phua_jieying's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.75
Love this book that has both the long-running Asian-American immigrant family conflict (mother-daughter) and warmer family ties (grandmother-granddaughter), as well as the lead character's comparatively greater pride in her heritage compared to her mother who kept trying to fit in with the white kids.
One minor quibble that I took 0.25 stars off for: It's the 2023 calendar and not the 2025 one which has the same days of the week as the 1995 one, hope this gets fixed if there's going to be a revised edition.
Similar movie recommendations:
One minor quibble that I took 0.25 stars off for: It's the 2023 calendar and not the 2025 one which has the same days of the week as the 1995 one, hope this gets fixed if there's going to be a revised edition.
Similar movie recommendations:
- 2007 Japanese movie Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust (『バブルへGO!! タイムマシンはドラム式』) - Mum followed by daughter went back in time to prevent the bust of the bubble economy.
- 2021 mainland Chinese movie Hi, Mom (《你好，李焕英》) - Daughter grieving her mum's death in 2001 was sent back to 1981 and befriended her young mum as a "cousin".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Dementia and Pandemic/Epidemic
lisashelves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Grief, and Racism
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Alcoholism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
cinderellasbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
This is my new favorite book of all-time 🙌 At most, in the top 3 and I don’t think I will be over it any time soon. If you love mother/daughter stories, the 1990’s, or are a huge fan of Back to the Future, then you will most definitely love Maurene Goo’s THROWBACK.
Samantha Kang is a Gen Z teen in 2025, who hasn’t quite figured out where life is headed yet. She often argues with her first-generation Korean American mother, Priscilla, who had a very different high school experience when she was a teenager. After an argument with her mom that leaves her stranded, Sam books a ride via a mysterious rideshare app that ends up taking her all the way back to the year 1995, where she meets a 17-year-old Priscilla. Sam may be stuck in the past with outdated views and tech as she helps her mother win homecoming queen - a defining moment that changed Priscilla’s relationship with her own mother, Sam’s grandmother Halmoni - but, she also begins to realize that there is more to her mom than she thought, as well as what her own future may be.
I absolutely love this book! I cried seeing Sam and Priscilla’s relationship grow and the impact they had on each other that becomes, quite frankly, timeless. As a mother/daughter story, I like how Goo looks at it through a time traveling perspective. By being in the past and witnessing first hand who Priscilla was and the relationship she had with Halmoni, Sam begins to understand why certain high school aspirations like popularity and becoming homecoming queen mattered so much to her mom. There is an idealism to it tied with a youthful first-gen optimism of the American Dream. It’s a simple but indelible reminder how parents were teenagers once too with hopes and dreams.
Back to the Future is one of my favorite movies. So, to see it in a similar form set during a decade I grew up in and featuring Asian characters instantly stole my heart. It’s nostalgic in reminding me what that era was like (for better and for worse), and at the same time feels so relevant.
Throwback is a must-read that everyone needs to pick up soon! It’s funny, sentimental, relatable, and will make you want to hug your mom a little bit tighter.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A fresh take on a time travel story. I thought the mother-daughter elements were done well and were handled in a complex, yet fun at times, way. The book felt a little long in parts, but overall I really enjoyed this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Body shaming, Bullying, Misogyny, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Car accident, Colonisation, Death of parent, Medical content, Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Vomit, Homophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Lesbophobia
arthur_ant18's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Classism, and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Body shaming
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Grief, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, and Dementia
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Maurene Goo’s coming of age YA beautifully explores the complex ties of inter-generational family relationships and the immigrant experience in this heartfelt and humour-filled, Back To The Future-esque romp.
Full of cliquey high school drama and tons of 90s nostalgia, I thoroughly enjoyed this and was completely blown away by the level of depth and emotion we see in Sam’s journey. Both in the intricacies of the mother- daughter relationship between Sam, her mum Priscilla and grandmother but, also in how their very different lived experiences (as first, second and third generation immigrants in the US) has shaped and defined them.
Sam as a character did come off as a little spoiled at first, with a confrontational approach to communication that kind of annoyed me at first. However, the journey she embarks on after finding herself stuck in 1995 really endeared her to me, and I ended up really loving her and the emotional development we see unfold as she begins to understand the challenges her mum (Priscilla) faces that aren’t too dissimilar from her own.
One of the turning points for me was when Sam realises the racist and misogynistic micro aggressions her classmates direct at her and the other non-white students won’t be called out—the defeat she’s ultimately left with in that moment was utterly heartbreaking.
There were, however, some lighter moments too and I really had fun watching how Gen-Z Sam coped in a world without Google, Social Media or 24-hr access to the internet. Her social faux pas, made from not fully grasping the nuances of 90s culture made for some really entertaining interactions, especially with Priscilla who finds Sam just a bit weird.
There is some romance which I felt was well written but do be aware the plot does mostly focus on Sam’s relationships with Priscilla and Priscilla’s relationship with her own mother. I can’t really say anything else without spoiling the ‘big reveals’ but I was pleasantly surprised by how things wrapped up.
If you love time travel plots, family based YA and general teenage shenanigans then I highly recommend picking this up—it was soo much fun!
Also, a huge thank you to Team BKMRK for the finished copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
First of all, the fact that this is a YA book and they go back in time to the 90s because that's when her mom was a teenager just makes me feel old. I just think of going back in time for that to be further back. But this is where we are currently at. So.
Nevertheless, this was an overall really enjoyable story. It's your typical "go back in time to fix my relationship with a parent" type of story, so most of the story was a tad predictable. I did enjoy how Sam gained a new perspective for both her mom and her halmoni. You get that interwoven story of immigration in there, and the way perspectives have changed since the 90s. There was a lot packed in the story, and it made it really easy to read.
There is a slight plot twist in there that I didn't see coming, so I appreciated that! If I remember correctly, Sam is a sophomore, so I was a little confused as to why she was completing college apps? But maybe I'm remembering that incorrectly. Some of the time travel details were also a bit vague, though that's maybe on purpose. Time travel itself is vague.
This would also make a great movie, so movie companies take note! Stop re-making things and make new movies instead. I would watch this in a heartbeat.
Nevertheless, this was an overall really enjoyable story. It's your typical "go back in time to fix my relationship with a parent" type of story, so most of the story was a tad predictable. I did enjoy how Sam gained a new perspective for both her mom and her halmoni. You get that interwoven story of immigration in there, and the way perspectives have changed since the 90s. There was a lot packed in the story, and it made it really easy to read.
There is a slight plot twist in there that I didn't see coming, so I appreciated that! If I remember correctly, Sam is a sophomore, so I was a little confused as to why she was completing college apps? But maybe I'm remembering that incorrectly. Some of the time travel details were also a bit vague, though that's maybe on purpose. Time travel itself is vague.
This would also make a great movie, so movie companies take note! Stop re-making things and make new movies instead. I would watch this in a heartbeat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Racism, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
novelty_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Ever since I read I Believe in a Thing Called Love and Somewhere Only We Know I have loved Maurene Goo's books. When I got the review copy of Throwback I knew I was in for a treat. With a pitch like "Back to the Future meets the Joy Luck Club" how could you not get excited? I was saving this book knowing this would be my next bookish obsession and I was right! I feel a book hangover coming on.
Throwback follows Samantha Kang, a seventeen year old girl who has a rocky relationship with her mother. Where Sam perceives her mom as cold, stoic and obsessed with presenting a good image, Samantha can't help but feel like they are worlds apart. When a fight leads to Sam taking a magical ride share all the way back to 1995, Sam realises that maybe her mom and her have more in common than first thought. She realises that by helping her mom win Homecoming Queen and preventing a fight afterwards between her and her grandmother she can return to her timeline and complete the mission she was brought back in time for.
Admittedly, this book took me a while to get into. I wanted it to be a little more fast paced because it did have a slow build up. The build up was necessary to develop the characters and their backstories but I was just waiting for a bit more action during the first two thirds of the book.
Action aside though, the build up was necessary because it meant we wouldn't be able to connect with Priscilla and Sam otherwise. We were meant to side with Sam of the present and see Priscilla as unreasonable but in all honesty, both characters had their flaws and none of them could be framed as bad, just misunderstood. This was the case when Sam time traveled to when her mom was a teenager where she discovered the girl behind her mom's tough exterior. Sam started understanding her and her mom started understanding her back, discussing how even though they don't understand each other all the time, they still love one another and show this in ways the other may not always understand.
It did take me a while to like Sam to be honest. She always saw her mom as unfair but in the process of showing her mom as such, she seemed that way herself. By the end though, I started to like her. I liked Priscilla, the 1995 throwback version, from the get-go. She seemed tough like her future self but I liked how the closer she and Sam got, the more those layers fell away and we got to see this girl who just wanted to fit in and live out her dreams.
And the ending? The ending made the whole book all the more worth it. I loved every bit about the ending and found it so perfect. If you are a rom-com fan, this will definitely make you swoon and happy grin like I did reading on my iPad. I'm so happy about Priscilla's ending and Sam's ending. I'm giddy just writing about it.
All in all, if you want a feel good book with the kind of 90's vibe you felt like you've been missing, definitely give this book a read. If you're in the mood for a rom-com that's more than just the girl gets the guy with a few shenanigans thrown in the mix, that discusses big themes and has lots of heart, then this one is for you.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.9 STARS
Ever since I read I Believe in a Thing Called Love and Somewhere Only We Know I have loved Maurene Goo's books. When I got the review copy of Throwback I knew I was in for a treat. With a pitch like "Back to the Future meets the Joy Luck Club" how could you not get excited? I was saving this book knowing this would be my next bookish obsession and I was right! I feel a book hangover coming on.
Throwback follows Samantha Kang, a seventeen year old girl who has a rocky relationship with her mother. Where Sam perceives her mom as cold, stoic and obsessed with presenting a good image, Samantha can't help but feel like they are worlds apart. When a fight leads to Sam taking a magical ride share all the way back to 1995, Sam realises that maybe her mom and her have more in common than first thought. She realises that by helping her mom win Homecoming Queen and preventing a fight afterwards between her and her grandmother she can return to her timeline and complete the mission she was brought back in time for.
Admittedly, this book took me a while to get into. I wanted it to be a little more fast paced because it did have a slow build up. The build up was necessary to develop the characters and their backstories but I was just waiting for a bit more action during the first two thirds of the book.
Action aside though, the build up was necessary because it meant we wouldn't be able to connect with Priscilla and Sam otherwise. We were meant to side with Sam of the present and see Priscilla as unreasonable but in all honesty, both characters had their flaws and none of them could be framed as bad, just misunderstood. This was the case when Sam time traveled to when her mom was a teenager where she discovered the girl behind her mom's tough exterior. Sam started understanding her and her mom started understanding her back, discussing how even though they don't understand each other all the time, they still love one another and show this in ways the other may not always understand.
It did take me a while to like Sam to be honest. She always saw her mom as unfair but in the process of showing her mom as such, she seemed that way herself. By the end though, I started to like her. I liked Priscilla, the 1995 throwback version, from the get-go. She seemed tough like her future self but I liked how the closer she and Sam got, the more those layers fell away and we got to see this girl who just wanted to fit in and live out her dreams.
And the ending? The ending made the whole book all the more worth it. I loved every bit about the ending and found it so perfect. If you are a rom-com fan, this will definitely make you swoon and happy grin like I did reading on my iPad. I'm so happy about Priscilla's ending and Sam's ending. I'm giddy just writing about it.
All in all, if you want a feel good book with the kind of 90's vibe you felt like you've been missing, definitely give this book a read. If you're in the mood for a rom-com that's more than just the girl gets the guy with a few shenanigans thrown in the mix, that discusses big themes and has lots of heart, then this one is for you.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.9 STARS
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Dementia, Bullying, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Classism