arc provided in exchange for an honest review, thank you peachtree + netgalley!
so... that was a trip
solid 3.75/5 stars tbh
i did really enjoy this book, i think it was highly relatable
the main character goes through multiple realizations about herself and her wants in a high-pressure asian household which hit a little too close to home
my one problem with the book is that the ending felt way too open-ended in the way that nothing really happened. we are never really shown the aftermath of her decisions or realizations in an attempt to better herself
one thing i really did like, though, was how the messy guys were left behind. june goes through a string of relationships and guys, but then realizes that they are all trash and she deserves better (as she should)
i did like the relationship and the learning moment that happened between june and her sister; i thought that was really sweet
overall a great read, though! (+1 for the wonderful cover)

It a great story overall. June Chu is relatable, I understand her thought process. Even though she was so annoying at first, she is far more complexed than that. Her upbringing and her family affects her more than she will ever know. As a firstborn in an Asian household, I finally know how my younger siblings must feel like, to be known as someone’s little sister. This story is a great example for erikson’s stages of psychosocial development theory, June Chu is the exact story for the identity vs role confusion stage.

We often meet characters in books who are in some way perfect, or have achieved something that we can't even dream of. Well not this book. We have June is your not so perfect teenager girl, who makes mistakes, a lot, and that makes her so lovable

So many things that are usually taboo to talk about in most people's life has been so openly talked about, and wonderfully interpreted in this book, which my younger self would have adored to hear about before I went through them the way I did. I think this book can be a huge help for teenagers who are trying to discover things in the world, who are trying to be just good enough for their parents, trying to keep up with the expectations while also having fun.

It's a realistic and relatable read about what most of the teenagers go through, I wouldn't say it is the way you should do things, but it helps you think thorugh everything. Please buy this book for every teenager in your friend circle, recommend it to your friends' daughter, to everyone. Because it's something that should be neccesary to read for everyone.

Anna Gracia writes about what it means to be dealing with racism, rough family dynamics and a failing romance. First of all, a big thanks to Anna Gracia for the insights on asian culture and the amazing asian representation in this book. One of the eminent points of the book which I really appreciated was the topic on parents expectations and what it means to be someone other than what people expect you to be. As someone who struggles with asian parents and can't decide if I love or hate them, this was really comforting.

As a reader, I I was not that aggravated with June not standing up for herself all the time because in reality that's something we all struggle with. Although I could relate to that part of June it felt horrible reading about her just letting everyone step on her. Supporting characters like Rhys I felt could have just been written a lot better. Sometimes I couldn't figure out the purpose and dynamic of their relationship.

The book was not very well paced and honestly I skipped quite a few parts. The resolutions to every 'traumatic issue' in the book was probably the messiest for me. It felt laking of depth and just felt like it happened to quickly without any solution or healing from the issue. Like I mentioned as someone who feels comforted reading about characters struggles with asian parents the ending felt bleak.

Overall it is still a fun read and I definitely recommend it to those just starting out the YA genre or those who are interested in book with lots of good asian representation.

Thank you net galley for the e arc !!!

2.5 stars....

I rarely give out less than three star reviews, but people....I struggled with this.
Let me list the reasons.

The first 65% of this book had me bored to tears.
I didn't like any of the characters. I didn't find them relatable in the slightest. June, the main character, is so passive. She never stands up for herself. She won't be herself because she worries about what her current crush(es) thought. She was always questioning herself and thinking she did something wrong to make guys not like her, when in reality, she did NOTHING wrong.
The boys in her life trampled all of her and she let them. She made life changing decisions to make them happy, and it was for naught. This was the first 65% of the book. Over. and over. and over again.

ALSO! There is a serious trigger warning here for pregnancy and the Plan B pill......SERIOUS!

The development was slow and it didn't focus on anything that it should have as far as character development. It happened in a mad rush all in the last few chapters.

The relationships with June's friends and family were also just kind of thrown together. The arguments, conversation, all interactions really, were not well developed.

I DID enjoy a small peek into Asian culture.

