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There's No Such Thing as a Skinny Bibik
Longlisted for the 2021 Epigram Books Fiction Prize
“Nonya Charlie aka Charlene Neo is a charmingly contradictory heroine in the true Peranakan and adventure tradition…with a touch of romance thrown in.” –Ovidia Yu, author of The Cannonball Tree Mystery
Charlie has always been too tall, too skinny and too wild to ever be considered a proper nyonya. Her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are always looking on in disapproval, yet Charlie knows she must follow her heart in career and in love. That becomes complicated when three men fight for her affection, a major smuggling ring must be investigated and the paparazzi cannot get enough of her!
“Nonya Charlie aka Charlene Neo is a charmingly contradictory heroine in the true Peranakan and adventure tradition…with a touch of romance thrown in.” –Ovidia Yu, author of The Cannonball Tree Mystery
Charlie has always been too tall, too skinny and too wild to ever be considered a proper nyonya. Her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are always looking on in disapproval, yet Charlie knows she must follow her heart in career and in love. That becomes complicated when three men fight for her affection, a major smuggling ring must be investigated and the paparazzi cannot get enough of her!
- GenresFiction
328 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2022
11 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Chua
3 books6 followersSandra Chua is a former magazine editor and meddlesome mother of three exasperated daughters. In addition, she's an avid bookworm, K-drama addict and Domestic Goddess wannabe. There Is No Such Thing as a Skinny Bibik is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 20, 2023
This book provided good insight into the Peranakan culture and practices. The attention to detail in the writing was admirable. Some lines were laugh-out-loud funny.
However, there were too many characters and I was craving for more time with our main female lead, Charlie. There wasn’t a good flow with how the story unfolded, but I am certainly interested in the future works of this writer.
However, there were too many characters and I was craving for more time with our main female lead, Charlie. There wasn’t a good flow with how the story unfolded, but I am certainly interested in the future works of this writer.
July 1, 2022
Look past the title which doesn't tell you what sort of book it is. I thought it was autobiographical initially. The genre is somewhat as Brad said a Peranakan Crazy Rich Asians, only not entirely that rich and not just romcom. I did not expect to enjoy the book, but I did and found it to be something of a page turner at the start and at the end. Pacing might be picked up in the middle. However, worth staying with. Charlie Neo is a feisty Nonya heroine who becomes more comfortable in her own skin, is sublimely unaware of her allure as an attractive woman of strong character. Her three male admirers are all worthy of consideration. Although one is suspiciously trying too hard to be macho and may well be in search of a fag hag, we will have to await further developments.
The insight into Nonya family life is detailed and authentic, from the folklore and fashion to the food details and family values. The tantalising hints of romance between Charlie and an old childhood playmate is tantalising because it hangs on a thread that is dangled before us and just out of reach. I demand satisfaction in a proper development in a sequel. In this book, the romance is a typical Chinese romance - girl starts off fighting or disliking boy, before girl falls hard for boy and boy cuts ties to save girl from being endangered by association with him.
The subplot involving flash backs to the matriarch during the Japanese Occupation in Malaya is captivating. The details seem as though taken from some families' oral history. The skeletons in the Neo family cupboard could equally fall out of any other family cupboard of the period.
It is these skeletons and the tantalising unfinished romance that hint at future sequels.
This first novel is perhaps unevenly paced, but it is highly likely that subsequent instalments will be surer and defter. I look forward to further developments.
The insight into Nonya family life is detailed and authentic, from the folklore and fashion to the food details and family values. The tantalising hints of romance between Charlie and an old childhood playmate is tantalising because it hangs on a thread that is dangled before us and just out of reach. I demand satisfaction in a proper development in a sequel. In this book, the romance is a typical Chinese romance - girl starts off fighting or disliking boy, before girl falls hard for boy and boy cuts ties to save girl from being endangered by association with him.
The subplot involving flash backs to the matriarch during the Japanese Occupation in Malaya is captivating. The details seem as though taken from some families' oral history. The skeletons in the Neo family cupboard could equally fall out of any other family cupboard of the period.
It is these skeletons and the tantalising unfinished romance that hint at future sequels.
This first novel is perhaps unevenly paced, but it is highly likely that subsequent instalments will be surer and defter. I look forward to further developments.
March 29, 2025
I sense a theme in my readings…being the odd one out and a reluctant heroine in her life? The book has more of a “Tangled” vibe than “Cinderella”, a story spanning a few decades of a Peranakan family.
February 13, 2023
Promising plot, but some of the storylines were abit too dramatic and required some suspension of belief. A few characters were too good to be true, and came across as caricatures.
December 1, 2023
3.5 rounded up. I enjoyed this book.
Chua goes into Charlie’s feelings of always feeling like an outsider in a manner that highlighted the complexities and intricacies of growing up as a young Peranakan in a modern society, contrasted by her elders’ traditionalist thoughts and practices. I liked how Charlie’s internal monologue was portrayed, showing her affection for her family yet trying to come to terms with the fact that who she is will never be what they want her to be. I learnt a lot about Peranakan culture reading this, which is great as the only other exposure to Peranakan culture in Singapore that I had was ‘The Little Nyonya’ drama series.
What I would have loved to see more of is interactions between Charlie and the people around her. We are made aware of the elder characters’ hurts from their pasts in the form of flashbacks (each a chapter) which gives an insight as to why they behave the way they do. It did get dragged out and kinda repetitive towards the end - I skimmed through the last flashback. I think it would be more interesting to build Charlie’s + her family’s development by showing how Charlie, as someone who always felt like an outsider in her own family, hears and learns from her elders of these experiences that deeply impacted them. l would have loved to see these characters boil over and hash things hout, and to see the process of these characters learning to communicate better with each other and understand their differences.
The secret spy bit also threw me off and sometimes took me off from the story, and i also thought the love plot was rather forced too and it seems every available guy that Charlie comes into contact into is somehow sooooo into her LOL
Chua goes into Charlie’s feelings of always feeling like an outsider in a manner that highlighted the complexities and intricacies of growing up as a young Peranakan in a modern society, contrasted by her elders’ traditionalist thoughts and practices. I liked how Charlie’s internal monologue was portrayed, showing her affection for her family yet trying to come to terms with the fact that who she is will never be what they want her to be. I learnt a lot about Peranakan culture reading this, which is great as the only other exposure to Peranakan culture in Singapore that I had was ‘The Little Nyonya’ drama series.
What I would have loved to see more of is interactions between Charlie and the people around her. We are made aware of the elder characters’ hurts from their pasts in the form of flashbacks (each a chapter) which gives an insight as to why they behave the way they do. It did get dragged out and kinda repetitive towards the end - I skimmed through the last flashback. I think it would be more interesting to build Charlie’s + her family’s development by showing how Charlie, as someone who always felt like an outsider in her own family, hears and learns from her elders of these experiences that deeply impacted them. l would have loved to see these characters boil over and hash things hout, and to see the process of these characters learning to communicate better with each other and understand their differences.
The secret spy bit also threw me off and sometimes took me off from the story, and i also thought the love plot was rather forced too and it seems every available guy that Charlie comes into contact into is somehow sooooo into her LOL
October 29, 2023
It’s giving Sophie Kinsella vibes — chick lit with likeable (sort of) heroine who gets into all sorts of misadventures. This novel was a breezy read; finished it in a day with jet lag, and covers four generations in a storied Peranakan family: Swee Lian, Susie/ Henry, Jasmine/ Alistair, Charlie/ Beatrice/ Alex. There is adventure: human trafficking, animal poaching, parties, paparazzi, a robbery gone awry.
Despite this being fun, there are tropes I didn’t quite enjoy about this book. The most glaring one is the “I’m not like other girls” stereotype which applies to the protagonist Charlene Neo. She is a tomboy (other girls go to a resort to get a massage, I go to a resort to climb trees), klutzy but always pulls herself together at the last minute, youngest girl, eats a lot but is skinny, pretty but nonchalant, has a good personality…? And she draws men — not just losers but all the eligible bachelors into her orbit, at some point getting into a love triangle… reads like a web novel to me (or I’ve simply outgrown the Sophie Kinsella books and cannot suspend my disbelief enough to fully enjoy it).
Also this has the typical Asian family angst, like in Crazy Rich Asians and Everything Everywhere All At Once about strict parents and children disappointment… a bit of a yawn.
Still, I know how hard it is to write a book, and it was enjoyable to read up more about the Peranakan culture. Yet this moneyed culture is already very storied to begin with, and I’d like to see something more mainstream about the everyman.
Despite this being fun, there are tropes I didn’t quite enjoy about this book. The most glaring one is the “I’m not like other girls” stereotype which applies to the protagonist Charlene Neo. She is a tomboy (other girls go to a resort to get a massage, I go to a resort to climb trees), klutzy but always pulls herself together at the last minute, youngest girl, eats a lot but is skinny, pretty but nonchalant, has a good personality…? And she draws men — not just losers but all the eligible bachelors into her orbit, at some point getting into a love triangle… reads like a web novel to me (or I’ve simply outgrown the Sophie Kinsella books and cannot suspend my disbelief enough to fully enjoy it).
Also this has the typical Asian family angst, like in Crazy Rich Asians and Everything Everywhere All At Once about strict parents and children disappointment… a bit of a yawn.
Still, I know how hard it is to write a book, and it was enjoyable to read up more about the Peranakan culture. Yet this moneyed culture is already very storied to begin with, and I’d like to see something more mainstream about the everyman.
November 22, 2025
I first got the book There’s No Stopping This Skinny Bibik and didn’t realize it’s a sequel to the first book, There’s No Such Thing As A Skinny Bibik. I put it on hold until I got this book and read it.
Charlie Neo has always been too tall, too skinny and too different to be called a proper nyonya. But Charlie knows she must follow her heart when it comes to career and love, despite the disapprovals of her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. When three men are trying to get her attention, with a major smuggling ring keeping her occupied plus the news around is not in her favor, Charlie’s world is turn upside down.
I love learning about Peranakan culture and tradition and appreciate the author giving us a glimpse that will make you want to learn more.
The story is more like a family drama, following Charlie’s life, discovering who she really is. Growing up she feels like an outsider and as she gets older, I like that she comes to terms with who she is and who she wants to be without being swayed to be the person everyone wants her to be. We also see a bit background of her mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and understand them better. Each generation has their own hardships and challenges that made them who they are. But Charlie knows who she is and is comfortable with herself. What I didn’t expect and I think doesn’t go with the story is her work background. It was like trying to fit something in the story to make it more exciting, to have something interesting in her line of work. But just Charlie and her family are enough to keep me going with her story.
Now I want to read the second book. The third book just came out, The Skinny Bibik Seeks Her Perfect Baba and can’t wait.
Charlie Neo has always been too tall, too skinny and too different to be called a proper nyonya. But Charlie knows she must follow her heart when it comes to career and love, despite the disapprovals of her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. When three men are trying to get her attention, with a major smuggling ring keeping her occupied plus the news around is not in her favor, Charlie’s world is turn upside down.
I love learning about Peranakan culture and tradition and appreciate the author giving us a glimpse that will make you want to learn more.
The story is more like a family drama, following Charlie’s life, discovering who she really is. Growing up she feels like an outsider and as she gets older, I like that she comes to terms with who she is and who she wants to be without being swayed to be the person everyone wants her to be. We also see a bit background of her mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and understand them better. Each generation has their own hardships and challenges that made them who they are. But Charlie knows who she is and is comfortable with herself. What I didn’t expect and I think doesn’t go with the story is her work background. It was like trying to fit something in the story to make it more exciting, to have something interesting in her line of work. But just Charlie and her family are enough to keep me going with her story.
Now I want to read the second book. The third book just came out, The Skinny Bibik Seeks Her Perfect Baba and can’t wait.
December 18, 2023
Miss Congeniality meets Crazy Rich Asians.
Okay, that’s an oversimplification, but your reaction to that, I suspect, may be a good indicator on whether you’d enjoy this way more than I did.
Because I found this book tedious to read with its overwhelming amount of characters, trope-y twists, and flashbacks that felt way too mechanical to emotionally latch on to.
I grabbed this book because it promised an insight into Peranakan culture in Singapore, and on that front, it did that well. However, story-wise, I found myself rolling my eyes at the myriad of coincidences and contrivances that I could never suspend my disbelief long enough. It felt like a whole season of soap opera condensed into 300ish pages.
I know now that I was definitely not the target audience for this, and that was my fault. I just saw the delightful cover and the blurb mentioning Peranakan culture, and then the Epigram logo, and grabbed the book without second thought.
On personal taste, I would’ve given this a 2-star, but since I’m clearly not the target audience, I added an extra star.
Okay, that’s an oversimplification, but your reaction to that, I suspect, may be a good indicator on whether you’d enjoy this way more than I did.
Because I found this book tedious to read with its overwhelming amount of characters, trope-y twists, and flashbacks that felt way too mechanical to emotionally latch on to.
I grabbed this book because it promised an insight into Peranakan culture in Singapore, and on that front, it did that well. However, story-wise, I found myself rolling my eyes at the myriad of coincidences and contrivances that I could never suspend my disbelief long enough. It felt like a whole season of soap opera condensed into 300ish pages.
I know now that I was definitely not the target audience for this, and that was my fault. I just saw the delightful cover and the blurb mentioning Peranakan culture, and then the Epigram logo, and grabbed the book without second thought.
On personal taste, I would’ve given this a 2-star, but since I’m clearly not the target audience, I added an extra star.
April 25, 2025
Book 085 of 350 ~ 2025
🌟🌟🌟💫
I enjoyed parts 1 and 2... when part 3 came in, I was a tad puzzled because it didn't seem to flow, right? like suddenly there was this need to add in some crazy rich Asians feel just because...
I do have to admit that in spite of that, the Peranakan culture, including the patois, was wonderful to read.
For the most part, I did enjoy the writing, and I hope the flow is better in book 2:) Likeable characters, too.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to @epigrambooks for this ebook:)
#book085of350 #netgalley #amreading #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2025 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds
🌟🌟🌟💫
I enjoyed parts 1 and 2... when part 3 came in, I was a tad puzzled because it didn't seem to flow, right? like suddenly there was this need to add in some crazy rich Asians feel just because...
I do have to admit that in spite of that, the Peranakan culture, including the patois, was wonderful to read.
For the most part, I did enjoy the writing, and I hope the flow is better in book 2:) Likeable characters, too.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to @epigrambooks for this ebook:)
#book085of350 #netgalley #amreading #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2025 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds
March 11, 2023
While I think the pacing was a bit uneven and the main protagonist was kinda underwhelming, I really like the journey and the other female characters' stories. The mom, the grandma and we understand the intergenerational trauma they experience. At first I feel the grandma was really really infuriating, but after reading on her story, I pity her. This woman is hardened by time and burdens. At the end of the day, we all have to understand that every generation have their own challenge and it is all about love and respect.
August 30, 2025
The storyline itself is a lark. A handful of stuff that would not happen in modern Singapore. However, the little anecdotes telling the backstories of the various side characters are certainly interesting and do carry bits that could really have happened.
How I wish there are really leatherback turtles swimming in Singapore waters ...
How I wish there are really leatherback turtles swimming in Singapore waters ...
May 13, 2022
a peranakan crazy rich asians
November 29, 2023
Too many things going on all at once.
February 12, 2024
It feels like reading an FTV 🤣
March 30, 2024
A fun family drama serial centred around Peranakan customs.
October 1, 2024
Cute but more of a young adult book.
December 1, 2024
Actual rating: 3.5/5
There were some parts that had me cringing but I love reading Asian family stories, especially the Southeast ones.
There were some parts that had me cringing but I love reading Asian family stories, especially the Southeast ones.
June 1, 2025
Easy read, typical love triangle story line, appreciate the Peranakan culture details within the story though 👍🏽
June 13, 2025
love the plot, writing style was aight, would read the sequel
dropped
June 20, 2025Dropped.it was interesting at the start but started to feel like a kids book halfway
October 22, 2025
In a family where the culture is rich & well-preserved by the ancestors & older generations, there will be a time where the younger generation have to adapt the culture in modern times but still acknowledged of why it was done. This book, There's No Such Thing As A Skinny Bibik by Sandra Chua, really shows in the story with the preservation of Peranakan culture in Singapore.
I tell you this, the starting of the book was fun, I get to know the main character, Charlene (or Charlie) and her background in terms of her job as an undercover agent to uncover illegal wildlife traficking ring in Singapore, met her old friends & BOOM LOVE TRIANGLE AWAITS. I truly appreciate parts of the Peranakan culture & beliefs that were in the plot, made me wanna learn more about it.
But here's where it gets all confusing, the family lore dump. I get that it was necessary to learn more about Charlie's family history & about Charlie herself for the plot but I think technicality wise, it could be refined into a much more nicer flow to the plot. A nice try for a debut book though.
Towards the ending, I was wondering about one of Charlie's friend (or lover if you have read the book) that got away. And boiiiii do I have news for you, you need to continue that part of the story on the 2nd book. Great.... A cliff hanger but not so much of a cliff hanger as the story in the 1st book has concluded IMO. But damn... Not so memorable of a story but I adored the Peranakan culture that was included in the book
I tell you this, the starting of the book was fun, I get to know the main character, Charlene (or Charlie) and her background in terms of her job as an undercover agent to uncover illegal wildlife traficking ring in Singapore, met her old friends & BOOM LOVE TRIANGLE AWAITS. I truly appreciate parts of the Peranakan culture & beliefs that were in the plot, made me wanna learn more about it.
But here's where it gets all confusing, the family lore dump. I get that it was necessary to learn more about Charlie's family history & about Charlie herself for the plot but I think technicality wise, it could be refined into a much more nicer flow to the plot. A nice try for a debut book though.
Towards the ending, I was wondering about one of Charlie's friend (or lover if you have read the book) that got away. And boiiiii do I have news for you, you need to continue that part of the story on the 2nd book. Great.... A cliff hanger but not so much of a cliff hanger as the story in the 1st book has concluded IMO. But damn... Not so memorable of a story but I adored the Peranakan culture that was included in the book
September 10, 2025
Easy to read and good insight about Peranakan culture.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews