Scan barcode
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
This one reminded me a bit of When Dimple met Rishi. Fancy school, apps, and falling in love. Well the love part was hard coming here.
Xia is smart, loves coding,and had created this amazing AI. She gets into a 1 year program in Silicon Valley and off she goes.
And then it takes quite the turn. Teachers should really try harder. Xia in her new life totally forgets about the bottom line what she is doing. And no one seems to care. Like at the first night there there is this prank, and again, no one seems to care. Can 16 year olds even sign contracts!?
There is some romance too, she meets a guy, but her heart is already taken by the boy she met online, and she handles it really badly.
But, she is 16 and here I do feel that her age makes all her mistakes reasonable. She is young and want it all. And it all works out for her, which is totally weird. Cos she effs up majorly. With romance, school, friendship and everything.
It was an interesting story. Not the story I though I would get from the blurb. But a story if being swept away in something bigger than yourself, and having no one to reign you in.
Great narrator who got the feel of things and I always knew who was who.
Xia is smart, loves coding,and had created this amazing AI. She gets into a 1 year program in Silicon Valley and off she goes.
And then it takes quite the turn. Teachers should really try harder. Xia in her new life totally forgets about the bottom line what she is doing. And no one seems to care. Like at the first night there there is this prank, and again, no one seems to care. Can 16 year olds even sign contracts!?
There is some romance too, she meets a guy, but her heart is already taken by the boy she met online, and she handles it really badly.
But, she is 16 and here I do feel that her age makes all her mistakes reasonable. She is young and want it all. And it all works out for her, which is totally weird. Cos she effs up majorly. With romance, school, friendship and everything.
It was an interesting story. Not the story I though I would get from the blurb. But a story if being swept away in something bigger than yourself, and having no one to reign you in.
Great narrator who got the feel of things and I always knew who was who.
simoneandherbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Having a programming husband, I know way more than I need to about coding and the tech world. However, this book presented me with a completely different aspect; the business side. It was interesting to see how tech looks at these young folks and their apps. There was a bit of snobbery with some of the ideas the kids had while other kids were trying to save the world with their apps. I also thought it was interesting to see who got bought and who got funding. I don't know much about those parts, but it was fun to read about.
Xia was the definition of naive young person. The story followed her more than had a plot that moved forward. Her actions leading her character development felt spot on and her blown up ego at the end made so much sense to me. Although, it did surprise me when the book finally got to the final showcase and everyone was already prepared.
I also really liked her removal from both the tech world (growing up outside of Boston) and from the kinds of privilege and luxury the other kids. She got herself into a lot of messes. At one point, I kind of felt bad for her. A lot of the situations she found herself in were very adult for someone just sixteen to be in. I don't think it was wild that she went off to California on her own (as someone who's traveled across the world at 15, I know that that level of responsibility is possible for someone that age), but the situations she found herself in were so much more than even I want to find myself in. Because as an adult, you can read her situations and can determine right off the bat that something feels scammy or someone's out to get you behind your back, but as a kid, you don't know better. This is all new to you and with that newness comes a level of naivety that you don't develop until you've experienced it.
The situations Xia found herself were rough and with each new experience, it felt like it got worse and worse for her. At one point, I just wanted to give her a big old hug and pull her away from everything. I wanted to save her from what she was going through, but at the same time I understand how important it is to experience these things first hand. That's how you grow and learn.
The characters were great. I thought it was an interesting mix including folks who were super rich and privileged and other folks who didn't have all the luxuries in the world. There was a lot of backstabbing, envy and jealousy, and petty arguments as well given that they're teenagers who were living in boarding school together. It made for some interesting dynamics that played so well throughout the story. I loved Amina, Xia's best friend. She was so confident in knowing who she was, which was just a nerdy tech girl feeling a bit lost in the whole game of things. She provided such good advice and insight that Xia desperately needed (and desperately avoided).
The only issue I had was that there were a few storylines that were dropped towards the end. I wanted to know what happened to Mitzy and I wondered what the kids were doing after they finished their year at the foundry. Also, it felt like Mast dropped off right in the middle of the story and aside from a few glances his way, he didn't have a big part in the story. It made the ending feel a bit weird. It's not a big deal, but something I noticed while I was finishing up the book.
I also loved the whole You've Got Mail vibe going with Xia and her mysterious online friend, ObjectPermanence. I tried to guess who it was (and came out wrong), but pleasantly surprised to find out who it was in the end.
