What do you think?
Rate this book
Love & Resistance
Seventeen-year-old Olivia Chang is at her fourth school in seven years. Her self-imposed solitude is lonely, but safe. At Plainstown High, however, Olivia’s usual plan of anonymity fails when the infamous Mitzi Clarke (influencer, queen bee, bully) makes a pointed racist comment in class. Olivia knows what she must do: let it go. But Olivia is tired of ignoring things just so she can survive. This time, she defends herself.
That is the end of her invisible life.
Soon, Olivia discovers, and joins forces with, the Nerd Net: a secret society who has been thwarting Mitzi’s reign of terror for months. Together, they plan to unite the masses and create true change at Plainstown High.
But in order to succeed, Olivia must do something even more terrifying than lead a movement: trust other people. She might even make true friends along the way . . . if Mitzi doesn’t destroy her first.
That is the end of her invisible life.
Soon, Olivia discovers, and joins forces with, the Nerd Net: a secret society who has been thwarting Mitzi’s reign of terror for months. Together, they plan to unite the masses and create true change at Plainstown High.
But in order to succeed, Olivia must do something even more terrifying than lead a movement: trust other people. She might even make true friends along the way . . . if Mitzi doesn’t destroy her first.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2023
22 people are currently reading
6432 people want to read
About the author
Kara H.L. Chen
3 books73 followersKara H.L. Chen is a Taiwanese American writer who received her MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. Her debut novel, LOVE & RESISTANCE, was a 2024 finalist for the Ohioana Book Award and was included in the 2024 “Recommended Literature List” for Grades 9-12 by the California Department of Education. She is also the author of ASKING FOR A FRIEND, which was a 2025 finalist for the Ohio Book Award (formerly the Ohioana Book Award) and included in the 2026 Choose to Read Ohio booklist.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
July 8, 2023
• BOOKSTAGRAM •
First chapter title “Welcome to Painstown” and you know this book is gonna be filled with the teenage drama! This story follows Olivia (Livvy) Chang, who is an Asian American 17 year old who starts at her fourth school due to her mom being in the military and she lands up in Plainstown, Ohio.
She hits it off with another introverted quiet kid during lunch (Griff) when she’s forced to make a quick decision on where the heck should she sit??
There’s the head mean girl fully equipped with a posse — Mitzi, a gorgeous biatch who can’t be bothered with school since she has photo shoots and tiktoks and gigs lined up during the afternoon and school is just such a cramp in her style.
The mean girl squad starts a war with Livvy for standing up for herself and Griff whisks her away into the library where Livvy is welcomed by a group called the Nerd Net, where their mission is to create equality and stomp out the bad guys while staying hidden. This story turned out to actually be cute while dealing with the petty drama on high school that looking back I also had in my school but now being older I wish I could just shout to all the kids to not worry it’s just a speed bump on the long road which is your life.
If you liked this—read this:
🟣 Kind of a big deal by Shannon Hale
🟣 The upside of falling by Alex Light
🟣 Posted by John David Anderson
🟣 The girl least likely by Katy Loutzenhiser
Read if you like:
🔸angsty teen drama
🔸coming of age stories
🔸tight group of friends
🔸young love
Some content warnings:
🔺high school bullying
🔺racism
🔺divorce/broken families
First chapter title “Welcome to Painstown” and you know this book is gonna be filled with the teenage drama! This story follows Olivia (Livvy) Chang, who is an Asian American 17 year old who starts at her fourth school due to her mom being in the military and she lands up in Plainstown, Ohio.
She hits it off with another introverted quiet kid during lunch (Griff) when she’s forced to make a quick decision on where the heck should she sit??
There’s the head mean girl fully equipped with a posse — Mitzi, a gorgeous biatch who can’t be bothered with school since she has photo shoots and tiktoks and gigs lined up during the afternoon and school is just such a cramp in her style.
The mean girl squad starts a war with Livvy for standing up for herself and Griff whisks her away into the library where Livvy is welcomed by a group called the Nerd Net, where their mission is to create equality and stomp out the bad guys while staying hidden. This story turned out to actually be cute while dealing with the petty drama on high school that looking back I also had in my school but now being older I wish I could just shout to all the kids to not worry it’s just a speed bump on the long road which is your life.
If you liked this—read this:
🟣 Kind of a big deal by Shannon Hale
🟣 The upside of falling by Alex Light
🟣 Posted by John David Anderson
🟣 The girl least likely by Katy Loutzenhiser
Read if you like:
🔸angsty teen drama
🔸coming of age stories
🔸tight group of friends
🔸young love
Some content warnings:
🔺high school bullying
🔺racism
🔺divorce/broken families
July 24, 2023
first off thank you so much to @booksparks for sending me this, i loved being apart of the july book club pick!
now lets get into the review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
this was such a fun and enjoyable read! i loved the pacing of it, it was really easy to read. the overall concept is so fun, a secret society of nerds rebelling against the system?? amazing! and it definitely did not disappoint, i loved the overall vibes of it, it was silly, and made me laugh a lot.
the cast of characters was fantastic as well, i loved how each of them were individually unique and how you could tell how close they were to eachother. the little romance subplot in here was also ADORABLE and really realistic for a YA book, which is hard to find sometimes!
overall I loved this book, and I absolutely recommend it for a light, feel good book, that also dips into some deeper topics!
now lets get into the review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
this was such a fun and enjoyable read! i loved the pacing of it, it was really easy to read. the overall concept is so fun, a secret society of nerds rebelling against the system?? amazing! and it definitely did not disappoint, i loved the overall vibes of it, it was silly, and made me laugh a lot.
the cast of characters was fantastic as well, i loved how each of them were individually unique and how you could tell how close they were to eachother. the little romance subplot in here was also ADORABLE and really realistic for a YA book, which is hard to find sometimes!
overall I loved this book, and I absolutely recommend it for a light, feel good book, that also dips into some deeper topics!
Want to read
December 10, 202110.12.21 here for a secret society of students intent on ending the school's culture around bullying.
September 10, 2023
"i knew that not everyone deserved forgiveness. but you can seek understanding without granting agreement or absolution."
as a 30-year-old adult with a low tolerance for YA meandering and angst, this was a 2-star read. i settled on 4 stars because this would've been great for me growing up or even 5 years ago when i still loved YA contemporaries and found them relatable. i'm in a part of my life where i don't like seeing my lived experiences and traumas. i'm okay with the fact that they exist in entertainment and i will consume them every now and then, but i want joy and not constant trauma. if there's suffering, i want justice and big payoffs—like i'm talking theatrical levels of payoff. readers will not find that here. don't let the cute cover fool you: this book is not in short supply of racism and online and offline bullying.
love and resistance was a 2-star read for a number of reasons. the protagonist, olivia, spends about 80% of the book dogging the main antagonist, a wretched rich white girl named mitzi, for enjoying makeup and being feminine. it distracted from the fact that mitzi was an asshole because olivia was also being an asshole. she spends a paragraph realizing her internalized misogyny, coming to grips with it, and then moving on. by that time, i was already fatigued by the sexism, bullying, and failed attempts at revenge. there were a lot of non-resolutions similar to olivia's self-actualizing. i know the novel is about quiet resistance and small victories—which is fine—but the parts that made those things interesting were padded between enormous chunks of anecdotal history and introspection. for example, the grandpa's resistance was talked about every so often, but i don't need to hear about him almost every chapter when he's a character with no speaking roles. someone can correct me on this but i don't even think he's alive? again, massive respect to him and those like him, but this wasn't his story. the strengths of this book were bogged down by mediocrity: the mid romance/love interest, too many side characters that i couldn't differentiate, and too much of the story was stuck in the past instead of being present. the love interest reminded me of noah centineo in any of his romcoms and he was even less of a side character and more of an extra in the background. for too much of this book, i found myself rolling my eyes and literally yelling, "who cares!?"
overall, this book is important. teenagers and young adults should learn about our history, our struggles, and see what small victories could look like. people from that age range don't have the confidence to become activists or vocal champions but they should see examples of what they can do to resist bigotry and hateful conduct. i plan on letting teens in my life read this book and hope they learn these important lessons. i liked that the protagonist has a good relationship with her mom, she makes efforts to understand her family history, and that she is a fighter albeit a misguided one for much of the book. i encourage people to read the audiobook (i listened while reading physically) which you can do on libby if you have access to it. josephine huang did a great job narrating! i also share olivia's love of potatoes, especially fried potatoes and i'm craving them now 😂
thank you so much, my book bestie melissa for gifting me this book 💖
as a 30-year-old adult with a low tolerance for YA meandering and angst, this was a 2-star read. i settled on 4 stars because this would've been great for me growing up or even 5 years ago when i still loved YA contemporaries and found them relatable. i'm in a part of my life where i don't like seeing my lived experiences and traumas. i'm okay with the fact that they exist in entertainment and i will consume them every now and then, but i want joy and not constant trauma. if there's suffering, i want justice and big payoffs—like i'm talking theatrical levels of payoff. readers will not find that here. don't let the cute cover fool you: this book is not in short supply of racism and online and offline bullying.
love and resistance was a 2-star read for a number of reasons. the protagonist, olivia, spends about 80% of the book dogging the main antagonist, a wretched rich white girl named mitzi, for enjoying makeup and being feminine. it distracted from the fact that mitzi was an asshole because olivia was also being an asshole. she spends a paragraph realizing her internalized misogyny, coming to grips with it, and then moving on. by that time, i was already fatigued by the sexism, bullying, and failed attempts at revenge. there were a lot of non-resolutions similar to olivia's self-actualizing. i know the novel is about quiet resistance and small victories—which is fine—but the parts that made those things interesting were padded between enormous chunks of anecdotal history and introspection. for example, the grandpa's resistance was talked about every so often, but i don't need to hear about him almost every chapter when he's a character with no speaking roles. someone can correct me on this but i don't even think he's alive? again, massive respect to him and those like him, but this wasn't his story. the strengths of this book were bogged down by mediocrity: the mid romance/love interest, too many side characters that i couldn't differentiate, and too much of the story was stuck in the past instead of being present. the love interest reminded me of noah centineo in any of his romcoms and he was even less of a side character and more of an extra in the background. for too much of this book, i found myself rolling my eyes and literally yelling, "who cares!?"
overall, this book is important. teenagers and young adults should learn about our history, our struggles, and see what small victories could look like. people from that age range don't have the confidence to become activists or vocal champions but they should see examples of what they can do to resist bigotry and hateful conduct. i plan on letting teens in my life read this book and hope they learn these important lessons. i liked that the protagonist has a good relationship with her mom, she makes efforts to understand her family history, and that she is a fighter albeit a misguided one for much of the book. i encourage people to read the audiobook (i listened while reading physically) which you can do on libby if you have access to it. josephine huang did a great job narrating! i also share olivia's love of potatoes, especially fried potatoes and i'm craving them now 😂
thank you so much, my book bestie melissa for gifting me this book 💖
July 8, 2023
This was Kara H.L. Chen's debut novel and I don't think it could've been better.
While coming of age stories where there is a high school bully are not unique I think this one was. The aspect of creating a revolution, not to destroy someone but just to show them how they are hurting people was different.
When I first started this it definitely gave off some Mean Girl vibes which I am always down for, but I also heard Les Miserables playing in my head the entire time... "Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men..."
The main character Olivia has moved multiple times throughout her schooling and had decided that staying invisible was the only way to survive after she had been bullied in MS for her appearance and ethnicity.
When she meets Griff and partners up with him for a project she starts coming out of her shell. I loved that the story didn't focus on getting the mean kids by being mean back- I think it can be taken as an important lesson.
The side characters in the Nerd Net and the mom were so well written and I liked that they all had their own story.
I did cry when they started the final Phase and told their stories... I wish that those stories weren't realistic, but sadly I know how true and how mean kids can be.
I liked that the ending wasn't this elaborate thing where everyone has changed their ways and now everyone is nice ad loves each other. It was a much more realistic ending.
The romance was cute but was not the focus of the book IMO.
If you like YA books or coming of age stories this is one that you should pick up- IMMEDIATELY.
While coming of age stories where there is a high school bully are not unique I think this one was. The aspect of creating a revolution, not to destroy someone but just to show them how they are hurting people was different.
When I first started this it definitely gave off some Mean Girl vibes which I am always down for, but I also heard Les Miserables playing in my head the entire time... "Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men..."
The main character Olivia has moved multiple times throughout her schooling and had decided that staying invisible was the only way to survive after she had been bullied in MS for her appearance and ethnicity.
When she meets Griff and partners up with him for a project she starts coming out of her shell. I loved that the story didn't focus on getting the mean kids by being mean back- I think it can be taken as an important lesson.
The side characters in the Nerd Net and the mom were so well written and I liked that they all had their own story.
I did cry when they started the final Phase and told their stories... I wish that those stories weren't realistic, but sadly I know how true and how mean kids can be.
I liked that the ending wasn't this elaborate thing where everyone has changed their ways and now everyone is nice ad loves each other. It was a much more realistic ending.
The romance was cute but was not the focus of the book IMO.
If you like YA books or coming of age stories this is one that you should pick up- IMMEDIATELY.
January 21, 2023
I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing a chance at reading this really cute book.
Love & Resistance is a book about a girl who is targeted because of her race by a group of popular girls who make it their priority to set harsh boundaries and walls between them and those they consider beneath them. The girl herself is Asian and normally is a loner, quiet, and does not like to get involved with people she does not know. She is new to town (her mother travels a lot) and she doesn't get time to settle down and or make friends, but she has encountered racism.
One day at lunch, she sits next to a really pretty guy from her French class and they strike up a friendship and a quick romance. On a day when they were doing extra work in the science lab, the popular girl who spends a lot of time blogging / making influencer videos comes in and starts making comments about all the girls who are non white. The girl sticks up for her classmates which puts a target on her back. She goes through some tough bullying from the popular girl. Meanwhile, she gets invited to a group of people that seem to be a secret club that hits back against racism and bullying.
It's sad that a book that focuses on bullying and sticking up for those who share the same cred as you has a better job handling the romance than the actual message / morale of the story. The story really needed something big to happen and an escalation to the principal or superintendent of the school. Instead, teachers are non existent. There is also a point in which the mother finds out and wants to step in / handle it, but the girl says no. Her mother is pretty non-existent in the book as it is.
To me, it just didn't feel that authentic or 'real'. I wanted some serious actions or consequences to go down, but the fight always seemed to trickle off into someone explaining something away or never quite hitting the mark why bullying or racism is wrong.
Love & Resistance is a book about a girl who is targeted because of her race by a group of popular girls who make it their priority to set harsh boundaries and walls between them and those they consider beneath them. The girl herself is Asian and normally is a loner, quiet, and does not like to get involved with people she does not know. She is new to town (her mother travels a lot) and she doesn't get time to settle down and or make friends, but she has encountered racism.
One day at lunch, she sits next to a really pretty guy from her French class and they strike up a friendship and a quick romance. On a day when they were doing extra work in the science lab, the popular girl who spends a lot of time blogging / making influencer videos comes in and starts making comments about all the girls who are non white. The girl sticks up for her classmates which puts a target on her back. She goes through some tough bullying from the popular girl. Meanwhile, she gets invited to a group of people that seem to be a secret club that hits back against racism and bullying.
It's sad that a book that focuses on bullying and sticking up for those who share the same cred as you has a better job handling the romance than the actual message / morale of the story. The story really needed something big to happen and an escalation to the principal or superintendent of the school. Instead, teachers are non existent. There is also a point in which the mother finds out and wants to step in / handle it, but the girl says no. Her mother is pretty non-existent in the book as it is.
To me, it just didn't feel that authentic or 'real'. I wanted some serious actions or consequences to go down, but the fight always seemed to trickle off into someone explaining something away or never quite hitting the mark why bullying or racism is wrong.
April 9, 2024
imagine 'dead poets society' meets 'the perks of being a wallflower' meets 'mean girls' in the digital age… you get this! kara chen has a very readable style, which was why i managed to plow through this book in two days. i love the poets' relationship with each other and how that aspect contributed so much to the story and to olivia's character development. peter and carlie were legit adorable and very damn talented, and it was so nice to see their arc. heidi and will's relationship as well, and olivia and griff (tater tot phone, trauma bonding, in a room full of art i'd still stare at you trope) - i loved every single couple in this. and the characters were so easy to root for (minus mitzi, adeline, and dawn). the ending caught me off guard, but i was struck by how realistic it was; you can't always expect to directly overthrow the government. there were a few things i felt were missing from a five-star, but otherwise, the immigrant experience and anti-hierarchal bullying were super interesting narratives.
Read
April 16, 2023Very enjoyable.
August 24, 2023
Special thanks to Rylee from SparkPoint Studio and the publisher for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up!
TL;DR: Love & Resistance is a YA contemporary that has an intriguing premise and delivers on it too. The story covers some tough topics such as bullying, racism/xenophobia, and the toxicity of social media culture. Although it was at times heartbreaking and emotionally angsty, it was also powerfully hopeful and I appreciated the approach the author took to handling the tough situations that Olivia and her group of friends find themselves in. I'm sure many readers will be able to relate to this story and the experiences of these high schoolers. This was a great debut by Chen and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author puts out in the future.
Love & Resistance is set in a small town high school and is a powerful coming-of-age story about friendship, and standing up for yourself and others without compromising your integrity. This book sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions from anger, frustration and sadness to hope. We follow Olivia, an Asian-American high schooler who keeps to the fringes, strives to be invisible and passes her days noticed by as few people as possible. She has heartbreaking, although not uncommon, experiences enduring extreme bullying in her previous schools and in this new one, she simply wants to remain anonymous until she graduates. Through an unexpected turn of events, that's not how her year ends up going but along the way, she learns what true friendship means and she experiences tremendous personal growth as well.
Olivia is a smart and observant teenager who has a deep love for military tactics, history and politics influenced by her immigrant grandfather and her mother in the military. I loved the way she compared the high school popularity hierarchy to militant governments and compared historical military manoeuvres to their own resistance tactics. Maybe that doesn't sound like the most appealing subject to readers but the author doesn't linger, the story is well paced and I appreciated the uniqueness of the comparison in a YA contemporary; plus, it's not an inaccurate comparison! What I really admired was the growth of Olivia's character and how she has to overcome her own biases and judgement of others and learn how what you see on the surface or what people project to the public is not always the full story. Obviously, this doesn't excuse bullying and other nasty acts but standing up for yourself and resisting bullies does not mean they should be treated in the same demeaning and nasty way they treat others. I fully agree—even if it might mean that they don't immediately get the comeuppance you feel is warranted by their wrongdoings, and I loved how Olivia confronted her own actions and took accountability. While it did frustrate me, I respected that the author didn't make the bullies suddenly remorseful because that's not the reality for many.
The other thing I really loved about this book is the friendships. This self-proclaimed nerd group that acted as an "underground network" that worked to subvert the powerful group of populars at school was like a found family. Their friendship gave them space to be themselves and they were so supportive of each other while still encouraging one another to consider different perspectives and to always choose kindness to not stoop as low as their "oppressors". This was the first time Olivia had been surrounded by a steady group of friends and it was great to see her slowly open up and accept their friendship, albeit begrudgingly at first. There's also a very sweet romance between Olivia and Griff, and another couple in the friend group and it was SO ADORABLE—ah, those butterfly feels. 🥰
Overall, this was a really enjoyable YA contemporary and I'm glad that it was put on my radar!
TL;DR: Love & Resistance is a YA contemporary that has an intriguing premise and delivers on it too. The story covers some tough topics such as bullying, racism/xenophobia, and the toxicity of social media culture. Although it was at times heartbreaking and emotionally angsty, it was also powerfully hopeful and I appreciated the approach the author took to handling the tough situations that Olivia and her group of friends find themselves in. I'm sure many readers will be able to relate to this story and the experiences of these high schoolers. This was a great debut by Chen and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author puts out in the future.
Love & Resistance is set in a small town high school and is a powerful coming-of-age story about friendship, and standing up for yourself and others without compromising your integrity. This book sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions from anger, frustration and sadness to hope. We follow Olivia, an Asian-American high schooler who keeps to the fringes, strives to be invisible and passes her days noticed by as few people as possible. She has heartbreaking, although not uncommon, experiences enduring extreme bullying in her previous schools and in this new one, she simply wants to remain anonymous until she graduates. Through an unexpected turn of events, that's not how her year ends up going but along the way, she learns what true friendship means and she experiences tremendous personal growth as well.
Olivia is a smart and observant teenager who has a deep love for military tactics, history and politics influenced by her immigrant grandfather and her mother in the military. I loved the way she compared the high school popularity hierarchy to militant governments and compared historical military manoeuvres to their own resistance tactics. Maybe that doesn't sound like the most appealing subject to readers but the author doesn't linger, the story is well paced and I appreciated the uniqueness of the comparison in a YA contemporary; plus, it's not an inaccurate comparison! What I really admired was the growth of Olivia's character and how she has to overcome her own biases and judgement of others and learn how what you see on the surface or what people project to the public is not always the full story. Obviously, this doesn't excuse bullying and other nasty acts but standing up for yourself and resisting bullies does not mean they should be treated in the same demeaning and nasty way they treat others. I fully agree—even if it might mean that they don't immediately get the comeuppance you feel is warranted by their wrongdoings, and I loved how Olivia confronted her own actions and took accountability. While it did frustrate me, I respected that the author didn't make the bullies suddenly remorseful because that's not the reality for many.
The other thing I really loved about this book is the friendships. This self-proclaimed nerd group that acted as an "underground network" that worked to subvert the powerful group of populars at school was like a found family. Their friendship gave them space to be themselves and they were so supportive of each other while still encouraging one another to consider different perspectives and to always choose kindness to not stoop as low as their "oppressors". This was the first time Olivia had been surrounded by a steady group of friends and it was great to see her slowly open up and accept their friendship, albeit begrudgingly at first. There's also a very sweet romance between Olivia and Griff, and another couple in the friend group and it was SO ADORABLE—ah, those butterfly feels. 🥰
Overall, this was a really enjoyable YA contemporary and I'm glad that it was put on my radar!
May 7, 2024
What I liked:
-non toxic mother daughter relationship
-the discussions of how to build a resistance to take down school bullying is great. And weaving historical anti colonial movements/revolutions is very interesting (even though it’s odd to me to reference George Washington so much as an Asian girl who’s experiencing extreme racism at her HS 😅)
Not so much:
-I’m not that interested in reading about teenage influencers 😅
-lots of racism that can feel a bit over the top but maybe in some parts of the country Asian people still get them?
-I appreciate that the novel tries to strike a balance between changing the system vs seeking revenge. But I personally think the “villain” should have a different ending
-more telling than showing. The FMC will go into long monologues to convey the author’s message that takes me out of the story a bit
-non toxic mother daughter relationship
-the discussions of how to build a resistance to take down school bullying is great. And weaving historical anti colonial movements/revolutions is very interesting (even though it’s odd to me to reference George Washington so much as an Asian girl who’s experiencing extreme racism at her HS 😅)
Not so much:
-I’m not that interested in reading about teenage influencers 😅
-lots of racism that can feel a bit over the top but maybe in some parts of the country Asian people still get them?
-I appreciate that the novel tries to strike a balance between changing the system vs seeking revenge. But I personally think the “villain” should have a different ending
-more telling than showing. The FMC will go into long monologues to convey the author’s message that takes me out of the story a bit
July 9, 2023
This book is for all the underdogs! High school can be war and this YA debut sees a group of minorities, misfits and outcasts banding together to form a secret "Nerd Net" collective in which they work to get justice against the popular kids who constantly bully everyone else.
I loved that this book focused on the invisible students who often suffer from bullying (in person and cyber) that can result in dangerous or fatal results. Full of important messages about being true to yourself and taking the high road in life. This book is perfect for fans of Ace of spades or Margot Wertz takes it down.
Many thanks to Book Sparks, Quill Tree Books and the author for sending me a gorgeous #FinishedCopy in exchange for my honest review!!
⚠️CW: anti-Asian racism, cyber bullying
I loved that this book focused on the invisible students who often suffer from bullying (in person and cyber) that can result in dangerous or fatal results. Full of important messages about being true to yourself and taking the high road in life. This book is perfect for fans of Ace of spades or Margot Wertz takes it down.
Many thanks to Book Sparks, Quill Tree Books and the author for sending me a gorgeous #FinishedCopy in exchange for my honest review!!
⚠️CW: anti-Asian racism, cyber bullying
July 10, 2023
premise:
-Livvy (Olivia Chang) is at her 4th school in 7 years & feels she is an expert in the social structures that uphold high school hierarchical systems
-She understands that as one of the few AAPI kids in a small town (their high school has ~200 kids) her best route is to stay under-the-radar to prevent attacks/becoming a target of the popular/VIP kids
-One day, she speaks up and is no longer ~*~invisible~*~ and is then bullied by the VIP kids (they begin to make horrible TikTok videos about her and they go viral around the school)
-Livvy forms a friendship with Griff, & he then inducts her into the Nerd Net, a secret society that has tried to avert Mitzi & her VIP squad little by little
-The Nerd Net begins to anonymously inspire change at their high school
-Livvy is inspired by war and revolution tactics from history, that she learned from her grandpa
-Livvy begins to examine her own biases against groups/cliques, and forms more nuance in her thinking process
thoughts:
I absolutely loved this debut novel from Kara H.L. Chen !!!! Wow, this was exactly as the description says: whip smart! Kara is an excellent writer and infused such humor, wit, and earnest commentary in this story about bullying, identity, social systems, microcosms, intersectionality, justice and hope. When people disrespect the young adult (YA) genre, I want them to read books like this to get that bias out of their heads. Kara truly dropped the mic with this book - Livvy's delightful and hilarious inner thoughts, the high school setting, the historical context of past revolutions, the authentic and relatable dynamics between characters, & everything else !!!
Livvy is quite possibly my favorite young adult main character -- she is direct, self-assured, blunt, honest, borderline pessimist (but I think she's mostly a realist), and hilarious. Livvy's backstory with her dad especially gave us hints in the beginning of the book that there is more to her tough exterior than we see, but the way Kara unraveled this journey towards vulnerability and hope was beautiful. Most notably though, I thoroughly enjoyed her ruminations on history that her grandpa taught her. The reverence in which she speaks of him was so touching.
I also loved the side characters! Heidi & Will were so cute - I loved the ending moment with them heheheh !!! Peter was a champion of his friends, always excited and giving golden retriever energy, especially when talking about his girlfriend Carlie. Griff was the perfect love interest and first love for Livvy.
“Plainstown has tiny music and drama departments. This is what happens when you don’t invest in the arts.” Ethan lifted his glass. “Everyone turns into assholes.” All the poets cheered and clinked their cups together.
I was able to attend a book launch event at a local bookstore with Kara & Nicole Chen. Kara was absolutely just as hilarious, eloquent and compassionate as I imagined she'd be. I'm so excited to find a new local author to support, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
-Livvy (Olivia Chang) is at her 4th school in 7 years & feels she is an expert in the social structures that uphold high school hierarchical systems
-She understands that as one of the few AAPI kids in a small town (their high school has ~200 kids) her best route is to stay under-the-radar to prevent attacks/becoming a target of the popular/VIP kids
-One day, she speaks up and is no longer ~*~invisible~*~ and is then bullied by the VIP kids (they begin to make horrible TikTok videos about her and they go viral around the school)
-Livvy forms a friendship with Griff, & he then inducts her into the Nerd Net, a secret society that has tried to avert Mitzi & her VIP squad little by little
-The Nerd Net begins to anonymously inspire change at their high school
-Livvy is inspired by war and revolution tactics from history, that she learned from her grandpa
-Livvy begins to examine her own biases against groups/cliques, and forms more nuance in her thinking process
thoughts:
I absolutely loved this debut novel from Kara H.L. Chen !!!! Wow, this was exactly as the description says: whip smart! Kara is an excellent writer and infused such humor, wit, and earnest commentary in this story about bullying, identity, social systems, microcosms, intersectionality, justice and hope. When people disrespect the young adult (YA) genre, I want them to read books like this to get that bias out of their heads. Kara truly dropped the mic with this book - Livvy's delightful and hilarious inner thoughts, the high school setting, the historical context of past revolutions, the authentic and relatable dynamics between characters, & everything else !!!
Livvy is quite possibly my favorite young adult main character -- she is direct, self-assured, blunt, honest, borderline pessimist (but I think she's mostly a realist), and hilarious. Livvy's backstory with her dad especially gave us hints in the beginning of the book that there is more to her tough exterior than we see, but the way Kara unraveled this journey towards vulnerability and hope was beautiful. Most notably though, I thoroughly enjoyed her ruminations on history that her grandpa taught her. The reverence in which she speaks of him was so touching.
I also loved the side characters! Heidi & Will were so cute - I loved the ending moment with them heheheh !!! Peter was a champion of his friends, always excited and giving golden retriever energy, especially when talking about his girlfriend Carlie. Griff was the perfect love interest and first love for Livvy.
“Plainstown has tiny music and drama departments. This is what happens when you don’t invest in the arts.” Ethan lifted his glass. “Everyone turns into assholes.” All the poets cheered and clinked their cups together.
I was able to attend a book launch event at a local bookstore with Kara & Nicole Chen. Kara was absolutely just as hilarious, eloquent and compassionate as I imagined she'd be. I'm so excited to find a new local author to support, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
June 14, 2023
A cute, thought-provoking story about young love, finding your “group”, and being the change you want to see. 3.5 stars!
What I liked about the book:
1. I liked watching Olivia grow as a person. Starting out, she was a cynical, isolationist who was trying to stay out of the way so as to not draw attention to herself given previous bullying she had endured at other schools. By doing this, she not only allowed the bullying to continue, but she also mentally segregated everyone into groups of who she had to hurry by, who was safe to stand with, who was best to have lunch with, etc., which was really just another form of judgment. I liked seeing her interactions with Peter force her to realize that she was doing the same “groupings” and perpetuating the problem by ignoring it instead of resisting it.
2. I liked the misfit group of the Nerd Net, of course. We had Peter the poet with both a high IQ and a high EQ, Will the intense looking guy who turned out to be a real clown, Heidi the computer hacker who looked like a model, and Griff the de-facto leader who used to be one of the populars until he witnessed the bullying of his cousin. I loved that each of them had a true role in the story and served their group well. At first I thought Peter and Will would be interchangeable, but they quickly showed their individualities and what they contributed to the group!
3. I liked all the Nerd Net’s operations and the references to wars and the strategies historically employed. With Olivia learning a lot about wars from her Grandfather, she was able to be the “advisor” on all tactics the group took. I loved the references to various historical uprisings and how they were applied to the high school setting. It made it extra fun for this history lover.
4. I enjoyed the 3 romantic relationships within the Nerd Net (and they were all interracial!). We had:
Peter and his girlfriend Carlie: the couple known for being legends in the slam poetry community.
Will and Heidi: the ultimate “will-they-won’t-they” couple that everyone seems to know have feelings for each other but them.
Olivia and Griff: the main couple with the meet cute, inside jokes, and sizzling chemistry we got to feed off of for the entire story!
All of them were fun and cute, but I must say, Will and Heidi were my favorite!
What could have been better:
1. I understood the ending and why resistance was better than retaliation, but I still wanted to see more happen to Mitzi after all the bullying and racism she spewed. I guess the point here is that she was always going to blame others for the things wrong in her life, so she would never actually get the point. The author did well with this, and it makes sense, but I didn’t like it!
2. While I loved the strategy behind all of their operations, I did feel that some of them were repetitive. I found myself saying, “How is this different from what they already did?”
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Quill Tree Books, and Kara H.L. Chen for the opportunity to read this book. The review expressed above is honest and my own.
What I liked about the book:
1. I liked watching Olivia grow as a person. Starting out, she was a cynical, isolationist who was trying to stay out of the way so as to not draw attention to herself given previous bullying she had endured at other schools. By doing this, she not only allowed the bullying to continue, but she also mentally segregated everyone into groups of who she had to hurry by, who was safe to stand with, who was best to have lunch with, etc., which was really just another form of judgment. I liked seeing her interactions with Peter force her to realize that she was doing the same “groupings” and perpetuating the problem by ignoring it instead of resisting it.
2. I liked the misfit group of the Nerd Net, of course. We had Peter the poet with both a high IQ and a high EQ, Will the intense looking guy who turned out to be a real clown, Heidi the computer hacker who looked like a model, and Griff the de-facto leader who used to be one of the populars until he witnessed the bullying of his cousin. I loved that each of them had a true role in the story and served their group well. At first I thought Peter and Will would be interchangeable, but they quickly showed their individualities and what they contributed to the group!
3. I liked all the Nerd Net’s operations and the references to wars and the strategies historically employed. With Olivia learning a lot about wars from her Grandfather, she was able to be the “advisor” on all tactics the group took. I loved the references to various historical uprisings and how they were applied to the high school setting. It made it extra fun for this history lover.
4. I enjoyed the 3 romantic relationships within the Nerd Net (and they were all interracial!). We had:
Peter and his girlfriend Carlie: the couple known for being legends in the slam poetry community.
Will and Heidi: the ultimate “will-they-won’t-they” couple that everyone seems to know have feelings for each other but them.
Olivia and Griff: the main couple with the meet cute, inside jokes, and sizzling chemistry we got to feed off of for the entire story!
All of them were fun and cute, but I must say, Will and Heidi were my favorite!
What could have been better:
1. I understood the ending and why resistance was better than retaliation, but I still wanted to see more happen to Mitzi after all the bullying and racism she spewed. I guess the point here is that she was always going to blame others for the things wrong in her life, so she would never actually get the point. The author did well with this, and it makes sense, but I didn’t like it!
2. While I loved the strategy behind all of their operations, I did feel that some of them were repetitive. I found myself saying, “How is this different from what they already did?”
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Quill Tree Books, and Kara H.L. Chen for the opportunity to read this book. The review expressed above is honest and my own.
July 21, 2023
Eine tolle Highschool-Geschichte über eine Gruppe von Outcasts, die sich gegen das rassistische und elitäre System auflehnen. Die Autorin fasst hier ein sehr wichtiges und aktuelles Thema auf und ich konnte mich sehr mit der Protagonistin Olivia identifizieren.
CW: Rassismus, Mobbing, Gaslighting
CW: Rassismus, Mobbing, Gaslighting
September 11, 2023
I love delusional main characters who liken their lives to abnormal situations just to survive
Olivia is really into military strategy, and she specifically applies "isolationist politics" to her own life. She moves around a lot with her mom, changing schools, and she just blends in and stays quiet in order to stay out of drama. Things at her most recent school aren't different, until she gets into it (accidentally, of course) with a racist bully, and is thrust into her sights.
An underground group of misfits seeks her out - they call themselves the NerdNet, and they want to take popular Mitzi down.
So not only do we see Olivia and her group take steps to dismantle the hierarchy at their school, we also see Olivia make close friends and even find a crush in Griff, who was one of the first people to acknowledge her at school.
I think there were some really special conversations about racism. There was also some humanizing of the bully, which Olivia was initially (and validly) not very open to, but to eventually realize that they can deserve compassion for what they're going through at home even while not deserving it for how they treat others is a really poignant message!!!
The romance was super cute, the little pranks and plans the NerdNet had were a little silly, sort of like when Janice Ian tried to take down the Plastics, but yeah I think this is a super fun read for high schoolers and it has some important stuff to say too!
Olivia is really into military strategy, and she specifically applies "isolationist politics" to her own life. She moves around a lot with her mom, changing schools, and she just blends in and stays quiet in order to stay out of drama. Things at her most recent school aren't different, until she gets into it (accidentally, of course) with a racist bully, and is thrust into her sights.
An underground group of misfits seeks her out - they call themselves the NerdNet, and they want to take popular Mitzi down.
So not only do we see Olivia and her group take steps to dismantle the hierarchy at their school, we also see Olivia make close friends and even find a crush in Griff, who was one of the first people to acknowledge her at school.
I think there were some really special conversations about racism. There was also some humanizing of the bully, which Olivia was initially (and validly) not very open to, but to eventually realize that they can deserve compassion for what they're going through at home even while not deserving it for how they treat others is a really poignant message!!!
The romance was super cute, the little pranks and plans the NerdNet had were a little silly, sort of like when Janice Ian tried to take down the Plastics, but yeah I think this is a super fun read for high schoolers and it has some important stuff to say too!
July 27, 2023
It was fine I guess. The entire premise of this book centres around a group of students organising a plan to try to mobilise the rest of their student body to stand up against the social hierarchy of their school. It starts really nice conversations about why those placements even exist, who decided on them, how much everyone in it contributes to it and how much people are willing to risk to help change it — will people go out of their safety zones to change something and risk becoming “targets” for those at the top of the hierarchy? And while I truly think those are all worthy discussions and the book does a good enough job at them, it did feel to me like it would have been done even better outside of the YA umbrella. I understand why it is YA and why it is important to target that demographic with how much more visible and online that school bullying and torment has become, but it does hinder the book’s ability to explore them as deeply as the author possibly would have done if it had been maybe a New Adult novel. Also for a book called Love and Resistance the love part of it was very lacklustre. Then again the two leads weren’t all that exciting on their own so I couldn’t have expected much better from them coming together.
July 6, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an eARC, all opinions are my own.
This book was SO GOOD. The author flawlessly tackled so many important issues, such as racism, bullying, and many others. I really loved Olivia's character growth and her feelings were really relatable, especially as someone whose also experienced loneliness in school.
I have nothing but praise for this wonderful book.
This book was SO GOOD. The author flawlessly tackled so many important issues, such as racism, bullying, and many others. I really loved Olivia's character growth and her feelings were really relatable, especially as someone whose also experienced loneliness in school.
I have nothing but praise for this wonderful book.
February 17, 2023
This was such a unique, meaningful perspective on bullying and teenage life! The author built a meaningful world and thoughtful relationships for the characters. Overall, the connection between Olivia and the Nerd Net is purposeful and well-told. I think this is an important story about friendship and preservice in young adults today.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
December 11, 2023
if mean girls and dear evan hansen had a baby and it was raised by les miserables, you’d have love & resistance by kara h. l. chen. the only reason i gave this book four stars is because the writing style was a bit juvenile — definitely the younger side of YA, but i enjoyed it immensely nonetheless (i binged it in a day). the romance was a subplot, but unlike many romance books these days, the main couple were completely platonic friends first. and when the romantic relationship started developing, they stayed friends and genuinely enjoyed hanging out together. it was so refreshing and honestly made me ship them that much more because they’re so compatible as people and comfortable with each other.
i really like stories that prompt me to examine the decisions being made through a critical eye as far as morality, since the gray is much rarer than the black and white. this book definitely did that for me, and while i could see people being annoyed by the main character’s blindness to her own faults, i found it relatable and thought provoking. the story deals with racism, bullying, and cyber-bullying, and does not shy away from hard conversations that are so important for youths to have.
i thought it was interesting and delightfully unique how olivia picked specific military strategies from historical battles to apply in her situation — characters with a super niche hobby they’re total nerds about will always have my heart, which of course made the whole nerd net group really endearing. also, applause for found family in contemporary literature and can we normalize it please!!
all in all, a fun YA novel speaking on important topics, showing the audience that each person can make a difference, and delivering a lovely friends to lovers romance that had me squealing and giggling.
i really like stories that prompt me to examine the decisions being made through a critical eye as far as morality, since the gray is much rarer than the black and white. this book definitely did that for me, and while i could see people being annoyed by the main character’s blindness to her own faults, i found it relatable and thought provoking. the story deals with racism, bullying, and cyber-bullying, and does not shy away from hard conversations that are so important for youths to have.
i thought it was interesting and delightfully unique how olivia picked specific military strategies from historical battles to apply in her situation — characters with a super niche hobby they’re total nerds about will always have my heart, which of course made the whole nerd net group really endearing. also, applause for found family in contemporary literature and can we normalize it please!!
all in all, a fun YA novel speaking on important topics, showing the audience that each person can make a difference, and delivering a lovely friends to lovers romance that had me squealing and giggling.
November 20, 2023
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
In school Olivia is just trying to stay under the radar but when an incident catapults her into the spotlight, she realizes that she just might have to step into the bright beams. Love & Resistance is a book that balances the actions that have rippling side effects as well as friendship. It's about rebellion, about speaking out when we have to protect ourselves, and these pieces of ourselves we hide.
In school Olivia is just trying to stay under the radar but when an incident catapults her into the spotlight, she realizes that she just might have to step into the bright beams. Love & Resistance is a book that balances the actions that have rippling side effects as well as friendship. It's about rebellion, about speaking out when we have to protect ourselves, and these pieces of ourselves we hide.
April 4, 2024
⭐️4 and 1/2 stars ⭐️
olivia by one direction for no particular reason ☺️i loved how it talked about all stereotypes being harmful, and that it’s easy to group people on factors that don’t define them. which is something i’m working on and all of us are probably. lots of good monologues or whatever the thoughts in her head are called.
olivia by one direction for no particular reason ☺️i loved how it talked about all stereotypes being harmful, and that it’s easy to group people on factors that don’t define them. which is something i’m working on and all of us are probably. lots of good monologues or whatever the thoughts in her head are called.
May 30, 2023
Actual rating 2.5. Love & Resistance had a good message about fighting back to bullies and standing up for yourself when everyone is following the crowd. I would have liked the story better without the romance component or even less focus on the romance since the bullying and 'revenge' aspect was plot. The book was a quick read as Olivia and Griff, with the help of their friends, battled Mitzi and her path of destruction. Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC.
August 26, 2023
Chen really nailed the agony and ecstasy of teenager-hood in this smart, engaging, fast-paced story. Olivia is our tough-as-nails yet lovable heroine who reluctantly teams up with other loner classmates who turn out to be much more than meets the eye. Together, this group of hackers, poets, and nerds lead a resistance movement against the school bullies whose egos, insecurities, and racism have been making lives hell for too long. Along the way, Olivia learns how to let down her guard to friendship and love. This was a super fun read and I highly recommend it.
January 11, 2024
3.5-3.75/5
May 20, 2024
It's about a secretive group, crushes, and popular girls.
August 13, 2023
I was gifted this book in partnership with Booksparks for their July Book Club pick. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
2.5
cw: bullying, racism, doxxing
After relocating and moving schools countless times due to the fact that Olivia’s mother is in the military, she has developed this safeguard to survive and endure high school by doing everything in her power to keep her head down, and not stand out.
But when she lands at Plainstown High, Olivia’s normal routines start to veer off course once she speaks out against the school’s popular girl and bully, Mitzi.
At Plainstown, there’s this decentralized and anonymous group of five (now including Olivia), called the Nerd Nets, who have essentially started a revolution against the hierarchy that comes with the social structures of a school setting.
While they seem to have good intentions, they are also highly ambitious, and I’m not sure how much of a lasting impact this all will have once the targeted characters inevitably age out of high school, since there will always be this social pyramid and hierarchy in place.
The pacing in Love & Resistance felt very fast. I would have liked a bit more build-up with characters, and for the undercurrent of a redemption arc for the villain/bully of the story to have been introduced much later (20% is super early).
