I was lucky enough to be accepted to receive an advance readers copy of this novel by PeachTree Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for this opportunity!

The cover alone was enough to grab my attention and have me requesting and that was before I read the description. It’s simplistic and eye catching and simply stunning.

I’m interested to not only read more books set in a diverse background but also written by diverse authors. Over the past few years one of my reading goals is to expand my understanding of other backgrounds through a variety of authors and stories.

I felt I could connect to June’s feelings of being ‘just good enough’, however the expectations I felt I was trying to meet was my own rather than the expectations of others.

I felt that unrelenting pressure and the difficulty in trying to keep up with everything t around her. My heart went out to her.

I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of the genre, I was half expecting more of romance but it was clear it was story upon finding yourself.

As the novel went on I started to dislike Junes character more and more. I felt she was so focused on standing out and pushing through what she felt her parents were expecting that she was treating others in almost the same attitude as her mother treated her.

But I did like the development that came from that, for June to not only realise how she was effecting others but to understand and come to terms with her mothers reasoning behind her actions.

I felt the novel was empowering in its message of forging your own path and the importance of considering your own needs above others, so often books can put the focus on love being all encompassing and the only thing needed for true happiness, it was refreshing to read about someone making their own way.

Overall I really really enjoyed this one.

“Boys I Know” is one of the most unique YA books I have read in years. I have never related to a novel more than i have to this because it features a Taiwanese main character who is struggling with huge expectations of her. Garcia sets a very realistic setting that is bound to influence others like me.

Boys I Know by Anna Gracia follows June. June feels she is living a life where she is “good enough”. She feels unable to live up to her Taiwanese mother’s expectations. June is trying to have a relationship with her AP Biology partner, Rhys, but he is unable to commit. June’s mother expects her to follow the path of her older sister and get a full-ride scholarship to Northwestern. She doesn’t see the point in trying very hard since she knows she won’t meet her mother’s expectations. June decides to focus on Rhys instead. After her plans disastrously fall through, June throws herself into another relationship with a guy who’s not afraid of commitment. As things progress, June must decide if the way she lives her life, both academically and romantically, is how she truly wants to live.

This book showcases the overlap of Asian American identity and teen sexuality in a very meaningful way. The narrative voice of June is at times funny and insightful.

Thank you to Peachtree and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book!

4.5 rounded down

This book resonated deeply with me. I am currently a senior who is struggling to find the motivation to apply for colleges and get excited about my next big step, and everyone telling me I should be just adds pressure. This made June’s story the perfect book for me to read right now (heck, I might even finally go hit the apply button on my application!).

What I loved about this book was how authentic it is to the high school experience. June is messy. She doesn’t have it together. Her friendships are drifting apart, she doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life, she has boy problems, and is always fighting with her mom. This might sound annoying, but it honestly made her one of the most genuine protagonists I have read in a while, and made the book come across very natural instead of awkward or forced. Of course, when it comes to high school there will be awkward moments, but the way the author handles these moments makes it less unbearable and more nostalgic.

Also, I love the relationships in this book. June doesn’t always make the best decisions when it comes to boys. In fact, she rarely even makes good decisions, but I was still rooting for her the whole time. Of the boys, the only one that I hated by the end was Gang (I mean come on, what a prick), and I hate to admit that I was definitely rooting for Rhys for 95% of the book. However, the way these plots unfold rings so true to high school. There are very few perfect, epic love stories between kids who barely know themselves, and June Chu’s love stories are definitely not any of them. They were cringey, frustrating, and lackluster because it’s high school and that’s how it works!

Side note: I love the sex positivity, but the still realistic telling of high school hookups. They weren’t too glorified, but they weren’t demonized either. It was beautifully normal.

Although I can’t relate to June’s struggles with her race identity, I still found that aspect of the book to be a good insight to how it might feel to be visibly different from your peers, but still not “asian enough” for the people who look like you. I’ve struggled with other aspects of my identity, so seeing June’s perspective on this was heartwarming and hit close to home.

This book was so so good, and I can’t wait for pub day so I can get my hands on a physical copy. I hope everyone, especially people around June’s age, read this book, because it goes through those feelings so perfectly.

Also: THE COVER! AGH!

Wow, I wish I had read this in high school. But I’m very happy to have read it today! June Chu has my whole heart.

This story tackles many important and difficult topics like coming of age, cultural norms and expectations, love, and so much more. It felt like a lot at once, which is fitting. Anna Gracia's writing is honest, vulnerable, and just so REAL. June's perspective is always sincere in a way that only a teenager’s voice can be.

Right off the bat, what struck me was the author’s note about how being a part of the Asian diaspora has been a barrier in their life. Though my diaspora experience was different, I found myself relating to a lot. I was hooked from the first chapter, as soon as I read June’s mom’s question, “What people think of you?” I grew up with a similar refrain in my community, “Log kya kahenge?” (same meaning) so this really hit me. I really appreciate the depth with which June reflects on her cultural identity over the course of the book.

I am so amazed by how well the author tells the story of this teenager who is beginning to figure herself out, even (especially) amidst a whole lot of messiness. I’m also honestly a little spooked because it feels like she climbed into my head (well, me from 10 years ago). Before this book, I don’t think I had read a story that captured the specific experience of being so used to disappointing people that you stop trying because you’re scared to fail. As the author wrote, impossible standards make us—especially when we are younger—so desperate to please everyone. This resonated with me so much. Loved seeing June's growth and imperfections.

Also, the fraught relationship between June and her mom reminds me of the film Lady Bird as well as Lane and Mrs. Kim from Gilmore Girls. It blows my mind to think about how these experiences are so rooted in specific cultural contexts, while also being universal for so many of us.

All in all, a beautiful story that I highly recommend reading. Huge thanks to the author, Peachtree Teen, and NetGalley! :)

(4.25 rounded down)

Constantly short of being “good enough” and constantly two places behind where she was expected to be; June Chu is a Taiwanese-American teenager trying to be “enough”. Whatever “enough” means to her overbearing Asian family, the schools on her college spreadsheet, the boys she knows and to herself.

Immediately, Boys I Know sets itself apart with the voice of its main character. Gracia wrote June with the sort of brashness that reminded me in many ways of Devi from the Netflix show, Never Have I Ever, and the titular character from the film Lady Bird. I was pleased to find out after reading that the former was recognised by the author herself to be similar to June.

Though her actions were of her own accord, June’s behaviour was evidently caused by the invalidating-nature of her home life. It was as if her impulsiveness was a means of getting the validation her family failed to provide her while her misadventures with boys specifically felt like June trying proving to herself: “I am good enough to be wanted!”

To read this book is to be June’s friend. I appreciated how authentically frustrating her journey was — at times making me feel VERY embarrassed, VERY uncomfortable and also VERY hopeful (though the last one only crashed and burned in my face, like it did for June.) Her emotional and sexual experiences were portrayed without much filter, making what she went through more relatable to the book’s audience of readers.

As an Asian myself, an aspect to this book I heavily enjoyed was its Asian representation, June’s evolving response to micro-aggression and, in general, the growth of her relationship with her own racial and cultural identity. I commend the author for tackling it in a natural and gradual way throughout the story. The issues June dealt with weren’t solely because she was Asian, it was more that her being Asian brought another set of layers to her issues as a teenager.

Overall, I hold this book in high-esteem! It read like an indie coming-of-age film with the realistic and slightly grittier themes it carried compared to other YA books I’ve read. Yet, it was also funny and heartwarming. A great debut novel from Anna Gracia! And wow, the cover of this is gorgeous! It reminds me of the hardbound cover of Michelle Quach’s Not Here To Be Liked.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Peachtree Teen and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I will be posting my review on GoodReads and Instagram a bit closer to the release date.

(TWS AND POTENTIAL SPOILERS: dubious consent and pregnancy scare)

I’ve been a victim of being the one considered as “good enough.” And it affects me more than I would like to admit. I find June’s awkwardness in managing her relationships with those around her relatable. This book completely gets me. All the cheesy things that teens go through might seem small. This is the coming-of-story that a simple girl like me needs. I enjoyed following June’s story as she journeys towards self-discovery.

Always 'just good enough', June is an Asian-American senior, constantly berated at home and barely able to manage a relationship at school. 'Boys I Know' tells the story of how June decides to embrace her 'eternal averageness' and navigates a whole host of awful boys and terrible relationships, mostly because her sense of self-worth is so low, thanks to constantly being berated at home; being unsure of her identity at school and around her friends; and having little to no hope or clarity about her future. Its wit masks the heart-breaking pain June is in for most of the novel, and I'm not sure if I wish it had been darker or lighter in tone.

Reading this book was like ticking off all the types of teenage boys most teenage girls have the unfortunate experience of having to endure, made worse by the racist element. Realistic would be my final verdict. I kept wishing for one of them in particular to 'change', to be someone better, but perhaps it's wishing too much him. June has quite a biting, bleak sense of humour, but overall I did find it quite a depressing read, just because I related to her so much at that age. I wanted so badly for June to have someone who would help her see she didn't need to accept the scraps these disgusting boys threw her way, but June is in a place where she won't be convinced of anything but her own 'meh-ness' and general unworthiness for most of the novel. It's one where 'she saves herself', which I thought worked well for a character like June. I was very pleased to see clarity on seeking the morning-after pill, and June coming to challenge some internalised misogyny surrounding sex, but I was surprised and disappointed that her first sexual experience with Brad wasn't ever clarified in the narrative for exactly what it was. June says no plenty of times, and the way the scene is written makes it clear to me how much pain she's in, and how he recognises her distress and discomfort but doesn't care. So I'd add a content warning for rape, which I think some readers might interpret as dubious consent.

I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of 'Boys I Know'. These opinions are my own.

The other day they were giving away free ARC’s of this book and the cover looks amazing so I was like let me read it. I think this book is very universal and I loved the fact that everyone could find some piece of themselves in June. The story was very deep and over after reading I felt very influenced by it. Definitely a 5/5. Thank you to Netgalley and PeachTree Teen for allow to read and review this novel early!

Wow. This book felt so much like one of the quintessential coming of age movies I watched growing up. I could envision the whole thing in my head (including the soundtrack).

Each character felt like someone I’ve met before or could meet at any point in my life because they all felt like real human beings. I couldn’t even get mad at June when she was making mistakes (especially in regards to her parents and her guy problems) because I’ve made some of those mistakes too, and I know the mindset she was in because I’ve been there. I did get mad at other characters, but the fact I got angry just goes to show that they felt very real to me and that I grew to care about June and the others while reading.

I also loved the issues June faced in terms of her racial identity despite being unable to fully relate. I was however able to recognize certain things I’ve said/done in the past that were definitely not okay and were for sure microaggressions towards my friends, even though they never called me out on it. This book really made me think and reflect on myself which not many books do, and I truly did learn something from reading it.

Also, as someone who is about to graduate, I know I absolutely NEED to reread this book when it comes out because I’ll relate that much more after graduation (and I’m sure I’ll cry, but everyone needs a good cry sometimes).

!!!SPOILERS BELOW!!!

I’m very glad that June didn’t end up with any of the guys and stayed single in the end. Sometimes it feels like writers think that their characters need to end up with someone in the end when, especially at June’s stage of life, that’s just not the case. This book wasn’t a romance, it was June’s journey of self-discovery, and I love it so much for that. So thank you, Anna Garcia, because this was amazing.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advance copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
Keeping this sweet and short : it was good. It was cute and refrshing but i found myself frustrated with the mc and it lowed the score for me. I know that the protrayal of the mc was a realistic one but i just couldnt stand it and i truly dont know if i should praise her for it or not.
Also the end was a little bit rushd in my opinion. It felt like the author wanted the book to end quickly and just wraped it all up.

I loved this book! First of all the cover immediately had me desperate to read it and I was hoping that it lived up to the hype I built up in my head. Luckily, it did. June is very much a flawed character but we see her missteps and how they guide her to a clearer understanding of who she is. This book was one of the truest depictions I have seen of high school and all the pressures that come with it. I was glad many of the struggles June faced are discussed instead of glossed over like so many YA books out there. This was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. I know I will be picking up a copy when it is released.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

This was lovely and I wished I had liked it more. Of course, I appreciate any form of POC representation we get in literature, but I think this book just wasn't for me. As an Asian myself, it is amazing to see the wave of own-voiced POC books hitting the shelves. However, a lot of them have the same issue I found in Boys I Know -- lack of nuance and subtly. I do acknowledge I sound pretentious (and that is because I am) but it doesn't hurt to hold back a little. I love that this was so genuine and had I still been in high school, maybe I would've adored seeing someone with a culture similar to mine who faced the same struggles I had as not only a teen, but as part of the minority in a white Western-centric society. Again, this book just wasn't for me. But my subjective opinions aside, I do want to give credit to this for how careful and honest the main character was portrayed, as well as how the themes in this book were handled. Often, sex and sexuality are not discussed in young-adult fiction, so it was lovely to see it portrayed in such a careful, educative way here. This honestly felt so series for a young-adult fic, despite the author describing it as having "all the ‘com’ of a rom-com”.

But I digress-- June felt so raw and real, for her as a character alone this would've been a five star.

I would absolutely recommend this to high-schoolers, specifically POC teens :)

After finishing this book, the word that comes to the top of my mind is authentic. These characters feel lived in and real, none more so than June which can sometimes be a double edged sword. Sometimes I wanted it to be a little bit more of a fantasy, to incorporate more of the wish fulfillment that you can get out of a YA novel. But that's not what this book is, and that's not a criticism. June can be extremely frustrating, but she is a teen girl who is grappling with life and making mistakes and rushing to judgement. As a reader, you want her to have answers to every question but that's not necessarily what life will actually give you.