Overall, this was a great story that followed a young person through some heavy trials and tribulations. I really loved getting to know Xia throughout.
I received a copy of this book from the author. My opinion hasn't been influenced by the publisher or the author.
Xia was the definition of naive young person. The story followed her more than had a plot that moved forward. Her actions leading her character development felt spot on and her blown up ego at the end made so much sense to me. Although, it did surprise me when the book finally got to the final showcase and everyone was already prepared.
I also really liked her removal from both the tech world (growing up outside of Boston) and from the kinds of privilege and luxury the other kids. She got herself into a lot of messes. At one point, I kind of felt bad for her. A lot of the situations she found herself in were very adult for someone just sixteen to be in. I don't think it was wild that she went off to California on her own (as someone who's traveled across the world at 15, I know that that level of responsibility is possible for someone that age), but the situations she found herself in were so much more than even I want to find myself in. Because as an adult, you can read her situations and can determine right off the bat that something feels scammy or someone's out to get you behind your back, but as a kid, you don't know better. This is all new to you and with that newness comes a level of naivety that you don't develop until you've experienced it.
The situations Xia found herself were rough and with each new experience, it felt like it got worse and worse for her. At one point, I just wanted to give her a big old hug and pull her away from everything. I wanted to save her from what she was going through, but at the same time I understand how important it is to experience these things first hand. That's how you grow and learn.
The characters were great. I thought it was an interesting mix including folks who were super rich and privileged and other folks who didn't have all the luxuries in the world. There was a lot of backstabbing, envy and jealousy, and petty arguments as well given that they're teenagers who were living in boarding school together. It made for some interesting dynamics that played so well throughout the story. I loved Amina, Xia's best friend. She was so confident in knowing who she was, which was just a nerdy tech girl feeling a bit lost in the whole game of things. She provided such good advice and insight that Xia desperately needed (and desperately avoided).
The only issue I had was that there were a few storylines that were dropped towards the end. I wanted to know what happened to Mitzy and I wondered what the kids were doing after they finished their year at the foundry. Also, it felt like Mast dropped off right in the middle of the story and aside from a few glances his way, he didn't have a big part in the story. It made the ending feel a bit weird. It's not a big deal, but something I noticed while I was finishing up the book.
I also loved the whole You've Got Mail vibe going with Xia and her mysterious online friend, ObjectPermanence. I tried to guess who it was (and came out wrong), but pleasantly surprised to find out who it was in the end.
Overall, this was a great story that followed a young person through some heavy trials and tribulations. I really loved getting to know Xia throughout.
I received a copy of this book from the author. My opinion hasn't been influenced by the publisher or the author.
fscottfishgerald's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little hesitant to start this book. I'm definitely not a tech person, so I was afraid I wouldn't understand some things or be able to get into it. But this book is very enjoyable, no tech or finance experience needed. Xia was a frustrating character to follow through, but not in a bad way. At times I did feel like watching a car crash about to happen. But she kept me engrossed and I was rooting for her all the way through. I think she made many mistakes we all make in that age, but hers had probably bigger stakes than my teenage life ever did, I think the friendship between XIa and er friends were very well developed, which I always enjoy in rom-coms. Sometimes I think friendships are used in this genre to move the plot or romance along, but I didn't get that feeling here.
The ending did feel a little rushed. I think it could have been a tad longer. The relationship between Xia and Mast could have been further developed a bit especially after Xia started to change. It would have made me more invested in their relationship. But I honestly forgot about Mast for a good chunk of the book, he pretty much disappeared for most of the middle. The plot line was also a bit predictable, with lots of clues as to what was going to happen. But that didn't stop me from being invested in reading.
The ending did feel a little rushed. I think it could have been a tad longer. The relationship between Xia and Mast could have been further developed a bit especially after Xia started to change. It would have made me more invested in their relationship. But I honestly forgot about Mast for a good chunk of the book, he pretty much disappeared for most of the middle. The plot line was also a bit predictable, with lots of clues as to what was going to happen. But that didn't stop me from being invested in reading.
fscottfishgerald's review
4.0
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was a little hesitant to start this book. I'm definitely not a tech person, so I was afraid I wouldn't understand some things or be able to get into it. But this book is very enjoyable, no tech or finance experience needed. Xia was a frustrating character to follow through, but not in a bad way. At times I did feel like watching a car crash about to happen. But she kept me engrossed and I was rooting for her all the way through. I think she made many mistakes we all make in that age, but hers had probably bigger stakes than my teenage life ever did, I think the friendship between XIa and er friends were very well developed, which I always enjoy in rom-coms. Sometimes I think friendships are used in this genre to move the plot or romance along, but I didn't get that feeling here.
The ending did feel a little rushed. I think it could have been a tad longer. The relationship between Xia and Mast could have been further developed a bit especially after Xia started to change. It would have made me more invested in their relationship. But I honestly forgot about Mast for a good chunk of the book, he pretty much disappeared for most of the middle. The plot line was also a bit predictable, with lots of clues as to what was going to happen. But that didn't stop me from being invested in reading.
I was a little hesitant to start this book. I'm definitely not a tech person, so I was afraid I wouldn't understand some things or be able to get into it. But this book is very enjoyable, no tech or finance experience needed. Xia was a frustrating character to follow through, but not in a bad way. At times I did feel like watching a car crash about to happen. But she kept me engrossed and I was rooting for her all the way through. I think she made many mistakes we all make in that age, but hers had probably bigger stakes than my teenage life ever did, I think the friendship between XIa and er friends were very well developed, which I always enjoy in rom-coms. Sometimes I think friendships are used in this genre to move the plot or romance along, but I didn't get that feeling here.
The ending did feel a little rushed. I think it could have been a tad longer. The relationship between Xia and Mast could have been further developed a bit especially after Xia started to change. It would have made me more invested in their relationship. But I honestly forgot about Mast for a good chunk of the book, he pretty much disappeared for most of the middle. The plot line was also a bit predictable, with lots of clues as to what was going to happen. But that didn't stop me from being invested in reading.
evelyn_b_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't expect to like this as much as I did but it was so fun!! As a girl majoring in computer science I could really relate to Xia, and I really enjoyed watching her year in the Foundry unfold. I was surprised that this book focused a lot more on the business-y side of computer science rather than coding itself. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I wish I could've learned more about some of the characters like Mike and Mast, I feel like I didn't see enough of them to become emotionally attached. But overall I would definitely recommend this book for anyone, especially girls interested in programming!
bookstorianreads's review against another edition
3.0
This provided great insight into how it is or can be like for a woman in the male dominated tech industry. As a reader, you find yourself sympathetic to the protagonist Xia right away, and the common themes of loneliness and parental discord are sure to resound in many teens. It's a bit painful reading of her struggles in school, and the downwards spiral she eventually gets into, but her search for her online love while coming to terms with her feelings for another boy provides some distraction. A solid story.
bookstorianreads's review
3.0
This provided great insight into how it is or can be like for a woman in the male dominated tech industry. As a reader, you find yourself sympathetic to the protagonist Xia right away, and the common themes of loneliness and parental discord are sure to resound in many teens. It's a bit painful reading of her struggles in school, and the downwards spiral she naively finds herself in, but her search for her online love while coming to terms with her feelings for another boy, one who's physically there, provides some distraction. An original, solid read.
lemonlimecola's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cjoshuav's review against another edition
5.0
Yvonne Woon, author of the Dead Beautiful trilogy, again takes us to a boarding school for exceptional young people, but the only supernatural forces at work this time around are wealth and greed. Set in present-day Silicon Valley, If You Then Me follows the story of Xia Chan as she navigates the hyper-competitive world of internet startup culture, while also coming to terms with her own identity as a creator and as an adult.
Identity is a key theme of the book, with Woon skillfully, and sometimes brutally, portraying the layered hostilities of racism, sexism and classism that exponentially complicate the professional and personal lives of Asian-American women working in the tech industry. It is telling that this is not a book about racism or sexism. It is a novel about values, priorities, hard work, and integrity. But when the protagonist is the daughter of a single mother who emigrated from China, the story must also address how racist aggressions (both micro and overt), sexism, sexual assault, and the tidal forces of privilege and wealth all exhaust someone like Xia, long before she even has the chance to start putting in the necessary work to succeed.
The nature of “success” is also a key theme of If You, Then Me. Woon vividly portrays the emptiness and superficiality of a world in which poorly-socialized geniuses receive too much wealth and power too quickly. The novel asks important questions about what is real, what has value, and what sacrifices are too great.
Those questions are not subtle. Xia and her friends are a group of hyper-intelligent outsiders who are both keenly introspective and wryly articulate, a hallmark of Yoon’s young-adult writing. Despite some obviously dangerous blindspots, Xia and her peers are often thoughtful observers of their circumstances and their responsibility for them, an indication of Yoon’s respect for her audience and of the reality that older teenagers are often much more cognizant of the exigencies of their lives than adults give them credit for.