By the end of the book, I understood what the author was trying to do, and that's great. But overall I'm so disappointed. I feel like this book is trying to show the reader how NOT to be, but actually....I'm not sure that it really would sink in with a teenaged reader.....

I feel like a jerk but I had to give my honest opinion. D:

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Boys I Know is a beautiful YA contemporary about the Asian American girl June who tries to live through relationships, sexuality, her parents standards and a life changing decision: college.

I must admit that for the first 30% of the book I was incredibly bored, I didn’t like any of the characters and I was stunned (not in the good way) of the blatant racism and misogyny. I really understand why the author did what she did and after finishing the novel I also got the message and it’s fine but for the moment I was enraged. Because June did nothing to stand up for herself, not when she faced racism, not when boys walked all over her and used her, made fun of her and treated her shitty. That went on and on and she kept asking herself what she did wrong and I literally screamed at my kindle. Because no, she didn’t do anything wrong. And that one line never came across in this book. She developed and everything, she found her way and called out the racism yes. But she never said to herself: I didn’t do anything wrong when I broke up with Rhys (worse: she even apologized for it and he once again couldn’t even look her in the eyes when almost everything that went wrong between them was his fault), she never said to herself: sleeping with Brad was not my fault and it felt awful because HE didn’t care about my pleasure. She let the boys in her life walk over her so do often and kept blaming herself. and honestly that bored me. Serious TW: the topic of pregnancy and Plan B, I personally found this very triggering, not because it wasn’t well written or purposely traumatic but because it all happened so fast and I really didn’t think it would be part of this book, so come prepared.

The book was somehow very slow for me but in all the wrong places it was rushed. The ending came so so sudden that I didn’t even got that the book was over. I wish there would’ve been a better ending sentence, maybe something hopeful or whatever but the author literally broke the plot mid conversation and that felt wrong to me.

Anyways, many points were rushed and not well explained (eg that Covey thing, we never got an explanation why Tommy thought June was “a mistake” for Rhys etc etc) and that rubbed me the wrong way. Fights and “uncomfortable” situations were over too fast and without a real resolution. Eg the fight between Wendy and June, they fought and really said mean things and then boom, everything is fine.

But what did I like about the book? It was an amazing insight into Asian culture. Everyone knows this basic stereotype of the strict Asian parents with high standards. But I loved seeing this “trope” written by an Asian American author, it showed so much layers to the family dynamic and how no one really went out of their comfort zone and even though everyone meant the best it resulted in pain. I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between June and her mother, it was crafted with so much love and detail, absolutely stunning.

The scene were June went on campus in Washington gave me the same vibes as “Pride” by Ibi Zoboi, it was beautiful and I loved to see that confident side of June (even if it ended in a nightmare), I liked how Chinese culture was wrapped in this story so naturally that I started to look forward to the next proverb and life advice.

All in all I can say that this books plot is a little sloppy and definitely not for everyone but the message behind it as well as the character relationships are amazing. The characters will grow on you as you continue and even though the ending is fairly predictable, you’ll fall in love with this story.

Boys I know by Anna Gracia, is a tender reflection on what it means to be irrevocably human. It is honest and raw and a completely new perspective on growing up and the relationships that we make and lose on the way.

Our story follows a leading teen protagonist, June, who is nearing the end of her final high school year and wants to experience what she sheltered herself from in the first part of her life. This, as expected, goes horribly wrong in so many ways. At some points you’d catch me wincing in embarrassment as poor June fumbled through her messy pathway.

However, this was also my favourite part of the book. This novel wraps in a bow what it means to be a teenager going through the most formative stage of your life, struggling to fit in and struggling to find out what you really want to do in your life. As someone currently in the same shoes, this hit close to home. Does she follow her overbearing mothers wishes, or does she do what would make her feel happy and the most truly her?

Following June’s relationship with the boys: Rhys, Brad and Gang, was about as painful as you’d expect. You were definitely left rooting for some and not for others but there was a lesson within each of their storylines and there was a part of June that grew with them. The romance, surprisingly, was more of a secondary plotline and the leading one followed June finding herself (I greatly preferred this, honestly, I just wish it had been more advertised as such).

Another defining feature of this novel was June struggling with her identity about not being considered ‘Asian enough’ by her peers. This was beautifully written about. It was an honest portrayal of the way so many have battled with their identity. And I know, at least one person will read this and will feel less alone. What more could you want than that?

You find a home within Anna’s writing and the characters she creates. I was overjoyed by the ending in this book, and I loved this from start to finish. What a joy it is, to read someone’s hard work and know it all paid off. I will definitely be ordering my own copy of this when it’s released.

The only issues I had were the initial pacing of the book, but as you work your way through, I think you’ll find that’s also part of the books many charms. It just takes a little getting used to. Read this! As soon as you possibly can!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!

Anna Gracia's novel, Boys I Know, placed me within a different culture and I enjoyed every aspect of it.

This was a very raw book about dealing with overbearing Asian parents, the messiness of relationships, and coming of age. While I wasn't sure what direction the plot was going in, it became evident that June's understanding of the world would eventually come crashing down on her. None of the characters are perfect: the helicopter mom who pressures June to follow in her perfect sister's footsteps, the boys that she convinces herself that she's in love with, even the friends who go on their own questionably-destructive paths. As she comes to the realization of the impact she makes on the people around her, she recognizes that she too isn't perfect, and has been treating others wrong as well.

A fun and easy book about growing up and making your own choices that come with consequences, I only wish that June learning her lessons were more impactful. I felt they were all very internal, such as realizing her mother pushed her so hard bec that's how she showed love, or her coming to understanding with Rhys.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! As someone who is East Asian myself it was really refreshing to see the diversity, especially since they are so rare nowadays.

The plot was a little bit on the predictable side, as it was at times, cliche. However, it was still very enjoyable and I was thoroughly invested into it! I really enjoyed the ending of it as I thought it was perfect for June and her growth. There were so many moments of me screaming with joy, or embarrassment and let’s just say this book was one emotional rollercoaster.

At first, I wasn’t a huge fan of June. She frustrated me a lot and it felt like her growth was very slow. But what I really admire is seeing how she changed over time into this incredible, strong protagonist. I love seeing the way she dealt with things and more importantly, how she learned from them. In some ways she was a little unlikeable, but in all honestly she is so relatable. With having parents that constantly put pressure on you to do well in life, I could feel June’s pain and conflict, and her wanting to find freedom to do what she wants.

If I were to give this any criticism, I would say that I wish I had seen more of the relationship between June and her mom. It felt lacking, and it was a little rushed when she and her mom fixed their relationship. The same goes with Wendy and June.

Other than that I thought it was very enjoyable, and I’m excited to read more books by this author! BOYS I KNOW releases July 5th and I highly recommend reading this once it comes out! 4/5 stars!

Anna Gracia delivers exactly what she says she's going to deliver in the blurb.

Cute cover? Yes! A relatable story of a teen who hasn't got their life together? YES!
Messy relationships? Yes! BIPOC Lead? Yes! Honestly, brilliance.

Well written, A+ plot. Enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a very solid read.
The main character was so realistically written and so relatable that I couldn't help but feel for her throughout the book. I loved her attitude and views. The book is very realistic with the other characters too, especially the boys that are a part of June's life, and I must note that she deserves so much better than them.
The writing flows well, the tone is just beautiful. I wish some of the themes were expanded on a bit more, but it works nicely as it is too.

Coming of age is tricky no matter what, but it’s even harder when you don’t really have the tools to know what love should be, how it should feel, and what’s right and wrong in the world of love and sex. This was a highly relatable story about all the mishaps that can occur when a teen girl is left to figure it out in her own, the highs and lows of young love or something like it. There’s power in June’s agency, over her future at college and her body and love life, and power in her recognizing when she’s been wronged: by boys, by her family’s expectations. A true testament to how messy your teenage years are, Boys I Know is a book that will stick with me for a long time.

Messy relationships, clashes with parents over what you want to do with your life, and complicated friendships are definitely mainstays of YA stories for a reason. It was interesting to see these experiences through the eyes of June Chu, the main character in Boys I Know. Anna Gracia was also able to discuss growing up Taiwanese-American in a predominately white Midwestern town, racism, and not feeling “Asian enough.”

While I did appreciate a lot of what the book was going for, the execution in the first half hindered my enjoyment. It felt really disjointed and like the story was just jumping around from scene to scene without having a structure for the plot. While June did become a well developed character, the book didn’t feel enough like a character study to make up for the lack of structure. Also, the side characters blended together and didn’t get enough individual development. The story in the second half felt tighter and less meandering which made it easier to get sucked into the narrative.

I’m excited to see what Anna Gracia writes next! I liked her ideas and the themes she was discussing even if the book as a whole wasn’t a new favorite.

Firstly I just have to say thumps up to who ever designed this cover, it's brilliant. I love this book and it's characters, the timely story of June that mirrors what a lot of teenagers face. Every highschool should have copies of this book, it's something teenage me would have appreciated and loved.

I wish I had read this book in high school! (It would have avoided me much heartache...). 'Boys I Know' is not about boys at all. It's about June growing into herself, realizing what she wants, needs, and deserves and not being afraid to go after it. At 18, and especially as a woman of colour, doing that is revolution(ary). I love June's character and development so much that it won't fit into one review. Even as someone who didn't grow up in the United States or part of the Asian-American community, June's doubts and concerns felt familiar. We need more books like 'Boys I Know' for younger audiences - empowering and educating about sex, love, and relationships. Reading about Peachtree Teen's mission to "be a home for empowering, compassionate storytelling and voices that focus on authentic aspects of the teen experience", I am excited and hopeful to see what else they have in store. I also look forward to reading more books by Anna Gracia in the future!

This book feels so real and messy and perfectly high school, dedicated to every girl who never felt like the protagonist. I wish I had a book like this as a teenager and I know that Asian-American teens/kids from the Asian diaspora will relate to and love this book even more than I did. The voice was so authentic. The things that happened were uncomfortable and weird but that's literally what high school is like.

I've also never seen sex explored in this way before, especially with a POC lead. June wants to have sex and pursues her goal without feeling the need to temper her desires. It's messy and complicated and sometimes those first experiences suck, but that's all part of growing up. The best part about June's arc was her ability to take what she learned from each relationship and grow from it.

Such a wonderful, authentic coming of age story.

Whew gosh, I don't even know where to start.

When I was in high school, I always felt different because I was a girl and *gasps* liked sex. Sex that I didn't even have back then. I remember thinking about sex and my girl friends been so disgusted with it.
I wish I could have had a June in my life. I wish this book would have existed back then and would have reached my hands somehow, since my mom was just like June's when it came to sex. I wish I had it back in college when I was chasing the man that was allergic to the word "girlfriend". I wish I had it so I could understand that I wasn't mature for my age. He was just a fucking weirdo.

June has always felt like just good enough and not good enough in her academic, family, and love life. It was a little too short when she tried so hard. When she needed to find herself, but would only meet with the version that everyone else wanted. When she needed people close but kept pushing everyone away because that what she though love was. When she wasn't woke enough, brave enough, ____ enough. I saw —in each page— me. Alex at fifteen when she wasn't pretty,enough. At seventeen when she was smart enough. At twenty two when she wasn't loveable enough.

Gripping, funny and heavy with the concerns of a marginalized girl in a white cis men's world. Boys I know is the mature version of TATBILB that we needed. But above it all is a incredible story that makes you feel seen.

I'm happy to know that this book exists and that girls out there won't feel alone when the word "enough" keeps them awake at night.

Thank you so, so, so much to NetGalley for the ARC. And thanks to Anna for writing it ♥

The boys I know follows main character June Chu as she navigates herself though her last year of high school, trying to choose a college to attend whilst also trying to figure out herself and her love life.

