Scan barcode
lizzynotbennet's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Death
buttoneyereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
madlads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
macsenbesemer's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I listened to this book as an audio book, and I would definitely recommend doing it that way!! As someone who has basic at best knowledge of Vietnamese culture, I felt fully imeresed in Little Saigon (also, I didn’t have to butcher all the Vietnamese phrases and dishes in my head). It was a cute story, and I enjoyed listening to it. The ending was a bit predictable, but I still found it satisfying to see 2 families come together. I would recommend this read for someone who just wants something fun and cute, nothing more. It does discuss racism and traditional families, but it is first and foremost a rom-com.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
jennikreads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
lennie_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my ARC.
When I requested this, I thought it'd be a cute romance featuring two teens who's families are adversaries. Whilst it does feature a romance, the story also goes much deeper into community, expectations, family dynamics, refugees, being the child of an immigrant, guilt and history.
There is a dual POV alternating between Linh and Bao and I love them both so much. They're both absolute cinnamon roll sweethearts, and they're so cute together.
Both sets of parents own competing Vietnamese restaurants on the same street and so the two have been forbidden to speak to each other all their lives. One night when Bao is closing the restaurant, he sees Linh looking extremely stressed and running our of her restaurant. On an impulse he's goes over to see what's wrong. He ends up helping at the restaurant - hidden from Linh's Mẹ (mum) who's in the kitchen, and the two become friends.
As the two become closer they are forced to confront what they want from their lives. Linh is a talented artist but her family don't think it's a viable career, whereas Bao doesn't have any direction at all. They also start to delve into how and why their parents became enemies.
There is a lot of Viet language in this book, as well as Viet food and it made me soo hungry. I also really loved how involved both the families were in the Viet community and seeing how that affected where they bought food, the customer bases and the 'favours' that could be traded. I also learnt a lot of Vietnam culture and history.
CW: war, racism, refugees
When I requested this, I thought it'd be a cute romance featuring two teens who's families are adversaries. Whilst it does feature a romance, the story also goes much deeper into community, expectations, family dynamics, refugees, being the child of an immigrant, guilt and history.
There is a dual POV alternating between Linh and Bao and I love them both so much. They're both absolute cinnamon roll sweethearts, and they're so cute together.
Both sets of parents own competing Vietnamese restaurants on the same street and so the two have been forbidden to speak to each other all their lives. One night when Bao is closing the restaurant, he sees Linh looking extremely stressed and running our of her restaurant. On an impulse he's goes over to see what's wrong. He ends up helping at the restaurant - hidden from Linh's Mẹ (mum) who's in the kitchen, and the two become friends.
As the two become closer they are forced to confront what they want from their lives. Linh is a talented artist but her family don't think it's a viable career, whereas Bao doesn't have any direction at all. They also start to delve into how and why their parents became enemies.
There is a lot of Viet language in this book, as well as Viet food and it made me soo hungry. I also really loved how involved both the families were in the Viet community and seeing how that affected where they bought food, the customer bases and the 'favours' that could be traded. I also learnt a lot of Vietnam culture and history.
CW: war, racism, refugees
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
madamepincers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Violence
References to refugee history/fleeing a country/dangerous and violent conflictkindredbooks's review
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
I received an e-galley of A Pho Love Story by Loan Le from Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.
I love pho and I love a good love story and that is exactly what you get in this new YA romance novel. Linh and Bao have grown up watching one another from across the street as their families hate one another. Both families run Vietnamese restaurants and seem to always be trying to one-up the other. When fate intervenes one night and Linh and Bao are thrown together, the two teenagers find themselves drawn to one another despite knowing the opposition they will face from their families. As they grapple with their identities and passions as teenagers are bound to do, they will also have to uncover some family secrets that may reveal once and for all the root of all the family rivalry, but it may prove to be too much for young love to handle.
I absolutely love that #ownvoices stories are becoming more available and that the style of writing feels very authentic. While I am not Vietnamese, I enjoyed seeing the language within the novel as it resonated with my own experience of having grown up with a different language at home. The use of language is so important and speaks to so much about families, relationships, and culture. While Loan Le doesn’t translate these Vietnamese phrases, I think that she always gives enough context for you to understand what is going on. I thought that the relationship between Linh and Bao was very sweet, including their first interaction as kids, and how they were able to support one another and help each other grow in their respective passions.
Finally, all this talk and description of the delicious Vietnamese food in this novel has me craving Vietnamese food so badly. There were mention of food that I’d never tried before (I’m a creature of habit and tend to always only order pho) and I just really want to order everything that was mentioned in the book. I think that Vietnamese restaurants are about to see an increase in customers once this book is out.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley.
I love pho and I love a good love story and that is exactly what you get in this new YA romance novel. Linh and Bao have grown up watching one another from across the street as their families hate one another. Both families run Vietnamese restaurants and seem to always be trying to one-up the other. When fate intervenes one night and Linh and Bao are thrown together, the two teenagers find themselves drawn to one another despite knowing the opposition they will face from their families. As they grapple with their identities and passions as teenagers are bound to do, they will also have to uncover some family secrets that may reveal once and for all the root of all the family rivalry, but it may prove to be too much for young love to handle.
I absolutely love that #ownvoices stories are becoming more available and that the style of writing feels very authentic. While I am not Vietnamese, I enjoyed seeing the language within the novel as it resonated with my own experience of having grown up with a different language at home. The use of language is so important and speaks to so much about families, relationships, and culture. While Loan Le doesn’t translate these Vietnamese phrases, I think that she always gives enough context for you to understand what is going on. I thought that the relationship between Linh and Bao was very sweet, including their first interaction as kids, and how they were able to support one another and help each other grow in their respective passions.
Finally, all this talk and description of the delicious Vietnamese food in this novel has me craving Vietnamese food so badly. There were mention of food that I’d never tried before (I’m a creature of habit and tend to always only order pho) and I just really want to order everything that was mentioned in the book. I think that Vietnamese restaurants are about to see an increase in customers once this book is out.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Death and Death of parent
linesiunderline's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I can picture this book as a sweet, quiet, character driven movie, with all kinds of amazing kitchen scenes. Le has a real talent for making you want to drop everything and place a huge order from your local Vietnamese, family run restaurant. (I’m very lucky to have one of those 5 minutes away). Her food writing is outstanding. I can’t recall a book in a long time that made me this hungry!
I loved how both of the main characters grew believably throughout the novel, and the love story was a really sweet one. Very PG for those who like to know that kind of thing.
The author also brings in challenging themes related to the refugee experience, immigration, defending one’s family and place in the community, and loss. She handles these topics with a balance of gentleness and directness.
Go into this prepared for a slower moving read. I can’t decide if I might have appreciated that if I had been in a different reading mood, or if the book could have used some more editing / refining in the pacing department. Something about the pace did feel very true to life however. It was just slow at times and occasionally felt like it could benefit from something more dramatic at stake in the plot department.
Recommended for foodies and lovers of gentle romance.
I loved how both of the main characters grew believably throughout the novel, and the love story was a really sweet one. Very PG for those who like to know that kind of thing.
The author also brings in challenging themes related to the refugee experience, immigration, defending one’s family and place in the community, and loss. She handles these topics with a balance of gentleness and directness.
Go into this prepared for a slower moving read. I can’t decide if I might have appreciated that if I had been in a different reading mood, or if the book could have used some more editing / refining in the pacing department. Something about the pace did feel very true to life however. It was just slow at times and occasionally felt like it could benefit from something more dramatic at stake in the plot department.
Recommended for foodies and lovers of gentle romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Death and Grief