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poachingeggs's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars ! probably my favorite of gloria chao's books: the references to taiwanese culture and shared experiences of the east asian american experience are pretty relatable and fun, but the dialogue and inside jokes between characters felt contrived and very different from how teenagers actually speak in a way that feels a little bit ~cringy.~ there was definitely a very insta-lovey moment between chase and ali, and it felt like chase could have been any other taiwanese american boy, and ali would've fallen for him anyways just because he shares similar life experiences and doesn't like it when people are racist towards him. however, this felt like one of the most complex books by the author, in terms of the interspersed snippets of the butterfly lovers story, and how everything ties together. though i am a little over the fact that every single one of gloria chao's books feature taiwanese immigrant parents in basically the exact same (negative) way, i do appreciate the dimension that the backstories add to their character. (this is a spoiler, but genuinely how in the world did both ali and chase get into uchicago despite basically burning bridges with all teachers, disrupting class constantly (rightfully, because people were being racist, but still), and literally ditching school less than a month in with no explanation to go to china and chicago ?? like there was all this talk of ali's mom being super into looking at college rankings and demanding that ali does well enough in school to get into a top college, so why in the world would she allow, nay, encourage, her daughter to literally pack up and leave the country like three weeks into school ?? what was the point of them even being in school if they were just going to ditch ?? how did they get into a top college despite not even going to high school ?? college is a scam though lmao i wouldn't put it past them)
marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
cute but a bit too quick in some scenes movement wise.
chaosandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Our Wayward Fate is a retelling of The Butterfly Lovers, a Chinese folktale, as touches on young Asian students trying to navigate the pressures of the predominately white Midwestern small towns which refuse to grow. I thought it was a very apt depiction based on seeing similar situations during my school and college years.
That being said, the book did have some flaws. Since it's a rather compact novel, it features that insta-love connection in order to move the plot along to the actual story. I get why the author did it and I can at least fathom how Ali and Chase felt so out of place among their peers that their connection drove this. It just was still a bit cringe.
I also think that the book pushed itself a bit to be relatable to its teen marketing in order to gain popularity. The obvious example is referencing Noah Centineo. I won't go into the subtle implications of the context of that quote and the movie he's known for; moving on.
I will say the book does capture the subtle racism of small town Indiana pretty well in the way that peer pressure and blissful ignorance of their own privilege, mixed with an POC's need to feel like keeping quiet will allow them to fit in better, is all pretty spot on. I saw some other reviews that actually thought otherwise, but I would say that sometimes it really is like this. HOWEVER, I found it pretty annoying that it took Chase showing up for Ali to say something. She's portrayed as this badass martial arts student, headstrong, and extremely intelligent but she kept her head down and put up with all this for years? Then suddenly flips a switch and snaps on them one day after meeting him? That's a bit much.
Overall, it was a cute retelling with a good moral of the story moment. It had good representation and an interesting train-of-thought style that I enjoyed.
That being said, the book did have some flaws. Since it's a rather compact novel, it features that insta-love connection in order to move the plot along to the actual story. I get why the author did it and I can at least fathom how Ali and Chase felt so out of place among their peers that their connection drove this. It just was still a bit cringe.
I also think that the book pushed itself a bit to be relatable to its teen marketing in order to gain popularity. The obvious example is referencing Noah Centineo. I won't go into the subtle implications of the context of that quote and the movie he's known for; moving on.
I will say the book does capture the subtle racism of small town Indiana pretty well in the way that peer pressure and blissful ignorance of their own privilege, mixed with an POC's need to feel like keeping quiet will allow them to fit in better, is all pretty spot on. I saw some other reviews that actually thought otherwise, but I would say that sometimes it really is like this. HOWEVER, I found it pretty annoying that it took Chase showing up for Ali to say something. She's portrayed as this badass martial arts student, headstrong, and extremely intelligent but she kept her head down and put up with all this for years? Then suddenly flips a switch and snaps on them one day after meeting him? That's a bit much.
Overall, it was a cute retelling with a good moral of the story moment. It had good representation and an interesting train-of-thought style that I enjoyed.
arieanstar's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Gloria Chao for sending me an eARC for review.
I think this one is a pretty important one for anyone wanting to read more about Asian stories. It discusses some real issues and unspoken rules of being an Asian immigrant. That being said, the actual flow of the story sometimes felt very off, distracting me from actually absorbing the story.
I think this one is a pretty important one for anyone wanting to read more about Asian stories. It discusses some real issues and unspoken rules of being an Asian immigrant. That being said, the actual flow of the story sometimes felt very off, distracting me from actually absorbing the story.
amienda's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advanced copy of this book at ALA.
Confession: I came across this book by complete accident by eavesdropping on a conversation at ALA this year. I overheard a Simon & Schuster staff member describe the “young adult romance about two Taiwanese teens” to a librarian, and knew that I had to pick up a copy. I’d never come across a book that was specifically about Taiwanese characters, instead of Chinese characters, and I jumped at the chance to see how my culture would be depicted in a novel.
Ali Chu (the main character) is the only Taiwanese kid in the middle of “bland as white toast” Indiana, who creates a façade for herself – whitewashing herself – in order to survive the social hierarchy of her high school. However, when another Taiwanese kid, Chase Yu, transfers in, she finds her carefully-crafted persona threatened by their chemistry, built by their shared culture and love of martial arts.
Our Wayward Fate struck a chord with me as I was really able to relate to Ali (and her struggles both at school and at home– from feeling weird about packing a biàndāng (lunch box) to being forbidden from dating non-Chinese boys. My parents, like Ali’s, both came from Taiwan to the United States, and I grew up spending many years as the only Taiwanese student in a predominantly white community. I found myself cringing along with her as her friends and teachers unknowingly made racist comments and remarks. It almost felt like a reflection of my own childhood, albeit a bit more exaggerated. Being able to read the pinyin was a huge plus for me too, since the Mandarin made Allie’s interactions at home with her strict parents hit home and all the more relatable.
Finally, the romance. Although I did feel that the beginning of Ali and Chase’s relationship felt a little bit rushed, I really enjoyed their dynamic and the way that they challenged but also supported each other throughout the series. In my opinion, Our Wayward Fate was more of a story about Ali’s personal growth than a love story between her and Chase, as he was somewhat absent for a third of the book – but that’s ok! The moments that they did have together, however, were so so cute and put a smile on my face everytime. And of course, I’m a huge sucker for banter, so the book got extra points for me there as well.
Overall, this was a really fun and entertaining read, and I can’t wait to see more from Gloria Chao. I’ve just added American Panda to my TBR as well!
Confession: I came across this book by complete accident by eavesdropping on a conversation at ALA this year. I overheard a Simon & Schuster staff member describe the “young adult romance about two Taiwanese teens” to a librarian, and knew that I had to pick up a copy. I’d never come across a book that was specifically about Taiwanese characters, instead of Chinese characters, and I jumped at the chance to see how my culture would be depicted in a novel.
Ali Chu (the main character) is the only Taiwanese kid in the middle of “bland as white toast” Indiana, who creates a façade for herself – whitewashing herself – in order to survive the social hierarchy of her high school. However, when another Taiwanese kid, Chase Yu, transfers in, she finds her carefully-crafted persona threatened by their chemistry, built by their shared culture and love of martial arts.
Our Wayward Fate struck a chord with me as I was really able to relate to Ali (and her struggles both at school and at home– from feeling weird about packing a biàndāng (lunch box) to being forbidden from dating non-Chinese boys. My parents, like Ali’s, both came from Taiwan to the United States, and I grew up spending many years as the only Taiwanese student in a predominantly white community. I found myself cringing along with her as her friends and teachers unknowingly made racist comments and remarks. It almost felt like a reflection of my own childhood, albeit a bit more exaggerated. Being able to read the pinyin was a huge plus for me too, since the Mandarin made Allie’s interactions at home with her strict parents hit home and all the more relatable.
Finally, the romance. Although I did feel that the beginning of Ali and Chase’s relationship felt a little bit rushed, I really enjoyed their dynamic and the way that they challenged but also supported each other throughout the series. In my opinion, Our Wayward Fate was more of a story about Ali’s personal growth than a love story between her and Chase, as he was somewhat absent for a third of the book – but that’s ok! The moments that they did have together, however, were so so cute and put a smile on my face everytime. And of course, I’m a huge sucker for banter, so the book got extra points for me there as well.
Overall, this was a really fun and entertaining read, and I can’t wait to see more from Gloria Chao. I’ve just added American Panda to my TBR as well!
basilkumquat's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the complex exploration of Taiwanese American identity against a backdrop of a closed-minded Midwestern town and Taiwanese parents that don't connect despite good intentions. I felt like the ending wrapped up a little too nicely but the story overall was heartwarming and revealing.
whitneymouse's review against another edition
4.0
I had read and really enjoyed [b:American Panda|35297380|American Panda|Gloria Chao|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496856585l/35297380._SY75_.jpg|52352662], so I figured I'd give this a try. While it has a few similar themes to American Panda (wanting to date someone your parents don't want you to be with, Asian American identity, etc.), this book felt less...fluffy to me. It tackles issues like systemic racism and is ultimately about identity, period. Who you are as a person and what makes you you.
Our protagonist, Ali, has tried to blend into her suburban Indiana existence by living what she calls a "dry toast" life. She doesn't correct her friends when they mispronounce her name (calling her "Allie" instead), she changes her eating habits after they call her Chinese food "weird", and she puts up with many microaggressions (or sometimes flat out racism) from both students and teachers alike. Until Chase comes along and changes her perspective a bit. Chase immediately chooses not to blend in and to call people out when they're being assholes. He helps Ali learn to be more authentically herself.
I liked both of the protagonists. Ali is very headstrong. She says what she's thinking once she stops trying to hide herself away. She stands up for what's right. She is funny and smart and is better at kung fu than any of the boys she trains with. But she also has flaws, mainly being able to communicate emotions or intention in an effective way, as well as trust issues. Chase is also outspoken and funny, but seems more thoughtful. Less impulsive. He can communicate well, but he has his own baggage he's working through.
There's a secondary plot about the relationships they both have with their parents and how this affects their choices as characters. I thought this was well developed. I didn't feel like the parent aspect needed more or less time. It just took up the right amount of the plot. They also felt like real characters instead of monstrous caricatures because "the main character is a teenager, so they are unable to see the good in their parents" (a trope I'm not a fan of).
The secondary characters were enjoyable and added nicely to the book. I also like how Chao interweaves a traditional Chinese folk tale ("The Butterfly Lovers") into her story and how it relates to Ali and Chase's story.
I would definitely pick this one up. It's heartwarming and smart and a very enjoyable read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Popsugar reading prompt: A book with a great first line ("My mom believes in magic penises.")
Our protagonist, Ali, has tried to blend into her suburban Indiana existence by living what she calls a "dry toast" life. She doesn't correct her friends when they mispronounce her name (calling her "Allie" instead), she changes her eating habits after they call her Chinese food "weird", and she puts up with many microaggressions (or sometimes flat out racism) from both students and teachers alike. Until Chase comes along and changes her perspective a bit. Chase immediately chooses not to blend in and to call people out when they're being assholes. He helps Ali learn to be more authentically herself.
I liked both of the protagonists. Ali is very headstrong. She says what she's thinking once she stops trying to hide herself away. She stands up for what's right. She is funny and smart and is better at kung fu than any of the boys she trains with. But she also has flaws, mainly being able to communicate emotions or intention in an effective way, as well as trust issues. Chase is also outspoken and funny, but seems more thoughtful. Less impulsive. He can communicate well, but he has his own baggage he's working through.
There's a secondary plot about the relationships they both have with their parents and how this affects their choices as characters. I thought this was well developed. I didn't feel like the parent aspect needed more or less time. It just took up the right amount of the plot. They also felt like real characters instead of monstrous caricatures because "the main character is a teenager, so they are unable to see the good in their parents" (a trope I'm not a fan of).
The secondary characters were enjoyable and added nicely to the book. I also like how Chao interweaves a traditional Chinese folk tale ("The Butterfly Lovers") into her story and how it relates to Ali and Chase's story.
I would definitely pick this one up. It's heartwarming and smart and a very enjoyable read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Popsugar reading prompt: A book with a great first line ("My mom believes in magic penises.")
jenlouisegallant's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Really liked this and it was hard to put down. Read it in two sittings.
Really liked this and it was hard to put down. Read it in two sittings.
sidneyellwood's review against another edition
4.0
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Initially, Our Wayward Fate caught my eye because I'd heard a lot about Gloria Chao's debut, American Panda, and though I hadn't read it I'm always excited to see new books from Chinese authors. Honestly, I was expecting a typical contemporary romance from Our Wayward Fate. What I got was an exploration of being the children of immigrants and reconnecting to your culture intertwined with the cute romance.
Ali is a really fun protagonist; she's very sarcastic without being overly sullen about it, mostly because a lot of her standoffishness is to cope with being the only Chinese person in a small town and the racism she experiences from her friends and classmates. I've never experienced the kind of racism that Ali does, but I've definitely had similar experiences, and I could really relate to pushing away my culture so I could fit in with my white classmates.
So the main conflict in the book is between Ali and her immigrant parents who want the best for her while pushing her away from her boyfriend, Chase Yu, the other Taiwanese kid who moves to the town early on in the book. Even though he helps Ali reconnect with her Taiwanese identity, the politics within the Taiwanese immigrant community--and especially Ali's parents--keep them apart. Usually, I'm not really a fan of the forbidden romance trope, especially when it's heterosexual, but the one between Ali and Chase rang true to me. I did find the beginning of their relationship wasn't really developed well, but they did have a lot of chemistry towards the end of the book.
I honestly wasn't a huge fan of Chao's writing. It read as overly rambly and somewhat immature to me, but there were a lot of funny and introspective moments; the last quarter or so of the book is really strong, and if the whole book was similar I think I would have enjoyed the writing more. One of the narrative choices I really liked was Chao's decision to leave most of the Mandarin used in the story untranslated, which made the dialogue more immersive. Ali's story is intertwined with the folk tale of the Butterfly Lovers, which I'd honestly never heard about before this book, but is a very well-known folk tale in China.
Despite some of the problems I had with the romance and writing, I quite enjoyed Our Wayward Fate and found I could relate to a lot of Ali's experiences as a Chinese person. I definitely recommend this for those who are searching for diverse contemporary romance books that will make you think.
representation | chinese main characters, gay side character
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Initially, Our Wayward Fate caught my eye because I'd heard a lot about Gloria Chao's debut, American Panda, and though I hadn't read it I'm always excited to see new books from Chinese authors. Honestly, I was expecting a typical contemporary romance from Our Wayward Fate. What I got was an exploration of being the children of immigrants and reconnecting to your culture intertwined with the cute romance.
Ali is a really fun protagonist; she's very sarcastic without being overly sullen about it, mostly because a lot of her standoffishness is to cope with being the only Chinese person in a small town and the racism she experiences from her friends and classmates. I've never experienced the kind of racism that Ali does, but I've definitely had similar experiences, and I could really relate to pushing away my culture so I could fit in with my white classmates.
So the main conflict in the book is between Ali and her immigrant parents who want the best for her while pushing her away from her boyfriend, Chase Yu, the other Taiwanese kid who moves to the town early on in the book. Even though he helps Ali reconnect with her Taiwanese identity, the politics within the Taiwanese immigrant community--and especially Ali's parents--keep them apart. Usually, I'm not really a fan of the forbidden romance trope, especially when it's heterosexual, but the one between Ali and Chase rang true to me. I did find the beginning of their relationship wasn't really developed well, but they did have a lot of chemistry towards the end of the book.
I honestly wasn't a huge fan of Chao's writing. It read as overly rambly and somewhat immature to me, but there were a lot of funny and introspective moments; the last quarter or so of the book is really strong, and if the whole book was similar I think I would have enjoyed the writing more. One of the narrative choices I really liked was Chao's decision to leave most of the Mandarin used in the story untranslated, which made the dialogue more immersive. Ali's story is intertwined with the folk tale of the Butterfly Lovers, which I'd honestly never heard about before this book, but is a very well-known folk tale in China.
Despite some of the problems I had with the romance and writing, I quite enjoyed Our Wayward Fate and found I could relate to a lot of Ali's experiences as a Chinese person. I definitely recommend this for those who are searching for diverse contemporary romance books that will make you think.
representation | chinese main characters, gay side character
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.