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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Felt like home, set in California while examining clearly how race and gender play into our microcosm of what we believe is a liberal melting pot beyond approach. This includes an examination of things like the model minority myth, gender through the lens of race, and especially socioeconomic status differences that tear apart the notion of a monolithic Asian diaspora. I loved that all of this analysis was masterfully woven into an extremely fun and engaging fake dating scenario ( ACADEMIC RIVALS TO LOVERS!! ) that somehow for the most part avoids a lot of the miscommunication trope and centers a strong, yet layered female central character. I do think some of the side characters and plotlines could have been more well developed, as well as the love interest himself, but I emotionally connected with this book so much beyond all the small details.
4.75 stars
read on my blog
rep: Chinese-Vietnamese-American protagonist, biracial (Japanese, white) love interest, Black side character, Korean-American side characters; (Chinese-Vietnamese-American author)
Despite being so hyped for this book, I was a little apprehensive, mostly because I’ve had a string of anticipated releases be disappointing. Luckily, though, there was no need because I loved this book! A powerful story, Not Here to Be Liked balances complex immigrant family dynamics, a budding romance, and what being a feminist means as a teenager.
Eliza Quan‘s guaranteed the editor-in-chief position for her senior year, not only because she’s the most qualified but also because she’s running unopposed. That is, until Len DiMartile, an ex-jock who’s only on the newspaper after lack of a better thing to do after being injured, decides to run too. And then promptly wins after giving a half-baked speech. Upset, Eliza writes an impassioned essay on the misogyny of the situation; she doesn’t intend to post it, but someone does it for her. An uproar goes up across the school, with Eliza suddenly the face of feminism. She struggles with the attention and the weight of this, especially as she realizes Len might not be so bad after all.
I suppose I should begin this review by talking about why I was a little apprehensive about this book at first. As much as I was so intrigued by the summary and everyone’s praise, I also dislike books that are entirely about feminism, mostly because they tend to lose sight of much more important things. Mainly, I worried about the “girlboss”-iness of it all. A strange lens to put on a book I hadn’t read, I know, but that definitely says something about the books I’ve been reading lately.
However, that’s not the case here: I found the feminism to be very balanced with the other aspects of the story, and I’m glad for it. In fact, the divide in the school surrounding this feminist issue blows up on its own accord and becomes bigger than just Eliza’s initial letter. Also, thankfully, “girlboss” was not a reoccurring word. Eliza has to grapple with what being a “true feminist,” or as much as one can be, is. I also liked how her views were tempered by her mom’s views, which are put into perspective of her knowledge of her mom’s hardships. Eliza can’t change her mom’s beliefs, but she also doesn’t have to take them to heart.
original review:
omggg I loved this so so so much!! so much that I'm actually going to write a review (wow)
read on my blog
rep: Chinese-Vietnamese-American protagonist, biracial (Japanese, white) love interest, Black side character, Korean-American side characters; (Chinese-Vietnamese-American author)
Despite being so hyped for this book, I was a little apprehensive, mostly because I’ve had a string of anticipated releases be disappointing. Luckily, though, there was no need because I loved this book! A powerful story, Not Here to Be Liked balances complex immigrant family dynamics, a budding romance, and what being a feminist means as a teenager.
Eliza Quan‘s guaranteed the editor-in-chief position for her senior year, not only because she’s the most qualified but also because she’s running unopposed. That is, until Len DiMartile, an ex-jock who’s only on the newspaper after lack of a better thing to do after being injured, decides to run too. And then promptly wins after giving a half-baked speech. Upset, Eliza writes an impassioned essay on the misogyny of the situation; she doesn’t intend to post it, but someone does it for her. An uproar goes up across the school, with Eliza suddenly the face of feminism. She struggles with the attention and the weight of this, especially as she realizes Len might not be so bad after all.
I suppose I should begin this review by talking about why I was a little apprehensive about this book at first. As much as I was so intrigued by the summary and everyone’s praise, I also dislike books that are entirely about feminism, mostly because they tend to lose sight of much more important things. Mainly, I worried about the “girlboss”-iness of it all. A strange lens to put on a book I hadn’t read, I know, but that definitely says something about the books I’ve been reading lately.
However, that’s not the case here: I found the feminism to be very balanced with the other aspects of the story, and I’m glad for it. In fact, the divide in the school surrounding this feminist issue blows up on its own accord and becomes bigger than just Eliza’s initial letter. Also, thankfully, “girlboss” was not a reoccurring word. Eliza has to grapple with what being a “true feminist,” or as much as one can be, is. I also liked how her views were tempered by her mom’s views, which are put into perspective of her knowledge of her mom’s hardships. Eliza can’t change her mom’s beliefs, but she also doesn’t have to take them to heart.
read my full review here
original review:
omggg I loved this so so so much!! so much that I'm actually going to write a review (wow)
WOW this was so good! I was worried the whole discussion on feminism would be really surface level, but it's actually well done. I love how it's not just Eliza being a GiRl BoSs and there's actual character growth. Serena was such a good foil for Eliza's character and I really related to the whole idea of "you can be a feminist AND want to be attractive". It's not zero sum, folks! The love story was also A+.
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4 stars!
This was a pretty quick entertaining read. Has all the amazing things you’d want in a YA book.
I appreciate apparently Eliza, our main character, is meant to be unlikeable, but I really resonated with her and understood her frustrations and actions, even if they aren’t the best ones sometimes.
This is a powerful book that discusses a lot of important issues and I really think it’s one worth reading.
This was a pretty quick entertaining read. Has all the amazing things you’d want in a YA book.
I appreciate apparently Eliza, our main character, is meant to be unlikeable, but I really resonated with her and understood her frustrations and actions, even if they aren’t the best ones sometimes.
This is a powerful book that discusses a lot of important issues and I really think it’s one worth reading.
On the back of the book, there is a warning telling us that the main character, Eliza, is unlikeable. Honestly, I really liked her. I also liked the other side characters and how they played a part in the story. The romance was really cute too. I don't know what else to say!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a delight. I really enjoyed the family dynamics that were portrayed in the story—Eliza and her sister, Eliza and her mother, the relationship briefly but effectively touched on between her parents—and also the friendships between Eliza and her friends.
I really appreciated the author’s viewpoint on feminism and recognizing the humanity in others. The romance was definitely not the main story thread, but it worked so well. I never had the sense that their relationship was rushed, everything flowed very naturally. This is a wonderful, lighthearted read, and I absolutely recommend it.
This book was a delight. I really enjoyed the family dynamics that were portrayed in the story—Eliza and her sister, Eliza and her mother, the relationship briefly but effectively touched on between her parents—and also the friendships between Eliza and her friends.
I really appreciated the author’s viewpoint on feminism and recognizing the humanity in others. The romance was definitely not the main story thread, but it worked so well. I never had the sense that their relationship was rushed, everything flowed very naturally. This is a wonderful, lighthearted read, and I absolutely recommend it.