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kimbongiorno's review against another edition
4.0
Ahhh growing up is messy. Choi does a solid job of making us care about people who don't always make the best decisions, because isn't that all of us at that age?
It was nothing like I expected, and I'm glad for it.
It was nothing like I expected, and I'm glad for it.
racqthebelle's review against another edition
3.0
This was a light, fluffy read. The main character, Pablo, got on my nerves, but I thought his fallible logic and anxious avoidance was a pretty accurate portrayal of 20-or-30-something year old men. Everything that happened to and around him was due to his own foolishness and self-centered thoughts/behaviors. Despite Pablo and his celebrity kind-of girlfriend Lee’s terrible personalities, I enjoyed reading about their shenanigans kind of like how I enjoy watching trash TV every once in a while. The “youth slang” felt a little forced at times, but overall, it wasn’t too bad.
akiaki's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I feel like I don’t really have an opinion on this book tbh. MC a little annoying but understandably so, other character felt fleeting and kind of bothered me too. Id round this out to 3 stars but this was just a 2.4 for me sooooo
nigelthotberry's review against another edition
2.0
Permanent Record
I really wanted to like this book. I was determined to like this book. Which is why I forced myself to finish it. And writing what I thought after every reading session helped me finish it, so I’m just posting that as a review.
Chapter1: This is so incredibly boring. It’s just full of useless detail, like Uncle Toms Cabin. It’s like the author had a word count requirement. I always wondered why protagonists didn’t notice so many things around them, but now I know it’s because of this.
Chapter3?: she’s mentioning all these names, but I don’t know who they are. I’m guessing they’re characters later on, but if they’re references I’m lost.
Chapter4: He got an upright from her offering him icecream???? Is he okay?
Chapter5: Why do I need to know that Palace used to be Alibi, which used to be Arca??? Do I really need this bit of information? Guess only time will tell.
I have a feeling that the dildo selling is the only funny part of this book. Yikes.
Chapter7: okay, this one had some deep parts in there, I’ll give it that. Maybe this is its turn around point??
Chapter12: DNF. Couldn’t do it. It’s just so boring, and so insufferable. I couldn’t force myself through it. In fact, even after deciding I’m not going to finish it, and looking forward to my next book. I’ve lost motivation for reading that next book. Because I keep thinking back to this one.
I decided I had to finish it. That I wasn’t being fair to the book. Unlike the synopsis and cover lup zimplies, this is not a romance ya. It’s a slice of life with a touch of romance mixed in. I realized this, and decided that I was just reading it in the wrong way. So I’m now going to read this, not as If it’s a romance, but as it is. A crummy slice of life ya where there isn’t any actual conflict. It’s a man v self kinda thing I guess. Anyway, let’s give it a go.
Chapter13: How on Earth did any of that evolve into an actual relationship??? They had two conversations?? Just two!! Hashtags in posts don’t count. They don’t even know each other!
Chapter14: First the foot fetish in Emergency Contact and now a feeding fetish in this one??? Hmm, Is there something you’d like to tell us Choi??
Chapter15: First things first, he’s a total simp. Second, Jesus Christ that moved fast!
Chapter18: Why did we need to know that? We didn’t need to know that.
Chapter19: I’ve gotta day, that was pretty emotional. It almost brought tears to my eyes. But the only thing I can think of is how materialistic Pablo is.
Chaoter26: That was heavy. For sure. I feel like they’re growing apart.
Chapter29?: wow. Okay, it’s a little more interesting now that we actually see how much his mom hurt him with her reaction to his acceptance.
Chapter38: These last three chapters were the best of the whole book. No joke. I actually really like how it ended too. Sort of wish he didn’t see her, but oh well.
I really wanted to like this book. I was determined to like this book. Which is why I forced myself to finish it. And writing what I thought after every reading session helped me finish it, so I’m just posting that as a review.
Chapter1: This is so incredibly boring. It’s just full of useless detail, like Uncle Toms Cabin. It’s like the author had a word count requirement. I always wondered why protagonists didn’t notice so many things around them, but now I know it’s because of this.
Chapter3?: she’s mentioning all these names, but I don’t know who they are. I’m guessing they’re characters later on, but if they’re references I’m lost.
Chapter4: He got an upright from her offering him icecream???? Is he okay?
Chapter5: Why do I need to know that Palace used to be Alibi, which used to be Arca??? Do I really need this bit of information? Guess only time will tell.
