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A review by rorikae
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
funny
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
4.5
'A Pho Love Story' by Loan Le is a contemporary romance set in high school that follows two Vietnamese-American students navigating growing feelings and their family's decades long feud.
The story centers on Bao and Linh, two high school students whose parents run warring Vietnamese restaurants. Due to their parent's feud, Bao and Linh have largely avoided one another but then they share a moment and begin to feel drawn to one another. Working together on a restaurant review for the school newspaper, they grow closer and start to develop feelings for one another. But how can they balance their budding relationship with their family's drama, especially when it turns out their feud may have a much deeper reason than they both suspected.
Le has written a story that both has so much heart and is filled with incredibly lovable characters. We get to experience Bao and Linh not only exploring their feelings for one another but also their family's history and where they want to go in the future. Le's writing is quick but fun and she easily makes you care for her characters. Linh is passionate about art but unsure how to bring this up to her parents while Bao has been uncertain about his future until he discovers a new love for writing. The deeper story at the heart of their family's feud is heartbreaking and Le carefully peels back bits and pieces of the story so that the reader discovers what really happened at the same time as the main characters. This would make a perfect teen romcom movie and I hope we will get to see it adapted. I highly recommend the audiobook, which has two narrators, one for each of the character's points of view. If you're looking for a fun high school romcom with so much heart and a deeper center, 'A Pho Love Story' is a wonderful choice.
The story centers on Bao and Linh, two high school students whose parents run warring Vietnamese restaurants. Due to their parent's feud, Bao and Linh have largely avoided one another but then they share a moment and begin to feel drawn to one another. Working together on a restaurant review for the school newspaper, they grow closer and start to develop feelings for one another. But how can they balance their budding relationship with their family's drama, especially when it turns out their feud may have a much deeper reason than they both suspected.
Le has written a story that both has so much heart and is filled with incredibly lovable characters. We get to experience Bao and Linh not only exploring their feelings for one another but also their family's history and where they want to go in the future. Le's writing is quick but fun and she easily makes you care for her characters. Linh is passionate about art but unsure how to bring this up to her parents while Bao has been uncertain about his future until he discovers a new love for writing. The deeper story at the heart of their family's feud is heartbreaking and Le carefully peels back bits and pieces of the story so that the reader discovers what really happened at the same time as the main characters. This would make a perfect teen romcom movie and I hope we will get to see it adapted. I highly recommend the audiobook, which has two narrators, one for each of the character's points of view. If you're looking for a fun high school romcom with so much heart and a deeper center, 'A Pho Love Story' is a wonderful choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia