel and would love to see a miniseries based on it." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. The main character was interesting and motivational. It kept my interest during the whole time...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Sylvia J Dominick
    5.0 out of 5 stars My review of SPA GIRL by Virginia Gray
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Virginia Gray, when I received this book as a winner of one of your giveaways, I have to say that I was less than excited. The cover led me to believe that it would be fluffy, but suffice it to say, my mind is ready explode right now, and my heart is full of more emotions than I can begin to describe!
    Readers, you are in for an extraordinary treat when you read this book. I fell in love with the characters, some rough and tough, others just trying to survive from one day to the next! When I started it, I felt so badly for these people in China, especially Guo Guo who suffered through more hardships than I would have believed possible. The perseverance and determination rarely ebbed, and about halfway through the book, I was praying for anything positive to happen. How grateful we should all be to live in the USA! I refuse to spoil this story for anyone, but trust me when I tell you that you can't help but LOVE this book. The anxiety it brought out in me was well worth it, and this story will remain in my heart forever! Thanks so much, Virginia Gray for opening my eyes much wider, and helping me to appreciate the way we live here, where all dreams are attainable! What a fabulous story you have created from a chance meeting. God bless you, and continued success in all of your writing! So well done!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Grandma Rockton
    4.0 out of 5 stars Believe
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you work and work you can be anything you'll want to be. First you must believe in your self and willing to do everything that you can!
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a compelling story about a woman born in China in 1983.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    In rural china, in the 1980s, girls were of little importance, couples who produced a second child were fined, education was poor and poverty was the reality. In SPA GIRL which is based on a true story, Virginia Gray writes a compelling story about the experiences of one of these girls. As a young teenager with a poor 8th grade education, she worked in a factory where her supervisor tried to rape her, next she got a job in a dry cleaning shop where she lived with the owner and slept on the floor, yet another terrible factory job, and then her father arranged for her to apprentice to learn how to cut hair. This eventually leads her to graduate from a school that taught her to work in a spa. Along the way she had romantic moments—some good some not so good-- lived through some dangerous situations and finally falls in love with an American she meets in Shanghai. She follows him to America, marries, helps his failing business and has a child all the while keeping one foot in her Chinese world!
    Along the way, one of her main goals is to make her mother proud. She gained her strength from that mother who constantly told her to make a better life for herself. This is a story about the resilience of one woman and her family in a world that doesn’t value life—especially if it is female.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Rebecca Fiszer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Adventure Trip to China
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Wow! This book is not at all what I expected... it was a fascinating look at an important cultural change in China - starting out with a view of the traditional communist rural society and the one-child policy, through the quick march towards capitalism and the role of females during this cultural change. What I thought was going to be a typical "white male savior" trope is really the opposite. It's always an interesting look into how two people that come together navigate and try to understand (or not) the other's culture. Loved all the characters, particularly Mama, Wai po and Nancy! This is a fantastic novel and would love to see a miniseries based on it.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book. The main character was interesting and motivational. It kept my interest during the whole time. I would recommend this book to friends.
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  • patricia haberle
    5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful story
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Great story. Glad I bought this book. Turn out great. Love to read more stories like this. Of women going for what they dream about for their future
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  • AJ Lape
    5.0 out of 5 stars Be prepared to laugh and cry
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Wow. What a great book! This book effortlessly told the story of the MC...what she went through, what she felt, and why. It's more than a story about a woman. Or love. Or cultural traditions. It's a story about a survivor. Highly recommend.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Laurie Buchanan
    5.0 out of 5 stars DIVE IN — You'll be glad you did!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This 5-star read is a vivid word-painting of a seemingly simple and unassuming mother and daughter (don't be deceived) whose personal mettle and resiliency helps them survive and rise above appalling situations.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mrs A C Booth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book and reminded me a little of a Lisa See book. Thought provoking in the comparison between China and America. The characters were relatable and the story telling ability of the author brought those c h a row caters alive.
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  • Abrach
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and disturbing glimpse behind the bamboo curtain.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Spa Girl' is quite a departure from Virginia Gray's well-loved romantic comedy fare. Here our heroine is no smart sassy Southerner, but a peasant girl from a remote farming village in China. Sure, the tale is leavened with the author's trademark humour, and there's more than a dash of romance to draw the reader in, but 'Spa Girl' is primarily the story of one very young and very vulnerable girl as she struggles to make her way in a dangerous, uncaring world. At times disturbing, at times deeply moving, but always fascinating, this story pulls away the bamboo curtain and offers an uncompromising insight into the reality of everyday Chinese life.
    From the perspective of an old reformed Highland salmon poacher; the perilous journey of GuoGuo, our young heroine, reminded me of that of a salmon smolt as it makes its way down the river of its birth towards the dangers of the open ocean. Sometimes, just sometimes, the smolt survives, to return many years later as a beautiful Atlantic salmon.
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