I absolutely loved this sweet book -- my first by Maurene Goo. Samantha is a high school student at odds with her mother when her grandmother ends up in a coma. Samantha can't see eye to eye with her mother about anything, and after a particularly bad fight she finds herself being sent back 20 years to 1995, when her mother is in high school and running for homecoming queen.

Samantha knows that this caused some issues between her mother and grandmother, and figures it is up to her to make things better in the past in order to salvage their relationships in the present. Her grandmother is a hard working Korean immigrant, raising two children alone since her husband died, as well as running a dry cleaning business.

Everything about this book was so good -- it was the right amount of sweet and sincere without being cheesy, really funny, touching, and full of great 90s references. The characters were all endearing and I only wanted the best for them, and loved how much growth they showed throughout the story.

There's also a very sweet and swoony love story that made me smile and cheer for them.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good coming-of-age story, time travel, high school in the 90s or interesting family dynamics. It was so good! I cannot wait to check out more from Maurene Goo in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Throwback by Maurene Goo is a coming-of-age fantasy YA novel about a Gen Z Korean-American named Samantha who travels back to the 1990’s and meets her teenage mother, with the mission to change their future. With that description alone, I was ready to swan dive into this book. It sounded like a wonderful package of the things I love, like a zany k-drama meets 90’s teen movie. And I’m so glad that it fully delivered.

Sam and her mom do not get along in present-day, as they’re two very different people who want very different things. Sam is easy-going and just wanting to go with the flow, while her mom is materialistic and craving social acceptance. Naturally, when Sam is nominated for homecoming queen, she doesn’t care and doesn’t understand why her mom does. Sure, her mom didn’t win homecoming queen herself back in the day, but what’s the big deal? It’s apparently a huge deal, and the two get into what’s sure to be a life-altering fight… when Sam is suddenly thrown into the past.

Similar to the 80’s film Back to the Future, the time travel device here is a car — a ridesharing app called Throwback Rides that takes Sam directly to her high school in the year 1995. With a younger (hotter?!) version of her teacher, and a younger “mean girl” version of her mother, Priscilla. It was both hilarious and striking to have Sam as a woke teenager having to maneuver around a not-so-woke environment. Witnessing the cliché of jocks bullying nerds. Witnessing the blatant racism, not only from kids but from teachers and other adult figures. At times, Sam could be a bit much and get too aggressive, but I still appreciated how passionate and vocal she was. Girl was calling people out, and for good reason!

Sam was especially vocal towards Priscilla, and it was interesting to see them clash as two young individuals instead of as mother and daughter. Their differences seemed all the more prominent, yet somehow, once Sam decided to help Priscilla win homecoming queen (in order to get back to her own time), they became the dynamic duo I didn’t know I needed. They formed a natural bond, and Sam was able to see all the layers that made Priscilla her mom. I loved their friendship so much that I almost didn’t want Sam to leave the past. There’s one scene in particular that absolutely broke me, that happens during the homecoming game halftime. It played out like an epic movie scene in my head, and it gave me all the feels. Was definitely my favorite part of the whole book.

There were many more parts to the book that I enjoyed, such as Sam’s relationship to her grandmother (versus Priscilla’s relationship to the grandmother), and, of course, Sam’s unexpected feelings for mystery boy Jamie. I wasn’t quite sure where Maurene was going with the romance at first, but it ended up being super exciting and satisfying. The writing was just so vivid and swoony that, again, things would play out like a movie. There were times I was reading where my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

I’ve enjoyed all of Maurene’s books — they’re just so fun and warm, and I always find myself never wanting to leave the little world she creates. Throwback is hands-down my favorite of hers so far. I knew this the moment I wanted to slow down to savor the story but couldn’t because I had to keep reading. There was so much on the line for Sam, and it was great to experience this crazy ride with her. She had her own personal growth, but it was the multi-generational growth that really hit home.

I think that I would’ve liked the book no matter what, but I love it because those elements were executed so well. Now, if only I could contact Throwback Rides and go back in time to read the book for the first time again…

**Much thanks to NetGalley and Zando Projects for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Throwback will be released on April 11.

This book started off slow for me, but I loved the 90s nostalgia, and by the end, I was definitely invested in and rooting for the main characters. It was fun seeing the 90s through the eyes of a current day teenager, as well.

This book was good. It was not over the top amazing but I also didn’t hate it. I think I wanted to like it so much more because I love the concept but the book and characters felt a little flat for me.

When I saw that this book is about Asian Mother/Daughter relationships I was immediately intrigued, and Maurene did not disappoint. As someone who has a complicated relationship with their immigrant mother this book hit really close to home. This book really put into perspective that we never know our mothers' true intentions behind their actions or words, regardless of how we interpret it. Sam was a character I really related too, and I loved seeing her growth throughout the book. The ending where Sam was talking with Priscilla (when she was a teenager and when she was Sam's mom) almost had me in tears.

Absolutely well done.

What a refreshing book. Mother and daughter relationships are not always easy. Sam and her mothers relationship reminds me of my relationship growing up. I would have loved to have been transported back to my mom's era in the early 70's. Through trial and error Sam was able to see her mom in a different light, she saw first hand what it is was like for her mother to be a teen and the pressures she had growing up. Sam finally understood the sacrifices made for her to have a better life.

I give this book 5 stars.

I kept seeing this book everywhere and when I found the chance to read it before it was even released I jumped to get it!
This story follows Samantha as she accidentally travels back in time to the her mom's high school years. There she finds a teenager completely unlike the person that she knows as her mom in the future.
As a young daughter it was not difficult to relate to Sam, her strained relationship with her mom being just a reflection of most girls in our day. As daughters we always forget that our moms were once young too and had to deal with their own parents. The story shows a beautiful reflection of how relationships between mothers and daughters are incredibly complex and we never really part from them, we always carry that relationship everywhere.
This book was heartwarming and funny, and it made me a bit teary-eyed, especially with the vulnerability and pressure that comes with being a teenager and how it shapes us as people.
If anything, although I understand that slang had a big role in the book, it felt a bit forced at times.
Also, surprisingly, I think this was my first time reading a book with a non-binary character in it and I loved to see it!

As a big fan of time travel tropes in books, this one really didn’t disappoint! It was executed so well and I really enjoyed that the main character went back to the 90’s. As someone who was in high school in the 90’s- the portrayal of this era was spot on.

I thought all the characters had such great personalities and I loved seeing their growth throughout the book. This book was so fun while also tackling a lot of meaningful themes like what it is like to have immigrant parents and relationships/family dynamics.

The story was incredibly moving and I found myself tearing up at times! I was pleasantly surprised by how delightful this book is and will be one I definitely recommend to friends!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for allowing me to read the advanced copy of this book.

I was excited to read this book as soon as I read the synopsis in this month's BookPage. The premise, aesthetic, and unique lens all sounded incredibly promising and I eagerly asked for an advanced copy. I'm so, so glad I did because I deeply enjoyed this read!

'Throwback' is a story about mothers and daughters - the deep understandings and misunderstandings between them, and how generational trauma gets passed along in different forms. And, like author Maurene Goo herself, protagonist Sam is Korean-American, so these lessons are learned through the additional lens of the American immigrant experience and how each generation's understanding of those struggles shifts.

However, despite these very real and important themes, the book itself never feels heavy. There is so much heart in this novel, but even when things are difficult for the characters, the writing itself remains fun and freeing. Between the magical realism inherent in a book about literal time travel, the fun to be had watching a teenager from 2025 learn how to get along in 1995, and the subplot of Sam and Jamie's budding relationship, the story plays out in your mind like a movie and you find yourself loving being along for the ride.

I would absolutely give this book a 10/10, and would love to see it adapted to screen someday. (Even if it is the first time travel book I've ever read where the year they travel back to is after I was already born, so I sometimes felt incredibly old reading it, haha.)

I DNF this around page 50. It's not bad, but it just wasn't clicking for me. I found myself not wanting to pick it back up and I don't have time for that. I may return to it someday.

*e-Arc provided by Netgalley

This was so much fun. I loved Sam’s relationship with her mom both in current day & in 1995. The way they did the time traveling was very cool. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes they could go back in time & discover why their mother is the way she is.

Throwback is an absolute delight. It combines a combination of "Back to the Future" with the "Freaky Friday" leaning. The story addresses the tensions and ties between mothers and daughters over multiple generations in a Korean family, all told from the perspective of Sam, the teenage daughter of, as she sees it, an uptight mother and loving grandmother. When her grandmother falls into a coma, tensions run high. The last straw snaps when Sam's mom doesn't understand Sam's lack of interest in participating in homecoming court, much less running for queen.
Sam's thrown back in time to her mother's Patricia's senior year, Her perspective on why her mother is who she is, and Patricia's tremendous drive to become homecoming queen are thrown into a new light. She also meets her grandmother, and sees how Priscilla's relationship with her own mother is a stark contrast with how Sam experienced mother-daughter dynamics. Sam's modern take on the world stands in contrast to life in 1995, which is one of the obstacles she faces before she can return to the present.
Then there's the cute guy, the one who stands out from the crowd, to whom Sam is drawn despite knowing that the relationship will end as soon as she goes back home.
Go get this story - it's top notch.

I didn’t really enjoy this book. While the author can write, and pretty well, I didn’t connect with or even like any of the characters? But especially our main character Sam. It seemed like the plot and the details worked well but the characters suffered. This was a case of an interesting summary but an execution that just didn’t work for me. Not bad, just not for me.

Also, oddly less time travel than I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Young Readers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sam Kang and her mother Priscilla could not be more different, and they do not get along. When the two have a huge fight, Sam somehow finds herself transported back in time to the 1990s -- and now a student at her same high school three decades before, with a 17-year old Priscilla as her classmate. Baffled by the '90s, Sam is convinced that the way back to her present is to help Priscilla change her high school experience. As she works to help Priscilla, she learns much more about Priscilla's life and how her childhood shaped the adult, and mother, she became, even as she wonders whether she will ever see her mom as an adult again.

This is an engaging story. The relationship between Sam and Priscilla both in the present and the past is well crafted, and it is interesting to see Sam navigate the unfamiliar world of the 1990s.

Highly recommended!

“Even if we can’t change the past—we can change the future.”

Samantha Kang’s high school experience couldn’t be more opposite from her mom’s. Sam has no school pride, whereas her mother, Priscilla, was a popular cheerleader and nearly homecoming royalty. When Sam gets nominated for homecoming queen, Priscilla jumps at the opportunity to get Sam the crown. Sam is… less than enthused. After a major fight with her mom, Sam uses a ride-share app called Throwback and suddenly finds herself face-to-face with teenage Priscilla. The year? 1995. Stuck decades in the past, Sam sets out to help her 17-year-old mom and hopefully get sent back home. Can’t be that hard…right?

I am so glad that I picked up Maurene Goo’s latest novel! There’s plenty to enjoy in Sam’s story; we get nostalgic references to American Girl dolls and *gasp* thriving shopping malls, and also great Korean-American representation with affectionate Korean nicknames, a scene at a Korean church, and mouth-watering food descriptions. I really enjoyed that Sam viewed her relationship with her ethnic identity in a positive light, even when dealing with microaggressions and her mom’s internalized racism. Sam and Priscilla show two very different reactions to being the child of an immigrant, and both characters are written with empathy for their respective times. Also, even though Sam complains about her mom often, she does stick up for Priscilla when other people criticize her. I appreciate the mother-daughter conflict feeling realistic while also being grounded in love. The mother-daughter dynamic is not only seen with Sam and Priscilla but also with Priscilla and Halmoni (Sam’s grandma). I rooted for all three generations of women in this story—I love having books about strong, multigenerational families. Other things I loved in the book? The whole homecoming plot! Reading about Sam’s schemes to help Priscilla win homecoming queen felt like I was watching a classic teen movie. There were hijinks and good ol’ fashioned drama, with a sprinkle of romance too. There are a few surprises in the book, and one really got me—some readers might pick up on it, but the reveal made me backtrack and reread for all the signs. The book also has a movie-worthy happily ever after, which is very important! Throwback’s combination of time travel hilarity, 90s culture, and high school angst with the nuances of intergenerational relationships and immigrant life in America makes for a truly fantastic read. Get your copy ASAP!

I absolutely adored everything about this book. I laughed so many times out loud while reading as well as felt the sadness, frustration, fear, and anger Sam felt. The characters felt so real to me and I especially loved Sam's grandmother. The mother/daughter relationship was one I could identify with and it brought back so many of my memories growing up. The differences between now and the 1990's as far as racial tensions and what was deemed okay to say or do in the past was eye-opening for me and well done; I felt so angry at the comments and actions of some characters and this was a good thing for me as I can recognize small positive changes in society. The time crunch helped to make this a novel I raced to finish as the suspense ramped up. The ending was perfect and made me want to hug this book when finished.

I read this book as an arc from Netgalley.

Throwback follows Samantha Kang and her relationship with her mother, Priscilla. The book sets up the dynamic between Samantha and her mother very well. They did not agree on a lot of things. I enjoyed the exploration of family in this book. It definitely shows how someone's upbringing can influence the way that they parent or treat others. Despite Samantha impacting certain events for Priscilla and her mother, I liked how they did not become a whole new person. This would make a nice movie. It was a fast read and I had a good time with the book. The only thing that I thought was weak was the small romantic subplot. It was nice to let Sam get her happy ending but if the author did not include it, I would not have missed it.

4.5/5! I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book so much as I did not enjoy a previous read by this author. This story follows Sam and Priscilla, a mother and daughter duo, who have typically not seen eye to eye. After a huge fight Sam gets sent back in time to 1995 to help her teenage mum win the title of prom queen, and to figure out the root cause of their difficulties. I really appreciated the frankness when it came to addressing racism and other related issues that were prominent in the past (and unfortunately remain to exist in current day).

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read!

This book is so one of a kind concept with a bit of freaky Friday feel... only instead of switching bodies, she goes back to the past alongside her mother. While she's trying to deal with the different era, she also may learn how to understand her mother a bit better while finding love. But what will happen when she has to face her future?

Thank you NetGalley and Zando Prohects for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I requested this after reading a 90s inspired short story collection, the synopsis interested me mainly because of the 90s theme.

That being said. This book wasn’t for me, I know a lot of you who would enjoy this, it’s a YA time travel romance with Back to the Future vibes