Join us in reading this year’s selection!

About the Book

Manchuria, 1908. In the last years of the dying Qing Empire, a courtesan is found frozen in a doorway. Her death is clouded by rumors of foxes, which are believed to lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and handsome men. Bao, a detective with an uncanny ability to sniff out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead woman’s identity. Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet they’ve remained tantalizingly out of reach—until, perhaps, now.

Meanwhile, a family who owns a famous Chinese medicine shop can cure ailments but can’t escape the curse that afflicts them—their eldest sons die before their twenty-fourth birthdays. When a disruptively winsome servant named Snow enters their household, the family’s luck seems to change—or does it?

Snow is a creature of many secrets, but most of all she’s a mother seeking vengeance for her lost child. Hunting a murderer, she will follow the trail from northern China to Japan, while Bao follows doggedly behind. As Snow searches for justice and Bao searches for truth, their stories begin to converge in a web of mystery that blurs the boundary between the living and the spirit world.

About the Author

Yangsze Choo is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ghost Bride (now a Netflix original series) and The Night Tiger, a Reese’s Book Club Pick, and a Big Jubilee Read selection for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. She lives in California with her family and loves to eat and read (often at the same time). The Fox Wife and all previous novels would not have been possible without large quantities of dark chocolate.

Born into a Malaysian family of Chinese descent, Choo’s father was a diplomat, and she spent her childhood living in Thailand, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the Philippines, where she was born. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard and worked as a management consultant before retiring to spend more time with her family and become an author.

She narrates the audio version of The Fox Wife.

Get a copy of the book

An Afternoon with Yangsze Choo

Date: April 26, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: BAPAC Fred Kavli Theater

Join us for an inspiring conversation with bestselling author Yangsze Choo. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear her talk about the shape-shifting foxes of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean literature, the cult of the fox in northern China/Manchuria, and the inspirations behind her work.

This event is FREE. Seating is first-come, first-served.

The event will be livestreamed and available to view for seven days on the City of Thousand Oaks' YouTube channel.

Please be advised. You may be photographed at this event. Your participation constitutes the consent for the City to publish your likeness for publicity purposes.

Have a question for Yangsze Choo? Now’s your chance to ask! Whether you're curious about her writing process or the inspiration behind The Fox Wife, submit your questions, and we’ll cover as many as time allows during the live event.

Save the date for engaging programs inspired by the book!

After-Hours Concert: Guzheng with Bei Bei

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Grant R. Brimhall Library

Experience the enchanting music of the guzheng, performed by an internationally acclaimed and award-winning artist, Beibei Monter. The Guzheng (pronounced goo-jung) is a 21-string traditional Chinese zither with a history of over 2,500 years. Joined by guitarist Jon Monter, the duo will present an evening of contemporary fusion works.

This event is FREE. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Friendly Book Discussion

Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Technology Training Room

Let’s talk books! Join us for a relaxed, welcoming conversation about our One City One Book selection, The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo. We’ll explore the novel’s mystery, folklore, unforgettable characters, and the themes that linger long after the final page. Whether you loved it, questioned it, or are still thinking about it, your perspective is part of the story. All are welcome—come share, listen, and connect.

Let's Play Mahjong

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Location: Grant R. Brimhall Library Meeting Room

Discover the classic Chinese tile game “Mahjong”! This beginner-friendly program introduces Hong Kong–style Mahjong, one of the most popular versions of the game worldwide. Participants will learn the tiles, basic rules, and gameplay, then enjoy guided play in a relaxed, social setting. No experience required — all materials provided.

Registration required. Ages 18+

Portrait Photography Workshop

Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Grant R. Brimhall Library Meeting Room

Ready to take better portraits, even with just your phone? Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn simple techniques to instantly improve your photos. We’ll cover lighting basics, natural vs. studio light, posing tips, clean backgrounds, and composition tricks like the rule of thirds. Perfect for anyone who wants to photograph friends, family, or clients with more confidence. The workshop will also highlight a few well know portrait photographers and discuss their styles.

Maia Rose Landau has collaborated with renowned studios and brands, including Ted Morrison Studio, DePasquale + Maffini Photography, Vita Art Center, Theatre Artists Studio, and Wall Sensations. Her retouching work has been featured by Tom Ford Beauty, Interior Design Magazine, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Benefit Cosmetics, Chanel, and more.

Walk-ins welcome.

The Art of Kimono

Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Location: Grant R. Brimhall Library Meeting Room

Join certified kimono instructor and dresser Akane Mashimo for a fascinating look at kimono styles and cultural significance. Select participants will get to experience obi tying over their everyday clothes—and if you own a yukata set, bring it along and join in!

Walk-ins welcome.

Crafternoon: Painted Fox Portrait

Date: Friday, April 17, 2026

Time: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Grant R. Brimhall Library Meeting Room

Get crafty with us and create a woodland-inspired masterpiece! Trace a charming fox design onto a glass frame, then paint a custom background to make your artwork completely one of a kind.

Registration required. Ages 18+

Chinese Calligraphy

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Location: Newbury Park Library Art Gallery

Chinese Calligraphy is a traditional art form with over 5,000 years of history. In this hands-on workshop with Emmy Lam, participants will learn how to write 24 Chinese characters and take home their finished piece.

Registration required. Ages 18+

Paint by Numbers

Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Grant R. Brimhall Library Meeting Room

Inspired by the novel, join us for a special paint-by-numbers session as we bring the fox spirit to life — one brushstroke at a time. All supplies provided. Spots are limited. Register to claim your canvas!

Registration required. Ages 18+

Portrait Photography Showcase

Submission period: March 11 – April 17

Exhibition: April 22 – May 31

Bonus: All participants will be entered into an opportunity drawing for a $50 Visa gift card.

Call for Photographers! Inspired by The Fox Wife, the library invites photographers of all skill levels to submit portrait photography for a special showcase as part of the One City, One Book 2026 celebration.

Submissions may include traditional portraits, self-portraits, or styled portraits that incorporate mixed artistic media—such as collage, illustration, or digital art—as long as photography is the primary element. Selected photographs will be printed and displayed at the Grant R. Brimhall Library.

All submissions must be uploaded online; the library will not accept hard-copy artwork at the front desk. Ages 18+