Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⬜
Title: Loveboat, Taipei
Author: Abigail Hing Wen
Genre: YA Fiction / YA Romance
Author Info: She / Her
Setting: Ohio, USA / Taiwan
Month Read: May 2021
Book Type: Hardcover
Publication: 2020
Pages: 432
TRIGGER WARNING-
Sexual Themes / Violence / Substance Abuse / Depression / Child Abuse / Revenge Porn / Racism
"Understand now that rejecting their wishes is not the same as rejecting them."
No Spoiler Summary:
Loveboat, Taipei is a stunning debut novel that mostly takes place in Taiwan and centers around our lead, Ever Wong. Ever is a dancer at heart, and a not-so-aspiring future Med student (a wish and career her parents have chosen for her.) They have also decided that the summer before college would include a trip to Taiwan to go to classes, learn Mandarin, and be serious about her future.
Unbeknownst to the Wong family, the summer program is actually a meet-(cute)-market, and overprotected Ever is thrust into scores of rich, talented, genius kids who have a penchant for getting into trouble unlike that she's known. Clubbing, Drinking, Sex- all staples of Loveboat on top of tours of Taiwan, calligraphy, and Mandarin class.
Ever has to spend the summer deciding who she wants to be, what risks she's willing to take, and figure out how to let her parents know about her dreams. Will Ever do what's best for her- or will the guilt of being the oldest child to immigrants who sacrificed their dreams and plans force her to take the road they've laid out for her?
Review:
I was blown away by how much I loved this debut novel by Abigail Hing Wen. Ever is a fantastic lead character, and the supporting cast was large, different, and super fun to read about.
A teen meet cute needs a cute love triangle, and this book was no exception. I spent the entire read flip-flopping as to who I wanted Ever to end up with because both were so different, and brought out such different sides of Ever. I hope we see many more books (and maybe many more POV's with the supporting characters in Loveboat Taipei #2!)
Grateful this is going to be a series, (and also has already been picked up for movie or TV rights with the folks who brough us 'To All the Boys...'!!!) because I really wasn't ready to say goodbye. This is the perfect book for a screen adaptation, and I couldn't be happier that it will get it's time to shine.
Recommendation:
AAPI YA Meet Cutes:
To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Emergency Contact by Mary H.K Choi
The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
For YA Books about forging your own path:
Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
Burned by Ellen Hopkins
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
"I don't care what baggage they dragged over the ocean. They have no right to make me carry it the rest of my life."
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