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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
BEAUTIFUL. I think I'll always remember this book. Such a wonderful emotional rollercoaster, one I enjoyed every step of the way.
This is such a beautiful and heartfelt story about a girl struggling with her identity, her culture & her first language. It is such an empowering journey of her finding out about her biological mother’s life & family, rediscovering and relearning her first language (Mandarin) & learning to fit in with people who look like her.
I loveeeee Toby. I love how he accepted Catie, how he taught her Mandarin, how she was able to just be herself around him (of course I was rooting for them the entire book!!)
This is such an amazing book and I’m so happy I had the opportunity to read it! I really enjoyed it & though I’m not Taiwanese, there were a lot of parts I really related to as a POC.
I loveeeee Toby. I love how he accepted Catie, how he taught her Mandarin, how she was able to just be herself around him (of course I was rooting for them the entire book!!)
This is such an amazing book and I’m so happy I had the opportunity to read it! I really enjoyed it & though I’m not Taiwanese, there were a lot of parts I really related to as a POC.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
“Do you ever miss something you’ve never had?”
Some books cross your path when you most need them. First Love Language” was one of these for me. I don’t think I can find something I didn’t like in this book.
The writing is smooth, delicate, graceful. It kindled some images in my mind that reminded me of Sophia Coppola’s Virgin Suicides adaptation (even though the story isn’t as tragic, at all). I loved Catie’s journey to (re)discover her identity, while helping herself to grief, how she needs that but is also full of guilt (regarding her adoptive mother), and regrets (regarding her dad she won’t ever be able to talk to again). Even though my own personal situation is closer to her sister’s, Catie’s questioning echoed a lot in me. I wish I had her courage and determination. I sobbed, shed more tears that I can count –or admit. I admire this character who keeps going, despite her feelings of emptiness, her doubts, her apprehensions. How Catie (re)learn her mother language and how it makes her memories resurface and brings her the first threads of her identity were particularly beautiful moments in the book, as much as was her relationship with Toby.
The way the LGBT+ relationships are pictured in that very conservative community, and how these teens create their very own circle, were also some highlights of the book.
I honestly can’t put into words how much this story impacted me, created all kinds of feelings in me. I’m not a teen anymore (it’s been a long time), but once again I’ve read a YA book I wish I'd read in highschool.
Thank you ColoredPages, PenguinTeen and Stephany Valentine for the eARC. My opinions are my own.
Some books cross your path when you most need them. First Love Language” was one of these for me. I don’t think I can find something I didn’t like in this book.
The writing is smooth, delicate, graceful. It kindled some images in my mind that reminded me of Sophia Coppola’s Virgin Suicides adaptation (even though the story isn’t as tragic, at all). I loved Catie’s journey to (re)discover her identity, while helping herself to grief, how she needs that but is also full of guilt (regarding her adoptive mother), and regrets (regarding her dad she won’t ever be able to talk to again). Even though my own personal situation is closer to her sister’s, Catie’s questioning echoed a lot in me. I wish I had her courage and determination. I sobbed, shed more tears that I can count –or admit. I admire this character who keeps going, despite her feelings of emptiness, her doubts, her apprehensions. How Catie (re)learn her mother language and how it makes her memories resurface and brings her the first threads of her identity were particularly beautiful moments in the book, as much as was her relationship with Toby.
The way the LGBT+ relationships are pictured in that very conservative community, and how these teens create their very own circle, were also some highlights of the book.
I honestly can’t put into words how much this story impacted me, created all kinds of feelings in me. I’m not a teen anymore (it’s been a long time), but once again I’ve read a YA book I wish I'd read in highschool.
Thank you ColoredPages, PenguinTeen and Stephany Valentine for the eARC. My opinions are my own.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
I am kicking myself that it took me so long to read this story, because it was such a beautiful, heartfelt debut novel.
First Love Language isn’t just a contemporary YA romance. It is a story about a Taiwanese adoptee who is reconnecting with her heritage, and falling in love again with the culture and language that connects her to her biological mother. I loved how the author wrote our main character, Catie’s experience. The desire of wanting to find and learn more about her biological mother, but also not wanting to hurt her adoptive mother, was written in a way that was very thoughtful, realistic, and relatable. I really enjoyed this storyline and the relationship she has with her adoptive mother. However, I did wish we could have learned a little bit more about Catie’s childhood in Taiwan. I also really love the LGBTQ+ representation, and the community that was formed to make a safe environment for certain characters to explore their sexuality and embrace their identity. As for the romance, I really enjoyed the growth of Catie and Toby’s relationship from friendship to something more. I loved how they learned from each other and shared personal stories. However, I did feel the conflict was resolved a little too quickly, considering what happened after Toby found out the truth. Although I love a happy ending, I just wanted a little bit more substance from the resolution.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Highly recommend if you are looking for an inspirational and heartwarming read.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
thank you so much to colored pages blog tours and penguin teen for the free copy! all opinions are my own!
i don't know even how to start because i wasn't expecting this at all. the adoptee situation and how hard it can be for some people, the complicated sister relationship, grief of losing someone you never knew, the pressure religion can put on someone, wanting to reconnect with a past that you didn't knew it existed... it was too much but at the same time it was handled so amazingly i have to hug this book and the author. even she explained it in her letter at the end of the book, which made me appreciate it even more. the side characters were super cool and i love how the diversity was included little by little, something that can even happen in real life. the MC was so beatiful and cute and adorable i want him to teach me Mandarin, too.
tbh it was such a good book and a really solid debut. even tho it was such a short book, it didn't feel like one and i enjoyed it from start to finish (insert many heart emojis here)
i don't know even how to start because i wasn't expecting this at all. the adoptee situation and how hard it can be for some people, the complicated sister relationship, grief of losing someone you never knew, the pressure religion can put on someone, wanting to reconnect with a past that you didn't knew it existed... it was too much but at the same time it was handled so amazingly i have to hug this book and the author. even she explained it in her letter at the end of the book, which made me appreciate it even more. the side characters were super cool and i love how the diversity was included little by little, something that can even happen in real life. the MC was so beatiful and cute and adorable i want him to teach me Mandarin, too.
tbh it was such a good book and a really solid debut. even tho it was such a short book, it didn't feel like one and i enjoyed it from start to finish (insert many heart emojis here)
I almost gave it a 3 star because not gonna lie the final love confession annoyed me. Catie is the one who lied and instead of trying to make up just let it be. She lies and then she gets the princess treatment and the sweetest gesture. It felt so wrong.
But I truly didn't want the romance part of the story to spoil this book for me and so I am going to pretend that didn't happen. I am going to pretend Catie owned up to her mistake and did something more than write a basic letter that Toby accidentally read.
Stefany Valentine has truly written a masterpiece when it comes to exploring culture and trying to discover a part of yourself one can find missing if they are immigrants. The story also stays true to the title and there is a deep connection with languages. The initial icebreaker for the couple is Toby agreeing to teach Mandarin to Catie.
But I truly didn't want the romance part of the story to spoil this book for me and so I am going to pretend that didn't happen. I am going to pretend Catie owned up to her mistake and did something more than write a basic letter that Toby accidentally read.
Stefany Valentine has truly written a masterpiece when it comes to exploring culture and trying to discover a part of yourself one can find missing if they are immigrants. The story also stays true to the title and there is a deep connection with languages. The initial icebreaker for the couple is Toby agreeing to teach Mandarin to Catie.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thanks to the publisher for the free physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
No
This was a unique, cool, storyline.
I think the heart of this novel is about Catie finding herself. I think the story had the potential to dig a bit deeper in a couple places and I’ll go into that in a minute.
Catie is only 17 and her life has changed a lot in that short span of time. Catie’s biological mom and biological dad divorced when she was a baby, her mom was from Taiwan and her dad was American. At 5, Catie came to the US with her dad and never saw her biological mother again.
Years later, Catie’s dad remarried and her step-mom adopted her. She also brought a child of her own into the marriage, a daughter the same age as Catie. They became a new family. But two years ago Catie’s father died. She lost her last biological relative and she also lost the ability to get answers about her biological mother.
On his death bed he also asked Catie to be true to herself or something along those lines. Catie realized she didn’t know much about her own family history. She’s now being raised by a white step-mom/ adopted mom. She has no connection to her Taiwanese side. She can’t speak her first language anymore.
Things get worse when Catie’s mom moves the family to Utah to stay with her strict Mormon sister and her family.
Then Catie meets Toby.
They meet when Catie applies for a summer job at his family’s salon. She thinks he’s cool but he’s very awkward around girls.
She also finds out that he teaches mandarin lessons. Catie would love to relearn her first language but doesn’t have the money for the lessons.
Conveniently, Catie’s inherited her father’s much annotated copy of The Five Languages. Funny enough, I swear I remember my mom reading this when I was a kid. I remember her mentioning the different types of ways people prefer to show love and receive love.
Catie offers Toby dating lessons in exchange for language lessons. He doesn’t need to know that she has zero dating experience since she has her dad’s trusty book, right?
She comes up with the idea of going on 5 dates to go with the 5 love languages.
So part of the story is cute “dates” with Catie and Toby.
And part of the story is about Catie reconnecting to her first language and trying to connect to her family. She uses a genealogy program at the church to look for her biological mother.
Here are my two constructive criticisms or comments:
1)I wish we had learned more about Catie’s biological family throughout this book, or even just more about her life before she moved to the US
2)I wish we got to read more of the annotations in the book her father left her. When I read that he wrote notes all throughout the book I was hoping to get to read more of the notes he left.
I thought this was a sweet story of first love. I liked Catie and Toby.
I think the heart of this novel is about Catie finding herself. I think the story had the potential to dig a bit deeper in a couple places and I’ll go into that in a minute.
Catie is only 17 and her life has changed a lot in that short span of time. Catie’s biological mom and biological dad divorced when she was a baby, her mom was from Taiwan and her dad was American. At 5, Catie came to the US with her dad and never saw her biological mother again.
Years later, Catie’s dad remarried and her step-mom adopted her. She also brought a child of her own into the marriage, a daughter the same age as Catie. They became a new family. But two years ago Catie’s father died. She lost her last biological relative and she also lost the ability to get answers about her biological mother.
On his death bed he also asked Catie to be true to herself or something along those lines. Catie realized she didn’t know much about her own family history. She’s now being raised by a white step-mom/ adopted mom. She has no connection to her Taiwanese side. She can’t speak her first language anymore.
Things get worse when Catie’s mom moves the family to Utah to stay with her strict Mormon sister and her family.
Then Catie meets Toby.
They meet when Catie applies for a summer job at his family’s salon. She thinks he’s cool but he’s very awkward around girls.
She also finds out that he teaches mandarin lessons. Catie would love to relearn her first language but doesn’t have the money for the lessons.
Conveniently, Catie’s inherited her father’s much annotated copy of The Five Languages. Funny enough, I swear I remember my mom reading this when I was a kid. I remember her mentioning the different types of ways people prefer to show love and receive love.
Catie offers Toby dating lessons in exchange for language lessons. He doesn’t need to know that she has zero dating experience since she has her dad’s trusty book, right?
She comes up with the idea of going on 5 dates to go with the 5 love languages.
So part of the story is cute “dates” with Catie and Toby.
And part of the story is about Catie reconnecting to her first language and trying to connect to her family. She uses a genealogy program at the church to look for her biological mother.
Here are my two constructive criticisms or comments:
1)I wish we had learned more about Catie’s biological family throughout this book, or even just more about her life before she moved to the US
2)I wish we got to read more of the annotations in the book her father left her. When I read that he wrote notes all throughout the book I was hoping to get to read more of the notes he left.
I thought this was a sweet story of first love. I liked Catie and Toby.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The premise is catchy alone - never having a partner and giving love language lessons in exchange for Mandarin lessons. And on the other hand we also have Catie's investigation into her own past as she also gets to know her family better - both sides. Her having questions about her birth mother resonated with me as an adoptee and you know I had to read this! First Love Langauge made smile. It's emotional and entertaining. It was amazing to watch the memories come back to her, the ways language is connected to our memories.
The premise is catchy alone - never having a partner and giving love language lessons in exchange for Mandarin lessons. And on the other hand we also have Catie's investigation into her own past as she also gets to know her family better - both sides. Her having questions about her birth mother resonated with me as an adoptee and you know I had to read this! First Love Langauge made smile. It's emotional and entertaining. It was amazing to watch the memories come back to her, the ways language is connected to our memories.