A review by marieketron
Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was a fairly straightforward romance, with lots of great content surrounding the core storyline. I really like how Chloe and Drew were always open and communicative with each other, so any miscommunications that arose were generally not between them and usually a result of Chloe consciously choosing to lie to her parents - and then having to sustain that lie.

I'm not Asian or American, but this portrayal felt very realistic in how a second-generation immigrant might develop within her Asian culture while also being immersed in Western / American society. There are definite culture clashes there, and the author doesn't shy away from investigating the less savoury aspects within either culture.

In the end, this is a story about a woman accepting herself so she can be her full self and live together with her partner as her full self.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings