PRAISE FOR BOYS:
“[A] complex coming-of-age story about identity and sexuality.” –New York Times
“A fresh tale about a teen’s struggles to define herself.” –Kirkus starred review
“Gracia employs a whirlwind pace that complements… a true-to-life teen voice to explore societal gender roles, racism, and sexuality” –Publisher’s Weekly starred review
“[A] refreshingly sex-positive coming-of-age YA” –Shelf Awareness starred review
“Fresh, funny, and fearless—a knockout novel about finding the courage to declare your place in the world.” – Sarah Kuhn, From Little Tokyo, with Love
“An honest, humorous story full of candor that explores the pressures of growing up Asian American, teen identity and sexuality, and finding room to forge your own path” – Suzanne Park, Sunny Song Will Never be Famous
“A touching exploration of the way teens navigate different relationships in their lives, and what it really means to not settle.” – Sonia Hartl, The Lost Girls
A high school senior navigates messy boys and messier relationships in this bitingly funny and much-needed look into the overlap of Asian American identity and teen sexuality.
June Chu is the “just good enough” girl. Good enough to line the shelves with a slew of third-place trophies and steal secret kisses from her AP Bio partner, Rhys. But not good enough to meet literally any of her Taiwanese mother’s unrelenting expectations or to get Rhys to commit to anything beyond a well-timed joke.
While June’s mother insists she follow in her (perfect) sister’s footsteps and get a (full-ride) violin scholarship to Northwestern (to study pre-med), June doesn’t see the point in trying too hard if she’s destined to fall short anyway. Instead, she focuses her efforts on making her relationship with Rhys “official.” But after her methodically-planned, tipsily-executed scheme explodes on the level of a nuclear disaster, she flings herself into a new relationship with a guy who’s not allergic to the word “girlfriend.”
But as the line blurs between sex and love, and the pressure to map out her entire future threatens to burst, June will have to decide on whose terms she’s going to live her life—even if it means fraying her relationship with her mother beyond repair.
ORDER NOW!
YAsian22 swag pack
Order* any of these 6 other (in addition to mine, of course!) YA Asian debut novels and submit your receipt for a chance to enter a grand prize giveaway from each author! There are multiple chances to win!
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.
Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of Wuhanese-American by Laura Gao
Insightful, original, and hilarious, toggling seamlessly between past and present, China and America, Gao’s debut is a tour de force of graphic storytelling.
The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim
A sparkling K-drama inspired debut teen novel by Grace Shim, THE NOH FAMILY introduces irrepressibly charming teen Chloe Kang, who is reunited with her deceased father’s estranged family via a DNA test, and is soon whisked off to Seoul to join them…
The Loophole by Naz Kutub
Your wish is granted! This YA debut is equal parts broken-hearted love story, epic myth retelling, and a world-journey romp to find home.
Seoulmates by Susan Lee
Her ex-boyfriend wants her back. Her former best friend is in town. When did Hannah’s life become a K-drama?
The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Pride and Prejudice in this delightful and heartfelt rom-com about a Bangladeshi American teen whose meddling mother arranges a match to secure their family’s financial security—just as she’s falling in love with someone else.
*library requests also accepted, multiple entries allowed
author anna gracia 