Laugh-out-loud and full of delight. George and Sharlot are characters that make you want to scream "kiss already!" and also cringe at the same time. I absolutely love Sutanto's writing already, and I was so excited to read this one. Excellent storytelling and full of voice. I cannot recommend this fun romp through Indonesia enough.

I LOVED Sutanto's Dial A for Aunties so I was excited to jump into this YA romcom! Especially with fake dating as one of the elements. This book was a lot of fun, but unfortunately didn't really deliver for me. I would say the comparison to Crazy Rich Asians is apt, but make it YA and add some fake dating and double-blind catfishing. Sharlot is caught about to have sex with her boyfriend in LA, so as punishment, her mom takes them to her home country of Indonesia for the summer. George Clooney lives in Indonesia and is the heir-apparent of a huge family business. Their respective parents both start social media/dating accounts for them, and then they accidentally get caught on a date and have to fake date and end up becoming a real thing.

I really enjoyed how fun this was, some of the realizations and biases that Sharlot addressed based on her understanding of Indonesia as an American, and the background. I know that books like this often get bad ratings with notes about "not having learned anything" from a community different from the reader's own, and I hate that line of thinking, but I also definitely didn't feel that in this book.

While I think there was Sutanto's trademark shenanigans that I first experienced in Aunties, otherwise this book felt incredibly underdeveloped. There were conversations that happened several times, with no acknowledgement that they'd already been had (to the point that I wondered if there was some secret amnesia plot happening?). I fully own that I am a grown adult reading a YA book, but I have been a teen and my youngest sibling is still a teen, and the dialogue felt like a caricature of teens. When I was 16, I didn't consider 27 ancient. I wanted to BE 27 already. I thought 40 or 50 felt ancient, though obviously I know better now. But it felt very try-hard for me personally. The writing was similarly lacking in polish. There's a piece where Sharlot is sassing someone, and the verb clause after is "I snap very snappishly." Mmm. Is that how?

Anyway, I will continue to read Sutanto's work because I just love her brain, but I think perhaps her YAs are not for me.

Jesse is definitely one of my favorite authors. The three books I have now read of hers have been page-turners, hard to put down, and funny. I don’t think I have laughed this much while reading a book. I always have a hard time putting her books down and devouring them pretty quickly.

Well, That Was Unexpected is a YA rom-com. The book is told from the dual perspective of two teens. The book beings with one of the main characters, Sharlot in sunny California. Sharlot is caught in a very compromising situation with her boyfriend by her mother. Her mother freaks out and whisks her to Indonesia. Once there she takes her phone.

Now in Indonesia George (George Clooney Tanuwijaya) is caught by his father in a very compromising situation. Nothing quite like Sharlot’s but enough that it was embarrassing to him as well as his father. As parents, we don’t want to know that our kids are doing these kinds of things. George thinks it’s harmless and it’s what boys do. George’s dad freaks out and removes his phone and computer from George. One thing about George is that he comes from a wealthy family and they don’t need this to come out and cause a scandal for the family.

In both situations, I was laughing and dying and the second-hand embarrassment of the two. Kids don’t want to be caught in those situations by their parents.

Now we know that that can be just the story right? Well, George’s dad thinks to fix the situation he has to set his son up on a date with a real person with the help of George’s sister, Eleanor Roosevelt. Meanwhile, Sharlot’s mother decides Sharlot needs distraction from wanting to lose her virginity. So both parents decide to basically catfish each other and pretend to be the kids. As I was reading their text exchanges I knew it was adults speaking and not teens. They were fun to read. But what will Sharlot and George think once they find out?

What will happen when the teens meet face to face? Let’s just say it’s not going to be easy at first but what happens next turns out to be a beautiful thing for all those involved.

I loved how Jesse made you feel like you were there with her writing of the setting and food. It’s always nice to learn a little something about where the book is taking place. I even googled some images to make it feel like I was there.

This is a funny and heartwarming rom-com! I usually don't like reading rom-com, the humor part usually doesn't satisfy me. But this one was very entertaining! I've heard a lot about this author, but this is the first book I read by Jesse. And I'm definitely excited to read more of her books in the future!

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for an eARC from NetGalley.

4.5 stars

This book was hilarious! Right from the beginning I was laughing, and the funny moments and situations continued all the way through. The writing style was perfect for the story and the humour. The characters were well written and relatable.
Sharlot and George were awesome characters. The story is told in alternating first-person POVs from both of them, and I liked both of their chapters and voices. It was easy to tell them apart, and I liked seeing both sides of the story. Their relationship starts in the strangest way, and I thought that the author did a great job of developing it. Their attraction and chemistry seemed to develop in a natural way, and I was rooting for them throughout.
The setting of the book was super vivid. I’ve never been to Jakarta before, but I felt like I was with the characters there and in Bali. I also liked Sharlot’s mixed feelings about Indonesia based on her relationship with her mother. It added another layer to her character and the story.

This book started off with the type of humor that comes off a little immature, but as the story progresses it is actually very funny! I think the overall premise is interesting and unique from other humorous romance stories out there. The characters are also super witty and their humor is relatable. I definitely think this book is worth the read.

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto. Pub Date: September 27, 2022. Rating: 3.5 stars. A YA novel filled with themes of sexuality, love, family, honor and exploring individualities, this book packs a punch with hilarious scenes and wholesome characters. Sharlot is shipped off to Indonesia for the summer after her mother finds her in a compromising situation. George lives in Indonesia and is caught by his father in his own compromising situation. What entails from here is two young people who are forced into meeting and ultimately journey together on a road of self discovery and humor along the way. A sweet story with important themes of identity, young love and exploration. Thanks to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley

A good book. This is different from what I generally tend to read, but it sounded interesting to me and overall it was enjoyable. It was a cute story.

I liked this quite a bit more than Dial A for Aunties. But the protagonists were still a bit angsty and overbearing. However, I will say that the ways she worked in Indoenesian culture and food were really delightful to me!

Cute rom com story. Sharlot is sent to Indonesia for the summer after her mom catches her almost having sex. While there she meets a boy named George and their romance is a whirlwind. Will they learn to love each other or will it end up in disaster?

Jesse Sutano has quickly become one of my favorite authors for comedic relief! If you loved Dial A for Aunties, check out this latest book. If you think your family is full of meddling and into your business - think again - because this family most certainly has yours beat!

Big fan of Jesse Q. Sutanto and will continue reading/buying books that she writes for YA! Many kids loved The Obsesssion and now another subset of students will love this - she writes for everyone. Big fan.I love that this one had a young person dealing with the consequences of their actions, which is very relatable for 14-year-olds!

This one was unexpectedly (ha!) super cute. Had no expectations going into it, but I did laugh out loud quite a few times and found myself really enjoying the Indonesia/Bali setting. Would recommend as a cute, easy YA rom com.

Jesse Sutanto does it again! This book was full of humor and heart. At its core, this was a love letter to Indonesia and I loved it. The setting was beautiful and highlighted the wonderful parts of Indonesia and the descriptions of food were mouthwatering! The best part for me was the complex relationships between all the characters. The only part that bothered me a little was the miscommunication! Overall, this was such a cute YA novel and I highly recommend!

Sutanto has created a beautiful YA romance. The characters, the setting, and the plot are all tight and well-written. Reading this, I wanted to go to Indonesia and drink delicious beverages and eat delicious food.

I loved Jesse’s MG Theo Tan And The Fox Spirit and was really excited to read this book. I will tell you that this book was a very far departure from that MG but the humor is still there but from hormonal teenagers perspectives. This book gives us dual perspectives and travel to Indonesia where one lives & the other’s parent immigrated from. The beginnings of both their stories had me in tears (of laughter) and how they came to meet was brilliant. This book was great from start to finish and I’ve recommended it quite a bit as I found it quite relatable (as a once horny teen myself).

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book. Again, same day, another late review. Story of my life over here.

Let me start off by saying that I LOVE other books by this author, so I went into this thinking that this was a no-brainer for me and it would be a quick reader with an easy to write and positive review. That this book would be lighthearted, quick and easy, and enjoyable. And while it was was definitely those things, something about it didn't work for me the way other books of hers has.

This couple, I get it, they're supposed to be young teens, but they were ridiculous. I HATE instalove which also didn't help their case in my opinion. But the whole misunderstanding and fake dating tropes in this book were so bad- almost to the point of being cringey. To be fair and give some credit to the author, the ending was adorable enough, but there was literally zero high stakes in this story. Even with the weird way the couple met and started dating, I never once believed that something would make it so they didn't work out, and so there was little to no drama in this book aside from the scenarios they each imagined in their own heads.

I appreciate the opportunity I was given to read this book early and I definitely plan on picking up more of Sutanto's books in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC!

You know what wasn’t unexpected? Me falling in love with everything about this book. The characters, the romance, and the setting especially.

Jesse Q. Sutanto books have a way of bringing me home. It might be because I am exactly matched to her in terms of culture (Chinese-Indonesian bitches for the win) but something about the combination of relatable protagonists, rolling-on-the-floor crying humor, and gorgeous Chinese-Indonesian representation just makes me feel so seen and recognized and whole.

All those feels from one damn romcom.

First of all, Sharlot as a protagonist was absolute perfection. I loved her personality, I loved her narration style, and I loved how damn ready she was to tell people her opinions. She was a total queen and she managed to own the whole situation (aka all of the plot line) so readily. I am in awe.

