I love the auntie books by this author. I should’ve research better than this book was ya as I tend to stay away from them. But regardless of that, I loved the fake dating trope and the fascination about a culture that I’m not familiar about. There was funny parts there were sad part and I think the overall character development was very well done. I will continue to read more from this author.

I really liked this one! I absolutely loved the family dynamics shown in the book from eighth aunt to Kiki I loved everyone. I also loved how Sharlot and her mom’s relationship developed, it was so sweet.
The chemistry between George and Sharlot was so good. It was practically enemies to lovers and I liked how they slowly confided about their problems and started to lean on each other. It was hilarious how their parents pretended to be them and flirted with each other.
I appreciated how the indo culture was portrayed, and the descriptions on the food made me sooo hungry. I also love the LQBTQIA+ element in the book because I did not expect it at all and it was so heartwarming and sweet.
It was definitely a bonus that this book is dual POV! I always feel like that adds a lot to the story and the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a cute YA book! I loved it so much and I definitely think everyone should read it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

“Well, That Was Unexpected”: A Whirlwind Filled with Charm, Wit and Growing Pains

In her new novel for young adults, Jesse Q. Sutanto once again cooks up a humorous story that includes intrusive parents and overbearing but lovable relatives.

One and a half years ago, Indonesian writer Jesse Q. Sutanto landed the literary surprise hit “Dial A for Aunties.” A hilarious combination of romantic comedy and murder mystery, Jesse was awarded the UK’s Comedy women in print prize for her novel, while it has also been picked up by Netflix for a film adaptation.
But Jesse is not one to remain idle. This year alone, she has followed up with the sequel “Four Aunties and a Wedding,” the children’s book “Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit,” and the latest addition to her fast-growing oeuvre: the young adult novel “Well, That Was Unexpected,” published on 27 September by Delacorte Press.
While some may struggle to constantly switch between different genres, Jesse is clearly up for the challenge and evidently enjoys writing for readers of all ages.
“I don’t ‘dumb things down’ [when working on a young adult novel]. I simply shift the focus and ask myself, what would a teen care about vs what would a 25-year-old care about?”, she explains. “Teens would be occupied with school and friends and have more boundaries set by parents, whereas adults are most likely concerned about their career paths and maybe finding a partner to settle down with. These things naturally shape the story.”
In “Well, That Was Unexpected,” we meet Sharlot Citra, a teenager who has lived in LA all her life – until she is caught red-handed in a rather R-rated situation by her mother. Without losing any time, Sharlot’s mother quickly decides to take her to her native Indonesia for the summer holidays; it’s the first time Sharlot sets foot in Jakarta. At the same time in Indonesia’s capital, George Clooney Tanuwijaya’s father is concerned: as the only son, George is poised to take over the family business someday, but he seems to have lost his way.
Two worried single parents have the same crazy idea: setting up a fake account for their children on a social media platform. Sharlot and George soon start chatting with each other, but of course, it is their parents who do the talking. Appalled by their action, Sharlot and George have no intention of ever meeting face-to-face – and yet, through a series of unexpected events, they are thrown together and whisked away on a short trip to Bali. As they get to know each other better, they keep wondering: how can someone be so devastatingly wrong online and yet so understanding and approachable in real life?
“I’ve always wanted to set a story in Indonesia,” says Jesse when asked about her inspiration for Sharlot’s and George’s turbulent romance. “It’s a beautiful place with such an amazing culture and history.”
At the same time, she adds, the idea for the young adult novel was a bit of a spin-off from her Aunties series. Indeed, one can find similar elements in both books – the meddlesome families and parents who are catfishing the dates – with the major difference that “Well, That Was Unexpected” doesn’t include a dead body, which was probably a wise choice, considering the target audience.
“It’s like ‘Dial A for Aunties’ but with a focus on the romance and discovering the beauty of Indonesia,” Jesse explains.
Told alternately from both Sharlot’s and George’s point of view, it’s mostly Sharlot’s chapters that introduce an international readership to Indonesia’s beauty, richness and quirks, as she discovers her roots with wondering eyes and a pang of guilt because it took her so long to connect to her mother’s home – and her home, by default – in the first place.
Even though Jesse spent her teenage years in Singapore, attending a strict all-girls Catholic school, she can relate to Sharlot: “I came back to Indonesia [from Singapore] twice a year, and for the longest time I felt like an outsider, much like Sharlot does in the book.”
After graduating from high school, Jesse moved to the UK and studied Creative Writing at Oxford University. Almost a decade ago, she moved back to Jakarta where she still lives today with her English husband, her two daughters – and a heap of relatives nearby, a constant source of inspiration for her books.
“I think when it comes to comedic stories, I will probably stick with similar family dynamics and meddlesome parents,” she says. “I myself grew up in a huge family with meddlesome parents, so writing humorously about them comes naturally. But I’m finding that in my dark suspense stories, I’m staying away from the large families. I have an adult suspense coming out next year, called ‘I’m Not Done With You Yet,’ which focuses on how isolated the characters feel.”
While humor and comedy dominate “Well, That Was Unexpected,” often resulting in laugh-out-loud moments, the book also offers tender and reflective moments that will no doubt be familiar to many teenagers: the difficulty of finding your own path during your formative years, the weight of familial expectations on one’s shoulders and the incomparable flutter, confusion and joy of falling in love for the first time.
The book also features a bunch of lovable supporting characters, with George’s younger sister Eleanor and Sharlot’s cousin Kiki providing the best one-liners and becoming true scene-stealers every time they appear – which is all the more reason to revel in the news that Jesse has to announce: “I’m so excited to share that the second book will be about Kiki, and Eleanor is going to play a pretty big part in it! It’s called ‘Didn’t See That Coming’ and will be out sometime next year.”

