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lilo23's review against another edition
1.0
I’m not sure what the author was trying to do with this book. The character relationships were messy and made no sense, there was some subtle homophobia and of course, a whole lot of adultery.
It can be assumed that the main character, Andrea, has 3 main love interests that we’re supposed to like. However, the moment Suresh was introduced as a man that was already in a relationship, I just didn’t find any of their “sexual tension” likeable or enjoyable.
And as for Eric, there was basically no chemistry between either characters except for sex so imagine my surprise when Eric proposed. It made sense when she ending up rejecting him but boy oh boy, getting together with Suresh? Really? 2 people cheating on their partners falling in love with each other and I'm supposed to find that appealing... No thank you, please give me back the time I've wasted on this book.
Not to mention, I'd rather not have any Asian/ Chinese representation if this is the BS Asian rep that we're going to have. The casual racism is just not it.
It can be assumed that the main character, Andrea, has 3 main love interests that we’re supposed to like. However, the moment Suresh was introduced as a man that was already in a relationship, I just didn’t find any of their “sexual tension” likeable or enjoyable.
And as for Eric, there was basically no chemistry between either characters except for sex so imagine my surprise when Eric proposed. It made sense when she ending up rejecting him but boy oh boy, getting together with Suresh? Really? 2 people cheating on their partners falling in love with each other and I'm supposed to find that appealing... No thank you, please give me back the time I've wasted on this book.
Not to mention, I'd rather not have any Asian/ Chinese representation if this is the BS Asian rep that we're going to have. The casual racism is just not it.
anjalisudarsan's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved Lauren Ho's writing style in this book. Her humour was so on-point! The sarcasm, mixed with the social commentary on Singapore was well executed and entertained me from start to finish.
Andrea's story is relatable to most Asian single women. The pressure you have from all around, asking why you're alone, can get on your nerves - this was painted really well in this book. There are also the insane pressures at corporate workplaces, which Andrea was knee-deep in trying to prove herself to her mum. She is a dutiful daughter, acknowledging her parents' sacrifices to raise her, but she is also keen on meeting someone and falling in love. I could see how that confusion was driving her insane throughout. The story was raunchy and funny, and I could see why a lot of people mentioned the Crazy Rich Asians series while reading this - the flashy society and high-end brands were pleasant. But that's where the similarities end.
I found the romance part of the story falling flat - perhaps because the author was focused on showing us more of Andrea's adventures. Her romance with Eric was a bit random, and it felt out of place. Nevertheless, it didn't matter because I was super entertained reading about Andrea Tang as a character.
Andrea's story is relatable to most Asian single women. The pressure you have from all around, asking why you're alone, can get on your nerves - this was painted really well in this book. There are also the insane pressures at corporate workplaces, which Andrea was knee-deep in trying to prove herself to her mum. She is a dutiful daughter, acknowledging her parents' sacrifices to raise her, but she is also keen on meeting someone and falling in love. I could see how that confusion was driving her insane throughout. The story was raunchy and funny, and I could see why a lot of people mentioned the Crazy Rich Asians series while reading this - the flashy society and high-end brands were pleasant. But that's where the similarities end.
I found the romance part of the story falling flat - perhaps because the author was focused on showing us more of Andrea's adventures. Her romance with Eric was a bit random, and it felt out of place. Nevertheless, it didn't matter because I was super entertained reading about Andrea Tang as a character.
nervousleigh's review against another edition
The formatting is so jarring. I didn’t realize it was meant to be epistolary until she addressed her diary several pages in, and then the bouncing back and forth between that style of writing and breaking up her thoughts into time-stamped, bite sized pieces really messed with my ability to track what was happening.
But more importantly, wow, Andrea is incredibly miserable and wants to make her misery YOUR problem. She tries to be funny to cope, but all of her humor just reads as mean. From scanning through other reviews, it doesn’t seem like that’s gonna improve much past the point at which I stopped.
Overall just generally disappointing.
But more importantly, wow, Andrea is incredibly miserable and wants to make her misery YOUR problem. She tries to be funny to cope, but all of her humor just reads as mean. From scanning through other reviews, it doesn’t seem like that’s gonna improve much past the point at which I stopped.
Overall just generally disappointing.
martapaviaa's review against another edition
4.0
He llorado y todo.
Quien no quiere ser una abogada en Singapur, ojala y yo fuera Andrea.
Quien no quiere ser una abogada en Singapur, ojala y yo fuera Andrea.
lidotchka's review against another edition
4.0
★★★★☆ - This was definitely a very good book, I loved it!
I won't lie: I bought this book just because it was promoted as a perfect mix between [b:Bridget Jones's Diary|227443|Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1)|Helen Fielding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558869586l/227443._SY75_.jpg|3185154] and [b:Crazy Rich Asians|16085481|Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1)|Kevin Kwan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364852559l/16085481._SY75_.jpg|21571970] which are both books I love.
I wasn't disappointed, this book was really good, very funny and I had a good time reading it. The only reason why I can't give it a 5-star review is that I really didn't like the ending. It happens too fast and seemed very rushed for some reason. I also thought it didn't make sense compared to the rest of the book and how the characters used to behave.
That's also why when I started to read the book, I was really into it and read it almost daily. The more I read, the more I was bored. The beginning made me laugh but, even if it is still very funny and enjoyable, the end isn't the best part.
[b:Last Tang Standing|51589631|Last Tang Standing|Lauren Ho|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568599697l/51589631._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73393864] was however a very good book, I highly recommend it and can't wait to see what [a:Lauren Ho|19564958|Lauren Ho|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1571585543p2/19564958.jpg] will write next!
I won't lie: I bought this book just because it was promoted as a perfect mix between [b:Bridget Jones's Diary|227443|Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1)|Helen Fielding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558869586l/227443._SY75_.jpg|3185154] and [b:Crazy Rich Asians|16085481|Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1)|Kevin Kwan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364852559l/16085481._SY75_.jpg|21571970] which are both books I love.
I wasn't disappointed, this book was really good, very funny and I had a good time reading it. The only reason why I can't give it a 5-star review is that I really didn't like the ending. It happens too fast and seemed very rushed for some reason. I also thought it didn't make sense compared to the rest of the book and how the characters used to behave.
That's also why when I started to read the book, I was really into it and read it almost daily. The more I read, the more I was bored. The beginning made me laugh but, even if it is still very funny and enjoyable, the end isn't the best part.
[b:Last Tang Standing|51589631|Last Tang Standing|Lauren Ho|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568599697l/51589631._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73393864] was however a very good book, I highly recommend it and can't wait to see what [a:Lauren Ho|19564958|Lauren Ho|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1571585543p2/19564958.jpg] will write next!
cmaree88's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
4.5
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
Meet Andrea Tang, a 30-something woman who has a good job, but seems to miss something in life. This was a fun story and I really enjoyed it!
Slow start (1-2 stars), and I even considered just dropping the book at times, but as soon as the second part started my rating went up and up. Until I hit 5 stars! It was definitely a journey, but one I am happy I took and I am delighted that I kept reading despite the very slow start.
It reminded me a lot of Bridget Jones only then set in Asia with an Asian protagonist and love interests. Since I love Asia and I love Bridget Jones I was just very happy. It is a great combo!
There is plenty of romance as well. There is even a love-triangle-ish, but I am not sure if I fully count it. Yes, our MC and S like each other.. but S is engaged/has a pregnant fiance, so is out of bounds, I am not sure if I would count it fully. It was quite simple to see who she would end up with and I was definitely hoping it would happen. That person just fitted perfect with her. And yes, it felt a bit wrong to ship them, but I sometimes just couldn’t resist. I loved reading about Eric, though I wasn’t 100% sure about him, how entitled he acted was just rubbing me wrong, and come on, doing that just mere months/weeks into a relationship is just a no-no from me. But he had his good sides and he seemed to truly care about Andrea. And then there is Suresh, I had such a big laugh about the banter and power moves between Andrea and him. LORD, these two. The vibes between them were just perfect. I have to say I was at first worried that Suresh would become an annoying rival but he turned out to be one of my favourite characters in the book. I loved reading about his webcomics and his actual plans.
I love reading about her job (her rantings and power moves and more), though my heart broke with how much she worked. It just was not even borderline unhealthy, it was beyond unhealthy. No healthy eating, working until the wee hours of the night, not being able to change clothes or go home, nights of working. Nope. But I still admired Andrea that she was doing all she did. I know I would probably have died after a month of doing that job. As soon as we found out what she really wanted to do I was rooting for her to make the chance instead of staying here. Where they clearly didn’t appreciate her fully. Mong was an OK character though I was unsure about him at times.
Next to jobs and romance, we also have cultural, plenty of designer bags, we learn about Singapore, at least a bit, there is friendship. I loved seeing Andrea’s friends and while I was on the fence about Linda at times she still seemed like a good person and I loved that she was there for Andrea and that Andrea was there for her (though I was totally on Andrea’s side during one part of the story).
Then we also have cultural/familial expectations. Her mom is constantly trying to push Andrea to get a husband, make kids, and go go go. Not to mention had remarks about other things. Then there is Andrea’s sister who loves a man who is Muslim. Nearer to the end I was glad to see that she changed a bit more, though… it is sad that she had to go through THAT to have that happen.
The story got better and better and we see Andrea grow immensely in the story. Though I truly hope that she can quit with drinking alcohol, since that was also what grew along with all the stress and decisions Andrea was thinking about.
I had a laugh that she bought mineral water when she was going to Europe because people there drank from taps SHOCK. I live in the Netherlands and I can tell you that our tapwater is supersafe and good to drink. No weird tastes, just water. And that is how it is in many other countries as well. I found it just weird that a lawyer who travels apparently quite a bit doesn’t know that.
The ending was just great! I really liked it though I would have loved to see an epilogue.
I could probably talk more about this story, but this review already turned out longer than I expected, so I will just say that I would recommend this book to all in need for something fun and well-written. You may have to push a bit to get through the first part, but believe me it gets better after that!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Slow start (1-2 stars), and I even considered just dropping the book at times, but as soon as the second part started my rating went up and up. Until I hit 5 stars! It was definitely a journey, but one I am happy I took and I am delighted that I kept reading despite the very slow start.
It reminded me a lot of Bridget Jones only then set in Asia with an Asian protagonist and love interests. Since I love Asia and I love Bridget Jones I was just very happy. It is a great combo!
There is plenty of romance as well. There is even a love-triangle-ish, but I am not sure if I fully count it. Yes, our MC and S like each other.. but S is engaged/has a pregnant fiance, so is out of bounds, I am not sure if I would count it fully. It was quite simple to see who she would end up with and I was definitely hoping it would happen. That person just fitted perfect with her. And yes, it felt a bit wrong to ship them, but I sometimes just couldn’t resist. I loved reading about Eric, though I wasn’t 100% sure about him, how entitled he acted was just rubbing me wrong, and come on, doing that just mere months/weeks into a relationship is just a no-no from me. But he had his good sides and he seemed to truly care about Andrea. And then there is Suresh, I had such a big laugh about the banter and power moves between Andrea and him. LORD, these two. The vibes between them were just perfect. I have to say I was at first worried that Suresh would become an annoying rival but he turned out to be one of my favourite characters in the book. I loved reading about his webcomics and his actual plans.
I love reading about her job (her rantings and power moves and more), though my heart broke with how much she worked. It just was not even borderline unhealthy, it was beyond unhealthy. No healthy eating, working until the wee hours of the night, not being able to change clothes or go home, nights of working. Nope. But I still admired Andrea that she was doing all she did. I know I would probably have died after a month of doing that job. As soon as we found out what she really wanted to do I was rooting for her to make the chance instead of staying here. Where they clearly didn’t appreciate her fully. Mong was an OK character though I was unsure about him at times.
Next to jobs and romance, we also have cultural, plenty of designer bags, we learn about Singapore, at least a bit, there is friendship. I loved seeing Andrea’s friends and while I was on the fence about Linda at times she still seemed like a good person and I loved that she was there for Andrea and that Andrea was there for her (though I was totally on Andrea’s side during one part of the story).
Then we also have cultural/familial expectations. Her mom is constantly trying to push Andrea to get a husband, make kids, and go go go. Not to mention had remarks about other things. Then there is Andrea’s sister who loves a man who is Muslim. Nearer to the end I was glad to see that she changed a bit more, though… it is sad that she had to go through THAT to have that happen.
The story got better and better and we see Andrea grow immensely in the story. Though I truly hope that she can quit with drinking alcohol, since that was also what grew along with all the stress and decisions Andrea was thinking about.
I had a laugh that she bought mineral water when she was going to Europe because people there drank from taps SHOCK. I live in the Netherlands and I can tell you that our tapwater is supersafe and good to drink. No weird tastes, just water. And that is how it is in many other countries as well. I found it just weird that a lawyer who travels apparently quite a bit doesn’t know that.
The ending was just great! I really liked it though I would have loved to see an epilogue.
I could probably talk more about this story, but this review already turned out longer than I expected, so I will just say that I would recommend this book to all in need for something fun and well-written. You may have to push a bit to get through the first part, but believe me it gets better after that!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/