Sophie Reads YA: Michelle Quach

ARC Review: The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach

10:00

The Boy You Always Wanted
Series: None
Author: Michelle Quach
Published August 1st 2023 by Katherine Tegen Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Francine always has a plan. Ollie wants no part of it.

Francine loves her grandfather, but their time together is running out. He has one final wish: to see a male heir carry on the family traditions. Francine knows his ideas are outdated, but she would do anything for him. Her solution? Ask Ollie Tran, a family friend (and former crush, not that it matters), to pretend to be ceremonially adopted and act like the grandson A Gūng never had.

Ollie generally avoids the odd, too blunt (and fine, sort of cute) Francine, whose intensity makes him uncomfortable. So when she asks him to help deceive her dying grandpa, Ollie’s not down. He doesn’t get why anyone would go to such lengths, even for family. Especially with a backwards (and sexist, Ollie keeps stressing) scheme like this.

Francine, however, is determined to make it happen, and soon Ollie finds himself more invested in her plan—and in her—than he ever thought possible. But as the tangled lies and feelings pile up, Francine must discover what exactly she needs for herself—and from Ollie. Because sometimes the boy you always wanted isn’t what you expected.
Goodreads

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

Family means everything to Francine, so even if she is a staunch feminist, she'll find her grandfather the boy he's always wanted to be heir before it's too late. Asking a family friend, Ollie, to agree to be adopted and act like a grandson to A Gūng is harder than she expected, especially when he puts up a fight. Olly and Francine used to be close, but age separated them, and they've got very different personas. Francine is not a quitter, and soon she wears Olly down enough to agree. But as they are forced together more and more, with the lines between friendship blurring at every step, it's hard for them both to fight their feelings.

I loved the insight into how important family is in Asian-American culture, and the dual POVs really helped to see different sides to the same story. Francine and Olly were complete opposites - Olly was easy going and friendly, whereas Francine was more stuck up and prickly. They had known each other since childhood, and their families are really close, but as they grew up they just drifted apart. Francine had also had a strong crush on Olly, which complicated matters. I think because I'm not from the same culture as the characters in this book I didn't understand why it was so important for A Gūng to have a male heir, but it was explained further in to the story why it was such a big deal. One of the plot lines was a little distasteful for me, which is why I rated this 4 stars rather than 5 stars.

Dates Read:
November 20-24, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach

10:00

Not Here to Be Liked
Series: None
Author: Michelle Quach
Published September 16th 2021 by Usborne Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
Falling in love wasn't part of the plan. Eliza Quan fully expects to be voted the next editor-in-chief of her school paper. She works hard, she respects the facts, and she has the most experience. Len DiMartile is an injured star baseball player who seems to have joined the paper just to have something to do. Naturally, the staff picks Len to be their next leader. Because while they may respect Eliza, they don't particularly like her - but right now, Eliza is not here to be liked. She's here to win. But someone does like Eliza. A lot. Shame it's the boy standing in the way of her becoming editor-in-chief....
Goodreads

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

Eliza Quan's only concern is to become the next editor-in-chief of her school's newspaper. And, considering she's the only person standing for it, she's a shoo-in - she doesn't have to campaign. Which is a good thing, because she's not very personable. But when it's revealed that Len DiMartile, the injured baseball player who joined the paper late last year has tossed his hand in the ring, and more importantly, is chosen by the staff to lead, Eliza see's red. She angrily writes an exposes - for herself - denouncing the sexism of her school, and venting her anger, which then becomes the front page story of the next edition. Now, Eliza is facing backlash for the story from some of her male peers, but the female population of the school believe she's on to something, and she's become a feminist hero. So when she gets closer to Len, and it's clear they both like each other, would it be possible for them to be together?

This was a wholly refreshing book, and such an enjoyable read. I relished the fact that Eliza was so 'unlikable', and loved her strong stance of what she wanted, and how she didn't care if people were put off that she told them like it is. She faced so much slack for standing up against the sexist ideas that were rife in her school, and brushed it off like a water off a duck's back. But, underneath it all, it was clear that she enjoyed the new friendships she was forming, and was starting to even rethink some of her own stereotypes and prejudices she may have had. The headteacher of the school was a joke, and I'm glad that Eliza had the support she did. Her and Len's relationship was sweet, and though Len had liked her from the start, it was clear that Eliza's feelings developed slowly, and naturally, and they were truly a good match for each other. This book was fantastic, and portrayed just what teenage girls are facing in school and life these days - everyone should read it!

Dates Read:
June 13, 2021

Rating
4 Stars