Reviews with content warning for Racism - Joan Is Okay

Joan is Okay is a slice-of-life novel following a memorable and loveable main character. Joan is literal, focused, wry, antisocial, and stubborn. Essentially, Joan is a delightfully complex and genuine individual. But someone needs to tell that to her brother, Fang. Or her neighbor, Mark. Or her coworker, Reese. All three of these men think that Joan needs their unsolicited advice.

Joan is Okay is a study on misogyny; specifically sexist expectations of Chinese-American women. At work, Joan deals with the model minority myth where everyone assumes her success is due to her race. Via phone, her brother Fang constantly encourages Joan to settle down and get married. At home, her new neighbor Mark decides that she's clueless and starts "gifting" her books, a television, and kitchen implements. Each of these people assumes that they know better than Joan how to live her own life. And that they can just absolutely steamroll her with their ideas.

If you like books where female protagonists navigate life and cultural expectations, you'll love Joan is Okay.

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bookishcori's review against another edition

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funny reflective medium-paced

3.5

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plufifi's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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readerette's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? Yes

4.5

There were some strangely unresolved character threads in my mind (

Why was Reese suddenly so bland after his time off? Was Joan ever going to speak to Mark again? Was the food basket from other tenants a one-time thing?

), but for the purposes of this story not everything felt like it needed a wrap-up.

Overall, it came across to me as a slice of life for the professionally satisfied but somewhat socially isolated daughter of immigrants, but not sugarcoated or idealized. Joan is relatable and likeable, but not in an "everywoman" way. I really felt like I got to be in someone else's shoes for a few hours. Someone smart and dedicated and who still gets confused and stressed about family and friends and culture and self.

Somehow the year of the setting didn't register for me at first (or perhaps was not specified), so when the covid-19 pandemic came up in the second half it almost shocked me, since the book had felt relatively timeless (though certainly in the era of mobile phones). But the inclusion of the pandemic leads to some of the most poignant observations in the story, so it was worth the slightly jarring sensation.

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