Sunday, August 2, 2020

Review: Dating Makes Perfect by Pintip Dunn


DATING MAKES PERFECT
by Pintip Dunn
Entangled Teen
YA Romance
400 pages


COMING...
AUGUST 18th!!!




The Tech sisters don’t date in high school. Not because they’re not asked. Not because they’re not interested. Not even because no one can pronounce their long, Thai last name—hence the shortened, awkward moniker. But simply because they’re not allowed.

Until now.

In a move that other Asian American girls know all too well, six months after the older Tech twins got to college, their parents asked, “Why aren’t you engaged yet?” The sisters retaliated by vowing that they won’t marry for ten (maybe even twenty!) years, not until they’ve had lots of the dating practice that they didn’t get in high school.

In a shocking war on the status quo, her parents now insist that their youngest daughter, Orrawin (aka “Winnie”), must practice fake dating in high school. Under their watchful eyes, of course—and organized based on their favorite rom-coms. ’Cause that won’t end in disaster.

The first candidate? The son of their longtime friends, Mat Songsomboon—arrogant, infuriating, and way too good-looking. Winnie’s known him since they were toddlers throwing sticky rice balls at each other. And her parents love him.

If only he weren’t her sworn enemy.

          




MY TIDBITS

Enemies become best friends and more in a super cute back-and-forth, which leaves giggles, smiles and all sorts of good feelings

Winnie is the third of three Tech sisters (Tech because their last name causes difficulty for most Americans to pronounce). Her older, twin sisters are perfect in every way, leaving her in shadows she can never surpass. There's only one problem. The older sisters insist they won't get married for at least twenty years thanks to not being allowed to date in high school and having no 'guy' experience. The parents realize that their rule of not dating in high school (but yet, they expect their daughters to be married quickly thereafter) might have backfired. So, Winnie gets the chance her sisters never did; she should date. Of course, the usually dating process in the US won't do. Instead, they want her to 'practice' date...which would be weird but okay. Unfortunately, they choose the one guy Winnie would rather die than date. They choose her worst enemy.

This book is sweet and oh-so-cute. The setting—parents from India trying to maintain the ethics and culture in the US—might strike some readers as odd, since the idea of marriage is a bit different. But that makes the story that much more fun. The girls aren't really against their parents' ideas...not completely. But on the other hand, they do have some of their own ideas they stand up for. There's a wonderful sense of family as especially Winnie struggles to find her own way when stuck between the very two different worlds. I love the fact that she never loses respect for her parents and the traditions, but tries to weave everything together as best as she can.

The romance side of this one is simple adorable. Winnie's dislike for Mat, her arch-enemy, has history, and it's easy to understand why things have run amok between them. But the chemistry is also there from the very start. It's hilarious to watch the two go back and forth as they try to handle the situation. All along there are the other issues surrounding her family and friends. It slides together nicely to form a tale, which is easy to read and simply a delight to join in on.


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