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888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers
A love letter to Western pop culture and Eastern traditions, this is a dazzling debut that reminds us that luck only gets us so far when it comes to matters of the heart.
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews
May 13, 2024
And, you thought Seinfeld was about nothing!
Meet Young Wang, an American Born Chinese guy who's happy to tell you all about the loves of his life, be they music, movies, or girls. What follows are play lists, and accounts of which girl Young did what with, and . . . that's about it.
There are pages of undedicated dialogue, leaving the reader to guess which girl Young is speaking with this time. Is it Gina or Erena? It's virtually impossible to tell as all the characters in this book speak in super cool, well-thought-out quips about eighties and nineties pop culture.
I ended up putting the book in the Young Adult section of the library where I work, as I suspect this will appeal mostly to readers under the age of thirty.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC.
Meet Young Wang, an American Born Chinese guy who's happy to tell you all about the loves of his life, be they music, movies, or girls. What follows are play lists, and accounts of which girl Young did what with, and . . . that's about it.
There are pages of undedicated dialogue, leaving the reader to guess which girl Young is speaking with this time. Is it Gina or Erena? It's virtually impossible to tell as all the characters in this book speak in super cool, well-thought-out quips about eighties and nineties pop culture.
I ended up putting the book in the Young Adult section of the library where I work, as I suspect this will appeal mostly to readers under the age of thirty.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC.
February 27, 2024
“It’s comforting to think that God, the universe, has a divine plan. But would you ever really know? The way set before you - every possible turn, every door? Not in this lifetime! All you have for certain is you. Hope and faith are what you shape from it. Hope and faith without action is useless! Dead!” I am REELING over this book!!! It felt very very Scott Pilgrim in the way that Erena just gives the same manic pixie dream girl energy as Ramona (minus the underage part thank the lord) and kind of in how Young has to defeat the memories/emotions from his 5 previous loves - but I wouldn’t DARE pigeonhole this into being just that. It’s a literary masterpiece touching on the Chinese American experience, pop culture, struggling with undiagnosed OCD, and being 20 and in love and having no fucking idea of what direction you’re supposed to be going in. I loved it so much, I feel like when I read a fictional novel that’s like “this is a love story!” *coughs Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow coughs*, like 9/10 times it’s less about a love story and more about a person’s journey. THIS is a love story. Huge colossal massive banger 888/10.
dnf
June 12, 2024dnf
if you are into gen x nostalgia, look no further. we are introduced to a female character who is beyond unbelievable. while i'm open to variations of the manic pixie girl trope, chang takes it to another level (her quirky and brusque manner, meant to signal her uniqueness, often comes across as obnoxious and overly contrived—anyway, this girl was clearly the product of a male creator). the dialogues in general were unconvincing as well so i've decided to call it quits early on. if you are interested in this book pls check out more positive reviews.
if you are into gen x nostalgia, look no further. we are introduced to a female character who is beyond unbelievable. while i'm open to variations of the manic pixie girl trope, chang takes it to another level (her quirky and brusque manner, meant to signal her uniqueness, often comes across as obnoxious and overly contrived—anyway, this girl was clearly the product of a male creator). the dialogues in general were unconvincing as well so i've decided to call it quits early on. if you are interested in this book pls check out more positive reviews.
May 4, 2024
The dream sequences, obnoxious GF Erena, the too-long everything... nope.
The writing felt so contrived. You don't need to pack every 90s trend into a story to make it seem "real".
The writing felt so contrived. You don't need to pack every 90s trend into a story to make it seem "real".
May 17, 2024
The wink is devastating.
(My heart, My heart)
888, bangbangbang, 888
loveable chaos (pronounced kay-oss)
(My heart, My heart)
888, bangbangbang, 888
loveable chaos (pronounced kay-oss)
February 14, 2024
Not at all what was expecting when started reading this book on all the good, bad and magical meaning of numbers throughout the story. Plus having flashbacks to all things 90s including music, movies and pager codes...agh!
May 13, 2024
***EDIT***
Bumped up after discussion with my wife
I got major ick at beginning of the chapters with Erena, but then because chapters are so long I forgot about the ick. But then it turned kind of endearing 🤔 good ending. I think I’m confused on how I feel…
Bumped up after discussion with my wife
I got major ick at beginning of the chapters with Erena, but then because chapters are so long I forgot about the ick. But then it turned kind of endearing 🤔 good ending. I think I’m confused on how I feel…
Read
May 10, 2024No rating. Stopped at 10%. I found it irritatingly cutesy. It has all the things I should love, but I don't.
May 13, 2024
The girls that get it, get it.
May 12, 2024
This book is tchotchke; it is a tsunami of nostalgia.
Golly I love a “busy” book- page breaks, music highlights, lists, emails, pager code & parentheses- all of it.
The entire novel was very me coded! I haven’t had someone perfectly verbalize my relationship with numbers & my love for 8s. I was smitten with the banter & weird.
(it did sometimes ramble on a bit but who doesn’t???)
“You say you’ll tie the knot when you both make your first million- or at least are able to upgrade the toyota.”
Me AF, it me.
I loved loved loved the ending.
(My heart. My heart)
p.s if you think my review is long & all over the place then don’t even pick up the book because the chapters are even longer, but it is only eight chapters sooo… maybe do it.
Golly I love a “busy” book- page breaks, music highlights, lists, emails, pager code & parentheses- all of it.
The entire novel was very me coded! I haven’t had someone perfectly verbalize my relationship with numbers & my love for 8s. I was smitten with the banter & weird.
(it did sometimes ramble on a bit but who doesn’t???)
“You say you’ll tie the knot when you both make your first million- or at least are able to upgrade the toyota.”
Me AF, it me.
I loved loved loved the ending.
(My heart. My heart)
p.s if you think my review is long & all over the place then don’t even pick up the book because the chapters are even longer, but it is only eight chapters sooo… maybe do it.
April 28, 2024
3.5 rounded up
A delightfully quirky coming of age debut featuring a young Chinese American man living in 1990s New York City and his obsession with finding meaning in numbers.
When Young Wang is told that everyone gets only 7 true loves in their lives he is put into a mental quandry contemplating that the sixth woman he falls for and believes is his "one" might not be if he still has one more to come.
Good on audio narrated by Eunice Wong, this was a well written and really interesting love story that leaves readers with three possible epilogue endings.
The book also explores choice vs destiny and the idea of “fated mates” and would make a really great book club pick sure to spark tons of conversations.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: OCD
A delightfully quirky coming of age debut featuring a young Chinese American man living in 1990s New York City and his obsession with finding meaning in numbers.
When Young Wang is told that everyone gets only 7 true loves in their lives he is put into a mental quandry contemplating that the sixth woman he falls for and believes is his "one" might not be if he still has one more to come.
Good on audio narrated by Eunice Wong, this was a well written and really interesting love story that leaves readers with three possible epilogue endings.
The book also explores choice vs destiny and the idea of “fated mates” and would make a really great book club pick sure to spark tons of conversations.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: OCD
September 19, 2024
I’m not convinced the author has ever paid attention in a conversation with a woman before because the dialogue he writes for all women in this book was outrageously unbelievable. One of the main characters Erena is insufferable pixie manic dream girl and every other sentence she speaks ends in an exclamation mark.
Some of the 90s nostalgic elements and flashbacks to grade school were pleasant but otherwise I spent so much of the book feeling shocked at the unrealistic dialogue.
I was so excited about this book from the cover and description but i did not have a good time :(
Some of the 90s nostalgic elements and flashbacks to grade school were pleasant but otherwise I spent so much of the book feeling shocked at the unrealistic dialogue.
I was so excited about this book from the cover and description but i did not have a good time :(
April 17, 2024
ARC gifted by the publisher. ALC gifted by librofm & Macmillan audio
Young Wang has received plenty of wisdom from his beloved uncle (Su Su), and one sticks with him the most: everyone gets just 7 great loves in their life—so don't blow it. Young meticulously analyzes everything in his life, driven by Chinese numerology and superstition. When he falls in love with the brilliant & charismatic Erena in 1995, Young realizes she's her 6th love. Is Erena the one? How will Young's superstitions affect their relationship?
888 is a coming-of-age story that will have 80s/90s babies nostalgic with its pop culture references. While I only sometimes got the music/movie connections, I was utterly impressed with this unique Chinese/Taiwanese immigrant story that doesn't rely on ANY stereotypes. Young's shyness & romanticism, Su Su's free-spirited demeanor, Erena's NSFW humor, and Young's supportive family, 888 demonstrate the joys, wonders, and awkwardness of growing up with loving friends & families.
Chang's skills as a poet shine through in 888, where second-person narratives, non-linear writing, and Su Su's advice written in letters alternate to deliver an experimental reading experience. For those wondering if the writing style will work for you, I highly recommend the brilliantly narrated audiobook by Eunice Wong.
I absolutely love the ending. Who would've thought a coming-of-age story about finding your one great love would make a grumpy 30-something tear up? I adore the message that our lives go on even if the story ends. Chang does something fascinating stylistically to demonstrate that while we are all the protagonists in our journey, others in our lives aren't just side characters either. The ending brims with tenderness and earnestness and makes me wish I had grown up in the US (something that NEVER happens when I read Asian immigrant stories for obvious reasons lol).
Clocking at 400 pages, it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of 888, and I wish the book were shorter, but the ending is so worth the build-up. For those looking for a unique narrative with experimental writing on growing up Asian in the 90s, don't miss 888!
Young Wang has received plenty of wisdom from his beloved uncle (Su Su), and one sticks with him the most: everyone gets just 7 great loves in their life—so don't blow it. Young meticulously analyzes everything in his life, driven by Chinese numerology and superstition. When he falls in love with the brilliant & charismatic Erena in 1995, Young realizes she's her 6th love. Is Erena the one? How will Young's superstitions affect their relationship?
888 is a coming-of-age story that will have 80s/90s babies nostalgic with its pop culture references. While I only sometimes got the music/movie connections, I was utterly impressed with this unique Chinese/Taiwanese immigrant story that doesn't rely on ANY stereotypes. Young's shyness & romanticism, Su Su's free-spirited demeanor, Erena's NSFW humor, and Young's supportive family, 888 demonstrate the joys, wonders, and awkwardness of growing up with loving friends & families.
Chang's skills as a poet shine through in 888, where second-person narratives, non-linear writing, and Su Su's advice written in letters alternate to deliver an experimental reading experience. For those wondering if the writing style will work for you, I highly recommend the brilliantly narrated audiobook by Eunice Wong.
I absolutely love the ending. Who would've thought a coming-of-age story about finding your one great love would make a grumpy 30-something tear up? I adore the message that our lives go on even if the story ends. Chang does something fascinating stylistically to demonstrate that while we are all the protagonists in our journey, others in our lives aren't just side characters either. The ending brims with tenderness and earnestness and makes me wish I had grown up in the US (something that NEVER happens when I read Asian immigrant stories for obvious reasons lol).
Clocking at 400 pages, it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of 888, and I wish the book were shorter, but the ending is so worth the build-up. For those looking for a unique narrative with experimental writing on growing up Asian in the 90s, don't miss 888!
May 8, 2024
I feel like the answer to my review must be 42.
I’m torn, I really loved the nostalgia, it was like a trip down memory lane, and really liked the characters. But the non-linear timeline and the actual burden of the amount of numbers was A LOT. The narration was great. I wish there was a more definitive ending and if it was like 25% shorter, it would’ve been so much better and cleaned up much of the lulls here.
I’m torn, I really loved the nostalgia, it was like a trip down memory lane, and really liked the characters. But the non-linear timeline and the actual burden of the amount of numbers was A LOT. The narration was great. I wish there was a more definitive ending and if it was like 25% shorter, it would’ve been so much better and cleaned up much of the lulls here.
April 25, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the main character and all the 90’s references. This is a great nostalgia read. I had a hard time following the multiple timelines and I found Young’s love interest, Erena, to be really obnoxious. This book also felt too long, and I got lost trying to track some of the details.
Thank you to Flatiron for my ARC!
Thank you to Flatiron for my ARC!
June 7, 2024
You can buy and sell me with most anything 90’s nostalgia. I’m a Gen X nerd like that.
This book is terrific. Absolutely loved it!
It’s a love story to John Hughes.
It’s the Chinese coming of age movie John Hughes never got to make.
This book is terrific. Absolutely loved it!
It’s a love story to John Hughes.
It’s the Chinese coming of age movie John Hughes never got to make.
December 29, 2023
I loved this book from the start! Watching Young's character develop throughout his relationship with Erena, coupled with their witty back-and-forth banter, was fun to read. I enjoyed revisiting Young's past loves, and heartbreaks. The references to 90's pop culture were awesome! Made me want to look for old mix tapes of my own to see what songs I chose to mark important periods of my life.
Chang's book was poetry to read--the emotions Young experiences, wanting to remain where you are because it feels "right," wanting/needing signs to confirm you are choosing the correct path; the story is universal. Hopefully for everyone, so is someone pointing out that you need to move forward and continue to learn new things about yourself and the world.
While Chang writes about universal experiences, the story he writes is definitely unique (especially the ending, full of choices for Young!). I highly recommend this touching story full of humor, pop culture, and genuine emotion. Thank you to FlatIron Books for the ARC of this book to end the year!
Chang's book was poetry to read--the emotions Young experiences, wanting to remain where you are because it feels "right," wanting/needing signs to confirm you are choosing the correct path; the story is universal. Hopefully for everyone, so is someone pointing out that you need to move forward and continue to learn new things about yourself and the world.
While Chang writes about universal experiences, the story he writes is definitely unique (especially the ending, full of choices for Young!). I highly recommend this touching story full of humor, pop culture, and genuine emotion. Thank you to FlatIron Books for the ARC of this book to end the year!
June 9, 2024
“888” is a very odd but entertaining story about love as we follow number-obsessed Young Wang: a 90’s college-bound kid who’s in his eighth relationship with the sweet and spontaneous Erena. While we follow their relationship, we learn about Young’s past experiences with romance and the funny letters he gets from his traveling Uncle Su Su.
Chang’s novel is a unique read as we have a unique protagonist, romance fate as the theme and a lot of numbers with some 90’s nostalgia included. My favorite parts were seeing Young and Erena’s relationship grow and his quirky uncle’s travels. While reading his past experiences are interesting, it can get a bit dull and unusual. A solid romance that shows that love isn’t always about finding a date with fate. B (75%/Good)
Chang’s novel is a unique read as we have a unique protagonist, romance fate as the theme and a lot of numbers with some 90’s nostalgia included. My favorite parts were seeing Young and Erena’s relationship grow and his quirky uncle’s travels. While reading his past experiences are interesting, it can get a bit dull and unusual. A solid romance that shows that love isn’t always about finding a date with fate. B (75%/Good)
August 21, 2024
p. 131 A little kindness goes a long way! We shared some food, drinks, laughs and wished each other good fortune.
I loved this book, it was so different! Chapters are written in first person when describing the past and omniscient narrator when describing the present. The time frame is the 1990s. There are loads of song references from that era-so very cool! There are many movie references, too. There are a few humorous segments where famous directors sit down and have conversations about Young. Imaginative!
I loved the characters of Young (the protagonist), SuSu (his uncle), Erena (his girlfriend) and Vicky (his tour guide while in China). All of them are lovable and kind. And Young repeatedly underscores the things that touch his heart by stating that he loves them. The author makes a clever choice of setting up a "choose your own adventure" of sorts at the end of the book. He offers three conclusions at the end. I chose the first one! Which did you choose?
Young believes in the power of numbers. He is very superstitious about numbers and sometimes his culture contributes to this. He is portrayed as suffering from OCD. Personally, I think it is mild for him. He is just trying to get things organized in his (young) head!
Congratulations to the author who states in the end papers that he was in the publishing world for several years and took a chance to come to the "other side" and write a book of his own. I am so glad that he did, so entertaining! (Lots of times descriptions in the book reminded me of the sitcom: Fresh off the boat. I loved that show...it was both hilarious and educational.)
I loved this book, it was so different! Chapters are written in first person when describing the past and omniscient narrator when describing the present. The time frame is the 1990s. There are loads of song references from that era-so very cool! There are many movie references, too. There are a few humorous segments where famous directors sit down and have conversations about Young. Imaginative!
I loved the characters of Young (the protagonist), SuSu (his uncle), Erena (his girlfriend) and Vicky (his tour guide while in China). All of them are lovable and kind. And Young repeatedly underscores the things that touch his heart by stating that he loves them. The author makes a clever choice of setting up a "choose your own adventure" of sorts at the end of the book. He offers three conclusions at the end. I chose the first one! Which did you choose?
Young believes in the power of numbers. He is very superstitious about numbers and sometimes his culture contributes to this. He is portrayed as suffering from OCD. Personally, I think it is mild for him. He is just trying to get things organized in his (young) head!
Congratulations to the author who states in the end papers that he was in the publishing world for several years and took a chance to come to the "other side" and write a book of his own. I am so glad that he did, so entertaining! (Lots of times descriptions in the book reminded me of the sitcom: Fresh off the boat. I loved that show...it was both hilarious and educational.)
May 13, 2024
hmmm ok
resonated a LOT at times oof 😔
resonated a LOT at times oof 😔
March 6, 2025
The cover of this book is really fantastic — it instantly caught my eye in the bookstore. Sadly, the cover is the best thing about the book. I do really like the premise/concept of the book which is why it’s so unfortunate that the writing and characters were as contrived and enjoyable as they were. The character Erena in particular, was a VERY hard read (unbearable even). The pacing was all off, and the book could’ve done with being a lot shorter. And of note: clearly written by a male with a manic pixie dream girl fantasy.
April 22, 2024
This spoke to my Gen X heart and my own love of fun/memorable numbers. Young and his love of music, movies and numbers as well as his five great loves leading up to Erena, who is the non magical number of six. Watching their relationship grow, as well as Young's relationships with his childhood friends and his su su, just leads to a read that will grab your heart. And, that ending!
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
ETA: Staff Pick: 5/24
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
ETA: Staff Pick: 5/24
May 8, 2024
I just read "888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers" by Abaham Chang. This is literary fiction, a fictional memoir of an American born Chinese (ABC) man named Young Wang. It is set in the 1990s in New York state near NYC.
In many ways, this book reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut's books. I read all of his novels when I was in college in the late 80s. They had a lot of stream of consciousness and tangents, and that's what I found so similar to this book. Young is a thinker and a talker.
This book goes back in time for Young to tell the stories of his loves, starting in kindergarten. I'm not sure those unrequited crushes count, but they do to him. These past stories alternate with the present day.
There is a lot about the meanings of numbers in this book. Also, I'm not sure if young adults who have never used pagers would understand all the pager references. The pager messages were probably easier to understand visually than auditorily.
Young takes a trip to China, and that was interesting. I really like the character of Erina.
There are 3 alternate endings in the epilogue.. like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. This is unexpected, I'm not a fan. I want the author to make the decision how to end his book.
Eunice Wong is the narrator, and she does well with all the voices and personalities.
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 3/5 slow
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 3.5/5
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Abraham Chang for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
In many ways, this book reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut's books. I read all of his novels when I was in college in the late 80s. They had a lot of stream of consciousness and tangents, and that's what I found so similar to this book. Young is a thinker and a talker.
This book goes back in time for Young to tell the stories of his loves, starting in kindergarten. I'm not sure those unrequited crushes count, but they do to him. These past stories alternate with the present day.
There is a lot about the meanings of numbers in this book. Also, I'm not sure if young adults who have never used pagers would understand all the pager references. The pager messages were probably easier to understand visually than auditorily.
Young takes a trip to China, and that was interesting. I really like the character of Erina.
There are 3 alternate endings in the epilogue.. like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. This is unexpected, I'm not a fan. I want the author to make the decision how to end his book.
Eunice Wong is the narrator, and she does well with all the voices and personalities.
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 3/5 slow
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 3.5/5
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Abraham Chang for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Read
June 26, 2025I don't know how or why I believe this, but "888 Love" was a masterpiece.
Obviously I didn't appreciate the crassness, but somehow Young's character as a dorky, shy, Princess Leia-obsessed Bohemian nerd suffices to keep him in the GOOD MEANING of "boys will be boys." Also, by the time I got to the fourth and fifth loves, I started to run out of stamina (Wendy felt plot-device-y and Su Su and his postcards remind me of my creepy drummer uncle) but that's probably because I basically read this entire book within 24 hours.
People might not be able to get over Young's heart (his heart, his heart) about the first five loves because this is supposed to be a love story about him and Erena only. But if I'm interpreting the book's message correctly, Young's immaturity as he ponders his first five shows that they were as meaningless as they were meaningful, and the author makes it clear that Erena (based on his real-life wife Erica) is THE ONE.
The seamless, effortlessly natural portrayal of growing up Chinese American in Queens, NY was the best I've seen. Hollywood wishes they could monetize "the Asian American experience" this good.
For me, this is one of those books that was meant to be. It was funny, deep, eclectic, multidimensional, unapologetic, and so sweet. It helps me not take myself so seriously, yet love and appreciate my overseriousness. I laughed out loud many times and was 888 happy with the ending (which isn't necessarily happy, but still good). It made me realize that, like everyone I love in my life keep telling me, I don't have to change myself for someone to love me. I can use as many exclamation points as I want and write as freely and unorthodox-ly as I want and wear purple eyeshadow and speak in Konglish and maybe there's someone out there in the world for me who will totally dig that.
Like "Martyr" by Kaveh Akbar but for happier people.
Obviously I didn't appreciate the crassness, but somehow Young's character as a dorky, shy, Princess Leia-obsessed Bohemian nerd suffices to keep him in the GOOD MEANING of "boys will be boys." Also, by the time I got to the fourth and fifth loves, I started to run out of stamina (Wendy felt plot-device-y and Su Su and his postcards remind me of my creepy drummer uncle) but that's probably because I basically read this entire book within 24 hours.
People might not be able to get over Young's heart (his heart, his heart) about the first five loves because this is supposed to be a love story about him and Erena only. But if I'm interpreting the book's message correctly, Young's immaturity as he ponders his first five shows that they were as meaningless as they were meaningful, and the author makes it clear that Erena (based on his real-life wife Erica) is THE ONE.
The seamless, effortlessly natural portrayal of growing up Chinese American in Queens, NY was the best I've seen. Hollywood wishes they could monetize "the Asian American experience" this good.
For me, this is one of those books that was meant to be. It was funny, deep, eclectic, multidimensional, unapologetic, and so sweet. It helps me not take myself so seriously, yet love and appreciate my overseriousness. I laughed out loud many times and was 888 happy with the ending (which isn't necessarily happy, but still good). It made me realize that, like everyone I love in my life keep telling me, I don't have to change myself for someone to love me. I can use as many exclamation points as I want and write as freely and unorthodox-ly as I want and wear purple eyeshadow and speak in Konglish and maybe there's someone out there in the world for me who will totally dig that.
Like "Martyr" by Kaveh Akbar but for happier people.
July 9, 2024
Enjoyed this book, liked the vibes. I’ve seen some people compare it to Scott Pilgrim, which I definitely see the resemblance. It’s got a similar story structure and sense of humor to Scott Pilgrim (without the video game references) while also having similar vibes to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (especially since both books take place in the 90s). Overall a good coming-of-age novel, good to read if you are about to graduate high school or have just graduated high school and you’re figuring out who you want to be.
June 10, 2024
4.5 stars
Simply delightful.
Simply delightful.
Read
September 18, 2024DNF'd. Felt very forced. This came through especially with the romanized Mandarin uses and the abundant references to 1990’s pop culture. I found that it soon became tiresome and trite. This felt like a cishet male’s conceit. It reads like he’s basically making a list but with sentences.
Characters were pan Asian, as intended. And I thought it was gimmicky. The Taiwan Chinese, the Hong Kong Chinese, the South Asian and the Filipina best friends, and others. There's some sort of checklist he's trying to address.
The difference between East Coast vs West Coast Asian Americans could have been intriguing but it was merely referenced.
I couldn’t help but to think that Uncle Su Su, as a character, was also forced (He’s a Casanova who single handedly breaks the worse stereotypes about Asian men. And Chang says he’s Susu as well as all the characters). And Young’s mother seemed so unrealistic.
The writing was technically good. But the storycrafting was flat… flat because of the use of the 2nd-person perspective and because of the dull tone and anemic pacing. I kept wondering where is this all leading to. Then I ultimately tired of wondering. I stopped at 32%, more than the usual 100 pages I give a book. (PS. I read till 34% but then I decided I don’t care about this book.)
I thought the “Books & Boba” podcast interview with Chang was interesting and that’s how I learned about this title. Chang says there’s metatextual things, Easter eggs, and reveals. He used the 2nd person imperative purposely to create discomfort. I can appreciate his intent but I don’t see it (at least not yet) and I don’t want to. I think he should have kept his day job while honing his imagination and perhaps a writing style.
And in some way I feel that it’s good that among the increasing numbers of Asian American titles, there can be ones that are just okay or mediocre/duds.
Characters were pan Asian, as intended. And I thought it was gimmicky. The Taiwan Chinese, the Hong Kong Chinese, the South Asian and the Filipina best friends, and others. There's some sort of checklist he's trying to address.
The difference between East Coast vs West Coast Asian Americans could have been intriguing but it was merely referenced.
I couldn’t help but to think that Uncle Su Su, as a character, was also forced (He’s a Casanova who single handedly breaks the worse stereotypes about Asian men. And Chang says he’s Susu as well as all the characters). And Young’s mother seemed so unrealistic.
The writing was technically good. But the storycrafting was flat… flat because of the use of the 2nd-person perspective and because of the dull tone and anemic pacing. I kept wondering where is this all leading to. Then I ultimately tired of wondering. I stopped at 32%, more than the usual 100 pages I give a book. (PS. I read till 34% but then I decided I don’t care about this book.)
I thought the “Books & Boba” podcast interview with Chang was interesting and that’s how I learned about this title. Chang says there’s metatextual things, Easter eggs, and reveals. He used the 2nd person imperative purposely to create discomfort. I can appreciate his intent but I don’t see it (at least not yet) and I don’t want to. I think he should have kept his day job while honing his imagination and perhaps a writing style.
And in some way I feel that it’s good that among the increasing numbers of Asian American titles, there can be ones that are just okay or mediocre/duds.
March 30, 2024
I was very excited to win this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a story about a young man named Young who lets numbers and the symbolism/meaning he’s assigned to them rule his life…example, he asked his beloved uncle Su Su to leave for his worldwide adventure at exactly 5:30 since this adds to 8 which is Young’s most lucky number.
Young falls in love with Erena, who he thinks is “the one” but is concerned with the fact that she is his 6th love…which isn’t only an unlucky number but Young also believes that he is destined to get only 7 great loves in his life.
In the present we see Young and Erena’s relationship growing, and through flashbacks we get to meet loves 1-5. As the story goes on and we see how perfect for each other Young and Erena are we start to wonder if Young will finally be forced to leave his number superstitions behind, if maybe he’s miscounted, or if Erena isn’t actually his final “888 bangbangbang” love!
I really liked both Young and Erena as characters. This is a bit of a coming of age story where these two lovable “nerds” are learning who they are and who they want to be. My favorite character is Uncle Su Su. He’s a free spirit but also a wise mentor to Young. My favorite advice he gives is: “Don’t be afraid to try new things, to make mistakes. It’s ok to contradict yourself, go a different route—or retrace your steps and try again. There aren’t any video game restarts or playground redos in real life, but never give up on getting things right.”
It was also fun to have it set in the 90s with pagers playing a key part of their story. My only criticism is that it’s a long book! I’m all for character development and details but there were parts I thought just went a little too in depth.
This book was actually written a bit like a screenplay and I could see it being a fun movie that I would totally watch one day.
This is a story about a young man named Young who lets numbers and the symbolism/meaning he’s assigned to them rule his life…example, he asked his beloved uncle Su Su to leave for his worldwide adventure at exactly 5:30 since this adds to 8 which is Young’s most lucky number.
Young falls in love with Erena, who he thinks is “the one” but is concerned with the fact that she is his 6th love…which isn’t only an unlucky number but Young also believes that he is destined to get only 7 great loves in his life.
In the present we see Young and Erena’s relationship growing, and through flashbacks we get to meet loves 1-5. As the story goes on and we see how perfect for each other Young and Erena are we start to wonder if Young will finally be forced to leave his number superstitions behind, if maybe he’s miscounted, or if Erena isn’t actually his final “888 bangbangbang” love!
I really liked both Young and Erena as characters. This is a bit of a coming of age story where these two lovable “nerds” are learning who they are and who they want to be. My favorite character is Uncle Su Su. He’s a free spirit but also a wise mentor to Young. My favorite advice he gives is: “Don’t be afraid to try new things, to make mistakes. It’s ok to contradict yourself, go a different route—or retrace your steps and try again. There aren’t any video game restarts or playground redos in real life, but never give up on getting things right.”
It was also fun to have it set in the 90s with pagers playing a key part of their story. My only criticism is that it’s a long book! I’m all for character development and details but there were parts I thought just went a little too in depth.
This book was actually written a bit like a screenplay and I could see it being a fun movie that I would totally watch one day.
April 4, 2024
A quirky and energetic love story. Young throws his heart into his interests and is an avid movie and music fan. He also believes in the power of numbers and that everyone gets seven loves. When he meets and falls in love with Erena (aka great love number six) he feels like she is the “one” but the thought of great love number seven looms large.
This was a lot of fun - Young is so likable and the novel’s structure keeps things interesting, alternating between Young’s present day with Erena and his past loves.
Thank you very much to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
This was a lot of fun - Young is so likable and the novel’s structure keeps things interesting, alternating between Young’s present day with Erena and his past loves.
Thank you very much to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
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