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analyticalchaos's review against another edition
2.0
The set-up of this is very relatable to Asian Americans. I loved how roles of status and generation played a role. Lin had some good commentary on life in NYC Chinatown, showing evictions and racism in a light I haven’t seen before.
However, the stereotypes of girls were mind numbing. It was so annoying. Every girl is just this cardboard cut out of Regina George, EXCEPT the girl he likes. But unlike “other girls”, she doesn’t keep up with fashion or try hard. It was a struggle to get through this.
The cringy dialogue and lack of plot was also hard to get through.
However, the stereotypes of girls were mind numbing. It was so annoying. Every girl is just this cardboard cut out of Regina George, EXCEPT the girl he likes. But unlike “other girls”, she doesn’t keep up with fashion or try hard. It was a struggle to get through this.
The cringy dialogue and lack of plot was also hard to get through.
kaylareadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
When I started this I didnt think I was going to like it very much, I even thought I was going to DNF it. But the more I read of it, the more I loved it. I love the way David develops. He grows into a really decent guy. I also forgot just how young sophormore's in high school are. at first I was like "why is being so immature?" and then I realized, duh, he's acting like a fifteen year old boy under pressure and sometimes they are immature. I loved this. I love how we get to know David's relationship with his Chinese heritage and his parents who love him more than the world and want him to be the most successful guy he can be. I love reading about him and his Chinese school friends, they all experience being Chinese in different ways. I highly recommend this one!
yetanothersusan's review
3.75
This is a YA book. The characters are teens. They think, speak, and act like teens. Add into all the teen angst the expectations of the son of immigrants. It can be a lot but David is up for it until girls enter the picture. His mom says no dating until he gets a college acceptance. David is a junior who took the SATs as a sophomore and studies test MCAT questions to calm himself, as a reader I felt rather confident that a good college was in his future! I can't speak to how accurate David's mom and her attitude are, but it felt like a true presentation of a parent who has put all their hopes and dreams onto their child. The characters are predictable but the story is a sweet, and sometimes bittersweet, look at what it is like to be young and trying to straddle the expectations of two different cultures.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kaya Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kaya Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
unski_'s review
funny
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
theshenners's review
3.0
3.5-ish
Overall a pretty funny and even touching diaspora story, just aggressively cisallohet in some places
Overall a pretty funny and even touching diaspora story, just aggressively cisallohet in some places
montyroz's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
This reminds me of all my Asian friends, and how they had to work so hard in college because of their parents. David Tung says, int he book, that yes, he had to do the same, but also because he wants to.
If you want a good look at life amongst the diaspora of Chinese living in the United States. We follow David as he goes to public high school, goes to work at his families Chinese restaurant, and goes to Chinese school in NYC Chinatown.
The details are interesting, but they don’t advance the story. Each time David, through the author, goes into detail, I’m thinking it will be something we need to know, and it often is not.
This is more a slice of life, chracter driven novel, more than anything. There is not much action. The big urgency is whether or not David can take Christina to a dance, and that is wrapped up in the first half of the book.
So, while it is a good slice of life, I kept hoping for something more to happen, and it never quite did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
If you want a good look at life amongst the diaspora of Chinese living in the United States. We follow David as he goes to public high school, goes to work at his families Chinese restaurant, and goes to Chinese school in NYC Chinatown.
The details are interesting, but they don’t advance the story. Each time David, through the author, goes into detail, I’m thinking it will be something we need to know, and it often is not.
This is more a slice of life, chracter driven novel, more than anything. There is not much action. The big urgency is whether or not David can take Christina to a dance, and that is wrapped up in the first half of the book.
So, while it is a good slice of life, I kept hoping for something more to happen, and it never quite did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
coolgalreading's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advanced copy of this on my Kindle thanks to the publisher and Net Galley, so thank you very much for providing me with a copy of 'David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets into an Ivy League School."
What I liked about this was first the cover (gorgeous!) and the title, even if it was a bit long!
I really enjoyed the narration of David and learning about an average Chinese-American upbringing, through the eyes of a Chinese-American young protagonist. I felt like I gained some insight into an upbringing I otherwise have no first-hand experience and the parental pressures he faced.
That being said, I felt like parts of it dragged a little, but I did find the dialogue humorous and David to be an overall really likable character. YA novels can be hit or miss with me, with some falling somewhere in between, and this fell in the 'in-between' for me.
Still, a cute fun read!
What I liked about this was first the cover (gorgeous!) and the title, even if it was a bit long!
I really enjoyed the narration of David and learning about an average Chinese-American upbringing, through the eyes of a Chinese-American young protagonist. I felt like I gained some insight into an upbringing I otherwise have no first-hand experience and the parental pressures he faced.
That being said, I felt like parts of it dragged a little, but I did find the dialogue humorous and David to be an overall really likable character. YA novels can be hit or miss with me, with some falling somewhere in between, and this fell in the 'in-between' for me.
Still, a cute fun read!
sarlope12's review
2.0
david tung does not have a fan in me, and i really really hate men sometimes. that is all