The first 10% of this was really slow for me and largely uninteresting and awkward. However, once everyone was in Indonesia, the story picked up quickly and was adorable. I think it had a really great plot and the ending was absolutely perfect, especially since everything wasn’t tied up with a neat little bow. Really great read, as an adult or a teen. Does mention sex, but really enforces consensual, safe, and having an understanding partner are key. Discussed, but does not occur in the book.

If you’ve read any Jesse Q. Sutanto books, you already know that her books start out with hilariously crazy situations and have lovable characters. Well, That Was Unexpected is about Sharlot (our mc) who is caught by her mother in an unideal situation. After her mother catches her trying to hook up with her boyfriend, in their California home, she is moved to their native Indonesia for the summer. In Indonesia, George is caught in his own mortifying situation by his father; I mean, he’s a teenage boy so we can’t really judge him for that little mishap. I did almost die of second-hand embarrassment on behalf of the two teenagers.

Sharlot doesn’t know much about her Indonesian culture and doesn’t feel like she fully fits in anywhere. George is the only male heir in the famous Tanuwijayan family. He feels pressure to do things perfectly for his family and join their business. Set in beautiful Indonesia: Sharlot and George meet, discover new parts of themselves, and learn amazing lessons surrounded by the love of their meddlesome (but well-meaning) family members.

This book was absolutely delightful. It’s filled with heartfelt moments, hilarious situations (seriously laughed so hard at certain parts), and a sweet love story. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Jakarta and Bali; I haven’t been to Indonesia in years and am dying to go back.

Well, That Was Unexpected is the third Jesse Q. Sutanto book I’ve read, and I will continue to be a fan of her writing. Her books are the type of feel-good stories that make me smile until my face hurts. I was really excited about this book, and it absolutely delivered everything I wanted from a romcom set in Indonesia. I recommend this book with all of my heart, and I cannot wait to read what she writes next.

She is literally the only author that is actually able to make laugh out loud with her character’s antics. Any book she writes, will read! She is extremely relatable and appeals to all the children of immigrants. 10/10

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advanced reader's copy of this YA novel.

I had read the author's adult novel, "Dial A for Aunties" and loved the shenanigans in it. Since I really enjoyed it I was curious to see if she could write a really good laugh out loud YA novel. She did not miss the mark at all. I thoroughly enjoyed the escape to the setting on Indonesia in this one and experiencing it through our main protagonist. Let's just say I now want to try an avocado coffee!

I would definitely recommend this to not only young readers but adults too. A great laugh out loud novel that has really no risque behavior so I think even mature middle grade readers could handle the content. It's a story with the fake dating trope and full cast of family characters to provide lots of laughs!

I haven’t read this author before, but now I definitely need to go back and read her other stuff.

This was a fun and easy read, and it had me laughing out loud so many times! I LOVE that the author wrote about her own culture. This book is definitely written from a place of fondness and experience. I learned SO much about Indonesia and about the Chinese-Indonesian culture and family-really really interesting and unique. I love when books are written as a love letter to a location, and I felt that way about this book and Indonesia-it certainly made me want to visit (and get avocado coffee!!!)

The plot was honestly a little silly, but it brought me an insane amount of joy. Generally, a sweet, no-angst story!

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Random House Children's. All opinions are my own.

This book was ADORABLE! I really enjoyed it! It hooked me from the very beginning and kept me hooked the entire time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Random House Children's and Delacorte Press. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Oh boy, this was fantastic. I flew through this book. In true Jesse Sutanto fashion, it was hilarious, full of hijinks and family meddling. The parents catfishing each other? Brilliant. The setting? Amazing. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT? I can't.

If I had one criticism, it would be that the read was almost too quick. I would've liked to see more time dedicated to developing Sharlot and George's relationship, as well as Sharlot reconnecting with her Indonesian roots. I also think that the miscommunication went a bit too far. It should've been a red flag that Sharlot spent her entire life in the US, but her messages (really, her mom's messages) were in broken English.

Regardless, I highly recommend this one!

I was not sure what i would think about this book--Dial A for Aunties was fine, but i didn't LOVE it and didn't know how JQS's writing would translate to YA. But! I really liked it, except for the conflict which felt RIDICULOUS. But the fake dating part--fun! The cross-cultural experience and realizing you were totally a jerk who viewed through US-centric lenses--great! The families getting up in everything and having their own side plots--why not! If the conflict were better, this would have been 4.5 stars--as it was, it almost pulled it down to 3.5. It felt like the conflict could have just been the public humiliation and then some family parts of it without having to have the weird hypocrisy. That said! I liked this and think it's worth reading for sure. It could be a good addition to a HS library bc there isn't much YA fiction based in Indonesia with a US connection that i know of (though this isn't my area of expertise! It feels like a nice learning/story balance).

Coming of age and finding your roots, importance of family and heritage
Fun rom-com featuring two teens who are thrown together because of parental interference and a dating app.
Sharlot, from LA, is caught with her boyfriend and quickly whisked to Indonesia for a "break." George, who lives in Indonesia, is caught in a compromising position by his father and sister. Both parents start chatting on a popular dating app pretending to be their children. Sharlot and George meet and try to make the best of it, ending up really liking each other. Both characters are relatable and likable.
Lots of information about customs, food, and the people of Indonesia.

This title will be included on OverDrive's Fall Essentials for High School list. and I will recommend it to HS libraries.

In the Acknowledgements section of this book, the author says she wanted to write something joyous that celebrated her heritage and I think she absolutely succeeded! This was joyous to read. Sharlot has been whisked off to her mother’s native Indonesia and finds herself fake dating the son of a wealthy family. And it’s somehow all their parents fault! Over the course of the story Sharlot’s relationship with her Chinese Indonesian heritage and her view of Indonesia develops and deepens into something really fantastic. We see both through her eyes and her journey is very special. And as George is the other POV, it was nice to see Indonesia through his eyes and his experience being from there.

‘Well, That Was Unexpected’ is incredibly funny and sweet. I loved meeting Sharlot and George’s extended families, especially the aunties and George’s dad. Jesse Sutanto really knows how to write families in ways that are funny and emotional in equal part. An excellent read from an excellent author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel.

This was a delightful YA romance that I cannot wait to recommend to students. It features the fake dating trope and a delightful cast of supporting family characters. It is romance, coming to age, finding your roots with heart and the perfect amount of comedy.

This is such a good romance for YA readers or those looking for a less spicy romance read. The main characters were written well and believably for the ages that they were.

LOVED it! I had heard of "Dial A for Aunties" but haven't had a chance to read it yet but was excited to have an opportunity to read an ARC of "Well, That Was Unexpected". This was such a quick read. George and Sharlot were so believable as characters and the story wrapped its arms around me like a warm hug. Speaking of warm...Indonesia also sounds like a humid warm hug but now I really want to visit!

I love Jesse’s writing! Her Auntie’s series is so fun, I was excited to read another novel by her that was something a little different! This was enjoyable.

This is my new favorite author! Her writing is hilarious and flows so nicely that it makes reading so much fun. I love her characters and all of their quirks! I'm learning a little about another culture and I love that. Looking forward to her next book!

Fun, educational, and interesting. I think this will be a great book for my younger students to learn about Intercultural issues while also not feeling like they're being taught a lesson. Highly recommend!

Jesse Q. Sutanto has become one of my auto buy authors! This is my first book by this author and will not be my last! I absolutely loved everything about this book! Set in Indonesia and learning about Chinese Indonesian culture were a nice plus. Throughly enjoyed and will be recommending this book to my school librarian. I really think students will enjoy this one as much as I did. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the amazing opportunity to review Jesse Q. Sutanto's laugh-out-loud YA romcom in exchange for my honest review. Sutanto wowed me with Dial A for Aunties, and I have to say that I loved this YA adorable story with a smart vibrant heroine and a cute, determined hero. Sutanto's humor is her strength as a writer, and the side characters and elders and their hilarious banter made me chuckle constantly. Sutanto's descriptions of Indonesia were so fascinating, and I really was immersed into this adorable story and was rooting for this precious couple. Sutanto's whip-smart characters are so well developed, and I swooned! Can't wait for you to get to read this one!

I’m not a big YA fan, but I am a big Jesse Q. Sutanto fan, so I was so excited to read this! This is a cute story of two teenagers who meet in a very unique “meet-cute” and their blossoming romance. It was slightly far-fetched, but it a very pleasant way! And now I really need to take a trip to Bali!