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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
This book is hilarious! I laughed so much! I also learned a ton about Indonesia and Indo-Chinese culture. All the information about the author's culture was my absolute FAVORITE part of this novel. I also really loved that the story talked about experiences that people around the character's ages actually go through - and that those experiences are normal and sometimes embarrassing especially if you have a large, involved, nosy but loving family!
I thought the book was going to be predictable but it ended up having a couple of twists that I adored. Overall, I think this is a fabulous book for readers young and old.
I thought the book was going to be predictable but it ended up having a couple of twists that I adored. Overall, I think this is a fabulous book for readers young and old.
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Book 1 in a YA romance duology.
🇮🇩
Sharlot’s mom catches her in an intimate moment with her boyfriend and decides she needs to spend the summer in her homeland of Indonesia. George, also caught in a compromising position, tries to talk his father and younger sister out of finding him a girlfriend on a dating app. Sharlot’s mom and George’s dad both catfish their children by pretending to be one another on the app, but when George and Sharlot have to meet in person, the two realize neither is like their online persona. Due to George’s high profile in Indonesia, the two must fake date until the launch of George’s app through his father’s company is done and the two grow closer in the process.
🏝️
This was super cute and funny! I loved the audiobook narration and it definitely had both romance and humor tied together that will entertain many teens. I recommend this for high school and up! Can’t wait to read book 2!
CW: misogyny, homophobia, grief, sexism, catfishing, classism, death, racism, body shaming, bullying, cyberbullying
🇮🇩
Sharlot’s mom catches her in an intimate moment with her boyfriend and decides she needs to spend the summer in her homeland of Indonesia. George, also caught in a compromising position, tries to talk his father and younger sister out of finding him a girlfriend on a dating app. Sharlot’s mom and George’s dad both catfish their children by pretending to be one another on the app, but when George and Sharlot have to meet in person, the two realize neither is like their online persona. Due to George’s high profile in Indonesia, the two must fake date until the launch of George’s app through his father’s company is done and the two grow closer in the process.
🏝️
This was super cute and funny! I loved the audiobook narration and it definitely had both romance and humor tied together that will entertain many teens. I recommend this for high school and up! Can’t wait to read book 2!
CW: misogyny, homophobia, grief, sexism, catfishing, classism, death, racism, body shaming, bullying, cyberbullying
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
What a slog to get through. This book provided bland characters, a plot both unbelievable and boring, terrible dialogue, and cringe-inducing romance. While aspects of the premise were appealing (who doesn't love a good fake dating story?), how they were carried out left much to be desired.
Following the story of Sharlot, taken to Indonesia by a mother after a near-miss with a scandal, and George, under pressure during a time of great publicity before an important event for his family, nothing about the plot was compelling. Even moments of supposed suspense or romance produced nothing but yawns.
As for the characters themselves, bleh. Sharlot in particular seemed almost like a parody of herself, at one moment blushing and stuttering with George but constantly bursting out with frustrated feminist declarations. Hardly any character traits or development showed up beyond these showy statements. I have almost nothing to say about George because he had no characteristics beyond "Hey, I'm a nice hot guy!"
A small development late in the story (70%) provided some very small relief from the tedium, but that development was dropped almost as suddenly as it was brought up, aside from a tiny mention at the very end.
I found it difficult to keep track of which chapters were from Sharlot or George's perspectives because their inner monologues were the. Exact. Same. And not in a good way.
1.5/5 with the extra .5 for the representation of Indonesian culture (especially the food!) and the small development. I regret having requested my early copy of this book.
What a slog to get through. This book provided bland characters, a plot both unbelievable and boring, terrible dialogue, and cringe-inducing romance. While aspects of the premise were appealing (who doesn't love a good fake dating story?), how they were carried out left much to be desired.
Following the story of Sharlot, taken to Indonesia by a mother after a near-miss with a scandal, and George, under pressure during a time of great publicity before an important event for his family, nothing about the plot was compelling. Even moments of supposed suspense or romance produced nothing but yawns.
As for the characters themselves, bleh. Sharlot in particular seemed almost like a parody of herself, at one moment blushing and stuttering with George but constantly bursting out with frustrated feminist declarations. Hardly any character traits or development showed up beyond these showy statements. I have almost nothing to say about George because he had no characteristics beyond "Hey, I'm a nice hot guy!"
A small development late in the story (70%) provided some very small relief from the tedium, but that development was dropped almost as suddenly as it was brought up, aside from a tiny mention at the very end.
I found it difficult to keep track of which chapters were from Sharlot or George's perspectives because their inner monologues were the. Exact. Same. And not in a good way.
1.5/5 with the extra .5 for the representation of Indonesian culture (especially the food!) and the small development. I regret having requested my early copy of this book.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Oh no. Here we go. This is why Chinese Indo kids are so obedient. Because our parents raise us with a healthy dose of emotional blackmail.
It’s either that, or they’re never wrong and everything is our fault. Either way, you can’t win.
So this book was written when the author was still riding the Dial A for Aunties wave, and it shows. There’s a lot of similarities, including the catfishing. While the Indonesian representation is spot on, I don’t know if I like the story or the characters. Sharlot is a prime example of an insufferable teenager, and she treats her mom with an attitude that would’ve gotten me disowned on the spot. George is pretty bland. The romance is also just okay. It’s not very memorable overall, but the highlight on Chinese Indonesian culture and the food descriptions were great. It also makes me miss Bali. I do like Kiki more than Sharlot, so I might pick up her book.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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