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Saturday, Jun 20
Description
“Will leave readers swooning.” —PopSugar “Utterly delicious.” —BuzzFeed Two Vietnamese American teens fall in love amid their families’ age-old feud around their competing neighboring restaurants in this funny, smart “star- crossed-lovers rom-com” (Kirkus Reviews) perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Ann Liang. Bao Nguyen sees himself as 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. Linh Mai is a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and fire. She loves art and dreams of 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? Read more
Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date : December 28, 2021
Edition : Reprint
Language : English
Print length : 416 pages
ISBN-10 : 1534441948
ISBN-13 : 41
Item Weight : 11.2 ounces
Reading age : 12 years and up
Dimensions : 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Kindle
This story took me completely by surprise. I absolutely loved the characters and the chemistry. I was not very familiar with Vietnamese culture or food prior to reading this book so there was a lot of things I ended up looking up while reading. While I loved the beautiful love story the author built between Bao and Linh I was completely hooked on figuring out the back story between the rival families and how their history in Vietnam played a role in their current rivalry. The romance between Linh and Bao was realistic and believable. It’s so frustrating when an author is building a relationship and we’re meant to believe that because they are together nothing else matters. I loved how Bao respected Linh’s reservations about their relationship and didn’t push her when she needed time and space. I feel bad for the boys that have to live up to him. Also can we talk about what a power couple they are each pursuing and rocking their own goals and supporting each other. They are absolute relationship goals. Let’s not forget about the side characters either! Linh’s aunt, Ali and her art teacher all added a refreshing girl/woman power to this book. Overall I really enjoyed this book and think it would appeal to more than just your standard YA romance demographic. This book was so much more than that and it’s worth the read.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2021 by An Eye 4 Romance
Format: Kindle
Perfectly formulaic romance novel with the really cool addition of a culture I’m not very familiar with. The only improvement would have been to provide translations of the Vietnamese phrases used to help with the flow of the novel. But this one has piqued my curiosity about the history of Vietnam, and I look forward to more from this author!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2024 by M. Cooper
Format: Hardcover
A PHO LOVE STORY follows Linh Mai and Bao Nguyen’s unexpected romance since their families work at competing pho restaurants. As they meet in secret, they begin to discover that their families’ rivalry runs deeper than the line of customers on 2-for-1 Pho Day. There are so many things to love about this book. Linh and Bao’s romance is so precious with their stolen moments. Not only do they have their families’ feud to contend with, they have individual concerns about their career interests (or lack thereof in Bao’s case) and how they approach that with their parents. Their interactions with their family and community at large—how they negotiate time away from the restaurant, their individual conversations with their parents, family gatherings—all evoked scenes from my life. There were so many moments I squealed in delight at the recognition of these familiar smells, places, and feelings. In particular, the author weaves in Linh and Bao’s parents’ refugee experience so seamlessly and the intergenerational effects on Linh and Bao’s worldview. I imagine some people might take issue with the Vietnamese phrases. As someone who knows only a handful of Vietnamese phrases, I didn’t think it was too difficult to gather the meaning from the context. If I must offer some sort of criticism, it’s that fans of typical romcom tropes won’t find them here. Instead, they’ll find a sweet secret romance for a couple you want to root for.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2021 by Kelly
Format: Hardcover
Two pho restaurants, both alike in dignity, in fair California, where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. A Pho Love Story by Loan Le is the story of two high schoolers whose parents own rival pho shops. Will they fall in love or will their families’ decades long rivalry keep them apart forever?! I’m torn between a 3 ⭐️ or 4 ⭐️ review so I’ll break down the great vs the just ok. Let’s start with the great! - The Vietnamese immigrant culture was so well written. I learned so much. If you’re looking for an immigrant perspective this is an easy and fun pick. -The food! If you’re a pho lover make sure you have easy access to pho because this book does not stop describing delicious Vietnamese dishes -The dialog was mostly age appropriate. I don’t like reading ya books with teenage characters that speak like 30 year olds. The teens in this book were written awkward, emotional, and confused...just the way teens should be written! Now for the just OK. -The romance was a miss for me. With “love story” in the title I was expecting a better teenage love story. The two main characters seemed more suited to friendship than to romance. I didn’t feel a spark and I need a spark! -I listened to this one and I think I would have enjoyed reading it more. I didn’t get a lot from the narrators. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for an Asian American immigrant experience! I would not recommend if you’re looking for a teenaged romcom...there are better ones out there. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 5
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Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021 by Bailey Elizabeth
Format: Hardcover
