Reviews with content warning for Colonisation - A Pho Love Story

Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

10 reviews

kelly_e's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.25

Title: A Pho Love Story
Author: Loan Le
Genre: YA Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: December 28, 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Juvenile • Dramatic • Hearty

📖 S Y N O P S I S

For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.

But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember. Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?

💭 T H O U G H T S

I stumbled across A Pho Love Story at a local garage sale over the summer, so I picked it up. When I needed a quick simple read, I decided this was a good choice. I knew little about the premise aside from it centering around food. And I definitely wasn't aware it is a modern Romeo and Juliet retelling.

It will come as not surprise that the food was my favourite part! Loan Le does a fantastic job with the food descriptions, leaving me hungry and salivating. The food aspect also adds a layer of cultural background and the meaning of food. Unfortunately though the feuding family trope feels like it something I have read too often.

There is excellent character growth for both Bao and Linh from start to finish. And their romance felt believable - growing slowly over time. In my opinion, it was a breath of fresh air to read a healthy and supportive depiction of teenage love, as opposed to a toxic one. I also appreciated the exploration of parental expectations versus following your own dreams; the immigrant experience; and how family histories shape our present.

I am definitely not the intended audience for this one, and to me that was evident. It was nothing exceptional, and I likely won't remember a few months from now. However, I could definitely see the merits for a younger audience and would recommend it to the 13-18 year old age group.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the feuding families trope
• foodies

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Think about what you want. What you want to make and add to the world."

"There's so much in your life that you can't control...So maybe you can use this chance to do something for yourself"

Content Warnings

escapismforlife's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Bao and Linh must be protected at all cost. Their relationship forms so naturally. In spite of the obstacles they face from their parents Vietnam restraurants rivalry.

A Pho Love Story is the best first young adult love story I picked up finally since fall 2022. It was complex and layered with each chapter in their alternate point of views revealin something new. A story which had more depthful history of each others immigrant family. Not to mention how they discovered and embraced what they wanted to do for themselves. Which did not leave their culture behind in the process.

I felt on the verge of emotional overload by the end of this story. Just from the things they discover and the family dynamics. It was beautiful in the most unexpeted of ways to finish this one. This was a solid and quick contemporary story that has a strong teen romance at the center of it all. A solid first book from a new author this year.

Content Warnings

malawithmasala's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

so validating for children of immigrants especially if you have a family business

Content Warnings

iamsammie27's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.75

Content Warnings

nicoreads333's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.0

This was a quick, joyful read with a lovable and complex cast of characters. I love reading about other cultures, and this was the first I had read on Vietnamese culture. It as a cute love story that mixed history with modern day issues facing immigrants and their children, but it never felt too heavy. There was a lightheartedness to it that kept it uplifting and hopeful throughout.

Content Warnings

samchase112's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective 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

One of the cutest YA romances I’ve read in the longest time!!! I fully believed Linh and Bao’s feelings for each other, and completely adored them as a couple. The backdrop of Vietnamese-American culture and family was such an interesting and well-incorporated element to the story, and made this more than just another cute love story with a miscommunication twist. The ending was very rushed, however — Bao’s article should have been a more important plot line, and stretching it back further would have made his arc even better. Overall though, this was a pure fun time, and I loved diving into a YA romance that actually made me squeal with happiness!

Content Warnings