shinku 's review for:

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto

3.0

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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Oh no. Here we go. This is why Chinese Indo kids are so obedient. Because our parents raise us with a healthy dose of emotional blackmail.

It’s either that, or they’re never wrong and everything is our fault. Either way, you can’t win.

So this book was written when the author was still riding the Dial A for Aunties wave, and it shows. There’s a lot of similarities, including the catfishing. While the Indonesian representation is spot on, I don’t know if I like the story or the characters. Sharlot is a prime example of an insufferable teenager, and she treats her mom with an attitude that would’ve gotten me disowned on the spot. George is pretty bland. The romance is also just okay. It’s not very memorable overall, but the highlight on Chinese Indonesian culture and the food descriptions were great. It also makes me miss Bali. I do like Kiki more than Sharlot, so I might pick up her book.