So funn, pretty forgettable but a great pick me up book for sure! I was wanting to see more character development and just overall relationships which it lacked to a degree. For a fun one time fluffy read WOULD RECOMMEND

I liked RENT A BOYFRIEND! Like Chao’s previous work, the novel not only includes a sweet romance (And it’s definitely cute and one I totally was rooting for. And it might partly have to do with how much I liked Drew.) but also explores complicated family dynamics.

Was happy to see another Gloria Chao book on the horizon, and liked it better than either of the books that it was compared to in the description.

I had high hopes for this one, and It looked very cute, but the fake dating thing, which I loved by the way, didn't last long enough for me and I felt like the book became repetitive

As much as I loved American Panda and enjoyed Our Wayward Fate, I think Rent a Boyfriend might be my least favorite novel from Gloria Chao by far.

Rent a Boyfriend is inspired by a real-life practice of hiring fake boyfriends to bring home so family members could lay off the pressure to find a husband, though Chao adapted this into a fictional version. In this one, Chloe hires a fake boyfriend (Andrew/Drew) from a company that specializes in this called Rent for Your ‘Rents so her parents would stop pressuring her to accept a proposal from Hongbo.

(Hongbo is the worst, though. Truly. I feel like I’d hire a fake boyfriend if my parents wanted me to marry someone like that as well.)

From my experiences with Chao’s previous novels, I usually go in with fewer expectations, mostly because there’s quite a bit of exaggeration, so if I go in with my usual I’m just going to walk out thoroughly disappointed. There are a lot of puns and funny moments that made me laugh out loud and to top it off, there’s the fake dating trope, which is by far one of my favorite tropes to read. I loved the banter between Drew and Chloe, especially the concept of Mooncake Points and sheep dressed as mooncakes (which I personally found was super cute, and I love that this pays homage to their heritage).

There are moments of seriousness as well, with a heavy focus on family and community dynamics throughout. At home, Chloe is Jing-Jing, someone who fits all the traditional boxes and hides her real self because the environment she’s in would punish her for it. There’s also an emphasis on trying to uphold cultural traditions as a child of immigrants while also wanting to fit into the culture you’ve been born in, something that deeply resonated with me at multiple points of the book. (I very much appreciated the recognition that there are blunders even within a culture and the different nuances between the diaspora umbrella.) Being a child of immigrants is very complex, and while this may come across as miscommunication to some, it’s difficult to communicate from both ends to make the other understand, though everyone involved cares. Chao depicts so well in her novels and it’s one of the reasons why I enjoy her writing style a lot.

But while I enjoyed this a lot, I did find this overly cringy; sometimes I feel Chao tries too hard and it just misses, making it awkward. Rent a Boyfriend does remind me of quite a few Asian romantic comedy dramas I’ve watched which do have their awkward moments and extreme exaggerations, but while I feel those actually have a good balance, Rent a Boyfriend doesn’t really have that balance. This could very well boil down to personal preferences, but there were quite a few moments that felt very over the top for me and I don’t know… it sometimes felt like a secondhand embarrassment. I’d go into a lot more detail, but then I’ll just end up spoiling parts of the book I’d rather not.

While I did read the eARC of it, I did end up listening to the audiobook narrated by Feodor Chin and Emily Woo Zeller during my reread instead of opting for an eBook. Zeller is a relatively familiar narrator for me, having listened to a few other works before Rent a Boyfriend and I generally enjoy her performances (although she’s sometimes a hit or miss for me), so it was nice to listen to her narrating again!

This was my first time listening to Feodor Chin and while I did enjoy his performance, I do feel it’ll be the same case for me with Zeller being a hit or miss depending on the book but maybe this will change in the future. I think the one thing that stuck out the most in their performance is when Chloe and Drew are texting each other, where they each read the text messages sent associated with the character they were narrating. As someone who’s a fan of full-cast audiobooks, I really liked that choice (perhaps it’s my favorite), although it was only when the two were texting.

Overall, this was cute while exploring family and culture and while I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I wished I could have, one iffy experience doesn’t mean I won’t pick up Chao’s future works.

I actually wasn't able to finish this book. I don't think it was for me. I tried and I LOVED this author but it fell kind of flat for me. I kept wanting the story to pick up and it didn't. Totally me though!

I'm sorry to report that this book didn't work for me. I struggled with connecting with the characters, and the story. After multiple attempts to finish this book, it didn't happen so I'm throwing in the towel.

Today’s review is going to be a bit fun! I will be posting my review in five gifs, which is what I did for We Are Not Free by Traci Chee. I’ll also talk a little bit about the book as it relates to my experience as an Asian American. I am not specifically Taiwanese American (I’m Chinese American), and I didn’t grow up with immigrant parents, so as a disclaimer here, I’d like to say I can’t speak on those specific identities.


I think this gif accurately portrays how freaking excited I was to read Rent a Boyfriend. From the opening line I was sucked in, and I couldn’t get enough of it! All I wanted to do was read it. Seriously, I think I ignored my partner more than once because I was too enthralled with my book (sorry!!). This book is such a delightful one full of voice and witty commentary with a reflective tone.


A major part of this book is Chloe/Jing Jing’s relationship with her parents, specifically her mom. There is a lot of hurt on Chloe’s part, from the backhanded compliments to the nagging about her single status, Chloe has a hard time with her mom. And this isn’t to say that her mom is terrible, you can truly tell that Chloe loves her mom and her family, but it’s a very difficult and complicated relationship to navigate as a young woman. I can totally attest to this as someone who’s going through growing pains with my mom. Chloe is constantly trying to balance who she is and who she thinks her parents want her to be, and that’s exhausting. It was great to see this part of growing up explored in this book.


Let’s definitely not forget to talk about the fake dating aspect of the book! It’s one of my top favorite tropes, and to see it with Asian main characters was truly a treat. I loved the realness between Chloe and Drew from the get go. They knew the terms of the agreement, but they also had a spark of truth behind every interaction. I loved watching their relationship develop over the course of the book. Drew and Chloe respected and pushed each other to do more and be more themselves. They weren’t afraid to be bare and honest, which really made their relationship stronger. Everything they went through felt so real, and I love that this practice is pulled straight from Asian culture as well.


Food also is a big element in the book. Chloe has a small, private point system for herself that’s measured in mooncakes. She accidentally lets it slip in front of Drew, and soon they’re both talking about the number of mooncake points different things would be worth. I love how this is a marriage of their Asian and American sides. Something Chloe struggles with a lot is how she feels like she straddles two different worlds and two different versions of herself. She feels like she’s disconnected with the Asian part of her identity, but she finds little ways to incorporate it in her life, especially through food. Drew is a wonderful force in her life in this regard. He helps Chloe meld her two selves and realize that both are equally important to who she is as a person.


Overall, I would give this book a bazillion mooncake points and two thumbs up from sheep in pajamas. This book is filled to the brim with angst, happiness, and a lot of growing. I’m definitely going to be rereading this in the future when I need a shot of joy in these bleak times. As to my own experience, I definitely related a lot to Chloe’s feelings of inauthenticity. I also occupy the liminal space of being Asian and American and sometimes not feeling like I’m enough of either to be part of the community. I love the heart that this book is written with, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Happy reading,

Sophie 🙂

I couldn’t get into this one but I do think that others would definitely enjoy this style of writing. Would still recommend this as I think others would enjoy

I really enjoyed this cute story although the idea of fake dating isn't really my kind of thing. I also like the Asian representation here because it's just too relatable. It was the conflicts that kept me excited to read more. And honestly, I just couldn't get enough of the blooming romance between Chloe and Drew and their journey to pursuing their dreams together.

Thank you Gloria Chao for providing me a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

I thought this book was pretty cute and tackled some relatable YA/NA topics well. It can be so hard to be bogged down by parental expectations while trying to figure out who you are and want you want to do with your life. The added miscommunications and barriers presented in this novel due to the cultural/generational differences presented by the MC's parents will also be relatable for readers who balance multiple identities; how do you balance what you need from life with what your parents and community want from you?
The romance was cute and the set-up was unconventional but also interestingly based on real life services. I didn't love every conflict in this book, but I would recommend it to readers who like fake dating tropes, reading about strained relationships between parents and child, and readers who are transitioning into adulthood.

I really enjoyed this book with vibes of Kiss Quotient and Crazy Rich Asians. I expected this book to be similar to American Panda, but the relationship and actions of characters make this more of a YA book (that adults will also enjoy). Chloe and Drew's story is predictable, but the dialogue has humor and sweetness. It's a fun book to read.

Chloe's traditional Taiwanese parents won't get off her back about dating a slimy-but-rich society catch. She hires Drew, who sidelines as a fake boyfriend, to ease some of the parental pressure. But what happens when she gets to know the real Drew? What happens when the fake arrangement is more real than Chloe had bargained for? And certainly more than Drew had bargained for. Can these two make something real from a completely faked beginning? Chao's tale is charming in its execution, with very real foibles and missteps overcome by a strong attachment. The characters are likable and the writing is fresh.

This book makes me really appreciate my parents!!

Gloria Chao just knows how to balance serious family issues with love and humor!

Pros:
It's so cool to read about a girl fighting for her best life even though her family doesn't think so. I think this book can and is very empowering!
Writing style was fun! Loved the included text messages
Romance was mostly believable but VERY enjoyable!
Seeing stories with complicated families is also reassuring!
I loved that the two main characters tried to encourage each other for the better
Story is based on a real tradition or service of "renting a boyfriend"

Con:
The miscommunication trope didn't feel to real - they gave up rather quickly after just bef=ginning though they just agreed that it wouldn't be easy. Seemed forced and just for the plot.


I would recommend this to everyone! Love Gloira Chao's work!
Heart warming and interesting stories, that tackle serious issues.

Rent a Boyfriend honestly looks like a fun and lighthearted read. While there are a lot of nice moments between the two main characters, Chloe and Drew, the story deals with a lot of hard themes as well. I really enjoyed the mixture of fluffy and difficult. There was a nice balance between the two. I think the writing was well done and kept my interest throughout. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to more from this author.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

I was instantly charmed by this fake dating idea and cannot resist the dual narrators in a will-they-won't-they story! I felt Chloe's emotions along with her and loved Drew's charm. If you've ever felt like you disappointed your family-read this book! I loved this story and learning about the 2 characters as well as their culture!

4.5 stars

Fake dating is my favorite romance trope, so I’ve been super exited for RENT A BOYFRIEND! I read it this past week and loved it! If you’re looking for more college YA, this book is perfect. It’s a fun romcom taking place over the holidays (Thanksgiving through Chinese New Year) starring Taiwanese-American characters.

Rent a Boyfriend was a fun rom-com that I absolutely adored! It's a fresh take on fake dating. It follows Chloe, who is home from college and sick of her parents pestering her to get married. She hires Drew to be her fake boyfriend in order to get her parents off her back for a while. She's not expecting to fall for Drew.

Told in alternating perspectives between Chloe and Drew, this book takes a look at different family dynamics. Both are Asian-American and have very different yet unifying experiences of being the child of immigrants. Chloe is pushing back against her parents expectations and trying to keep the peace, while Drew is estranged from his family because of his passion for art.

This is ultimately a fun rom-com that also has some serious elements in it. It explores the pressure put on the children of immigrants, and especially, the struggles that women face. I really enjoyed it and will be recommending it a lot at my library. Readers who enjoyed Gloria Chao's previous books will adore this one. I will also be recommending it to fans of David Yoon!

When I first heard the premise of Gloria Chao’s Rent a Boyfriend, I fell in love. Then I saw the gorgeous pink cover and literally wanted a framed portrait of it on my wall. Filled with an adorable romance and food descriptions, this fun storyline had me hooked from the first page. However, while I adored the concept and romantic banter, I didn’t love the actual book as much as I loved the idea of it.

I’ve read all of Gloria Chao’s books so far, and Rent a Boyfriend is probably my favorite out of all she’s written, followed shortly by Our Wayward Fate. I always have such complex feelings over Gloria Chao’s books because while I’m always swept away by her fun premises and cute romance storyline, I’ve found that her writing style just isn’t for me.

Part of the reason why I struggle with Gloria Chao’s books are because her parents are much more extreme and traditional than my own so I found it difficult to empathize with them. Still, I understand how each diaspora individual’s story is unique so I appreciated getting to see a different perspective than what I grew up with.

I’ve also noticed a pattern with Gloria Chao’s storylines with how the main characters constantly want to break free from their overbearing parents despite their stringent nature coming from a place of love. Her writing style also tends to rely heavily on the same jokes, and in this case, it was “a piece of mooncake” like “a slice of cake” or “mooncake points” like “brownie points.” The first few mentions were fun and clever, but after the 20th time, I grew tired.

Still, this plotline of hiring a boyfriend and falling in love with them was so fun to watch unfold. While I didn’t click with Chao’s writing initially, I’ve grown to slowly enjoy her books more and more over time. This book doesn’t make my all-time favorites list, but it was still a fun and enjoyable read. I especially think this book would be a great fit for those who are between middle school and high school!

My first impression upon seeing the title, Rent A Boyfriend was that The Kissing Quotient meets Taiwanese teenagers! Rent A Boyfriend feels like the teenager version of The Kissing Quotient by Helen Hoang! In The Kissing Quotient, the main character Stella hired an escort to help her practice in the dating department and that’s where the resemblance ends. In Rent A Boyfriend, Chloe Wang (Jing Jing 晶晶) was forced to rent a boyfriend to impress her parents to the point where they would drop the proposal from Hongbo, the richest and (snobbiest) young bachelor in their Asian-American community. She needs to find a way to change her parents’ mind before New Year’s (the deadline to say YES), when clearly all she wants to say is NO, and make a run for her life back to Chicago.

As an Asian-American myself, I understand how these “tiger parents” are, they want what they believe is “the best” for you, but without really understanding what you want. When you are in high school, they want you to make the best choices for college and career. When you graduate from college, they want you to find the best man to marry, especially if he is a millionaire. After you get married, all they will ever ask is when you will have children! I understand that being parents is a never-ending worry, but at the same time, they need to learn to give you space to make your own decisions and mistakes. Luckily, mine were pretty reasonable most of the time with my decisions. Jing Jing was not given this choice. Her parents want to make her marry someone she doesn’t LOVE! She took matters into her own hands by hiring Andrew to play the part of her boyfriend, who has won all the mooncake points from her! (Inside joke!)

I love all the cultural references such as the Mid-Autumn Festival with Cháng’é (moon goddess) and the mooncakes. The mention of qípáo (Chinese dress), miànzi (saving face is such a huge part of Asian community!), xiàoshùn (demonstrating filial piety, another huge part of Asian culture!) and mahjong. I especially love all the amazing Asian food references – chāoshāo bāo (Cantonesebun filled with barbecue pork), dòuhuā (soft tofu dessert), bubble tea, sībîng (turnip strip cake), banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), wontons and even the Frankenbao! This is making me hungry and craving for some dim sum and Asian food.

Rent A Boyfriend had me feeling nostalgic, sad and joyful following the fake love to real love relationships between Chloe and Drew. I understand the hardship Drew had as an artist. At one point in my life I had thought I would be working in an artistic field, so I connected with Drew on that level, as well as to the hardship Chloe had as a daughter. I especially LOVE how Drew shares his art with Chloe after hiding it from the world for so long. I love the mention of Cháng’é, the moon and the sheep with antigravity boots over and over! That scene will look amazing in a movie! The buildup of Chloe and Drew’s relationship, was so on point for a rom-com movie that I would totally buy a movie ticket for it! At certain points in the story, I want to punch Hongbo for being a rich bastard who thinks he can get away with anything!

If you are ready for some good laughs and a few oh no! scenes, I highly recommend tackling this book with a smile. Gloria Chao did an amazing job representing the common practices in Asian culture and nailed the fake love to real love scenario! Luckily, I never had to consider using a Rent for Your ‘Rents service!

Rating: 5 out of 5 mooncakes