Bright teenagers butting heads against unnecessary obstacles will find much to relate to in If You, Then Me. Likewise adults who want to step fully into a vital and authentic depiction of the world of one such teenager will find much to enjoy, and even learn from, here. There are important ideas here for adults as well, as most of the non-teens in the novel have a parasitic relationship of one kind or another with Xia. The novel asks: When faced with the brilliance and creative vitality of youth, how many of us see at as a resource to exploit rather than as a wonder to nurture and support?
The book moves smoothly and briskly through these themes, driven primarily by sharp dialogue interspersed with sparse exposition. My one real complaint is that I wanted there to be more – more of the daily life at the Foundry, more backstory on the lives and works of the supporting characters, more time to fully digest the relatively predictable but nonetheless satisfying conclusion.
My only other quibble is that the nerdspeak sometimes feels forced or contrived. Those of us who grew up on Usenet or Reddit recognize when an outsider is speaking our native tongue, even when they do so fluently. Woon clearly researched Silicon Valley thoroughly, but this is still a book written about tech nerds, not by a tech nerd.
It is also a book that is well worth your time. Xia Chan is a complex, honest, compelling character whose journey kept me completely fixated for a cover-to-cover read in a single session. Yvonne Woon may not be a tech nerd, but she clearly knows what it’s like to be a smart, young, Asian woman fighting to define herself and her creative voice in a milieu dominated by powerful, white men. We need to hear more stories like Xia’s, and Woon has the skill and artistry to make those stories come alive.
Identity is a key theme of the book, with Woon skillfully, and sometimes brutally, portraying the layered hostilities of racism, sexism and classism that exponentially complicate the professional and personal lives of Asian-American women working in the tech industry. It is telling that this is not a book about racism or sexism. It is a novel about values, priorities, hard work, and integrity. But when the protagonist is the daughter of a single mother who emigrated from China, the story must also address how racist aggressions (both micro and overt), sexism, sexual assault, and the tidal forces of privilege and wealth all exhaust someone like Xia, long before she even has the chance to start putting in the necessary work to succeed.
The nature of “success” is also a key theme of If You, Then Me. Woon vividly portrays the emptiness and superficiality of a world in which poorly-socialized geniuses receive too much wealth and power too quickly. The novel asks important questions about what is real, what has value, and what sacrifices are too great.
Those questions are not subtle. Xia and her friends are a group of hyper-intelligent outsiders who are both keenly introspective and wryly articulate, a hallmark of Yoon’s young-adult writing. Despite some obviously dangerous blindspots, Xia and her peers are often thoughtful observers of their circumstances and their responsibility for them, an indication of Yoon’s respect for her audience and of the reality that older teenagers are often much more cognizant of the exigencies of their lives than adults give them credit for.
Bright teenagers butting heads against unnecessary obstacles will find much to relate to in If You, Then Me. Likewise adults who want to step fully into a vital and authentic depiction of the world of one such teenager will find much to enjoy, and even learn from, here. There are important ideas here for adults as well, as most of the non-teens in the novel have a parasitic relationship of one kind or another with Xia. The novel asks: When faced with the brilliance and creative vitality of youth, how many of us see at as a resource to exploit rather than as a wonder to nurture and support?
The book moves smoothly and briskly through these themes, driven primarily by sharp dialogue interspersed with sparse exposition. My one real complaint is that I wanted there to be more – more of the daily life at the Foundry, more backstory on the lives and works of the supporting characters, more time to fully digest the relatively predictable but nonetheless satisfying conclusion.
My only other quibble is that the nerdspeak sometimes feels forced or contrived. Those of us who grew up on Usenet or Reddit recognize when an outsider is speaking our native tongue, even when they do so fluently. Woon clearly researched Silicon Valley thoroughly, but this is still a book written about tech nerds, not by a tech nerd.
It is also a book that is well worth your time. Xia Chan is a complex, honest, compelling character whose journey kept me completely fixated for a cover-to-cover read in a single session. Yvonne Woon may not be a tech nerd, but she clearly knows what it’s like to be a smart, young, Asian woman fighting to define herself and her creative voice in a milieu dominated by powerful, white men. We need to hear more stories like Xia’s, and Woon has the skill and artistry to make those stories come alive.
jellyfishleila's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0