I really liked the publishers and authors notes at the beginning of this story, and felt that they had opened their hearts up a bit, especially the author, the fact that Anna Garcia has made a point of bringing Asian representation to the forefront of this book is fantastic, and her quote resonated with me quite a lot “Please know that there is no percentage threshold or visual requirement for someone to be considered Asian”

The book delivers exactly as the synopsis promises, with some additional emotional scenes that were completely adorable to me, such as June apologising to Candace and June and Wendy’s heart to heart, those moments felt completely sincere, and I was able to feel the emotions through the pages.

June was a very well written character with a lot of depth and character building throughout the book, however there were times that I struggled to connect with her, as I felt she was placing way too much empathises about being in a relationship, and the fact that her sister and friends did nothing but support her (and she was quite oblivious to this for a while) and she didn’t really acknowledge it bothered me a little.

However, I understood the message the author was trying to portray as June’s parents had put such pressure on her to succeed academically whilst not really showing many emotions to her, she looked for validation elsewhere, and unfortunately being told by Amy (her college tour guide) that she wasn’t “Chinese enough” led her to believe she needed to be in a relationship with someone (regardless of how they treated her) So I was completely there to watch June grow and develop and realise certain things, plus I loved the way she was able to challenge the cultural appropriation she came across as well as challenging Tommy and other characters throughout the book!

June was really good at giving advice to her friends Liz and Candace and I especially loved her comment to Candance about Dom: “Don’t let what he wants eclipse what you need. He is very dreamy, but he is not the sun” this quote is brilliant, and I adored the fact that June was able to figure this out in her own life!
June’s mum really stuck with me, she was often sharing Chinese proverbs with June as a way of educating her or encouraging her to behave a particular way. I am not in a position to completely relate to June, but her relationship with her mum kind of resonated with me, as I too was pushed as a child and barely shown any emotion from my parents so I could understand June’s need for approval from someone, or just to hear those magical words as a child that someone is proud of you.

All in all, this was an interesting read with a lot of character development, just bear in mind that it delivers exactly as the blurb suggests, there are no hidden plot twists .

TW’s : Emotional abuse, sexual scenes, racism and toxic relationships

3.5

A solid 4.5 stars.

When I read the author's note at the beginning -- "It is my hope that reading about June's experiences might spare some girls the hurt of learning these lessons firsthand, even if they don't share her exact background" -- I knew that I'd love this book. And I did. And I loved it even more when the main character quoted Grey's Anatomy -- "Don't let what he wants eclipse what you need. He is very dreamy but he is not the sun. You are."

Boys I Know reminded me of Queenie but for teens. Boys I Know follows June Chu, a Taiwanese-American teenager, through her senior year of high school as she figures out where to attend college, while dealing with overbearing parents and the many toxic "relationships" she finds herself in. I found June's story realistic and genuine -- June is the "just good enough" girl in academics and to her parents and love interests. June's coming-of-age journey moved me and in all honesty it's a book I'd have loved to have when I was younger when I struggled with self-esteem issues and strict parents. Despite being YA, Boys I Know tackles hard-hitting topics that affect teens but which parents rarely talk about with them, including Asian fetishization, the concept of being in love with the idea of a person instead of the actual person, and the feeling of not being "Asian" enough.

There's alot to love about Boys I Know, but what tugged at my heartstrings the most is the author's discussion of how parenting style affects their children's self-esteem and, in turn, relationships.

"Who would I be if I had different parents? Would I be happier? My parents' constant criticism affected me in ways I was only starting to fully understand. If I'd felt more loved and accepted at home, maybe I wouldn't have spent so much time trying to find it in other places. Their impossible standards made me desperate to please everyone but myself, hiding my own pain just to preserve the pretense that I was doing okay so I wouldn't be rejected again."

I've been mulling over this for quite some time and this is the first time I've read a book that addresses this, so thank you Anna for bringing this book into the world. I can't wait for the physical copy to have a place on my bookshelf!

**Note to publisher: This review will be posted on bookstagram @movedbyprose closer to publication day***