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A review by thebakersbooks
The Stand-In by Lily Chu
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-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
4.5/5 stars — alternately tense, funny, and poignant
This might be a good book for the older crowd that reads young adult anyway—this has the tone and some shared tropes with YA contemporary romances, but deals with the more adult issues of career/finances and aging parents. I really liked how the story took its time following the threads of all three major characters and their family dynamics.
other high points of the book for me:
- discussions about differing treatment/acceptance of visible mental illness between cultures (the main character and one major supporting character have depression and experience panic attacks)
- this conversation about the double standard of expecting non-politicians from certain foreign countries especially to publicly address political issues: "Do Canadian actors speak out against your own country's abuses?" "Not often." "Do you ever think about why we're responsible for answering for our government when they're not responsible for yours?"
Finally, on a personal note, I have beef with this author because the planner/organization app called Eppy that the MC develops in-book looks and sounds incredible but it (of course) is a work of fiction and I can't actually use it! (This is a joke. But I do want that app.)
a very incomplete list of content notes: anti-Chinese racism by unsympathetic characterss, racist bias (alternately toward or against, depending on the source) regarding mixed-race people; described unwanted sexual advances and past sexual assault
This might be a good book for the older crowd that reads young adult anyway—this has the tone and some shared tropes with YA contemporary romances, but deals with the more adult issues of career/finances and aging parents. I really liked how the story took its time following the threads of all three major characters and their family dynamics.
other high points of the book for me:
- discussions about differing treatment/acceptance of visible mental illness between cultures (the main character and one major supporting character have depression and experience panic attacks)
- this conversation about the double standard of expecting non-politicians from certain foreign countries especially to publicly address political issues: "Do Canadian actors speak out against your own country's abuses?" "Not often." "Do you ever think about why we're responsible for answering for our government when they're not responsible for yours?"
Finally, on a personal note, I have beef with this author because the planner/organization app called Eppy that the MC develops in-book looks and sounds incredible but it (of course) is a work of fiction and I can't actually use it! (This is a joke. But I do want that app.)
a very incomplete list of content notes: anti-Chinese racism by unsympathetic characterss, racist bias (alternately toward or against, depending on the source) regarding mixed-race people; described unwanted sexual advances and past sexual assault
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent