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ninetalevixen 's review for:
Permanent Record
by Mary H.K. Choi
content warnings:
rep:
"I care about everything equally until I care about so many things I get overwhelmed and care about nothing at all. When it comes to the single thing I want to focus the entire rest of my life on, it's a muscle I don't know how to flex. As if I'm a lightning bug that forgot how to turn its ass on."
Readers who enjoyed [b:Emergency Contact|35297272|Emergency Contact|Mary H.K. Choi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519613921l/35297272._SY75_.jpg|56664122] likely won't be disappointed with Permanent Record; they're similar in terms of theme and tone.
This is very much a New Adult book: the main characters are approximately college-aged and they're technically-but-not-really adults with Adult Responsibilities like bills and careers and "real" relationships and finding a Purpose or Calling in Life. It also thoughtfully addresses issues of socioeconomics, race, identity, and social media (among others). Some of the scenes are heartwarming, though I really wouldn't call this a feel-good or fluffy read.
While there are some tropey and otherwise predictable developments, Choi's execution makes them still satisfying. The characters are all flawed but mostly well-meaning, which makes the narrative easy to buy into even at its extremes. There are real consequences and fallout, but there are also second (even third) chances.
I was particularly surprised by how much I liked the ending — without getting into spoilers, it wasn't quite what I was expecting but it felt well-earned, a good note to end on without being too cheesy or unrealistic.
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CONVERSION: 11.2 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: N/A
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 4 / 5
Spoiler
ableist language (incl. "cr*zy"), past bullying, minor self-harm (snapping rubber band on wrist), infidelity, precanon grandparent death (mentioned), underage drinking, weed use, microaggressionsrep:
Spoiler
South Korean-Pakistani-American MC with anxiety [Pablo], biracial Mexican-Welsh-American MC/LI [Lee], South Korean-Pakistani-American major character [Rain, Pablo's brother], South Korean immigrant major character [Kay, Pablo's mom], Pakistani "Muslim-ish" immigrant major character [Bilal, Pablo's dad], Haitian-American major character [Tice], Croatian-Jamaican-American major character [Wyn], Puerto Rican-Dominican-American major character [Miggs], Black major character [Jess], South Korean secondary characters [Mr. & Mrs. Kim], Dominican minor character [Tina], diverse minor characters"I care about everything equally until I care about so many things I get overwhelmed and care about nothing at all. When it comes to the single thing I want to focus the entire rest of my life on, it's a muscle I don't know how to flex. As if I'm a lightning bug that forgot how to turn its ass on."
Readers who enjoyed [b:Emergency Contact|35297272|Emergency Contact|Mary H.K. Choi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519613921l/35297272._SY75_.jpg|56664122] likely won't be disappointed with Permanent Record; they're similar in terms of theme and tone.
This is very much a New Adult book: the main characters are approximately college-aged and they're technically-but-not-really adults with Adult Responsibilities like bills and careers and "real" relationships and finding a Purpose or Calling in Life. It also thoughtfully addresses issues of socioeconomics, race, identity, and social media (among others). Some of the scenes are heartwarming, though I really wouldn't call this a feel-good or fluffy read.
While there are some tropey and otherwise predictable developments, Choi's execution makes them still satisfying. The characters are all flawed but mostly well-meaning, which makes the narrative easy to buy into even at its extremes. There are real consequences and fallout, but there are also second (even third) chances.
I was particularly surprised by how much I liked the ending — without getting into spoilers, it wasn't quite what I was expecting but it felt well-earned, a good note to end on without being too cheesy or unrealistic.
-----------
CONVERSION: 11.2 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: N/A
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 4 / 5