“Picture me madly in love with this moving, tender, unapologetically honest book.” –Becky Albertalli, #1 best-selling author of Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda Danny Cheng has always known his parents have secrets. But when he discovers a taped-up box in his father’s closet filled with old letters and a file on a powerful Bay Area family, he realizes there’s much more to his family’s past … there’s much more to his family’s past than he ever imagined.
Danny has been an artist for as long as he can remember and it seems his path is set, with a scholarship to RISD and his family’s blessing to pursue the career he’s always dreamed of. Still, contemplating a future without his best friend, Harry Wong, by his side makes Danny feel a panic he can barely put into words. Harry’s and Danny’s lives are deeply intertwined and as they approach the one-year anniversary of a tragedy that shook their friend group to its core, Danny can’t stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.
When Danny digs deeper into his parents’ past, he uncovers a secret that disturbs the foundations of his family history and the carefully constructed facade his parents have maintained begins to crumble. With everything he loves in danger of being stripped away, Danny must face the ghosts of the past in order to build a future that belongs to him in this complex, lyrical novel.ts core, Danny can’t stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.
When Danny digs deeper into his parents’ past, he uncovers a secret that disturbs the foundations of his family history and the carefully constructed facade his parents have maintained begins to crumble. With everything he loves in danger of being stripped away, Danny must face the ghosts of the past in order to build a future that belongs to him in this complex, lyrical novel.ts core, Danny can’t stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.
When Danny digs deeper into his parents’ past, he uncovers a secret that disturbs the foundations of his family history and the carefully constructed facade his parents have maintained begins to crumble. With everything he loves in danger of being stripped away, Danny must face the ghosts of the past in order to build a future that belongs to him in this complex, lyrical novel.ts core, Danny can’t stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.
When Danny digs deeper into his parents’ past, he uncovers a secret that disturbs the foundations of his family history and the carefully constructed facade his parents have maintained begins to crumble. With everything he loves in danger of being stripped away, Danny must face the ghosts of the past in order to build a future that belongs to him in this complex, lyrical novel.l novel.
more
I was so excited to read this book after reading a preview of the first few chapters. The preview had left me intrigued about Danny’s parents and the secrets they held onto as if their lives depended on the truth never getting out.
Gilbert did an excellent job at pacing this story and winding the mystery surrounding Danny’s family into the changes and challenges he was facing with the end of his senior year fast approaching. Her easy flowing and conversational writing style made reading this story enjoyable and helped combine Danny’s memories with the present day events in his life.
There were times where I became frustrated with Danny’s parents and their constant need to keep secrets from him. I just wanted them to open their eyes and realize that their secrets were just making things harder on him. It made me think at times they were selfish, but in the end I realized they are two of the most selfless and caring characters I’ve read about
I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book way more than I actually did. I could see the potential there: Kelly Loy Gilbert is a talented writer, Danny is a relatable and sympathetic narrator, the storyline about the sister was terrible and shocking. However, there was too much going on here to really feel the impact: the mystery with Danny’s parents, what happened to Sandra, the relationship with Harry, the mystery of the sister, Danny’s struggle with his art, etc. Any one of these (or even a couple) could’ve been a powerful storyline, but they all got overwhelmed in the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink soup.
The one thing that really did shock me was the ending – what Danny’s parents did to him – I actually said out loud: “What the f*@k?!” And then the epilogue, where it seems like Danny isn’t bothered in the slightest? What the f*@k, indeed. It was a strange ending to an overly ambitious YA book.
It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I was, boy was I hooked. There is so much going on…you’ve got a contemporary romance, a bunch of teens dealing with loss and grief, a conspiracy and mystery, estranged family.
I enjoyed how the culture of Asian Americans was explained and used throughout the book. I also liked how no one element of the story was the sole focus, it was a true drama and almost as if you were reading a soap opera or drama tv show.
I was kind of shocked when I finally realized what the mystery was all about, I definitely did not see it coming until near the very end. And even my guesses at that point were a little off. I love when a book can totally surprise you like that. I hate when things are too predictable.
The ending was fantastic, I don’t think I could have asked for a better one. There was possibility there, but also a sense of closure, like everything would somehow work out the way it was meant to.
*I won this book as part of the Bookish First program and voluntarily reviewed it after reading.*