I love that there are so many more books out there now that deal with people from non-white, non-American, non-British cultures! Like this one that is set in Indonesia and features two narrators, one who is an American-born half-Indonesian, and one who has been brought up in Indonesia.
After getting caught by her mother in an uncompromising position with her boyfriend, Sharlot's mother whisks her off to Indonesia to spend time with the extended family she's never met. Despite Sharlot asking about Indonesia, her mother has always been loathe to discuss it, so Sharlot's perception of what the country might be like, and her attitude toward it are seriously skewed.
George is the son of one of Indonesia's wealthiest and most successful businessmen and has been primed since birth to take over at least some part of the family business. When he's caught in an embarrassing position by his father and younger sister, George is told in no uncertain terms that he needs to get a girlfriend to improve his public image.
Sharlot's mother and George's father each take their kids' phones and strike up a conversation via a social media app. When Sharlot and George find out, they are furious and mortified, but grudgingly agree to meet. Both are certain the "date" will be a disaster and organise rapid exit strategies.
But neither expect the media to show up, or their large, extended families.
Before they know it, George and Sharlot are basking in the lap of luxury in a Bali resort with cameras following their every move. Despite it all being for show, and despite both their reticence to get to know each other better, the pair soon find themselves enjoying each others' company.
But can a relationship based on lies ever become true love?
I enjoyed the examination of Chinese-Indonesian culture in this book, particularly the peculiarities both kids point out. I feel like the view of the country was rather sanitised, viewed as it was through very privileged people whose lives are clearly very different to those of ordinary people. While Indonesia's attitudes to LGBTQ+ people are touched on, it's a pretty light touch and the fact that homosexuality is actually illegal in Indonesia is never mentioned.
It would be interesting to read another book set in the same country but from the POV of an indigenous Indonesian (not of Chinese ancestry) and whose circumstances are less rarified to compare them.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read that definitely plays into the fantasy of suddenly being swept into the lap of luxury and treated like a princess. Not really realistic, but not the worst way to spend an afternoon!
But don't just listen to me. Here's the blurb:
An outrageous, laugh-out-loud YA rom-com about a girl who's whisked from LA to her mother's native Indonesia to get back to her roots and finds herself fake-dating the son of one of the wealthiest families there, from the author of Dial A for Aunties.
After Sharlot Citra's mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother's native Indonesia. It'll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.
When George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.
To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot's mother and George's father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.
When the kids find out about their parents' actions, they're horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?
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