calamansi503 's review for:

Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim

5.0

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Beautifully written, similar to the author’s previous work, with magic realism and descriptive language that kept my synesthete brain engaged. The romance element is light — there is a love interest for the main character, but the central focus was on the deep connections she formed with her friends and chosen family. The main character’s parents were infuriating horrible and may seem comically unrealistic to some readers, but if you’ve experienced (or are familiar with) traditional Asian parenting and the deeply problematic aspects of filial piety, the author’s depictions are actually very realistic. (Also, fun observation: Sophie and the seven ducks = Snow White and the seven dwarves.)