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Next Time Will Be Our Turn
A grandmother tells her granddaughter about her twisty, often surprising, journey to who she is now in this sweeping love story by USA Today bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.
Izzy Chen is dreading her family’s annual Chinese New Year celebration, where they all come together at a Michelin-starred restaurant to flaunt their status and successes in hopes to one up each other. So when her seventy-three-year-old glamorous and formidable grandmother walks in with a stunning woman on her arm and kisses her in front of everyone, it shakes Izzy to her core. She’d always considered herself the black sheep of the family for harboring similar feelings to the ones her Nainai just displayed.
Seeing herself in her teenage granddaughter's struggles with identity and acceptance, Magnolia Chen tells Izzy her own story, of how as a teen she was sent by her Indo-Chinese parents from Jakarta to Los Angeles for her education and fell in love with someone completely forbidden to her by both culture and gender norms—Ellery, an American college student who became Magnolia's best friend and the love of her life. Stretching across decades and continents, Magnolia's star-crossed love story reveals how life can take unexpected turns but ultimately lead you to exactly who you're meant to be.
Izzy Chen is dreading her family’s annual Chinese New Year celebration, where they all come together at a Michelin-starred restaurant to flaunt their status and successes in hopes to one up each other. So when her seventy-three-year-old glamorous and formidable grandmother walks in with a stunning woman on her arm and kisses her in front of everyone, it shakes Izzy to her core. She’d always considered herself the black sheep of the family for harboring similar feelings to the ones her Nainai just displayed.
Seeing herself in her teenage granddaughter's struggles with identity and acceptance, Magnolia Chen tells Izzy her own story, of how as a teen she was sent by her Indo-Chinese parents from Jakarta to Los Angeles for her education and fell in love with someone completely forbidden to her by both culture and gender norms—Ellery, an American college student who became Magnolia's best friend and the love of her life. Stretching across decades and continents, Magnolia's star-crossed love story reveals how life can take unexpected turns but ultimately lead you to exactly who you're meant to be.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2025
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
31 books10k followersJesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair over her latest WIP, she spends her time baking and playing FPS games. Oh, and also being a mom to her two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,616 reviews
August 23, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing this ARC!
Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to settle on a 2.5 star rating for this one. I find myself slightly frustrated because I feel as though I could see the bones of what this story could be, but I feel as though it missed the mark in a lot of instances for me.
Firstly, I found some of the writing to be ever so slightly juvenile, which does make sense in the earlier portion of this book in which our character is 16 years old, but I feel like it carried itself through the rest of this book even when our character advanced in age. There was a questionable age gap at the start of this book (16 and 22), which did make me quite uncomfortable, but I will mention that nothing happened between them at this point (only later when they are both late 20s). Still not a fan of that though.
I feel as though my main qualm with this book was that it was set up to be an epic love story spanning lifetimes, but I feel like there was too much telling and not showing when it came to the foundation of their relationship. This meant that when we were following them throughout their lives, I didn't feel that all encompassing 'love connection' that they kept referring back to, which meant that this didn't the same punch though I think it could've done. To top it all off, I also felt that the ending was quite frustrating, although I do think some people will enjoy it, and it probably is just a personal preference.
Overall:
- writing was juvenile in places (only very minor) but I found it to be overall pretty well written
- their initial love story was not covered in enough depth for me at the start of this book to make it believable towards the end
- I did appreciate the discussions surrounding the patriarchy and misogyny
- I did find myself caring quite deeply for some of the side characters
- it was an incredibly quick and immersive read
- I feel that it had a relatively frustrating ending, although like I said above, it might just be a me issue
Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to settle on a 2.5 star rating for this one. I find myself slightly frustrated because I feel as though I could see the bones of what this story could be, but I feel as though it missed the mark in a lot of instances for me.
Firstly, I found some of the writing to be ever so slightly juvenile, which does make sense in the earlier portion of this book in which our character is 16 years old, but I feel like it carried itself through the rest of this book even when our character advanced in age. There was a questionable age gap at the start of this book (16 and 22), which did make me quite uncomfortable, but I will mention that nothing happened between them at this point (only later when they are both late 20s). Still not a fan of that though.
I feel as though my main qualm with this book was that it was set up to be an epic love story spanning lifetimes, but I feel like there was too much telling and not showing when it came to the foundation of their relationship. This meant that when we were following them throughout their lives, I didn't feel that all encompassing 'love connection' that they kept referring back to, which meant that this didn't the same punch though I think it could've done. To top it all off, I also felt that the ending was quite frustrating, although I do think some people will enjoy it, and it probably is just a personal preference.
Overall:
- writing was juvenile in places (only very minor) but I found it to be overall pretty well written
- their initial love story was not covered in enough depth for me at the start of this book to make it believable towards the end
- I did appreciate the discussions surrounding the patriarchy and misogyny
- I did find myself caring quite deeply for some of the side characters
- it was an incredibly quick and immersive read
- I feel that it had a relatively frustrating ending, although like I said above, it might just be a me issue
June 3, 2025
i have read probably over 2000 books in my lifetime and i think this may just be my favorite.
April 25, 2026
One of my favorite reads of 2026 so far! If you love the storytelling of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you HAVE to read this book. So emotional. I was on the plane when I read the ending of this, but if I were home, I'd have been sobbing.
I loved the second chance vibes and themes of love finding its way back every time. There was so much emotion and heart in this story. I think it's best to go in blind (like I did) with this book—that way the emotional impact cuts much deeper. This is one of those books where the significance of the title finally clicks once you've finished it.
What stood out the most was the familial and sisterly dynamics between Magnolia and Iris. I loved that one of the central messages was how sibling relationships evolve and change as you age. A beautiful love story, of all types of love, all around.
Thank you so much to Berkley for sending me a copy of Next Time Will Be Our Turn. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
I loved the second chance vibes and themes of love finding its way back every time. There was so much emotion and heart in this story. I think it's best to go in blind (like I did) with this book—that way the emotional impact cuts much deeper. This is one of those books where the significance of the title finally clicks once you've finished it.
What stood out the most was the familial and sisterly dynamics between Magnolia and Iris. I loved that one of the central messages was how sibling relationships evolve and change as you age. A beautiful love story, of all types of love, all around.
Thank you so much to Berkley for sending me a copy of Next Time Will Be Our Turn. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
June 30, 2026
*ੈ✩‧₊˚ "𝓦𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓪 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮? 𝓦𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓮𝔃𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓲𝔃𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓱𝓮𝓻?" ‧₊˚🌈✩ ₊˚🫧⊹♡
forget it. forget every sapphic romance you've ever read because none of them live up to this one.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽 🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐
grandma magnolia shows up at a chindo celebration with...*GASP* a GIRLFRIEND. abhorred, her granddaughter izzy confronts her about it, for grandma magnolia to reveal her lore of romance, secrets, and heartbreak that had my HEART CRYING. split between the dual povs of grandma magnolia's past and interludes between magnolia & izzy, this was a bundle of nostalgia, romance, tragedy, and hope. grandma magnolia's storytelling was equal parts heartwarming & heartbreaking, and the lifelong yearning between her and ellery leapt of the page and into my heart 💖
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 ♀️
magnolia ~ bossbitch grandma, closeted bisexual, and uncloseted bisexual. her storytelling style was so cozy, nostalgic, and suspenseful. while she conformed to chindo and hetero societial expectations of her, she transformed into the ultimate male manipulator, sister savior, and lesbian legend. would 100% scissor if lesbian.
ellery ~ kindred spirit and love of magnolia's life. we all know how much you secretly yearned for her you beautiful hoe. a fantastic role model and magnolia'senabler motivator
izzy ~ magnolia's prude granddaughter.
parker ~ lowkey cute for magnolia but ultimately shows you why women > men
erik ~ kill him.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 💫⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆🌈
THE. YEARNING. magnolia & ellery were a bundle of joy and chaos and i was cheering for them all the way. i loved how much they respected each other and how shy magnolia was around her but how ellery inspired her to live her best fking life. sorry but i don't think you're gonna find a sapphic couple that does yearning (and hides it) better.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
ᯓ★ 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 ‧₊˚🌈✩ ₊˚🫧⊹♡
pride read!! also look at that gorgeous summery cover 😍😍😍
forget it. forget every sapphic romance you've ever read because none of them live up to this one.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽 🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐
grandma magnolia shows up at a chindo celebration with...*GASP* a GIRLFRIEND. abhorred, her granddaughter izzy confronts her about it, for grandma magnolia to reveal her lore of romance, secrets, and heartbreak that had my HEART CRYING. split between the dual povs of grandma magnolia's past and interludes between magnolia & izzy, this was a bundle of nostalgia, romance, tragedy, and hope. grandma magnolia's storytelling was equal parts heartwarming & heartbreaking, and the lifelong yearning between her and ellery leapt of the page and into my heart 💖
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 ♀️
magnolia ~ bossbitch grandma, closeted bisexual, and uncloseted bisexual. her storytelling style was so cozy, nostalgic, and suspenseful. while she conformed to chindo and hetero societial expectations of her, she transformed into the ultimate male manipulator, sister savior, and lesbian legend. would 100% scissor if lesbian.
ellery ~ kindred spirit and love of magnolia's life. we all know how much you secretly yearned for her you beautiful hoe. a fantastic role model and magnolia's
izzy ~ magnolia's prude granddaughter.
parker ~ lowkey cute for magnolia but ultimately shows you why women > men
erik ~ kill him.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 💫⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆🌈
THE. YEARNING. magnolia & ellery were a bundle of joy and chaos and i was cheering for them all the way. i loved how much they respected each other and how shy magnolia was around her but how ellery inspired her to live her best fking life. sorry but i don't think you're gonna find a sapphic couple that does yearning (and hides it) better.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
ᯓ★ 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 ‧₊˚🌈✩ ₊˚🫧⊹♡
pride read!! also look at that gorgeous summery cover 😍😍😍
March 30, 2026
This one surprised me. Clearly, I need to start reading synopses before starting books, but maybe some of you are right. Sometimes it's best to go in blind.
I thought this book was going to be set in present day and feature Izzy, but imagine my surprise when it was mostly set in the past, and featuring her Nainai. As with most of Jesse's books, the characters are Chinese Indonesian, or Chindo, like herself. While there are similarities between Chinese diasporas, they are all different, just as people are different.
Sixteen year old Magnolia is sent to LA to go to Pasadena City College before moving on to a four year university. She joins her sister Iris at an apartment in SGV, a hub for all Asians. She thinks she's straight. She's wrong. She falls in love with the first girl she befriends, Ellery. This novel spans their love story, and everything that goes wrong along the way. Not a spoiler: A lot does.
📱 Thank you to Goodreads and Berkley
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
I thought this book was going to be set in present day and feature Izzy, but imagine my surprise when it was mostly set in the past, and featuring her Nainai. As with most of Jesse's books, the characters are Chinese Indonesian, or Chindo, like herself. While there are similarities between Chinese diasporas, they are all different, just as people are different.
Sixteen year old Magnolia is sent to LA to go to Pasadena City College before moving on to a four year university. She joins her sister Iris at an apartment in SGV, a hub for all Asians. She thinks she's straight. She's wrong. She falls in love with the first girl she befriends, Ellery. This novel spans their love story, and everything that goes wrong along the way. Not a spoiler: A lot does.
📱 Thank you to Goodreads and Berkley
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
February 11, 2026
I just want a fabulous gay grandma 😭😭😭
is that too much to ask?
Oh how my teenage girlhood years would have been so different to have Nainai as a grandma.
I ADORED the first 60% of this..
The book is tale of Nainai telling her grand daughter (Izzy) the story of how she met 'the love of her life' and worked out she wasn't straight, after being raised in a conservative indo chinese family in the 90's..
But the second 40% definitely dragged for me, and I lost alot of care factor for the story when I realised how focused on a baby the story was going to be.
It would have been nice to have more time with Izzy at the end of the end of the book too also instead of 1 epilogue.. Because it kinda painted her family out to be pretty fkn awful and that felt a little unresolved?
That combined with the ending (which I kinda didn't like...) made the book a little bit underwhelming in the end, but I still think it was incredible OVERALL?
MANY amazing parts of this story though:
-The fact it was different.
-The successful use of "telling" instead of "showing" because normally that shit ENDS me.
-The Indonesian/Chinese elements, and talking about their culture.
-The discussions around misogyny and being a woman.
-The inner demons Nainai fought with the idea of the patriarchy that was set to oppress her as a strong woman with ambitions.
-I love that it didn't follow traditional story plots or overused tropes.
-I love that it used a style of story telling that was mostly TELLING and not SHOWING, but it worked in this format? Because Nainai is literally TELLING you a story........
-Ellery and Nainai were everything when they were happy 😭😭
"There is nothing lonelier than realizing you are the loneliest person you know"
😭
This legit made me feel all the feels, more than the sad parts of the book tbh. Feeling lonely is the worst.
is that too much to ask?
Oh how my teenage girlhood years would have been so different to have Nainai as a grandma.
I ADORED the first 60% of this..
The book is tale of Nainai telling her grand daughter (Izzy) the story of how she met 'the love of her life' and worked out she wasn't straight, after being raised in a conservative indo chinese family in the 90's..
But the second 40% definitely dragged for me, and I lost alot of care factor for the story when I realised how focused on a baby the story was going to be.