Tying into that last thought, I found it odd how a member of the Nerd Nets, who was at the core of all these actions against the oppressor, would simultaneously voice these sympathies within the group of how even the mean people can be going through things — which is true, but felt counterintuitive to everything they’ve been doing.
The way the characters took bullying to such a public and viral platform like TikTok made me a bit uncomfortable, though I guess it’s much more relatable to this generation of teens.
The ending left for some unsatisfaction on my part, and I would have hoped for more of a resolution (I don’t feel like Mitzi ever learned a genuine lesson here).
As for the romance, it wasn’t that fleshed out compared to the rest of the plot, and there was a tad too much political prose for my liking.
I don’t think books with bullying are for me, but I’m still glad I took the time to read this debut novel!
2.5
cw: bullying, racism, doxxing
After relocating and moving schools countless times due to the fact that Olivia’s mother is in the military, she has developed this safeguard to survive and endure high school by doing everything in her power to keep her head down, and not stand out.
But when she lands at Plainstown High, Olivia’s normal routines start to veer off course once she speaks out against the school’s popular girl and bully, Mitzi.
At Plainstown, there’s this decentralized and anonymous group of five (now including Olivia), called the Nerd Nets, who have essentially started a revolution against the hierarchy that comes with the social structures of a school setting.
While they seem to have good intentions, they are also highly ambitious, and I’m not sure how much of a lasting impact this all will have once the targeted characters inevitably age out of high school, since there will always be this social pyramid and hierarchy in place.
The pacing in Love & Resistance felt very fast. I would have liked a bit more build-up with characters, and for the undercurrent of a redemption arc for the villain/bully of the story to have been introduced much later (20% is super early).
Tying into that last thought, I found it odd how a member of the Nerd Nets, who was at the core of all these actions against the oppressor, would simultaneously voice these sympathies within the group of how even the mean people can be going through things — which is true, but felt counterintuitive to everything they’ve been doing.
The way the characters took bullying to such a public and viral platform like TikTok made me a bit uncomfortable, though I guess it’s much more relatable to this generation of teens.
The ending left for some unsatisfaction on my part, and I would have hoped for more of a resolution (I don’t feel like Mitzi ever learned a genuine lesson here).
As for the romance, it wasn’t that fleshed out compared to the rest of the plot, and there was a tad too much political prose for my liking.
I don’t think books with bullying are for me, but I’m still glad I took the time to read this debut novel!
May 7, 2023
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and represent my honest feelings. Huge thank you to HarperCollins and EpicReads for this opportunity.
Solving some problems is easy. They have simple solutions that can be implemented with little effort. The bullying that many students face on a daily basis, especially cyber bullying, is not one of those problems. But in the case of Love and Resistance by Kara H.L. Chen, the complexity of this problem helped create a novel that was both thought provoking and memorable.
Love and Resistance follows Olivia, who makes it her mission each day to simply be invisible so that she can survive the trials and tribulations of high school and graduate. However, when one of her classmates makes a racist comment, Olivia finds that she can no longer stay silent. By teaming up with a group of students known as the Nerd Net, she hopes to shed light on the issues of bullying and racism, and enact real change.
This book is remarkable for so many reasons, but it does one thing really well that I’ve personally never seen done before; it explores more than just one side of the larger issue of bullying. This starts early on as Peter, a poetry-loving member of the Nerd Net, tries to explain to Olivia that people are complex individuals with different motivations and goals that cause them to act in certain ways. This includes those that bully others. Peter also challenges Olivia to explore the preconceived notions she has about different clicks in her school. As the story progresses, you see that no character is free of fault or blame. Each side makes mistakes. For this reason, the book felt real and relatable.
But the story doesn’t stop at just presenting and exploring multiple sides of a complex problem. Towards the end of the novel, through the power of creative storytelling, the author presents some ideas that students might take and use in their own schools to combat any bullying that might be happening. This isn’t just a novel, it’s a call to action to combat bulling in the only way possible.
In regards to the presence and prevalence of a key romantic relationship. Our main character does have a love interest in Griff, a fellow student who has his own reasons for wanting to combat the bullying he sees going on in his school. There are some sweet, tender moments between Griff and Olivia, and their blossoming romance reads like a realistic slow-burn one might actually see playing out in the halls of a high school. This will capture romance fans like myself. However, the romance is never the main plot line of this novel, and the deeper themes of bullying and racism easily overpower it. So, if you enjoy romance (like I do), it is there. If you do not, you will still be satisfied with the key themes and main plot line.
In conclusion, this novel is nothing short of brilliant, and it needs to be taught in classrooms across the nation. I was honored to receive an advance reader’s edition and will be watching for this author’s next work!
Solving some problems is easy. They have simple solutions that can be implemented with little effort. The bullying that many students face on a daily basis, especially cyber bullying, is not one of those problems. But in the case of Love and Resistance by Kara H.L. Chen, the complexity of this problem helped create a novel that was both thought provoking and memorable.
Love and Resistance follows Olivia, who makes it her mission each day to simply be invisible so that she can survive the trials and tribulations of high school and graduate. However, when one of her classmates makes a racist comment, Olivia finds that she can no longer stay silent. By teaming up with a group of students known as the Nerd Net, she hopes to shed light on the issues of bullying and racism, and enact real change.
This book is remarkable for so many reasons, but it does one thing really well that I’ve personally never seen done before; it explores more than just one side of the larger issue of bullying. This starts early on as Peter, a poetry-loving member of the Nerd Net, tries to explain to Olivia that people are complex individuals with different motivations and goals that cause them to act in certain ways. This includes those that bully others. Peter also challenges Olivia to explore the preconceived notions she has about different clicks in her school. As the story progresses, you see that no character is free of fault or blame. Each side makes mistakes. For this reason, the book felt real and relatable.
But the story doesn’t stop at just presenting and exploring multiple sides of a complex problem. Towards the end of the novel, through the power of creative storytelling, the author presents some ideas that students might take and use in their own schools to combat any bullying that might be happening. This isn’t just a novel, it’s a call to action to combat bulling in the only way possible.
In regards to the presence and prevalence of a key romantic relationship. Our main character does have a love interest in Griff, a fellow student who has his own reasons for wanting to combat the bullying he sees going on in his school. There are some sweet, tender moments between Griff and Olivia, and their blossoming romance reads like a realistic slow-burn one might actually see playing out in the halls of a high school. This will capture romance fans like myself. However, the romance is never the main plot line of this novel, and the deeper themes of bullying and racism easily overpower it. So, if you enjoy romance (like I do), it is there. If you do not, you will still be satisfied with the key themes and main plot line.
In conclusion, this novel is nothing short of brilliant, and it needs to be taught in classrooms across the nation. I was honored to receive an advance reader’s edition and will be watching for this author’s next work!
July 30, 2023
Love & Resistance by Kara H. L. Chen is only my second YA of the year, and it did not disappoint!
We've got the typical high school setting and the same regular cliques we all remember, but also an underground movement working at bringing an end to the bullying and judgemental views the "others" have been facing.
I've really found myself avoiding YA due to the immaturity of the characters; yes, they need to be true to their age, but I just can't handle them being super naive and oblivious! So let me say I had none of those issues with the characters Chen created; I found them mature, but not too grown-up for their age.
This book just gave me all The Breakfast Club vibes, and I couldn't get that thought out of my mind as I read! I loved the gumption the main character Olivia and the Nerd Net had - and I could imagine them giving the famous fist bump at the end!
I quickly found myself immersed in this book, the underdog characters and the high school romance Olivia and Griff slowly discovered themselves in - and it was a perfect book to read on vacation!
Thank you Book Sparks for the complimentary copy to read and review.
We've got the typical high school setting and the same regular cliques we all remember, but also an underground movement working at bringing an end to the bullying and judgemental views the "others" have been facing.
I've really found myself avoiding YA due to the immaturity of the characters; yes, they need to be true to their age, but I just can't handle them being super naive and oblivious! So let me say I had none of those issues with the characters Chen created; I found them mature, but not too grown-up for their age.
This book just gave me all The Breakfast Club vibes, and I couldn't get that thought out of my mind as I read! I loved the gumption the main character Olivia and the Nerd Net had - and I could imagine them giving the famous fist bump at the end!
I quickly found myself immersed in this book, the underdog characters and the high school romance Olivia and Griff slowly discovered themselves in - and it was a perfect book to read on vacation!
Thank you Book Sparks for the complimentary copy to read and review.
April 18, 2024
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Fun and quirky, I thoroughly enjoyed Love & Resistance and the voice behind Livvy’s characterization that drives the story forward.
Relatable Storytelling
I instantly knew this book would be enjoyable when I saw that the first chapter was “Welcome to Painstown.” Here, we are given a little insight into Livvy and her background. Constantly on the move due to her mother being in the military, Livvy decided to make herself some rules to keep her head down and mostly unnoticed.
If she doesn’t make connections, it hurts less when she has to move. And being Asian doesn’t make her life any easier.
Livvy has such a significant voice in the story. How she challenges the racial stereotypes and racism led by the titular mean girl, Mitzi, makes her a formidable character.
But what also makes the story so good is how relatable it is.
Livvy was put into a box, but she doesn’t realize that she has also put people into boxes, generalizing them and stripping them of their identities to fit her narrative.
I love how the story challenges the idea of a mean girl just being a mean girl, a theatre kid just being a nerd, and a pretty girl being more than just pretty. Chen challenges and addresses all the stereotypes that go into high school and how people are categorized and put into boxes. Livvy may think she’s above this, but what she learns is that everyone is more complex than that.
Final Thoughts
Love & Resistance is a quick, relatable read following four young kids battling bullying, racism, and stereotypes while dealing with teenage hormones and angst.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Relatable and angsty, Love & Resistance pulls readers into high school drama, dealing with mean girls, racism, and what it means to be the new girl in town.
Fun and quirky, I thoroughly enjoyed Love & Resistance and the voice behind Livvy’s characterization that drives the story forward.
Relatable Storytelling
I instantly knew this book would be enjoyable when I saw that the first chapter was “Welcome to Painstown.” Here, we are given a little insight into Livvy and her background. Constantly on the move due to her mother being in the military, Livvy decided to make herself some rules to keep her head down and mostly unnoticed.
If she doesn’t make connections, it hurts less when she has to move. And being Asian doesn’t make her life any easier.
Livvy has such a significant voice in the story. How she challenges the racial stereotypes and racism led by the titular mean girl, Mitzi, makes her a formidable character.
But what also makes the story so good is how relatable it is.
Livvy was put into a box, but she doesn’t realize that she has also put people into boxes, generalizing them and stripping them of their identities to fit her narrative.
I love how the story challenges the idea of a mean girl just being a mean girl, a theatre kid just being a nerd, and a pretty girl being more than just pretty. Chen challenges and addresses all the stereotypes that go into high school and how people are categorized and put into boxes. Livvy may think she’s above this, but what she learns is that everyone is more complex than that.
Final Thoughts
Love & Resistance is a quick, relatable read following four young kids battling bullying, racism, and stereotypes while dealing with teenage hormones and angst.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
January 27, 2023
Forever bullied, Olivia Chang is just trying to make it through high school undetected. Her new school, Plainstown High in Ohio is nothing short of its name. As this is her fourth school in a short amount of time, she treats it no different and moves through the halls hoping to be invisible. Looking for a a safe place to eat lunch, she saddles up to a cute boy from her French class. They eat in silence everyday and share a glance or smirk every once in a while.
When Olivia finds herself assignment partners with her mysterious lunch buddy, she feels a sense of relief-even if she doesn’t know his actual name yet. That relief doesn’t last long when she finds herself in the crosshairs of resident mean girl, Mitzi Clarke and her number 2, Adeline. Olivia feels her invisibility cloak slipping away rapidly. The last straw snaps when Mitzi makes a racist comment and Olivia feels she has no choice but to snap back. So begins Mitzi and her minions’ reign of terror. Bullying isn’t cute ladies. Thankfully, her lunch buddy/French partner, whose real name is Alexander, but wants to be called Griff, has her back.
Enter the Nerd Net: a group of fellow invisible classmates who take standing up to bullying into their own hands, all while being incognito. Each member has a unique skill and their own distaste for one Mitzi Clarke and her band of followers. Olivia can’t believe the kindness and acceptance the group shows her and she slowly decides she can trust them. So begins a plan to overthrow the teenage social hierarchy. Will taking down the very people who hurt her be the revenge she’s looking for or will she turn into a monster herself along the way?
This was a great read-funny and insightful, a coming of age story. A tale of friendship and understanding. I enjoyed Olivia and I felt for her. Too many people get harassed and bullied for things far out of their control. I was happy to see her finally stick up for herself. This was fast paced and sent a message that I think a lot of high schoolers need to hear. The only thing that kind of upset me was that there were no actual consequences for the racist comments and bullying. At one point, Olivia’s mom said she was going to call the school, but it seemed that nothing came of that as no one was punished.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend giving it a read!
Thank you to Harper Collins, the author and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
When Olivia finds herself assignment partners with her mysterious lunch buddy, she feels a sense of relief-even if she doesn’t know his actual name yet. That relief doesn’t last long when she finds herself in the crosshairs of resident mean girl, Mitzi Clarke and her number 2, Adeline. Olivia feels her invisibility cloak slipping away rapidly. The last straw snaps when Mitzi makes a racist comment and Olivia feels she has no choice but to snap back. So begins Mitzi and her minions’ reign of terror. Bullying isn’t cute ladies. Thankfully, her lunch buddy/French partner, whose real name is Alexander, but wants to be called Griff, has her back.
Enter the Nerd Net: a group of fellow invisible classmates who take standing up to bullying into their own hands, all while being incognito. Each member has a unique skill and their own distaste for one Mitzi Clarke and her band of followers. Olivia can’t believe the kindness and acceptance the group shows her and she slowly decides she can trust them. So begins a plan to overthrow the teenage social hierarchy. Will taking down the very people who hurt her be the revenge she’s looking for or will she turn into a monster herself along the way?
This was a great read-funny and insightful, a coming of age story. A tale of friendship and understanding. I enjoyed Olivia and I felt for her. Too many people get harassed and bullied for things far out of their control. I was happy to see her finally stick up for herself. This was fast paced and sent a message that I think a lot of high schoolers need to hear. The only thing that kind of upset me was that there were no actual consequences for the racist comments and bullying. At one point, Olivia’s mom said she was going to call the school, but it seemed that nothing came of that as no one was punished.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend giving it a read!
Thank you to Harper Collins, the author and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews