This was a very cute YA rom com but I struggled with it. This book is about gamers so I definitely don’t think I connected with the characters. I think this is just because I’m not a gamer and it was also very YA. This book would be great for a younger crowd. However, even though I struggled this was a good book for the right reader.

This is the 2nd or 3rd book I've read from Jesse Q Sutanto and I enjoyed the book. I definitely would recommend it.

Kiki gamer girl with confidence to boot. She can’t help but be herself… except when she’s online. ( I think most of us all do)

Her secret? She plays anonymously as a guy to avoid harassment from other male players. Sourdawg who doesn't know her true identity and best friends with Kiki online, How will he react when he finds out Kiki’s secret? And what happens when Kiki realizes she’s falling for her online BFF Sourdawg? A fun read, and lessons learned. Thank you.

Equal parts funny and infuriating. The Lil Aunties were more interesting than the main character in my opinion. I enjoyed the storyline, however I felt that some parts were rushed and not fully fleshed out.

Honestly, this was a fun enough read, but I wasn't in love with it. I absolutely flew through this novel. I couldn't put it down, and it was such an easy and fun read. Therefore I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's just the slightest bit interested in it. I also think this book had some great messages, although they did end up being a bit too heavy-handed for me.
That truly is the first of my problems with this book. They aren't big problems, but there are some issues I had with this book. The writing felt a bit stiff to me. It felt like Jesse Q. Sutanto isn't used to writing teenage characters, and didn't quite find the voice of this main character. Despite Kiki being an amazing main character, with great character growth throughout the novel, her inner monologue just didn't feel very natural. In the beginning it was the most noticeable as Jesse Q. Sutanto did several info dumps to make us understand what point of her life our main character was in, how the game she plays works, how her family dynamic works, and so on. I think you get the point. As the book continued the info dumping dissapeared, but there was still something about the inner monologue that didn't fully click for me.
The romance also felt a bit underdeveloped for me. There were quite a lot of cute moments between Kiki and her love interest, and I definitely ended up rooting for them to get together throughout the novel. However, I do feel like their feelings came a little bit out of nowhere. Especially for Kiki, as we actually get her inner monologue. It just goes from "this is my best friend" to "I'm madly in love with him" very abruptly and quickly. I just feel like it could have been developed a bit better, despite still thinking the romance was incredibly cute.
I also quite appreciated the discussions around sexism, and sexism within the gaming space, but also the double standard still very present in our society despite institutions constantly telling us that the genders are completely equal already and there is no more fight to be had. I do think those discussions were really interesting, and realistic. I definitely think it's great to present this the way that it did to a YA audience, so different girls can know that they're not alone, and no it's not alright. However, like I said before I do think it could get a bit heavy handed at times. Especially because Jesse Q. Sutanto would repeat the same few points over and over again, not really phrasing them any differently. It felt a bit too much. But overall, I did still think this was a really strong aspect of the novel.

Many people have described this as "You've Got Mail" in a high school, and I don't disagree. I appreciated the discussion of online harassment and bullying, as well as putting common issues from private schools on blast. Cute story!

Seventeen-year-old Kiki Siregar has always been confident, even describing herself as "loud and unapologetically obnoxious."

The only place Kiki's had to be cautious with sharing her whole self is when she's online. Gaming is easier as a guy (Dudebro10 specfically). She isn't harassed and threatened by other players. She isn't punished by the game's algorithmic ranking system for reporting said harassment. While pretending to be a guy, Kiki also makes a very real friend in another player named Sourdawg. She never expected a real friendship to be an issue in Warfront Heroes, but now that she and Sourdawg have been playing and talking together for a year, Kiki hates lying to him. It feels slimy but also like the only option since she's not like to ever meet him IRL.

At least not until Kiki's parents transfer her to Jakarta's top Chinese School. Xingfa School is known for its discipline. It is also, it turns out, Sourdawg's school.

Adjusting to the conservative atmosphere at Xingfa School is harder than Kiki expects as she faces bullying, strict teachers, and students who'd rather keep their heads down than try to change the toxic environment. Kiki thinks she knows what to expect when she's roped into a matchmaking scheme which Kiki hopes will help her find Sourdawg. But Kiki soon realizes that with her confidence in tatters, she has to figure out how to find her old self-assurance before she can think of telling Sourdawg who she is in Didn't See That Coming (2023) by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

Kiki and most characters are Chinese-Indonesian. Readers of Sutanto's previous YA novel Well, That Was Unexpected (read my review) will recognize Kiki as Sharlot's cousin and will appreciate appearances from familiar characters, most notably Eleanor Roosevelt.

Kiki is a cackle-inducing narrator with plenty of acerbic observations and snappy asides. Strong friendships and new connections at school with other female students familiar with Xingfa's sexist culture help ground Kiki and give her the support she needs to speak out. The heaviness of Kiki's isolation and bullying are countered with the mystery of Sourdawg and tentative flirting with deskmate Liam Ng who may or may not be Sourdawg.

Didn't See That Coming is an empowering trifecta of humor, romance, and feminism grounded in positive change; a gamer-focused nod to the classic two person love triangle trope most commonly associated with the film You've Got Mail.

Possible Pairings: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett, Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter, Tweet Cute by Emma Lord, When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, Analee in Real Life by Janelle Milanes

*A more condensed version of this review appeared in an issue of School Library Journal as a starred review.*

This book deals with topics like sexism, online harassment & death threats.

I don’t think I read a book that deals with these topics with Asian characters. At this point you might as well send me all of Jesse Q. Sutanto, considering I read all here books and I’m a huge fan.

I think this might actually be one of her heavy books considering it’s a ya genre but I enjoyed it. Kiki would be such a role model for people, if she were real, I liked it a lot of there was still something missing. I hope to read more of her books in the future.

This book is such an important one for kids to read. I do not think I read a single book as a teen that dealt with sexism, online harassment & death threats. I certainly never got to read a book with Asian characters, let alone one set in an Asian country.

Kiki is such a good role model for teenager girls (and boys) to read about. She did not let the things that got in her way stop her from being herself.

📖My Thoughts📖

Every time I see a book by Jesse Q. Sutanto, I immediately request it on Netgalley, and each time, she gets me hooked. I’ve absolutely become a huge fan. This was a fast paced entertaining book that I devoured in less than a day. I love the way the author incorporates such controversial and real world topics. This book included bullying, harassment and sexism. While it covered some serious content that was actually quite difficult to read at times, it also had some really funny and entertaining moments intertwined throughout making for a well balanced book. I absolutely love reading Ms. Sutanto’s work. While she may be a YA writer, her ability to pull you right into a story is a skill of which not even some of the most seasoned authors, no matter the genre, are capable of pulling off. It’s so important to raise awareness to such cruel and callous issues that occur on a daily basis in some schools/communities, denying individualism while focusing in on pushing conformity with a blatant altruistic attitude. I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you Netgalley, Jesse Q. Sutanto and Random House Children’s for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The book itself is quite simple. But, if we look more deeply, the issue that the author brings it's a bit complicated. If I am not wrong, it is bringing up the issues about a girl who can easily get harassed and bullied online or real world. And, that is what happens to the main character in this book, Kiki Siregar. In short, Kiki Siregar makes a profile pretending as a boy when playing games (She said it is her own to make her feel safer), meets another player, and becomes a friend. Surprisingly, she moves into her friend's school that she just knows accidentally.

I just want to preface this by saying that Jesse, Q Sutanto is one of my favorite authors and if I see anything that she has written, I am going to want to read it so you can automatically go ahead and give me advance copies of all of her books I will also more than likely be purchasing any of her books as well, so just wanna get that out-of-the-way this book Like any other book I read by her is super cute. It is one that I did not want to put down. It’s funny it’s refreshing it’s something that you want to recommend to your girlfriends.

As I said before, I will read anything Jesse writes. She has written in a few different genres and I have loved them all. I was so excited to get a story about Kiki from Well, That Was Unexpected. It was also awesome to see Eleanor Roosevelt again. She is one of my favorites. Kiki gets transferred to the worst school ever because her parents think she will get a better education. She is bullied from day one and no one helps her even the staff. She plays an online game as a guy to be treated fairly. While at school she thinks she meets her online bff. Should she tell him? The story was so fun. It did give me some anxiety and made me want to punch some people for Kiki. LOL It was such a great read! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

a heartfelt and thought-provoking read. It reminds us of the importance of being true to ourselves and embracing our passions, both online and offline. If you're into gaming, friendship, and self-discovery, I definitely recommend giving this book a try.

Get ready, gamers. This book is definitely a winner.

As a mom of gamers, I have watched them make friends online (dubiously, at first) and navigate into adulthood as streamers. It's been an experience that so many teens share, and this book does it just right.

I mean, adults always tell teens to just be themselves. But it's hard to figure out who that is!

"It might seem weird that I don't know his actual name, but I've never dared to ask," Kiki begins. And really, her story is pretty normal. Us old folks sometimes don't believe you can be 'actual' friends with someone you've never met irl.

Kiki has another problem, of course, when she falls for a gamer friend. Oops. And dating is sometimes a minefield, even if you're used to winning in-game.

Be aware - there is a lot of bullying and gaslighting and taunting and unfriending and sexism and misrepresentation. "Is there anything more obnoxious than guys calling each other 'bro'?" But it's deeper than that: "In all my years, I have never - never! - met such a disrespectful, disobedient student."

At the story's heart, though, is the truism that you really can be yourself. Truly.

"I think I've learned that I don't actually want to fit in."

I enjoyed this so much! I think it really touched well on the facts about womanhood such as not being able to enjoy things like men get to, the victim blaming and non belief from adults or authority figures, how sometimes even other women perpetuate the issues, and even the bullshit of “pulling pigtails” being pushed. And all of this was done in a really fun story with an enjoyable main character and main love interest (who was so sweet omg)

Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q Sutanto

Thank you to @randomhouse, @delacortepress, and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my honest book review.

This is the sequel to young adult romcom Well, That Was Unexpected and while reading that first will give you some background into the characters, it can be read as a standalone or out of sequence. I was so deeply invested in Kiki and Liam! This was incredibly frustrating to watch unfold but super rewarding. Girl power wins the day and we love to see it! I highly recommend this for all romcom lovers but especially those young adults looking for their place in the world. 🩷

TW: b*llying, g*slighting, s*xism, yucky entitled rich guys, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.25/5

Jesse Q. Sutanto's "Didn't See That Coming" takes readers on an emotional roller coaster, offering a narrative that is unpredictable and sometimes achingly sad. Set in Indonesia, the story delves into the world of a gamer girl, Kiki Siregar, who navigates the challenges of concealing her true identity while forming a deep online connection.

The novel is reminiscent of the atmosphere in "Moxie," with references to the book adding an interesting layer to the narrative. Sutanto draws inspiration from personal school experiences, giving the story an authentic touch that reflects the unique school culture in Indonesia.

Like a roller coaster, the plot has its ups and downs. While it eventually reaches a satisfying happily-ever-after, a large portion of the book is marked by a prevailing sadness. Kiki's journey tugs at the heartstrings, and readers will find themselves empathizing with her struggles.

Despite the publisher's description labeling the book as "hilariously fresh and romantic," some readers may not resonate with this characterization. The humor is present, but the overarching mood is more somber than expected. The contrast between the book's tone and the publisher's portrayal could leave readers with different expectations.

Exploring online identity and the dynamics of friendships formed in virtual spaces adds depth to the narrative. The revelation of secrets and the subsequent emotional turmoil contribute to the wild ride that is "Didn't See That Coming."

Jesse Q. Sutanto's novel is a captivating journey with moments of humor, heartache, and a resolution that brings a sense of fulfillment. While not precisely aligning with the publisher's description, the book offers a unique perspective on identity, friendship, and love in the digital age.

Kiki is an online gamer, but because she's a girl she was constantly harassed and bullied. So she took it upon herself to create a dude persona so she could play in peace. Little did she know she'd make a true friend in sourdawg. The two became close, but when Kiki moves schools she realizes her online best friend also goes to the same school. She goes through so much and this book really conveys what it's like for women in society, specifically Asian culture, and how hard it is to be able to stand up for themselves and have a mind of their own without being told they're too much. Although parts of this book had me seething, I loved how it all came together at the end.

For the first 50% of this book I was super into it I really liked how it was addressing complex issues in an age appropriate way. Like sexism and bullying in schools and gaming etc. But by the 60% mark I was kind of losing interest. The story just seemed to drag.

Kiki and Liam, our main characters, were charming. I was invested in their happiness and so proud of them for overcoming their challenges throughout the book. An adorable friends-to-lovers storyline that's supportive, and genuine. I do wish the story had focused a bit more on them in the final third. If you've read any of Sutanto's other works by now you know to expect a chaotic twist in the back half, and this book is no exception. The third act conflict was a bit obvious early in the book, but the added twist felt like it was written for the sake of creating even more drama. That aside, I respect the care and sensitivity Sutanto took in writing about topics like online harassment in the gaming community and school bullying. I applaud the mix of serious topics with an overall rom-com vibe. I love to learn through Sutanto's cultural references and dynamics in Asian families. There is a companion novel called Well, That Was Unexpected. While you don't have to read that book to enjoy this one, there are a few characters who make an appearance in this follow-up novel. I recommend this book for a fun YA contemporary romance that's set in Indonesia and revolves around two gamers.