Welcome to Litsy!

3/5⭐ This is a cute, fun, simple romance. The characters felt one-dimensional. I never got a feel for Ellie's personality or why Vanya would be attracted to her. Ellie seemed immature, and her reactions to her ex being pretty much the same as her feelings for Vanya made it difficult to believe in the new relationship. #buzzwordathon

2.5/5⭐ Eh. A quick, mispell-laden adventure through friendship and life. It felt cursory and didn't really resonate with me. #buzzwordathon

3/5⭐ The description implies it's a love story, but it's really not. This book takes place during the decline/assimilation of Jewish culture in Kaifeng, China in the 1800s & the tensions that result. The afterword about the historical context is helpful. There's a common theme throughout of sadness vs happiness that I found thoughtful. The midpoint takes a wild turn that I didn't think fit with the tone of what came before or after. #buzzwordathon

4/5⭐ Really fun, cute, relatable, and heartfelt. Perfect for fans of Catana Comics and Sarah Andersen. #Buzzwordathon

3.5/5⭐ As a romance story, it felt over before it even began, as did the plotline of the birthday party. The text needed a proofreader.

However, the daily realities of the characters living in the intersection of their identities felt very real, genuine, and down-to-earth with nuance and experiences I, at least, haven't seen much in fiction.

#buzzwordathon #52bookclub24 chapter headings have dates