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kelly_e's review against another edition
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.25
Title: A Pho Love Story
Author: Loan Le
Genre: YA Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: December 28, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Juvenile • Dramatic • Hearty
📖 S Y N O P S I S
For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.
But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember. Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I stumbled across A Pho Love Story at a local garage sale over the summer, so I picked it up. When I needed a quick simple read, I decided this was a good choice. I knew little about the premise aside from it centering around food. And I definitely wasn't aware it is a modern Romeo and Juliet retelling.
It will come as not surprise that the food was my favourite part! Loan Le does a fantastic job with the food descriptions, leaving me hungry and salivating. The food aspect also adds a layer of cultural background and the meaning of food. Unfortunately though the feuding family trope feels like it something I have read too often.
There is excellent character growth for both Bao and Linh from start to finish. And their romance felt believable - growing slowly over time. In my opinion, it was a breath of fresh air to read a healthy and supportive depiction of teenage love, as opposed to a toxic one. I also appreciated the exploration of parental expectations versus following your own dreams; the immigrant experience; and how family histories shape our present.
I am definitely not the intended audience for this one, and to me that was evident. It was nothing exceptional, and I likely won't remember a few months from now. However, I could definitely see the merits for a younger audience and would recommend it to the 13-18 year old age group.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the feuding families trope
• foodies
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Think about what you want. What you want to make and add to the world."
"There's so much in your life that you can't control...So maybe you can use this chance to do something for yourself"
Author: Loan Le
Genre: YA Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: December 28, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Juvenile • Dramatic • Hearty
📖 S Y N O P S I S
For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.
But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember. Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I stumbled across A Pho Love Story at a local garage sale over the summer, so I picked it up. When I needed a quick simple read, I decided this was a good choice. I knew little about the premise aside from it centering around food. And I definitely wasn't aware it is a modern Romeo and Juliet retelling.
It will come as not surprise that the food was my favourite part! Loan Le does a fantastic job with the food descriptions, leaving me hungry and salivating. The food aspect also adds a layer of cultural background and the meaning of food. Unfortunately though the feuding family trope feels like it something I have read too often.
There is excellent character growth for both Bao and Linh from start to finish. And their romance felt believable - growing slowly over time. In my opinion, it was a breath of fresh air to read a healthy and supportive depiction of teenage love, as opposed to a toxic one. I also appreciated the exploration of parental expectations versus following your own dreams; the immigrant experience; and how family histories shape our present.
I am definitely not the intended audience for this one, and to me that was evident. It was nothing exceptional, and I likely won't remember a few months from now. However, I could definitely see the merits for a younger audience and would recommend it to the 13-18 year old age group.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the feuding families trope
• foodies
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Think about what you want. What you want to make and add to the world."
"There's so much in your life that you can't control...So maybe you can use this chance to do something for yourself"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Death, Grief, War, and Classism
Minor: Colonisation
gracelang_09's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Grief
Minor: War
escapismforlife's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Bao and Linh must be protected at all cost. Their relationship forms so naturally. In spite of the obstacles they face from their parents Vietnam restraurants rivalry.
A Pho Love Story is the best first young adult love story I picked up finally since fall 2022. It was complex and layered with each chapter in their alternate point of views revealin something new. A story which had more depthful history of each others immigrant family. Not to mention how they discovered and embraced what they wanted to do for themselves. Which did not leave their culture behind in the process.
I felt on the verge of emotional overload by the end of this story. Just from the things they discover and the family dynamics. It was beautiful in the most unexpeted of ways to finish this one. This was a solid and quick contemporary story that has a strong teen romance at the center of it all. A solid first book from a new author this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
esme_t's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Grief, and War
nerdysread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Une romance « interdite » sur fond de nourriture, famille, histoire familiale et secret de famille. Les personnages sont géniaux et l’histoire vraiment touchante, mais avec beaucoup de passages légers et mignons. J’ai dévoré et je me suis vachement attaché.e aux personnages.
En plus, ça donne faim
En plus, ça donne faim
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Grief
Minor: War
rodes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death and War
samone2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Grief, and War
iamsammie27's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Colonisation, War, and Classism
sunlit_music's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It focuses on a hidden chaste romance between Bao and Linh, who start out as friends and eventually fall in love. Their families hate each other due to a misunderstanding, and Bao and Linh have to hide their relationship from their parents.
What I loved:
- The delicious, amazing descriptions of Vietnamese food in America! Don't read this if you're hungry, otherwise the book will make you hungrier.
- The author weaving facts on Vietnamese culture and social etiquette seamlessly into the story.
- Bao and Linh make a really sweet couple. They're awkward, gentle and kind to each other.
- Bao and Linh have healthy friendships, and Linh has a supportive art teacher.
- The diversity!! So many characters are BIPOC.
- The author talks about family trauma from the Vietnam War sensitively, with grace and understanding.
- This book also tackles the issue of racism thoughtfully and assertively, which I like.
- The fact that there's a nuanced portrayal of diaspora families - it's not "my family is wonderful and agrees with everything I say" or "my family is completely awful" (although both portrayals happen in real life and are valid too). Linh loves her family, and they love her, but they have unhealthy expectations of her working for the family business instead of pursuing her passion. But things do work out in the end, and Linh's parents do end up respecting her wishes. :)
Cons:
- there's only minor cons I think. The book does move at a slow pace, which should be fine if you like character dense books. This book has great characterisation for sure. I found Linh and Bao way more interesting than their friends. But those are small complaints, and they don't detract from the book much.
Anyway, check this book out if you like reading gentle, kind YA romances and stories that tackle family trauma and racism sensitively. :)
What I loved:
- The delicious, amazing descriptions of Vietnamese food in America! Don't read this if you're hungry, otherwise the book will make you hungrier.
- The author weaving facts on Vietnamese culture and social etiquette seamlessly into the story.
- Bao and Linh make a really sweet couple. They're awkward, gentle and kind to each other.
- Bao and Linh have healthy friendships, and Linh has a supportive art teacher.
- The diversity!! So many characters are BIPOC.
- The author talks about family trauma from the Vietnam War sensitively, with grace and understanding.
- This book also tackles the issue of racism thoughtfully and assertively, which I like.
- The fact that there's a nuanced portrayal of diaspora families - it's not "my family is wonderful and agrees with everything I say" or "my family is completely awful" (although both portrayals happen in real life and are valid too). Linh loves her family, and they love her, but they have unhealthy expectations of her working for the family business instead of pursuing her passion. But things do work out in the end, and Linh's parents do end up respecting her wishes. :)
Cons:
- there's only minor cons I think. The book does move at a slow pace, which should be fine if you like character dense books. This book has great characterisation for sure. I found Linh and Bao way more interesting than their friends. But those are small complaints, and they don't detract from the book much.
Anyway, check this book out if you like reading gentle, kind YA romances and stories that tackle family trauma and racism sensitively. :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
libraryghost's review against another edition
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Grief
Moderate: Death, Racism, and War