Scan barcode
molliekemp's review against another edition
3.0
I really thought this book had a strong start, but to me fizzled out a bit. I felt like the first third felt so grounded and realistic, but the second half seemed too clean and tidy. It also began to feel rushed to me- the pacing of the book from the first part to the second are just vastly different in a jarring manner. The romance develops way too fast and just doesn't feel realistic either.
onlyongracexm's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I felt those Asian-American vibes. I felt that generational and cultural gap between Ali and her mother and I felt that lack of communication in her family. I related so hard. This is, like, Lulu Wang material right here.
This was a very good book. I’ll definitely read more of Gloria Chao in the future.
This was a very good book. I’ll definitely read more of Gloria Chao in the future.
hannahsophialin's review against another edition
4.0
The author/publisher provided a free copy of the book for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore do not affect the opinion or content of the review.
I adored American Panda back in 2018, so when I heard Gloria Chao was releasing a new book, I pretty much slid Our Wayward Fate onto my TBR with no questions asked. (I enjoyed American Panda enough that I got my own copy... only to have my mom "borrow" it. She still hasn't returned it.)
Chao's latest novel follows Ali Chu, a high school senior living in Indiana and is the only Asian kid in her school; for years, she operates in survival mode in order to blend in with the rest of her classmates, even if she hates dealing with the constant racist stereotypes that are automatically associated with her simply because she's Asian. But she continues to remain silent until she finds out the new kid in school, Chase Yu, is also Taiwanese like her.
Let me take a moment to talk about their relationship!!!
❤ Puns, puns, so many puns
❤ Jokes and wordplay in Mandarin (also I really loved how Chao didn't incorporate a glossary so readers can get what it's like to be someone learning a language through conversation and context)
❤ They're just so cute and competitive together; ugh, my heart can't
Chao touches on a lot of experiences that I personally went through - it's a book that I would have loved to read back in middle and high school when I occasionally felt like I was alone in my experiences. Much of the experiences Ali goes through hit hardcore emotionally and I really, really wanted to reach through the book just to give Ali a hug. (Here I thought I related to Mei a lot and Ali Chu comes in and knocks it out of the park.)
I love puns, so I'm a little biased toward them. While Our Wayward Fate is chock full of puns (I love them) and incorporates Chao's signature humor from her debut, it also has a darker feel. Our Wayward Fate is a book with family and identity with a retelling of The Butterfly Lovers; it also focuses a lot about miscommunication when we struggle or are unsure when communicating with others.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
I adored American Panda back in 2018, so when I heard Gloria Chao was releasing a new book, I pretty much slid Our Wayward Fate onto my TBR with no questions asked. (I enjoyed American Panda enough that I got my own copy... only to have my mom "borrow" it. She still hasn't returned it.)
Gloria Chao is a Queen of Writing Relatable Characters and it continues with her second novel, Our Wayward Fate.
Chao's latest novel follows Ali Chu, a high school senior living in Indiana and is the only Asian kid in her school; for years, she operates in survival mode in order to blend in with the rest of her classmates, even if she hates dealing with the constant racist stereotypes that are automatically associated with her simply because she's Asian. But she continues to remain silent until she finds out the new kid in school, Chase Yu, is also Taiwanese like her.
Let me take a moment to talk about their relationship!!!
❤ Puns, puns, so many puns
❤ Jokes and wordplay in Mandarin (also I really loved how Chao didn't incorporate a glossary so readers can get what it's like to be someone learning a language through conversation and context)
❤ They're just so cute and competitive together; ugh, my heart can't
Friends, I saw myself in American Panda, but I also really saw myself in Our Wayward Fate.
Chao touches on a lot of experiences that I personally went through - it's a book that I would have loved to read back in middle and high school when I occasionally felt like I was alone in my experiences. Much of the experiences Ali goes through hit hardcore emotionally and I really, really wanted to reach through the book just to give Ali a hug. (Here I thought I related to Mei a lot and Ali Chu comes in and knocks it out of the park.)
Chao's latest novel deals with darker topics while also incorporating her signature humor.
