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blithesquesttoread's review against another edition
4.0
It’s always so awesome to read books centered around Asian households and navigating through the family dynamics and mother-daughter relationships. Family and societal values, as terrifying as they may sound, are supremely integral part of being an Asian. To the extent, that it’s nothing short of a crime if your relatives don’t know about the happenings of your life and you do something which will be most definitely scrutinized by the public eye. It’s likely your family will not have a personal problem with whatever you do with your life, but they’ll be concerned “how it will look in front of the society”. Now, it looks like it’s a terrible way of living, but… it’s quite alright. Family is family.
And that’s what “Well, that was unexpected” talks about. There are two essential dynamics about the book: a) the relationship of Sharlot with her mom and how George navigates through his family being “too much” and always in the public scrutiny; and b) how first impression shouldn’t be misinterpreted as last impression. Perceptions change and it’s likely the person you thought you knew was behind a mask all this time (for the better or worse… luckily it was for the better here).
Now, I wouldn’t lie… I was cynical about Sharlot a bit in the beginning. I have strong opinions about anyone who refers to Third World countries as… being helpless. Especially anyone who comes from the West -.- So, I treaded the book carefully but it was actually quite relieving to see Sharlot agreeing to her assumptions and white washed eyes to look at the emerging or developing economies. After all, as much as one would want, white washed lenses are inseparable, even if you have grown up in an Asian country. I am really glad that the author took this story arc and how the character development was brought about. Same goes for the dynamics between Sharlot and her mom.
Coming to George and Sharlot, they are a cute bunch I give you that. And George’s family is delightful as well! I am really on my way to read Dial A for Aunties.
I was provided with e-arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.
And that’s what “Well, that was unexpected” talks about. There are two essential dynamics about the book: a) the relationship of Sharlot with her mom and how George navigates through his family being “too much” and always in the public scrutiny; and b) how first impression shouldn’t be misinterpreted as last impression. Perceptions change and it’s likely the person you thought you knew was behind a mask all this time (for the better or worse… luckily it was for the better here).
Now, I wouldn’t lie… I was cynical about Sharlot a bit in the beginning. I have strong opinions about anyone who refers to Third World countries as… being helpless. Especially anyone who comes from the West -.- So, I treaded the book carefully but it was actually quite relieving to see Sharlot agreeing to her assumptions and white washed eyes to look at the emerging or developing economies. After all, as much as one would want, white washed lenses are inseparable, even if you have grown up in an Asian country. I am really glad that the author took this story arc and how the character development was brought about. Same goes for the dynamics between Sharlot and her mom.
Coming to George and Sharlot, they are a cute bunch I give you that. And George’s family is delightful as well! I am really on my way to read Dial A for Aunties.
I was provided with e-arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.
mcc004's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
emotional
informative
2.5
Read as a change of pace, hoping for something lighter than my usual Around the World reading but still with some substance. I was interested in the Indonesian setting, but though I learned a bit about Indonesia it was very much a tourist and rich person's perspective. Chinese Indonesians are the 1% of the country, as they took over where the colonizers left off, which seems very unfair but we only get their point of view. I would rather have read a tourist brochure or article about Bali.
As for the story, George's voice was not believable to me as a teenage boy. Nor could I believe that two smart teens would not twig to how they had been tricked -- the misunderstanding went on way too long. Did George not notice that Sharlot texted in broken English while her speech was perfect? Could they not both at least suspect that the other had also been an impersonation?
Then the plot about Sharlot's mom and Eighth Aunt (do they not have real names???) -- it just felt shoved in to provide some LGBTQ interest. They did not come alive for me as characters.
I'm thinking of trying the sequel because I would like to read more about Indonesia, but I'm hoping it is an improvement on this one.
As for the story, George's voice was not believable to me as a teenage boy. Nor could I believe that two smart teens would not twig to how they had been tricked -- the misunderstanding went on way too long. Did George not notice that Sharlot texted in broken English while her speech was perfect? Could they not both at least suspect that the other had also been an impersonation?
Then the plot about Sharlot's mom and Eighth Aunt (do they not have real names???) -- it just felt shoved in to provide some LGBTQ interest. They did not come alive for me as characters.
I'm thinking of trying the sequel because I would like to read more about Indonesia, but I'm hoping it is an improvement on this one.
youpie's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
ljesica's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This is the fourth book I’ve read by Sutanto this year. I didn’t realize she wrote YA books until I started reading this one. It was really cute.
Jesse bases most of her stories on her Indo Chinese family experiences. And they’re both heartwarming and laugh out loud hilarious.
Sharlot lives in LA. Her mom has never gone home or talked about her life in Indonesia. She never talks about her family. But then her mom catches Shar in her bedroom with her boyfriend, and 3 days later the two of them are on a flight to Jakarta. Shar is SO MAD and swears to hate every minute of it.
George is from a very wealthy Indo family and is being groomed to be part of the family business. When he gets caught “doing what normal, healthy teenage boys do” by his dad and his sister, the family freaks out and decides he needs a proper girlfriend. So they get on an app.
And then Shar’s mom and George’s dad and sister end up catfishing each other. And shenanigans ensue.
I really liked this one. It was super fun and sweet and made me want to go to Bali. It’s always nice to get a line of sight into other cultures and I’d recommend it.
mgs3's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this fresh take on YA. It was on the more mature side of YA. First, the characters were all great and the story flowed really well. There were funny moments that flowed into sad seamlessly. I like the way it evolved and the little surprises that popped up. Secondly I will say that I feel the author has definitely grown in her writing. I can see organic evolution and it seemed less forced and robotic than her prior work. There are still hints of playing into stereotypes and over reliance on dramatic cliches but overall a well written and fun read.
mellamaron's review against another edition
DNF at 15pgs.
So I read chapter one which was her being horny and wanting sex with her boyfriend only to decide she doesn’t want it as they’re taking clothes off and her mom walking in.
Nope, not my kind of YA. I don’t like that content being upfront in ch 1. Give me a chance to actually like the FMC before you throw me into this kind of content. 😅
So I read chapter one which was her being horny and wanting sex with her boyfriend only to decide she doesn’t want it as they’re taking clothes off and her mom walking in.
Nope, not my kind of YA. I don’t like that content being upfront in ch 1. Give me a chance to actually like the FMC before you throw me into this kind of content. 😅
crtney's review against another edition
1.5
Bland characters, every bad romance trope, and entirely predictable. Extra 1/2 star for the writing about Indonesia and its food.
erine's review against another edition
4.0
5/5 for story
3/5 for pacing
I loved the teen romance, the family dynamics, the cultural push and pull, the sprinkle of LGBTQ, the parental catfishing, the opportunities for self-reflection. I just had a lot of fun reading this, it was engaging and breezy, but still had substance.
3/5 for pacing
I loved the teen romance, the family dynamics, the cultural push and pull, the sprinkle of LGBTQ, the parental catfishing, the opportunities for self-reflection. I just had a lot of fun reading this, it was engaging and breezy, but still had substance.