That does sometimes make this feel a little abrupt, especially at the end, but Boys I Know feels very much like a slice of life at a very particular time in June's life and how she can cope with it. It's raw and refreshing, even if it isn't entirely satisfying.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, i would just like to say that this book speaks a lot about RIGHT NOW conditions of young adult kids. As one of those Young Adults, at age 18 i was struggling with choosing what i want for my future, what i want to do with my life. while also, enjoying my high school life, dating these few boys and breaking up.

As a second child from a chinese family, i TOTALLY relate with June, she was constantly being "compared" to her sister and other chinese kids. which is NOT a foreign things to me. Although, my mom wasn't like June's Mom, she literally had a whole plan out for June and what she had to do with her life to achieve that plan. My mom really support me in what i want to do which i'm totally grateful for.

Moving to the other characters of the books, few that i found really loveable beside June was Rhys and Candice. I would love to have a best friend like candice, i think she would always help me keep myself in line but also would go out of the line with me. Then, there's Rhys, in my opinion i think of June and Rhys relationship as one of the first loves relationship, where you'll always have him and remember him in your heart. But, he is a right person at the wrong time and will always just be THAT person you'll love all your life.

The Author mentions about "messy boys + messier relationships" in the synopsis and I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. This book is literally what was written in the synopsis. and the main focus on this book is self growth, all the characters development was written well and plan beautifully. This book needs to be consumed slowly and while I DID get a bit bored in the middle of the book, i can't put down the book BECAUSE i just feel the need to know what happen next? what will she do? and so on.

NetGalley Review: In all honesty this was refreshing. Even if you haven’t encountered many of the situations in this book, relatability can be found in here for everyone. I felt that bits and pieces of all the relationships were relatable to me. As someone that’s been found cute by guys, but could never find the right way to be myself in a relationship hit differently with this book. I also appreciated how the romance was decentralized and wasn’t something the book could be recognized for, I don’t think there’s enough coming of age books that allow for the MC to stay single and find their own way. I would also say though that I felt the ending was a bit abrupt. All the plot points for the most part were wrapped up, but many of them seemed like they were quickly wrapped up. They weren’t wrapped up in a haphazard way, but it also didn’t feel completely satisfying. Overall though I found bits and pieces of myself in this book iand it was an honest and awkward read in a good way.

Thank you to NetGalley and PeachTree for this e-ARC!

(4.5 rounded down)
Boys I Know was a complete emotional rollercoaster of a book and I loved every moment of it. First off, June Chu has my whole heart. She completely stole it in this book. She’s such a realistic and comforting character, and the journeying through the messiness of her life with her made me laugh and gush and yell in frustration. When I say it was an emotional rollercoaster, I really mean it. I felt happy, sad, confused, annoyed, all the emotions, at so many points of this story. I really feel that it so accurately represents the feelings of many teens. Would definitely recommend especially to older teens. (also I LOVE THE COVER FOR THIS BOOK, IT’S STUNNING)

This book was a lovely mirror into what it feels like to be a teenager trying to figure out who you are and how to be independent. I really appreciated the exploration of not being “Asian enough” and the cultural aspects that were explored throughout.

I would say the book is as what the blurb says. Exactly. No exaggerations there. Nothing less than there. And I am so glad the book delivers as it promises.

Thank you, Peachtree, for the advance reading copy.

Will I keep looking at the cover of this book again and again?

Will I keep thinking about the characters again and again? Hello, June. Hello, Rhys. Hello, June's Mom. Yes, the other characters too. But these characters will live in my mind rent free forever.

And yes, yes to these questions! I love the cover so much!

The book is as it is. The plot is as it is. What I loved the most is how genuine the characters are and how effortlessly they have been developed and given a wholesome place in the plot.

I find the character of June so genuine and realistic that it's impossible not to keep on reading as to know what happens to her and who she chooses ultimately. The characters are not perfect which I truly appreciate reading about. We meet the good, the bad and the ugly guys. June, you deserve the best.

One character stood out for me. It's June's mom. Only Asian kids know how it is with Asian families and Asian parents. It's a lot. A LOT I would say. We are used to it. But no one can make fun of it.

I would say take your time with this book. Try to know and understand June keeping her age and situation in mind. You will enjoy it the most when you accept the characters as they are at the earliest.

it's official. i am in love with YA contemporary and more importantly, with june chu. it really brought me back to a younger me who was struggling with the multitudes of confusion that high school and being on the cusp of adulthood brought me. but this book really made me look back to four years in the past and if i could give high school self one thing, it would be a book like this. these characters were so real and achingly human and her journey was something i will hold so dear to my heart because it tackles so well themes and subjects like sex, college, race and her own sense of belonging in the world and how much of that she can actually control. it was so, so wonderful and i can't wait to read more of anna garcia.