shelovestoread's review against another edition
2.0
Dang, I really wanted to love this one since I really enjoyed the author's debut and was so excited for this one.
It took me so long to get into this book. Both the characters were so unlikable or maybe it's just Ollie's monologue that made me feel that way. Will get back to this.
This book wants to tackle a lot of sensitive topics but fails to deliver on all fronts. The main issues in this book were the sexism and misogyny in Asian communities, and boy does it fail to address them. (All of these things were very close to me since I am Asian and I have seen these things in real life, like mothers serving the whole family before eating themselves or them not having proper spaces at the table.) It shows it happening, You do get frustrated a lot but it's just a tag, throughout its like: Oh!!!!!!!!! It's old people... What can you do throughout??!?!?@@? Which was so ANNOYING.
Also, the whole plot twist wtf was that? And even that which is HUGE is just brushed under the rug??@?1@?@?krhkfkjfjkdfkjfdkjfkjfkvjk
I have no clue about the romance arc. Because boy did Ollie HATE Francine. His inner monologues are so awful. Like I had such a hard time getting into this book because he just kept going off about how annoying Francine is and honestly it rubbed off on me. Like the progression from that to romance was nanosecond like zero build-up??
Francine is a tough nut to digest. She just is such a martyr trope personified you just want to shake her hard.
All in all this book was a disappointment. Conflict resolution was nowhere to be found and it just left me frustrated how things were as unaddressed as they were at the start of the book.
It took me so long to get into this book. Both the characters were so unlikable or maybe it's just Ollie's monologue that made me feel that way. Will get back to this.
This book wants to tackle a lot of sensitive topics but fails to deliver on all fronts. The main issues in this book were the sexism and misogyny in Asian communities, and boy does it fail to address them. (All of these things were very close to me since I am Asian and I have seen these things in real life, like mothers serving the whole family before eating themselves or them not having proper spaces at the table.) It shows it happening, You do get frustrated a lot but it's just a tag, throughout its like: Oh!!!!!!!!! It's old people... What can you do throughout??!?!?@@? Which was so ANNOYING.
Also, the whole plot twist wtf was that? And even that which is HUGE is just brushed under the rug??@?1@?@?krhkfkjfjkdfkjfdkjfkjfkvjk
I have no clue about the romance arc. Because boy did Ollie HATE Francine. His inner monologues are so awful. Like I had such a hard time getting into this book because he just kept going off about how annoying Francine is and honestly it rubbed off on me. Like the progression from that to romance was nanosecond like zero build-up??
Francine is a tough nut to digest. She just is such a martyr trope personified you just want to shake her hard.
All in all this book was a disappointment. Conflict resolution was nowhere to be found and it just left me frustrated how things were as unaddressed as they were at the start of the book.
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Cute little story about family, first loves, and deception :)
It's not dark at all despite dealing with hard topics but some of the conflicts seemed to be there just to push the plot forward as they got resolved incredibly quick and easy despite the big-stakes set up.
It's not dark at all despite dealing with hard topics but some of the conflicts seemed to be there just to push the plot forward as they got resolved incredibly quick and easy despite the big-stakes set up.
Content Warnings
Minor: Terminal illness
One of the characters has a terminal illness although their symptoms or treatment are not the main focus of the plot and are rarely (if ever) described in detail.acstonebridge's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bubblewombat's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I really wanted to love this, especially with both covers being so cute, but sadly it didn't work for me. It was very slow paced and took almost 40% to get started, and then the plot just wasn't all that interesting, the romance went from 0 to 100 really quick...it was odd.
I do think that this author has better books though, so I will be giving them a chance in the future.
2.5
I do think that this author has better books though, so I will be giving them a chance in the future.
2.5
ghidaabdelghany's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
sweetsxrrxw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
despite my star rating, i must say this book was actually nice to read. the characters are (eventually) loveable, the chapters are relatively short, there's a dual pov, and the story deals with a bunch of different but relevant topics.
i think my main problem with the book is that, because there are many themes, the author couldn't really develop all of them properly and some got overlooked. and also i felt like the last 25% of the book was pretty rushed :/ if it wasn't for this two things i would have probably rounded up the rating to 4 stars, tbh.
but let's go back to the positive things. i don't have much to say about the plot because this is more a character-driven book, so i'm just gonna focus on them.
i could relate to both main characters in different ways.
francine is definitely a chronic people pleaser. she spends her whole life trying to make everyone happy and pleased with her, and, honestly, i could see myself in her. plus, i'm sure people also thought i was this smart but weird girl in school, lmao.
on the other hand, i had a soft spot for ollie almost as soon as his pov starts on the first page and he explains how he cried to a movie because of the violence and the way it made him emphathize with his family. of course there were parts where i didn't really like him or understand him. but, of course, i could also relate to him being an indecisive person who usually tries to stay away from conflicts.
using a dual pov was a great way to show the juxtaposition of the two of them: their family dynamic, their friendships, their personalities... it was interesting to put myself in their shoes, understand their situations and watch how they managed themselves through them. i just wish the ending didn't feel so rushed and that some things had been more developed.
so yeah, it's not one of the best books i've ever read, but i could definitely recommend it.
ps: i hope i was not the only one who spent like 60% of the book thinking if "fōng" meant something like "honey" or "sweetie" lmao.
i think my main problem with the book is that, because there are many themes, the author couldn't really develop all of them properly and some got overlooked. and also i felt like the last 25% of the book was pretty rushed :/ if it wasn't for this two things i would have probably rounded up the rating to 4 stars, tbh.
but let's go back to the positive things. i don't have much to say about the plot because this is more a character-driven book, so i'm just gonna focus on them.
i could relate to both main characters in different ways.
francine is definitely a chronic people pleaser. she spends her whole life trying to make everyone happy and pleased with her,
Spoiler
making herself smaller in order to "feel less"on the other hand, i had a soft spot for ollie almost as soon as his pov starts on the first page and he explains how he cried to a movie because of the violence and the way it made him emphathize with his family. of course there were parts where i didn't really like him or understand him. but, of course, i could also relate to him being an indecisive person who usually tries to stay away from conflicts.
using a dual pov was a great way to show the juxtaposition of the two of them: their family dynamic, their friendships, their personalities... it was interesting to put myself in their shoes, understand their situations and watch how they managed themselves through them. i just wish the ending didn't feel so rushed and that some things
Spoiler
such as if ollie and francine are in a situationship or they're actually dating, or get to see how francine's a gūng reacts to it, or francine's relationship with her mom after knowing the truth about herso yeah, it's not one of the best books i've ever read, but i could definitely recommend it.
ps: i hope i was not the only one who spent like 60% of the book thinking if "fōng" meant something like "honey" or "sweetie" lmao.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: War
elyssam's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
I’ll probably give everything Michelle Quach writes five stars but especially this one for its layers and honesty and overall lovliness. I liked being in Ollie and Francine’s heads and I like how they unraveled the strengths in one another. I, like Ollie, seem to always be crying and am surprised I made it through this heartfelt novel without a tear.
bayafezz's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
welcometomynirvana's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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