✨ 2023 Wrap Up ✨

✨ Happy New Year’s Eve and Happy New Year everyone!!! 🎉

It still hasn’t fully quite hit me yet that 2024 is just around the corner.

This was a good year when I think about the books I read. I didn’t set myself a reading goal (although when I noticed that I was 4 books away from reaching 50 books, I thought about trying to reach it) and I honestly felt more at ease in not pressuring myself and had fun reading whatever I wanted.

There were so many great books I loved and even more books I enjoyed because I got to buddy read them with some pretty awesome friends over on Bookstagram.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year and may 2024 bring everything you hope for and more - including more good reads!

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King of My Heart | Review: King of Wrath by Ana Huang

The way that I’m still giddy about this book just shows. 

Throw in a ruthless CEO and a humble jewelry heiress brought together by an arranged marriage, mix in a bit of “fake dating/engagement” that ends up eliciting some seriously fiery chemistry and “touch her and you die” vibes, and you’ve got Ana Huang’s King of Wrath

I really enjoyed this book! It’s funny how much I have been fangirling about it and want to read all of Ana Huang’s books now. You know how a romance book is so good that you’re giggling, kicking your feet up in the air, or “kilig” about it? Yup, that’s me right now - even after I finished it.

Dante Russo and Vivian Lau’s relationship made this book peak romance perfection. There’s a depth and vulnerability to Dante behind his stern alpha-male exterior that Vivian is able to bring out. At the same time, while Vivian tries to live up to her parents’ expectations, Dante sees the real her and encourages her to be herself towards them. They both develop an empathetic understanding about each other, bringing out the best in one another.

I also got a sense of undertones about Asian identity, which I personally appreciated, and that internalized struggle of perfection or of wanting to be seen more than that through success and achievement. This comes through in Vivian’s character, but more so especially in understanding her parents and their handling of their status as “new money” and her father’s ambitions. 

I will admit that at times the story can get a little fan-fiction-y where there’s no real information about Dante’s company, or how he’s blackmailed into marrying Vivian by her father is a little exaggerated for drama, but the writing does not fault this. Ana Huang writes very well, showcasing her characters, their flaws and their growth, with an emphasis on the romance that builds their relationship.

Ana Huang may just be one of my new favorite romance authors and I will certainly be checking out her other books and continuing her King of Sins series. If Kai and Isabella’s relationship is just as enticing as what was previewed in King of Wrath, then I’m already eager to dive into King of Pride.

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Currently Reading

Books I’m currently reading and books I keep close by to read next

📖 Currently reading:
King of Wrath by Ana Huang
Never by Jessa Hastings
A Night at the Tropicana by Chanel Cleeton (short story ebook)

📚 Next Reads:
The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

I need to give a spotlight though to King of Wrath. I started it sometime last year when I had Kindle Unlimited, but never got to finish it and forgot about the story when my Kindle Unlimited free trial expired 🙆🏻‍♀️ So, now I’m reading it again and I. Am. LOVING IT! Dante and Vivian 😮‍💨 Fire. Just fire. I think I’m a pretty calm reader, but this book has me legitimately giggling, kicking my feet in the air, and as Filipinos know, “kilig” - major “kilig” 🫠

💭 What is everyone else reading? 

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Where Time Knows No Bounds | Review: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

“The apartment always drew us together when we were at crossroads, and oh, were we at so many - in our careers, in our personal lives, in our friendships. We helped each other. We were the only ones who could.”

I buddy read this with booksta pal @booksnbistros a while ago, but haven’t written a review for it until now. The Seven Year Slip is one of my new favorite books this year that is a 5 stars, 10/10 read - and sure, throw in 3 Michelin stars too for Iwan’s cooking prowess.

Clementine West was always told by her aunt, Analea, how her apartment was magical. In many ways it was, just not in the literal sense Clementine expected. Since Analea’s sudden death, Clementine has been grieving over her loss and living in the apartment left to her. To her surprise, she finds a kind aspiring chef named Iwan suddenly living in her apartment. They form a close bond, until Clementine realizes Iwan is actually from seven years in the past. Despite time separating them, they manage to help each other through their own personal griefs and struggles, while also reminding each other of the person they were and where life can lead them now. 

Ashley Poston has a way of presenting us stories that deliver on romance, but are poignantly told with deeper themes for anyone who has ever loved and lost, or are still figuring themselves out, know and understand full heartedly well. In The Seven Year Slip, we get all of this through Clementine and Iwan. I love how their relationship develops between the past and present and how everything intersects and ultimately comes together. I don’t think I have ever swooned so much by the way these two take care of each other. The romance was perfect regardless of how time and life tried to get in the way.

On a personal level, like The Dead Romantics, The Seven Year Slip came to me at a time I needed it, reminding me to live fully and take more chances, especially as I get older. 

“You only live once, and if you do it right, once is all you need.”

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An Ode to Girlhood | Review: Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades

This is a book I want to give to my cousins and friends to read; the Filipinas and brown girls and daughters of immigrants and to those who grew up in New York and in the effervescent neighborhood of Queens.

Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades reads like poetry in its reflections of girlhood, the trials of adulthood, and the weight of it all as a young woman of color, that feels personal and familiar. The writing is evocative as Palasi Andreades captures the running inner thoughts of her amalgamated characters in these vignettes of time as they navigate life and its pressures, while also trying to hold on to themselves and their roots. 

There are the friends you grew up with and the antics you would get up to thinking it would always be like this, unaware of how you will slowly become strangers. Applying to high school and then college outside of Queens and the pull between the allure of the city and the streets where you live. The overbearing mother who chastises your choices, constantly reminding you of what they sacrificed, but doesn't give enough credit to your dreams that are bigger than what they expected. How we rediscover our identities after visiting the motherland, seeing both worlds blend our past and our present. The questions we ponder and ask ourselves about who we are now and who we are after.

There are so many passages that stood out that I want to save them all. These are just a few lines that resonated with me:

“‘A career in healthcare is the best you could have,’ our mothers, medical professionals themselves for twenty-five, thirty years, assured us… Our tears, pathetic and hot, slide down our cheeks. A practical, safe job for a dutiful daughter.” 

“Funk when we feel we are never, will never, be enough.” 

I really love the chapters “Duty,” “Art,” “Trish,” and “Our Not-Reflections,” with “A Trip to the Motherland (Fatherland)” and “The Things We Carry” being my favorite. Yet every page is poignant, embedded with subtle but heavy emotional chords.

Brown Girls is one of those books that I’m still thinking about long after I finished reading it and where in more ways than one I felt seen.

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Nonfiction November Hopefuls

If it’s about movies, then I need to read it.

I always love learning about film history and these are three books I would really like to read this Nonfiction November. 

MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, Gavin Edwards

I still remember when I first watched Iron Man in 2008 and going 😧 during that first post-credit scene. I didn’t know who the Avengers were at the time except for Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor, but I knew something big was ahead. Then when I read about how Marvel was assembling each of these heroes into their own standalone films eventually culminating into The Avengers, I was invested. Now, with this book it will be interesting to learn more about the studio behind the cinematic universe that became a pop culture behemoth.

Hitchcock Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director's Dark Obsession by Laurence Leamer

When I was in school, I took a class studying the films of Alfred Hitchcock. It was my first film class and it was interesting learning about the director, how he filmed his movies, and the women he casted (it’s been a while so I might be wrong, but I think part of the reason he particularly casted blondes was because of how striking they stood out). So, when I came across this book, it made me think of that class. Hitchcock Blondes focuses on the actresses that starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s films that included Grace Kelly, Eva Marie Saint, Kim Novak, and Tippi Hedren, which has its own history she has spoken up about.

Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears by Michael Schulman

The history of the Academy Awards is a fascinating one. The first ceremony lasted only 15 minutes compared to today’s 3 hour live broadcast. In a way it’s become my version of the Super Bowl.  Apart from the glitz and glamor though, Oscar Wars covers more than just the award and the nominees. It also gives some detailed history on the actors, directors, producers, etc. who were a part of the industry spanning years and decades the Academy and the Oscars have existed. This is one I’ve been looking forward to reading hopefully before the next Oscars in 2024.

💭 Are you interested in any of these? What are you reading during Nonfiction November?

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My Most Anticipated Read: What The River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment ✨

Excuse me while I lose my mind over this book 😝 I have been so excited for Isabel Ibañez’s What The River Knows that I watched The Mummy on repeat for the majority of October leading up to pub day. I even bought the Barnes and Noble edition with plans on getting other special editions as well. Obsessed much? Yes.

After taking a minute to just stare at the cover, I started reading it this weekend and I already love it. I’m saying it now, it’s going to be a 5 stars, 10/10 read. There’s adventure, magic, a brewing romance (Whit Hayes - wow okay, giving some Rick O’Connell vibes), and a mystery that’s about to unravel.

Have you started reading What The River Knows? Is it on your tbr?

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Haunting Cinema Magic | Review: Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A book about film, or in this case the literal power of movies, and it’s written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - sign me up! 

Montserrat is a sound editor in Mexico City’s film industry in 1993. Her childhood friend and unrequited former crush, Tristán, is a soap opera star whose fame has declined following a tragic car accident that killed his girlfriend. When Montserrat and Tristán meet a film director who claims that his last movie was cursed, which thus led to his misfortunes, they offer to help him finish it. Pretty soon however, they begin to encounter some eerie outcomes. 

I kid you not when I say that Silver Nitrate scared the life out of me, but I loved it anyway. I have read my fair share of horror novels, but this one takes the cake. 

The supernatural elements are creepy, especially as Montserrat gets deeper into learning more about the occult and their belief around the mysticism of performance and how that translates into film. I literally felt my body tense up reading those parts, along with one scene with Tristán and a haunting apparition and another with Montserrat being lured by a sinister character to “follow him into the night.” Chills 😵‍💫🫣

There are references to filmmaking, which I enjoyed, and aspects throughout that are inspired by movies in cinematic history, especially Mexican cinema. There is actually a video where Moreno-Garcia talks about two movies in particular that influenced Silver Nitrate. Listening to her talk about the artistry behind film and how certain scenes are shot, performed, and sound edited gives you an idea of what she wanted to convey and share about film and cinema. It all comes through in her writing, which is so immersive that the whole novel itself feels as if you are watching a horror movie unfold on the big screen. 

After reading Silver Nitrate, it makes me even more excited for her next book that is also set in the film industry. This one though is sure to stay with me, even if I’m not usually into horror. Hereditary, Rosemary’s Baby, Evil Dead fans will devour this and movie lovers will enjoy it. Either way, you’re going to want to pick up Silver Nitrate.

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A Twisty Return to Form | Review: The Only One Left by Riley Sager

I’ve been a fan of Riley Sager’s books since I first read Final Girls and then his follow-up, The Last Time I Lied, which is my favorite. With every book released, I have enjoyed each one. I always know what to expect going in and have fun coming up with theories as I read while also yelling at the page a few times proclaiming that a character had done it even if I was later proven wrong (or right). 

When I read Sager’s last book, The House Across The Lake, I was a little disappointed despite being intrigued by the plot. So, I admit I went into The Only One Left a little apprehensive. However, just like everything that happens in it, I was left floored and flabbergasted. Most of all, I thought he had gone back to what had made his earlier books so twisty and engaging.

At seventeen, Lenora Hope
Hung her sister with a rope
Stabbed her father with a knife
Took her mother’s happy life
“It wasn’t me,” Lenora sad
But she’s the only one not dead

In 1929, Lenora Hope was accused of murdering her whole family. Decades later her story has been immortalized into a chant while she continues to reside in the mansion that rests upon the edge of a cliff holding all the secrets of that very night. Now it’s 1983, and Kit McDeere is a caregiver assigned to take care of Lenora, who is ready to tell Kit the whole truth.

If you’ve read Sager’s books, you know how he likes to play around with thriller tropes. In The Only One Left he takes inspiration from the infamous Lizzie Borden. I really like the mystery surrounding Lenora Hope and how it’s revealed through the typewritten messages she writes to Kit. Kit, as the audience surrogate, turns out to be just as unreliable of a narrator as Lenora, but it also strengthens their relationship and why they would trust and question each other.

It gets a little muddled and convoluted near the end with twist after twist that I had to pause and reevaluate everything. Once I caught up though, it’s a wild ending and a satisfying read, which I’m still thinking about.

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The World of Science Fiction

Let’s talk about science fiction 🪐 

I never thought I’d see myself as a science fiction reader, but after considering how much I enjoy watching sci-fi films then I probably should have known I would love reading them too. 

I think the best book to pick up if you’re interested in getting into the genre is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. This novel set in the year 2044 follows Wade Watts, who is on a quest in the virtual reality world of the Oasis to win a life altering prize left behind by the Oasis’s mysterious creator, James Halliday.  From the get-go, it is an unputdownable read, whether or not you know anything about 80's pop culture or video games. Its sequel, Ready Player Two, continues where the first book leaves off.

I also find Blake Crouch’s books to be another great introduction into sci-fi starting with either Dark Matter, Recursion, or Upgrade. Recursion was the first book of his I read and - wow! It surprised me at every twist and turn becoming a blend of Edge of Tomorrow and Minority Report. Dark Matter is also just as good with its look inside the multiverse and has a series adaptation coming out soon. Upgrade was the latest novel I read that could have been an episode of The Twilight Zone, but amped up into a fast-paced, action packed thriller about a man whose genes are altered transforming him into an advanced human being.

Then there’s Andy Weir. Although I still need to read The Martian and Artemis, I’ve read Project Hail Mary and it is one of my favorite books. It’s best to go into it blind, but basically it begins with a man who wakes up onboard a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he is there until he learns he’s on a mission to save humankind. This is the book where I realized how much I actually love the genre, which can be fun and adventurous, and made me want to read more. It’s also being adapted into a movie starring Ryan Gosling, produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. 

Science fiction comes in many forms, but I find that each one has a take in utilizing or analyzing the impossible, turning them into something probable that could be real or already is.

Are you interested in reading sci-fi? Do you have any favorites or are on your TBR?

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Getting Out of Your Comfort Zones | Review: The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

When it comes to romance, the ones I really fall head over heels for are the ones with depth and a lot of heart that become more than just a romance, but about a genuine connection between two people who help each other grow while also exploring their own personal journeys. Ashley Winstead’s The Boyfriend Candidate has all of this and then some. On the surface it has a fake dating, opposites attract trope. The bigger story however that makes this romance soar is its main character, who finds her voice as she begins to get out of her shell, while also fake dating a politician. 

Alexis Stone is a shy librarian who decides to have a one night stand with a stranger after her boyfriend breaks up with her for being too timid in bed. At a hotel bar, she meets handsome and outspoken Logan. They hit it off and just before things are about to heat up, the fire alarm goes off and the two quickly evacuate with Logan valiantly carrying Alexis out of the building. A photo of them is taken and Logan abruptly leaves, leaving Alexis a little disheartened. It turns out Logan is actually Logan Arthur, a young up-and-coming political candidate running for governor of Texas. To avoid a scandal, the two decide to pretend to be in a relationship. 

I LOVE this book! It’s one of my new favorite romances alongside How to Fake It in Hollywood and The Heart Principle. It’s a slow burn, but oh does it burn. The romantic undertones and the chemistry that builds between Alexis and Logan had me swooning in knots. At the same time, I also really like how the election campaign plays a crucial role in the story and with Alexis rediscovering herself as she stands up for causes she believes in. She gradually develops from a quiet and humble school librarian to a person finding her confidence and strength. And just as Logan makes an impact on her, so does she on him.

The Boyfriend Candidate is a well-written, top tier romance. It’s sweet, funny, and grounded that makes me want to go back and read the first book, Fool Me Once, as well as Ashley Winstead’s other books outside of these two.

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Who Has The Right To Tell a Story? | Review: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Even though I read Yellowface by R.F. Kuang almost a month ago, I still think about it from time to time. It’s utterly wild and unputdownable that I had to let it sit as soon as I finished it. 

June Hayward is an unsuccessful writer envious of her “best friend” and fellow author, Athena Liu’s thriving career. After witnessing Athena’s sudden death, June steals Athena’s finished manuscript of a historical novel she had been working on about Chinese laborers in World War I. June may not understand the cultural context behind the work, but she takes it upon herself anyway to claim that she wrote it. She reinvents herself from June Hayward to Juniper Song as the book is published and praised. Soon enough however, the backlash begins from accusations of plagiarism to appropriation. Despite it all, June is willing to do whatever it takes to defend the career and success she believes is rightfully hers.

While I was reading Yellowface, I went through a range of emotions. First, I was annoyed at June for her ignorance and how she played herself as a victim. Then I was stunned and irked by how she and her publisher blatantly edited Athena’s novel to make it more streamlined in their view that in turn made certain aspects of it stereotypical. By the end, I was chuckling at the absurdity of June’s actions and thoughts because her self-righteousness and persistence for something she never earned to begin with was ridiculous.

Satires are hard to write and Kuang accomplishes what she wanted to convey as she examines racism, appropriation, while holding up a mirror to some of the problems in the publishing industry and the toxicity of cancel culture. It left a lasting impression on me that as taken aback as I was, it’s not at all new or surprising. Although the story starts to slow down once it hits its peak, I did find it fascinating how June is not the only character at fault, but Athena is as well. It brings in an even bigger exploration about who exactly has the right to tell a story, especially when it’s not theirs to tell. 

There is a lot that can be unpacked from reading Yellowface and it makes me want to read Babel, which is also by R.F. Kuang, and Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou all the more.

⚠️ Content Warning: racism, cultural appropriation, sexual assault, depression, suicidal thoughts

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A Wonderful and Magical Read | Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Have you ever described a book as wonderful? Because that was the first thought that came to mind as soon as I finished reading Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

This absolutely delightful book follows Mika Moon, a witch who has spent the majority of her life alone, having grown up an orphan under the care but distance of a fellow witch. She has always never stayed in one place for long periods of time or formed any close relationships, though she desperately longs to. All of that changes however, when she is hired to help three young witches harness and control their magical abilities.

From the first page alone, I immediately fell in love with the writing. It is so warm and welcomes you into this world that once the story takes off, you are excited to go on this journey. The magical elements as well are what makes this book a cozy read and perfect for fans of Practical Magic with a touch of Mary Poppins, Nanny McPhee, and The Worst Witch. There is nothing too complex about the rules of magic, and the backstory about how witches are always orphans is explained and all connect back to Mika’s own story and growth as she trains these three young girls.

I love the cast of the characters in this book, each and every one of them. The girls are adorable with curious and vibrant personalities. Terracotta especially is a fun character. I really like how Mika’s relationship with them grows over time as they warm up to her and how in the same way Mika begins to feel at home as she befriends the people who invited her. There is a romance that simmers between her and curmudgeon librarian, Jamie, but it is just one part of an all encompassing story. How it’s handled alongside Mika and the girls, and Mika opening herself up to this newfound family she never had but always wanted, all together make up a beautiful novel. 

I saw recently Sangu Mandanna has a new book coming out and after reading The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I honestly cannot wait to read more from her. 

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An Era of Change | Reread: Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt

I actually read this book a few years ago when it was first released, but I sometimes still go back and listen to it via audiobook.

Set in 1969, Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt follows sisters Charlotte and Lucy and their guardian, Iris, whose lives are forever changed when Lucy runs away with an older man. From that point forward, we see Lucy struggle with the isolation to what she initially believed was a fantasy, while Charlotte gets adjusted to young adulthood coping with the absence of her younger sister, and as Iris tends to her life, looking to the past and at the present and its family secrets.

I love a book with characters that make you reflect on life and the period their stories are set in. When I first read Cruel Beautiful World I was in my “1960s phase” when I was watching CNN’s docuseries The Sixties, still thinking about Mad Men a year after it aired its final season and while I was tearing through Jacqueline Susann’s books. It’s such an interesting period in time that was essentially our loss of innocence pivoting away from the decades before to an era of change. And I felt all of that with this book. It’s understated but poignant between the lines.

What is a book you often reread?

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Sofia Coppola: Forever Young

I bought Sofia Coppola: Forever Young by Hannah Strong last year and I’ve been perusing it again recently since the trailer dropped for Sofia Coppola’s next film, Priscilla (I’m also reading the memoir it’s adapted from). 

I love movies directed by Sofia Coppola, with Somewhere being my favorite, and this is a great book to dive into to appreciate the artistry behind her work. There’s some behind the scenes details on how she conceived some of her projects while exploring the stylistic approaches and thematic elements of each film. I also like how this can be a coffee table book so you can look at and admire all the film stills while leaving it for friends to look through as well.

Do you like Sofia Coppola movies? Which one is your favorite? 

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A Steamy Romance With Potential | The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

This single dad romance has a lot of spice and a central premise that is different from what I have read before in other romances. 

Cassie Evans needs a new job after being let go from her last one. She once had an Only Fans account but shut it down after a subscriber whom she became very close with disappeared. When she comes across an ad looking for a live-in nanny, she immediately applies. Aiden Reid meanwhile is a busy chef who needs help taking care of his nine-year-old daughter, Sophie, after her mother passed away so suddenly. As soon as Aiden and Cassie meet there is an instant attraction. Although Cassie tries to put aside her feelings for Aiden, she soon realizes that she recognizes him as the man she communicated with on OF.

The Nanny is a well-written romance by Lana Ferguson, with dual POVs and a lot of spice that lives up to the fiery chemistry between its two main characters. The other characters as well, such as Sophie and Cassie’s older friend, Wanda, are standouts that get moments where they shine (I petition Wanda gets her own book/prequel). Although this was a fun buddy read with Mel @bruhasbookshelf, I didn’t really love the book and we agreed that it’s mostly because there was something missing between Cassie and Aiden’s relationship.

