A review by roglows
The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

4.0

This book was like a breath of fresh air: the diversity of its characters, the vivid setting (LA itself was an character!) and the authenticity of the Clara's sassy, teenaged voice. Everything felt legit, relevant and honest - I loved that. Initially, I worried that the constant detailing of everything little thing would feel tedious (and kind of like telling vs showing), but as the story progressed, it helped suck me into each scene. I feel like I got to know the heartbeat of Los Angeles - the colors of its skies, the many flavors of its food scene, and the various neighborhoods these kids traverse.
Clara's a Korean-American high-school student, daughter of a single dad who owns a food truck. Her mom, with whom she initially seems somewhat enamored, is a wandering Instagram celebrity - we all know the kind. Lovely, glamorous...and a little shallow seeming.
This story is about finding new friends and the pain of outgrowing new ones, falling for a different kind of guy (Hamlet! whatta cutie!) and the warmth of family and how good it feels to come home.
I look forward to reading more by this author.