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Chloe and the Kaishao Boys
When Dimple Met Rishi meets Loveboat, Taipei in this hilarious YA rom-com about a Chinese-Filipina girl in Manila whose father sets her up on a marathon of arranged dates in hopes of convincing her to stay close to home for college.
Chloe is officially off the waitlist at USC, and thus one step closer to realizing her dream of becoming an animator in the United States. But before she leaves home, her auntie insists on planning a traditional debut for Chloe’s eighteenth birthday (think sweet sixteen meets debutante ball). To make matters worse, her father, intent on finding Chloe the perfect escort for the party, keeps setting her up on one awkward kaishao—or arranged date—after another. But . . . why does her dad suddenly care so much about her love life? And what happens when she actually starts to fall for one of the guys, only to have to leave at the end of the summer?
Chloe is officially off the waitlist at USC, and thus one step closer to realizing her dream of becoming an animator in the United States. But before she leaves home, her auntie insists on planning a traditional debut for Chloe’s eighteenth birthday (think sweet sixteen meets debutante ball). To make matters worse, her father, intent on finding Chloe the perfect escort for the party, keeps setting her up on one awkward kaishao—or arranged date—after another. But . . . why does her dad suddenly care so much about her love life? And what happens when she actually starts to fall for one of the guys, only to have to leave at the end of the summer?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2023
96 people are currently reading
10345 people want to read
About the author
Mae Coyiuto
5 books208 followersMae Coyiuto is a not-so-young-adult who loves YA fiction. She has published children’s books and YA collections with Anvil Publishing, Philippines. If she's not writing, she's usually fangirling over Beyoncé, tennis, Gilmore Girls, or all of the above.
Mae has also published under the name Samantha Mae Coyiuto.
Mae has also published under the name Samantha Mae Coyiuto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 497 reviews
September 20, 2024
API Month
Did I, alleged hater of all things YA, just enjoy a YA? What? And if so, is it not YA that I hate, but poorly written books on the teenage experience?
I had the pleasure of meeting Mae when she did a book signing. She seemed super upbeat and cool in a Taylor Swift tee tucked into a lavender suit.
And the premise of this book? To be set up on dates by your tita? Teenage me would have died. Thirty something me is very very interested.
Mae did mention the romantic lead would be very obvious right away. I was confused at first, because I thought it was the stereotypically handsome one, but turns out, it was the one I was rooting for all along.
Side note, this isn’t just about romance, but Chloe’s decision to leave the Philippines to pursue an education in animation at USC. There is some wavering, but I think she made the right choice for her.
Some heavier stuff is the obvious racism that exists in Asian countries with differing ethnicities. Chloe says it best. Why leave China, move to a new country, only to not let your progeny date within that country’s main ethnicity? It’s called a Great Wall here, which I did laugh at, and I think it was addressed well.
I’ll eagerly pick up Mae’s next book.
Did I, alleged hater of all things YA, just enjoy a YA? What? And if so, is it not YA that I hate, but poorly written books on the teenage experience?
I had the pleasure of meeting Mae when she did a book signing. She seemed super upbeat and cool in a Taylor Swift tee tucked into a lavender suit.
And the premise of this book? To be set up on dates by your tita? Teenage me would have died. Thirty something me is very very interested.
Mae did mention the romantic lead would be very obvious right away. I was confused at first, because I thought it was the stereotypically handsome one, but turns out, it was the one I was rooting for all along.
Side note, this isn’t just about romance, but Chloe’s decision to leave the Philippines to pursue an education in animation at USC. There is some wavering, but I think she made the right choice for her.
Some heavier stuff is the obvious racism that exists in Asian countries with differing ethnicities. Chloe says it best. Why leave China, move to a new country, only to not let your progeny date within that country’s main ethnicity? It’s called a Great Wall here, which I did laugh at, and I think it was addressed well.
I’ll eagerly pick up Mae’s next book.
September 9, 2023
Almost a perfect book for me! I really enjoyed this one. Between the humor and the great character development, this isn't one that you want to miss if you're a fan of YA romantic comedies. 4.5 Stars
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys initially caught my attention because of the cover; however, I became even more intrigued once I read the summary! The book follows Chole who is finally accepted to USC after being waitlisted. Unlike a lot of her family members, Chloe is interested in studying animation instead of working in the family business. While planning for her debut on her 18th birthday, Chloe's father takes it upon himself to set up several kaishao's without Chloe really understanding why especially since she's about to move all the way to California. What follows is a fun, heart-wrenching, and beautiful story about family, first love, and following your dreams.
What Worked: SO MANY THINGS! From the family dynamics to the cultural explorations, this is one that I couldn't put down. There was so much that I didn't know about the intersection of those that identify as both Chinese and Filipino. Through the development of Chloe's character, Mae Coyiuto introduces characters to the complexity in that identification and how it impacts some of the characters in the book. While this is a rom-com, I found that family relationships were centered more than relationships and it worked perfectly. Chloe's mother and father are separated. While her mother lives in the US, Chloe and her father made the decision to remain in Manila. This creates an interesting dynamic where Chloe has to face how she views the relationship she has with each of her parents in relationship to her decision to attend college overseas. As a parent, I understood Chloe's father's reasoning for setting up so many kaishaos. When everything comes full circle at the end of the book, my heart was pulled in so many directions. While there were so many feelings about Chloe moving away, it was nice to see how supportive her family truly was about her following her dreams. And watching Chloe go through with each Kaishao was FUNNY! They were unexpected and interesting. Chloe not only learns a lot about first love, but also about loving and putting herself first. I even loved the relationship that Chloe has with her best friend Cia. It was pure and realistic and added to all of the elements that made this book amazing.
What Didn't Work: This is more of a me problem, but I'm not a huge fan of pop culture references. Chloe and Cia love Beyonce and the book is full of references to her. While I have consistently enjoyed Beyonce's music, I was not excited to see her throughout the entire novel. For some odd reason, I always feels like pop culture references date books prematurely. Clearly, I still loved this book, but I couldn't give it a full five for this writing choice.
Overall, this is one that I highly recommend! It was fun to read and I found myself rooting for Chloe the entire time. I learned so much about Chinese-Filipino culture and I'm pretty excited to see more from this author in the future. Definitely give this one a read.
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys initially caught my attention because of the cover; however, I became even more intrigued once I read the summary! The book follows Chole who is finally accepted to USC after being waitlisted. Unlike a lot of her family members, Chloe is interested in studying animation instead of working in the family business. While planning for her debut on her 18th birthday, Chloe's father takes it upon himself to set up several kaishao's without Chloe really understanding why especially since she's about to move all the way to California. What follows is a fun, heart-wrenching, and beautiful story about family, first love, and following your dreams.
What Worked: SO MANY THINGS! From the family dynamics to the cultural explorations, this is one that I couldn't put down. There was so much that I didn't know about the intersection of those that identify as both Chinese and Filipino. Through the development of Chloe's character, Mae Coyiuto introduces characters to the complexity in that identification and how it impacts some of the characters in the book. While this is a rom-com, I found that family relationships were centered more than relationships and it worked perfectly. Chloe's mother and father are separated. While her mother lives in the US, Chloe and her father made the decision to remain in Manila. This creates an interesting dynamic where Chloe has to face how she views the relationship she has with each of her parents in relationship to her decision to attend college overseas. As a parent, I understood Chloe's father's reasoning for setting up so many kaishaos. When everything comes full circle at the end of the book, my heart was pulled in so many directions. While there were so many feelings about Chloe moving away, it was nice to see how supportive her family truly was about her following her dreams. And watching Chloe go through with each Kaishao was FUNNY! They were unexpected and interesting. Chloe not only learns a lot about first love, but also about loving and putting herself first. I even loved the relationship that Chloe has with her best friend Cia. It was pure and realistic and added to all of the elements that made this book amazing.
What Didn't Work: This is more of a me problem, but I'm not a huge fan of pop culture references. Chloe and Cia love Beyonce and the book is full of references to her. While I have consistently enjoyed Beyonce's music, I was not excited to see her throughout the entire novel. For some odd reason, I always feels like pop culture references date books prematurely. Clearly, I still loved this book, but I couldn't give it a full five for this writing choice.
Overall, this is one that I highly recommend! It was fun to read and I found myself rooting for Chloe the entire time. I learned so much about Chinese-Filipino culture and I'm pretty excited to see more from this author in the future. Definitely give this one a read.
July 10, 2025
➵ 4 ✰ 🪷
- this review is so short because review-slump :(
# note: there's a lot of language switching thru out the book so keep that in mind! but there's a glossary at the back to help you if you're lost
if you want to feel happy and sad at the same time then please read this 😭🙏
also would recommend if you like slow(ish)-burn romance, emotional family dynamics, and extremely close female friendships where they're practically sisters
and this is my first (and only 4 star) this month so please read it or at least consider reading it 💌
on to what i didn't like that much:
there is a lot of pop culture references. it wasn't that bad but at certain points it felt very millenial-core. but aside from that i have no other complaints.
now some quotes:
₊˚ ────── ୨୧ pre-read ୨୧ ────── ˚₊
cheska aren't u reading 2 other books rn? YES BUT I'M IN THE ROMCOM MOOD BECAUSE OF RACH AND I NEED TO SATISFY THIS ROMCOM ITCH RN 😭
+ i want to finish one more book this month and i doubt that i'll finish my other books before the end of januray
- this review is so short because review-slump :(
🌷₊⊹ # “'mahal'. as an adjective, it means 'expensive.' as a noun, it means 'love.'”
# note: there's a lot of language switching thru out the book so keep that in mind! but there's a glossary at the back to help you if you're lost
if you want to feel happy and sad at the same time then please read this 😭🙏
also would recommend if you like slow(ish)-burn romance, emotional family dynamics, and extremely close female friendships where they're practically sisters
and this is my first (and only 4 star) this month so please read it or at least consider reading it 💌
on to what i didn't like that much:
there is a lot of pop culture references. it wasn't that bad but at certain points it felt very millenial-core. but aside from that i have no other complaints.
now some quotes:
“you're always going to be the reason i want to come back.” many tears were shed.
“you're going to be drawing everyone else for the rest of your life. i figured that someone should draw you too.” many tears were shed part 2.
₊˚ ────── ୨୧ pre-read ୨୧ ────── ˚₊
cheska aren't u reading 2 other books rn? YES BUT I'M IN THE ROMCOM MOOD BECAUSE OF RACH AND I NEED TO SATISFY THIS ROMCOM ITCH RN 😭
+ i want to finish one more book this month and i doubt that i'll finish my other books before the end of januray
April 15, 2023
If you’re in the mood for an instant classic YA romance PLEASE do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR. The tropes were TROPING in this one.
**SPOILERY SPOILERS**
At my core, I am such a dirty little spud for best friend's brother and Chloe and the Kaishao Boys checked all the boxes. Down to the way Jappy volunteered to be Kaishao-ed and used their photo strip as a BOOKMARK?? Sweet Jesus. I did want to see more of their dates, since most of the actual relationship happened off the page. Plus, the things I'd do for a chapter a few years in the future!!! I think their ending was more of an HFN than HEA because they were so young, but I'd really love to see them make it long term 🥲 But don't worry, they def end up together (in a long distance relationship) if you're getting nervous by the end or if the tagline on the cover scared you. While there are three guys on the cover, it's quite obvious who Chloe is meant for, there's not really a love triangle, and one of the guys gets into a side romance. I was THRIVING.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks so much to PRHaudio for a complimentary audiobook copy of Chloe and the Kaishao Boys (all opinions are honest and my own)!! The narrator, Becca Q. Co, was absolutely phenomenal; I really hope she narrates Coyiuto's next YA romance.
**SPOILERY SPOILERS**
At my core, I am such a dirty little spud for best friend's brother and Chloe and the Kaishao Boys checked all the boxes. Down to the way Jappy volunteered to be Kaishao-ed and used their photo strip as a BOOKMARK?? Sweet Jesus. I did want to see more of their dates, since most of the actual relationship happened off the page. Plus, the things I'd do for a chapter a few years in the future!!! I think their ending was more of an HFN than HEA because they were so young, but I'd really love to see them make it long term 🥲 But don't worry, they def end up together (in a long distance relationship) if you're getting nervous by the end or if the tagline on the cover scared you. While there are three guys on the cover, it's quite obvious who Chloe is meant for, there's not really a love triangle, and one of the guys gets into a side romance. I was THRIVING.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks so much to PRHaudio for a complimentary audiobook copy of Chloe and the Kaishao Boys (all opinions are honest and my own)!! The narrator, Becca Q. Co, was absolutely phenomenal; I really hope she narrates Coyiuto's next YA romance.
January 1, 2023
this was incredible I bawled at the end
If you love YA rom coms, this is the ONE for you!! This book blew me away in every aspect: I adored the romance, the family dynamics and the friendships!! Had me giggling and crying, HIGHLY recommend preordering!
I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you love YA rom coms, this is the ONE for you!! This book blew me away in every aspect: I adored the romance, the family dynamics and the friendships!! Had me giggling and crying, HIGHLY recommend preordering!
I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2023
I regret taking so long to write out this review because so many of the somewhat finer details of the book have left me.
As for the things that I did enjoy about the book, it was the relationship between Chloe and her father. Of course so much of the story is the struggle between the future each of them envision, but I like seeing that they had a strong relationship with one another even as Chloe getting older might have put a strain on it. I liked the platonic relationship that Chloe had with people...
Really the only thing that didn't work for me, was the romance aspect of the narrative. I rate books largely on my own personal enjoyment, and I think something about how the romance was executed left me feeling mostly ambivalent about it all. Partially because I think that I'm just outside the window where I could have enjoyed it, and partially because there were just a few too many things happening in the narrative for me to be fully invested.
For actual teen readers though I think they'll have a good time, and there is a lot to say about the importance of all kinds of relationships; familial, romantic, and platonic in a way that I think they will enjoy more than I did.
As for the things that I did enjoy about the book, it was the relationship between Chloe and her father. Of course so much of the story is the struggle between the future each of them envision, but I like seeing that they had a strong relationship with one another even as Chloe getting older might have put a strain on it. I liked the platonic relationship that Chloe had with people...
Really the only thing that didn't work for me, was the romance aspect of the narrative. I rate books largely on my own personal enjoyment, and I think something about how the romance was executed left me feeling mostly ambivalent about it all. Partially because I think that I'm just outside the window where I could have enjoyed it, and partially because there were just a few too many things happening in the narrative for me to be fully invested.
For actual teen readers though I think they'll have a good time, and there is a lot to say about the importance of all kinds of relationships; familial, romantic, and platonic in a way that I think they will enjoy more than I did.
February 13, 2023
I was hoping that I would enjoy CHLOE AND THE KAISHAO BOYS, especially given that this book is the debut of a Filipino author. And fortunately, this book was a delight! If you’ve ever been a fan of Pinoy rom-coms (like the kind that air on Cinema One) and are cool with a teen protagonist, this may be the book for you. It’s a bit cheesy and a bit over the top at turns, but it’s also heartwarming in unexpected ways. And I was tickled pink by the Manila references too! It was fun to follow Chloe’s journey, and I definitely finished feeling a sense of contentment with how her story wrapped up.
May 7, 2023
this book just made me SO happy
October 12, 2023
Laugh-out-loud humor, a coming-of-age story brimming with heart, and characters that practically leap off the page make this a five-star story for me. Some books you respect, others you hold dear, and then there's a select few that you just simply enjoy. This was one that I enjoyed thoroughly. That's not to say there weren't moments that made me quite emotional. I was careful to avoid reading this in public because of the many weird facial expressions I had while reading it. Intelligently crafted and very unapologetically and lovingly written for its target audience.
February 25, 2023
THE BEST YA ROMANCE COMING OF AGE BOOK EVER. I WAS CRYING SO HARD AT THE END.
full review to come.
full review to come.
April 9, 2023
Can confirm that I finished Chloe and the Kaishao Boys with big fat tears running down my cheeks. What a phenomenal debut. Full review to follow.
September 9, 2023
WOW! It's been months since my last Filipino novel read. Thank goodness I found this recommendation from BookTok.
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Chloe, an aspiring animator, gets off from the waiting list of USC. Enrollment is now possible. However, before she takes flight abroad, her auntie insisted on planning a traditional debut for her 18th birthday. Her auntie wanted to complete her 18 roses, and with the assistance from Chloe's dad they scout for bachelors and set her up with them through Kaishaos (arranged dates.) In the end, she must decide if she could leave everything behind for her dreams.
The Good and The Bad:
As a YA RomCom, was it inciting romantic shudders? Yes. Was it filled with comedic moments? 100%! And finally, does it contained endearing aspects of Young Adults? UNDOUBTEDLY!!! I think I already moved on with these types of genres...yet I still found this a lot of fun 😁. The writing was bubbly and alive, then slowly taken over by a profound sincerity as the story progressed. But don't worry, both tones were present all-throughout. It's filled with awkward/conscious scenarios that forced chuckles and second-hand embarrassments. Plus I ate every witty sarcasms being thrown at the readers. It was an easy and blasting read.
Relatability was one of book's stronger suits. Honestly, there were so much stuff within that young people regularly encounter (especially if you're a Chinese-Filipino.) This book had tackled subjects like Expectations, Doubt/Imposter Syndrome, Friendship, Family dynamics, Racism, etc. Chloe was a relatable protagonist because she's ever-confused and repeatedly questions herself. I'm a Filipino 👋, and these stuff were hella familiar.
I LOVE its language switching, Filipino easter eggs, and multiple pop-culture references. The occasional mix-up of English, Tagalog, and Hokkien (as well as the easter eggs/references) effectively breathed life and character into the pages and gave the book a realistic, contemporary vibe 🌃. This may be off-putting to those who doesn't speak/understand these languages, and I understand that. Don't worry though since there's a handy glossary found at the back. I know it's sort of an international meme that Filipinos can't get enough foreign recognitions...but like c'mon, I'll take any representations of my nationality.
Of course, I can't forget about how this supposedly simple-premised RomCom was infused with heart ❤️. The novel was all about dreams vs life at its core. It's such a straightforward yet effective narrative foundation executed competently by the author through her main character. It was choke-full of character revelations. Supporting characters organically open themselves up in such perfect pace. The best quote was even delivered by the antagonist after evaluating the consequences of her motives. But the best was, unsurprisingly, that of the main character. Chloe coming to terms with who she was and who she wanted to be was one of the most thought-provoking personal development in any fiction I've read. And I reflect upon her a lot. Halting yourself and accepting that you weren't ready for something is inherently shameful...but, as the book imparted, that's ok. And maybe special things in life were those you didn't see coming. You just need to take the leap of faith.
I do have some criticisms like having cliché dramas 😬 and being extremely tropey. The romance narrative was a little late to begin rolling, as well as the heartfelt stuff (though it made sense that it was at the end.) It's just that, for the most part, the plot dropped either the Kaishao romance or the protagonist's aspiration to focus on the other entirely. It could have done better intertwining both at the same time. I do also have a problem with the Kaishao bachelors. In my opinion, the right choice was a tad obvious. Like c'mon, I was expecting some intense mental debate between who I'd consider the best choice.
Final Thoughts:
I'm gonna admit that I enjoy this book a lot. It's one of the better YA RomCom out there, and I would even recommend it to those who aren't an avid reader of its genres. Throughout its pages it was radiating chaotic energy, youthful angst, and teenage awkwardness, turning it into a hilarious read. Below the surface-level fun and lightheartedness, it also possessed some deep and earnest moments that would left you thinking about for a while. Yeah, a complete package that succeeded in reaching its literary goals and audiences. Mae Coyiuto's debut novel (correct me if I'm wrong) deserved the local hype here.
Rating: Around the base of 8/10.
"Our world is already so tough on people who are different, Chloe. My job as a parent is to shield my son from the things he fears in this world, not add to them." She stops and shakes her head. "But what do I do when I'm the one he's afraid of."
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Chloe, an aspiring animator, gets off from the waiting list of USC. Enrollment is now possible. However, before she takes flight abroad, her auntie insisted on planning a traditional debut for her 18th birthday. Her auntie wanted to complete her 18 roses, and with the assistance from Chloe's dad they scout for bachelors and set her up with them through Kaishaos (arranged dates.) In the end, she must decide if she could leave everything behind for her dreams.
The Good and The Bad:
As a YA RomCom, was it inciting romantic shudders? Yes. Was it filled with comedic moments? 100%! And finally, does it contained endearing aspects of Young Adults? UNDOUBTEDLY!!! I think I already moved on with these types of genres...yet I still found this a lot of fun 😁. The writing was bubbly and alive, then slowly taken over by a profound sincerity as the story progressed. But don't worry, both tones were present all-throughout. It's filled with awkward/conscious scenarios that forced chuckles and second-hand embarrassments. Plus I ate every witty sarcasms being thrown at the readers. It was an easy and blasting read.
Relatability was one of book's stronger suits. Honestly, there were so much stuff within that young people regularly encounter (especially if you're a Chinese-Filipino.) This book had tackled subjects like Expectations, Doubt/Imposter Syndrome, Friendship, Family dynamics, Racism, etc. Chloe was a relatable protagonist because she's ever-confused and repeatedly questions herself. I'm a Filipino 👋, and these stuff were hella familiar.
I LOVE its language switching, Filipino easter eggs, and multiple pop-culture references. The occasional mix-up of English, Tagalog, and Hokkien (as well as the easter eggs/references) effectively breathed life and character into the pages and gave the book a realistic, contemporary vibe 🌃. This may be off-putting to those who doesn't speak/understand these languages, and I understand that. Don't worry though since there's a handy glossary found at the back. I know it's sort of an international meme that Filipinos can't get enough foreign recognitions...but like c'mon, I'll take any representations of my nationality.
Of course, I can't forget about how this supposedly simple-premised RomCom was infused with heart ❤️. The novel was all about dreams vs life at its core. It's such a straightforward yet effective narrative foundation executed competently by the author through her main character. It was choke-full of character revelations. Supporting characters organically open themselves up in such perfect pace. The best quote was even delivered by the antagonist after evaluating the consequences of her motives. But the best was, unsurprisingly, that of the main character. Chloe coming to terms with who she was and who she wanted to be was one of the most thought-provoking personal development in any fiction I've read. And I reflect upon her a lot. Halting yourself and accepting that you weren't ready for something is inherently shameful...but, as the book imparted, that's ok. And maybe special things in life were those you didn't see coming. You just need to take the leap of faith.
I do have some criticisms like having cliché dramas 😬 and being extremely tropey. The romance narrative was a little late to begin rolling, as well as the heartfelt stuff (though it made sense that it was at the end.) It's just that, for the most part, the plot dropped either the Kaishao romance or the protagonist's aspiration to focus on the other entirely. It could have done better intertwining both at the same time. I do also have a problem with the Kaishao bachelors. In my opinion, the right choice was a tad obvious. Like c'mon, I was expecting some intense mental debate between who I'd consider the best choice.
Final Thoughts:
I'm gonna admit that I enjoy this book a lot. It's one of the better YA RomCom out there, and I would even recommend it to those who aren't an avid reader of its genres. Throughout its pages it was radiating chaotic energy, youthful angst, and teenage awkwardness, turning it into a hilarious read. Below the surface-level fun and lightheartedness, it also possessed some deep and earnest moments that would left you thinking about for a while. Yeah, a complete package that succeeded in reaching its literary goals and audiences. Mae Coyiuto's debut novel (correct me if I'm wrong) deserved the local hype here.
Rating: Around the base of 8/10.
November 11, 2022
This book sucked me in and I never wanted it to end, between Chloe's quirky Instagram-obsessed dad, and her best friend Cia who's absolutely hilarious their bond was so cute and the comedic timing and banter throughout the book was perfection. Chloe's Kaisho boys were the sweetest and I definitely have a favorite.
This summer romance was so much more than just that, it had a great representation of having a family who wants the best for you but never sees what you actually want when their expectations blind them. This book is a fantastic book to get to learn more about another person's culture, I learned so much about Chinese Filipinos and I got a pile of movie and music recs. I was also pleasantly surprised with the Queen Bee references (Beyonce of course)
This is definitely one of my favorite books I've read, Mae did an incredible job writing this book and I can't wait to read more of her work! The few LGBTQ+ characters made my heart happy and had to be my favorite part of the book because who doesn't love a good queer couple?
Throughout the book, I definitely got some butterflies (especially on a certain scene) that I just had to pause and smile because this was one of the cutest YA romance books I've read in a while
Thank you penguin teen for providing the arc all opinions are my own
This summer romance was so much more than just that, it had a great representation of having a family who wants the best for you but never sees what you actually want when their expectations blind them. This book is a fantastic book to get to learn more about another person's culture, I learned so much about Chinese Filipinos and I got a pile of movie and music recs. I was also pleasantly surprised with the Queen Bee references (Beyonce of course)
This is definitely one of my favorite books I've read, Mae did an incredible job writing this book and I can't wait to read more of her work! The few LGBTQ+ characters made my heart happy and had to be my favorite part of the book because who doesn't love a good queer couple?
Throughout the book, I definitely got some butterflies (especially on a certain scene) that I just had to pause and smile because this was one of the cutest YA romance books I've read in a while
Thank you penguin teen for providing the arc all opinions are my own
May 1, 2024
5 stars. Heartfelt, authentic, and the perfect combination of a teen show on ABS-CBN and your classic American teen romcom, Chloe and the Kaishao Boys is the epitome of everything I love about YA contemporary romance with the added layer of being a love letter to the Philippines.
April 2, 2023
3.5⭐️
This was a nice YA romance with elements of family, friendship and following your dreams. I liked this one but it was so predictable. I know that YA contemporaries are usually pretty predictable but I knew exactly how everything would work out right from the beginning and that just took some of the fun out of it.
I feel like I learned a lot more about the Chinese-Filipino culture. The heritage and language was woven through the book really nicely and the glossary included was very helpful.
This was an easy read and I did enjoy the brother’s best friend romance storyline. I also appreciated that family was such a big part of it.
This was a nice YA romance with elements of family, friendship and following your dreams. I liked this one but it was so predictable. I know that YA contemporaries are usually pretty predictable but I knew exactly how everything would work out right from the beginning and that just took some of the fun out of it.
I feel like I learned a lot more about the Chinese-Filipino culture. The heritage and language was woven through the book really nicely and the glossary included was very helpful.
This was an easy read and I did enjoy the brother’s best friend romance storyline. I also appreciated that family was such a big part of it.
January 10, 2023
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys was a cute YA contemporary read! I loved how immersed I felt into Chloe's family's dynamics--seeing all her aunts, uncles, cousins, and other family friends interact with each other was a lot of fun. There were so many humorous moments and dialogues between all of the characters in this book. I also don't think I've ever read a YA book with a main character who is passionate about animation, and so it was very cool to see Chloe get to pursue her dream of studying animation at USC! The romance was also super adorable, but I wish it had picked up closer to the start of the book than from the middle of the story. Overall, fans of messy family drama, coming-of-age stories, and the "best friend's brother" trope will love this novel!
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March 22, 2023
Such a sweet, fun book! Coyiuto weaves in such depth into Chloe and her dates, friends, and well-meaning relatives and offers a rich, smile-inducing slice of life as a Chinese-Filipina girl trying to sort out what’s in her heart and in her future.
August 7, 2023
2023 reads: 247/350
chloe has made it off the USC waitlist, bringing her one step closer to her dreams of becoming an animator in the united states. before leaving her home in manila, though, her auntie insists on planning a traditional debut for chloe’s eighteenth birthday, and her dad keeps setting her up on awkward kaishao dates. since she’ll be leaving at the end of the summer, chloe doesn’t see the points of the dates, and doesn’t know what to do when she actually starts falling for one of them.
i really needed a lighthearted read and this was perfect! there are some heavier topics—for example, chloe’s mom lives in the u.s., which means chloe doesn’t see her often. however, i’d say that the lighter moments outnumbered the heavier ones. i also loved how this focused both on chloe’s romance and chloe’s education/future. i think a lot of books still fall into the false belief that a woman can follow her dreams OR find love. even if it’s not outright said, it’s implied through the narrative. however, this just was not the case at all with this book. chloe followed her dreams AND her heart! this was so amazing to see.
i highly recommend to anyone who enjoys YA romance.
chloe has made it off the USC waitlist, bringing her one step closer to her dreams of becoming an animator in the united states. before leaving her home in manila, though, her auntie insists on planning a traditional debut for chloe’s eighteenth birthday, and her dad keeps setting her up on awkward kaishao dates. since she’ll be leaving at the end of the summer, chloe doesn’t see the points of the dates, and doesn’t know what to do when she actually starts falling for one of them.
i really needed a lighthearted read and this was perfect! there are some heavier topics—for example, chloe’s mom lives in the u.s., which means chloe doesn’t see her often. however, i’d say that the lighter moments outnumbered the heavier ones. i also loved how this focused both on chloe’s romance and chloe’s education/future. i think a lot of books still fall into the false belief that a woman can follow her dreams OR find love. even if it’s not outright said, it’s implied through the narrative. however, this just was not the case at all with this book. chloe followed her dreams AND her heart! this was so amazing to see.
i highly recommend to anyone who enjoys YA romance.
April 12, 2023
This was a really good comfort read, and genuinely funny. It reminded me of Jesse Q. Sutanto's books.
Read
April 21, 2023i already expected this to be a cute, lighthearted read, but i was still pleasantly surprised with how heartfelt the story ended up being. although marketed as a contemporary YA rom-com, it also explored cultural family dynamics in tandem with coming to terms with chloe's coming-of-age, which i think was an important aspect to have given that the setting is in manila. it was definitely a refreshing take on growing up and Finding One's Self and i appreciated the handling of nuances regarding ethnicity vs nationality and other difficulties filipinos and filipino-chinese communities sometimes clash on. but what really endeared me is how i could tell that this work was written with filipinos in manila in mind—us being the target audience for once. the code switching and mixing of different languages (tagalog, english, and hokkien) in one conversation, the typical catholic values that hold up with older generations (setting up a date on sunday mass! nakakaloka), and just. it reminded me so much of being a teenager (even though i didn't have any kaishaos or half the romantic experiences chloe did, lol) in the best ways possible. it was more heartwarming than i expected mostly because gave a lot of heart within her characters and made them shine in their own ways, while still grounding them with shortcomings that they had to work through. i would have loved having a book like this when i was still in high school and then pretend to be indifferent to it while actually getting kilig in reality lmao it was really fun being able to read this! and it's one of those works i can easily see being adapted into a film, directed by cathy garcia-molina, most likely. <3
February 24, 2023
I really, really enjoyed this heartfelt coming of age, rom-com featuring a Chinese Filipino teen girl who dreams of becoming an animator and going to college in America. Steeped in a culture I knew little about and with a great cast of family and friends, this was perfect for fans of Jenny Han's To all the boys I've loved before or Kelly Yang's Parachutes. Great on audio too. Much thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary audio copy!
January 1, 2024
I really liked this book and the representation was really good but the romance felt kind of underwhelming,and we don’t see what happened between them after he danced her at her debut
May 24, 2023
i really tried to like this (sorry jane ily) and this was cute at times but i was mostly bored reading this😞
May 19, 2023
rating : 3.5 stars.
hello my beautiful jane nation 😭🦶 how has ur reading been during api month , hmmm ?? i didnt get to read that much at the start of the month bc of exams ( boo ) , but im done w them n i passed yaaay 🫶🥹 got first honors n all 😇🤸♀️ ur supreme leader is very very smart guys ‼️‼️
AHHHH okay so , this is my first filipino book of dis api month yaay 🫂🫂 i started last year w a very very impactful book abt comfort women during japanese occupation ( which everyone should read if able to stomach all the themes present ) , buuuuttt i specifically held off reading a fil book cuz i wanted to start w a physical copy of this one ( which i only got recently ) !!! 🤭🫣 like ik this review will flop BUT ‼️ chloe and the kaishao boys !!! yaaay 😽🫶 im reallllyyyy excited to talk abt this one bc filipino and also !!! new comfort read !!!!!! the way half of the books on my comfort reads shelf r by filipino authors… Mwahhhh 😽😅 okie okie im rambling lettuce just start w da review Eeeek 🦶🥬🥬🥬
writing.
writing and writing style - ahhh i love coyiuto’s writing style . sometimes u just know when an author has everything planned out and aptly structued , esp when it comes to y/a . sm of y/a reads as haphazard efforts which makes it fun bc camp ( ! / ? ) , but also makes it very taxing to read 😭 my patience wears so thinnnn and reading y/a can require strenuous and conscious effort 😭😭 but not for this book !!!! the story progressed very fluidly , and it feels like we had time to develop all the characters . like , even the supporting ones which is a feat as there r a looottt of them 😭😭 well , maybe not miles . pero nanjan lang sya to be pretty n u know what , i support . i Support !!!!
dialogue and scenes - ahhh you know whats saur funny ?? how disjointed this book feels cuz of da dialogue Kinda . its alwaysss funny actually when books use honorifics in languages aside from english , but english for the rest of the dialogue . the thing is , the book takes place here . like , in manila 😭 . it would be a Bit unrealistic to have the characters always speak english while only use some phrases in hokkien / tagalog , yaknow ? it takes u out of the book whenever u notice it , which is always lol . i wish there was some kind of acknowledgement of the fact , if that makes sense ? some kind of ironic statement posed as a joke but meant to be clarification for the reader to make the story less… disconnected . otherwise EEEEE the characters r Funny ‼️😽 the humour definitely amped up as the story went onnn as the start was a bit awkward but otherwise , a+ jokes 👍 da things da characters say… hehehe how silly n funny 🥹 “Jappy! You’ve gotten so tall. What are you, six one, six two?” “Uh… five eight, Tito.” JAJUABS Lord help me 😭😭 ( also peep da english sentence but honorific omg ) .
random filler/idk where to put this shit - guys im sorry but,,,, filipino rep 🥹❤️🩹 i just cried thinking abt it . im being srs too ive been staring at the blank line trying to acknowledge the fact that we have representation in a big publishing company 🥹 and tearing up 🥹 i actually Cannot comprehend it a bit . my favorite books in the world that have rewired my entire identity have always utilized the locations present as another set of characters . like , if you read a book about new york , it would always feature [ insert street i dont know ] and [ insert monument i do not care about ] . or if you read about london it would never fail to show off [ insert famous cafe i have never heard of ] and [ insert entirely foreign british ramblings ] . but 🥹 this book takes place here 🥹 i know these places 🥹 i have been to these places 🥹 wilson , mary the queen , christ the king , mall of asia,,,, AMAJJSBS i love actually knowing da places characters talk abt 😭😭❤️🩹 its such a special and inimitable feeling to finally be a part of the group that is aware , and has lived in the fragments of days that take place there . it makes me sooooo,,,, beyond happy . and like ik books native to here obvs feature these places , but to have an imprint of PENGUIN work with an author from literal continents away,,,,, killing myself so hard 👍🥲
plot.
overall plot, premise, and random shit - chloe liang is a fil - chi leaving for america for college ouuuu 🫣🫢 but for soooomee reason , her family has been setting her up on kaishaos ( reto masters 🤸♀️🤸♀️ ako next 🫢 ) or arranged dates for chloes debut . thus , shenanigans ensue , hearts grow Plumper ( tm ) , and dreams n ambitions r examined Awwwweeee yes how cutesie 🫶😽
characters.
➷ chloe - “Did you make sure the actors in the video were, like… treated properly?” chloe my funny baebae 🫶🫶 we r da same person i am convinced coyiuto stole pieces of my soul while i was sleeping and it manifested into her google doc 👍👍 it does Not feel like she’s 18 she seems like shes a bit younger but yk what , me !!!!! i will be young forever , and as selin from da last book i read said , ill probably be catching up to the age i am now in seven years , then i’ll have to catch up to all the ages i missed 😽🤷♀️ i love chloe n i love her silly lil fam DA WAY HALOS LAHAT NG JOWA NG PINSAN NYA FIL CHI RIN,,,,,, n she was saying wala syang great wall 🥲😵💫 well ig her n jappy make for da white fence so shes absolved 🤷♀️😹 she a hater doe omg PETER DESERVED TO BRAG ABT DAT OBLATION SCHOLAR ORDEALLLLLL like her keeping a tally of how many times he mentions it omg hateerrrrr 😒😒 ang hirap kaya ng upcat ( allegedly ) tas scholar pa sya WAG KANG NEGA TEH ‼️‼️‼️ also btw,,, chloe took the sats ?? How ⁉️ Where ⁉️😭 that was so random .
➷ jappy - oh,,, hey jappy 🤭🫣😅 i folded the second he introduced himself im sorry matangkad na moreno na may dimples n uncooperative hair,,,, no one stood a chance 🤦♀️🥲🙍♀️ he is so protective… n caring… n charming… n witty… n funny… lord when will it be my turn 🥲🥲 i rlly dont understand and he had AMBITIONS AND HE WANTS TO BE AN ARCHITECT GUYS I CANT 🥲🥹💔 he rlly refreshed me on my standards my GOOODDDDD . in conclusion,,,,, SO BOYF <3333 sakin ka nalang jappy ?? 🥺💓🤲
➷ cia - cia my supportive baaabyyyy 🫶 CAN U TELL I LOVE ALL THE CHARACTERS AHHHH ‼️ although i have sumn to say abt ms cia n her archtypeeee . uhmmm,,, isnt it a bit weird that the darker bsf is alwaaayss present within dif forms of media,,, the one that aligns more with cultures seen as more unruly / abrasive ( which is weird bc the chinese have come to literally all of the southeast countries n taken over certain sections then labelled the natives as foreigners better to avoid n as people that’ll literally dirty the blood , i.e., the entire point of the great wall ?? also my moms half chinese DO NAWT CANCEL ME 🙍♀️‼️ ) ?? we never get morena leads — only morena bsfs that are confident and formidable n take down oppressive structures because theyre so unfazed by them . why is that stereotype so pervasive within media not just anchored in the west , but also in the global south ??? there is something so insidious abt how normalized the great wall is,,,,, acting like filipino blood is disgusting n will ruin the pure chinese bloodlines my god if ur so bothered GET OUT OF OUR FUCKING COUNTRYYYY ‼️‼️ sorry to my grandfather and his many many siblings n kids hehe 🫶
➷ miles - nako ang mga miles talaga,,,,,,, palaging cnb 😭😭 we all know a miles too attractive to comprehend that it makes ur head hurt rjkwenfhjnjshdf 😭😭 miles is the only character we dont know a looootttt abt which is fine like i said . happy w him just being hot n bisexual . he really was vv confusing tho like did he ever even like chloe ?? i wonder .
➷ raph - raph reminds me sm of my crush ( talking stage ???? idk ) im sick lord why me ⁉️💔 going from jappy aka dream boy to raph oh my god i got stomach aches yall dont understand… 🥲🙍♀️ we got introduced raph early onnn when the jokes were not landing Yet n it was so AWKWARD cuz hes said to be this funny guy but the author wasnt funny ( again , YET ‼️‼️ ) so it was like . what now . case in point : “In keso, like in case of? It’s funny because keso is Tagalog for cheese.’” how yikes 😭😭 WHY EXPLAIN IT . WHY WHY WHY .
romance.
➷ chloejappy - PARENTALS PARENTALS PARENTALS 🥲🫶 my beautiful people omg the buzz i got from them,,, insane . IT SHOULDVE BEEN ME . IT SHOULDVE BEEN FUCKING ME ‼️‼️ having chloe act sm like me n be a manila girl is just Not okay for my mental health like im extra delulu that ill find a boy like jappy my god . I CALLED IT FROM THE START I KNEEEWWWW JAPPY LIKED CHLOE N HE 🥹 VOLUNTEERED 🥹 AND THE WAY HE ASKED HER OUT GOOOOODDDDD . they were made for me to delude myself over im sorry im really sorry like,,,,,, the MATERIALLL is like no other . “But instead of laughing, Jappy meets my eyes and nods. “Okay. Sige.” I smile back at him. “Sige.” BUT IF I SHOT MYSELF IM THE BAD GUY UGH…
final thoughts.
im so haaapyyy ahhh i loved this book . alsoooo the author literally has a book signing tom in sm aura n i might be going EEK ‼️‼️ we’ll see . till next time jane nation , mwah mwah mwah 😽🤸♀️
hello my beautiful jane nation 😭🦶 how has ur reading been during api month , hmmm ?? i didnt get to read that much at the start of the month bc of exams ( boo ) , but im done w them n i passed yaaay 🫶🥹 got first honors n all 😇🤸♀️ ur supreme leader is very very smart guys ‼️‼️
AHHHH okay so , this is my first filipino book of dis api month yaay 🫂🫂 i started last year w a very very impactful book abt comfort women during japanese occupation ( which everyone should read if able to stomach all the themes present ) , buuuuttt i specifically held off reading a fil book cuz i wanted to start w a physical copy of this one ( which i only got recently ) !!! 🤭🫣 like ik this review will flop BUT ‼️ chloe and the kaishao boys !!! yaaay 😽🫶 im reallllyyyy excited to talk abt this one bc filipino and also !!! new comfort read !!!!!! the way half of the books on my comfort reads shelf r by filipino authors… Mwahhhh 😽😅 okie okie im rambling lettuce just start w da review Eeeek 🦶🥬🥬🥬
writing.
writing and writing style - ahhh i love coyiuto’s writing style . sometimes u just know when an author has everything planned out and aptly structued , esp when it comes to y/a . sm of y/a reads as haphazard efforts which makes it fun bc camp ( ! / ? ) , but also makes it very taxing to read 😭 my patience wears so thinnnn and reading y/a can require strenuous and conscious effort 😭😭 but not for this book !!!! the story progressed very fluidly , and it feels like we had time to develop all the characters . like , even the supporting ones which is a feat as there r a looottt of them 😭😭 well , maybe not miles . pero nanjan lang sya to be pretty n u know what , i support . i Support !!!!
dialogue and scenes - ahhh you know whats saur funny ?? how disjointed this book feels cuz of da dialogue Kinda . its alwaysss funny actually when books use honorifics in languages aside from english , but english for the rest of the dialogue . the thing is , the book takes place here . like , in manila 😭 . it would be a Bit unrealistic to have the characters always speak english while only use some phrases in hokkien / tagalog , yaknow ? it takes u out of the book whenever u notice it , which is always lol . i wish there was some kind of acknowledgement of the fact , if that makes sense ? some kind of ironic statement posed as a joke but meant to be clarification for the reader to make the story less… disconnected . otherwise EEEEE the characters r Funny ‼️😽 the humour definitely amped up as the story went onnn as the start was a bit awkward but otherwise , a+ jokes 👍 da things da characters say… hehehe how silly n funny 🥹 “Jappy! You’ve gotten so tall. What are you, six one, six two?” “Uh… five eight, Tito.” JAJUABS Lord help me 😭😭 ( also peep da english sentence but honorific omg ) .
random filler/idk where to put this shit - guys im sorry but,,,, filipino rep 🥹❤️🩹 i just cried thinking abt it . im being srs too ive been staring at the blank line trying to acknowledge the fact that we have representation in a big publishing company 🥹 and tearing up 🥹 i actually Cannot comprehend it a bit . my favorite books in the world that have rewired my entire identity have always utilized the locations present as another set of characters . like , if you read a book about new york , it would always feature [ insert street i dont know ] and [ insert monument i do not care about ] . or if you read about london it would never fail to show off [ insert famous cafe i have never heard of ] and [ insert entirely foreign british ramblings ] . but 🥹 this book takes place here 🥹 i know these places 🥹 i have been to these places 🥹 wilson , mary the queen , christ the king , mall of asia,,,, AMAJJSBS i love actually knowing da places characters talk abt 😭😭❤️🩹 its such a special and inimitable feeling to finally be a part of the group that is aware , and has lived in the fragments of days that take place there . it makes me sooooo,,,, beyond happy . and like ik books native to here obvs feature these places , but to have an imprint of PENGUIN work with an author from literal continents away,,,,, killing myself so hard 👍🥲
plot.
overall plot, premise, and random shit - chloe liang is a fil - chi leaving for america for college ouuuu 🫣🫢 but for soooomee reason , her family has been setting her up on kaishaos ( reto masters 🤸♀️🤸♀️ ako next 🫢 ) or arranged dates for chloes debut . thus , shenanigans ensue , hearts grow Plumper ( tm ) , and dreams n ambitions r examined Awwwweeee yes how cutesie 🫶😽
characters.
➷ chloe - “Did you make sure the actors in the video were, like… treated properly?” chloe my funny baebae 🫶🫶 we r da same person i am convinced coyiuto stole pieces of my soul while i was sleeping and it manifested into her google doc 👍👍 it does Not feel like she’s 18 she seems like shes a bit younger but yk what , me !!!!! i will be young forever , and as selin from da last book i read said , ill probably be catching up to the age i am now in seven years , then i’ll have to catch up to all the ages i missed 😽🤷♀️ i love chloe n i love her silly lil fam DA WAY HALOS LAHAT NG JOWA NG PINSAN NYA FIL CHI RIN,,,,,, n she was saying wala syang great wall 🥲😵💫 well ig her n jappy make for da white fence so shes absolved 🤷♀️😹 she a hater doe omg PETER DESERVED TO BRAG ABT DAT OBLATION SCHOLAR ORDEALLLLLL like her keeping a tally of how many times he mentions it omg hateerrrrr 😒😒 ang hirap kaya ng upcat ( allegedly ) tas scholar pa sya WAG KANG NEGA TEH ‼️‼️‼️ also btw,,, chloe took the sats ?? How ⁉️ Where ⁉️😭 that was so random .
➷ jappy - oh,,, hey jappy 🤭🫣😅 i folded the second he introduced himself im sorry matangkad na moreno na may dimples n uncooperative hair,,,, no one stood a chance 🤦♀️🥲🙍♀️ he is so protective… n caring… n charming… n witty… n funny… lord when will it be my turn 🥲🥲 i rlly dont understand and he had AMBITIONS AND HE WANTS TO BE AN ARCHITECT GUYS I CANT 🥲🥹💔 he rlly refreshed me on my standards my GOOODDDDD . in conclusion,,,,, SO BOYF <3333 sakin ka nalang jappy ?? 🥺💓🤲
➷ cia - cia my supportive baaabyyyy 🫶 CAN U TELL I LOVE ALL THE CHARACTERS AHHHH ‼️ although i have sumn to say abt ms cia n her archtypeeee . uhmmm,,, isnt it a bit weird that the darker bsf is alwaaayss present within dif forms of media,,, the one that aligns more with cultures seen as more unruly / abrasive ( which is weird bc the chinese have come to literally all of the southeast countries n taken over certain sections then labelled the natives as foreigners better to avoid n as people that’ll literally dirty the blood , i.e., the entire point of the great wall ?? also my moms half chinese DO NAWT CANCEL ME 🙍♀️‼️ ) ?? we never get morena leads — only morena bsfs that are confident and formidable n take down oppressive structures because theyre so unfazed by them . why is that stereotype so pervasive within media not just anchored in the west , but also in the global south ??? there is something so insidious abt how normalized the great wall is,,,,, acting like filipino blood is disgusting n will ruin the pure chinese bloodlines my god if ur so bothered GET OUT OF OUR FUCKING COUNTRYYYY ‼️‼️ sorry to my grandfather and his many many siblings n kids hehe 🫶
➷ miles - nako ang mga miles talaga,,,,,,, palaging cnb 😭😭 we all know a miles too attractive to comprehend that it makes ur head hurt rjkwenfhjnjshdf 😭😭 miles is the only character we dont know a looootttt abt which is fine like i said . happy w him just being hot n bisexual . he really was vv confusing tho like did he ever even like chloe ?? i wonder .
➷ raph - raph reminds me sm of my crush ( talking stage ???? idk ) im sick lord why me ⁉️💔 going from jappy aka dream boy to raph oh my god i got stomach aches yall dont understand… 🥲🙍♀️ we got introduced raph early onnn when the jokes were not landing Yet n it was so AWKWARD cuz hes said to be this funny guy but the author wasnt funny ( again , YET ‼️‼️ ) so it was like . what now . case in point : “In keso, like in case of? It’s funny because keso is Tagalog for cheese.’” how yikes 😭😭 WHY EXPLAIN IT . WHY WHY WHY .
romance.
➷ chloejappy - PARENTALS PARENTALS PARENTALS 🥲🫶 my beautiful people omg the buzz i got from them,,, insane . IT SHOULDVE BEEN ME . IT SHOULDVE BEEN FUCKING ME ‼️‼️ having chloe act sm like me n be a manila girl is just Not okay for my mental health like im extra delulu that ill find a boy like jappy my god . I CALLED IT FROM THE START I KNEEEWWWW JAPPY LIKED CHLOE N HE 🥹 VOLUNTEERED 🥹 AND THE WAY HE ASKED HER OUT GOOOOODDDDD . they were made for me to delude myself over im sorry im really sorry like,,,,,, the MATERIALLL is like no other . “But instead of laughing, Jappy meets my eyes and nods. “Okay. Sige.” I smile back at him. “Sige.” BUT IF I SHOT MYSELF IM THE BAD GUY UGH…
final thoughts.
im so haaapyyy ahhh i loved this book . alsoooo the author literally has a book signing tom in sm aura n i might be going EEK ‼️‼️ we’ll see . till next time jane nation , mwah mwah mwah 😽🤸♀️
August 14, 2023
4.5 stars
i loved absolutely everything about it
i loved absolutely everything about it
March 27, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this funny young adult contemporary novel. Chloe being torn between her home and moving to go to college in America felt so real and I learned about the Chinese-Filipino culture which I knew absolutely nothing about going in. I love reading own-voices novels because I am exposed to cultures I otherwise may not have been. Reading is awesome in that way.
The idea of Chloe's family setting her up on blind-dates was so fun and while I sometimes became frustrated with her family (just like Chloe was), I liked that I could tell they overall had her best interest at heart. Sometimes books make the family the villain, and I liked how that wasn't the case here.
The writing was engaging and fun. I'll definitely look for more books from Mae Coyiuto in the future!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
The idea of Chloe's family setting her up on blind-dates was so fun and while I sometimes became frustrated with her family (just like Chloe was), I liked that I could tell they overall had her best interest at heart. Sometimes books make the family the villain, and I liked how that wasn't the case here.
The writing was engaging and fun. I'll definitely look for more books from Mae Coyiuto in the future!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 1, 2023
I have to thank my friend for putting Chloe and the Kaishao Boys on my radar because otherwise, I would have never gotten to reading this wonderfully heartwarming story. The family dynamics and the friendships between the characters were portrayed so well and that's what made this book a 5 star read for me. The romance was so freaking adorable and I was just smiling so hard at so many scenes.
I can't wait to read more of what Mae Coyiuto writes!!!
I can't wait to read more of what Mae Coyiuto writes!!!
October 26, 2023
“If strangers hate my work at least they’re only criticizing what I put out there. What if the person who’s supposed to know me best doesn’t like how I express myself?”
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto is a YA coming-of-age romcom about Filipino Chinese Chloe Liang who’s being set up by her family on a series of arranged dates in an effort to get her to stay in the Philippines instead of leaving to study animation in the University of Southern California, after being taken off the waitlist.
I am obsessed with this book. This was so incredibly funny and was written with so much heart. I was laughing out loud so many times and by the end I was tearing up. There’s also queer rep somewhere in here but it is a spoiler so I’m not going to talk about that too much. This book deserves so much more hype because it is seriously, SERIOUSLY good. I was laughing at the dad’s jokes, the comical best friend, and the play on the meaning on different Filipino words like mahal.
This book seriously felt as if I turned to the first page and I stepped into Manila. It just has so *much* Filipino culture, and more than that, Chinese-Filipino culture which is so underrepresented in literature, in general. While I’m not close to my Filipino Chinese heritage, I’m way more Filipino than Filipino-Chinese, so much of what was in the prose made me feel at home. I don’t think I’ve been so happy reading a book. The intersectionality of these two group lends to a very unique and niche culture, which I, as part Chinese, found so incredibly beautiful to read.
You have the Kaishao, which is the Hokkien word for ‘introduce’ is basically a matchmaking practice common among Filipino Chinese to, more often than not, preserve the Chinese community in the Philippines. You also have a debut which a traditional Filipino coming of age ceremony that happens at 18 that is very similar to the Spanish quinceañera. I myself have been part of debut dances and although I hated it, they were core memories growing up.
To be clear, this is not a love triangle, and neither is it a why choose. It’s pretty straightforward where this particular romance is going to go relationship-wise but I found so much beauty in Chloe’s journey. Each kaishao boy was beautifully complex and they were all given enough time on page that I grew to love all the secondary characters as much as I loved Chloe. I rooted for all of them, for very different reasons.
I love the beautiful exploration into complex family dynamics and the gut-wrenching exploration into the subliminal racism and colonial mindset that most, if not all Filipinos possess to a degree. I ached for Chloe as she struggled to find joy in herself and how she attempted to process the far-reaching negative effects of familial expectations. I saw myself so much in her and it was really beautiful how she grew to love herself and found peace and acceptance for her future.
Mae Coyiuto is now an autobuy author for me. I fell in love with every single part of this book because beyond the comedy, beyond the beautiful prose, and beyond these amazing characters, I did not know I needed this particular kind of representation in my life until I read it.
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto is a YA coming-of-age romcom about Filipino Chinese Chloe Liang who’s being set up by her family on a series of arranged dates in an effort to get her to stay in the Philippines instead of leaving to study animation in the University of Southern California, after being taken off the waitlist.
I am obsessed with this book. This was so incredibly funny and was written with so much heart. I was laughing out loud so many times and by the end I was tearing up. There’s also queer rep somewhere in here but it is a spoiler so I’m not going to talk about that too much. This book deserves so much more hype because it is seriously, SERIOUSLY good. I was laughing at the dad’s jokes, the comical best friend, and the play on the meaning on different Filipino words like mahal.
This book seriously felt as if I turned to the first page and I stepped into Manila. It just has so *much* Filipino culture, and more than that, Chinese-Filipino culture which is so underrepresented in literature, in general. While I’m not close to my Filipino Chinese heritage, I’m way more Filipino than Filipino-Chinese, so much of what was in the prose made me feel at home. I don’t think I’ve been so happy reading a book. The intersectionality of these two group lends to a very unique and niche culture, which I, as part Chinese, found so incredibly beautiful to read.
You have the Kaishao, which is the Hokkien word for ‘introduce’ is basically a matchmaking practice common among Filipino Chinese to, more often than not, preserve the Chinese community in the Philippines. You also have a debut which a traditional Filipino coming of age ceremony that happens at 18 that is very similar to the Spanish quinceañera. I myself have been part of debut dances and although I hated it, they were core memories growing up.
To be clear, this is not a love triangle, and neither is it a why choose. It’s pretty straightforward where this particular romance is going to go relationship-wise but I found so much beauty in Chloe’s journey. Each kaishao boy was beautifully complex and they were all given enough time on page that I grew to love all the secondary characters as much as I loved Chloe. I rooted for all of them, for very different reasons.
I love the beautiful exploration into complex family dynamics and the gut-wrenching exploration into the subliminal racism and colonial mindset that most, if not all Filipinos possess to a degree. I ached for Chloe as she struggled to find joy in herself and how she attempted to process the far-reaching negative effects of familial expectations. I saw myself so much in her and it was really beautiful how she grew to love herself and found peace and acceptance for her future.
Mae Coyiuto is now an autobuy author for me. I fell in love with every single part of this book because beyond the comedy, beyond the beautiful prose, and beyond these amazing characters, I did not know I needed this particular kind of representation in my life until I read it.
April 29, 2023
Chloe and The Kaishao Boys was such a sweet, entertaining and relatable book! YA books with the *coming-of-age* factor is such a tricky topic to handle, but the author did it perfectly. Even though the book is marketed primarily as a rom-com, I personally think that the story was more about the family dynamics and Chloe's dreams ~ and I have no regrets about that. :')
I loved getting to know about the dynamics of Chinese-Filipono culture so much through Chloe's story! Her inner monologues were sometimes so relatable, and made me laugh a lot. I tabbed a lot of hilarious passages and I think I'll be going back & re-reading them from time to time 😂 I loved the friendships so much. Chloe and Cia melted my heart with how incredibly wholesome their friendship was. And then the relationship with a certain someone was explored in an unique way too. It wasn't straight-forward like other YA romances, and I really appreciated that the author wrote the romance that way. The story wasn't all rainbows and butterflies though. We got see some characters struggle with their identity, and I think the author handled that subject with a lot of care. The heavy topics of the book were balanced out with the cheesy, hilarious moments. Reading the book was such a great ride!!
I loved Chloe's relationship with her father so much. It was realistic and showcased the struggle that many of us Asian kids face while communicating with our parents. A lot of quotes + incidents about Chloe leaving her home for studying in the USA hit really close to home too. (If you didn't know, I am an international student from Bangladesh studying in Malaysia) I was sobbing the whole time while reading the last few chapters. My parents said similar things to me like Chloe's dad did before she left home. ❤️
Highly recommend!
Many thanks to Times Reads Distribution for the free review copy in exchange of an honest review.
I loved getting to know about the dynamics of Chinese-Filipono culture so much through Chloe's story! Her inner monologues were sometimes so relatable, and made me laugh a lot. I tabbed a lot of hilarious passages and I think I'll be going back & re-reading them from time to time 😂 I loved the friendships so much. Chloe and Cia melted my heart with how incredibly wholesome their friendship was. And then the relationship with a certain someone was explored in an unique way too. It wasn't straight-forward like other YA romances, and I really appreciated that the author wrote the romance that way. The story wasn't all rainbows and butterflies though. We got see some characters struggle with their identity, and I think the author handled that subject with a lot of care. The heavy topics of the book were balanced out with the cheesy, hilarious moments. Reading the book was such a great ride!!
I loved Chloe's relationship with her father so much. It was realistic and showcased the struggle that many of us Asian kids face while communicating with our parents. A lot of quotes + incidents about Chloe leaving her home for studying in the USA hit really close to home too. (If you didn't know, I am an international student from Bangladesh studying in Malaysia) I was sobbing the whole time while reading the last few chapters. My parents said similar things to me like Chloe's dad did before she left home. ❤️
Highly recommend!
Many thanks to Times Reads Distribution for the free review copy in exchange of an honest review.
August 31, 2025
Predictable, but cute :))
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