Abigail Hing Wen

I struggled with how to rate this one, for the most part I found it entertaining and I enjoyed the setting and the cultural elements, but as much as I did like Ever, there were other characters that I think I may have preferred to be at the forefront of the story.

Ever’s parents fear boys and dancing will steer their doctor-to-be down the wrong path so they send her to a summer program in Taiwan where they hope she’ll learn mandarin and stay on track as the “perfect” daughter. show more However, Loveboat Taipei, as the program is known among the students, offers many opportunities for rebellion and for the first time in her life, Ever decides to indulge.

Partying isn’t remotely my thing in life, so it isn’t necessarily high on my list to read about either, but I could see how it was important in Ever’s process of figuring out who she is without her parents making all her decisions for her, so even though those weren’t my favorite scenes in the book, at least they didn’t just feel like the obligatory YA scenes where the characters make obviously questionable decisions, it did feel like that experience was necessary to Ever’s growth.

I’m torn over whether or not this book had too much going on. It touches on bigotry, stereotypes, slut-shaming, mental health, dyslexia, self-esteem, and abuse, which is a lot, but because it only touches on those things, the book rarely feels all that heavy, so on the one hand I think this is a great way for readers who typically shy away from more serious subject matter to just kind of dip their toe in the water without feeling like they’re drowning in difficult things. But for readers like myself who are okay with delving into heavier material, there were definitely moments where I longed for a larger page count that would allow for digging deeper into these subjects, especially since it felt like the author would be capable of doing so.

That’s kind of tied into how I feel about Ever and wondering if maybe I would have liked Loveboat Taipei that much more had other characters been the lead instead of her. I do think having to choose between happiness and pleasing your parents is a strong story, relatable for plenty of people, and I wasn’t bored by Ever, it’s just that her story felt more familiar and I guess to some degree less complicated than what Sophie, Jenna, and Xavier were going through, and so oftentimes I found myself more invested in what was happening with them as side characters than what was happening with Ever the main character. I think part of that was about all three of those characters being a bit more morally gray than Ever, and in a way, a bit more vulnerable than her as well, and where Ever is mostly (though not always) an observer of the serious topics mentioned in the previous paragraph, Sophie, Jenna, and Xavier, were more directly involved in those situations, and to be in the very heart of those issues might have made for a more emotionally involving read.

While this wasn’t ultimately a five star read for me, I do like an author willing/able to mix fluffiness with seriousness and who crafts dimensional characters, so I’ll be happy to give the sequel a try whenever it releases. show less

Adventure swings between the real world and a virtual one, where very different dangers threaten to ruin The Vale.

Bran is thirteen and spends much of his time working on The Vale, an AI-virtua- 4D program, which allows users to create an entire realm, interact with it, and feel it. His inventing parents have developed many things over the years but have never seemed to develop anything fast enough to make any money. In other words, they are dead broke. When a contest promises a win of $5000 show more and a couple months of food and rent, the family's emotions soar...until they don't win and end up living in a shed with barely anything to eat. Bran isn't about to give up and works for a bigger, better prize, but while getting The Vale in tiptop condition, he doesn't realize that something in the world is realm. Little by little, The Vale is changing and he has no idea why.

The book slides between Bran's point of view as he deals with real life and pops in and out of the virtual realm, and the elf, Gnomly's, existence in the Vale. This flows nicely, allowing the problems on each side to hook in. Both carry personalities and both are dealing with major issues. By flipping back and forth between the two, it also becomes clear why there are misunderstandings between the odd friends...and how 'real' this entire program might almost be. It's an interesting meeting of worlds, and even a more interesting adventure as both deal with their difficulties as best they can. The read picks up pace as it goes along and wraps things up in a satisfying way.

While the two different, yet intertwined adventures keep the pages turning, there are several themes as 'food for thought' as well. Bran's family faces financial issues, and this causes strains not only in the living conditions but also in their relationships. The struggle is well done and comes across naturally. Bran also needs to step outside of his comfort zone on the social end of things if he wants to succeed, and it's easy to understand his hesitation and uneasiness. Then, there's the entire topic surrounding AI. While this read doesn't dive super deep into thought loops on that end, it does start opening the door to discussions and considerations.

This tale keeps an intriguing balance between fantasy and reality. The text flows smoothly and works especially well for the lower and middle age range of the intended audience, despite the longer length. The characters come across a little on the young side and there's a sense of playfulness along with the fantasy. The story starts out a bit slow but picks up pace. Especially the ending holds tension, and it's not clear what the outcome will be. There are a few illustrations sprinkled inside, which are nicely detailed and give the read a lovely touch. Fans of books surrounding AI, video games, and even a little fantasy will want to take a peek at this one. show less

A college friend was part of a so-called Loveboat program so I was curious to pick this up and see how the experience is portrayed. Ever (short for Everett) chafes at her strict parents’ expectations and dreams for her. They want her to attend medical school; she gets woozy at the sight of blood and her passion is dance. Without asking, they sign Ever up for an 8-week Chinese cultural program in Taipei. Once there, she finds herself one among many Asian American teens versus one of the few show more in her Ohio town. The program is known for its meat-market aspect; there are plenty of dalliances, flirting, short-lived relationships, and hookups. Ever finds herself in a love triangle between Rick, the prodigy kid her parents have held her up to, and his roommate Xavier, a brooding playa with unexpected secrets. A jacket blurb described this as “Crazy Rich Asians” meets Jane Austen. It didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. The characters weren’t fleshed out fully and I wanted more depth in the presentation of the Loveboat program and why it’s a big deal for Chinese American families. However, this #ownvoices book is unique in portraying this cultural phenomenon, and worth checking out for that. show less

Entertaining, but pretty superficial when it came to character development. A young American Asian woman travels to Taipei to attend a camp after high school. She breaks out of her rigid, sheltered childhood and challenges herself to disregard the rules she was raised with. People fall in and out of love in a heartbeat and the relationship felt as ephemeral as the plot. It won't stick with me, but it was a fun quick read.