It would have been nice to have more time with Izzy at the end of the end of the book too also instead of 1 epilogue.. Because it kinda painted her family out to be pretty fkn awful and that felt a little unresolved?
That combined with the ending (which I kinda didn't like...) made the book a little bit underwhelming in the end, but I still think it was incredible OVERALL?
MANY amazing parts of this story though:
-The fact it was different.
-The successful use of "telling" instead of "showing" because normally that shit ENDS me.
-The Indonesian/Chinese elements, and talking about their culture.
-The discussions around misogyny and being a woman.
-The inner demons Nainai fought with the idea of the patriarchy that was set to oppress her as a strong woman with ambitions.
-I love that it didn't follow traditional story plots or overused tropes.
-I love that it used a style of story telling that was mostly TELLING and not SHOWING, but it worked in this format? Because Nainai is literally TELLING you a story........
-Ellery and Nainai were everything when they were happy 😭😭
"There is nothing lonelier than realizing you are the loneliest person you know"
😭
This legit made me feel all the feels, more than the sad parts of the book tbh. Feeling lonely is the worst.
June 4, 2025
I am unwell- THAT ENDING! 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Izzy is talking to her beloved grandmother Nainai, who is an accomplished woman in Indonesia. Nainai has just entered the Chinese New Year party with a tall beautiful woman on her arm and shared a public kiss. The scandal!
And so the story jumps back to 1996 when Nainai (whose name is Magnolia) is 16 and following her big sister Iris to Los Angeles. Magnolia is smart but insecure, brilliant but impulsive.
Themes of found family, the bond of sisterhood and a gigantic criticism of patriarchal norms and purity culture, this book has a very ambitious goal to hit and knocks it out of the park. It has elements of romance but is truly, instead, Magnolia’s coming of age story. The themes change and attack culture both in the US and in her homeland. The time jumps are seamless and get right to the heart of the questions we ask… what traditions make sense to carry with us and what is best left behind?
Five stars. I usually reserve fives for books that both surprise me and make me cry. This story is extremely engaging. But seriously, is there a genre Jesse Q Sutano can’t write??
Critics will say… “how corny.” SHUT UP CHEESE HATERS SOME OF US HAVE HEARTS
Thanks to @netgalley and Berkley for the ARC. Book to be published November 11, 2025.
Izzy is talking to her beloved grandmother Nainai, who is an accomplished woman in Indonesia. Nainai has just entered the Chinese New Year party with a tall beautiful woman on her arm and shared a public kiss. The scandal!
And so the story jumps back to 1996 when Nainai (whose name is Magnolia) is 16 and following her big sister Iris to Los Angeles. Magnolia is smart but insecure, brilliant but impulsive.
Themes of found family, the bond of sisterhood and a gigantic criticism of patriarchal norms and purity culture, this book has a very ambitious goal to hit and knocks it out of the park. It has elements of romance but is truly, instead, Magnolia’s coming of age story. The themes change and attack culture both in the US and in her homeland. The time jumps are seamless and get right to the heart of the questions we ask… what traditions make sense to carry with us and what is best left behind?
Five stars. I usually reserve fives for books that both surprise me and make me cry. This story is extremely engaging. But seriously, is there a genre Jesse Q Sutano can’t write??
Critics will say… “how corny.” SHUT UP CHEESE HATERS SOME OF US HAVE HEARTS
Thanks to @netgalley and Berkley for the ARC. Book to be published November 11, 2025.
November 28, 2025
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚༉‧₊˚✧˚₊⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
ੈ♡˳ rating: 4/5 stars
ੈ♡˳ spice rating: n/a (quiet queer love story, not smutty)
ੈ♡˳ summary:
izzy chen is dreading her familys over the top chinese new year dinner, where everyone competes to show off their success. then her glamorous seventy three year old grandma, magnolia, walks in with a woman on her arm and kisses her in front of the whole family. the shock of that moment pushes magnolia to finally tell izzy the truth about her life, starting with being sent from jakarta to los angeles as a teen and falling in love with ellery, a girl she was never supposed to love. across countries and decades, magnolia shares the story of first love, identity, and all the choices that shaped the woman she is now. 
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
okay so first things first, the timeline in this book had my brain doing cartwheels. once you realize that the “present day” sections with izzy are actually set around the 2050s, everything shifts a little. and then you go back to the 90s sections and you are like, bestie i am almost positive people were not texting like that yet. the tech details and dates do not always line up, and that pulled me out of the story a few times.
but once i made peace with the slightly chaotic timeline, i honestly fell in love with this book. it feels like a classic love story wrapped inside a family drama, wrapped inside a queer coming of age, and somehow it works. magnolia completely owned this book for me. i adored reading from the perspective of an older woman looking back on her first love and all the ways she messed up, survived, and kept going. it did not feel like some distant older generation story, it felt intimate and raw and very human.
the way she talks to izzy, trying to help her understand herself without ever fully pushing, made my chest ache a little. you can feel how much magnolia wishes she had been allowed to live more openly when she was young, and how badly she wants something different for her granddaughter. the romance with ellery is soft and devastating at the same time, and even when you know things cannot possibly be simple, you keep hoping for them anyway.
yes the timeline details are messy and i will absolutely die on that hill. but the emotional core is so strong that it still ends up as a four star read for me. it feels like being told a secret family story late at night, where the edges blur a bit but the feelings hit you right in the heart.
ੈ♡˳ tropes:
ꕥ dual timeline
ꕥ intergenerational story
ꕥ sapphic first love
ꕥ forbidden love
ꕥ immigrant experience
ꕥ big messy family drama
ੈ♡˳ rating: 4/5 stars
ੈ♡˳ spice rating: n/a (quiet queer love story, not smutty)
ੈ♡˳ summary:
izzy chen is dreading her familys over the top chinese new year dinner, where everyone competes to show off their success. then her glamorous seventy three year old grandma, magnolia, walks in with a woman on her arm and kisses her in front of the whole family. the shock of that moment pushes magnolia to finally tell izzy the truth about her life, starting with being sent from jakarta to los angeles as a teen and falling in love with ellery, a girl she was never supposed to love. across countries and decades, magnolia shares the story of first love, identity, and all the choices that shaped the woman she is now. 
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
okay so first things first, the timeline in this book had my brain doing cartwheels. once you realize that the “present day” sections with izzy are actually set around the 2050s, everything shifts a little. and then you go back to the 90s sections and you are like, bestie i am almost positive people were not texting like that yet. the tech details and dates do not always line up, and that pulled me out of the story a few times.
but once i made peace with the slightly chaotic timeline, i honestly fell in love with this book. it feels like a classic love story wrapped inside a family drama, wrapped inside a queer coming of age, and somehow it works. magnolia completely owned this book for me. i adored reading from the perspective of an older woman looking back on her first love and all the ways she messed up, survived, and kept going. it did not feel like some distant older generation story, it felt intimate and raw and very human.
the way she talks to izzy, trying to help her understand herself without ever fully pushing, made my chest ache a little. you can feel how much magnolia wishes she had been allowed to live more openly when she was young, and how badly she wants something different for her granddaughter. the romance with ellery is soft and devastating at the same time, and even when you know things cannot possibly be simple, you keep hoping for them anyway.
yes the timeline details are messy and i will absolutely die on that hill. but the emotional core is so strong that it still ends up as a four star read for me. it feels like being told a secret family story late at night, where the edges blur a bit but the feelings hit you right in the heart.
ੈ♡˳ tropes:
ꕥ dual timeline
ꕥ intergenerational story
ꕥ sapphic first love
ꕥ forbidden love
ꕥ immigrant experience
ꕥ big messy family drama
Read
July 6, 2026Framed story of an Indonesian-Chinese woman who falls in love with a US woman while studying abroad, and has to juggle parents, difficult sister, marriage, work, massive social misogyny.
I wasn't entirely there for the framing device, by which the MC tells her story to her 16yo closeted granddaughter. Largely I think because we don't really get any character development for the granddaughter,, she is only there to be talked at, but also because the set-up raises a massive question of how the granddaughter's mother became the way she is. I feel like this might have worked better if it had leaned right into the multigenerational saga it wants to be, and gave all three women page time. However, what I'm saying there is "I wanted more of this story and these characters", so. Magnolia is a compelling narrator and the story is fuelled by feminist rage which propels it along forcefully.
I wasn't entirely there for the framing device, by which the MC tells her story to her 16yo closeted granddaughter. Largely I think because we don't really get any character development for the granddaughter,, she is only there to be talked at, but also because the set-up raises a massive question of how the granddaughter's mother became the way she is. I feel like this might have worked better if it had leaned right into the multigenerational saga it wants to be, and gave all three women page time. However, what I'm saying there is "I wanted more of this story and these characters", so. Magnolia is a compelling narrator and the story is fuelled by feminist rage which propels it along forcefully.
November 11, 2025
What a heartfelt, moving story. I inhaled it and fell in love with all of the characters along the way. Imperfect people making imperfect decisions, and doing the best they can in a world that views them as lesser than…just beautiful. You can tell Jesse Q. Sutanto poured her soul into every word. What a story. ❤️
October 21, 2025
I did not expect this one to hit me as hard as it did. This took me to the extremes of emotion. Laughter and tears.
This is not a romance. It is a love story.
This is basically a coming-of-age account told to a granddaughter that starts in 1995 after her grandmother causes ripples as the undisputed matriarch of the Chen family when she brings a caucasion woman as her date.
We start in Indonesia and then go to LA at 16. We cover first crushes, friendships, complicated sister dynamics, and strained parental relationships.
We then stretch into adulthood and finding your place and freedom - if that’s possible for someone who has been groomed from birth to be a wife first and foremost.
This has a sapphic romance that centres this plot as Magnolia, Meimei, Tulip (all the grandmother) navigates Indonesian patriarchal culture, the insidiousness of heteronormativity, education, and growing up feeling different.
The only thing worse than unrequited love is not realizing you’re in love in the first place. Burying that love so deep inside you that it becomes unrecognizable, even to yourself, then wondering why you are festering from the inside out.
I appreciated how Magnolia struggled with feeling like a fraud with her identity in terms of both culture, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, even daughter and sister and wife.
This is filled with silliness, uncertainty, and raw honesty. It felt like someone was spilling their secrets to me. It read authentically.
“It took years for me to consider what is even the point of being ‘normal’? The only reason to be ‘normal’ is to make everyone else around you comfortable. Putting everyone else, even strangers, before yourself.”
Having read the author’s cosy, funny mysteries; I admit I wasn’t expecting to be ripped apart.
Devastating, but also so perfect.
I did find the epilogue slightly cheesy, but it did feel cathartic.
Physical arc gifted by Atlantic Books.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
This is not a romance. It is a love story.
This is basically a coming-of-age account told to a granddaughter that starts in 1995 after her grandmother causes ripples as the undisputed matriarch of the Chen family when she brings a caucasion woman as her date.
We start in Indonesia and then go to LA at 16. We cover first crushes, friendships, complicated sister dynamics, and strained parental relationships.
We then stretch into adulthood and finding your place and freedom - if that’s possible for someone who has been groomed from birth to be a wife first and foremost.
This has a sapphic romance that centres this plot as Magnolia, Meimei, Tulip (all the grandmother) navigates Indonesian patriarchal culture, the insidiousness of heteronormativity, education, and growing up feeling different.
The only thing worse than unrequited love is not realizing you’re in love in the first place. Burying that love so deep inside you that it becomes unrecognizable, even to yourself, then wondering why you are festering from the inside out.
I appreciated how Magnolia struggled with feeling like a fraud with her identity in terms of both culture, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, even daughter and sister and wife.
This is filled with silliness, uncertainty, and raw honesty. It felt like someone was spilling their secrets to me. It read authentically.
“It took years for me to consider what is even the point of being ‘normal’? The only reason to be ‘normal’ is to make everyone else around you comfortable. Putting everyone else, even strangers, before yourself.”
Having read the author’s cosy, funny mysteries; I admit I wasn’t expecting to be ripped apart.
Devastating, but also so perfect.
I did find the epilogue slightly cheesy, but it did feel cathartic.
Physical arc gifted by Atlantic Books.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
February 14, 2026
Content warnings: homophobia, misogyny, sexism, domestic violence (side character),
Rep: Magnolia (MC) is cis, Indo-Chinese, bisexual (no label used on page, but she likes men and women, so it is an easy deduction). Izzy (semi MC?? it's hard, there was only a few chapters from her POV) is cis, Indo-Chinese, and sapphic (no label used on page).
Side Indo-Chinese character, one cis white lesbian (lesbian also not used on page, but she only dated women, so. Yeah.)
File this under: books that BROKE ME.
That is all.
I cried. A lot.
Rep: Magnolia (MC) is cis, Indo-Chinese, bisexual (no label used on page, but she likes men and women, so it is an easy deduction). Izzy (semi MC?? it's hard, there was only a few chapters from her POV) is cis, Indo-Chinese, and sapphic (no label used on page).
Side Indo-Chinese character, one cis white lesbian (lesbian also not used on page, but she only dated women, so. Yeah.)
File this under: books that BROKE ME.
That is all.
I cried. A lot.
November 11, 2025
"There is nothing lonelier than realizing you are the loneliest person you know"
Oh my heart ❤️
The emotions were palpable, offset by so many LOL moments.
Jesse has outdone herself with this one. This book is in the league with some of my favorite writers such as Taylor Jenkins Reid.
I have been a longtime fan of her books, her genre diversity is impressive but this novel is something so very special.
I loved the Asian representation, I have long been fascinated by Asian culture, most specifically a dedication to strict expectations of their children. This book has amazing coverage and really showcases it.
It is also an amazing love story. I felt all of the emotions deep in my soul.
This story will live in my memory for a long long time.
Oh my heart ❤️
The emotions were palpable, offset by so many LOL moments.
Jesse has outdone herself with this one. This book is in the league with some of my favorite writers such as Taylor Jenkins Reid.
I have been a longtime fan of her books, her genre diversity is impressive but this novel is something so very special.
I loved the Asian representation, I have long been fascinated by Asian culture, most specifically a dedication to strict expectations of their children. This book has amazing coverage and really showcases it.
It is also an amazing love story. I felt all of the emotions deep in my soul.
This story will live in my memory for a long long time.
December 30, 2025
Top contender for the best book I read this year 😭
June 8, 2026
I went into this book convinced I wouldn't be one of the readers crying.
As I type this review, tears are streaming down my face.
I should have known better than to underestimate Jesse Q. Sutanto.
What started as a book I expected to appreciate became a book I felt deeply. While the teenage narrator took me a little while to warm to, Sutanto took me from frustration to outrage, heartbreak, hope, and every emotion in between. Somewhere along the way, I stopped reading about these characters and started caring about them.
This feels very different from the other books I've read by Sutanto, but it showcases the same talent that keeps me coming back to her work. I love the way she naturally weaves cultural insights into her stories. I always come away feeling like I've learned something while being completely immersed in the lives of her characters. Here, those insights are woven into a powerful story about family, love, sacrifice, identity, and the impossible choices people make for the people they love.
I expected to enjoy this book.
I did not expect it to break my heart.
An unforgettable read.
As I type this review, tears are streaming down my face.
I should have known better than to underestimate Jesse Q. Sutanto.
What started as a book I expected to appreciate became a book I felt deeply. While the teenage narrator took me a little while to warm to, Sutanto took me from frustration to outrage, heartbreak, hope, and every emotion in between. Somewhere along the way, I stopped reading about these characters and started caring about them.
This feels very different from the other books I've read by Sutanto, but it showcases the same talent that keeps me coming back to her work. I love the way she naturally weaves cultural insights into her stories. I always come away feeling like I've learned something while being completely immersed in the lives of her characters. Here, those insights are woven into a powerful story about family, love, sacrifice, identity, and the impossible choices people make for the people they love.
I expected to enjoy this book.
I did not expect it to break my heart.
An unforgettable read.
November 10, 2025
This was such a beautiful and moving story. I got teary-eyed during several moments while reading this... Nainai is such a strong person through everything she went through and what she gave up. I loved how she explained her past to open Izzy's eyes to show her that being true to yourself is most important. Stop trying to fit yourself in a box. I absolutely loved this. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, I was laughing, sobbing, then laughing and sobbing again, but I truly enjoyed every moment of this book. Such a touching book that truly helps remind everyone to be who they are and love whoever they love.
I received this ARC from Berkley Publishing Group to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from Berkley Publishing Group to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
May 29, 2025
I have so many thoughts about this book. If you're looking for a romcom or romance, this book isn't that. First off, it takes place in the future, but this is never clarified or explained. Magnolia, who is 73, is telling her 16 year old granddaughter, Izzy, about her romantic history, and she starts when she is 13 in 1995. I am a similar age to Magnolia, according to this timeline, and the references to the '90s are very confusing. Characters are texting and using cell phones, which didn't happen at that time.
At 16, Magnolia is sent from Jakarta to LA to begin at a junior college. She meets a 22 year old woman named Ellery, and they become best friends. Magnolia falls in love with Ellery, and this really creeped me out. I think it's inappropriate for a 16 year and 22 year old to be together, and I couldn't get past that. After Ellery leaves to go to school elsewhere, Magnolia dates James. She meets James when she is 16, and he is 19. He asks her on a date when she turns 18, and this also creeped me out.
Throughout the story, Magnolia tells Izzy about her romances, and eventually, how she marries Izzy's grandfather. So many things happen in this story that broke my heart, and I was hoping for a happy ending, but that ending did not come.
I had issues with how Magnolia treated her husband, Parker, and their relationship didn't work for me. I'm avoiding spoilers, but their storyline made me upset.
If you're looking for a romcom or a romance with a happy ending, this is not that book. Magnolia's story is filled with twists and turns, but overall, it's filled with sadness and the feeling of what could have/might have been. I didn't understand many of Magnolia's choices, and I kept looking for her to justify them.
At 16, Magnolia is sent from Jakarta to LA to begin at a junior college. She meets a 22 year old woman named Ellery, and they become best friends. Magnolia falls in love with Ellery, and this really creeped me out. I think it's inappropriate for a 16 year and 22 year old to be together, and I couldn't get past that. After Ellery leaves to go to school elsewhere, Magnolia dates James. She meets James when she is 16, and he is 19. He asks her on a date when she turns 18, and this also creeped me out.
Throughout the story, Magnolia tells Izzy about her romances, and eventually, how she marries Izzy's grandfather. So many things happen in this story that broke my heart, and I was hoping for a happy ending, but that ending did not come.
I had issues with how Magnolia treated her husband, Parker, and their relationship didn't work for me. I'm avoiding spoilers, but their storyline made me upset.
If you're looking for a romcom or a romance with a happy ending, this is not that book. Magnolia's story is filled with twists and turns, but overall, it's filled with sadness and the feeling of what could have/might have been. I didn't understand many of Magnolia's choices, and I kept looking for her to justify them.
November 15, 2025
Going in, this book showed so much promise, but in the end, I thought too many odd choices were made for me to truly love it. There's genuinely a lot to love about this, but that's also where my disappointment stems from, that I just wanted more from it. I thought the choice to have the narrator tell her story to her granddaughter, set in the future, wasn't used to its full potential, and we never find out enough context or information about the granddaughter or her family, so the impact of the story didn't fully land for me. The ending felt very rushed and minimally fleshed out, so it didn't have the full emotional impact on me that it could have had. For the most part, the narration about Magnolia's life felt slow and because of that, it felt boring a lot of the time. I just wanted things to speed up a little. Then at the end, so much was left that still needed to be told, some of which was glossed over and some of which never came up again. Ultimately, I just hoped for more from this.
April 22, 2026
this book is the equivalent of a diary written by a 12 year old
it's lesbian visibility week!! whoop whoop
it's lesbian visibility week!! whoop whoop
June 8, 2026
This book is aggressively mid and also poorly structured and researched.
