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ameserole's review
4.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Boys I Know was so easy to devour in one sitting. I absolutely loved getting to know June and watch her go boy crazy. Then how she interacted with her mother and sister, Wendy, just made me smile. I seriously loved her mother because she was unapologetically herself. I'm pretty sure she was my spirit animal/person throughout this book.
As for June, well she really wants to step it up in the romance department. Whether it's with the guy she may or may not be dating or with someone new. On top of that, she has to practice the violin and get all her homework done. I ended up liking her pretty quickly and rolled my eyes whenever she was compared to her older sister. Definitely reminded me of how my parents were when I was about to graduate high school.
Other than that, the romance drama was so freaking realistic and easily relatable. Mostly because people are kind of shitty and indecisive as hell. The things June goes through were so important because any person reading it could relate to that specific scenario. For example, I can relate to some of the things June did and it made me who I am now. I'd like to think I'm a better person for experiencing it but who knows.
In the end, I'm really happy that I got the chance to jump into this. I'm so in love with June and can't wait for everyone else to meet her. I also can't wait for the next book Anna writes because I seriously need more!
Boys I Know was so easy to devour in one sitting. I absolutely loved getting to know June and watch her go boy crazy. Then how she interacted with her mother and sister, Wendy, just made me smile. I seriously loved her mother because she was unapologetically herself. I'm pretty sure she was my spirit animal/person throughout this book.
As for June, well she really wants to step it up in the romance department. Whether it's with the guy she may or may not be dating or with someone new. On top of that, she has to practice the violin and get all her homework done. I ended up liking her pretty quickly and rolled my eyes whenever she was compared to her older sister. Definitely reminded me of how my parents were when I was about to graduate high school.
Other than that, the romance drama was so freaking realistic and easily relatable. Mostly because people are kind of shitty and indecisive as hell. The things June goes through were so important because any person reading it could relate to that specific scenario. For example, I can relate to some of the things June did and it made me who I am now. I'd like to think I'm a better person for experiencing it but who knows.
In the end, I'm really happy that I got the chance to jump into this. I'm so in love with June and can't wait for everyone else to meet her. I also can't wait for the next book Anna writes because I seriously need more!
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
A raw, relatable coming of age YA story featuring June Chu, an Asian American senior coming to terms with both her sexuality and Asian identity as she tries to decide what kind of future she wants for herself despite pressures from her parents, boyfriends and a complicated sister relationship.
Perfect for fans of Mary H.K. Choi or Kelly Yang, this book takes an unflinching look at the ways some teen girls feel pressure to please boys sexually and how hard it can be to find your way, especially when one is constantly being bombarded with messages of not being 'enough' - not Asian enough, not pleasing enough, not good enough, not the best daughter, etc.
Good on audio but recommended for older teens as there is explicit sexual content (including use of the morning after pill). Much thanks to NetGalley for an early digital copy and to @prhaudio for a complimentary audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
CW: racism, teen sex
Perfect for fans of Mary H.K. Choi or Kelly Yang, this book takes an unflinching look at the ways some teen girls feel pressure to please boys sexually and how hard it can be to find your way, especially when one is constantly being bombarded with messages of not being 'enough' - not Asian enough, not pleasing enough, not good enough, not the best daughter, etc.
Good on audio but recommended for older teens as there is explicit sexual content (including use of the morning after pill). Much thanks to NetGalley for an early digital copy and to @prhaudio for a complimentary audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
CW: racism, teen sex
illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I finished this one in two days, and in one word, I would sum it up as honest.
It's June's senior year, and she is trying to figure out her place currently, and moving forward into the future, with her family, her friends, and her romantic relationships. She is trying to determine her cultural identity. How has being raised as an Asian American, Taiwanese specifically, in Iowa impacted who she is? How can she relate to her parents, who were raised in a completely different environment? How can she compete (or stop competing) with her seemingly perfect older sister? Who is she really, and who does she want to be? Where does she want to be? Who does she want to date?
Kudos to Anna Gracia--this was well done. It's a YA book, so in its honesty and authenticity as to what the main character is going through, it can be uncomfortable to read at times. And June is not perfect. She's a teenager; she shouldn't be perfect. Life is messy, and this book reflects that.
Themes: identity, coming of age, figuring out what is right for you
I finished this one in two days, and in one word, I would sum it up as honest.
It's June's senior year, and she is trying to figure out her place currently, and moving forward into the future, with her family, her friends, and her romantic relationships. She is trying to determine her cultural identity. How has being raised as an Asian American, Taiwanese specifically, in Iowa impacted who she is? How can she relate to her parents, who were raised in a completely different environment? How can she compete (or stop competing) with her seemingly perfect older sister? Who is she really, and who does she want to be? Where does she want to be? Who does she want to date?
Kudos to Anna Gracia--this was well done. It's a YA book, so in its honesty and authenticity as to what the main character is going through, it can be uncomfortable to read at times. And June is not perfect. She's a teenager; she shouldn't be perfect. Life is messy, and this book reflects that.
Themes: identity, coming of age, figuring out what is right for you
mariethebreads's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A nightmare of teen experiences
sarahkline's review
reflective
- 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
amysbrittain's review
4.0
Gracia's young adult debut digs into teenaged June's messy, sometimes disastrous, and ultimately heartwarming teen exploration of identity, sexuality, relationships, resisting parental expectations, and forging her own path.
Anna Gracia's young adult novel centers around high schooler June Chu.
Despite her Taiwanese mother's unrelenting pressure and sky-high expectations, June has always done just all right. She's got lots of third-place violin competition trophies, unlike her sister, who secured a full-ride violin scholarship to college, an achievement June is frequently reminded of.
But June is more concerned with her crush on her lab partner, Rhys, and on getting to girlfriend-boyfriend status.
To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see Boys I Know.
Find hundreds of reviews and lots of roundups of my favorite books on the blog: Bossy Bookworm
Follow me on Instagram! @bossybookwormblog
Or Facebook! The Bossy Bookworm
After a disastrous encounter with Rhys, a new romantic opportunity arises...and June suddenly finds herself making complicated decisions that shape how she feels about gender roles, her sexuality, her identity, and what she wants for her future.
Her explorations threaten to destroy her relationship with her mother even past the world-war-level disagreements they already have going.
I loved this book. I was all in for June and her whole glorious, often painful, messy journey of discovering who she is and what she wants.
Anna Gracia's young adult novel centers around high schooler June Chu.
Despite her Taiwanese mother's unrelenting pressure and sky-high expectations, June has always done just all right. She's got lots of third-place violin competition trophies, unlike her sister, who secured a full-ride violin scholarship to college, an achievement June is frequently reminded of.
But June is more concerned with her crush on her lab partner, Rhys, and on getting to girlfriend-boyfriend status.
To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see Boys I Know.
Find hundreds of reviews and lots of roundups of my favorite books on the blog: Bossy Bookworm
Follow me on Instagram! @bossybookwormblog
Or Facebook! The Bossy Bookworm
After a disastrous encounter with Rhys, a new romantic opportunity arises...and June suddenly finds herself making complicated decisions that shape how she feels about gender roles, her sexuality, her identity, and what she wants for her future.
Her explorations threaten to destroy her relationship with her mother even past the world-war-level disagreements they already have going.
I loved this book. I was all in for June and her whole glorious, often painful, messy journey of discovering who she is and what she wants.
l_u_c_y_'s review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
thenextgenlibrarian's review
3.0
A high school senior navigates an overbearing and judgmental mother, a string of relationships and a looming future with no clue of what she wants to do.