Mr Chen's Emporium by Deborah O'Brien
In stockAuthor(s): O'Brien, Deborah"Perfect for book clubs, Mr Chen's Emporium is an enchanting historical love story, as East meets West in a sleepy NSW gold rush town. In 1872, seventeen-year-old Amy Duncan arrives in the Gold Rush town of Millbrooke, having spent the coach journey daydreaming about glittering pavilions and gilded steeples. What she finds is a dusty main street lined with ramshackle buildings. That is until she walks through the doors of Mr Chen's Emporium, a veritable Aladdin's cave, and her life changes forever. Though banned from the store by her dour clergyman father, Amy is entranced by its handsome owner, Charles Chen . . . In present-day Millbrooke, recently widowed artist Angie Wallace has rented the Old Manse where Amy once lived. When her landlord produces an antique trunk containing Amy's intriguingly diverse keepsakes both Oriental and European Angie resolves to learn more about this mysterious girl from the past. And it's not long before the lives of two very different women, born a century apart, become connected in the most poignant and timeless ways. Deborah O'Brien's fiction debut is a mesmerising story of forbidden love and following one's heart . . . FV-Historical fiction,FA-Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),1MBFN-New South WalesISBN: 9781742755557Paperback / softback
In stockAuthor(s): O'Brien, Deborah"Perfect for book clubs, Mr Chen's Emporium is an enchanting historical love story, as East meets West in a sleepy NSW gold rush town. In 1872, seventeen-year-old Amy Duncan arrives in the Gold Rush town of Millbrooke, having spent the coach journey daydreaming about glittering pavilions and gilded steeples. What she finds is a dusty main street lined with ramshackle buildings. That is until she walks through the doors of Mr Chen's Emporium, a veritable Aladdin's cave, and her life changes forever. Though banned from the store by her dour clergyman father, Amy is entranced by its handsome owner, Charles Chen . . . In present-day Millbrooke, recently widowed artist Angie Wallace has rented the Old Manse where Amy once lived. When her landlord produces an antique trunk containing Amy's intriguingly diverse keepsakes both Oriental and European Angie resolves to learn more about this mysterious girl from the past. And it's not long before the lives of two very different women, born a century apart, become connected in the most poignant and timeless ways. Deborah O'Brien's fiction debut is a mesmerising story of forbidden love and following one's heart . . . FV-Historical fiction,FA-Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),1MBFN-New South WalesISBN: 9781742755557Paperback / softback
In stockAuthor(s): O'Brien, Deborah"Perfect for book clubs, Mr Chen's Emporium is an enchanting historical love story, as East meets West in a sleepy NSW gold rush town. In 1872, seventeen-year-old Amy Duncan arrives in the Gold Rush town of Millbrooke, having spent the coach journey daydreaming about glittering pavilions and gilded steeples. What she finds is a dusty main street lined with ramshackle buildings. That is until she walks through the doors of Mr Chen's Emporium, a veritable Aladdin's cave, and her life changes forever. Though banned from the store by her dour clergyman father, Amy is entranced by its handsome owner, Charles Chen . . . In present-day Millbrooke, recently widowed artist Angie Wallace has rented the Old Manse where Amy once lived. When her landlord produces an antique trunk containing Amy's intriguingly diverse keepsakes both Oriental and European Angie resolves to learn more about this mysterious girl from the past. And it's not long before the lives of two very different women, born a century apart, become connected in the most poignant and timeless ways. Deborah O'Brien's fiction debut is a mesmerising story of forbidden love and following one's heart . . . FV-Historical fiction,FA-Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),1MBFN-New South WalesISBN: 9781742755557Paperback / softback
In stockAuthor(s): O'Brien, Deborah"Perfect for book clubs, Mr Chen's Emporium is an enchanting historical love story, as East meets West in a sleepy NSW gold rush town. In 1872, seventeen-year-old Amy Duncan arrives in the Gold Rush town of Millbrooke, having spent the coach journey daydreaming about glittering pavilions and gilded steeples. What she finds is a dusty main street lined with ramshackle buildings. That is until she walks through the doors of Mr Chen's Emporium, a veritable Aladdin's cave, and her life changes forever. Though banned from the store by her dour clergyman father, Amy is entranced by its handsome owner, Charles Chen . . . In present-day Millbrooke, recently widowed artist Angie Wallace has rented the Old Manse where Amy once lived. When her landlord produces an antique trunk containing Amy's intriguingly diverse keepsakes both Oriental and European Angie resolves to learn more about this mysterious girl from the past. And it's not long before the lives of two very different women, born a century apart, become connected in the most poignant and timeless ways. Deborah O'Brien's fiction debut is a mesmerising story of forbidden love and following one's heart . . . FV-Historical fiction,FA-Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),1MBFN-New South WalesISBN: 9781742755557Paperback / softback
in 4 offers
The lowest price for Mr Chen's Emporium by Deborah O'Brien right now is $18.75 at Booktopia.com.au, compared across 4 retailers.
The all-time low was $9.94 on 21 Jan 2026 — today's price is 89% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 13 May 2026.
Last updated at 13/05/2026 05:03:13
Mr Chen's Emporium, Fiction Book, By Deborah O'brien, English Paperback
Delivery between Thu – Fri $9.99
Mr Chen's Emporium
Delivery $8.95
Mr Chen's Emporium by Deborah O'Brien | 9781742755557 | Harry Hartog
Delivery between 19–27 May $9.97
Mr Chen's Emporium
Delivery between 15–25 May $9
originally posted on booktopia.com.au
It is the story of Amy, a bright young woman coming of age in 1872, that I found the most appealing in Mr Chen's Emporium. This novel does have its charms, the modern day Millbrooke comes alive and the historical period of the late 1800's on the goldfields, though only briefly sketched, is fascinating. The supporting characters in both eras are well drawn, I especially liked the ambitious Eliza, determined to study medicine in a time when such a thing was thought unbecoming, and Richard even though his reclusive manner branded him a little odd. I also enjoyed the idle chatter of Angie's painting class ladies, and I love platypi, such interesting creatures! I was not so enamoured with Angie's parallel narrative though
originally posted on booktopia.com.au
I loved this book, great story and characters. Bit of history in there, really good read.
originally posted on booktopia.com.au
Belong to a book club and this was last month's recommendation. Great.
| Release date Australia | April 2nd, 2013 |
| Audience | General (US: Trade) |
| Country of Publication | Australia |
| Imprint | Bantam |
| Dimensions | 132x199x24 |
Mr Chen's Emporium, Fiction Book, By Deborah O'brien, English Paperback
Delivery between Thu – Fri $9.99
Mr Chen's Emporium
Delivery $8.95
Mr Chen's Emporium by Deborah O'Brien | 9781742755557 | Harry Hartog
Delivery between 19–27 May $9.97
Mr Chen's Emporium
Delivery between 15–25 May $9
It is the story of Amy, a bright young woman coming of age in 1872, that I found the most appealing in Mr Chen's Emporium. This novel does have its charms, the modern day Millbrooke comes alive and the historical period of the late 1800's on the goldfields, though only briefly sketched, is fascinating. The supporting characters in both eras are well drawn, I especially liked the ambitious Eliza, determined to study medicine in a time when such a thing was thought unbecoming, and Richard even though his reclusive manner branded him a little odd. I also enjoyed the idle chatter of Angie's painting class ladies, and I love platypi, such interesting creatures! I was not so enamoured with Angie's parallel narrative though
I loved this book, great story and characters. Bit of history in there, really good read.
Belong to a book club and this was last month's recommendation. Great.
A great read
| Release date Australia | April 2nd, 2013 |
| Audience | General (US: Trade) |
| Country of Publication | Australia |
| Imprint | Bantam |
| Dimensions | 132x199x24 |
