Name: Mina Chan's review of I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
Item: I Believe in a Thing Called Love
Rating: 5
Author: Mina Chan

Maurene Goo

A disaster in romance, high school senior Desi Lee decides to tackle her flirting failures by watching Korean television dramas, where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love

Mina Chan

Vivi

3.5
No me gusta decir que un libro me decepcionó, pero sinceramente sí esperaba un poco más de este. Creo que Desi, para ser tan inteligente y asombrosa, me generó estrés.

alexandra

i binged this novel harder than a k-drama. 

I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE is sososososo hilarious, adorable, and heartwarming. as a person who loves korean dramas, this story was a dream come true. i couldn't help but laugh situations (and Desi's internal monologue!). although it was obviously cliché and predictable, i loved every second. <3333

Savindi Jinasena

Not even my pretty Matcha Bubble Tea bookmark could motivate me to finish this book. 

I know a book is bad when I keep having to ask my friend and reading buddy what the title was of this book. I honestly couldn't remember. 

There's a reason I don't watch kdrama rom-coms. I find most of the female lead characters unbearable and I have one friend who is constantly on the receiving end of my complaints about them. Moving aside from that I just couldn't stand Desi Lee. She reminded me of every kdrama rom-com female lead I couldn't stand. I couldn't understand her fascination with Luca who was so uninteresting. And I could not get behind her social experiment especially after it was revealed to me (view spoiler)[ that she purposely put his life along with hers in danger not only in Luca's dad's boat but also in his car.  (hide spoiler)]. Pardon my language but WTF?! What is wrong with you? How can someone who portrays herself as a person who is completely rational and has some morality do completely irrational things. 

Also I have to admit that I was disappointed (view spoiler)[ that the male love interest wasn't Asian. I just felt like it played into the whole notion that Asian men are unattractive and for a book that claims to make fun/parody kdramas that was surprising.  (hide spoiler)] 

The only thing that I really did like in this book was Desi's Appa. He was adorable and I really did liked the father/daughter relationship Desi and him had. 

I was looking forward to reading this book, but what a disappointment.

jess

This was a cute romance, and it will make you want to cover your face in second-hand embarrassment every 2 pages. It was good, though; I really like seeing East Asian protagonists and the whole k-drama tie-in was a nice touch. The romance was pretty well-written and Desi's character development was great.

Debbi

This is a very, very cute book. I also really enjoyed the father daughter scenes. 💕✨

Camila 

When I read the premise of this book, I was super excited to start reading it. 
This has the potential to be wonderful, funny and a new twist in contemporary romance, yet, in my opinion, it lacked everything that could have made it great. 
It was entertaining at times and super cringey at all the remaining parts. 
The characters felt a little flat. Desi, our protagonist, was the only one that seemed to have a personality, and maybe Wes (but there was not enough for him to say for sure) and yet it felt like it all orbited around the kdrama list. 
And, about that kdrama list: it was great, and if you watch kdramas you would have enjoyed it to the max because it was spot on. 

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read but it fell short in too many points. 

——-SORT OF SPOILERY SECTION———- 
Listen, I was ready for ridiculous moments when I knew what this story was going to be about, however when Desi followed the steps to get a romance in these very cliché situations was absolutely nothing. Like she would put herself in this situations and sort of expect something to happen without doing anything else. This is one of the reasons why the romance between Desi and Luca did not convince me. 
When you got a kdrama and this clichés happen, the protagonist usually talk so much more! Here Desi and Luca had little conversations that took to nowhere, they really never got to knew each other. 
Other problem for me was Violet. What was her purpose? She was supposed to be the bitch but her role lasted like 5 seconds and then we got our sob story that didn’t add anything to the story and puff! She is gone. 
Luca was an artist, a rebel, an understood soul (?) really what was with him? He was handsome apparently and he had a manipulative ex. The end, that’s his character. 
I actually was really hoping that in the pass of Desi’s plan, Wes would help her and they would en up falling in love. 1) it would have been funnier to read. 2) it is another trope seen in kdramas (weightlifting fairy anyone?). 3) Wes was barely in the story and he managed to be more interesting and have more chemistry with Desi than Luca did in the whole book. 4) we would have avoided the cliché reveal of the girls plan.

