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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a such a fun read! It was the perfect pool side read. I loved all the K-drama references! This book was also so sweet and it will leave you smiling!
Funny YA novel with some great lines (I loved “Mother of dragons!” as an exclamation) and a winking sensibility about the clichés it was both mocking and endorsing. Desi is an engaging narrator: she is an overachiever with some harebrained ideas (the kind of things that only seem like a good idea before your prefrontal cortex is fully developed), and the plot line is rooted in her identity as the American-born child of Korean immigrants. Goo really nails that first love feeling—I found the story totally relatable—and the sweet relationship with her dad was a joy to read. Also, I love the name Popcorn for a lap dog. Recommended.
A passage where her bestie reminded me of my bestie:
She glanced over at me again. “Look at you today. All sharp.” I was wearing dark jeans, black flats, and a gray peacoat over a heart-patterned sweater. “Fi. I’m just wearing normal clothes.” Fiona, on the other hand, was wearing shorts overalls over tights, a long-sleeved thermal, and a giant tweed men’s coat over the entire ensemble. Her lips crimson, her faux-red hair tied in a high, messy knot. Bow down.
(p. 45)
Other quotes hidden below for mild spoilers.
An unfortunate trait we share:
I was relieved that he and that terrible human being weren’t together, but the whole mysterious no-girlfriend thing was a major obstacle I hadn’t anticipated. Good thing there was nothing that motivated me more than hearing that I couldn’t do something. (p. 61)
Writing that makes me almost, alllllmost want to be 18 again:
The next week passed in a haze. The only thing completely in focus was my time with Luca. Luca this and Luca that. I was in full-on, Bella Swan, obsessed-with-my-guy mode. And you know what? It was a pleasant place to be. Do I think one’s life should revolve around a boy? No. BUT. And here’s a huge BUT: when you had spent almost eighteen years on this planet wondering who that first boyfriend was going to be, and then holy cannoli there he was, it was pretty freaking amazing. Some amazing things:
• There is a person who thinks my color-coded charts for watering every plant in my yard are fascinating. And that person isn’t my dad.
• Despite seeing my pores up close and personal, Luca still stares at me and says with wonder, So pretty.
• Having someone help you carry heavy things even if technically he is not as strong as you.
• Listening to music and suddenly understanding the significance of all feelings in all songs.
• Sharing your favorite everything with someone new—and everything you’ve loved forever taking on a fresh and exciting new light.
• Everything reminding me of him: ramen, pencils, T-shirts, ice, my house, the Buick, my bed, trains, morning glories, the ocean, breathing.
• Finding yourself fitting into the negative space of someone else’s body perfectly.
• Feeling like the center of someone’s life—that someone is waiting for you to wake up so they can text you good morning and send you a funny cat gif. And that is just the tip of the iceberg, I’m sure. (p. 207)
Though if I'm going back to 18, let's not re-live this emotional volatility:
But then the anger eventually cooled to a numbness—giving me a nihilistic outlook that made me real fun to hang out with. (p. 283)
Finally, a musing that partly describes why I've devoured a bunch of romance novels this year (though 90% of the answer is because current events are the worst):
I wanted to shred the thing to bits, to shove it in my mouth and eat it if possible. But the more I stared at the list with all its ridiculous rules and steps, the more I began to register why I loved those dramas. Not because they were helpful, or because they were a useful tool for my own purposes. It was because they were unapologetic love stories. Yes, all the antics were fun, the clichés exhausting, and the drama dramatic. But in the end, they were about people sticking together through thick and thin, not knowing if it would work out. Real love: It was all about risk and having faith. There were no guarantees. (p. 311)
A passage where her bestie reminded me of my bestie:
She glanced over at me again. “Look at you today. All sharp.” I was wearing dark jeans, black flats, and a gray peacoat over a heart-patterned sweater. “Fi. I’m just wearing normal clothes.” Fiona, on the other hand, was wearing shorts overalls over tights, a long-sleeved thermal, and a giant tweed men’s coat over the entire ensemble. Her lips crimson, her faux-red hair tied in a high, messy knot. Bow down.
(p. 45)
Other quotes hidden below for mild spoilers.
Spoiler
An unfortunate trait we share:
I was relieved that he and that terrible human being weren’t together, but the whole mysterious no-girlfriend thing was a major obstacle I hadn’t anticipated. Good thing there was nothing that motivated me more than hearing that I couldn’t do something. (p. 61)
Writing that makes me almost, alllllmost want to be 18 again:
The next week passed in a haze. The only thing completely in focus was my time with Luca. Luca this and Luca that. I was in full-on, Bella Swan, obsessed-with-my-guy mode. And you know what? It was a pleasant place to be. Do I think one’s life should revolve around a boy? No. BUT. And here’s a huge BUT: when you had spent almost eighteen years on this planet wondering who that first boyfriend was going to be, and then holy cannoli there he was, it was pretty freaking amazing. Some amazing things:
• There is a person who thinks my color-coded charts for watering every plant in my yard are fascinating. And that person isn’t my dad.
• Despite seeing my pores up close and personal, Luca still stares at me and says with wonder, So pretty.
• Having someone help you carry heavy things even if technically he is not as strong as you.
• Listening to music and suddenly understanding the significance of all feelings in all songs.
• Sharing your favorite everything with someone new—and everything you’ve loved forever taking on a fresh and exciting new light.
• Everything reminding me of him: ramen, pencils, T-shirts, ice, my house, the Buick, my bed, trains, morning glories, the ocean, breathing.
• Finding yourself fitting into the negative space of someone else’s body perfectly.
• Feeling like the center of someone’s life—that someone is waiting for you to wake up so they can text you good morning and send you a funny cat gif. And that is just the tip of the iceberg, I’m sure. (p. 207)
Though if I'm going back to 18, let's not re-live this emotional volatility:
But then the anger eventually cooled to a numbness—giving me a nihilistic outlook that made me real fun to hang out with. (p. 283)
Finally, a musing that partly describes why I've devoured a bunch of romance novels this year (though 90% of the answer is because current events are the worst):
I wanted to shred the thing to bits, to shove it in my mouth and eat it if possible. But the more I stared at the list with all its ridiculous rules and steps, the more I began to register why I loved those dramas. Not because they were helpful, or because they were a useful tool for my own purposes. It was because they were unapologetic love stories. Yes, all the antics were fun, the clichés exhausting, and the drama dramatic. But in the end, they were about people sticking together through thick and thin, not knowing if it would work out. Real love: It was all about risk and having faith. There were no guarantees. (p. 311)
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
Super cute teen romance, complete with growing pains and first kisses.
Desi is always aiming high, whether it's sports, school, or community projects. Since her mom died when she was little, it's just been her and her dad. Like her mom, Desi has her sights set on Stanford.
Luca is the new boy at Desi's high school. But how to get the guy she's crushing on to like her back? Desi formulates a plan, and she thinks it's fool proof. She takes inspiration from the Korean dramas her Appa (dad) watches, where the heroine inevitably follows the plot formula to find true love with the unlikely guy.
She learns a lot about coming to terms with her mom's death and moving on, being her true self, and being honest with the people she loves. This exciting YA author has several books out, and you should go get started immersing yourself in them!
Desi is always aiming high, whether it's sports, school, or community projects. Since her mom died when she was little, it's just been her and her dad. Like her mom, Desi has her sights set on Stanford.
Luca is the new boy at Desi's high school. But how to get the guy she's crushing on to like her back? Desi formulates a plan, and she thinks it's fool proof. She takes inspiration from the Korean dramas her Appa (dad) watches, where the heroine inevitably follows the plot formula to find true love with the unlikely guy.
She learns a lot about coming to terms with her mom's death and moving on, being her true self, and being honest with the people she loves. This exciting YA author has several books out, and you should go get started immersing yourself in them!
Absolutely adorable, entirely predictable but that's part of the plot. Desi's dad was so cute and I loved her friends as well. This is a funny, charming, light hearted romance that doesn't discount family or friends. it's also a pretty 'clean' romance for a young teen or someone who wants romance without all the steamy stuff. It's just sweet and cute.
This was a cute escape, which was perfect on a lazy weekend. I tend toward lighter contemporary fare in the summer and this was a perfect fit.
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed it. This book is super refreshing and funny. I laughed out loud quite a few times while reading it.