Recent Listen: A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le 

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 9, 2021

 

Format: Audiobook
Source: Bought on Audible

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

If Bao Nguyen had to describe himself, he’d say he was a rock. Steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. He works at his parents’ pho restaurant, and even there, he is his parents’ fifth favorite employee. Not ideal.

If Linh Mai had to describe herself, she’d say she was a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and fire. She loves art and dreams pursuing a career in it. The only problem? Her parents rely on her in ways they’re not willing to admit, including working practically full-time at her family’s pho restaurant.

For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.

But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember.

Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighboring restaurants. 

Review: 

Told from alternating point of view, this book follows two Vietnamese-American teens as they navigate a friendship and possibly more around their feuding parents restuartants and their own lives. Linh and Bao are both trying to find their placces in live as they go through high school, attempt to make names for themselves, and deal with some overbearing parents that think that they know what is best for them. On top of that, they shouldn't be friends, their parents both own Pho restuarants and are competitors, however here we are, not only are they friends but they are semi-forced to work together. 

This was a wonderful story of expectations and teenage uncertainty. It showed the emotional struggle of being an Asian-American teen with parents that think they know the right path for their kids. I should disclaimer that I did not have this experience, nor do I know anything about the amount of pressure this could be, but I had many firends growing up that talked about this struggle and the book seems to be pretty spot on. 

Linh and Bao are charismatic characters that are a delight to follow through this book. They are funny, nervous, angsty, and overally very real. The plot moved forward at a steady pace, helped by the alternating views and it was a good read. 

I should note that the reason it took me so long to listen to this book was mostly because of the food - don't go into this book hungry. The details about the food and tasting and the emotion and comfort that comes along with it is incredible and made me starving every time (and sadly there isn't a Pho place where I am living).

If you are looking for a read with diverse characters, a love story that has a slow build and is adorable, and that also showcases food, this one is SO for you.