17-year-old high school senior Anh Nguyen is busy working on a watercolor art series when she experiences her first manic episode. After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and put on medications, she and her Vietnamese-American family are thrown into the world of mental health treatment and recovery.

I love the focus on destigmatizing mental health in ALOHA VIETNAM, especially in the Asian community. In particular, the inclusion of Anh and her doctor's sessions gives a realistic idea that going to therapy isn't a one-and-done thing, but rather a work-in-progress that both the patient/client and therapist have to put effort in.

While the idea of ALOHA VIETNAM is lovely, I don't particularly love the execution. The alternating POVs between Anh and her mom lack distinctions, and I often have to refer to the chapter title to separate the two voices. The last 30 pages also tried to fit too much and ended up too rushed.

Regardless, ALOHA VIETNAM is a vital work emphasizing the importance of family bonds and community support, especially for those navigating their mental health journey.

Thank you to bookpublicityservices for the gifted copy