by Jennifer Chen
Wednesday Books, 2023. 277 pages. Young Adult Fiction
Sixteen-year-old Chloe and her family move from New York to
Los Angeles to be with her Taiwanese grandmother who has dementia. Shortly
thereafter, Chloe’s boyfriend Jake dumps her by sending her a breakup box full
of things from their relationship. Chloe takes her heartbreak and curates a
collaborative art exhibit inspired by other teens’ break ups. Then she meets
the amazing teen filmmaker Daniel with whom she feels an instant connection. But
Chloe's unresolved feelings from her former relationship and Daniel's fear of
being a rebound (for the sixth time) hinder their romantic prospects and leads
Chloe on a journey to rediscover love and prove to Daniel she is ready for a
genuine connection.
This is a richly detailed, engaging debut that is really a
love letter to Los Angeles and multi-generational families, and not just a
delightful teen romance. The city is a character all itself. There is really strong sense of place. Chloe’s talent
at curating is an interesting layer in this multi-layered story. I love how
she sees where the light falls, how spaces flow, and how objects relate to one
another. I was also deeply touched by the family drama that was going on in the
background of the story. Chloe and her parents love her Ammah (grandmother) fiercely and try
to help her as she descends in to dementia. And, of course, there is the
uncertain new love that Chloe and Danial must navigate in teenager fashion—full
of insecurity and angst. This book is for you if you love Jenny Han’s To All the Boys series.
If you liked Artifacts of an Ex, you may also like:
by Kat Cho
Hyperion, 2022. 329 pages. Young Adult Fiction
Instead of going to prom, seventeen-year-old Elena Soo wants
to spend her time saving the local community center, and she is determined to
keep her priorities straight even when her childhood best friend--who is now a
K-pop superstar--returns to make good on their old pact to go to prom together.
by Ann Liang
Scholastic Press, 2023. 337 pages. Young Adult Fiction
When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin's entirely fictional essay
about meeting her perfect boyfriend goes viral at her international school in
Beijing, she has to make a deal with the handsome and charming Caz Song to play
the part--but when the relationship starts to feel real all her career plans
are suddenly threatened.
by Axie Oh
Harper Teen, 2021. 337 pages. Young Adult Fiction
Cello prodigy Jenny's goal is to get into a prestigious
music conservatory. When she meets Jaewoo in her uncle's Los Angeles karaoke
bar, it's clear he is the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. In a
moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for
one unforgettable night of adventure-- before he disappears without a word.
Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take
care of her ailing grandmother, she is shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a
student at the same elite arts academy where she's enrolled for the semester.
He is a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world-- and he is
strictly forbidden from dating. Just how much is Jenny willing to risk for
love?
AG
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