Scan barcode
A review by thenovelmaura
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
This was yet another book that I picked up for AAPI Heritage Month and my YA reading month! I got A Pho Love Story in an Authentic Books box back in February, and this was a great excuse to read it.
If you're looking for a food-centered romances, this is a solid choice. The descriptions of Vietnamese dishes are mouthwatering and it was nice to have two leads who valued and interacted with food regularly (as opposed to, say, a baking romance where only one character bakes). There was also an element of intrigue when it came to the mystery of why their parents hated each other so much. Linh and Bao bonded over their shared experiences of being raised in a restaurant and figuring themselves out as the children of immigrants. They were so supportive of each other's dreams, and despite their immediate interest in one another, their romantic relationship was slow-blooming and rooted in friendship. Speaking of friends, I appreciated that they each had someone else in their corner and weren't completely wrapped up in each other.
I did have trouble identifying the target audience for this one. While the characters' ages put this in the older YA category, some parts—particularly the racist Yelp review subplot—were oversimplified, and I think readers would have been capable of handling more mature themes. Setting that aside, I think Bao's search for his passion in life and Linh's fears that her passion wouldn't enable her to make a living will be relatable to YA readers of all ages. This is a book that will leave you with a full heart and a growling stomach!
If you're looking for a food-centered romances, this is a solid choice. The descriptions of Vietnamese dishes are mouthwatering and it was nice to have two leads who valued and interacted with food regularly (as opposed to, say, a baking romance where only one character bakes). There was also an element of intrigue when it came to the mystery of why their parents hated each other so much. Linh and Bao bonded over their shared experiences of being raised in a restaurant and figuring themselves out as the children of immigrants. They were so supportive of each other's dreams, and despite their immediate interest in one another, their romantic relationship was slow-blooming and rooted in friendship. Speaking of friends, I appreciated that they each had someone else in their corner and weren't completely wrapped up in each other.
I did have trouble identifying the target audience for this one. While the characters' ages put this in the older YA category, some parts—particularly the racist Yelp review subplot—were oversimplified, and I think readers would have been capable of handling more mature themes. Setting that aside, I think Bao's search for his passion in life and Linh's fears that her passion wouldn't enable her to make a living will be relatable to YA readers of all ages. This is a book that will leave you with a full heart and a growling stomach!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia