A review by nigelthotberry
Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi

2.0

Permanent Record
I really wanted to like this book. I was determined to like this book. Which is why I forced myself to finish it. And writing what I thought after every reading session helped me finish it, so I’m just posting that as a review.

Chapter1: This is so incredibly boring. It’s just full of useless detail, like Uncle Toms Cabin. It’s like the author had a word count requirement. I always wondered why protagonists didn’t notice so many things around them, but now I know it’s because of this.

Chapter3?: she’s mentioning all these names, but I don’t know who they are. I’m guessing they’re characters later on, but if they’re references I’m lost.

Chapter4: He got an upright from her offering him icecream???? Is he okay?

Chapter5: Why do I need to know that Palace used to be Alibi, which used to be Arca??? Do I really need this bit of information? Guess only time will tell.

I have a feeling that the dildo selling is the only funny part of this book. Yikes.

Chapter7: okay, this one had some deep parts in there, I’ll give it that. Maybe this is its turn around point??

Chapter12: DNF. Couldn’t do it. It’s just so boring, and so insufferable. I couldn’t force myself through it. In fact, even after deciding I’m not going to finish it, and looking forward to my next book. I’ve lost motivation for reading that next book. Because I keep thinking back to this one.

I decided I had to finish it. That I wasn’t being fair to the book. Unlike the synopsis and cover lup zimplies, this is not a romance ya. It’s a slice of life with a touch of romance mixed in. I realized this, and decided that I was just reading it in the wrong way. So I’m now going to read this, not as If it’s a romance, but as it is. A crummy slice of life ya where there isn’t any actual conflict. It’s a man v self kinda thing I guess. Anyway, let’s give it a go.

Chapter13: How on Earth did any of that evolve into an actual relationship??? They had two conversations?? Just two!! Hashtags in posts don’t count. They don’t even know each other!

Chapter14: First the foot fetish in Emergency Contact and now a feeding fetish in this one??? Hmm, Is there something you’d like to tell us Choi??

Chapter15: First things first, he’s a total simp. Second, Jesus Christ that moved fast!

Chapter18: Why did we need to know that? We didn’t need to know that.

Chapter19: I’ve gotta day, that was pretty emotional. It almost brought tears to my eyes. But the only thing I can think of is how materialistic Pablo is.

Chaoter26: That was heavy. For sure. I feel like they’re growing apart.

Chapter29?: wow. Okay, it’s a little more interesting now that we actually see how much his mom hurt him with her reaction to his acceptance.

Chapter38: These last three chapters were the best of the whole book. No joke. I actually really like how it ended too. Sort of wish he didn’t see her, but oh well.