Representation: Asian and Black characters
Trigger warnings: Racism, cheating
Score: Six out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.

This one was okay. I wanted to read A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen for a while but I put it off for a few months, before finally picking it up at a library only a few days ago. The blurb sounded promising, but the ratings were low, so I headed in with low expectations. When I closed the final page, it was okay.

It starts with Liza Yang, a Taiwanese American, living with her controlling mother, seeing her as rebellious compared to her sister, Jeannie, but only because of one subject: traditional values. Liza's mother only wants Liza to date Taiwanese or Chinese men, and no one else. Why? I'm unsure, other than it's a value promoting monoracial marriages. The pacing is slow in the opening pages, and it doesn't pick up steam at any point in the narrative. The characters are likable and have character development, but it wasn't easy to connect or relate to them, especially Liza's second love interest. All the characters lacked depth, so I didn't feel like Liza and her partner had any chemistry, but adding more depth would improve the reading experience.

I like the diversity here, but I keep seeing a lot of Asian American stories, and I'd like to see more outside America, like British Asian and Asian Australian ones. Nothing much happens in the first 160 pages of the story, but the second half is more engaging as I get to see a baking competition, but the contestants are all Asian men. Liza soon realises the true purpose of the bake-off--her mother selected them, hoping Liza would date one of them, and she does. The relationship starts slowly but picks up, but I'd love to see more of the side plots, particularly those about racism and cheating.

I don't get to see why Liza's mother has a tight grip over Liza's life, especially considering she won't allow Liza to play sports (explaining her lack of swimming abilities until the 6th grade,) claiming she could risk tanning her skin and make herself less appealing (she still plays indoor sports behind her back without consequences, though.) It sends a message that Asians have a culture of not playing sports, meaning no swimming culture, soccer culture and so on, perhaps due to systemic racism. Really? I would've enjoyed A Taste for Love more if Liza's mother also changed as a character.… (meer)

Gemarkeerd

Law_Books600 | 7 andere besprekingen | May 16, 2024 |

A Taste for Love door Jennifer Yen

Pretty cute

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hellokirsti | 7 andere besprekingen | Jan 3, 2024 |

Love, Decoded door Jennifer Yen

I adored this read and am so happy I finally got my hands on it! I enjoy book one in this sereis but this emma retelling i loved and adored. I also loved how this book focused so much on the tech industy and app development. I also really loved how this book focused on self discovary and also more on friendship. There is a sneaky romance that thrileld me to no end. I read this book so fast and really thought this book had a nice balance of family, friends, school and romance drama. I really loved this story and loved the caemo we got of the characters from book 1. If you enjoyed tweet cute, def pick this one up! Def a new favorite for me.… (meer)

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lmauro123 | 1 andere bespreking | Dec 28, 2023 |

A Taste for Love door Jennifer Yen

*I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*

I really loved this read. It was such a fun read. I loved the bakery as a setting of this read mixed with competition but also a bachalorette elements that just made me smile. I really loved how this book was about the asisan american culture. I thought this book had a nice balance between sweet but also tackling harder topics. This book had so many side characters and so many romances that just made me smile. I really loved how this book also tackled the summer after high school or but also parent expectation vs child wants. I will def read more by this author in the future.… (meer)

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lmauro123 | 7 andere besprekingen | Dec 28, 2023 |

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