unski_'s review
funny
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
theshenners's review
3.0
3.5-ish
Overall a pretty funny and even touching diaspora story, just aggressively cisallohet in some places
Overall a pretty funny and even touching diaspora story, just aggressively cisallohet in some places
montyroz's review
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? It's complicated
3.5
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
This reminds me of all my Asian friends, and how they had to work so hard in college because of their parents. David Tung says, int he book, that yes, he had to do the same, but also because he wants to.
If you want a good look at life amongst the diaspora of Chinese living in the United States. We follow David as he goes to public high school, goes to work at his families Chinese restaurant, and goes to Chinese school in NYC Chinatown.
The details are interesting, but they don’t advance the story. Each time David, through the author, goes into detail, I’m thinking it will be something we need to know, and it often is not.
This is more a slice of life, chracter driven novel, more than anything. There is not much action. The big urgency is whether or not David can take Christina to a dance, and that is wrapped up in the first half of the book.
So, while it is a good slice of life, I kept hoping for something more to happen, and it never quite did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
If you want a good look at life amongst the diaspora of Chinese living in the United States. We follow David as he goes to public high school, goes to work at his families Chinese restaurant, and goes to Chinese school in NYC Chinatown.
The details are interesting, but they don’t advance the story. Each time David, through the author, goes into detail, I’m thinking it will be something we need to know, and it often is not.
This is more a slice of life, chracter driven novel, more than anything. There is not much action. The big urgency is whether or not David can take Christina to a dance, and that is wrapped up in the first half of the book.
So, while it is a good slice of life, I kept hoping for something more to happen, and it never quite did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
coolgalreading's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advanced copy of this on my Kindle thanks to the publisher and Net Galley, so thank you very much for providing me with a copy of 'David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets into an Ivy League School."
What I liked about this was first the cover (gorgeous!) and the title, even if it was a bit long!
I really enjoyed the narration of David and learning about an average Chinese-American upbringing, through the eyes of a Chinese-American young protagonist. I felt like I gained some insight into an upbringing I otherwise have no first-hand experience and the parental pressures he faced.
That being said, I felt like parts of it dragged a little, but I did find the dialogue humorous and David to be an overall really likable character. YA novels can be hit or miss with me, with some falling somewhere in between, and this fell in the 'in-between' for me.
Still, a cute fun read!
What I liked about this was first the cover (gorgeous!) and the title, even if it was a bit long!
I really enjoyed the narration of David and learning about an average Chinese-American upbringing, through the eyes of a Chinese-American young protagonist. I felt like I gained some insight into an upbringing I otherwise have no first-hand experience and the parental pressures he faced.
That being said, I felt like parts of it dragged a little, but I did find the dialogue humorous and David to be an overall really likable character. YA novels can be hit or miss with me, with some falling somewhere in between, and this fell in the 'in-between' for me.
Still, a cute fun read!
sarlope12's review
2.0
david tung does not have a fan in me, and i really really hate men sometimes. that is all
awwsunshine's review against another edition
3.0
This is a well-written book, fast paced and has some interesting characters. I sympathized with the character of Betty a lot, she was definitely my favourite. This book realistically depicts the pressure that some students are under, often because of their parents. If I had a mom like David, I probably would never visit her after I’d gone away to college. I mean it is one thing to want your kids to do well, but the pressure she put him under, and the rude things she said to him… that is no way to treat your child. Also the father was too passive, he just stayed silent and ran along with whatever his wife wanted.
When David got the interview for the internship (and then the internship) I was so excited, and every time he was nervous about something I felt so empathetic about it, as if I myself were about to take a test or do an interview.
When David got the interview for the internship (and then the internship) I was so excited, and every time he was nervous about something I felt so empathetic about it, as if I myself were about to take a test or do an interview.
goldenseeker97's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I got this book in exchange for an honest review from Net Galley and Kaya Press.
This is perfect for fans of the book "Dating Makes Perfect." David is an American Chinese kid who has been told he's not allowed to have a girlfriend until he's in an ivy league college. When a popular girl asks him out to a school dance, he's torn between wanting to abide by his mother's rules and wanting to follow his heart. The characters aren't stereotypical and it's a fun book!