I have a feeling that the dildo selling is the only funny part of this book. Yikes.
Chapter7: okay, this one had some deep parts in there, I’ll give it that. Maybe this is its turn around point??
Chapter12: DNF. Couldn’t do it. It’s just so boring, and so insufferable. I couldn’t force myself through it. In fact, even after deciding I’m not going to finish it, and looking forward to my next book. I’ve lost motivation for reading that next book. Because I keep thinking back to this one.
I decided I had to finish it. That I wasn’t being fair to the book. Unlike the synopsis and cover lup zimplies, this is not a romance ya. It’s a slice of life with a touch of romance mixed in. I realized this, and decided that I was just reading it in the wrong way. So I’m now going to read this, not as If it’s a romance, but as it is. A crummy slice of life ya where there isn’t any actual conflict. It’s a man v self kinda thing I guess. Anyway, let’s give it a go.
Chapter13: How on Earth did any of that evolve into an actual relationship??? They had two conversations?? Just two!! Hashtags in posts don’t count. They don’t even know each other!
Chapter14: First the foot fetish in Emergency Contact and now a feeding fetish in this one??? Hmm, Is there something you’d like to tell us Choi??
Chapter15: First things first, he’s a total simp. Second, Jesus Christ that moved fast!
Chapter18: Why did we need to know that? We didn’t need to know that.
Chapter19: I’ve gotta day, that was pretty emotional. It almost brought tears to my eyes. But the only thing I can think of is how materialistic Pablo is.
Chaoter26: That was heavy. For sure. I feel like they’re growing apart.
Chapter29?: wow. Okay, it’s a little more interesting now that we actually see how much his mom hurt him with her reaction to his acceptance.
Chapter38: These last three chapters were the best of the whole book. No joke. I actually really like how it ended too. Sort of wish he didn’t see her, but oh well.
theolikesreading's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thehawk72's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating 2.5. This book pissed me off the entire time I was reading it. Pablo is literally the worst, dickish, and most unrelatable main character ever. No sympathy.
sumsunalli's review against another edition
4.0
4* because the ending felt a bit too rushed. Love Choi’s writing and liked this story.
syl_val15's review against another edition
2.0
I was bored the entire time while reading this, however it had moments sometimes,I guess;
So, what I liked about the book:
The cover. The more illustrated covers I see the more I pick up the book.
The diverse characters. Almost every character had a different background and the protagonist was biracial.
The summary.
From a guy's PoV, most of ya books I read are from girl’s POV, so this was refreshing for me.
What I didn’t like:
Everything else.
I read this book almost a week ago and I honestly don’t even remember the names of the characters, nothing was memorable if you ask me. I was bored the entire time due to lack of plot line. Nothing really happened in the book except in the last few chapters when the main character comes to a realization about his future and what he wants to do with it etc, etc but that’s it all about it.
If I have to describe the genre of this book I’d have to say it’s a coming of age story but a very dull and not eye opening kind.
So, what I liked about the book:
The cover. The more illustrated covers I see the more I pick up the book.
The diverse characters. Almost every character had a different background and the protagonist was biracial.
The summary.
From a guy's PoV, most of ya books I read are from girl’s POV, so this was refreshing for me.
What I didn’t like:
Everything else.
I read this book almost a week ago and I honestly don’t even remember the names of the characters, nothing was memorable if you ask me. I was bored the entire time due to lack of plot line. Nothing really happened in the book except in the last few chapters when the main character comes to a realization about his future and what he wants to do with it etc, etc but that’s it all about it.
If I have to describe the genre of this book I’d have to say it’s a coming of age story but a very dull and not eye opening kind.
mayzinminthu's review against another edition
4.0
Mary H.K. Choi amazes me again with such a gripping book. She also never fails to have such an aesthetically pleasing cover (SO CUTE). I'm not a huge fan of the whole "famous person falls for normal person" romance plot, but I think Choi executed it very well. I love how we truly get to see how Pablo goes through life living with debt and a whole bunch of financial problems on top of distancing himself from the people closest to him. The realism behind the troubles Pablo has trying to find where he fits in is so genuine and honest. (Being mixed race as well as being named after the famous Pablo Neruda doesn't help either.) I think Leanna's character could have been more developed. but overall, I really enjoyed this book and love the whole atmosphere it creates when you are reading it.