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rosiefrog's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.75
noyastan's review against another edition
4.0
Ali was tough, feisty, daring, and eager to find her place. Her and Chase’s romance was a whirlwind, at times a bit insta-love, but I enjoyed reading about Asian Americans youths both countering the racism of their majority white community and trying to reach out to their parents’ differing views.
- This was very cute! A quick-paced, dramatic chronicle of two Taiwanese American kids in the Mid West finding comfort and companionship with each other.
- There was a twist that, not going to lie, I didn’t even connect the dots to because I thought the story was going in a completely different direction.
- Interspersed between Ali and Chase’s story is the Taiwanese tale of the Butterfly Lovers.
- So many fun puns!!!!
Ultimately, a captivating, quick read that gave me a bit of hope!
- This was very cute! A quick-paced, dramatic chronicle of two Taiwanese American kids in the Mid West finding comfort and companionship with each other.
- There was a twist that, not going to lie, I didn’t even connect the dots to because I thought the story was going in a completely different direction.
- Interspersed between Ali and Chase’s story is the Taiwanese tale of the Butterfly Lovers.
- So many fun puns!!!!
Ultimately, a captivating, quick read that gave me a bit of hope!
alexandra_92's review against another edition
5.0
It was amazing and I loved it! Both humorous and tragic.
marshmallowpudding's review against another edition
4.0
i was expecting our wayward fate to be something similar to american panda (ie. a light, fluffy romance), but this book also explores heavier topics such as arranged marriage and toxic parent-child relationships, which aren't seen that often in the young adult contemporary genre. i also really liked how the chinese butterfly lovers legend was incorporated into the story (and i can't wait to read the full story in chinese, because the heroine's so badass)!!
justamess's review against another edition
2.0
Another book where you want it to be good but its not
mia_pnne's review against another edition
2.0
ugh this was not it for me. i felt that the character development wasn’t strong enough to carry the plot or get me invested in the story and honestly found the side plot/flashbacks much more engaging than the actual novel.
arieanbooks'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.
dcinter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
samanthafondriest's review against another edition
4.0
Our Wayward Fate follows Ali, a Chinese-American teenager living in "white bread" middle America. When another Chinese student, Chase Yu, shows up at her high school, her world is turned upside down. When Ali's mother forbids the relationship with no explanation, Ali starts digging into her mother's past to find out why she is so secretive and closed off. Ali's story is interwoven with short chapters retelling The Butterfly Lovers, a Chinese folktale, that may have more to do with her life than she knows.
Gloria Chao's writing has matured in her sophomore novel, providing more nuance to her exploration of discrimination, straddling two cultures, familial dysfunction, and the Asian experience in middle America. Ali's anger and hurt is visceral; her peers don't accept her Chinese heritage, her mother can be cruel and secretive, and her father has checked out of life. The book shines while exploring the tense relationship between Ali and her family. The novel's biggest fault is the jarring insta-love between Chase and Ali, though their relationship becomes more believable as the novel progresses. Overall, the novel shows great growth in the author's writing and provides a unique and important addition to the small-but-growing canon of Asian-American YA. Chao has much to say, and will leave readers wanting more of her unique perspective and strong female characters.
Gloria Chao's writing has matured in her sophomore novel, providing more nuance to her exploration of discrimination, straddling two cultures, familial dysfunction, and the Asian experience in middle America. Ali's anger and hurt is visceral; her peers don't accept her Chinese heritage, her mother can be cruel and secretive, and her father has checked out of life. The book shines while exploring the tense relationship between Ali and her family. The novel's biggest fault is the jarring insta-love between Chase and Ali, though their relationship becomes more believable as the novel progresses. Overall, the novel shows great growth in the author's writing and provides a unique and important addition to the small-but-growing canon of Asian-American YA. Chao has much to say, and will leave readers wanting more of her unique perspective and strong female characters.
lizzynotbennet's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5