This is perfect for fans of the book "Dating Makes Perfect." David is an American Chinese kid who has been told he's not allowed to have a girlfriend until he's in an ivy league college. When a popular girl asks him out to a school dance, he's torn between wanting to abide by his mother's rules and wanting to follow his heart. The characters aren't stereotypical and it's a fun book!
estam1's review
5.0
David Tung is only a sophomore, but he is fixated on his class rank. He lives in Shark Beach, NJ, an enclave or rich Chinese immigrants, where most of the families are Cantonese. His family, on the contrary, is from Northern China (his mother was from Shanghai and fled China for Taiwan as a teen), and his father claims Mongolian ancestry.
But their Cantonese neighbors are wealthy and David's family is not - they toil long hours at their Chinese restaurant, where David must spend all of his waking hours outside of school.
David also spends Saturdays at Chinese school in Chinatown, rather than attending the local Chinese school, as his mother had some sort of issue with them 8 years prior. David spends his time at Chinese school hanging out with his rough-around-the edges Chinese friends, from whom he learns about life in Chinatown and how it differs from his own. David lives a conundrum, too working class for Shark Beach, and too suburban for Chinatown.
Most of all, David is at his mother's beck and call. She has "trained him to battle for grades" and will not allow him to date until he is accepted into an Ivy League school. David, meanwhile, has internalized the academic pressure and does some hilarious things to work his way to the top, such as figuring out that one of his teachers gives pop quizzes when his socks are unmatched. But highest on David's list of priorities is a medical internship at Harmony Health Cancer Center -- David, who wants to be an oncologist (because he was inspired by Steve Jobs' story), obsesses about his candidacy. He watches every video that the oncology chief has ever produced, and because he obtained a high SAT score, jumps ahead to start studying for the MCAT every chance he gets.
David is nerdy, hilarious, introspective and totally captures the reader's heart. His quest for love and self acceptance is heartwarming and inspiring. This book provides a close look at the academic pressures that many Chinese American children face. It also dives into the classism, bias and internalized racism within the Chinese community. While YA, this book is totally appropriate and entertaining for adult readers. Once I started reading, I was hooked! #netgalley #DavidTungCan'tHaveAGirlfriendUntilHeGetsIntoAnIvyLeagueCollege
But their Cantonese neighbors are wealthy and David's family is not - they toil long hours at their Chinese restaurant, where David must spend all of his waking hours outside of school.
David also spends Saturdays at Chinese school in Chinatown, rather than attending the local Chinese school, as his mother had some sort of issue with them 8 years prior. David spends his time at Chinese school hanging out with his rough-around-the edges Chinese friends, from whom he learns about life in Chinatown and how it differs from his own. David lives a conundrum, too working class for Shark Beach, and too suburban for Chinatown.
Most of all, David is at his mother's beck and call. She has "trained him to battle for grades" and will not allow him to date until he is accepted into an Ivy League school. David, meanwhile, has internalized the academic pressure and does some hilarious things to work his way to the top, such as figuring out that one of his teachers gives pop quizzes when his socks are unmatched. But highest on David's list of priorities is a medical internship at Harmony Health Cancer Center -- David, who wants to be an oncologist (because he was inspired by Steve Jobs' story), obsesses about his candidacy. He watches every video that the oncology chief has ever produced, and because he obtained a high SAT score, jumps ahead to start studying for the MCAT every chance he gets.
David is nerdy, hilarious, introspective and totally captures the reader's heart. His quest for love and self acceptance is heartwarming and inspiring. This book provides a close look at the academic pressures that many Chinese American children face. It also dives into the classism, bias and internalized racism within the Chinese community. While YA, this book is totally appropriate and entertaining for adult readers. Once I started reading, I was hooked! #netgalley #DavidTungCan'tHaveAGirlfriendUntilHeGetsIntoAnIvyLeagueCollege
ivanainthecity's review
This book had me ROFLing & also rooting for the main character David, who is under a lot of pressure to succeed academically, but also just really wants to fit in & have a girlfriend. This book also explores the richness & diversity of Chinese American communities in the United States—the tensions & differences between recent immigrants vs. second-generation kids, Cantonese speakers vs. Mandarin speakers, rich vs. poor, biracial vs. not. I’ll definitely be ordering a copy for my classroom library.