Scan barcode
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Whew, that was too relatable, oof. RTC
This book was relatable to the point it felt like a personal attack, and I both resent being called out and also applaud Lily Chu for it.
Dee is a Diversity and Inclusion consultant, Teddy is the heir of a huge fashion business, and chaos ensues when Teddy's family business is thrust in the spotlight for terrible D&I practices (in that there wasn't really any D&I). The main plot was hard to get through - the micro-agressions, white privilege, and outright racism - it was a wild storm. However, so many great conversations came out of it and it was a huge undertaking on Chu's part to write about and shine a light on some of these issues.
The personal attack was Dee's family. The way they sweep everything under a facade of toxic positivity and general avoidance. It was a bit too real at times, and I commend Chu for really hitting me where it hurts. So much of my family was reflected in this book and it was an oof. Dee's growth through it was amazing, even though it takes her a while to fully settle into it (relatable, as well).
While I liked Dee, I loved Teddy. He was my favourite part of the story. Lily Chu always makes her men so real and outside of the conventional "manly man" template. Teddy is a fashion designer who loves art and isn't intimidated by a smart woman and he's almost entirely green flags and I love him for it. He and Dee really click and seeing their relationship with each other develop and grow was a lot of fun, despite the growing pains.
The book was a ride and while I definitely didn't like confronting some of my own issues as I read it, a book where you see yourself reflected and your experiences shared is really a testament to Chu's ability to write real and relatable characters. That ending also was so vindicating, my goodness!
Rep: biracial MCs, bisexual secondary character
TW: toxic positivity, biphobia, racism, micro-aggressions, racial slurs, bullying, sexism; mentions fatphobia, cancer, death of a parent
eARC gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was relatable to the point it felt like a personal attack, and I both resent being called out and also applaud Lily Chu for it.
Dee is a Diversity and Inclusion consultant, Teddy is the heir of a huge fashion business, and chaos ensues when Teddy's family business is thrust in the spotlight for terrible D&I practices (in that there wasn't really any D&I). The main plot was hard to get through - the micro-agressions, white privilege, and outright racism - it was a wild storm. However, so many great conversations came out of it and it was a huge undertaking on Chu's part to write about and shine a light on some of these issues.
The personal attack was Dee's family. The way they sweep everything under a facade of toxic positivity and general avoidance. It was a bit too real at times, and I commend Chu for really hitting me where it hurts. So much of my family was reflected in this book and it was an oof. Dee's growth through it was amazing, even though it takes her a while to fully settle into it (relatable, as well).
While I liked Dee, I loved Teddy. He was my favourite part of the story. Lily Chu always makes her men so real and outside of the conventional "manly man" template. Teddy is a fashion designer who loves art and isn't intimidated by a smart woman and he's almost entirely green flags and I love him for it. He and Dee really click and seeing their relationship with each other develop and grow was a lot of fun, despite the growing pains.
The book was a ride and while I definitely didn't like confronting some of my own issues as I read it, a book where you see yourself reflected and your experiences shared is really a testament to Chu's ability to write real and relatable characters. That ending also was so vindicating, my goodness!
Rep: biracial MCs, bisexual secondary character
TW: toxic positivity, biphobia, racism, micro-aggressions, racial slurs, bullying, sexism; mentions fatphobia, cancer, death of a parent
eARC gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Bullying, and Sexism
Moderate: Biphobia
Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Cancer
actualbookstoregoblin's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Read this if you like trivia games, attractive men, Project Runway, and confronting harsh realities about yourself and others while slowly slipping into an identity crisis.
Okay but really I straight up loved this book and it’s surprisingly fun in its thoughtfulness.
At first I was really put off by Dee’s toxic positivity. Luckily, the allure of Questie pulled me in long enough to realize that was the point. Dee’s character development serves as an excellent and approachable broach of tough topics while still being a joy to read.
Okay but really I straight up loved this book and it’s surprisingly fun in its thoughtfulness.
At first I was really put off by Dee’s toxic positivity. Luckily, the allure of Questie pulled me in long enough to realize that was the point. Dee’s character development serves as an excellent and approachable broach of tough topics while still being a joy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Sexism, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Minor: Ableism, Abandonment, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
javafenn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
I love Lily Chu! And Philippa Soo is an excellent narrator. Dee Kwan is exactly what her parents want her to be but very quickly her mother’s always positive (no matter how bad things are) attitude starts eating away at her. Her mother is white and her grandmother is too plus grandma is racist! Add to it Dee’s sister is married to a woman and has children. This all comes to a head when Dee not only loses her job but is told her parents and grandmother will be moving in with her to help grandma out after an illness. They all live in Dee’s childhood home her parents gave her. It’s a lot! Dee’s father teaches Dee how to love her mother, love her grandmother, and love herself through his own love and acceptance of a mother-in-law who has been vile towards him. Dee also meets Teddy through a fun game she plays around the city. Turns out Teddy isn’t just hot, he works for his dad’s company that Dee was hired to come in and assess diversity for. They fall in love and try to take down the people at Teddy’s company who are running it into the ground with bad ethics. This was a fun and easy listen plus she more formally blended her other books! That was so beautiful! So give it a listen!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Classism, Racism, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Sexism, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Lesbophobia
More...