jessread_s 's review for:

Never Thought I'd End Up Here by Ann Liang

4.75

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

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Review: A travel romcom you’ll end up consuming in one sitting! 

 

“Never Thought I’d End Up Here” follows Leah Zhang, a former model determined to get revenge on the boy who ruined her life while they are on an intensive two-week travel program in China together. 

 

Whatever Ann Liang writes, I’ll read because she somehow manages to put everything I love and find relatable into her books. “Never Thought I’d End Up Here” is no exception. 

 

Before embarking on her trip to China, Leah is lost, trying to live up to society’s expectations of her. I think that it is really easy to get caught up in caring too much about appearances and overthinking how we are perceived by others, as is the case with Leah. I found pieces of myself in the way Leah just wants to be liked and really enjoyed watching her reconnect with herself the more she learns to let go of this want. 

 

No one can write childhood enemies to lovers quite like Ann Liang! While Leah’s history with Cyrus initially serves as a source of pain, his actions throughout the book ultimately cause her to abandon her revenge plot. From applying Band-Aids to her blisters to setting flower crowns on her head, my heart melted alongside Leah’s. He helps her come back to herself and loves her unconditionally. Their relationship arc is Liang’s best yet, playing out against the backdrop of China’s most beautiful cities.