October 22, 2025
*** 10/22/25 *** I loved the first 40% & last 30% of this book (mostly), and thought the concept of having the whole book based on a conversation between the Grandma and the granddaughter was a good one. I also loved that popular author Sutanto (I've read all her books) has a great platform to tackle an accessible / mainstream novel about LGBTQ journeys and acceptance - it definitely accomplishes that goal in a touching, but ultimately unsatisfying, way for this reader.
Sutanto is a master of tying Indo-Chinese "Chindo" people and culture together with California, which makes her writing relatable to US readers while also incorporating her personal culture.
While this book absolutely addresses women's journeys to access their power (like all of Sutanto's books), it does so in a much more serious nature for much of the book, which felt contrary to Sutanto's usual enjoyable super modern, flippant but fun writing style.
As a result of those choices, I had to force myself through the middle 30% Jakarta-based section of the book due to its uncomfortable (and expected/predictable?) plot line, even though that plot line may be very honest and representative of Chindo culture for women. It felt a little Colleen Hoover to me and I don't mean that as a compliment. I wish this section had been reduced greatly, which I think could have been done without losing the messaging.
As for the last 30%, I felt it was rushed (could have easily been the bulk of the book), and could have gone in a *much different* direction without messing up the purpose/messaging of the book. If you read the book you will get this.
So ultimately we have a story about different types of love, regrets, making choices, capturing your power, and yes, romance. But not a story that entirely satisfies. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley, for providing this free book in exchange for my honest review.
*** 10/14/25 *** Approved by NetGalley for this LGBTQ mass-market friendly novel, with Sutanto's classic Indo-Chinese characters tying into American culture and life. I appreciate that Sutanto is creating a novel that feels very accessible about queer romance without spice. Review coming soon.
Sutanto is a master of tying Indo-Chinese "Chindo" people and culture together with California, which makes her writing relatable to US readers while also incorporating her personal culture.
While this book absolutely addresses women's journeys to access their power (like all of Sutanto's books), it does so in a much more serious nature for much of the book, which felt contrary to Sutanto's usual enjoyable super modern, flippant but fun writing style.
As a result of those choices, I had to force myself through the middle 30% Jakarta-based section of the book due to its uncomfortable (and expected/predictable?) plot line, even though that plot line may be very honest and representative of Chindo culture for women. It felt a little Colleen Hoover to me and I don't mean that as a compliment. I wish this section had been reduced greatly, which I think could have been done without losing the messaging.
As for the last 30%, I felt it was rushed (could have easily been the bulk of the book), and could have gone in a *much different* direction without messing up the purpose/messaging of the book. If you read the book you will get this.
So ultimately we have a story about different types of love, regrets, making choices, capturing your power, and yes, romance. But not a story that entirely satisfies. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley, for providing this free book in exchange for my honest review.
*** 10/14/25 *** Approved by NetGalley for this LGBTQ mass-market friendly novel, with Sutanto's classic Indo-Chinese characters tying into American culture and life. I appreciate that Sutanto is creating a novel that feels very accessible about queer romance without spice. Review coming soon.
February 4, 2026
┆ ┆ ┆ ┆ ┆
┆ ┆ ࣪ ˖☆ ࣪⭑┆ ݁˖ .☆ . ݁ ˖
☆⊹ ࣪ ┆ ˖ ࣪2.75 stars⊹ ࣪ ★ ⋆.˚ ⊹ ࣪
࣪ ˖⋆˚★ ₊ ⊹ ࣪˖ ࣪ ₊ ࣪ ˖
. ݁ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ࣪ ˖
୨ᰔ୧ I thought this book would hit a lot harder than it did, and honestly… it didn’t. I didn’t hate it. I even liked parts of it especially the queer elements but overall, it left me more frustrated than satisfied.
୨ᰔ୧ My biggest issue is the very obvious double standard in the way the book treats age-gap dynamics. When an 18-year-old guy is pursuing a 16-year-old girl, it’s (rightfully) framed as uncomfortable and icky, especially with the emphasis on him waiting until she turns 18 to date her. But when the same situation involves two girls, the narrative suddenly softens. It’s treated as tender, almost harmless even though the older girl actively breaks up with her girlfriend because of her feelings for a 16-year-old.
୨ᰔ୧ Yes, they don’t actually date while she’s underage, so I understand the technical difference. But the shift in tone is still very noticeable and didn’t sit right with me. One situation is condemned, the other is quietly excused, and that inconsistency really bothered me.
୨ᰔ୧ That said, the book isn’t bad. I liked the concept, and I appreciated that it didn’t force a fully happy ending. The death genuinely hurt. though, as a queer reader, it’s hard not to notice the recurring trend of queer stories ending in loss. It’s exhausting at this point.
I also loved the sister. She was also a compelling person in the story, and her storyline actually made me feel something.
୨ᰔ୧ Overall, this book is… fine. It has good ideas, decent moments, and clear potential, but it ultimately fell flat for me. By the end, I was more like, okay, that’s it? than anything else. Not terrible just kind of boring.
┆ ┆ ࣪ ˖☆ ࣪⭑┆ ݁˖ .☆ . ݁ ˖
☆⊹ ࣪ ┆ ˖ ࣪2.75 stars⊹ ࣪ ★ ⋆.˚ ⊹ ࣪
࣪ ˖⋆˚★ ₊ ⊹ ࣪˖ ࣪ ₊ ࣪ ˖
. ݁ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ࣪ ˖
୨ᰔ୧ I thought this book would hit a lot harder than it did, and honestly… it didn’t. I didn’t hate it. I even liked parts of it especially the queer elements but overall, it left me more frustrated than satisfied.
୨ᰔ୧ My biggest issue is the very obvious double standard in the way the book treats age-gap dynamics. When an 18-year-old guy is pursuing a 16-year-old girl, it’s (rightfully) framed as uncomfortable and icky, especially with the emphasis on him waiting until she turns 18 to date her. But when the same situation involves two girls, the narrative suddenly softens. It’s treated as tender, almost harmless even though the older girl actively breaks up with her girlfriend because of her feelings for a 16-year-old.
୨ᰔ୧ Yes, they don’t actually date while she’s underage, so I understand the technical difference. But the shift in tone is still very noticeable and didn’t sit right with me. One situation is condemned, the other is quietly excused, and that inconsistency really bothered me.
୨ᰔ୧ That said, the book isn’t bad. I liked the concept, and I appreciated that it didn’t force a fully happy ending. The death genuinely hurt. though, as a queer reader, it’s hard not to notice the recurring trend of queer stories ending in loss. It’s exhausting at this point.
I also loved the sister. She was also a compelling person in the story, and her storyline actually made me feel something.
୨ᰔ୧ Overall, this book is… fine. It has good ideas, decent moments, and clear potential, but it ultimately fell flat for me. By the end, I was more like, okay, that’s it? than anything else. Not terrible just kind of boring.
November 10, 2025
Thank you @berkleyromance @berkleypub @prhaudio for the ARC + ALC ♡
Highly recommend. I can’t believe this is my first book from @jesseqsutanto. No one told me I was going to end up a basket case. 😭😭😭
I felt like I was right there with Magnolia. When she lands in LAX, a 16yo Indonesian Chinese FOB (fresh off the boat).
Embracing her independence while being scared of failing at the same time. Believing she is straight because that’s what she is supposed to be. Unrequited love, attending community college, eating tacos for the first time! 🌮
I laughed and I cried for Tulip’s love story, as well as the love of sisters, and the longing to belong, to find oneself, managing familial expectations.
Although technically dual POV, the majority of the story is told from NaiNai (grandma)’s perspective, of her own coming of age story.
I have to admit I fell in love with Ellery myself.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Emily Woo Zeller and Louisa Zhu made me feel every emotion deep in my soul. Audio is the way to go!
TW: Domestic Abuse (off page), Sexism, Misogyny, Homophobia
Highly recommend. I can’t believe this is my first book from @jesseqsutanto. No one told me I was going to end up a basket case. 😭😭😭
I felt like I was right there with Magnolia. When she lands in LAX, a 16yo Indonesian Chinese FOB (fresh off the boat).
Embracing her independence while being scared of failing at the same time. Believing she is straight because that’s what she is supposed to be. Unrequited love, attending community college, eating tacos for the first time! 🌮
I laughed and I cried for Tulip’s love story, as well as the love of sisters, and the longing to belong, to find oneself, managing familial expectations.
Although technically dual POV, the majority of the story is told from NaiNai (grandma)’s perspective, of her own coming of age story.
I have to admit I fell in love with Ellery myself.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Emily Woo Zeller and Louisa Zhu made me feel every emotion deep in my soul. Audio is the way to go!
TW: Domestic Abuse (off page), Sexism, Misogyny, Homophobia
November 18, 2025
I didn’t read the synopsis and expected something totally different from the cover. This was a beautiful story of family, tradition, and being true to yourself.
June 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Writing this review with tears in my eyes at that ending *wipes face*
This story felt like a gift from one woman to another. It was beautiful and funny but more importantly it was honest and reflective at every turn.
What makes a book special to me is when it gives you something to walk away with and this book gave me that. I have so much highlighted, so many thoughts in my head and I was able to learn about a culture that wasn’t mine and see a perspective I haven’t had all while also being able to relate so much. And it was done so well.
⭐️ Characters - I thought all of the characters were written well. The dynamics between them all felt tangible. It was very easy to connect to them and their circumstances and differences.
⭐️ Plot - I loved the way this plot was set up, a grandmother telling her grandchild her life story by mouth and letters. It was great to see how it progressed and the ending had me in all my feelings. However, I do wish Izzy’s character (the granddaughter) was able to offer a bit more to the story/plot when things were in her perspective. I think that felt lacking at the end.
⭐️ Writing - I’m a big fan of this author’s writing style, it’s my first book by her but I can tell I’d like others. Everything flowed nicely, there were some really stunning quotes in there and the emotions read vividly. Very digestible writing.
⭐️ Themes - Sign me up for a book when feminism, cultural issues, family dynamics, trailblazing and love is at its core like this one.
☔️ So what kept this from a five star rating?
- Magnolia’s voice. For me personally, it was very hard to buy into the fact that a grandmother was telling this story. The voice felt very young, very modern and it was indistinguishable from Izzy’s voice. I do not mind cursing in books, but this grandmother and her 16 year old granddaughter cursed so much I ended up a bit annoyed.
- The lack of Izzy’s story throughout when it seemed she was meant to be such an important part of it all. It would have been great to see more of her and her thoughts.
- The age gap. It was something I really didn’t like from the beginning and it did stop me from fully connecting with that romance for the first half of the book or so. I felt like the ages of either love interest could have been changed for a smaller more appropriate gap (in that very sensitive age period) and the book would have still been completely fine. I just really couldn’t buy into the connection between a 16 and 22 year old (regardless if nothing physically happened) and got hung up on that. This would have been a 4 if not for this age gap.
⭐️ Overall, I do recommend this! Though I can see that age gap being a turn off for many (like me) the story outside of that is really gorgeous. There’s a lot to take away from this and I can see so many enjoying it.
Writing this review with tears in my eyes at that ending *wipes face*
This story felt like a gift from one woman to another. It was beautiful and funny but more importantly it was honest and reflective at every turn.
What makes a book special to me is when it gives you something to walk away with and this book gave me that. I have so much highlighted, so many thoughts in my head and I was able to learn about a culture that wasn’t mine and see a perspective I haven’t had all while also being able to relate so much. And it was done so well.
⭐️ Characters - I thought all of the characters were written well. The dynamics between them all felt tangible. It was very easy to connect to them and their circumstances and differences.
⭐️ Plot - I loved the way this plot was set up, a grandmother telling her grandchild her life story by mouth and letters. It was great to see how it progressed and the ending had me in all my feelings. However, I do wish Izzy’s character (the granddaughter) was able to offer a bit more to the story/plot when things were in her perspective. I think that felt lacking at the end.
⭐️ Writing - I’m a big fan of this author’s writing style, it’s my first book by her but I can tell I’d like others. Everything flowed nicely, there were some really stunning quotes in there and the emotions read vividly. Very digestible writing.
⭐️ Themes - Sign me up for a book when feminism, cultural issues, family dynamics, trailblazing and love is at its core like this one.
☔️ So what kept this from a five star rating?
- Magnolia’s voice. For me personally, it was very hard to buy into the fact that a grandmother was telling this story. The voice felt very young, very modern and it was indistinguishable from Izzy’s voice. I do not mind cursing in books, but this grandmother and her 16 year old granddaughter cursed so much I ended up a bit annoyed.
- The lack of Izzy’s story throughout when it seemed she was meant to be such an important part of it all. It would have been great to see more of her and her thoughts.
- The age gap. It was something I really didn’t like from the beginning and it did stop me from fully connecting with that romance for the first half of the book or so. I felt like the ages of either love interest could have been changed for a smaller more appropriate gap (in that very sensitive age period) and the book would have still been completely fine. I just really couldn’t buy into the connection between a 16 and 22 year old (regardless if nothing physically happened) and got hung up on that. This would have been a 4 if not for this age gap.
⭐️ Overall, I do recommend this! Though I can see that age gap being a turn off for many (like me) the story outside of that is really gorgeous. There’s a lot to take away from this and I can see so many enjoying it.
November 4, 2025
So far I’ve read 2 books by Jesse Q. Sutanto and they’ve both been 5 stars. That alone is impressive, but I think the fact that they’re from very different genres shows her range and ability as an author. I absolutely loved this story of an Indo-Chinese grandmother coming out to her family and then regaling her granddaughter with her life story of love, identity, family, friendship, education, and so much more.
Magnolia was such an interesting character to follow, I loved getting to see her as a younger woman and as a grandmother. The way the book is written is a lot of fun, because you get to see the ways that Izzy, the granddaughter, is reacting to details that Magnolia is sharing (or sometimes oversharing).
This was such a rich reading experience. The book spans decades and countries, showing Magnolia’s experience going to the US for college in the late 90s then going back to Indonesia in later years. There are so many discussions of gender norms, family expectations, and how difficult it can be to break free from them. I loved watching Magnolia’s friendship with Ellery, a gay woman she meets in the US, grow and change over the years.
Man, this book just feels so special. It has such beautiful moments, along with heavier topics as well. The story takes some unexpected turns, but that’s life! Definitely check this out if you’re a fan of coming of age stories, queer stories, or stories of intergenerational connection.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Magnolia was such an interesting character to follow, I loved getting to see her as a younger woman and as a grandmother. The way the book is written is a lot of fun, because you get to see the ways that Izzy, the granddaughter, is reacting to details that Magnolia is sharing (or sometimes oversharing).
This was such a rich reading experience. The book spans decades and countries, showing Magnolia’s experience going to the US for college in the late 90s then going back to Indonesia in later years. There are so many discussions of gender norms, family expectations, and how difficult it can be to break free from them. I loved watching Magnolia’s friendship with Ellery, a gay woman she meets in the US, grow and change over the years.
Man, this book just feels so special. It has such beautiful moments, along with heavier topics as well. The story takes some unexpected turns, but that’s life! Definitely check this out if you’re a fan of coming of age stories, queer stories, or stories of intergenerational connection.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2025
A steep departure from Dial A for Aunties which is the last book I read by Sutanto…I mistakenly assumed this would be in a similar rom-com vein but make it gay, and boy was I wrong. Instead of a murderous romp, we get the complete opposite- a sweeping love story spanning decades, continents and hearts. Tears were streaming down my face by the last page. Bravo. Except, it’s written as a grandmother telling her granddaughter her love story, and I kind of wished through the whole book that it had just been written as the romance itself rather than a recounted love story. I see why she did it this way, but yeah I’m left longing for Ellery’s POV.
Short summary: Magnolia arrives in LA at 16 with only her sister awaiting her. A sister who seemingly wants nothing to do with her. Which is lonely and awful until Magnolia meets Ellery and the rest should be history…
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Short summary: Magnolia arrives in LA at 16 with only her sister awaiting her. A sister who seemingly wants nothing to do with her. Which is lonely and awful until Magnolia meets Ellery and the rest should be history…
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2025
This story absolutely stole my heart. Told through alternating timelines, a grandmother (Magnolia) shares her beautiful and heartbreaking love story with her granddaughter (Izzy).The twist? Magnolia arrives with a woman and kisses her in front of the whole family at their Chinese NY dinner. Emily Woo Zeller and Louisa Zhu’s narration was stunning; they captured every layer of emotion and made the story feel deeply alive.
August 27, 2025
this made me sob at a restaurant
December 31, 2025
4.5⭐️
Wow alright this was fantastic and I don’t even know where to start!
Magnolia Chen is the matriarch of her family and when she comes to the Chinese New Year celebration with a woman she introduces as her girlfriend everyone is shocked, but Izzy her granddaughter is far more intrigued than anything else. Later that evening Magnolia begins to tell Izzy her story.
I have to say that I love stories were someone older is recounting their life to someone much younger who still has all their life ahead of them. I loved Magnolia she was an amazing character with a great story to tell.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was the relationship between Magnolia and her sister Iris even though at the beginning she seemed to just be the difficult and rebellious sister who didn’t treat Magnolia very well but oh! there was so much more to her than that.
Magnolia and Iris had to deal with a patriarcal society and with parents that only wanted to see them married off to a rich husband.
I liked how misogyny was portrayed in this book, how Magnolia had to deal with unlearning her own misogynistic views and how it didn’t even cross her mind that she could also like girls because that’s not what society and her parents wanted for her, but then she met Ellery and there was no denying.
Of course I have to talk about Magnolia and Ellery’s relationship, theirs was truly a love story, I loved how Magnolia always viewed her as the love of her life, they truly were soulmates but of course life had to get in the way. If I have something to complain about it’s that at the beginning their age gap worried me but nothing happened then and also maybe I would have liked a little more of showing when it came to their relationship.
I really can’t tell you much more things without giving spoiler but I have to say that there was one scene between Magnolia and her sister that reminded me so much about one of Evelyn and Harry and you’ll now what moment it is when you reach it trust me.
Another thing is I wasn’t prepared for those final chapters and although I was a little sad I understood why it had to be that way.
Thanks to Negalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC
Wow alright this was fantastic and I don’t even know where to start!
Magnolia Chen is the matriarch of her family and when she comes to the Chinese New Year celebration with a woman she introduces as her girlfriend everyone is shocked, but Izzy her granddaughter is far more intrigued than anything else. Later that evening Magnolia begins to tell Izzy her story.
I have to say that I love stories were someone older is recounting their life to someone much younger who still has all their life ahead of them. I loved Magnolia she was an amazing character with a great story to tell.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was the relationship between Magnolia and her sister Iris even though at the beginning she seemed to just be the difficult and rebellious sister who didn’t treat Magnolia very well but oh! there was so much more to her than that.
Magnolia and Iris had to deal with a patriarcal society and with parents that only wanted to see them married off to a rich husband.
I liked how misogyny was portrayed in this book, how Magnolia had to deal with unlearning her own misogynistic views and how it didn’t even cross her mind that she could also like girls because that’s not what society and her parents wanted for her, but then she met Ellery and there was no denying.
Of course I have to talk about Magnolia and Ellery’s relationship, theirs was truly a love story, I loved how Magnolia always viewed her as the love of her life, they truly were soulmates but of course life had to get in the way. If I have something to complain about it’s that at the beginning their age gap worried me but nothing happened then and also maybe I would have liked a little more of showing when it came to their relationship.
I really can’t tell you much more things without giving spoiler but I have to say that there was one scene between Magnolia and her sister that reminded me so much about one of Evelyn and Harry and you’ll now what moment it is when you reach it trust me.
Another thing is I wasn’t prepared for those final chapters and although I was a little sad I understood why it had to be that way.
Thanks to Negalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC
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