If you love coming-of-age stories with a fresh twist, "Loveboat, Taipei" delivers vibrant summer-in-Taipei vibes, secret parties, and lots of drama! The mix of romance, self-discovery, and cultural exploration is perfect for fans of Jenny Han, XO, Kitty, or anyone interested in Asian American perspectives. The book's energetic pacing and relatable struggles with family expectations and personal dreams will resonate especially with readers from immigrant or minority backgrounds, but its appeal is universal for anyone who loves stories about figuring out where you belong in the world.

Who May Not Like This Book:

For readers who like their teen dramas realistic or subtle, the over-the-top party antics and swoony love triangles might feel too much. If you’re craving deep dives into tough issues or hoping for all side characters to be fully fleshed out, you might end up wanting more. A few found the drama unrealistic, wished for richer depictions of Taipei and more food, or found Ever’s journey from rule-follower to rebel too abrupt. Sensitive to tropes like misunderstandings or self-sabotage? This book has a handful!

A breezy, bingeable rom-com that’ll sweep you to Taipei for a summer of glitz, rebellion, and self-discovery. Not flawless, but fun and absolutely worth the read if you love messy hearts, cultural identity, and growing up pains.

About:

'Loveboat, Taipei' by Abigail Hing Wen follows the story of Ever, a young girl with a passion for dancing who is sent to a summer program in Taipei by her parents, who want her to pursue a different path. In Taipei, Ever finds herself among other Asian American teens, navigating cultural expectations, friendships, and relationships. explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and the struggles of balancing personal desires with parental expectations. The author's vivid descriptions bring the Taiwan experience to life, from the food and scenery to the activities and cultural immersion of the characters.

Characters:

The characters are well-drawn, with the protagonist portraying a relatable internal conflict and supporting characters offering depth through their own struggles.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is vivid and evocative, illuminating the characters' emotional journeys and cultural experiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative focuses on a protagonist's journey of self-discovery while navigating expectations and relationships in a cultural immersion experience.

Setting:

The setting is vividly portrayed, enhancing the narrative with cultural authenticity and contributing to the characters' experiences.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow but finds momentum in the latter parts, building up to meaningful character arcs.

My thumb traces the school’s name in the upper corner. This can’t be real. The last time an identical envelope arrived, crisp-cornered, smelling of new paper and ink and smudged with fingerprints, was...

Notes:

The story is set in Taiwan and revolves around a summer program for Asian American teens.

The main character, Ever, is sent to Taiwan by her strict parents who want her to focus on her studies and future in medicine.

The program, called Loveboat Taipei, allows students to break free from their parents' expectations and explore their identities.

Ever struggles with the conflict between pleasing her parents and discovering her own passions, like dance.

The book explores serious themes like bigotry, mental health, and self-acceptance, but does so in a way that isn't overwhelmingly heavy.

Readers noted that while Ever's journey is relatable, they found supporting characters like Sophie, Jenna, and Xavier more compelling.

There are elements of a love triangle involving Ever and two male characters, Rick and Xavier.

The book mixes fluffy, romantic elements with serious social issues, making it relatable for many readers.

Critics pointed out that the depiction of Taiwan feels superficial and could have benefitted from more cultural depth.

Overall, Loveboat Taipei is considered an engaging coming-of-age story with authentic emotional moments.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include discussions of mental health, family pressure, sexual content, and themes of self-destructive behavior.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance, with elements of a love triangle and interpersonal relationships.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

-An instant New York Times Bestseller and Indie Bestseller!

-Optioned for film by the producers of Jenny Han's Netflix series, TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE

-#1 Cosmopolitan Audiobook of the Year

-Featured in Entertainment Weekly, Seventeen, Boston Globe, South China Morning Post, World Journal, UK Evening Standard, Book Riot, Bustle, Nerd Daily, Forbes, Bloomberg, NBC Bay Area, ABC7

- Barnes and Noble YA Book Club Pick

- Companion novel Loveboat Reunion out Jan 25, 2022

Praised as "an intense rush of rebellion and romance" by #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Garber, this romantic and layered debut from Abigail Hing Wen is "a roller-coaster ride of romance and self-discovery." (Kirkus)

"Our cousins have done this program," Sophie whispers. "Best kept secret. Zero supervision."

And just like that, Ever Wong's summer takes an unexpected turn. Gone is Chien Tan, the strict educational program in Taiwan that Ever was expecting. In its place, she finds Loveboat: a summer-long free-for-all where hookups abound, adults turn a blind eye, snake-blood sake flows abundantly, and the nightlife runs nonstop.

But not every student is quite what they seem:

Ever is working toward becoming a doctor but nurses a secret passion for dance.

Rick Woo is the Yale-bound child prodigy bane of Ever's existence whose perfection hides a secret.

Boy-crazy, fashion-obsessed Sophie Ha turns out to have more to her than meets the eye.

And under sexy Xavier Yeh's shell is buried a shameful truth he'll never admit.

When these students' lives collide, it's guaranteed to be a summer Ever will never forget.

"A unique story from an exciting and authentic new voice." -Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes

"Equal parts surprising, original, and intelligent. An intense rush of rebellion and romance." -Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

"Fresh as a first kiss." -Stacey Lee, award-winning author of Outrun the Moon

"Fresh, fun, heartfelt, and totally addictive, a story about finding your place-and your people-where you least expected." -Kelly Loy Gilbert, author of the William C. Morris Award finalist Conviction

July 1905

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428 pages

Ratings (7)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (1)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (19):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (11)
Not Interested (1)

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Loveboat, Taipei

Abigail Hing Wen

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