The ending made me cry. It was so heartbreaking to know the inevitable and still be hit hard by the pain.

What I loved about this book was Frank Li’s strong voice and tone. It’s what drew me in from the first page until the very end. I appreciated how Frank navigates love and the doubt, the uncertainty and certainty, of what it feels like to love someone. However, at times, it felt a little hollow especially when it came to Joy x Frank. They started out so strong only to fizzle out way before their end. I loved the few glimpses of Hannah and I would really like a book about Hannah x Miles and how they challenged the status quo.

What I didn’t like:
• Frank’s sexism
• Mom-n-dad’s prejudice and racism is NEVER confronted (instead they feel shame AFTER a life altering experience)
• hardly no exploration of Frank and Frank Sr. relationship (I was expecting heart-to-heart moments - this would have been a great connection to his Korean heritage)
• Q deserved better - his sexuality seems to be used as an afterthought for diversity

Despite its flaws, I think this is a good book that examines the inherent racism, classism, bias, and prejudice within our families. It also explores what it feels like to live a hyphenated experience as Frank navigates what it means to be Korean-American.