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Well, That Was Unexpected

Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Book Series: Untitled Book Series Book 1

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Chinese Indonesian American MC and characters, Chinese Indonesian MC and characters, Sapphic couple, Bisexual character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, humor, fake dating, Indonesian, Chinese Indonesian, travel, celeb boy/normie girl

Publication Date: September 27, 2022

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Age Relevance: 16+ (sexual content, cursing, parental death, HP reference, teen pregnancy, romance)

Explanation of Above: There is a lot of sexual content in the book. There is no sex or sexual acts shown, but masturbation (nothing shown, just mentioned and talked about) and talking openly about sex and wanting sex is in the book. There is a lot of romance in this book. There is a lot of cursing in this book. Parental death and teen pregnancy are mentioned. There is one HP reference, but quickly another author is mentioned as being better (N.K. Jemison).

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 352

Synopsis: 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?

Review: This book was so cute! This book is an adorable contemporary romance with multi-POVs. One of the POVs is a Chinese Indonesian American girl who is caught in a compromising position with her boyfriend and taken to Indonesia by her mother for it. The other perspective is a Chinese Indonesian boy who is from a wealthy family, but when he is also caught in a compromising position his family take matters in their own hands via setting him up on a blind date… with our other MC. I loved how it openly discussed sex and sexual desires in teenagers, but also showing and talking about some of the dangers of sex at a young age especially socially in certain countries. While sex is natural, it is not seen that way in a lot of countries and this book talks openly about that. The book has my favorite trope in it (family sets me up on blind date) and the book also showcases the fake dating trope. The book was well written and I loved the story. I also loved seeing Indonesia through the eyes of our MC and I love all of the commentary about the land from an American and Native Indonesian prospective. The book also had well developed characters and world building.

The only issue I had with the book is that I didn’t think it was necessary to have an HP reference, even if it’s slightly bashed. It could have been “oh you’re reading Percy Jackson” or something like that instead.

Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!

Thanks so much to @netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I have to admit I totally requested to review this book after I read another Goodreads friend's early review.

I adore the first Crazy Rich Asians book and the movie, so I loved this YA novel that harkens back some of those same vibes.

The book is an about an Asian American girl Sharlot who is forced to spend her summer in Indonesia with her mom’s estranged family after her mom discovers her and her boyfriend in a moment of passion.

And George, an Indonesian boy and the only male heir in his generation of a wealthy large family who is discovered engaging in habits his family finds worrisome.

Their meddlesome family arranges a date between the two, that turns into fake dating.

The dialogue and inner monologue in the book are so fun, and feel so authentic. I love how the author captures the cultural challenges of being an immigrant and an “ABC”. I loved that you learn about Indonesian culture and history in a way that doesn’t feel didactic. I really felt immersed into a part of the world I haven't read about a lot before. The book also tackles societal differences in sexuality when it comes to girls and boys, in a very age appropriate way.

If you love YA definitely check this one out!

Love, friendship, family, and LGBT representation.-- what a delight as I read this cute and funny story of teens who get caught up in a catfish scheme cooked up by their parents. Lots of laughs, beautiful scenery and a sweet romance. The characters are well written, from Sharlot and George, to Eight Aunt, to the tag-a-long reporter. Each character has a unique personality. The book has broad appeal and anyone who loves rom-coms will enjoy this. Highly recommend!


I received this book through NetGalley from Penguin Teen, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press. Many thanks.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

For Sharlot Citra, her mother has always refused to talk about her home and family in Indonesia, but following an incident involving Sharlot's now ex-boyfriend, she's whisked off to spend the summer away from her bad influences, and with her extended family. What Sharlot thought about her family was clearly completely wrong, as she arrives in Jakarta to discover her family her quite rich, and that her mother's oldest friend is from one of the country's richest families. And Sharlot is not alone in having an interfering parent. George Clooney Tanuwijaya soon finds that his dad has created a profile for him online, and has got him a date with the perfect girl. Soon though, Sharlot and George find themselves going along with the ruse of dating when the media discover it, but the spotlight is harsh, and Sharlot finds herself being villainised.

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was immediately hooked. Sharlot and George were the best characters for the plot line, and the fact the book has dual POV made this so much more enjoyable. I adored the way the characters came together, and though they were hiding the fact that neither of their profiles were real, as they spent more time together - admittedly forced at first - they soon became comfortable enough to be their real selves. What I thought would be a cute YA romance was so much more. Well, That Was Unexpected delves into the conflict of wanting to please your parents, but also being your own person, with your own dreams. There's the added conflict of social media and public attention, and the double standards placed on Sharlot when compared to George. I didn't realise this was part of a series, but hopefully we'll see more of the couple in future!

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Delacorte Press for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars!

The first thought that popped into my mind when I saw this book was: it's finally here! A novel published by a big pub house with Indonesian characters, set in Indonesia and written by an Indonesian author. I was beyond thrilled because I feel like I've been waiting for ages for a story with Indonesian rep to exist in the mainstream and here we have it. This YA rom-com is sweet, hilarious, personally relatable and essentially a love letter to Indonesia and I loved it the more I read it!

This story takes us from the nation's mega-city capital, Jakarta, all the way to my lovely island home and popular tourist destination, Bali. Although this book centers on the Chinese-Indonesian experience in Indo, as well as being told from a very wealthy and privileged perspective, there was so much about the characters' experiences in this story that resonated with me because for the first 26 years of my life I had a pretty complicated relationship with Indonesia too, wherein I never really knew the country and it never felt like home. It's kind of funny but reading this book made me realise how much this place has come to feel like home now and it made my heart happy knowing that others can experience Indonesia through a story that's brimming with so much love for the country!

The tone of the writing initially comes across as quite young (I'd say the younger end of YA) rather than late-teens, despite there being a lot of cursing (lol), and at times the writing was slightly repetitive but the further I read, the less it bothered me because there was so much to love! It's safe to say that Sutanto captured the traffic-filled chaos of city life and the touristy and culturally rich island life perfectly. I loved how she so accurately depicted our huge coffee culture (we really love it), and it was thrilling to read about all the locations I've often frequented (Warung Babi Guling Pak Malen is drool-worthy!) and the activities I used to do a lot when I was younger (white water rafting is amazing). It defo hits different when reading about your home! 😂 Sutanto's pride in being Indonesian really came through the writing and while we see the good and the great about Indo, it's not all roses and I appreciate how she highlights issues that still need to be tackled, particularly the heavily patriarchal societal expectations towards women, toxic masculinity, and the lack of LGBTQIA+ rights in the country.

