alexperc_92's review against another edition
5.0
Absolute cuteness! I loved/laughed everything in this book!
ellemmm3's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I Believe in a Thing Called Love fell somewhere between ok and good for me. I did enjoy aspects of the story, but I just couldn't get behind how creepy the entire premise of the book was. It bordered on stalker-ish to me. And careless. How someone apparently as smart as Desi would think it was ok to leave nails all over a road as a love tactic... beyond ridiculous.
I also had difficulty with how completely awkward she was. I get it. Boys make her nervous. It happens. But to be that accident prone. I mean, whose pants just randomly fall down when you're standing still -- and you don't feel them coming loose? C'mon.
But beyond that, it was a quick, light-hearted YA book and I enjoyed portions.
I Believe in a Thing Called Love fell somewhere between ok and good for me. I did enjoy aspects of the story, but I just couldn't get behind how creepy the entire premise of the book was. It bordered on stalker-ish to me. And careless. How someone apparently as smart as Desi would think it was ok to leave nails all over a road as a love tactic... beyond ridiculous.
I also had difficulty with how completely awkward she was. I get it. Boys make her nervous. It happens. But to be that accident prone. I mean, whose pants just randomly fall down when you're standing still -- and you don't feel them coming loose? C'mon.
But beyond that, it was a quick, light-hearted YA book and I enjoyed portions.
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
This is the perfect little chaser if you've already seen To All the Boys I've Loved Before or watched Boys Over Flowers/Hana Yori Dango or just happen to be hankering after a sweet, HEA contemporary rom-com with a bit of Korean flavor.
Wherein the girl manages to literally lose her pants when she first meets the boy. And later shows him how to kick up ramen a notch with boiled eggs and kimchi.
And also happens to be an uber-nerd type A personality who ends up studying Korean dramas and makes a step by step plan to seduce the boy based on the tried-and-true drama tropes.
Hijinks ensue. But also a bit of medium depth emotion about what it must feel like as a teenager on the cusp of graduation high school and handling parent expectations (either trying to be perfect so as not to upset father or going around doing borderline illegal things because of father issues).
This was just wonderful, escapist reading. Definitely sweet. A bit of kissing, and that's as far as it goes. Fine for mid or lower YA as well.
Wherein the girl manages to literally lose her pants when she first meets the boy. And later shows him how to kick up ramen a notch with boiled eggs and kimchi.
And also happens to be an uber-nerd type A personality who ends up studying Korean dramas and makes a step by step plan to seduce the boy based on the tried-and-true drama tropes.
Hijinks ensue. But also a bit of medium depth emotion about what it must feel like as a teenager on the cusp of graduation high school and handling parent expectations (either trying to be perfect so as not to upset father or going around doing borderline illegal things because of father issues).
This was just wonderful, escapist reading. Definitely sweet. A bit of kissing, and that's as far as it goes. Fine for mid or lower YA as well.
lilrongal's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much!
Desi is relatable, funny, ADORABLE and my favorite protagonist of 2017 so far!
The book will cause so much second hand embarrassment but it's worth it, and now I want to check out all the k-dramas!!
Desi is relatable, funny, ADORABLE and my favorite protagonist of 2017 so far!
The book will cause so much second hand embarrassment but it's worth it, and now I want to check out all the k-dramas!!
storytimed's review against another edition
3.0
I love Asian-American protags, but I don't love how Desi doubled down on "fighting for him" instead of, you know, accepting that the guy she was into wanted to break up. Jfc, stalking is not romantic and consent matters. Boundary-crossing is not cute.
theshenners's review against another edition
4.0
4.5? I was lowkey screaming throughout the book bc of the classic kdrama tropes unfolding. Desi was Relatable for being a super nerd who knows the weirdest, most obscure facts and a control freak who plans everything (well, that was me in high school, anyway) and is awkward af. I was valedictorian of my graduating class and won a bunch of awards and stuff so it felt like I was seeing an alternate me on the page. I am not good at soccer though! Or quite as accomplished. But yeah, it was fun reading about someone who had a lot in common with me ^o^
the ship was super cute and I wasn't expecting to ship it as much as I did? And I lovelovelove Desi's relationship with her dad. Reminds me somewhat of my own relationship with my dad, who's a total dork as well (my mom was the one who was obsessed with dramas though, lol).
Warning to ppl planning to read the book: there is a lot of casual ableist language used: cr*zy, ins*ne, n*ts l*me, etc. That was the one thing that put a damper on my enjoyment of the book. :/
the ship was super cute and I wasn't expecting to ship it as much as I did? And I lovelovelove Desi's relationship with her dad. Reminds me somewhat of my own relationship with my dad, who's a total dork as well (my mom was the one who was obsessed with dramas though, lol).
Warning to ppl planning to read the book: there is a lot of casual ableist language used: cr*zy, ins*ne, n*ts l*me, etc. That was the one thing that put a damper on my enjoyment of the book. :/
tangotini's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting premise, and it seemed promising for k-drama fans to follow. I wanted to like the protagonist but found her pretty irritating while only halfway through the book. The pacing was so structured and the ending was way too predictable. ALL the characters (MC, the guy, the friends, the "enemy") were so one-dimensional and flat. Everything in this book seems to revolve around the MC and supporting her, rather than having any real lives or personalities of their own. Most of the dialogue was downright cringey. Desi's thoughts and actions were not just annoying and ridiculous, but also super creepy at times and her friends just go along with it? Okay? I felt like there was no real conflict or even meaningful story; I only forced myself to finish this so I could reach my monthly book quota.
I had been pretty excited for this book, but I felt the way Desi "reconnected" was oversimplified and threw away a lot of nuance of what it means to explore one's identity as a 2nd-gen Asian-American. Then again, she's just a high schooler, even if a fictional one, and I suppose that wasn't /really/ the focus of the story anyway.
It was a somewhat fun read, but I wouldn't recommend anyone else waste their time on this.
I had been pretty excited for this book, but I felt the way Desi "reconnected" was oversimplified and threw away a lot of nuance of what it means to explore one's identity as a 2nd-gen Asian-American. Then again, she's just a high schooler, even if a fictional one, and I suppose that wasn't /really/ the focus of the story anyway.
It was a somewhat fun read, but I wouldn't recommend anyone else waste their time on this.
mariareadsbooksalot's review
4.0
This book was adorable! I loved the audio and was able to speed through it. I honestly wanted this to be more of a love triangle between the love interest and best friend and I played myself by wanting a love line with the wrong character