Paula Narvaez

What can I say?
Cute and sooo unrealistic.
But as with a good K Drama: “Once you start going down Disbelief Road, you’re lost forever, ...-Just sit back and believe, it’s so much more fun that way.”

Jeni Enjaian

I enjoyed a few things about this book, primarily Appa, Desi's father. I would love a book more focused on Appa and Desi's relationship rather than the ridiculous romance of this book, predictable from the outset. Here are the faults listed in no particular order.
1. I have noticed an annoying trend with young adult literature recently through the 30 or so YA books I have read this summer. The best friend of the protagonist always happens to be a lesbian, never the main character, always the best friend. This reeks of the token "person of color" best friend trope long found in books, movies and TV show.
2. Desi's all-encompassing focus on romance when, supposedly, she also is valedictorian, soccer star, student body president and much more. Although one person could accomplish all of those things, she could not accomplish all of those plus indulge in the KDrama obsession as well as pursuit of Luka. It stretches the suspension of disbelief a hair too far.
3. This book is one of the most predictable books I have ever read. I detest those types of books. It feels like lazy writing to me. In the end, all of Desi's mistakes have no consequences. All of her flailures become adorable and help her with her overall goal. Her friends support her no matter what. I could go on but I will refrain because I know that some people may enjoy reading this book.
4. Goo never satisfactorily explained why Luca despised his father, why his father was the horrible parent rather than his mother. Yeah, he got angry once but all I saw through that was Luca responding poorly and the intimation that more had happened in the past, no explanation.

I don't recommend this book and will not recommend it to my students, too many problems.

Jessica 

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Full review also found here. 


  “You can always control how hard you fight.” 


YOU GUYS, HELP! This book was so cute. I've fallen. How can something be so freaking cute? Not only is the cover-art dreamy, I Believe in a Thing Called Love is, too. And it's definitely one of my favourite contemporary releases since To All the Boys I've Loved Before, You Know Me Well and Anna and the French Kiss. Needless to say, if you are a fan of any of the others who penned the above releases: you NEED to pick up this book.

First things first--I have only watched one K-drama in my life (entirely because most days I cannot for the life of me sit still during television or films, for whatever reason) but I definitely see the appeal. Once you get roped into something, you're glued--and that's exactly how to describe Desi's love of K-dramas. And this little attachment (see: addiction) of hers sparks some massive changes in her life--I.E., a list of ways to snag the cute boy she has her eyes on, that may only be better in theory. Desi is willing to take that risk, as her love life up to this point was non-existent.

You see, Desi is not just bad at love, she is practically hopeless when it comes to flirting with anyone. It's so endearing and definitely something anyone can relate to--if you've dated someone or had a simple crush, it is likely that you've had embarrassing moments.

While my moments were less frustrating than Desi's (see: the cute freshmen boy who tried asking her out while she was sick vs. me LITERALLY RUNNING AWAY from the first boy who asked me out), it's very easy to connect with her. What I loved about her was that she was an overachiever; smart and lively, but completely flawed.

In short? She is a regular teenager who has a lot of dreams and of course complexities.

I loved how her love interest came into her life. There's something so comical about it all, but their first meeting is my personal favourite. Goo crafts him with the same care and honesty that she did with Desi and that's always a plus. Luca, too, comes to life before your eyes and is exactly as he is meant to be--a teenage boy.

Their relationship was so cute. Normally, I'd be a little uncomfortable with how much planning Desi did to snag Luca. Maurene Goo, however, manages to make some questionable choices seem logical. Desi is much less experienced in love when compared to Luca and it makes sense that, once she got the ideas in her head, she would plan as extensively as she did. The list, her goals, made her human and I appreciate that.

What I enjoyed most (beyond the relationship of Desi and Luca which, again, was so cute) was the balance that I Believe in a Thing Called Love created. Plus, all of the relationships (family, friends, significant others, slight enemies) were wonderfully painted. I loved how everything connected and where certain ties were made.

Overall, I Believe in a Thing Called Love was super adorable and fast paced. I was swooning, I was laughing and I was cringing throughout it. It's the perfect contemporary for a sunny day.

A Seventeen.com Best YA Books of 2017 A Publishers Weekly's Best YA Book of 2017 A New York Public Library Notable Best Book for Teens 2017 A 2018 CCBC Choices Book "Hilarious." —Publishers Weekly, starred review "Powerful messages of inclusion and acceptance.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That's how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it's how she'll get into Stanford. But she's never had a boyfriend. In fact, she's a disaster at romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It's a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her "K Drama Steps to True Love," Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama. A Margaret Ferguson Book

Larissa Jackson

machi

Kaye Oliva

Christine Frisbie

Maui S.

fran

Melissa Railey

Ally

Gianna Kristen

Ivan

pey leigh

Julie Burszan 

Megan During

A funny young adult novel about a Korean-American girl who uses K-Drama techniques to snag the boyfriend of her dreams. One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2017 One of Seventeen.com's Best YA Books of 2017 "Hilarious." —Publishers Weekly, starred review "Powerful messages of inclusion and acceptance." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review Desi Lee knows how carburetors work. She learned CPR at the age of five. As a high school senior, she has never missed a day of school and never had a B. But in her charmed school life, there's one thing missing—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a known disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet. When the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides it's time to tackle her flirting failures. She finds her answer in the Korean dramas her father has watched obsessively for years—in which the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. Armed with her “K Drama Rules for True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos. All's fair in love and Korean dramas, right? But when the fun and games turn to feelings, Desi finds out that real-life love is about way more than just drama. Maurene Goo's I Believe in a Thing Called Love is a fun, heartwarming story of falling in love—for real. A Margaret Ferguson Book Praise for I Believe in a Thing Called Love: “Desi's implementation of measures such as ‘Be Caught in an Obviously Lopsided Love Triangle’ yields hilarious, at times unintended results, lending this teen rom-com a surprisingly thoughtful conclusion . . . [Goo's] funny, engaging narrative also delivers powerful messages of inclusion and acceptance.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review “The art-centric romance that develops between Desi and Luca is rewarding to follow, as are their parental relationships, particularly that between Desi and her widowed Appa. Goo simultaneously honors and deconstructs romantic tropes, both in general and specific to K dramas, and does so using a wonderfully diverse cast.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “In the tradition of best-laid plans, Desi’s goes painfully awry in ways that elevate the story above the level of fluffy, cross-cultural rom-com. Friends and family are well crafted to inspire discussions about the comfort and complications they afford . . . Readers who crave believability with their fun and wit will be satisfied with the way the plan works out.” —VOYA "This is the book I desperately wish I could have read when I was in high school. I love this book so much, and I can't wait to give it to my kids and every teen I know. Fun, snarky, flawed-but-great characters come alive on the pages and make you wish you could hang out with them every day. And a romance so sweet you find yourself rooting desperately for it all to work out. But possibly my absolute favorite part is that it has one of the best father/daughter relationship dynamics I've ever read in a YA novel. I fell in love with the relationships as well as the characters. Charming and awkward and hysterically funny, this is simply awesome!" —Ellen Oh, author of the Prophecy series and founder of We Need Diverse Books "I Believe in a Thing Called Love is the perfect summer read—really, the perfect anytime read. I laughed and I swooned and I streamed way too many K dramas. Maurene Goo's fresh, funny writing had me hooked from the first chapter. I loved it!" —Morgan Matson, New York Times–bestselling author of The Unexpected Everything "This is a hilarious and endearing romance full of zany Korean-drama fun. You'll fall in love even as you're falling into a pool!" —Melissa de la Cruz, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel and Something In Between

Mina Chan &
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

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