The story is broken into three parts and is told from Sharlot's and George's perspectives. While I took to George quickly, I have to admit that I initially struggled with Sharlot. She grew up in America and had never been nor was ever taught about Indonesia, and when she first arrives, she comes across as extremely judgemental. She also held a lot of anger/bitterness towards her mum which was off-putting. Thankfully, Sharlot grows a lot as she spends time with her family in Indo, learns about the history and culture, and realises how rude she's been and how wrong her preconceived notions are. It was great to see that growth and I really enjoyed watching her fall in love with Indonesia. In contrast, I immediately liked George and though his whole situation was mortifying it was also hilarious! He's essentially this big kid who's saddled with the heavy weight of expectations that come from being the only male in one of the richest Indonesian conglomerate families. He's extremely smart but shy and insecure, and honestly, he's such a big softie!

This rom-com had the fake-dating trope and with some forced proximity and a snoopy journo tagging along on their adventures, their fauxmance basically gets catapulted into the limelight almost immediately. Their interactions were painfully awkward at first but I loved how they gradually open up with each other and form a solid friendship before it naturally, and perhaps unexpectedly, grew into something romantic. It took a little while to get there, especially with Sharlot being determined to hate George from the start despite finding him very attractive, but when they do, the romance is incredibly sweet and swoony and they really complemented each other so well.

Other than their romance, I really loved the many relationships that exist in this story. George's relationship with his massive Tanuwijaya family, while complicated, was fun to read about. I loved how close he was with his sister, Eleanor Roosevelt—who is an absolute treasure, his father, Eighth Aunt and even Nainai. His family are a lot and very typically Indonesian with their meddlesome nature and well-intentioned though completely intrusive and inappropriate questions. It was all so incredibly relatable! 😂 On Sharlot's side, I loved the bond she forms with her cousin Kiki, who's a total troublemaker but also hilarious and it was nice to see Shar form that connection with a family she never met or knew much about.

Overall, I had a really good time reading this YA rom-com. It was funny and bitingly sarcastic, it was witty and entertaining and I absolutely loved seeing Indonesia so boldly represented in a mainstream novel. Sutanto is an author that I've been meaning to try for a while and although this is probably quite different to her adult novels, I'm even more excited to read them now that I've given one of her books a try!

I loved this book. I absolutely loved the family dynamics shown in the book from eighth aunt to Kiki I loved everyone.

Also can I just say the book had me hooked from the very start – Sharlot practicing talking to her boyfriend about sex while her mom shouts at her to drink juice.

I loved the chemistry between George and Sharlot and it was practically enemies to lovers and I liked how they slowly confided about their problems and started to lean on each other. Also can I just say that it was hilarious how their parents pretended to be them and flirted with each other.

I also loved how Sharlot and her mom’s relationship developed, it was so sweet.

I also love Oneliner the app George came up with to battle toxic masculinity, I think it was genius idea and I hope an app like that is actually made.

I also loved how the indo culture was portrayed, and the descriptions on the food made me sooo hungry.

I also love the LQBTQIA+ element in the book because I did not expect it at all and it was so heartwarming and sweet.

Also did I mention – the book is dual pov!

So all in all a 4/5

As a fan of the Dial A For Aunties series, I was so excited to see Sutanto was coming out with this new YA romance novel. True to her other stories, her writing is both fresh and hilarious. She has the ability to write in a way that makes the reader feel like one of the members of the meddlesome families that she writes.

While I loved watching George and Sharlot slowly develop true feelings for each other, my favorite part of the story was watching Sharlot explore and learn more about Indonesia, where her
mother is from and a culture she’s supposed to feel a sense of belonging to but doesn’t. And I loved how Sharlot and her mother worked on their own relationship and
learned more and accepted more about each other.

If you are a fan of Sutanto's earlier books, you will enjoy this one!

I had no idea that the Dial A for Aunties author also wrote YA and I was thrilled when I was gifted an e-ARC!
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“Well, that was Unexpected” centers on Sharlot, an American teen found in a compromising position and her mother brings them to her Native Indonesia. George is an Indo-Chinese male who is found in a compromising position as well (think American Pie for those who know it). They meet after their parents essentially catfish each other. And slowly realize while it’s very wrong to catfish; that they really do have feelings for each other.
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I loved the descriptions of Indonesia, it felt like a love song to the country. The food and drink (coffee) descriptions had me wishing to try, the scenery sounds stunning, and the culture is vastly different from my own.
My only negative was that the catfishing was really underplayed. Having gone through a cyberbully two summers ago, I wish there was a stronger warning - even in an author note at the beginning. Perfect for a YA, the author tackled slut shaming, and shaming American teens for how they dress.
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I loved how the story ended and that it attempted to address some of the negative aspects.
I applaud the author for attempting to take on the very real concept of slut shaming, I just wanted a bit more. Even for Sharlot to highlight differences in her American upbringing, and to acknowledge that the way she dresses is acceptable within that culture, while the standards of dress are different in Indonesia.
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The author also explored same-sex relationships, and how taboo it still is in Indonesian culture. As I noticed with recent YA books, there is a lot of depth to this story, and I think the story is an important one!
.I would love a follow-up with Sharlot’s cousin Kiki, to see how Sharlot and George, and the rest of the families are doing!
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Plus, this cover! I love it.

She looked out the small window and watched the clouds roll by. The sun was beginning to rise, giving the fluffy cotton wisps a rose tint. She was destined for an unknown place for the summer, trepidation and angst filled her chest with worry and anger. She didn’t want to be doing this. The clouds gave way to showcase the land below as the plane made its descent. She took a deep breath. Here she goes.

Well, That Was Unexpected was a cute dual perspective YA Romance that made my heart swell with joy. Sharlot’s mom whisks her away to Indonesia for the summer and she’s not happy about. To make things worse her mom sets her up with a boy, George, in a way that has her questioning everything.

Fake dating, forced relationship, a YA romcom that had me laughing and smiling. The fact that these two end up having to fake date after their parents catfished them… too funny! Jesse writes such funny characters, but also makes you root for them. This was such a sweet story and I can’t recommend it enough.

If you’re looking for a YA romcom with great humor, characters, and the fake dating trope… then make sure you grab this book!

What a fun YA romance. We have George Clooney, whose sister’s name is Eleanor Roosevelt, and Sharlot, that end up fake dating due to some hilarious antics with their family texting for each of them to try and find them a boyfriend/girlfriend. Those names, right? This is my second book in a row with miscommunication also at the forefront, which is one of my least favorite tropes, but for some reason it just adds to the fun in this book. And I am always a fan of books based in another culture and this one takes place in Indonesia with family culture at the forefront.

There is great banter between the two as they pretend to date. But wait, are they pretending?

This was such a fun read. It was filled with laugh out loud moments, the beautiful back drop of Indonesia and catfishing parents. Not only was it about Sharlot and George’s sweet romance, it was about family drama and the Indonesian culture. I enjoyed every minute of it!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

📖Book: Well, That Was Unexpected
⭐️Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏼Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
📚Genre: Romance | Teens & YA
🗏 Pages: 339
⚠️Warnings: Sexism, Homophobia
🔖Readability: 4.5/5 minimal italic font is used
🥇First Line: "Bradley, I'm Ready."

Things to expect:
✨Opposites Attract
❤️Enemies to Lovers
💞Fake Dating
💛Hilarious Banter
🌺Catfishing Parents
🌼Love Letter to Indonesia

A hilarious rom-com with embarrassing but well-meaning parents. Jesse composes a love letter to Indonesia with a vibrant cast of characters, gorgeous descriptions, and a refreshing coming-to-age story. 'Well, that was Unexpected' is surprising, immersive, charming, and should be on everyone's must-read list. I loved the refreshing take on match matching in a modern setting with the parents being the ones who are getting the kids into trouble. I felt like this was an easy-to-read story, and I read the entire thing in one sitting. I am excited to see other things and other genres, Jesse. Q. Sutanto will get into.

Thanks to Netgalley and TBR Tours and Beyond, and Delacorte Press for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I know what you're thinking, "Jesse Sutanto... that's a familiar name". As it should be! The author who wrote one of my top 5 favorite books of 2021, Dial 'A' For Aunties, gives us Well, That Was Unexpected.

