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ceridwen33's review
funny
hopeful
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death of parent
imbobin's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.5
Very cute. If you like Love Simon and reading about the queer Asian Diaspora Experience without The Traumas™️ like homophobia and emotional neglect this is for you (or the teen in your life).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Minor: Dementia and Car accident
radikaliseradgroda's review against another edition
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, and Grief
Near drowning depicted.fanboyriot's review
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? Yes
5.0
♡ Fake Dating
♡ Family Restaurant
♡ Hamptons Wedding
While this did have a quicker pace than I was expecting I really liked how things played out in this book. The plot and characters balanced each other out nicely.
Dylan’s whole entire family were so adorable. The wholesome friendships, sense of family, and love for their passions, this book had so many cute moments. It’s lighthearted but had its angsty moments here and there.
Spice Level: n/a
Angst Level: 💧(1/5)
POV: First Person
Release Date: 16 May 2023
Rep: Asian (Main Characters, Chinese/American and Singaporean), LGBTQIA+ (Main and Side Characters)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
shugentobler's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a fun little romance. All the plot points were a little too convenient, but still a fun read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Emotional abuse
reading__redhead's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
Really liked learning more abt Chinese culture!
I didn’t like most of Theo’s family, especially his father.
When they broke up, I was genuinely sad, which doesn’t happen often to me. But I got mad at the fact that Theo clearly ignore Dylan’s concerns and helped him during the contest! Sure, it was the big romantic gesture of the story, but then the author had to make something up so that Mr. Somers would change his mind in order to create a happy ending.
I didn’t like most of Theo’s family, especially his father.
When they broke up, I was genuinely sad, which doesn’t happen often to me. But I got mad at the fact that Theo clearly ignore Dylan’s concerns and helped him during the contest! Sure, it was the big romantic gesture of the story, but then the author had to make something up so that Mr. Somers would change his mind in order to create a happy ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Dementia and Death of parent
sbrnamthla's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
anniesbooknook's review against another edition
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Dementia, Car accident, and Alcohol
abitofcourage's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, and Death of parent
wrongdecision's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A lighthearted, sweet quick read with a (positively) surprising amount of information about Chinese culture.
I enjoyed this book very much for it's easy conversations, the friendships and the importance of family.
It was comforting to read for the most part and the characters were sweet and easily lovable.
While the social media, pop and meme references were a little too much for me at times, mostly they fit in and weren't too on the nose.
What I really, really enjoyed were actually the many little tid bits of information on Chinese culture, in reference to food but also traditions and beliefs as well as do's and dont's!
It was super interesting!
Sadly, I think the main part of this book, the romance itself, fell flat.
If the author had just gone a little bit more into detail about feelings it could have worked much better.
There is a lot of tell instead of show, partially a result of it being first person, but I don't really buy the emotions.
Dylan spends more time thinking about how he shouldn't show his feelings than actually showing his feelings and it gets a little repetitive.
Sure there are short moments of excitement and being flustered but the rest just doesn't come across very well.
You notice it much better with Theo, which in turn makes it a little more frustrating that Dylan isn't catching on.
The pacing is a bit off as well.
Many scenes feel like the author wanted to do something with it, make it special and meaningful but didn't want to go all the way so it is sometimes a little short and dry, more like you would write to yourself in a diary.
It's a pity, because a few extra details go a long way in making the reader feel like a part of it.
As a result the plot gets lost a few times.
In general I liked reading it, it was entertaining, informative and sweet!
Seeing as this is the author's debut novel I think it is a great start and I'm hopeful for future books!
I enjoyed this book very much for it's easy conversations, the friendships and the importance of family.
It was comforting to read for the most part and the characters were sweet and easily lovable.
While the social media, pop and meme references were a little too much for me at times, mostly they fit in and weren't too on the nose.
What I really, really enjoyed were actually the many little tid bits of information on Chinese culture, in reference to food but also traditions and beliefs as well as do's and dont's!
It was super interesting!
Sadly, I think the main part of this book, the romance itself, fell flat.
If the author had just gone a little bit more into detail about feelings it could have worked much better.
There is a lot of tell instead of show, partially a result of it being first person, but I don't really buy the emotions.
Dylan spends more time thinking about how he shouldn't show his feelings than actually showing his feelings and it gets a little repetitive.
Sure there are short moments of excitement and being flustered but the rest just doesn't come across very well.
You notice it much better with Theo, which in turn makes it a little more frustrating that Dylan isn't catching on.
The pacing is a bit off as well.
Many scenes feel like the author wanted to do something with it, make it special and meaningful but didn't want to go all the way so it is sometimes a little short and dry, more like you would write to yourself in a diary.
It's a pity, because a few extra details go a long way in making the reader feel like a part of it.
As a result the plot gets lost a few times.
In general I liked reading it, it was entertaining, informative and sweet!
Seeing as this is the author's debut novel I think it is a great start and I'm hopeful for future books!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol