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leahegood's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
Summary
Ever since a brief childhood interaction, Bao has wondered about the girl at the restaurant across the street ... the girl he's not allowed to speak to because her family owns that restaurant, the one in direct competition with the restaurant his family owns. Is owning competing restaurants a good enough reason to shun another family, especially when both families are part of a community as close knit as Little Saigon? One day, Bao decides to find out. He crosses enemy lines and extends an olive branch. An olive branch that Linh, the girl at the restaurant across the street, is almost too afraid to accept. Can a little bit of courage and honesty change everything?
My Thoughts
This book was a relatively blind purchase from a used bookstore, my decision made entirely off of the cover image and back cover blurb. The 2024 reading challenge I'm doing has a prompt for "rom-com" and I wanted to complete that prompt in February (hello, Valentine's Day). I was disappointed to find a relatively strong dose of swearing, but other than that and a somewhat slow start, I really enjoyed this story.
Stripped to it's bare bones, A Pho Love Story is a pretty basic high school romance novel. However, the author creates a unique and immersive experience through the unique setting of Vietnamese restaurants and the complex familial expectations second generation American teens must navigate to establish their own place in the world.
Though I do not have immegrant parents, I found a lot of Bao and Linh's story relatable. I think any young person with a close knit family, a desire to not disappoint those they love, and parents with specific expectations will find something to relate to.
Content
Romance: Awareness of physical proximity and enthusiastic but non-detailed kissing.
Language: There is swearing smattered throughought the book and a handful of f-bombs would earn the story an R rating if it were a movie.
Violence: Bao and Linh wonder about their parents experiences escaping Vietnam. The danger of the escapes is evidenced by a family member who died in the attempt, but there are no details.
Religion: Linh and Bao both reference attending temple. Both restaurants have a traditional shrine, and Bao's parents are scandalized when they visit a Vietnamese restaurant that does not have a shrine visible.
Bonus
Of course, there are food references throughout the book. Here are a few foods and drinks mentioned.
Cà Phê Sữa Đá
Bánh Bèo (Steamed Rice Cakes)
Pho and Bun Bo
Chả giò (Fried Spring Role)
Sinh Tố Bơ (Smoothie)
Canh bí Sườn (Winter Melon Soup)
Bánh Xèo
Ever since a brief childhood interaction, Bao has wondered about the girl at the restaurant across the street ... the girl he's not allowed to speak to because her family owns that restaurant, the one in direct competition with the restaurant his family owns. Is owning competing restaurants a good enough reason to shun another family, especially when both families are part of a community as close knit as Little Saigon? One day, Bao decides to find out. He crosses enemy lines and extends an olive branch. An olive branch that Linh, the girl at the restaurant across the street, is almost too afraid to accept. Can a little bit of courage and honesty change everything?
My Thoughts
This book was a relatively blind purchase from a used bookstore, my decision made entirely off of the cover image and back cover blurb. The 2024 reading challenge I'm doing has a prompt for "rom-com" and I wanted to complete that prompt in February (hello, Valentine's Day). I was disappointed to find a relatively strong dose of swearing, but other than that and a somewhat slow start, I really enjoyed this story.
Stripped to it's bare bones, A Pho Love Story is a pretty basic high school romance novel. However, the author creates a unique and immersive experience through the unique setting of Vietnamese restaurants and the complex familial expectations second generation American teens must navigate to establish their own place in the world.
Though I do not have immegrant parents, I found a lot of Bao and Linh's story relatable. I think any young person with a close knit family, a desire to not disappoint those they love, and parents with specific expectations will find something to relate to.
Content
Romance: Awareness of physical proximity and enthusiastic but non-detailed kissing.
Language: There is swearing smattered throughought the book and a handful of f-bombs would earn the story an R rating if it were a movie.
Violence: Bao and Linh wonder about their parents experiences escaping Vietnam. The danger of the escapes is evidenced by a family member who died in the attempt, but there are no details.
Religion: Linh and Bao both reference attending temple. Both restaurants have a traditional shrine, and Bao's parents are scandalized when they visit a Vietnamese restaurant that does not have a shrine visible.
Bonus
Of course, there are food references throughout the book. Here are a few foods and drinks mentioned.
Cà Phê Sữa Đá
Bánh Bèo (Steamed Rice Cakes)
Pho and Bun Bo
Chả giò (Fried Spring Role)
Sinh Tố Bơ (Smoothie)
Canh bí Sườn (Winter Melon Soup)
Bánh Xèo
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Classism
kelly_e's review against another edition
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.25
Title: A Pho Love Story
Author: Loan Le
Genre: YA Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: December 28, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Juvenile • Dramatic • Hearty
📖 S Y N O P S I S
For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.
But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember. Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I stumbled across A Pho Love Story at a local garage sale over the summer, so I picked it up. When I needed a quick simple read, I decided this was a good choice. I knew little about the premise aside from it centering around food. And I definitely wasn't aware it is a modern Romeo and Juliet retelling.
It will come as not surprise that the food was my favourite part! Loan Le does a fantastic job with the food descriptions, leaving me hungry and salivating. The food aspect also adds a layer of cultural background and the meaning of food. Unfortunately though the feuding family trope feels like it something I have read too often.
There is excellent character growth for both Bao and Linh from start to finish. And their romance felt believable - growing slowly over time. In my opinion, it was a breath of fresh air to read a healthy and supportive depiction of teenage love, as opposed to a toxic one. I also appreciated the exploration of parental expectations versus following your own dreams; the immigrant experience; and how family histories shape our present.
I am definitely not the intended audience for this one, and to me that was evident. It was nothing exceptional, and I likely won't remember a few months from now. However, I could definitely see the merits for a younger audience and would recommend it to the 13-18 year old age group.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the feuding families trope
• foodies
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Think about what you want. What you want to make and add to the world."
"There's so much in your life that you can't control...So maybe you can use this chance to do something for yourself"
Author: Loan Le
Genre: YA Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: December 28, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Juvenile • Dramatic • Hearty
📖 S Y N O P S I S
For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.
But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember. Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I stumbled across A Pho Love Story at a local garage sale over the summer, so I picked it up. When I needed a quick simple read, I decided this was a good choice. I knew little about the premise aside from it centering around food. And I definitely wasn't aware it is a modern Romeo and Juliet retelling.
It will come as not surprise that the food was my favourite part! Loan Le does a fantastic job with the food descriptions, leaving me hungry and salivating. The food aspect also adds a layer of cultural background and the meaning of food. Unfortunately though the feuding family trope feels like it something I have read too often.
There is excellent character growth for both Bao and Linh from start to finish. And their romance felt believable - growing slowly over time. In my opinion, it was a breath of fresh air to read a healthy and supportive depiction of teenage love, as opposed to a toxic one. I also appreciated the exploration of parental expectations versus following your own dreams; the immigrant experience; and how family histories shape our present.
I am definitely not the intended audience for this one, and to me that was evident. It was nothing exceptional, and I likely won't remember a few months from now. However, I could definitely see the merits for a younger audience and would recommend it to the 13-18 year old age group.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the feuding families trope
• foodies
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Think about what you want. What you want to make and add to the world."
"There's so much in your life that you can't control...So maybe you can use this chance to do something for yourself"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
Moderate: Grief, War, Death, and Classism
Minor: Colonisation
escapismforlife's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Bao and Linh must be protected at all cost. Their relationship forms so naturally. In spite of the obstacles they face from their parents Vietnam restraurants rivalry.
A Pho Love Story is the best first young adult love story I picked up finally since fall 2022. It was complex and layered with each chapter in their alternate point of views revealin something new. A story which had more depthful history of each others immigrant family. Not to mention how they discovered and embraced what they wanted to do for themselves. Which did not leave their culture behind in the process.
I felt on the verge of emotional overload by the end of this story. Just from the things they discover and the family dynamics. It was beautiful in the most unexpeted of ways to finish this one. This was a solid and quick contemporary story that has a strong teen romance at the center of it all. A solid first book from a new author this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Classism, Grief, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, and Hate crime
alizah's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Pregnancy, Body shaming, and Death
iamsammie27's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Racism, War, Colonisation, Panic attacks/disorders, and Classism
bedtimesandbooks's review
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Death, War, Grief, and Classism
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