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lucyrudd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Racism
sunlit_music's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It focuses on a hidden chaste romance between Bao and Linh, who start out as friends and eventually fall in love. Their families hate each other due to a misunderstanding, and Bao and Linh have to hide their relationship from their parents.
What I loved:
- The delicious, amazing descriptions of Vietnamese food in America! Don't read this if you're hungry, otherwise the book will make you hungrier.
- The author weaving facts on Vietnamese culture and social etiquette seamlessly into the story.
- Bao and Linh make a really sweet couple. They're awkward, gentle and kind to each other.
- Bao and Linh have healthy friendships, and Linh has a supportive art teacher.
- The diversity!! So many characters are BIPOC.
- The author talks about family trauma from the Vietnam War sensitively, with grace and understanding.
- This book also tackles the issue of racism thoughtfully and assertively, which I like.
- The fact that there's a nuanced portrayal of diaspora families - it's not "my family is wonderful and agrees with everything I say" or "my family is completely awful" (although both portrayals happen in real life and are valid too). Linh loves her family, and they love her, but they have unhealthy expectations of her working for the family business instead of pursuing her passion. But things do work out in the end, and Linh's parents do end up respecting her wishes. :)
Cons:
- there's only minor cons I think. The book does move at a slow pace, which should be fine if you like character dense books. This book has great characterisation for sure. I found Linh and Bao way more interesting than their friends. But those are small complaints, and they don't detract from the book much.
Anyway, check this book out if you like reading gentle, kind YA romances and stories that tackle family trauma and racism sensitively. :)
What I loved:
- The delicious, amazing descriptions of Vietnamese food in America! Don't read this if you're hungry, otherwise the book will make you hungrier.
- The author weaving facts on Vietnamese culture and social etiquette seamlessly into the story.
- Bao and Linh make a really sweet couple. They're awkward, gentle and kind to each other.
- Bao and Linh have healthy friendships, and Linh has a supportive art teacher.
- The diversity!! So many characters are BIPOC.
- The author talks about family trauma from the Vietnam War sensitively, with grace and understanding.
- This book also tackles the issue of racism thoughtfully and assertively, which I like.
- The fact that there's a nuanced portrayal of diaspora families - it's not "my family is wonderful and agrees with everything I say" or "my family is completely awful" (although both portrayals happen in real life and are valid too). Linh loves her family, and they love her, but they have unhealthy expectations of her working for the family business instead of pursuing her passion. But things do work out in the end, and Linh's parents do end up respecting her wishes. :)
Cons:
- there's only minor cons I think. The book does move at a slow pace, which should be fine if you like character dense books. This book has great characterisation for sure. I found Linh and Bao way more interesting than their friends. But those are small complaints, and they don't detract from the book much.
Anyway, check this book out if you like reading gentle, kind YA romances and stories that tackle family trauma and racism sensitively. :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief and Death
vyxbui's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, and War
libraryghost's review against another edition
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Grief
Moderate: Death, Racism, and War
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Death, War, Grief, and Classism
aqtbenz's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War, and Racism
tojtwl's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Read this funny, lighthearted book about a romance between two Vietnamese highschoolers after reading something heavy like Everything I Never Told Us by Celeste Ng. It has just the right kind of "ingredients" (since this is about two rival families and their restaurants) to make a good, lighthearted read.
It's also a bit Romeo and Juliet-ish minus the tragic ending.
But even in the midst of its lightheartedness, there is a degree of sadness when you read about why the rival families are indeed rivals.
But even in the midst of its lightheartedness, there is a degree of sadness when you read about why the rival families are indeed rivals.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
rachelizx's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Cultural appropriation, Death, and Racial slurs
ellamycroft's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: War, Sexism, and Death
zoepagereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
A modern day retelling of Romeo and Juliet but with two children of Vietnamese immigrants with rival restaurants?? Honestly, I kind of just bought this for the food descriptions (I was not disappointed). This was a very cute read with good characters and plot. It was especially good for a debut novel (I never would have guessed!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Grief and Death