Well, what was not unexpected was me enjoying this book! Lots of funny and heartfelt moments. George was honestly a delight. His exasperation and resignation with his dad, sister and the rest of his family (who were just fantastic) was so funny. It took me a bit to warm up to Sharlot. I understand that she was frustrated with her mother and the situation she was in, but she was downright hostile to everyone for most of the book. It was a little much at times. Also, the trope of teenagers being upset about their families making them travel to another city/country instead of staying home always bothers me just a bit. I would have LOVED to go to Bali as a teenager!
And speaking of Bali, having just gone there earlier this month actually, I enjoyed reading about a few familiar things, specifically the food! But anyway, I did love how Sharlot and her mom finally connected towards the end and understood each other better. I did feel like the conflict got resolved a little too quickly and the ending felt very abrupt, but other than that, the pacing of the book was really well done. The romance was a nice, gradual slow burn. Overall, this was a pretty cute book that also dealt with a few really important issues. Also, I’d love a sequel of Kiki and Eleanor taking over the world, please.
TW: slut shaming, homophobia, racism

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down.

The author describes this as “a love story with meddlesome aunties and uncles and lots of coffee!” and that’s a fair description. For me, it gets off to a bumpy start but turns into a sweet YA romance and definitely had me looking at trips to Indonesia.

Californian Sharlot meets up with George in Jakarta through some convoluted and unlikely plotting which I got a little impatient with. They are both Indonesian Chinese: Sharlot’s mother fled Indonesia when she was 18 and this is the first time that she and Sharlot have been back. George is part of the incredibly wealthy and successful Tanuwijaya family and is on the verge of launching his first app. Hints of a junior Crazy Rich Asians? A little.

As they (and we) get to know each other better, the novel slips into a comfortable light-footed rhythm and we can all enjoy experiencing Jakarta, Bali, and Indonesian food, albeit from a very rich person’s perspective. I think the author does a terrific job with her characters: Sharlot and George are delightful and the supporting cast, particularly George’s sister Eleanor and Sharlot’s cousin Kiki as well as all the meddlesome aunties and uncles, add to the fun.

So, come for the unusual setting, unchallenging romance, and smiles if not laughs, and don’t let the clunky set up put you off.

Thanks to Delacorte and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

After Sharlot Citra gets caught in a compromising position by her mother, she is whisked away to her mother's native Indonesia to reconnect with the family she's never met and the roots she's never connected with. Her mother believes this is going to be exactly what the two of them need. At the same time, George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father can't seem to figure out how to connect with his son and takes matters into his own hands. The two parents end up catfishing each other using the kids' social media accounts which leads to a hilarious rom-com adventure in this beautiful love letter to Indonesia.

We've all heard about it. Catfishing. Someone pretends to be someone they aren't online, usually to trick someone into dating them. Well, in this case, you have George's father messaging Sharlot's social media account pretending to be George. What he doesn't know is that on the other end is Sharlot's mother pretending to be Sharlot. This is the kind of stuff that you can't make up...unless, of course, you are Jesse Q. Sutanto who literally did make it up.

This story was up there with the extravagance of Crazy Rich Asians but with the same themes of family, reconnecting with your roots, and finding yourself. There were some expected cringey moments when reading through the messages George's father and Sharlot's mother send as their respective child, when the two meet for the first time in person, when George's family interferes...there are a good handful of cringey moments and, somehow, it all works so well.

Following along with George and Sharlot is like the slowest slow burn that ever slow burned. The dual POV adds to the frustration you feel as the reader because you know the secret they are each keeping from the other. Somehow, it all works and doesn't make you want to throw the book across the room (and trust me, I absolute hate slow burn).

I had such a blast reading this story. There were moments that had me laughing out loud, moments that made me cringe (at the characters and the memories of my own teenage years), moments that reminded me how important it was to understand where I came from. The story takes place primarily in Indonesia and it was beautiful to watch Sharlot learn about her heritage and culture. It was truly a love letter to the author's native Indonesia and made me want to plan my own trip (to Indonesia as well as to my native China) soon.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
Jesse Q. Sutanto does it again! I’ve read 2 other books by her and this one did not disappoint.
Well, That Was Unexpected is a cute story about 2 teenagers whose parents chat to one another on an app pretending to be the two main characters, Sharlot and George.
I found it interesting to learn about the Indonesian culture throughout the story and also appreciated the giggles while reading.

Omg! That was so cute! The characters were so relatable and funny. I loved the relationships with the parents and aunties and the evolution they take.
I usually hate fake dating but I liked how this was done! Jesse Santos is definitely a new favorite author of mine! Such a cute story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an eARC!

TW/CW: Sexual situations, very brief mentions of suicide and sexual assault, sexist language

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Well, That Was Unexpected is the charming story of Sharlot, an American born Indonesian girl who is caught in a compromising position by her mother and is whisked off to Indonesia and the family she never knew.

It’s a very cute story and a very quick read, and while possessing all the requisite parts of a fun YA romance, it also addresses some serious issues such as misogyny and toxic masculinity – which in my opinion need to be addressed more in YA literature.

