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immimi's review against another edition
Kinda slow it felt like it wasn’t going anywhere
fezzik'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
4.5
cristalmh's review against another edition
3.5
Bao and Linh’s families own restaurants across the street from one another. They don’t know when or how the rivalry began, but it has always been there. Then Bao and Linh’s lives intersect and a relationship begins. They got want to make their parents proud. But between their friendship and not knowing what to do after high school, it feels like they are disappointing their parents. They also don’t realize how much history their families share.
Tropes: Romero and Juliet retelling. Forced Proximity
First generation.
Tropes: Romero and Juliet retelling. Forced Proximity
First generation.
kokechii's review against another edition
3.0
Another one between 2-3 stars. I liked it, certain parts, but then I didn't like it quite so much? I like the representation and the culture. Yes, I was almost constantly hungry and snacking on something or at least wanted to. Yes, I'm also sad that were I live there is no pho in a 100kilometer radius from me :( But... Sigh. I didn't connect with the characters and their voices felt a bit too similar so my mind tended to wander off during reading. And the romance wasn't quite it also, sadly. But maybe I'm inspired to tried cooking my own pho again after almost 10 years, so I'll count that as a plus.
mrswhiteinthelibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
A scrumptious teen ya romcom that flirts with unexpected warmth. Hailing from families locked in a decades' long rivalry, Bao and Linh, find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another as they both also figure out who they are and what they want to be. At once a sweet love story, a double coming of age tale, and a reflection on generational trauma and the Vietnamese immigration experience, this story goes beyond the typical romcom tropes to create a savory story with surprising depth, not unlike a good dish. Come hungry!
cherrydarrling's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
veskumelooni's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism
Minor: War and Death
lorikim63's review against another edition
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? No
4.25
c_ab_bage's review against another edition
5.0
super cute love story. a bit of romeo and juliet meets vietnamese culture. love the main characters and was truly rooting for them the entire time. it was also so educational to read about the lives of vietnamese immigrants and i truly loved hearing about their cuisine. managed to be light hearted and fun while still facing the very real issues of what the “american dream” truly means.