A review by n_asyikin_
Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5



A coming-of-age story featuring a cast of characters with diverse gender identities. Noah has always had a clear idea(l) of how one came to fall in love & be in love. Over the course of a summer break, he faced the possibility of playing those idea out in real life for the sake of a popular blog he managed.

Reading Meet Cute Diary was rather nostalgic for me (i.e. people my age, late 20s) exploring themes of fear of changes, navigating romantic relationship & friendship, the need to be accepted. It also highlighted adolescents' innocence & obstinance; Noah's stubborn tendency was layered, ranging from self-assuredness to selfishness. He'd leave you feeling frustrated many times, but you'd find yourself cheering for him at his growth towards the end.

I also liked how the book depicted the ways in which parasocial interactions came to be/were significant in our lives. It highlighted the tendency for our intent to be lost in or/and shaped by the sea of opinions; how nuances tend to be erased in the virtual world. But more so, how one might prioritized the "likes" or "followers count" over being mindful of people in real-life: the overarching point being, choosing between quantity over quality.

Meet Cute Diary was an enjoyable, light summer read with a warm and, aptly, cute ending.
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