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epeolatrist's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault and Drug use
Minor: Eating disorder, Cancer, Bullying, and Stalking
thepassivebookworm's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Stalking and Drug use
anniefwrites's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
I've loved Mary H.K. Choi's writing since I read Emergency Contact and Yolk and was happy to read her second of the three YA novels. She created such a strong voice for Pablo, and he and his friends and family feel so real, you could touch them. I have to say that the central tension is caused by something that causes me personally a lot of distress, so the reading experience itself was maybe a bit too stressful for me. I really like how the story ends up, but I sort of wish it didn't wrap up quite so quickly and neatly. But in general, I'll always be ready to read another book by Mary H.K. Choi because her style is so distinctive and makes you feel like a smarter, wiser, more thoughtful person for reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, and Drug use
Minor: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Stalking
sara_olivia's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
Minor: Drug use
invaderlinz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Drug use
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Stalking
sarah_d's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
I was expecting a romance but the romance was only a vehicle for the rest of the plot. While I do like romances, that was even better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Drug use
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
[This full review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Take my word for it, this story is so much more than just a “secret romance” as the synopsis sets it out to be.
Permanent Record is all about Pablo Neruda Rind whose life is a mess. He’s dropped out of NYU, has moved out of his family home and is sharing an apartment with friends. For a year he’s been working at a health food store with the hopes of earning enough to get back into school, while monthly rent payments and various bills that are piling up in his bedroom drawer watch on.
Enter Leanna Smart - childhood star and now a major celebrity, who one night stumbles into the store on Pablo’s shift. The two hit it off and Pablo finds a new excuse to push away his problems by allowing himself to be swept up into Leanna’s world. But it’s not long before his problems come racing to catch up with him.
This was the first book I’ve read by Choi and I quite liked her writing style. Not being American myself I didn’t understand all the references used, but her inclusion of pop culture, social media and slang/lingo within the narrative really helped to voice Pablo’s character, as well as set the scene. At first I was surprised to find that this book wasn’t written in a dual perspective, but it became clear quite quickly that this was very much Pablo’s story.
At the centre is the theme of adulthood, or more specifically being new to adulthood and it sure hit closer to home than I expected. Through the various relationships Pablo has with his family, his friends, his employers and even Leanna, Choi touches on the societal and familial pressures that are present in today’s world when it comes to education, finances and life in general. As the story progresses you really start to get a glimpse of how dire Pablo’s situation is.
The romance between Pablo and Leanna played more of a supporting role in the story and I thought it was great that their relationship didn’t overpower the primary narrative at any point. Their joint personalities and interests made their relationship feel natural and realistic however, it also highlighted the contrasts in their lives.
The friendship and family dynamics present in the story were also superbly written, the latter probably being my favourite part. The various elements of Pablo’s identity – being the eldest child in a biracial Asian and broken family, being an older sibling, being a child of diaspora – were handled beautifully. It gave light to some really important and thought-provoking discussions on culture, identity, privilege and race.
Now my life may not be as much of a mess as Pablo’s but I related to his character so much and really enjoyed his character arc. I really appreciated the underlying message that it is okay to not be sure about where life is going and that it is okay to mess up. That growing up doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself from others in difficult times.
Overall, I just love how unapologetically hones this book is and I am so glad I picked it up. I look forward to picking up Choi’s debut, Emergency Contact as well as any of her future works.
Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Take my word for it, this story is so much more than just a “secret romance” as the synopsis sets it out to be.
Permanent Record is all about Pablo Neruda Rind whose life is a mess. He’s dropped out of NYU, has moved out of his family home and is sharing an apartment with friends. For a year he’s been working at a health food store with the hopes of earning enough to get back into school, while monthly rent payments and various bills that are piling up in his bedroom drawer watch on.
Enter Leanna Smart - childhood star and now a major celebrity, who one night stumbles into the store on Pablo’s shift. The two hit it off and Pablo finds a new excuse to push away his problems by allowing himself to be swept up into Leanna’s world. But it’s not long before his problems come racing to catch up with him.
This was the first book I’ve read by Choi and I quite liked her writing style. Not being American myself I didn’t understand all the references used, but her inclusion of pop culture, social media and slang/lingo within the narrative really helped to voice Pablo’s character, as well as set the scene. At first I was surprised to find that this book wasn’t written in a dual perspective, but it became clear quite quickly that this was very much Pablo’s story.
At the centre is the theme of adulthood, or more specifically being new to adulthood and it sure hit closer to home than I expected. Through the various relationships Pablo has with his family, his friends, his employers and even Leanna, Choi touches on the societal and familial pressures that are present in today’s world when it comes to education, finances and life in general. As the story progresses you really start to get a glimpse of how dire Pablo’s situation is.
The romance between Pablo and Leanna played more of a supporting role in the story and I thought it was great that their relationship didn’t overpower the primary narrative at any point. Their joint personalities and interests made their relationship feel natural and realistic however, it also highlighted the contrasts in their lives.
The friendship and family dynamics present in the story were also superbly written, the latter probably being my favourite part. The various elements of Pablo’s identity – being the eldest child in a biracial Asian and broken family, being an older sibling, being a child of diaspora – were handled beautifully. It gave light to some really important and thought-provoking discussions on culture, identity, privilege and race.
Now my life may not be as much of a mess as Pablo’s but I related to his character so much and really enjoyed his character arc. I really appreciated the underlying message that it is okay to not be sure about where life is going and that it is okay to mess up. That growing up doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself from others in difficult times.
Overall, I just love how unapologetically hones this book is and I am so glad I picked it up. I look forward to picking up Choi’s debut, Emergency Contact as well as any of her future works.
Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Drug use, and Sexual assault
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