Hi Val! Great review!
I'm currenly reading this right now - I'm like, 28% through it? I'm enjoying it so far, especially since I'm listening to the audiobook, which is brilliantly narrated. (I'm not sure if I would like it as much if I was reading it or something, haha!) *So far* I'm not the biggest fan of Monty, but I adore Percy. I can't wait to see how the story and the characters develop. <3

YAY Jeann! Already said this on Twitter but I'll say it again, I'm really happy you're joining us for #AsianLitBingo!
I love your choices so much - I really enjoyed Empress of a Thousand Skies, so I hope you do too!
I've been wanting to read Outrun the Moon for a long, long time, and I definitely can't wait to read Always and Forever, Lara Jean. (Almost typed Jeann there! XD) I'm waiting for my copy to come from BD too... I hope it arrives soon, but at the same time, I don't want the series to end.

Here's my TBR! https://readthinkponder.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/... :D

I hope you have a lovely May and that you enjoy your books. <3 Happy reading!

YASSS JEANN. So many amazing choices and I'm so excited for you!
YAY YAY about Not Your Sidekick! I can't wait for you to read it and I really, really hope you enjoy it! ❤

I really hope you enjoy More Happy Than Not too! It's such a heartbreaking book but so so profound and wonderful in its own way.

I... Someone pitched it as similar to Mass Effect?! HOW THOUGH? HOW? How are they similar?
I read Zenith too and oh boy, I just don't understand it at all. I don't understand the appeal of supposed *"BADASSES"* with no depth. And I really agree with you - it IS ToG in space.
But you're right hehe, at least it wasn't too long! I'm not going to continue either... I just don't think it will appeal to me!

VAL!! Oh gosh, thank you for mentioning my blog. ;~; *gives you a squish*
AHHH I loved that you read The Abyss Surrounds Us! I read it too and I REALLY enjoyed it - it was so unique and pretty darn awesome. And, I haven't read Scythe but I really want to!
HAHA Zenith... I'm going to hop on to your review and leave a comment for that. XD

I can't wait for It's Not Like It's A Secret as well!! I have such high hopes for it that I might even preorder it... and I never ever preorder!

CONGRATS on finishing all the questions!! I read it all, and if it makes you feel better, it didn't feel long at all! I feel like I want to fill this out but I've already planned my posts until the end of the year... AH WELL! X'D
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Ahhhh, great review Jeann!
I'm starting this book tonight sooooo I find this review helpful. I will read it with my eyes wide open! I hope I love it though - I've heard so many great things about it and idk I JUST feel like I need to like this book. *fingers and toes crossed*!
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I won't lie, I showed my sister photos of Toby and we just gushed over him and his adorable smiley face. I can't wait to see more photos of him!! He is so adorable and just arghhhhh T________T
I can't wait til I can get a dog...
ONE DAY.
My recent post Book Recs: #OwnVoices of 2016!

YAY! I'm so glad you enjoyed this book, Aila. <3
I finished this last month and it was my first Stacey Lee book - I loved her writing and the story so, so much.
I agree with you that we needed more Kali and Mim - I loved the realism of their friendship, that it wasn't all wrapped up nicely in the end because RL friendships aren't always like that, but I wanted a little more interaction between the two, especially at the end!

Wonderful review, Aila! :)
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Ahhh Val! Thank you so so so much for sharing my post. You are wonderful!

Oh my goodness, that SoC duology box... it's beautiful. *U* I've yet to pick up Crooked Kingdom for the same reasons! Hype scares me. I generally don't like hyped up things (even though all the reviews have been GLOWING and I haven't seen a negative review yet). Have you started reading though?

GAH your cat is adorable!! Her facial expression is just too precious too, it made me laugh, hehe.

Ohh! How is grad school? Sorry for my ignorance, but what are you pursuing/studying? I'm thinking of returning to study next year but ugrhghhh life decisions. X(

Hi Jeann, sorry in advance, this is going to be a heck of a reply.

Thank you for weighing in on this topic, Jeann. To be honest, you've voiced my thoughts exactly. Misrepresentation grinds my gears more than lack of representation - in saying that, it's not that I'd prefer to be not represented at all, but seeing a part of me twisted into something unrecognizable and based completely on stereotypes (coughCindercoughcough) and then for people to say "YAS THIS BOOK IS CHINESE INSPIRED! WAAHOOOO!! #DIVERSITY! *shares book and puts said book on a pedestal for most amazing representation every (exaggeration)" deepens my exhaustion.

I get the 'Catch-22' that authors are faced with, but really, it's not good enough for them to say 'well damned if I do, damned if I don't', and write rubbish anyway. I agree with you - my Mandarin is asinine but even I could have told Meyer that her honorifics were used completely wrong. It is not hard to consult with someone who is Chinese or has lived experience/understanding of Chinese culture. If authors are aware that they are treading on ground that is outside their knowledge and understanding, the simple answer is to research. thoroughly.

If authors are willing to research 842342390 ways to murder someone with a fork for their story, they should be willing to research a culture. And I am certain that there are plenty of people who would be more than happy and comfortable to share their knowledge.

"Books that simply mention or feature cultural representation are simply capitalising on the fact that we’re all hungry for diversity." YES, YES, YES. And I appreciate that we're getting 'seen', and I guess it's a baby step, but we definitely have a long way to go. I'll admit, my kneejerk reaction when I see an Asian character on screen/in a book is OMG YES FINALLY! *clings onto them for dear life* but, as you said, it's because I am deprived. But, it's not enough to slap an ethnicity onto someone and call it a 'diverse' book. That does nothing to create truly, meaningful diverse narratives that can broaden our perspectives and understandings of each other.

ANYWAY, I harp on about this book all the time, but 'For Today I Am a Boy' is brilliant and really captures a dysfunctional family dynamic that is torn between a traditional Chinese and 'Western' perspective. I recently read a book called 'Black, White and Other', which deals with mixed identity.
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