Solving for First Love
Book Reviews for Solving for the Unknown & First Love Language
Solving for the Unknown by Loan Le
Transitioning from high school to postsecondary can feel overwhelming for many, particularly for those who have been raised in a protective environment as the children of immigrants. This may be their first taste of independence and “freedom” away from their families. Given that this is such a pivotal chapter in adolescent life, it's surprising that there aren't more young adult novels that explore this important time of personal growth and change. More than just another love story, I appreciated how Solving for Unknown captured the unique experiences of young Vietnamese Americans in college with Evie and Viet’s journey. I love seeing the different family dynamics with Evie being the eldest daughter and Viet being the only child. Despite their differences, I love how their common cultural background was illustrated both in the way they communicate with their parents using a mixture of Vietnamese and English words and in how both their mothers are always worrying about whether they’ve eaten, which is basically the Vietnamese mothers’ love language. I know Solving for the Unknown was marketed as a YA romance; however, this book was light on the romance as both characters are dealing with other more pressing concerns in their lives for most of the book. And honestly, the romance in the book felt like its weakest element. Viet's feelings seemed to appear out of nowhere, and it was not clear that Evie reciprocated until much later. Maybe their connection makes sense in the end because they truly see each other, but the way their relationship unfolded was poorly developed that I’m unsure if I preferred them as friends. The real magic of Solving for the Unknown lies with the individual journeys of Evie and Viet, along with their family ties and the “Saturday Sins” group. An emotional and heartwarming read, Loan Le’s follow-up to her debut novel was well worth the almost four years wait!
First Love Language by Stefany Valentine
While I’m aware of the limitations and perhaps criticism that “The Five Love Languages” might face, I still believe it can be a solid starting point when getting to know people. This concept also lays the groundwork for the unique premise of Stephany Valentine’s debut novel. However, more than just a teenage love story, First Love Language brilliantly captures the journey of a biracial teenager as she seeks to understand her Asian identity and rediscover her Taiwanese roots. Amidst family struggles, romantic feelings, and the weight of loss, her story unfolds in a community that can feel quite regressive. Given that Catie’s story is inspired by the author’s lived experiences, I found First Love Language to be a sincere exploration of first love and the journey of self-discovery. Catie's internal struggle is vividly portrayed in the book as she yearns to embrace her Taiwanese roots, all the while burdened by the fear of upsetting her adoptive mother, a White Mormon. Additionally, the tender, slow-burn romance between Catie and Toby brings a charming warmth to the overall arc of Catie’s story. Although, I really wish we could have experienced more of their "practice dates" that drew inspiration from the “five love languages.” The way the word "language" is woven into the title of this book is truly beautiful, as it not only alludes to the "five love languages" but also to Catie's gradual reconnection with Mandarin. Even if you’re not an interracial adoptee, if you come from a multilingual background, you may be able to relate to Catie’s struggles and traumas in her language-relearning journey. Ultimately, First Love Language delivered on the adorable and effortlessly smooth read I had hoped it would be.
Read If You Liked: From Little Tokyo, with Love by Sarah Kuhn
Early copies of these titles were generously provided to me by the publisher for review. However, the above reviews consists of my honest opinion of the books and my opinion only.