From their first meeting, Cassie and Aiden are mutually attracted to each other, but apart from that and as it progressed, I couldn’t understand why they were together. I kept wondering - to quote Prince Derek from The Swan Princess - “what else is there?” There is a lot of steam and good banter, but not enough to show us why they were so drawn to each other on a personal level. When me and Mel were talking about it, she made a good point about how maybe if we got more from their OF chats showing why they connected, then maybe it would have helped. It should also be worth noting by the way that the OF plot line is actually more in the background that is referenced to, but not focused on as it happened before the events of the main story.

Although The Nanny wasn’t for me, I still would like to read more books by Lana Ferguson as I liked her writing. Thanks again to Mel for reading this with me 🫶💕

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The Love You Deserve | Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

“I promise that someday you’ll find the love you deserve, but it might not be when or how you’re expecting it.” 

It has been such a good reading year so far and there have been a couple of books that have surprised me, including this one. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld was one of my most anticipated reads, and I ended up enjoying it so much more than I expected. 

Sally Milz is a writer on a popular live comedy show called The Night Owls, that airs every Saturday night (sound familiar?). She has given up on falling in love, preferring to focus on her career instead. Then, when news breaks that her friend and TNO cast member, Danny Horst, is dating a beautiful actress who just hosted an episode, Sally is frustrated but not at all surprised. It’s become a recurring event at TNO especially, for gorgeous successful women to date average men like Danny, but as Sally has come to believe would never happen if the roles were reversed. That is until singer, Noah Brewster, arrives to host TNO. A genuine connection begins to form between them as they prepare for Saturday’s live show, but Sally is unsure whether to believe if it’s actually real. After all, this would never happen to someone like her… right?

Romantic Comedy is witty, smart, and feels like something Nora Ephron would have loved and adapted. The behind the scenes leading up to TNO’s live show was interesting to read and now makes me see Saturday Night Live in a whole new light. At the same time, I also really like Sally and Noah and how Sittenfeld develops their relationship that feels real and authentic, even in the chapters set during the pandemic. There is a kind of push and pull between them alongside the banter and emails exchanged where I get the sense that they are into each other, but are just unsure if the other would reciprocate. This isn’t a typical romance book, but a realistic take on comedy, romance and what we expect for ourselves and breaking them. 

I’m so happy that I got to buddy read this with Jenn, who also recommended Colin Jost’s book since I enjoyed this one.

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An American Girl | Throwback by Maurene Goo

This is my new favorite book of all-time. At most, in the top 3 and I don’t think I will be over it any time soon. If you love mother/daughter stories, the 1990’s, or are a huge fan of Back to the Future, then you will most definitely love Maurene Goo’s Throwback. 

Samantha Kang is a Gen Z teen in 2025, who hasn’t quite figured out where life is headed yet. She often argues with her first-generation Korean American mother, Priscilla, who had a very different high school experience when she was a teenager. After an argument with her mom that leaves her stranded, Sam books a ride via a mysterious rideshare app that ends up taking her all the way back to the year 1995, where she meets a 17-year-old Priscilla. Sam may be stuck in the past with outdated views and tech as she helps her mother win homecoming queen - a defining moment that changed Priscilla’s relationship with her own mother, Sam’s grandmother Halmoni - but, she also begins to realize that there is more to her mom than she thought, as well as what her own future may be.

I absolutely love this book! I cried seeing Sam and Priscilla’s relationship grow and the impact they had on each other that becomes, quite frankly, timeless. As a mother/daughter story, I like how Goo looks at it through a time traveling perspective. By being in the past and witnessing first hand who Priscilla was and the relationship she had with Halmoni, Sam begins to understand why certain high school aspirations like popularity and becoming homecoming queen mattered so much to her mom. There is an idealism to it tied with a youthful first-gen optimism of the American Dream. It’s a simple but indelible reminder how parents were teenagers once too with hopes and dreams.

Back to the Future is one of my favorite movies. So, to see it in a similar form set during a decade I grew up in and featuring Asian characters instantly stole my heart. It’s nostalgic in reminding me what that era was like (for better and for worse), and at the same time feels so relevant. 

Throwback is a must-read that everyone needs to pick up soon! It’s funny, sentimental, relatable, and will make you want to hug your mom a little bit tighter.

Additional Thoughts:

• The other characters apart from Sam, Priscilla, and Halmoni are just as great.
• There is a subplot involving a time-crossed romance that makes the ending even more perfect.
• Don’t overthink too much on the science of time travel here. Just know that much of it is similar to how it was handled in Back to the Future but without The Delorean and Sam having to worry about if she will be born.
• The pop culture references had me laughing, especially through Sam’s honest POV. I will now be using “Jordan Catalano bad news” when referring to questionable men.

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