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hrhprincesimon's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning of this book is.... not the strongest (how fast can ali and chase fall in love it’s like a speed run), but once it strays from like 5/10 ya romance novel and goes into the deeper mystery of it all, it gets much better. It’s also been a while since I read a chill ya romance, so maybe that’s influencing my decision. But if it’s worth anything, I didn’t have to force myself to read it!
I almost feel like if they’d waited and given the relationship more of a slow burn situation and waited until chicago to fully establish it it would’ve been better? Like she discovers the park and realizes that so long as she chooses it doesn’t matter, she finally has the motivation to be with chase.
I almost feel like if they’d waited and given the relationship more of a slow burn situation and waited until chicago to fully establish it it would’ve been better? Like she discovers the park and realizes that so long as she chooses it doesn’t matter, she finally has the motivation to be with chase.
hoffnungswolke's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
audible audiobook
english review only
I loved this book so much.
Gloria Chao's books just make me happy. I love how she writes her characters and her stories.
I love the journey we get to go on with Ali in this book, uncovering all the secrets that had so long been hidden. I love her growth of standing up for herself and actually finding herself.
It was beautiful. It had sad and frustrating moments.
But that's why I love it even more.
english review only
I loved this book so much.
Gloria Chao's books just make me happy. I love how she writes her characters and her stories.
I love the journey we get to go on with Ali in this book, uncovering all the secrets that had so long been hidden. I love her growth of standing up for herself and actually finding herself.
It was beautiful. It had sad and frustrating moments.
But that's why I love it even more.
stenaros's review against another edition
4.0
What a great main character! What a great collection of microaggressions! What a great parent-child disconnect! What a great swoony romance! What a great plot conundrum!
hirapalace's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jolyn_'s review against another edition
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ifthebook's review against another edition
4.0
This is a solid second book from Gloria Chao. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as American Panda, but it’s still worth a read.
Find my full review here.
Find my full review here.
sunnymashi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.25
✨ I was honestly taken aback by the character development. It was so evident and so satisfying.
✨ I thought the incorporation of the information about the park and the Butterfly Lovers’ tale was confusing and distracting at first, but now, looking back, I think it was necessary that each part of either the park snippets or the Butterfly Lovers’ tale to be where it was in order to foreshadow or to make the reader wonder about how things are all connected. It served to reinforce the point of secrets and unknown discoveries and connections as well as highlight the nature of Chase and Ali’s love, which pure, persevering love which stands regardless of what expectations from society claim about them.
✨ The middle was a bit slower for me, but once I got to the last third, my interest was revived. I thought the reveal would be slightly more dark though… I didn’t think it would be a matchmaking deal behind Ali’s back… it still got me shocked but… I just didn’t expect it to be so simple? Idk
✨ The writing was quite engaging and the topics the story brought up were so relevant. I felt that it handled most, if not all, of them with care.
✨
✨ The middle was a bit slower for me, but once I got to the last third, my interest was revived.
✨ The writing was quite engaging and the topics the story brought up were so relevant. I felt that it handled most, if not all, of them with care.
half_bloodreader's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
"My mom believes in magic penises.
Because at the moment she was saying for the umpteenth time, “If you had been a boy, things would be different.” The problem wasn’t my genitals—it was my mother’s outdated belief that boys were better. Plus, it wasn’t my fault Dad’s X sperm had been faster than the Y."
If that isn't a strong beginning to a book!
"I couldn’t stand the stereotypes this town projected onto my family and me, but what did it mean that a lot of them were true? Not just for me, but now also for Chase?"
This book explores:
- growing up as a teen POC in a majorly white Midwestern town
- stereotypes & racism, microaggressions
- miscommunication between parents & children, especially children of immigrants who don't wholly feel like they belong anywhere
- strains created by secrets & sacrifices, and how they affect relationships/family
- Asian identity pride
"I’d find a way to be with Chase. After all, what was one more secret in this family of hidden truths and buried emotions?"
You all know I'm not into Insta Love (just add pheromones and mix!), but although it was that kind, the attraction made sense in this context. Ali and Chase effortlessly find a connection in their love for Martial Arts, puns, and frustration with the casual racism in their community and the lack of communication & openness within their families. A connection within loneliness, especially for Ali who has been living isolated from any other Asian teens who understand her experience, self-erasing instead. Chase encourages her to stop holding back and confront the casual racists & ignorant bigots.
"Our family had been drowning in cerulean blue for generations, playing telephone when we didn’t have to and leaking truth with every person added to the chain. So much had already been lost; I wanted to plug all the holes and scream at everyone to just fucking learn to communicate… but I was just as guilty. I didn’t know how to talk to any of them"
Ali tirelessly pursues the truth with a tenacity I applaud, as well as every time she acknowledges and self-checks like this moment "Well, that’d teach me to be the same kind of stereotypical ass I complained about."
Her moments with Bógōng were so touching 😭
Because at the moment she was saying for the umpteenth time, “If you had been a boy, things would be different.” The problem wasn’t my genitals—it was my mother’s outdated belief that boys were better. Plus, it wasn’t my fault Dad’s X sperm had been faster than the Y."
If that isn't a strong beginning to a book!
"I couldn’t stand the stereotypes this town projected onto my family and me, but what did it mean that a lot of them were true? Not just for me, but now also for Chase?"
This book explores:
- growing up as a teen POC in a majorly white Midwestern town
- stereotypes & racism, microaggressions
- miscommunication between parents & children, especially children of immigrants who don't wholly feel like they belong anywhere
- strains created by secrets & sacrifices, and how they affect relationships/family
- Asian identity pride
"I’d find a way to be with Chase. After all, what was one more secret in this family of hidden truths and buried emotions?"
You all know I'm not into Insta Love (just add pheromones and mix!), but although it was that kind, the attraction made sense in this context. Ali and Chase effortlessly find a connection in their love for Martial Arts, puns, and frustration with the casual racism in their community and the lack of communication & openness within their families. A connection within loneliness, especially for Ali who has been living isolated from any other Asian teens who understand her experience, self-erasing instead. Chase encourages her to stop holding back and confront the casual racists & ignorant bigots.
"Our family had been drowning in cerulean blue for generations, playing telephone when we didn’t have to and leaking truth with every person added to the chain. So much had already been lost; I wanted to plug all the holes and scream at everyone to just fucking learn to communicate… but I was just as guilty. I didn’t know how to talk to any of them"
Ali tirelessly pursues the truth with a tenacity I applaud, as well as every time she acknowledges and self-checks like this moment "Well, that’d teach me to be the same kind of stereotypical ass I complained about."
Her moments with Bógōng were so touching 😭
mediocrem's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25