A sort of Crazy Rich Asians for the YA crowd, this was a very good book and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes YA romance.

This book was a perfectly escapist novel that truly sucked me in from the very beginning. It only took me a couple of sessions to finish this book, and that's how immersive it was! If you enjoy fast-paced books that really sweep you off your feet, give this one a try!

Hi everyone! Today I'll be reviewing the book Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto.
Through an Instagram-like app, Sharlot's mother catfishes a boy named George into thinking she is her daughter, but ironically, George's father is doing exactly the same. A few weeks later, Sharlot and George go on a date and they don't seem to like each other very much, but, because George is the face of the new app that his family company is developing, they'll have to fake their relationship to the media. Will a spark of love appear between them while they go on a "romantic" trip to Bali?
Well, this book really made me want to go to Indonesia. I really love Jesse Q. Sutanto's books, and this one's no exception. The premise is very interesting and it's developed in the best way possible throughout the book. I really liked that the story is told from Sharlot and George's point of view. I immensely adored their relationship, and I think they are great characters. I also loved the Eleanor and Kiki duo. One of my favorite things about this book is how it describes Indonesia as the beautiful country it is —it really made me want to get on a plane and go there.
This book is the perfect vacation read. I'd really recommend it to you if you like YA romance novels.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sharlot gets caught in a compromising position by her mother. Her mother decides to take her to Indonesia for the summer and be with family. Sharlot has never been before and is not thrilled with the idea.

George is caught in a compromising position by his father. His father feels like George needs a girlfriend and all his problems will be solved. He opens an app on George's phone and send message to Sharlot. Little did he know that he wasn't talking to Sharlot but her mother. This is what happens when parents meddle in their kids life.

It gets hilarious reading about their fake dates, how the relationship develops and how their eyes are opened to new things. It is well written and have you rooting for love and enjoyed it gave you a glimpse of what Indonesia is like.

Absolutely loved this fun story that read like the best telenovela or kdrama. Perfectly reflects the experiences of a variety of YA readers with humor and heart. Highly recommended.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I am super excited to read more of her books. The concept was really unique and refreshing, it was really hard to put down. Well, That Was Unexpected was an absolutely fun and humorous read full of lovable characters. It had lots of crazy surprises and plot twists too. The title really speaks for the book itself. The book features Indonesian culture and history which intrigued me a lot. I learned so much about Indonesian culture through this book and it definitely took me to a very exciting trip to wonderful places around the country. Moreover, it also shows some common characteristics of Asian family specifically on family pressure and expectations. I find the book highly relatable too except for the fact that I don’t have my own George Clooney of course lmao. Overall, it was a very fun and exciting read which I absolutely recommend to everyone.

Huge thanks to Penguin Random House for sending me an ARC to review :)

Well, this was unexpectedly one of the most delightful YA romcoms I’ve read this year! I INHALED this book. The circumstances were ridiculous and over the top, but it was cute as heck. 😂 I LOL’d so many times; once I started reading I couldn’t put it down! Even though the characters were half my age (they’d all be calling me ancient), they were all so relatable. I love how similar Indonesian culture is with my own (Filipino) - from the language, food, traditional/conservative families, and even some toxic traits. I had so much nostalgia from descriptions of the tropical country, overbearing/strict family, and even teenage hormones 🤣 I love how it tackled some issues about Southeast Asian culture - toxic masculinity, misogyny, sexism, obsession with fair skin and western features among others.

It was such a fun, lighthearted and easy read; with Crazy Rich Asian vibes and fake dating. I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for a quick escape. I’m now tempted to book a flight to Bali and have some delicious street food and Indonesian coffee! 🤤

Jesse Sutanto writes madcap, wacky, romantic romps. I loved "Dial A for Aunties", so I was excited to see how she applied her style of writing to a YA story. "Well, That Was Unexpected" was hilarious and fun. The set up, fake dating + mutual catfishing by meddlesome family members, was over the top, but in a good way. I thought George and Sharlot were very realistically written horny teenagers who got busted by their parents and are now dealing with the fallout. I would be comfortable having my tween daughter read this because I feel like the sex and coming of age aspects were handled with realness, humor, and respect.

And holy cow, now I want to go to Indonesia!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoy the banter between the characters. The meddling of the adults is hilarious and heartwarming. Straddling the line of saving the family reputation and wanting what is best for your kids is sometimes fraught with angst. But her stories cross them with a humor that I wish most of us could employ!

Jesse Q Sutanto's writing style is seamless and perfect in any genre she writes. This was such a delightful YA romcom. The humor and crazy unexpected twists were just the right amount of shocking and out of left field that I found myself falling out of my chair laughing. I love the aspects of culture woven into the story as our main character rediscovers her family history as a Chinese Indonesian. This was a beautiful book!

It’s simple. I see a book with an Indonesian-American MC, and I click. I’m Indonesian-American, and I feel like I’ve been waiting since the dawn of time (dramatic, but justified) for this kind of beautiful, important representation in the YA space.

So thank you, Jesse Sutanto, for writing this book to begin with. (And for all of your other books, which have blazed the way forward for Indonesian MCs in YA literature.) As described in your acknowledgements, WELL, THAT WAS UNEXPECTED is definitely a love letter to Indonesia — but it’s also a love letter to all of us with Indonesian ancestry, those of us with mixed, multicultural heritage and anyone who has grown up wanting to see themselves reflected in the books they read.

I smiled every time I came across references to Indo foods and phrases I’ve been around my entire life — let’s GO, nasi goreng! — and that happened so often, my cheeks started to hurt. It was also really fascinating to read an MC’s perspective who visits Indonesia for the first time after growing up in the US, which is very similar to my experience as a second-gen American who didn’t visit Indonesia until I was in my mid-twenties. I just love seeing this kind of inclusion and ode to Indonesia — and it is honestly way, way overdue.

That said, I am obviously biased, because I went in wanting to love this book just based on the premise alone. Thankfully, it’s also a delightful read; one that I’m genuinely thrilled to recommend. WELL, THAT WAS UNEXPECTED is lovely and light and the perfect kind of escape.

A quick recap: Sharlot and George are two very seemingly-different people brought together thanks to a series of events that see their respective families meddling in their personal lives by posing as them on an Indonesian dating app. LA-bred Sharlot is with her mom visiting estranged family in Indonesia for the summer, thanks to being caught in a pretty compromising position with her ex-boyfriend back home. All Sharlot wants is to go back home to California, no matter how ridiculously nice Jakarta might be. George has always lived in Jakarta but has long not been interested in having a girlfriend; something he finds difficult to do because he’s heir to a very, very wealthy family and girls in the past have used him for it. Instead, he’s been pouring all of his time and energy into preparing to launch an app that combats toxic masculinity (hello YES).

This book is wonderfully bizarre, featuring several plot twists that drive some almost unbelievable antics. For one, Sharlot and George are forced to fake date to drive some press around his upcoming app launch — only to discover that perhaps they have more in common than they thought. This is an arrangement which, while first presents a major headache for everyone involved, might just result in a happy ever after.

One of the best parts of the whole thing is Sharlot’s mom and her character arc. Once we eventually learn why she left Jakarta to begin with, and witness her happy reunion with the one person who stole her heart all those years before, everything starts to make more sense. Her story, and the things she bravely endured, is beautifully told.

Another of the highlights is George passionately working to help teen boys unlearn deeply problematic behaviors and attitudes. (We LOVE an MC who works to dismantle the patriarchy!!!)

WELL, THAT WAS UNEXPECTED will make you laugh at some of Shar and George’s misadventures, but it gets much deeper than that. It’s a book that reminds you about the importance of embracing your heritage without losing sight of what’s right. A big theme in this is the need to challenge how things have always been, while still honoring the beauty of tradition. Indonesian culture — like any culture, really — is big on respecting the past, which can sometimes be a major detriment. That said, it’s absolutely lovely to read a book about some cultural nuances that really demands more than just blind acceptance of the way things have always been.

This is a story about the places, and the people, we discover we belong to. It is an ode to community — both new and old — and what magic could happen if you open yourself up to an unlikely journey. It might just end up being exactly what you needed all along.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Jesse Sutanto is an newly popular author who does a great job of combining intrigue and humor. So when I saw that she had a new book out, I knew I had to request it! "Well, That Was Unexpected" is Sutanto's first YA book. This book centers around George and Sharlot, both teenagers who are overwhelmed by their parent's overbearing ways. When circumstances throw them together, chaos ensues, and sparks begin to fly.

I thought the idea of this book was better than its execution. However, I'm not the target audience for this book, so that may have skewed my opinion. There were also some elements that I felt were unnecessary (casual mentions of porn, etc.) Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The beginning of this was rough for me. Sharlot didn't feel like a real person. The way she swore every other sentence or just was really rude to her mom made her feel like a meme of a teenager. Then the invasiveness and manipulation of George's family also made me uncomfortable. Eleanor's character was also just entirely confusing for me. She's supposed to be 13, but the way she's written I'd guess she's like 7.
The plot of this book is bonkers. It is what intrigued me about the book after all. Two parents catfishing each other's kids!? Wild. I didn't expect it to get as deep as it did. There's an LGBTQIA+ moment that I feel was kind of just thrown in there. It gave insight to Indonesian culture, but I feel the reconciliation of two certain characters could have been handled without that.
As the book went on, I enjoyed Sharlot and George falling for the true versions of each other. But it was kind of ruined by all the pop culture references.

" A 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 bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties and The Obsession"

This author was new to me but they did not disappoint! There were a lot of plot twists, fun, fake dating, and just the right amount of cheesy for a YA book! It does have a way of balancing serious teen issues without being a heavy book. It was a lot of fun to read and look forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed the lighthearted nature of this book that also managed to be serious about issues facing teenagers around consent and social media drama. I would have appreciated if there had been more obvious distinctions between the narrators so if you stop in the middle of a chapter, it’s easier to catch whose story you are in the middle of.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.