A modern Mulan retelling that takes place in the Financial world. Mulan is the only daughter to her Chinese parents, she is also a VP at the finance company her father runs. On the eve of a very important meeting to acquire a family fun whiskey company her father falls ill and Mulan needs to take his place. The company is very conservative and only wants to deal with her father, the one they have been in contact with so she decides to be Zhou. They family is taken a back but invite her to the ranch for a couple of days to get to know her and for her to win them over. Things don't go as expected but Mulan doesn't give up and she may find a connection with the CEO of the company Shang.

This was a cute book, I did not love the writing style it felt very basic and repetitive. It felt like there was not enough showing and only telling. I did love the feminist take and how it talked about the role of a woman in a traditional family and how it can be modernized. There were too many characters and most pf them felt like caricatures.

This rom-com, inspired by Mulan (but definitely not a retelling), follows a bold heroine who impersonates her father to close a major business deal. When he unexpectedly falls ill, Mulan heads to a cowboy retreat run by Shang’s family, hoping to secure the acquisition.

The premise is ridiculous and requires a heavy dose of suspension of disbelief—but it’s also where most of the fun happens. From cattle wrangling to axe-throwing, the retreat is full of over-the-top hijinks that bring plenty of laughs, even if some of the humor misses the mark. Mulan is brave, competent, and easy to root for, while Shang is a sweet, grounded love interest with serious cooking skills. Their romance is adorable and well-paced, despite the usual bumps of a mistaken identity plot.

Where the book really shines is in its depiction of family and cultural identity. The warmth of Mulan’s extended family, the little cultural touches, and the feminist themes that emerge later in the story all add depth.

It’s not flawless, but if you’re in the mood for a lighthearted romantic comedy with a Disney twist, this one might just hit the spot.

A Disney Mulan retelling but with a cowboy spin? Mulan is the right hand at her father's private equity company and has worked hard to succeed as a woman in a man's world. When her father gets sick and a potential business deal must be made, Mulan decides to impersonate her father's role and pretend she's an experienced rancher to convince the whiskey brand that the deal can go through. Too bad Shang, the very hot lead of the company can see right through her. Mulan has to spend time with Shang and his family on their ranch to convince them she's the right fit... but with zero experience, how long can she keep up the act before the truth gets out? This was definitely a unique take on the classic and while it didn't work for me ( I just did not vibe with the romance or feel any chemistry between the two characters) I think it would be a fun read for others.

Release Date:June 3, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC. As someone who is half Asian, the story of Mulan has always held a special place in my heart. This book was a fun and sweet modern retelling of her journey. From long ago China to modern day America, there are unfortunately some things that haven’t completely changed. Her struggles with sexism and the patriarchy from the movie translated well into problems faced day. I loved getting to see how a modern Mulan would navigate the struggle of being a woman in a man’s world while trying fiercely to help her father. While I’m personally not a fan of the insta-love trope, I still found this book really enjoyable as a Disney and romance book lover.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I will be leading a book club session for this book next month and reading it early gave me time to prepare!

Worth Fighting for is the 5th book in the Meant to Be series, and I have loved them all so far. This one is a modern retelling of Mulan, and it does not disappoint. It is maybe my third-favorite of the series so far!

Worth fighting for has all of the signature main characters: Hua Mulan, Shang & even Mushu (as Mulan's cousin)! Mushu, as always steals the show and was my favorite character. Mulan works in finance and must help her father by taking over his identity in an attempt to buy out Sheng's company. It's an insta-love romance with a strong-willed FMC and a handsome and witty MMC. There is also a lot of self-discovery and Chinese culture in the story which made it very wholesome and heartwarming.

The beginning was a little tough to get through, and the ending felt a bit rushed, but I overall I LOVED this book! Definitely a good summer book club pick, and I will be recommending it to other reader-friends who love contemporary romance. Worth Fighting For will release on June 3rd!

Adaptations are hard! I applaud Jesse Sutanto for this modern take on Mulan. I admired the decision to change the name rather than have Mulan dress as a man. That would have been hard to keep up. The finance setting with patriarchal vibes is very realistic. While the premise was good the execution felt a little campy to me. Loved Mulan and Shang together. The meddling mamas were awesome.
Thanks to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for this eARC.

This one was such a fun read! A modern spin on one of my favorite Disney movies—Mulan! I loved how this classic story was reimagined in a contemporary setting, especially one as unexpectedly perfect (and absurdly masculine) as the world of finance bros. The highlight for me? Mushu being personified as, obviously, the most fun character of all!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book. I was intrigued by this being a Mulan retelling in a modern setting but this just wasn’t for me. I didn’t connect with the characters and didn’t love that the romance was insta-love without much buildup. There were things in this I liked and enjoyed, I just didn’t love this as much as other romance books I’ve read.

3-3.5 stars. There were parts of this book I really, really enjoyed. I enjoyed the modern world twist on the classic tale. I loved the character of Mulan and the determination she showed to push through obstacles and challenges to close the deal her father had been working on. It was also a good exploration of cultural and generational expectations and the drive to overcome that. I also really liked the dynamic between Mulan and Shang. They seemed to really connect and understand each other. Mushu was a great sidekick and added a lot of humor but also insight to the story. I was a big fan of her.

All that said, what I personally ultimately struggled with was that there were a lot more *suggestive* situations than I was expecting. I mean, I read all kinds of romance across all spectrums, but while reading a Disney published retelling of Disney characters, it caught me off guard. Not that it was graphic or anything detailed on page, but it just really, really threw me off. I realize these are meant to be adult characters living adult lives, but I’ve never been watching the movies of my childhood hoping to see “more”. I also didn’t love that the intimacy of the relationship happened/continued while Mulan was keeping up her ruse and wasn’t honest with at least Shang about who she really was.

The things I loved about this book were a lot of fun and I had a great time reading. Thank you to Hyperion Avenue via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute, easy read with a fun twist inspired by "Mulan". Mulan works at her father's company and steps in to his role after he has a heart attack. Working under the guise of being her father, it's not quite as spot on as her pretending to be a man, but it's a modern take on the story!

Similar to other reviewers, I do think some of the vocabulary was a little too "modern?" for my liking and it took me out of the book. I do love that it was set in the Bay area and the cultural references in the book! Overall, I wanted to love it but it ended up falling solidly in the 3 star category for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I was very excited to be getting an advanced copy of this book. I love Mulan's story and was curious to see how this all plays out on the re-imagining. I really enjoyed the concept of the book, and Mushy being a super fun cousin/bff character. The weaving of brass bff and Mushu the dragon over promising was a good mix. Not to the main characters. Hua Mulan as a finance bro is perfect and how she ends up impersonating her father works though it's a bit of a stretch even. Shang is literally the cartoon in this book with his physical description but a total Renaissance man. I love all the elements of familial love and duty, and the fact that Mulan has so many masks she wears on the daily to be successful in working in a male dominated industry with a very patriarchal culture. I feel this, as an Asian person myself. There are some strong threads of commentary throughout the book, along with the sidelong heated glances and food as a love language. The blossoming of relationship with Shang and Mulan is quite believable and her character transformation is very evident. I'm not sure we see that a ton from Shang. He is just constant and it would have been nice to see some growth on his end as well but oh well, some of us are just perfect. What I didn't love is the writing style and some of the pacing. I've read Jessie Sutanto's books in the past and the zany antics get a bit too much for me and venture into cheesy territory. As a person whose family is ethnic Chinese from the Philippines, the writing style and speaking style is very indicative of that culture and for some reason it doesn't do it for me. The grand gesture is really well done though and the epilogue very heart warming.

Heart flutters: 🔥
It's a 3..5 for me... Rounded up

This was a fun retelling of Mulan. I liked the setting of the ranch and the shenanigans that Mulan got in. I liked that Mulan was such a strong FMC and had to fight the patriarchy of Shang's family. Her relationship with her family was also endearing.

Mushu, Mulan's cousin, gave the book so much humor. Changs family was chaotic and some were more lovable that others. I liked that Chang was also trying to fight the stereotypes of what a man or woman should be doing.

I am not a fan of insta love and this felt like that a bit much with them spending a few days together at the ranch.

Thank you @hyperionbooks @netgalley for a copy of the book.

The author did a fantastic job crafting a modern retelling of the classic Disney story and the legend of Mulan. Mulan’s fierce dedication to her family was front and center—she’s determined to succeed and to honor her family name, no matter the cost. Shang was an absolute cinnamon roll: strong, principled, and outwardly tough, but with a soft heart—especially when it came to his mom, who was clearly the most important person in his life. I loved how that dynamic flipped traditional stereotypes on their head.

The romance between Mulan and Shang leaned toward insta-love, but it worked for me and felt sincere within the context of the story. What truly stole the show, though, was the bond between Mulan and Mushu. Just like in the original film, their relationship was full of loyalty, support, and mutual trust—I loved seeing that dynamic reimagined in a contemporary setting.

I’d highly recommend this to anyone who’s enjoyed the other Meant to Be novels. It’s a heartfelt, fun, and refreshing take on a beloved story.