George, on the other hand, managed to still somehow be relatable as fuck while being a lot of things that I am not: smart, rich, raised in Indonesia, male. But I still found myself looking forward to his POV chapters, because this story was made for double-perspective.

“Eleanor and I wait for it. He’s going to say something like “privileged” and then go into a whole lecture about don’t I know how fortunate I am to be his son, etc.
“Loser,” Papa says.
“Excuse me?”

Also, can we appreciate Eleanor’s existence? This child was chaos in the best way possible and I wish I had one of her in my life.

And Kiki. Must not forget the absolute icon Kiki. Seriously, if I could be any of the characters in this book I would take any and all of them gladly, but Kiki is my life’s ambition in a single person.

And the plot. Oh my God, the plot. This was a wild ride of a romance and a disaster and Indonesia all rolled up in one beautiful cover. Fake dating for the media? Billionaire love interest? Travel romance? Catfishing? Mutual pining paired with deception? Guys, the PINING.

The parental strictness and awkward romance levels were through the roof and I was here for it.

Basically, Sharlot’s mother catches her in a partially-nude circumstance with her boyfriend, and as punishment jets them off to Indonesia for the summer. She claims that all Sharlot really needs is a proper understanding of her culture - and a boyfriend. A good, Indonesian boyfriend.

Meanwhile, George’s billionaire tycoon family is desperate to protect his image. When his father finds Sharlot’s profile on a dating app (run by her mom), it’s a score. They (as in, the protagonists’ PARENTS) arrange to meet.

The media finds out. So close to the release of George’s new app, the two protagonists on an ill-fated blind date are splashed all over the headlines. Without any proper damage control, they’re forced into a dating agreement. Suddenly they’re caught up in a whirlwind of dates and exploration and interviews in Bali as the big event draws near - just for the press, you know.

Well.

“You’re so different from what I expected,” I blurt out. What I really meant was that she’s so much more interesting than I had thought she would be based on our chat messages. Online, she’s uptight and prissy and all about maintaining a good-Asian-kid persona. In real life, she’s none of those things.
She loses her smile. “Sorry if I disappoint.”

ASLDKJALSDKGHALFJADLGKHAFAJLDJKL.

The setting for this book was really what drove it home for me. I haven’t been back to Indonesia in almost six years. So reading a story set in Jakarta, my parents’ hometown, and then in Bali, one of my favorite childhood vacation places, was just literally magical. I cannot emphasize enough how incredible the setting of this book was.

It was aesthetic and culturally representative and just so well-written. I actually recognized a handful of places mentioned and every time that happened I had to stop myself from squealing out loud.

And I think that even if I didn’t have this preexisting personal connection to Indo, I would feel one after reading this book. That’s how perfect it was.

“I open my eyes again and find that George has taken us off the main road and we’re now on a small road that goes alongside the cliffs overlooking a pristine beach. Wow. This time, my entire body relaxes. It’s impossible not to when I’m presented with this incredible view - the fine sand so yellow it looks like something a child might have drawn, the water a deep sapphire, all the robust tropical jungle around us. So different from the beaches of California. So much more untamed and magical.”

Reading Bali through Sharlot’s eyes was a dream come true for me. Here’s a girl who’s never been to her mom’s home country and is being slowly awakened to the cultural richness of her heritage. I love it so much.

And speaking of cultural heritage -

Nope. Not going to keyboard smash again.

The way this book delved so deep into Indonesian tradition and history and culture was an absolute blessing. I learned so much without even realizing it.

My dumbass forgot to bookmark the page, but there’s this one moment in the book where Sharlot feels this overwhelming pride for Indonesia upon learning about its culture in a coffee shop, of all places. She’s received this little mini lesson about independent coffee production in Bali and she just has this eye-opening moment of realization of just how amazing her heritage is.

I wanted to cry.

That moment was everything to me. I never thought I would read a book where the main characters spoke my language and wore batik clothes.

And I’ll be honest - even if they hadn’t been Indonesian like me, I think I still would have fallen in love with this book.

It’s just so, so perfect. I can’t put into words how much I loved this book. The Crazy Rich Asians vibes and the hilarious writing style and the beautiful descriptions and the characters. I don’t know what witchcraft Jesse Q. Sutanto sprinkles into her words, but it’s working.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC!

I wholeheartedly enjoyed getting to know Sharlot and George in this quirky novel. The absolutely bonkers way these teens end up meeting was great, and I love a good fake-dating story line. The goofy characters, overbearing family members, and interesting look into Chinese-Indonesian culture made this one a quick read. I enjoyed the pieces of Indonesia we were able to see through Sharlot’s eyes as she experiences her culture and her family’s country for the first time.

It was fun to see what Jesse could do with a YA book as I have only read her adult books.

I think Jesse continues to use her humor in the best way to really introduce (some) readers to new cultures, highlight cultures, and show the fun side of her characters in always crazy and funny ways!