A review by kalynaobyrne
Fireworks by Alice Lin

emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.75

This was such a fun YA! I loved the representation in this book; the AAPI representation of the main characters, Lulu was bi, and there were good discussions of mental health. I enjoyed Kite and Lulu’s romance, though I did find it weird that she called him Kite after he got back and not Kai. I liked the knew each other when they were young, moved apart, and suddenly back in each other’s lives and romance trope that was in this book but liked the twist of Kite being a K-Pop star. Kite’s sudden withdrawal in the book after the social media storm seemed unnecessary to me, especially for how long it lasted. I feel like it would have made sense to withdraw for a few days. I did like the discussion of unrealistic expectations fans have for their idols and the pressure they face on a daily basis. I also enjoyed the social media or text messages that ended each chapter. The author included the perfect amount and made the endings of the chapters more fun. 

My biggest issue with this book was the ending. I felt like it ended very abruptly. If there isn’t going to be a sequel to this I feel like an epilogue should have been included. I would have liked to see how Kite and Lulu’s long distance relationship went. 

Overall, I did really like this and look forward to reading future work from Alice Lin. This was a strong 3.75 for me. 

Thank you to Random House Children's, Underline and NetGalley for an copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

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