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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
An utterly charming delight. Novella feels like the right length for this story although I would've happily read a full novel of Jade (and Ravi!).
I enjoyed this so much! Jade was charming and sarcastic and funny, I just wish it was longer! This is the second piece of work I've read by Zen Cho and I really love her writing.
Set in the 1920s, a young Malaysian writer comes to London to take part in the literary scene there and finds herself in situations she could never have predicted.
This is such a masterfully written little story; it does more in 81 pages than most full-length novels can ever hope to accomplish. Even when I felt uncomfortable or unsure whether I was liking the direction of the story, the writing is so compelling that it hooks you in and never lets you go until the book's over. Jade Yeo (or Geok Huay) is such a fascinating protagonist; sassy, sharp-tongued, earnest, just wanting to live life on her own terms, and when she ends up making horrible mistakes, she fully owns them.
Highly recommended!
Rep: Malaysian MC of Chinese descent
This is such a masterfully written little story; it does more in 81 pages than most full-length novels can ever hope to accomplish. Even when I felt uncomfortable or unsure whether I was liking the direction of the story, the writing is so compelling that it hooks you in and never lets you go until the book's over. Jade Yeo (or Geok Huay) is such a fascinating protagonist; sassy, sharp-tongued, earnest, just wanting to live life on her own terms, and when she ends up making horrible mistakes, she fully owns them.
Highly recommended!
Rep: Malaysian MC of Chinese descent
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Occasionally, in the middle of meandering through one's to-read list, one comes across short recommendations by authors for which one has the utmost respect and then realize that the stories said authors are recommending have been on one's radar for ages and one has entirely forgotten to get around to them.
Also, Zen Cho's incredibly fun and delightful style of writing apparently rubs off on one. Historical romance is not exactly a vice (if only because my actual vices are so much worse that this is practically a virtue), but it's certainly something that falls into the mental category that I think of as cake-like books - not exactly healthy, but delicious and with far more substance than candy. This novella is definitely cake-like and an incredibly fun, short read.
But part of why it transcends what I think of as "just fun" (which, make no mistake, is a vital category) lies in how it engages with questions of race and female autonomy and desire in a way that it evocative of, but not exactly in line with either early 20th century writers or romance novelists. Cho isn't afraid to push the boundaries for what is allowed to happen to a romantic heroine OR who is allowed to be the romantic heroine. Jade is a fantastic character and I enjoyed the 20,000 or so words I spent in her diary. We need more women like her in our books and I can't wait to explore what else Cho has written.
Also, Zen Cho's incredibly fun and delightful style of writing apparently rubs off on one. Historical romance is not exactly a vice (if only because my actual vices are so much worse that this is practically a virtue), but it's certainly something that falls into the mental category that I think of as cake-like books - not exactly healthy, but delicious and with far more substance than candy. This novella is definitely cake-like and an incredibly fun, short read.
But part of why it transcends what I think of as "just fun" (which, make no mistake, is a vital category) lies in how it engages with questions of race and female autonomy and desire in a way that it evocative of, but not exactly in line with either early 20th century writers or romance novelists. Cho isn't afraid to push the boundaries for what is allowed to happen to a romantic heroine OR who is allowed to be the romantic heroine. Jade is a fantastic character and I enjoyed the 20,000 or so words I spent in her diary. We need more women like her in our books and I can't wait to explore what else Cho has written.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is an enjoyable novelette about a Malaysian Chinese girl who went to London for school and stayed for adventure. It's set in the 1920's (which was refreshing: I don't think I've read something from that era that wasn't focused on a white protagonist) and is told in diary & letter form. (The entries are all long, though, so there were plenty of times I forgot that it was meant to be a diary.) At its heart, this story is a historical romance, but there's plenty of humor in it as well. Definitely worth the read.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Immediately read this after I'm shook by The Terracota Bride. The results are out: Zen Cho truly has the range 👏
It's a completely different story with totally different vibe and characters but I adore them all the same. This novella got everything I like: lovable protagonist, humorous epistolary writing, historical setting, and sweet romance. It's truly a feel-good / wholesome read for me until the very end, folks.
If you're looking for a short & sweet historical romance with diverse characters, I think you'll love this book.
It's a completely different story with totally different vibe and characters but I adore them all the same. This novella got everything I like: lovable protagonist, humorous epistolary writing, historical setting, and sweet romance. It's truly a feel-good / wholesome read for me until the very end, folks.
If you're looking for a short & sweet historical romance with diverse characters, I think you'll love this book.