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turleyboo37's review
4.0
This book made me cry throughout the whole thing. Not even at particularly sad moments, david yoon is just so good at portraying feelings that I felt them too. The ending was perfect, there was no great romance or infinite moments, just very human feelings. Maybe it was hope. It was not a romance novel, it was so much more.
moco71's review
4.0
Teen novel/fun read about a Korean boy straddling 2 cultures (I could relate). It wasn't predictable and a completely fun read.
silvern0va's review against another edition
DNF at 10%. I don't enjoy either of the Yoon's writing. I feel like their writing borders on pretentious and has far too much exposition.
jpalba's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
deepzeediving's review
4.0
some people have criticised Frank’s character for being angry at his parents’ racism but then having gross racially prejudicial thoughts himself. i think it’s realistic. this story isn’t about Perfect Frank Li who is So Much Better than his parents because they’re oh so racist and he’s not at all. even anti-racists have internalised racism that haven’t been unravelled yet. that’s the problem, isn’t it? growing up in an environment where race is a conversation topic means that inadvertently, there’s gonna be a square inch of prejudice that we have not/would not/(cannot?) undo.
some people also said that the narrative was inconsistent and hops between being way too verbose and being blunt and uninspired. but i also think that’s realistic to how people talk to themselves. at least, it’s realistic for me. some days my internal monologue reads like the journal of a pretentious humanities student (because i was one). and some days it’s pressing shuffle on a playlist of vine compilation videos.
“why didn’t the book give Q’s coming out more attention?” because Frank is selfish. Frank only cared about Q’s sexuality as it related to Frank, then when Frank remembered that Q is his best friend, that’s when he hopes that Q will find a man who appreciates him. Frank loves Hanna enough to think about her and text her, but Frank spends more time thinking about how their parents’ reaction to her black husband means he would have so much trouble dating a non-Korean girl. Frank adored Brit and sang praises about her beauty and mind, but didn’t respect her enough to be honest with her about his parents because the conversation was Too Difficult and She Wouldn't Understand, nor did he respect her enough to not, yanno, cheat on her. Frank loves the people around him, sure, but Frank cares about himself more.
anyway. this book is flawed because Frank Li is flawed. and maybe this doesn’t make sense, but i think that made this a wonderful book.
some people also said that the narrative was inconsistent and hops between being way too verbose and being blunt and uninspired. but i also think that’s realistic to how people talk to themselves. at least, it’s realistic for me. some days my internal monologue reads like the journal of a pretentious humanities student (because i was one). and some days it’s pressing shuffle on a playlist of vine compilation videos.
“why didn’t the book give Q’s coming out more attention?” because Frank is selfish. Frank only cared about Q’s sexuality as it related to Frank, then when Frank remembered that Q is his best friend, that’s when he hopes that Q will find a man who appreciates him. Frank loves Hanna enough to think about her and text her, but Frank spends more time thinking about how their parents’ reaction to her black husband means he would have so much trouble dating a non-Korean girl. Frank adored Brit and sang praises about her beauty and mind, but didn’t respect her enough to be honest with her about his parents because the conversation was Too Difficult and She Wouldn't Understand, nor did he respect her enough to not, yanno, cheat on her. Frank loves the people around him, sure, but Frank cares about himself more.
anyway. this book is flawed because Frank Li is flawed. and maybe this doesn’t make sense, but i think that made this a wonderful book.
notoriouskog's review
3.0
This is one of those cases where I wish I could half star something. It was a cute story with flawed characters, which I think is important in YA, but it did leave me feeling a bit “that’s it?” at the end. I loooove a fake dating trope, but I heavily dislike the whole “fake dating but fall in love and do so while actually dating someone else” part. Once Frank and Joy are together, they do fit well, but it sucked for their insignificant others. I wish there was more to the end than the serpentine rock wall (???) but I do like that he and Joy are where they are at the end. I wish there was more to the Hanna and parents reunion, but I also know the book isn’t about her. Frank’s also a dick to Q and I didn’t like that. I wish he’d been a better friend. Culturally it was enlightening and also eye opening to read the struggle that first generation kids experience. I really did enjoy Yoon’s take on that!
jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
I loved learning more about Korean culture and the friction between first generation immigrants and their children. Those parts of the book were fascinating. I loved the geekiness of Frank and his friends. I would have loved more Q throughout the book, because I think he was shortchanged as a character. I hated what Yoon did with Q at the very end, though.
xchickadee's review
5.0
First I want to thank Bookish First for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This book was amazing. I loved that it showed how no ones family is perfect. They all have issues. Frank trying to teach his parents how to not be racist, was interesting. But he does it in a respectful way.
I really loved the fake dating trope. I thought it was fun! Joy and Frank made it work with out it being confusing to the reader. The way it was written made it seem very believable.
Frank and Q's friendship was amazing! I love how they were always there for each other and were not afraid to show it! The way they texted each other was so funny! I loved "old Chap" it was gold!
Frankly In Love is one of my favorite books of the year. This book was real! It was heartfelt and beautiful. The characters were so real. You couldn't help but love them all. Even his parents were lovable.
I had high hopes for David's book because I love his wife's books. And I will tell you right now that it wasn't a disappointment! David and Nicola Yoon are now both auto buys!
This book was amazing. I loved that it showed how no ones family is perfect. They all have issues. Frank trying to teach his parents how to not be racist, was interesting. But he does it in a respectful way.
I really loved the fake dating trope. I thought it was fun! Joy and Frank made it work with out it being confusing to the reader. The way it was written made it seem very believable.
Frank and Q's friendship was amazing! I love how they were always there for each other and were not afraid to show it! The way they texted each other was so funny! I loved "old Chap" it was gold!
Frankly In Love is one of my favorite books of the year. This book was real! It was heartfelt and beautiful. The characters were so real. You couldn't help but love them all. Even his parents were lovable.
I had high hopes for David's book because I love his wife's books. And I will tell you right now that it wasn't a disappointment! David and Nicola Yoon are now both auto buys!
lulu_jy's review
5.0
"you love hard enough to cry," says Q. "i admire that."
bought this book on a whim because it was discounted and you know i can't pass up on a good discount. oh and also because i had wanted to read it since forever.
to summarize: i wish i had read this sooner...
the beginning feels like every classic romance book, boy meets girl, boy falls in love, yada yada. but then you get to the end and you CAN’T STOP SOBBING BECAUSE YOU RELATE TOO MUCH WITH THE STRUGGLES OF BEING ASIAN. this book isn't just about love between a boy and a girl; it's about family, about friendship.
it's heart-warming, relatable and realistic. maybe a little too realistic because i got some major ick reading about the SATs. like, i like my books to bring me to another land, not to give me a wake-up call that there are always more asian kids smarter than you (these kids are scoring high 1500s like what).
also you know how lgbtq+ representation is important? yea i agree, but not when it's forced. the author really just had to shove that in in the last chapter.
bought this book on a whim because it was discounted and you know i can't pass up on a good discount. oh and also because i had wanted to read it since forever.
to summarize: i wish i had read this sooner...
the beginning feels like every classic romance book, boy meets girl, boy falls in love, yada yada. but then you get to the end and you CAN’T STOP SOBBING BECAUSE YOU RELATE TOO MUCH WITH THE STRUGGLES OF BEING ASIAN. this book isn't just about love between a boy and a girl; it's about family, about friendship.
it's heart-warming, relatable and realistic. maybe a little too realistic because i got some major ick reading about the SATs. like, i like my books to bring me to another land, not to give me a wake-up call that there are always more asian kids smarter than you (these kids are scoring high 1500s like what).
also you know how lgbtq+ representation is important? yea i agree, but not when it's forced. the author really just had to shove that in in the last chapter.
heyheyheykristie's review
2.0
DNF @ 67%. I don't know if I will finish this book. Honestly, I don't like Frank and listening to him complain about his parent's racism without him almost ever actually doing anything about it is pretty triggering for me.