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Five Star BillionaireBy: Tash Aw LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR AND BOOKPAGE Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Readers Circle for author chats and more. An expansive, eye opening novel that captures the vibrancy of China today Phoebe is a factory girl who has come to Shanghai with the promise of a jobbut when she arrives she discovers that the job doesnt exist. Gary is a country boy turned pop star
By: Tash AwLONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR AND BOOKPAGE
Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.
An expansive, eye-opening novel that captures the vibrancy of China today
Phoebe is a factory girl who has come to Shanghai with the promise of a job—but when she arrives she discovers that the job doesn’t exist. Gary is a country boy turned pop star who is spinning out of control. Justin is in Shanghai to expand his family’s real estate empire, only to find that he might not be up to the task. He has long harbored a crush on Yinghui, a poetry-loving, left-wing activist who has reinvented herself as a successful Shanghai businesswoman. Yinghui is about to make a deal with the shadowy Walter Chao, the five star billionaire of the novel, who with his secrets and his schemes has a hand in the lives of each of the characters. All bring their dreams and hopes to Shanghai, the shining symbol of the New China, which, like the novel’s characters, is constantly in flux and which plays its own fateful role in the lives of its inhabitants.
Five Star Billionaire is a dazzling, kaleidoscopic novel that offers rare insight into the booming world of Shanghai, a city of elusive identities and ever-changing skylines, of grand ambitions and outsize dreams. Bursting with energy, contradictions, and the promise of possibility, Tash Aw’s remarkable new book is both poignant and comic, exotic and familiar, cutting-edge and classic, suspenseful and yet beautifully unhurried.
Praise for Five Star Billionaire
“Estimable . . . artful . . . Mr. Aw is a patient writer, and an elegant one. His supple yet unshowy prose can resemble Kazuo Ishiguro’s. . . . He’s a writer to watch.”—The New York Times
“In Five Star Billionaire, the Taiwanese-born, Malaysian writer Tash Aw chooses a refreshingly novel perspective. . . . Through five distinct Malaysian-Chinese voices, Mr. Aw wonderfully expresses the grit and cosmopolitan glamour of Shanghai today. . . . Mr. Aw has done more than merely satirize a social milieu; he has created a cast of compelling characters, all of whom have come to Shanghai to remake themselves, yet are haunted by their pasts in ways that they barely understand. . . . In Five Star Billionaire, Mr. Aw has achieved something remarkable.”—The Wall Street Journal
“[Aw’s] ever-spiraling web of connections is as improbable as it is entertaining, but he knits his various threads with an elegance . . . coupled with a photorealistic eye for the minutiae of urban life.”—The Boston Globe
“The ambition of the book perfectly reflects its subject. In one scene, we’re introduced to a ‘folk guitarist whose slangy lyrics spoke of urban migration and loneliness.’ Aw might be describing himself, except that his threnodies are set to sophisticated modern jazz.”—Pico Iyer, Time
“Goes beyond the bounds of the ordinary . . . [Aw] provides a richly drawn landscape of compelling characters, and a deep immersion in their lives. . . . Five Star Billionaire is a fiercely contemporary tale of tradition, modernity and the cost of progress.”—Ellah Allfrey, All Things Considered, NPR
“Aw has woven an impressive and contemporary human tapestry of a country that Western audiences would do well to better understand.”—The Daily Beast
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4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 6 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Love all the books from this author!
Format: Board book
Love this author and all of her books.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Perfect toddler book for teaching big emotions and calm down techniques in a simple, visual way
Format: Board book, Format: Board book
What I received / first impressions:
This is a picture book written for toddlers and young children that walks through what big emotions feel like, where you feel them in your body, and what to do when they show up. It is written in a way that is easy for kids to follow along with a parent and includes practical techniques they can actually use in the moment.
What I liked:
- Perfectly written for young kids: The language and pacing are just right for toddlers to stay engaged and understand without getting lost.
- Teaches body awareness around emotions: I love that it helps children recognize where in their body they feel emotions, which is such a foundational skill for emotional regulation.
- Covers a full range of emotions: It addresses big feelings that come from both difficult and happy moments, and acknowledges that emotions show up differently for everyone which is an important and inclusive message.
- Interactive and easy to practice at home: This is something you can do together as a family, not just read and set aside. The techniques are simple enough for little ones to actually try.
- Parent tips included in the back: The added section for parents on how to integrate the techniques into daily life is a thoughtful bonus that makes this more than just a read-aloud.
- Great addition alongside other behavior books: We are fans of the Best Behavior series like Teeth Are Not for Biting and Hands Are Not for Hitting and this fits right in alongside those in both tone and approach.
What I didn't like / concerns:
Nothing. This book delivered exactly what we needed and then some.
Who I think this is best for:
- Parents of toddlers and young children looking for a practical, visual tool for emotional regulation
- Families who already enjoy behavior and feelings books and want to add to their collection
- Anyone looking for a book they can actively use with their child rather than just read to them
- Teachers or caregivers working with young children on identifying and managing big emotions
Bottom line:
This book has genuinely helped us work through big emotions at home in a way our child can understand and participate in. It is visual, approachable, and gives both kids and parents real tools to use together. We are so glad we found it and it has earned a permanent spot in our regular reading rotation.
Would I buy again?
Yes, and would gift it to other parents of young children without hesitation.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Toddlerhood is a journey you should enjoy
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
Toddlerhood is a completely different game from the newborn or the curious infant. But it's not just "the terrible twos," or the throw down to the ground tantrums. It's learning and doing so together and finding joy every day. As a single mom, i was looking for parenting advice and books and felt like I was continuously getting let down. I liked a little from a couple of different topics, but it felt like no one was really connecting to what I wanted to represent. I read the book transforming toddlerhood, and was so happy. Not only does the book have great advice, but actual real situation suggestions and free available resources you can download and use. My coparent and I have both read it. We love that you can do sections at a time, the easy and relatable language and small laughs of how on point Devon is. Really the only toddler parenting book you need!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Turns Toddler Parenting Struggles into Strengths
Format: Hardcover
We are in the thick of toddlerhood in our house. And I frequently feel at a loss. Ever feel that way? Along comes this book. I’ve followed the author on social media for years and implemented quite a few of her tips. So after one especially rough toddler parenting day, I opened up to JUST the table of contents and felt hope for the first time in a long while. This book can be read as a whole book or you can hit the chapters that are most relevant like “Decoding Screaming, Yelling, and Demands” or “Supporting a Slow-To-Warm Up Child”. Literally feels like Devon has been a fly on the wall at my house. Her writing supports us a parents, helps us understand these toddlers as humans, and gives us bite sized actionable ideas and mindset shifts that work!! I really have felt so much hope and empowerment as I’ve read even just a paragraph at a time. Can’t wait to get through the whole book!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Amazing parenting help
Format: Hardcover
Very good book, works like google as you come up against walls while raising children.
Just look up the issues you’re having and get practical advice on how to guide your littles for life.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2026