A review by betweentheshelves
The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach

emotional 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

3.0

I wanted to like this more than I actually did, honestly. The premise is interesting, the chemistry between Francine and Ollie was well done, and I loved getting to see their different family dynamics. There are a lot of discussions about the cultural differences between Vitenam and China and there are a lot of teen readers who will find comfort in having that representation.

I think part of the reason I didn't get as much into this book is because it's not quite what I was in the mood for right now, and because the pacing at times felt odd to me. The "secret" that's revealed also didn't seem to really fit with the story, at least in the way I was imagining the characters. I understood it from a plot perspective, but I wished that something else would have been that catalyst.

All in all, not a bad read, but not my favorite of the year.
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