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sambortle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
“It makes me feel guilty that I’m falling in love while my mom’s chugging liquid dinner. But maybe Lian’s right. Cancer doesn’t hold all the cards.”
Bestselling author Kelly Yang makes her first foray into contemporary YA romance with PRIVATE LABEL, again proving why her voice is one to be reckoned with on both the MG and YA scenes. On the surface, PRIVATE LABEL is an earnest story of first love, but Yang’s skills shine through in the novel’s thoughtful, nuanced explorations of belonging, familial expectations, immigration, assimilation, and the weight of care-taking.
Despite being the only Chinese-American students in their mostly white Southern California beach town, Serene Lee (née, Serene Li) and Lian Chen could not be further apart in the hierarchy of their high school. Serene is popular — the daughter of a self-made, successful fashion designer, with the right friends and the “golden boy” boyfriend. Lian is a nerd — his entire class calls him “Liam,” refusing to learn his name when he moved from China a year ago, and his closest friend is the kid who copies his homework every morning.
Serene dreams of making a name for herself outside of her mom’s fashion empire, but for now she’ll settle for being the intern. But when her mom collapses on a business trip and receives a stunning diagnosis of stage 3 pancreatic cancer, Serene finds herself taking over the business and struggling to prove herself to ruthless investors. Meanwhile, Lian’s parents have their eyes set on his early admission to MIT. This means hours of studying, tutoring, and reaching for perfection on tests that Liam doesn’t care about. His dream of becoming a stand up comic is feeling more and more out of reach, until in a last-ditch effort he starts a “fake” Chinese Club after school… and Serene walks in.
Told in alternating first-person narration, PRIVATE LABEL follows Serene and Lian as their lives spiral out of control and propel them toward each other on a crash-course neither could have predicted.
PRIVATE LABEL is out TODAY, 5/31/22! Thank you to @katherinetegenbooks @harpercollins and @netgalley for the eARC.
Bestselling author Kelly Yang makes her first foray into contemporary YA romance with PRIVATE LABEL, again proving why her voice is one to be reckoned with on both the MG and YA scenes. On the surface, PRIVATE LABEL is an earnest story of first love, but Yang’s skills shine through in the novel’s thoughtful, nuanced explorations of belonging, familial expectations, immigration, assimilation, and the weight of care-taking.
Despite being the only Chinese-American students in their mostly white Southern California beach town, Serene Lee (née, Serene Li) and Lian Chen could not be further apart in the hierarchy of their high school. Serene is popular — the daughter of a self-made, successful fashion designer, with the right friends and the “golden boy” boyfriend. Lian is a nerd — his entire class calls him “Liam,” refusing to learn his name when he moved from China a year ago, and his closest friend is the kid who copies his homework every morning.
Serene dreams of making a name for herself outside of her mom’s fashion empire, but for now she’ll settle for being the intern. But when her mom collapses on a business trip and receives a stunning diagnosis of stage 3 pancreatic cancer, Serene finds herself taking over the business and struggling to prove herself to ruthless investors. Meanwhile, Lian’s parents have their eyes set on his early admission to MIT. This means hours of studying, tutoring, and reaching for perfection on tests that Liam doesn’t care about. His dream of becoming a stand up comic is feeling more and more out of reach, until in a last-ditch effort he starts a “fake” Chinese Club after school… and Serene walks in.
Told in alternating first-person narration, PRIVATE LABEL follows Serene and Lian as their lives spiral out of control and propel them toward each other on a crash-course neither could have predicted.
PRIVATE LABEL is out TODAY, 5/31/22! Thank you to @katherinetegenbooks @harpercollins and @netgalley for the eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Cancer
Moderate: Racism, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
inspiring
slow-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
4.0
Thanks to HarperCollins for an advanced copy of Private Label by Kelly Yang to review! I feel like most people know Yang from her middle grade work, but this is her second YA novel and she's not afraid to delve into difficult topics. We saw that in Parachutes and it's just as true in this book.
Yang excels at writing emotions. We see Serene's struggles with her mom's cancer, all the while trying to figure out how to save her business. We see Lian struggling with his parents expectations and what he really wants to do with his life. Both characters need each other as they try to figure out how to move forward, and the way their relationship evolved felt very realistic.
Not only do we get to see the emotions playing out between Serene and Lian, but we also get to see both of their different family dynamics. They are complicated and ever evolving and conflicts that a lot of teens deal with. There are so many emotions in play in this book, and Yang nails every one of them.
My only complaint is that the book feels a bit long at times. In the middle, it felt like the pacing lost itself a bit. But other than that, this is absolutely a strong, emotional read that you'll want to have on your radar for summer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Cancer
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
bookwormbullet's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Cancer
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Racism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I could write an entire essay about how relatable Private Label is. The way that a diagnosis can entirely change our sense of time. Our sense of the future. How it can feel to hear a loved one talk about their struggles and them wanting to enjoy their quality of life. While also knowing that you can't imagine a life without theirs. To say Private Label is moving, especially to those who have experienced cancer in their family, is an understatement. For that reason alone, it stole my heart.
But at the same time, Private Label explores the insidious comments and racist remarks of mostly white communities. Of feeling so out of place and having these remarks that add up. The conversations about retaining a 'brand image' and having 'marketability'. How these discussions end up occluding racist ideas. And all these pieces of ourselves we chip off to slide under the radar, for success.
I could write an entire essay about how relatable Private Label is. The way that a diagnosis can entirely change our sense of time. Our sense of the future. How it can feel to hear a loved one talk about their struggles and them wanting to enjoy their quality of life. While also knowing that you can't imagine a life without theirs. To say Private Label is moving, especially to those who have experienced cancer in their family, is an understatement. For that reason alone, it stole my heart.
But at the same time, Private Label explores the insidious comments and racist remarks of mostly white communities. Of feeling so out of place and having these remarks that add up. The conversations about retaining a 'brand image' and having 'marketability'. How these discussions end up occluding racist ideas. And all these pieces of ourselves we chip off to slide under the radar, for success.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Racism
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