Sophie Reads YA: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Waiting On Wednesday: The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties (Aunties #3) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Well, That Was Unexpected (Untitled #1) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Well, That Was Unexpected
Series: Untitled #1
Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Published September 27th 2022 by Delacorte Press

Goodreads Synopsis
An outrageous, laugh-out-loud YA rom-com about a girl who's whisked from LA to her mother's native Indonesia to get back to her roots and finds herself fake-dating the son of one of the wealthiest families there, from the author of Dial A for Aunties.

After Sharlot Citra's mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother's native Indonesia. It'll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.

When George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot's mother and George's father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.

When the kids find out about their parents' actions, they're horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

For Sharlot Citra, her mother has always refused to talk about her home and family in Indonesia, but following an incident involving Sharlot's now ex-boyfriend, she's whisked off to spend the summer away from her bad influences, and with her extended family. What Sharlot thought about her family was clearly completely wrong, as she arrives in Jakarta to discover her family her quite rich, and that her mother's oldest friend is from one of the country's richest families. And Sharlot is not alone in having an interfering parent. George Clooney Tanuwijaya soon finds that his dad has created a profile for him online, and has got him a date with the perfect girl. Soon though, Sharlot and George find themselves going along with the ruse of dating when the media discover it, but the spotlight is harsh, and Sharlot finds herself being villainised.

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was immediately hooked. Sharlot and George were the best characters for the plot line, and the fact the book has dual POV made this so much more enjoyable. I adored the way the characters came together, and though they were hiding the fact that neither of their profiles were real, as they spent more time together - admittedly forced at first - they soon became comfortable enough to be their real selves. What I thought would be a cute YA romance was so much more. Well, That Was Unexpected delves into the conflict of wanting to please your parents, but also being your own person, with your own dreams. There's the added conflict of social media and public attention, and the double standards placed on Sharlot when compared to George. I didn't realise this was part of a series, but hopefully we'll see more of the couple in future!

Dates Read:
August 25-26, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Jesse Q. Sutanto:
I grew up going back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and consider both places my homes. I was fortunate enough to do my Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford, which is surely one of the most gorgeous places in the world.

I am passionate about women’s rights and diversity in publishing. I regularly do giveaways where I critique queries or the first few pages, and I am especially interested in helping writers from marginalized communities. If you are a writer from a marginalized community, do hit me up! I love hearing from other writers, even if it’s just to say a quick hello.
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