A review by foldingthepage_kayleigh
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto

emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

5.0

We follow Chloe, a Chinese Filipina teenager living in Manila as she navigates that awkward time between graduating high school and going to college, with the added pressure of moving countries to follow her dream to do animation. Throughout the book, Chloe struggles with the push and pull of conflicting values and desires, imposter syndrome, and finding the strength to take risks. The infusion of Chinese Filipino culture and language is the foundation of this book, which is beautifully weaved and made for a special read. 

Overall, I have to say this book is HILARIOUS! I actually laughed out loud regularly throughout this book and it gave me so much joy. I loved how the family dynamics contrasted with Chloe’s inner monologue. And the cast of characters! Everyone was totally zany, with a hashtag obsessed dad, an acapella bombastic best friend, an over-the-top, overbearing aunt, and a perfect scholarly cousin, Chloe is a bit of a misfit and extremely likable.

I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of:
- Jenny Han and Emma Lord
- Slice of life YA
- Short chapters
- Lighthearted reads that still deal with difficult topics

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for this gifted copy
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