Reviews

Sarong Party Girls by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

tashi318's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Now listen- I haven’t written a review in a while (I’ve been to busy and I’m way behind on my reading challenge so I’m trying to catch up

jewelmarieee_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

hkihm's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Jane Austen's "Emma" meets Singapore's modern dating scene, written in "singlish," a unique Singaporean English slang. It was a fascinating look into the subculture derogatorily known as "sarong party girls," young Singaporean women who exclusively date white men in the hopes of improving their economic and social standing and creating the ultimate status symbol: the half-Asian, half-white "Chanel baby."

emrache's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

I hoped that this book would be lighthearted fun but in reality, it just made me sad. The poor treatment of women, the absurd materialism, the idea of the "Chanel baby", and the shallow relationships all made me cringe. On the plus side, though, I did enjoy the fact that it was written in Singlish.

minty's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

This is pretty depressing chick lit--relationship-hungry girl on the hunt. But! Being set in Singapore and written in Singlish, and listening to the audiobook, was a delight. I've been to those restaurants (not clubs, but I would know the locations at least), shops, malls.

sanmeow's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No

2.0

well, calling this novel 'emma set in modern asia' is a set-up, because it made me have very high expectations. and the book couldn't live up to them. that's mostly because the storyline is incredibly boring and this book is overall forgettable. the protagonist, aka jazzy, is unbearable. she's not unlikable in a way where i actually care what happens to her and connect with her. no, she's just annoying and consistently makes bad and immature decisions that make no sense. she's by far the worst thing about the book. i appreciate the cultural elements of the story, but i'm not sure if it's well executed or not since i have no connection to singapore myself. so, i won't speak on it, but if it was well done then that's good.

winninqs's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

bakkuababy's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

the satire was phenomenal. growing up with the culture, the way the mc idolised ang mohs was soooo realistic and the singlish really topped it all off, I can’t see it being written in any other way. the author’s essay at the end made me really emotional as well. despite all this i did find myself a bit bored at times as the many club settings felt a bit repetitive and i was just waiting for a change of scenery. the mc was misogynistic and dislikable but i thought it necessary for the plot as she was a realistic example of the SEA culture of seeking white approval, the colonisation never actually having ended in a way. all the men in this made me want to die btw i hate them all

mariebitt's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

plnodwyer's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0