Scan barcode
A review by bookishmillennial
Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
Something I love about young adult coming-of-age is how much the characters really grow over the course of the book 🥹 It’s so lovely to watch them navigate new feelings and experiences so vulnerably!
Jesse Q Sutanto knows how to make you giggle with sheltered, ignorant 17-year-old Sharlot, who goes to Jakarta, Indonesia for the very first time with her mom, who is from there. She has her own not-so-flattering predispositions about what to expect, and the reality of Jakarta completely blows her expectations out of the water.
I thought the premise of how Sharlot & George get set up by their parents (&by Eleanor, George’s 13-year-old sister) was hilarious. George’s potential business, One Liner, was a really wholesome idea too, and it just made me love George more lol! Their connection was a bit of a slow burn but I had so much fun with the fake dating plot!
I am always a sucker for the fraught mother-daughter relationships, especially in Asian immigrant households. I loved that Sharlot and her mom continued to unpack more layers from the other, and eventually held space to get to know each other beyond the roles of “daughter” and “mother”.
I will pretty much read anything JQS writes, & this fluffy romcom was a silly goofy, sweet lil reprieve.
Something I love about young adult coming-of-age is how much the characters really grow over the course of the book 🥹 It’s so lovely to watch them navigate new feelings and experiences so vulnerably!
Jesse Q Sutanto knows how to make you giggle with sheltered, ignorant 17-year-old Sharlot, who goes to Jakarta, Indonesia for the very first time with her mom, who is from there. She has her own not-so-flattering predispositions about what to expect, and the reality of Jakarta completely blows her expectations out of the water.
I thought the premise of how Sharlot & George get set up by their parents (&by Eleanor, George’s 13-year-old sister) was hilarious. George’s potential business, One Liner, was a really wholesome idea too, and it just made me love George more lol! Their connection was a bit of a slow burn but I had so much fun with the fake dating plot!
I am always a sucker for the fraught mother-daughter relationships, especially in Asian immigrant households. I loved that Sharlot and her mom continued to unpack more layers from the other, and eventually held space to get to know each other beyond the roles of “daughter” and “mother”.
I will pretty much read anything JQS writes, & this fluffy romcom was a silly goofy, sweet lil reprieve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, and Grief