I love puns, so I'm a little biased toward them. While Our Wayward Fate is chock full of puns (I love them) and incorporates Chao's signature humor from her debut, it also has a darker feel. Our Wayward Fate is a book with family and identity with a retelling of The Butterfly Lovers; it also focuses a lot about miscommunication when we struggle or are unsure when communicating with others.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
darlingbudsofrae's review against another edition
2.0
Our Wayward Fate is a contemporary novel that tackles incredibly tough issues such as family dynamics, race, culture, and love itself. I, for one, am both excited and scared for books that holds this topics because it can either go in one of two ways: (1) absolutely amazeballs and (2) a mess of a travesty, which is why I've put this book on hold for so long. Surprisingly though, it didn't go either way for this particular book because by the time I was finished, I was stupidly happy but so so confused. I didn't think the issues were handled badly and I'm a fan of insta-love (IKR) and yes, I am the target audience of this book. This is also my first time reading from this author so I didn't really had any expectations or lack thereof for the author to exceed or break, so why didn't I like it? I thought about it for a while too, until I stopped thinking about it and it struck me that I had laughed several times at scenes I definitely shouldn't be laughing at and I was pretty much just vibing with everything. I am going to be honest with you: I honestly didn't bought the story. The writing style isn't bad but I just didn't get sucked into it, y'know? It's not like I'm expecting to like really get into these characters and cry for them (which would be amazing but that take miracles) but I thought about it for a while and I honestly don't care for them. Like they're cute and all but I'm just completely meh about all of it, which sucks because I do think this book covered a lot of important topics and I was so ready to fall in love with it.
Summary: To be completely frank- this book lacked, despite its tedious content, is depth- and if anyone knows anything about me, I'm a sucker for depth.
PS.
I like Yun though- I would def read a story about him <33
Summary: To be completely frank- this book lacked, despite its tedious content, is depth- and if anyone knows anything about me, I'm a sucker for depth.
PS.
I like Yun though- I would def read a story about him <33
bbliophile's review against another edition
So, this book... I was highly anticipating Our Wayward Fate after reading and loving this authors debut American Panda. I remember having the best time with that book, and finding it incredibly funny, so naturally I had pretty high expectations of this book.
Those expectations were met... partially. I still liked the writing, I enjoyed reading about the conflict between the mc and her parents (the secrets, the shame, etc.) and found it very interesting, the romance was very cute, and I, overall, had a good time reading it.
There were a few things that felt a little meh though. First of all, there is a gay side character in this book and I didn't really like how his story arc was written, and the mc felt very 'not like the other girls'. Not as bad as other character's I've read about, but it still annoyed me a little.
So yeah, I enjoyed this and I'm definitely going to pick up more books by this author, but this one could've been better.
Those expectations were met... partially. I still liked the writing, I enjoyed reading about the conflict between the mc and her parents (the secrets, the shame, etc.) and found it very interesting, the romance was very cute, and I, overall, had a good time reading it.
There were a few things that felt a little meh though. First of all, there is a gay side character in this book and I didn't really like how his story arc was written, and the mc felt very 'not like the other girls'. Not as bad as other character's I've read about, but it still annoyed me a little.
So yeah, I enjoyed this and I'm definitely going to pick up more books by this author, but this one could've been better.
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I read this on audio and I really enjoyed the inclusion of all the Chinese language sections, as well as the side chapters detailing the story of The Butterfly Lovers.
I liked Ali's fiery, stubborn persona, and the fact that she wasn't afraid to stand up for what she believed in. I wasn't a huge fan of Chase at first (mainly because he was kind of rude to Ali?), but he grew on me as the novel progressed. Some of my favourite scenes where when Ali, Chase, and Yun were all hanging out together, just enjoying each other's company. I couldn't stand Ali's friends because they were so racist and ignorant??? So, of course, I thoroughly enjoyed it when she and Chase took them down a notch. Incorrect, offensive stereotypes were challenged throughout the novel and racism was consistently called out.
My only real issues with the book were that the writing style didn't wow me and the narrative pacing was inconsistent. I also thought the romance was borderline insta-love, but I can forgive that because it was pretty cute. Overall a fun read, but perhaps not as memorable as I was hoping for.
I read this on audio and I really enjoyed the inclusion of all the Chinese language sections, as well as the side chapters detailing the story of The Butterfly Lovers.
I liked Ali's fiery, stubborn persona, and the fact that she wasn't afraid to stand up for what she believed in. I wasn't a huge fan of Chase at first (mainly because he was kind of rude to Ali?), but he grew on me as the novel progressed. Some of my favourite scenes where when Ali, Chase, and Yun were all hanging out together, just enjoying each other's company. I couldn't stand Ali's friends because they were so racist and ignorant??? So, of course, I thoroughly enjoyed it when she and Chase took them down a notch. Incorrect, offensive stereotypes were challenged throughout the novel and racism was consistently called out.
My only real issues with the book were that the writing style didn't wow me and the narrative pacing was inconsistent. I also thought the romance was borderline insta-love, but I can forgive that because it was pretty cute. Overall a fun read, but perhaps not as memorable as I was hoping for.
aforestofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you so much to Simon& Schuster Canada and NetGalley for letting me review this arc!!
After reading American Panda, I just knew whatever Gloria Chao wrote next would be a book I absolutely had to read. American Panda was difficult, and I went into Our Wayward Fate with the same expectation: that I would relate in so many ways, and it would hurt and dredge up old memories and feelings. Despite that, I don’t think I was ready ready? I had to take some breaks, which is fine, because honestly a part of me loves painful books because I feel seen and heard in ways I don’t in other books I’ve read.
There are so many secrets in this book. Like wow, I was not expecting as many twists and turns. I did not see the true intention of the park until it was revealed because I just wasn’t expecting this book to go there for some reason. And when I realized what was happening, I needed to take a break to process it all…
Beginning with Ali…I really loved the distinction between how Americans pronounce Ali (as Allie) and the actual pronunciation. It reminded me of my own middle name, which is also Ali, and how people pronounce it wrong all the time.
Ali is such a fun, messy character. She does and says things that are questionable and sometimes outrageously wrong, yet she has good intentions; she just struggles to voice them appropriately most of the time. Chase’s introduction at Ali’s school was just perfect. I really loved how bold he is and how he stands up against the racism he faces immediately. I loved how he brought out Ali’s spirited side. Seeing Ali change and stand up for herself against her “friends” and her teacher was so inspiring and heartwarming. It’s how I know a lot of kids would like to be, but it can be so scary when you don’t have the support you need from friends or family.
The one problem I had with the romance was that it felt rushed. I think everything happened a bit too fast (though having read the arc and not the finished copy, I don’t know if things are the same). The timeline didn’t span a few months like I was expecting, and by the time Ali is off to China, she hasn’t really known Chase for all that long. But they’re absolutely obsessed with each other in that short span of time, which I guess is totally possible, I’m just picky with romance lol
The other issue I had was with the dialogue. Compared to American Panda, the characters in OWF acted a lot younger, even though they’re only a year or two apart from Mei and Darren. Some of the lines were cringey and the jokes repetitive. It did take me a while to get into the flow because it felt a little awkward at times. Though I think Ali and Chase grow into the characters more and things just fit better by the end?
The Butterfly Lovers…I actually had a friend tell me the story right as I was starting this book. I had no idea that this story was going to be such a major part of the book, so when I finally fit the pieces together I was shook lol. That being said, I really liked the differences in how the story ended compared to the original. I also loved the little snippets we get from the past, where we get to follow along with Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo. And also the flashbacks we get from the park. The park scenes were a little confusing at first, but I think it was done really well because I was surprised when the plot twist was finally revealed.
Ali’s relationship with her family was difficult to read, and honestly seeing what her mother had planned left me pretty angry. It was just something I could relate to on a personal level, something I could see happening to myself, and it was a little scary and triggering. I did love how Ali confronts both her parents and points out their flaws and how she doesn’t back down when they try to explain themselves with their nonsensical excuses. I was really angry at her mother because she’s so selfish. She ruined what she had because her expectations (which she didn’t bother sharing with her husband) weren’t met. She made decisions because she thought she knew best, which is something so common among Asian parents, I was rolling my eyes along with Ali every single time her mom told her that.
The main problem here was lack of communication, which I think is a huge problem in Asian families. We don’t know how to talk about feelings and we also don’t know how to listen to other opinions. And then things become a mess and it just spirals. Communication was a huge theme in this book, from the way Ali skirts around just asking Chase about his past and turns to theft, to her breaking into her mom’s safe because her mom won’t talk to her, to seeing how her father was too ashamed to discuss his feelings with this wife when he lost his tenure, to Ali’s mother making decisions for her instead of talking to her.
It was painful to read. And while I liked how things were on their way to being resolved at the end, I was actually expecting things to go the divorce route, especially considering the things Ali’s mother said to her father and what she almost did to Ali. It is nice for things not to end that way, and it’s nice to see a family try to communicate with each other and solve their issues rather than everything falling apart. But…I don’t know. Maybe I can’t forgive that easily, or having an outside perspective makes me a bit more harsh. But Ali’s mother isn’t great and pretty toxic. And by the end I really hated her a lot. The cultural divide between Ali and her mother and how what her mother says isn’t 100% what she exactly means, was nice to see because it’s a real thing and it really showed how hard and complicated and confusing it can get when you don’t just have lack of communication but a communication divide because of culture. And while we can blame a lot of that for Ali’s mother’s actions, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that what she did was wrong and awful. And I did like how Ali made sure to point that out at the end too. Healing is a difficult process, filled with ups and downs, when one moment you hate everything and are so angry, and the next you feel pity and guilt and sadness. It’s a mess, and I definitely felt like I was a mess at the end.
4/5 stars.
I look forward to reading the finished copy one day, just to see the differences and how the formatting changes. (The epilogue did feel a little confusing because there weren’t any scene breaks in the arc.)
After reading American Panda, I just knew whatever Gloria Chao wrote next would be a book I absolutely had to read. American Panda was difficult, and I went into Our Wayward Fate with the same expectation: that I would relate in so many ways, and it would hurt and dredge up old memories and feelings. Despite that, I don’t think I was ready ready? I had to take some breaks, which is fine, because honestly a part of me loves painful books because I feel seen and heard in ways I don’t in other books I’ve read.
There are so many secrets in this book. Like wow, I was not expecting as many twists and turns. I did not see the true intention of the park until it was revealed because I just wasn’t expecting this book to go there for some reason. And when I realized what was happening, I needed to take a break to process it all…
Beginning with Ali…I really loved the distinction between how Americans pronounce Ali (as Allie) and the actual pronunciation. It reminded me of my own middle name, which is also Ali, and how people pronounce it wrong all the time.
Ali is such a fun, messy character. She does and says things that are questionable and sometimes outrageously wrong, yet she has good intentions; she just struggles to voice them appropriately most of the time. Chase’s introduction at Ali’s school was just perfect. I really loved how bold he is and how he stands up against the racism he faces immediately. I loved how he brought out Ali’s spirited side. Seeing Ali change and stand up for herself against her “friends” and her teacher was so inspiring and heartwarming. It’s how I know a lot of kids would like to be, but it can be so scary when you don’t have the support you need from friends or family.
The one problem I had with the romance was that it felt rushed. I think everything happened a bit too fast (though having read the arc and not the finished copy, I don’t know if things are the same). The timeline didn’t span a few months like I was expecting, and by the time Ali is off to China, she hasn’t really known Chase for all that long. But they’re absolutely obsessed with each other in that short span of time, which I guess is totally possible, I’m just picky with romance lol
The other issue I had was with the dialogue. Compared to American Panda, the characters in OWF acted a lot younger, even though they’re only a year or two apart from Mei and Darren. Some of the lines were cringey and the jokes repetitive. It did take me a while to get into the flow because it felt a little awkward at times. Though I think Ali and Chase grow into the characters more and things just fit better by the end?
The Butterfly Lovers…I actually had a friend tell me the story right as I was starting this book. I had no idea that this story was going to be such a major part of the book, so when I finally fit the pieces together I was shook lol. That being said, I really liked the differences in how the story ended compared to the original. I also loved the little snippets we get from the past, where we get to follow along with Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo. And also the flashbacks we get from the park. The park scenes were a little confusing at first, but I think it was done really well because I was surprised when the plot twist was finally revealed.
Ali’s relationship with her family was difficult to read, and honestly seeing what her mother had planned left me pretty angry. It was just something I could relate to on a personal level, something I could see happening to myself, and it was a little scary and triggering. I did love how Ali confronts both her parents and points out their flaws and how she doesn’t back down when they try to explain themselves with their nonsensical excuses. I was really angry at her mother because she’s so selfish. She ruined what she had because her expectations (which she didn’t bother sharing with her husband) weren’t met. She made decisions because she thought she knew best, which is something so common among Asian parents, I was rolling my eyes along with Ali every single time her mom told her that.
The main problem here was lack of communication, which I think is a huge problem in Asian families. We don’t know how to talk about feelings and we also don’t know how to listen to other opinions. And then things become a mess and it just spirals. Communication was a huge theme in this book, from the way Ali skirts around just asking Chase about his past and turns to theft, to her breaking into her mom’s safe because her mom won’t talk to her, to seeing how her father was too ashamed to discuss his feelings with this wife when he lost his tenure, to Ali’s mother making decisions for her instead of talking to her.
It was painful to read. And while I liked how things were on their way to being resolved at the end, I was actually expecting things to go the divorce route, especially considering the things Ali’s mother said to her father and what she almost did to Ali. It is nice for things not to end that way, and it’s nice to see a family try to communicate with each other and solve their issues rather than everything falling apart. But…I don’t know. Maybe I can’t forgive that easily, or having an outside perspective makes me a bit more harsh. But Ali’s mother isn’t great and pretty toxic. And by the end I really hated her a lot. The cultural divide between Ali and her mother and how what her mother says isn’t 100% what she exactly means, was nice to see because it’s a real thing and it really showed how hard and complicated and confusing it can get when you don’t just have lack of communication but a communication divide because of culture. And while we can blame a lot of that for Ali’s mother’s actions, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that what she did was wrong and awful. And I did like how Ali made sure to point that out at the end too. Healing is a difficult process, filled with ups and downs, when one moment you hate everything and are so angry, and the next you feel pity and guilt and sadness. It’s a mess, and I definitely felt like I was a mess at the end.
4/5 stars.
I look forward to reading the finished copy one day, just to see the differences and how the formatting changes. (The epilogue did feel a little confusing because there weren’t any scene breaks in the arc.)
jilljemmett's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing second novel from Gloria Chao!
Ali had to deal with a ton of racism, living in a predominantly “white” town. I couldn’t believe the way that her peers and teachers would talk to her, including commenting on how good she must be at math and putting on a Chinese accent in front of her. She was born in America so she was just as much of an American as them. These racist people also assumed that she must date the new Asian boy in the school. It was heartbreaking to read the way people spoke to her.
I learned a lot about Chinese culture in this book. There was a Chinese folktale that was threaded throughout the story and united with the main plot in the end. It had to do with Ali’s mother’s secrets, which was another amazing and suspenseful subplot!
I liked that the Mandarin words weren’t translated directly into English. It brings the reader into Ali’s position of being on the outside of the culture she lives in. I could figure out what most of the words meant from the context, but I liked that it kept Ali’s culture prevalent in the story.
I loved this book!
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ali had to deal with a ton of racism, living in a predominantly “white” town. I couldn’t believe the way that her peers and teachers would talk to her, including commenting on how good she must be at math and putting on a Chinese accent in front of her. She was born in America so she was just as much of an American as them. These racist people also assumed that she must date the new Asian boy in the school. It was heartbreaking to read the way people spoke to her.
I learned a lot about Chinese culture in this book. There was a Chinese folktale that was threaded throughout the story and united with the main plot in the end. It had to do with Ali’s mother’s secrets, which was another amazing and suspenseful subplot!
I liked that the Mandarin words weren’t translated directly into English. It brings the reader into Ali’s position of being on the outside of the culture she lives in. I could figure out what most of the words meant from the context, but I liked that it kept Ali’s culture prevalent in the story.
I loved this book!
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
kailiasage's review against another edition
3.0
I am always dismayed when a story that I am incredibly excited for lets me down. Our Wayward Fate has a beautiful cover and an intriguing premise and I was excited to see how Gloria Chao would weave this story together. I loved the immersion of past Chinese culture and history connecting to the culture of the people today. However, I didn't think that the overall story was one that had a lasting impression on me.
The concept of arranged marriages is one that I'm very familiar with and I was surprised by how it was done in this story. I wish that there had been more said about how arranged marriages still work and operate in cultures around the world today because people are more than happy to be involved with it. I can understand why Ali felt the way that she did about how the events of the story unfolded but I wish they had been handled differently.
The concept of arranged marriages is one that I'm very familiar with and I was surprised by how it was done in this story. I wish that there had been more said about how arranged marriages still work and operate in cultures around the world today because people are more than happy to be involved with it. I can understand why Ali felt the way that she did about how the events of the story unfolded but I wish they had been handled differently.
absdoesmusic's review against another edition
4.0
Soooo.
If you look past the insta-love (I'm more of a 500k slowburn kind of person), which, I think is justified to advance the plot... This was actually an interesting book. My favorite by Gloria Chao is still Rent a boyfriend, but this one is good too
If you look past the insta-love (I'm more of a 500k slowburn kind of person), which, I think is justified to advance the plot... This was actually an interesting book. My favorite by Gloria Chao is still Rent a boyfriend, but this one is good too