I might run out of characters but there's a lot to unpack with a book like this. Firstly, I want to appreciate the author for writing a book based around Vietnamese-Americans. As one myself, I found it difficult to relate to characters and their struggles in most books, but I related to this novel on another level. Linh Mai, one of the two main characters really stood out to me, she has tiger like parents who basically shove medical school down her throat, a loud and outgoing personality, and is very smart. I think her experiences relate a lot every typical Asian-American, her struggles and her thought processes reminded me a lot of my own. I ended up tearing up a bit towards the end (not spoiling the book). I have a few critiques about this book. To start, I felt that Bao's story wasn't as interesting as Linh's. Bao's story is a quintessential piece of this novel, however I felt that his role felt more like a main love interest rather than another main character. A book that could be compared is "The Sun is Also a Star" by Nicole Yoon, because that book felt more balanced for two main characters rather than a main and a love interest. For example, I just finished reading the book and I don't really remember much of Bao's problems rather than him being confused about his career path and his relationship problems with Linh (though some may argue it makes the book more realistic). Another flaw I found in this book was that it was a bit boring for me in the middle of the book. Once I got past chapter 35 or so, I could not put the book down. Overall, I have recommended this book to a lot of my other Asian-American friends before even completing it. It was amazing storytelling by the author (I felt like I was truly in a pho restaurant!), and the characters are very likable! Solid 8/10!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2021 by Teresa Lau
Format: Paperback
good copy
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024 by cz
Format: Kindle
The moment I saw this book as a “coming soon,” I knew I had to have it! In my former life, I was a Vietnamese linguist in the US Army. Once of my teachers, Cô Thảo, showed me a side of Vietnam and its people I’d never known, the Fall of Saigon when I was only four years old. The language, the culture… I fell in love with the beauty of both as a student. The novel is YA, telling the story of Bao and Linh, born and raised in the United States. Their families fled Vietnam during the war, coming to the US for a new start, a better life. But for as long as Bao and Linh have known of each other, their families have been embroiled in a bitter feud. It’s a modern-day, Vietnamese version of Romeo & Juliet. Only the feud is over competing restaurants. Or so they’ve always thought. Everything began to change the day Bao walked across the street and talked to Linh. There is so much to love about this novel. For one, it’s an own-voices story, which came through clearly. The Vietnamese culture is very family- and community-centered, as it was in this book. The focus on phở, a major staple in both the culture and the cuisine of the country, was so on point. And it made me yearn for a bowl every time I began to read. For another, it’s so much more than a romance. It talks of the very real trauma caused by the turmoil of the Vietnam war, the struggle of assimilating into a culture that both isn’t one’s own and which hasn’t always been welcoming. Leaving Vietnam didn’t give either family a fresh start, not entirely. Old hurts didn’t stay at the boundaries of their previous home but followed both families over the years. And the racism faced by so many during the first post-war years has never really ended. And now it’s come to Bao and Linh to right the wrongs of the past, to find a way to move forward, for themselves and for the families they so love. The down side for some might be the plethora of Vietnamese, some of it not translated. This wasn’t an issue for me, as I could read it, but it could be for some. But none of it is so integral to the plot that it would ruin the story to not translate those parts. That would be the only possible down side, in my opinion. There was just so much to love! My recommendation: This is a must-read book for me! So beautiful, so rich with Vietnamese culture!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2021 by Kim Deister
Format: Hardcover
Bao and Linh had always kept their distance due to their family's pho restaurant rivalry. Neither had forgotten their brief childhood encounter, and when circumstances brought them together, they recognized a shared connection. As their friendship grew, so did the stress of sneaking around, and it was just a matter of time until it all unraveled. The mention of food and a love story had me quite interested in this tale, and it didn't disappoint. It was fun, cute, and heartwarming, while also shedding light on many aspects of Vietnamese culture. The relationship that developed between Linh and Bao definitely took center stage, and I adore it! They had a lot in common and could related to one another in a way many others couldn't. Both had family, who had made harrowing journeys to escape Vietnam, and both grew up in their family restaurants. They understood the commitment and responsibilities involved with having a family business, as well as the importance of family and community. I liked watching their friendship grow and change. The review "dates" were such a brilliant way to force them together. I looked forward to each new location, where Linh and Bao would have the opportunity to get to know each other better. I honestly wish there had been more of these excursions, because they were wonderful. The romance was definitely a big part of the story, but it was also about self discovery. Linh loved art, but knew her parents saw it as a hobby, so she hid her passion. She wrestled with following her heart or living up to her parents' expectations. In the meantime, Bao was just coasting, and with the help of Linh and a few others, he actually discovered something he not only had a natural flair for, but was also passionate about. While they both experienced some doubt, they supported, encouraged, and pushed each other along the way. This story also had a strong family focus. The obstacle to this romance was a feud between the two families, but each family was very loving and only wanted the best for their children. There were some really beautiful moments shared between Bao, Linh, and their respective families, and many other characters also reinforced this theme of family. I came for the romance, but was treated to so much more in this book. The mix of humorous, emotional, and heartwarming moments along with food, friendship, and family made this a rather delightful reading experience. P.S. I dare you to read this book and not be lusting for Vietnamese food after indulging in the fantastic food descriptions.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021 by Sam K