Reviews

Dating Makes Perfect by Pintip Dunn

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briannethebookworm's review

4.0

As the youngest Tech daughter, Winnie knows that she isnt allowed to date in high school. Her older twin sisters weren’t allowed to until they went to college, and Winnie has accepted the rule like the good Thai daughter she is. When the twins return from college complaining that their dating inexperience has caused them to struggle to navigate the mission to find a husband, their parents shockingly agree to change the no dating rule for Winnie in the hopes that she will be able to find a husband faster after graduating. The only catch is that her parents get to pick her fake boyfriends, and naturally they choose Mat Songsomboom, Winnie’s ex-best childhood friend. Winnie can barely stomach a conversation with him, and she has no idea how she can pretend to date him. As they are forced to spend time together, Winnie begins to chip away at his guarded outer shell and uncover the real reasons Mat and her stopped being friends in the first place.

This was a cute enemies to lovers type book for teenagers! I loved that the book featured Asian main characters and that the plot centered a lot around Thai cuisine. Winnie was very close with her older sisters, and it was cool to see them work together to break down the cultural barriers between them and their parents’ generation in order to become a closer family. There were many movie references to more old and current movies like Always Be My Maybe, To All the Boys I Loved Before, and When Harry Met Sally. Definitely recommend!

_camk_'s review

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2.0

2.5 stars.

+The representation is well needed in literature.
+It was cute and funny at times.

-One too many tropes making the plot very shallow.
-The pacing was a bit off.
-Winnie was 17 and sometimes she acts 17 (which is important, lots of YA have 17yr old acting much older), however she also acts really immature and not sheltered immature, just immature.
-The romance between the MCs was a half-baked. The only scene that made me be like 'ooohh' was the dressing room scene.

lienata's review against another edition

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5.0

Dating Makes Perfect was the perfect blend of everything I love in a YA romance. Childhood friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, a lovable Asian protagonist, a complicated but caring and close-knit family, and lots of laugh-out-loud banter. But most of all, I love the overall message it encourages: to be true to yourself no matter what, even if it isn't easy. I binged the book in a day and have no regrets! I also enjoyed reading about Thai culture, the language and countless descriptions of mouthwatering foods! Definitely recommend <3

meganm43's review

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funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

Loved this! I started this book so long ago but I’m so glad I came back around to finish it! A cute, lighthearted, funny YA rom-com! I loved every second of it!

notinjersey's review

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4.0

Dating Makes Perfect by Pintip Dunn is a book I received as a gift back in 2020, so it’s another backlist checked off my list this month. This book is about Winnie, whose parents decide to allow her to “practice” dating by going on rom com inspired dates with her former friend and now enemy Mat. ⁣This was a sweet book that had some funny parts. I enjoyed learning about Thai culture through this book. ⁣

shannonsnextchapter's review

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4.0

Fake dating? Check! Enemies to lovers? Check! Dating Makes Perfect by Pintip Dunn is all of YA's best rom-com tropes rolled into one. Romance, family, and culture intersect as main character Winnie navigates a romance like something from a movie!