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a delightful contemporary romance that reimagines Disney’s Mulan with wit, heart, and a dash of corporate intrigue. In this modern retelling, Mulan steps into her father’s role at a private equity firm to secure a crucial whiskey acquisition when he falls ill. Pretending to be her father, she navigates a week-long retreat at the Li family ranch, facing everything from cattle wrangling to axe-throwing, all while trying to convince Shang’s skeptical family that she’s the powerful CEO they’ve been negotiating with.
Sutanto’s sharp humor and engaging writing style shine through, creating a story that's both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The novel explores themes of identity, family expectations, and the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, all wrapped in a charming romance. Readers will appreciate the strong character development and the balance between humor and heartfelt moments.
With its blend of modern sensibilities and traditional values, Worth Fighting For offers a fresh and enjoyable take on a beloved classic. It's a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and those looking for a story that combines humor, heart, and a touch of adventure.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this digital e-arc.*

Thank you so much to Jesse Q. Sutanto and Hyperion Avenue for this E-ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own! 🥰

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this book!! I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series yet, but I’d been seeing it everywhere! I had also heard good things about Jesse’s writing!
I would definitely read more from Jesse and the other books in the series.

Find more on my IG @kayreads_romance

⚠️ !! Please be sure to check any TWs before diving in !! ⚠️

What to expect:
* Mulan Retelling
* Chinese Culture
* Insta-love
* Headstrong and Intelligent FMC

This is a rom-com full of classic comedy-of-errors charm, where the main character keeps digging herself deeper after deciding that starting with a big lie was somehow a good idea. I knew going in that this was a Mulan retelling, but I was a bit thrown by the characters having the exact same names. A more subtle approach might have worked better. Then again, given the current state of media literacy, perhaps the directness was intentional—and necessary.

I absolutely love this author. I wasn't too sure what to expect with this one, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved it. The whole women-can't-do-business theme is awful, but this book was humorous and hopeful.

🥃 Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto 🥃

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When her father falls ill mid-deal, Mulan steps in to save his hedge fund’s biggest acquisition - by pretending to be him. But winning over a macho whiskey empire, led by the skeptical yet charming Shang, means a week at their rugged ranch. Cattle, cover-ups, and unexpected chemistry collide as Mulan tries to close the deal without losing her heart.

First of all - I’m not a Disney person. I wasn’t allowed to watch Disney growing up and have had no interest as an adult, but I did watch Mulan a couple years ago as it felt appropriate as a trans guy - LOL. Despite not being overly interested in the Disney retelling, I knew I wanted to read this book as I will read anything Jesse Q. Sutanto writes, and I wasn’t disappointed. I’m typically not a fan of characters lying/deceiving others, but it made sense (obviously - Mulan retelling) in this, and I felt the resolution was appropriate. The characters in this were developed and fun, and this had the mix of humour and seriousness I’ve come to know and love from Jesse Q. Sutanto. I also loved the tiny reference to Vera Wong.
This book had some important messages while being overall lighthearted and fun. I definitely recommend reading for a fast paced romance.

Read this if you like:
- Mulan
- smashing the patriarchy
- endearing characters (some of them LOL)

Vibes: 🥃🐄🥸💲📈🤠🐴

Song that matches the vibe: Reflection by Christina Aguilera - duh!

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.

🥃 Worth Fighting For is out June 3, 2025! Thank you NetGalley, Jesse Q. Sutanto, and Hyperion Avenue for the eARC. This eARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. 🥃

4 Stars The Meant to Be series of modern-day retelling of classic Disney Princess stories is so fun! I love reading each book to pick up on the related parts from the movie. Worth Fighting For is a retelling of Mulan and such a fun read!

Mulan is my fave Disney princess movie (who doesn't love singing "I'll Make a Man Out of You" as dramatically as possible?), so I knew I was gonna love this one! Having Mulan and Shang's romance set at a whiskey distillery/ranch is such a fun twist on the story. Plus having Mushu be Mulan's hilarious cousin is perfect! There's so much girl power and it stays true to the heart of Mulan's story. The banter is fun and overall it's a fun read!

The Meant to Be novels are some of my favorite light, easy, closed-door romance books. Each novel is a modern retelling of a Disney princess movie. I was a 90s kid, so it’s been so fun to relive some of these stories again.
The latest in the series is Mulan retelling called Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto and it ranks high on my list (dare I say it’s number 2?). The romance between Mulan and Shang is a sweet, slow burn in a whisky distillery/ranch setting with a fun twist. Mulan’s character fell a tiny bit flat for me, but it’s because Sutanto really lets Mushu (Mulan’s hilarious female cousin) and Auntie Jiayi (Shang’s mother) to really outshine her—I think they were my two favorite characters in this one. This is a romance with a lot of girl power and female friendship badassery.