Scan barcode
A review by karaisreading
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
the premise of this book was so good.
romeo and juliet has been done to death, but opposing pho resturants? families who hate each other? secret relationship? y/a?
SPOILERS AHEAD
the beginning of this book started off so strong. the connection didn't feel forced, and i really, REALLY love nerdy relationships. something about it is just so charming. panicked inner monologue makes me smile so big bruh and it works really well with y/a.
but then, linh and bao somehow have a perfect opportunity to be together, conveniently they are paired up for a newspaper article?? thing??
and then suddenly, bao's passion in life is writing and linh and him are falling. falling falling falling and it was too underdeveloped.
LIKES:
the vietnamese culture, the family dynamics, the immigrant representation, the inner monologue, (how they fall for each other), the love for art, the chef and his wife :D
DISLIKES:
i feel like the plot relied too much on the BIG PROBLEM between the two families, but there were too many external factors: example, the aunt? she was a really random part of the story, and was only incorporated because she does art and miraculously knows the nguyen family and OH WAIT there's all this crazy backstory WOAHHH!!!
also linh's sister evie was there for one scene and i feel like she could've been written out entirely.
just some parts of the plot were very random and i felt didn't fit in the story very well. but i did enjoy this book.
romeo and juliet has been done to death, but opposing pho resturants? families who hate each other? secret relationship? y/a?
SPOILERS AHEAD
the beginning of this book started off so strong. the connection didn't feel forced, and i really, REALLY love nerdy relationships. something about it is just so charming. panicked inner monologue makes me smile so big bruh and it works really well with y/a.
but then, linh and bao somehow have a perfect opportunity to be together, conveniently they are paired up for a newspaper article?? thing??
and then suddenly, bao's passion in life is writing and linh and him are falling. falling falling falling and it was too underdeveloped.
LIKES:
the vietnamese culture, the family dynamics, the immigrant representation, the inner monologue, (how they fall for each other), the love for art, the chef and his wife :D
DISLIKES:
i feel like the plot relied too much on the BIG PROBLEM between the two families, but there were too many external factors: example, the aunt? she was a really random part of the story, and was only incorporated because she does art and miraculously knows the nguyen family and OH WAIT there's all this crazy backstory WOAHHH!!!
also linh's sister evie was there for one scene and i feel like she could've been written out entirely.
just some parts of the plot were very random and i felt didn't fit in the story very well. but i did enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism