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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
saltylemonsqueeze's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A great YA spring read full of this teenage tribulations. However there is growth among all the characters and it’s not a typical “senior year” read. Very powerful and the culture throughout it was perfect
pansylavendula's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who grew up as a child of Asian parents of being ethnic minorities, one of which also being Hoa like our protagonists, it was so viscerally comforting to see a very important and distinct Asian-American rep being written.
Growing up, I was a mishmash of four Asian cultures and my American side. My A Pòh (or as I call po po) raised me the most as a baby, and we kept a very distinct Hoa culture around. Seeing the bits of Chinese and Vietnamese cultures blending into new assimilated ways in the United States… it really struck with me. Some partial confusion of how we identified, the primary use of Cantonese and some usage of Vietnamese here and there, all sprinkled in. Most Asian-Americans are mono-ethnic, and many CN-Americans speak Mandarin, so it was really hard to relate. I also learned about the history my family couldn't explain either.
I relate a lot to Francine myself, despite the fact I'm now finally out of public school (lol). Being not well-liked, exuberant to people who treated me less than, and having begrudging friendships. Ollie describing her as someone who didn't learned what it meant to be a kid (which I considered rebellious). The way she treated Ollie after developing her crush on him was exactly me. And I love how they both remember their childhood fated meeting, just like her grandparents did. That game of Life.
Ollie too, I relate — the awkwardness of being a stuttering mess around people for the strangest reasons ever. He fights off his blooming affection for Francine, which I find so sad because he seems to be overly concerned about his appearance to his peers, like many other boys his age. If it wasn't for the fact the four of them are considerably a little quartet of misfits as is, I find that Ollie's fears of being shaped by who you consider strange around was appropriately realistic. Kids are concerned about their appearances with their peers, as someone who has recently graduated, and truth be told that currently it does seem to matter who you hang out with. Ollie grows to accept who has always had his back, which I'm glad he comes to terms with.
My only critique of this book is how it always ended up a dead end at times wish their arguments. Relatable, realistic, but I hoped for a tiny bit of more romantic interactions with them. I'm curious how they'd go about as a couple! All in all, I enjoyed this book, which came to me after remembering that Michelle Quach's debut novel also featured a Hoa protagonist.
Growing up, I was a mishmash of four Asian cultures and my American side. My A Pòh (or as I call po po) raised me the most as a baby, and we kept a very distinct Hoa culture around. Seeing the bits of Chinese and Vietnamese cultures blending into new assimilated ways in the United States… it really struck with me. Some partial confusion of how we identified, the primary use of Cantonese and some usage of Vietnamese here and there, all sprinkled in. Most Asian-Americans are mono-ethnic, and many CN-Americans speak Mandarin, so it was really hard to relate. I also learned about the history my family couldn't explain either.
I relate a lot to Francine myself, despite the fact I'm now finally out of public school (lol). Being not well-liked, exuberant to people who treated me less than, and having begrudging friendships. Ollie describing her as someone who didn't learned what it meant to be a kid (which I considered rebellious). The way she treated Ollie after developing her crush on him was exactly me. And I love how they both remember their childhood fated meeting, just like her grandparents did. That game of Life.
Ollie too, I relate — the awkwardness of being a stuttering mess around people for the strangest reasons ever. He fights off his blooming affection for Francine, which I find so sad because he seems to be overly concerned about his appearance to his peers, like many other boys his age. If it wasn't for the fact the four of them are considerably a little quartet of misfits as is, I find that Ollie's fears of being shaped by who you consider strange around was appropriately realistic. Kids are concerned about their appearances with their peers, as someone who has recently graduated, and truth be told that currently it does seem to matter who you hang out with. Ollie grows to accept who has always had his back, which I'm glad he comes to terms with.
My only critique of this book is how it always ended up a dead end at times wish their arguments. Relatable, realistic, but I hoped for a tiny bit of more romantic interactions with them. I'm curious how they'd go about as a couple! All in all, I enjoyed this book, which came to me after remembering that Michelle Quach's debut novel also featured a Hoa protagonist.
eirelynbird's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this book a lot.
The dual pov added a lot to the story overall.
The only reason I didn’t give this a full five stars is because the story starts out with a focus of one main plot and then kinda guides slowly into a different focus. Which isn’t entirely bad, I just wish certain aspects were more focused on and cleared up surrounding certain family dynamics.
The ending felt a little set out of place from the entire story, but it still worked within it. I think it was a good conclusion, maybe I just wanted a little more wrap up.
The dual pov added a lot to the story overall.
The only reason I didn’t give this a full five stars is because the story starts out with a focus of one main plot and then kinda guides slowly into a different focus. Which isn’t entirely bad, I just wish certain aspects were more focused on and cleared up surrounding certain family dynamics.
The ending felt a little set out of place from the entire story, but it still worked within it. I think it was a good conclusion, maybe I just wanted a little more wrap up.
alannajayereads's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
thegirlsifiso's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
4.75
heavenreads's review against another edition
4.0
this was such a blast to read. anytime i would pick it back up, i would find myself binge reading at least 30-50 pages at a time. it’s a funny and heartfelt read that’s perfect for the summer, but don’t let that deceive you, you’ll still want to cry reading it. i know i did.
michelle wrote the perfect blend of teenage angst and romance mixed with very real situations that many of us find ourselves in regarding families as well as our futures. it perfectly depicted what my relationship with my own culture and heritage is like through ollie, and the yearning to want to know more. whilst the book is from both his and francine’s points of views, i definitely felt like i connected with ollie more on a personal level. francine was such a wonderful character to read about to and whilst i didn’t always relate to her, i still understood her and wanted to hug her. the tremendous pressure she deals with that she’s put on herself without realising as an eldest daughter, due to all the expectations that come with it, was something i definitely could relate to.
this book is contemporary romance but it was written in such a way that really fleshed out the two characters to feel as though they were two very real people with real life problems, with the added bonus of a romantic plot line running throughout as well which i found so endearing.
michelle wrote the perfect blend of teenage angst and romance mixed with very real situations that many of us find ourselves in regarding families as well as our futures. it perfectly depicted what my relationship with my own culture and heritage is like through ollie, and the yearning to want to know more. whilst the book is from both his and francine’s points of views, i definitely felt like i connected with ollie more on a personal level. francine was such a wonderful character to read about to and whilst i didn’t always relate to her, i still understood her and wanted to hug her. the tremendous pressure she deals with that she’s put on herself without realising as an eldest daughter, due to all the expectations that come with it, was something i definitely could relate to.
this book is contemporary romance but it was written in such a way that really fleshed out the two characters to feel as though they were two very real people with real life problems, with the added bonus of a romantic plot line running throughout as well which i found so endearing.
szaaa's review against another edition
2.0
I had no expectations yet i still managed to be disappointed.
melissaspt's review against another edition
4.0
Took a little while to get into but was a really charming story that introduced me to an entirely new culture. I had no idea about the overlapping stories of people that lived in the region of Vietnam nearest to China and the specific foods, languages, and cultural beliefs and traditions unique to that region. I really appreciated the story about family and death and legacy.
dairyqueen84's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't like this one as much as I liked Not Here to be Liked. The secondary characters were flat. Sweet story, but it just didn't do it for me.
lore11's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this book was really sweet and good! i love the authors writing style, this books ending just felt a little rushed compared to her first one but not so much that I rated the book lower than I was planning to already.