The desire to marry into money may be a fairly universal phenomenon, but in China, it seems new. To a certain extent, that trend reflects the economic boom the country has enjoyed during the past two to three decades and the consequent embrace of materialism. In the book, Shanghai-based American Mina learns from her friend Lan Lan the secrets of how Shanghai ladies use their feminine wiles to nab the desirable and wealthy. A classic example of a Shanghai Girl who has reached stellar heights from humble beginnings, Lan Lan has been married three times, each time to a husband who was "richer than the previous," (she would like to point out), but is currently single. Following its publication in China, the book, which is full of eye-opening, tongue-in-cheek tips on initiating and handling relationships, generated a huge debate around the evolving construct of Chinese feminity and Western and Chinese concepts of love and romance.