Let me just say simple that I adore this book. Our main characters Sharlot and George Clooney (not the one you're thinking of) are two teenagers who are catfished by the other's family. It's hilarious and heart warming.

Our setting is in Jakarta and Bali, which I loved. I really enjoy books that explore countries that are vastly different (and yet, we are not all that different) and learning more about our characters' culture.

I highly recommend this YA novel and anything that Sutanto writes, she is just so dang good!

I really enjoy the author's adult book Dial A for Aunties, especially the insane situations and the humor that stems from it. Well, That Was Unexpected contains the same kind of humor as the authors' adult books, as well as an intense East Asian family dynamic. It also has a dreamy Indonesian setting.

The plot centers around two teens, Sharlot and George, who unexpectedly find themselves fake dating in front of the media. In theory I would enjoy this, and in practice there wasn’t really anything wrong with them. But they just felt a bit underdeveloped, and kind of bland to me. Something that made the reading experience a bit lackluster for me. More often than not it just felt like it was the same thing over and over again, and I had a hard time caring about the two of them. I honestly enjoyed the multiple side-characters way more than the main characters.

This just wasn’t for me unfortunately. But I’m sure that other people will love it!

This was a fun, cute novel which really gave me butterflies. I loved the peek into Indonesian culture, and while I found the novel slow for the first three quarters, overall it's a pretty sweet book.

Plot:

The plot, as you can probably tell from the synopsis, is so unique and fun to read! The inculcation of Indonesian culture enriched it deeply, and I just enjoyed reading it very much! I do feel like there were some inconsistencies and a lack in the plot development to the extent that it became slow at points.

Characters:

I enjoyed reading all the characters, but I feel like while George's character was well-developed, Sharlot's wasn't? Like I don't know it felt like early on her life revolved around Brendon and then George. Just a personal point of view. The other characters were enjoyable as well.

Writing Style:

It wasn't the best I've read, but it was honestly, decent enough.

Ahem, well, we started off very awkwardly with Sharlot’s mom catching her half-naked on top of a boyfriend Sharlot wasn’t supposed to have and George’s father finding him with his pants down in front of the computer screen. Whisked off to Jakarta, Sharlot visits her mother’s home country for the first time. For some reason, her mom has never mentioned why she didn’t contact her family for so long. Meanwhile, George is banned from his computer and phone.

What makes things more awkward between George and Sharlot is that both of their parents have been catfishing each other. Worried about him, George’s dad and young sister created a dating account and talked to Sharlot online. Turns out, Sharlot isn’t Sharlot but is actually, Sharlot’s mother. After finding Sharlot in bed with a boy, she’s determined to find a good Indonesian boy for her daughter. The parents shared false information about their child like how Sharlot loves cooking and that George’s favorite subject is Math. When they first met, Sharlot and George both had whole other expectations.

Whisked away to Bali, Sharlot landed herself as George’s girlfriend. Though, this whole thing is fake. George’s relatives want him to settle with a respectable, obedient girl since he’s the only boy in his generation, the lifeline of the Tanuwijaya blood. Meanwhile, Sharlot finds out that her mother was best friends with George’s Eighth Aunt and hence finds herself as a fake girlfriend to one of the richest families in Jakarta.

Although things were weird between George and Sharlot, each thinking that they aren’t compatible, the other is totally weirded out, and the whole meeting is just awkward. Sharlot realized that George isn’t that bad after all. He’s actually really passionate about the app that he’s been working hard on and is not a boring person. Similarly, George’s assumptions about Sharlot were debunked after talking to her for a while. They had really tender moments, talking about parents, love life, expectations of being an Indonesian-Chinese, etc.

As usual, Jesse Q. Sutanto’s book is filled with awkward moments and hilarious dialogues. It’s the kind that I can never look away from because I want to know what’s going on. I loved that we got to explore Indonesia in different parts. First, there was Jakarta and then Bali. There’s the element of a family involved as well. If you’ve read Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Dial A For Aunties, you know about huge, meddlesome families. Add in a wealthy family that can jet you anywhere you want with a snap of a finger.

I’m not too sure if Well, That Was Unexpected will develop into a duology or even a series, but I’m here for whatever the author is writing.