I love this author and all her writing! This YA was pretty cute and I really enjoyed the story and know many younger audiences will eat this up

I loved this book so much is was a fun and fast read for me. I would definitely recommend it to others! Thank you NetGalley for this copy!

You may be wondering why on Earth did I request this book. I have been asking myself the same question for days now. I hardly ever read straight YA contemporaries, especially if they are romances, so I don’t know what possessed me to download this one. It was probably due to the fact that I was really intrigued by the fact that this book was set in Indonesia, as I’d never read anything with this setting before.
And the Indonesian setting and culture is the only reason I am not giving this book one star, to be honest. I loved learning more about the country, the history and the food. It was very nice how the author blended these bits with the rest of the story, and it made me even more curious to read Dial A for Aunties, to see how this culture translates in a US setting.
Other than this, unfortunately, I didn’t like anything about the book. The main characters were both annoying to me, and they didn’t have any chemistry. Literally none. I couldn’t care less about them and their relationship, and that’s not good in a romance book. I did vaguely like Kiki and Eleanor, but they were not enough to save the book.
The plot was very predictable. I mean, it’s a romance, so it’s always predictable and I usually like that about the genre, however what bothered me in this case, was that even the subplots and minor plot points were very basic and I had them figured out from the first page.
The worst thing about this book, however, was the writing. Now, I love me a good over the top book, but this one was too much even for me. The main issue was that it was over the top, but I did not find it funny or entertaining, so all it remained was for me to cringe.
Also, I hate when people accuse books of trying to be “woke”, but I don’t know how else to describe this one. The author made some very good points, but the way she wrote them was so clearly aimed at appealing to Gen Z readers it just felt fake. And, once again, it made me cringe a lot, especially when George talked about toxic masculinity. What he said wasn’t wrong, but it still came out very weirdly and somehow it felt like he was mansplaining things to us readers, which kinda went against the purpose, I believe.
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I’d still recommend it if you are interested in the Indonesian aspect of it, or if you usually enjoy heterosexual YA books (couldn’t be me, call me heterophobic, IDK and IDC). I still think it was a bit too much and that the writing was awful, but if you are someone who cares more about the romance, you may still like this one. Personally, I couldn’t fall in love with Sharlot and George, but maybe you will; I have seen a lot of good ratings for this one, and it’s clearly a case of “It’s me, not you” syndrome.

This is a perfect YA romance to give you all the feels, and it brings some wonderful cultural issues into the story that makes it feel relevant and important. I loved the story, and I loved the characters! I found myself laughing and smiling, and just all the feels!

We love Jesse Q Sutanto! This was my first YA read of hers and it definitely won't be my last. The characters were really intriguing and I could not put the book down.

Laugh out loud funny YA novel! It reminded me of Crazy Rich Asians but for a younger audience. I loved the authentic banter between Sharlot and George. I also really enjoyed Eleanor and Kiki’s sisterly bond. The meddling parents were accurate and funny in their descriptions. All in all a fun read! I gave it 4 stars!

The premise of the book promised an outrageous, laugh out loud YA romcom and it delivered.

If you loved the humor and fast-pace of Dial A For Aunties and fake dating & YA romances, this one is sure to please. Like her previous books, the antics and humor abound. Sometimes the humor was more juvenile in nature but considering this is a YA novel, it was to be expected. There were even some twists that I wasn’t expecting.

I loved the setting of Jakarta and Bali and narrative around the more traditional cultural norms and values juxtaposed with the more modern ones. I loved the side characters of the sister and cousin as they added an extra layer of humor to the story.

It has fake dating, monkeys, lots of coffee and Indonesian food references, parents pretending to be their children on dating apps and all the hilarity this brings when reading their messages, meddling aunties, hilarious and embarrassing opening scenes for each main character, and all the feels with teenage love.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this one. This was a fun contemporary romance. The characters were ok and this was a quick read. If you like cultural cross over tales, this one is for you!

3.5/5

This was really cute! The author calls it a love letter to Indonesia and that is totally what it feels like. I absolutely loved the setting, the descriptions of places and food, the cultural immersion – armchair traveling is one of my favorite things about reading and this did it so well!

Aside from the setting, it’s also just a really fun story. Sharlot and George are adorable and their growth throughout the novel was lovely. The parental catfishing allowed from some hilarious moments, and I loved the large cast of side characters.

Jesse Q. Sutanto has been on my radar for ages and this was such a great book to start with. I’m looking forward even more to (finally!) reading Dial A for Aunties now!

At times silly, funny, and sweet, Well, That Was Unexpected will entertain you at the same time it convinces you to make Indonesia your next vacation destination!

Thank you so much Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My Thoughts:
Like We Deserve Monuments, a teenage senior is forced to temporarily leave her friends and home to travel to her mother's home town, in this case, Indonesia. Throughout the book, both girls find that their mother's are holding secrets that will change their relationship. However, that is where the two stories verge away from each other.

Unlike the drama of Monuments, this is a cute romcom, family meddling, crazy rich Asians style adventure through Indonesia. From the beginning, as readers we know that they are going to get together eventually, so this was really a love story about the place too, from a lot of coffee and street food to beautiful scenery, it really. makes me want to visit Indonesia. I learned so much about it through this book.

From the Publisher:
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

After Sharlot Citra's mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother’s native Indonesia. It'll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.

When George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot's mother and George's father do what any "good" parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.

When the kids find out about their parents’ actions, they’re horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?

Publication Information:
Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Publisher: Delacorte Press (Sept. 27, 2022)

This was my first Jesse Q. Sutanto book but it won't be my last! I loved this book so much. It's such a fun YA rom-com about love, self-discovery and identity.

Sharlot is finally ready to have sex with her boyfriend. But when her mom walks in on them, she freaks and drags Sharlot to Indonesia for the summer. Meanwhile in Indonesia, George Clooney is mortified when his father and sister walk in on him watching porn. Determined to fix their children's disastrous love lives and find them appropriate people to date, Sharlot's mom and George's dad (and sister) create profiles for them on a social networking app -- and began cat-fishing each other. When Sharlot and George are forced to meet IRL, everything spins out of control and suddenly they're in a fake relationship to help George's family. At first they pretend to like each other for the cameras, but soon their feelings start to become real. Did their parents matchmaking actually lead them to love?

This book had me either laughing or smiling every single page. You can't help but love Sharlot, George and both of their families. There is even a very sweet subplot with Sharlot's mom that I LOVED. The book also tackles how social media can be harmful, especially for young women and does a really great job portraying healthy conversations for teens about sex and consent. We also get both Sharlot and George's POV throughout the book, which was a great choice.

The other thing I loved about this book is the discussion around identity and culture. Sharlot hasn't really been able to connected with Indonesian culture, but spending the summer in Indonesia allows her to connect with her family and learn more about her culture. i also loved that we get to experience Indonesia through Sharlot's eyes and I can honestly say that it's on my lists of places to visit.

This book is so witty, funny and charming. It's a great book for teenagers and adults. You will be so happy you read this book!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received this ebook as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours on Instagram, thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing the ebook for an honest review.

As a fellow Chinese-Indonesian, I can't tell you how excited I am to finally see a Chinese-Indonesia (or Chindo) representation in a book that is also set in Indonesia! With a lot of Indonesian culture in it!

We met Sharlot Citra a 17 years old Chinese-Indonesian-American who was caught doing R-rated things with her boyfriend by her mother. She was then got taken away to her mother’s birthplace, Indonesia for the summer. In Indonesia, George Clooney also faces the same problem, but he was caught by his father and sister.

Sharlot’s mother and George’s father strike up a conversation with each other online pretending to be their children. When Sharlot and George finally meet (thanks to their parents), things started to get so complicated that they have to pretend they’re dating.

Well, That Was Unexpected really brings a lot of Indonesian culture to life. It feels like as if the Tanuwijaya family is mine because of how relatable the writing is to my family life situation. Like when they said “Chinese family titles are painfully specific, “ I understand that on so many levels. The characters and the atmosphere are well-written.

The twist near the end really caught me off guard. Like the title said “Well, That Was Unexpected” It really was unexpected.

It was a good read.

This book is absolutely adorable. Featuring multiple sets of meddling relatives, a highly eligible bachelor, and a fish out of water, Sutanto delivers a sweet and fun YA novel. Through Shar, we get to naturally discover how Indonesia diverges from American expectations. There are hijinks and developing relationships, making you both laugh and feel.

This was such a cute YA romcom! I loved the setting in Indonesia and it definitely made me want to visit! I feel Asian culture is underrepresented in western published books so I loved reading this and learning more about Indonesia. I thought the cast of characters were fun and loved the side characters, especially Kiki and Elenor. Both George and Sharlot are likable protagonists and I loved seeing their relationships with their families. I liked Sharlot’s journey with her mother and how her thoughts shifted on Indonesia. This would be a great book for a highschool library especially because of setting, diversity, and Sharlots focus on intimacy. This humor was engaging throughout the whole story. This would be a great beach read because the conflict is never too heavy and has a sweet love story.

Overall, this was a 4.5 for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Childrens for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a YA rom-com about two teenagers who are in trouble with their parents and end up fake-dating to appease those parents. Sharlot and her mom travel from LA to spend the summer in Indonesia. George, who is part of a very wealthy Indonesian family, is in trouble with his dad. Sharlot's mom and George's dad and sister actually end up messaging with each other, pretending to be Sharlot and George, and arrange for a meeting. This story is actually really sweet and fun, and I appreciated how mature Sharlot and George were despite the way that their relationship started. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

For the record I was not aware that this was YA and not NA/A until I read it.

That being said, the FMC is a teenager and I am not so I have found her much more frustrating and it kind of ruined the whole vibe I had.

I had heard this was basically Crazy Rich Asians with a fake dating plot and that sounded awesome.

I loved that this was set in Indonesia.

It was sweet, but not the best. I really enjoyed Dial A For Aunties, but this feel a little short. The characters were okay but I didn’t fall in love with them like I usually do in romances. It’s just and I support the representation, but it was a small let down

I wasn't a fan of Crazy Rich Asians, but this book is like the YA version of it, and yet, it was so much better. I had lots of fun with the plot and with imagining Indonesia. Alert, you'll probably add it to your next destinations before you're even done with the reading.

Sharlot is forced to visit Indonesia, where her mother is from, though she's never been there and long since lost interest in her family's history, as she never really heard anything about it growing up in the States. Meanwhile, George is also forced to relinquish his phone and through that his teenager sister and father is using his profile to meet a girl, one that sounds very traditional, the perfect candidate to be the wife of the future successor of their family's conglomerate. However, Sharlot isn't the one writing the messages either. 

This is a fun story with lots of curiosities about Indonesia that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. It's definitely one of the good. It was my first time reading anything by this writer, but now i'm very curious about her works.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Sutanto has a very engaging writing style, and the book was an easy read. It was a love letter to Indonesian culture that could both entice those unfamiliar with the culture to want to learn more, and it could make those who see their culture under-represented in western-published books feel seen. I would definitely recommend this book for high school, due to Sharlot's focus on intimacy. Both her and George are likeable protagonists, and their relationships with the families is engaging. Overall, a complete beach read -- the conflict is never too heavy, and it satisfies those with wanderlust and those who enjoy a sweet love story.

This was a good contemporary YA novel! Overall, I would definitely recommend trying it, if it sounds interesting to you!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.