Rounded up.
This is the problem with Disney getting thier hands on adults: A woman who should be capable, intelligent, and independent is reduced to a bumbling stooge with one bad idea after another culminating in inevitable suffering that is in no way either necessary or inevitable.

I love this series! I did struggle a little with this being labeled as a romance, as it does follow the story arc of one, but lacks the feel of one. The protagonist's dilemma felt a little forced and not worth the hassle of basically the entire plot. I do, however, love Jesse Sutanto and liked her writing, and especially loved the fun and quirky sidekick, Mushu (Awkwafina, anyone?)

As a fan of Disney's Mulan, I couldn’t resist picking up Worth Fighting For--Jesse Q. Sutanto’s contribution to the Meant to Be series. This is the third book in the series I’ve read—I've also read By the Book by Jasmine Guillory and Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren—and I’d rank it right in between: better than By the Book but not quite as enjoyable as Tangled Up in You.

One of the things that initially drew me to this book was curiosity about how they would translate “woman disguises herself as a man to fight in a war” into a modern-day setting. Sutanto’s solution was both clever and fitting: a high-stakes, cutthroat corporate environment. I saw one reviewer describe it as “a Mulan reimagining set in the Bay Area amongst finance bros”—and I’m going to wholeheartedly cosign that, because it sums up the vibe perfectly.

Sutanto’s character work is where the book truly shines. She does an amazing job helping us imagine both the physical and emotional dimensions of her cast. In fact, in my head canon, Mushu--Mulan's cousin in this version of the story--was played by Awkwafina. The chemistry between the leads felt genuine albeit a bit insta-lovey, and the themes of loyalty, courage, and of course, honor pay loving tribute to the spirit of Mulan while giving it a fresh, contemporary twist.

4★

Thank you NetGalley & Hyperion Avenue for the opportunity to read this ARC 💌

Worth Fighting For was such a charming and funny modern day retelling of Mulan! This story follows Fa Mulan who works as the right hand of her father’s hedge fund company. As a woman in finance, she works ten times smarter and harder to show that she’s as capable as the finance bros she works with. When her father, Fa Zhou, is hospitalized in the middle of an important acquisition with Wutai Gold, known for its masculine whiskey brand, and led by Shang Li and his old-fashioned family members, Mulan decides to pretend she’s her father so the deal won’t fall through. They’ve only corresponded over email so things should proceed smoothly, right? What Mulan doesn’t expect is the email leading to an in-person meeting and an invitation to the Li family ranch.

Having watched Mulan a million and two times, I was still so surprised at how much I loved this! The storyline and romance between Shang and Mulan was so well written, fun, and exciting! Their banter and chemistry was off the charts and I was touched by their moments of vulnerability. I enjoyed how they were able to let their masks slip off and explore their true selves and individuality with each other. The ranch scenes were by far my favourite, as the romance between Shang and Mulan develops, but we also dive into Chinese culture and upbringing which was informative. I appreciated how even in the modern world, this book still conveyed the message of how challenging it is for women to work in male dominated fields and how women are capable of achieving great things and lead in a position of power.

I would have loved to read more after the conflict was resolved and felt like the ending was rushed, but overall I enjoyed this so much, it made the little kid in me so happy! Worth Fighting For releases on June 3rd ♥️

A fun and modern rom-com take on Mulan! I felt like some of the commentary was too on the nose or over-explained, but overall, I really enjoyed this read. Shang and Shang's mom really stole the show; oh, and mushu, of course! Looking forward to reading more from this author!

If you love Disney you will love this book! Such a fun twist on Mulan the movie. I have loved this series with all the modern day princesses. Shang is my favorite in this book.
Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing this ARC.
Such a fun story!

I’ve loved all the Collabs that went into the series and this one is no different! I truly and wholeheartedly loved this modern Mulan retelling! Loved all the characters especially Mushu. This book is packed with laugh out loud humor. A lot of romantic tension. This book is a slow-burn romance that will make you swoon. Enjoyed this book so much! I loved the original movie Mulan so I was excited to read this and it didn’t not disappoint! Truly amazing!!

This next book in the Disney series it true to the Mulan story outline. It’s a little overly focused on some silly bits, but overall with a good message. Definitely predictable and not as developed as the others in the series, but a light easy read.

Aside from the first in this series, none of the other books have really blown me away. This was fine, cheesy at times, but I could feel the Mulan connection. I won’t say it will be particularly memorable and the lie felt a bit pronounced given the circumstances, making it harder to root for Mulan. Mushu was particularly annoying and not as lovable as I believe the author intended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Like all these Meant to Be novels, this is not a Mulan retelling, rather a romantic comedy (heavy on the comedy) inspired by Mulan. And it's...a mixed bag. Overall it's serviceable as a rom com if you can suspend your disbelief a LOT.

Mulan herself is great! She's brave, bold, has a strong sense of duty, wants to do the right thing and knows her own worth. Shang is also capable, a real gentleman, great at cooking anda great love interest.

Mushu is there as the comedic relief, and mostly just says groaners or gives me embarrassing Awkwafina energy. The rest of the finance bros and sexist Li family are basically cardboard cutouts.

The plot is just ridiculous. Like your suspension of disbelief has to be SO STRONG to buy any of this for even a second. I commend the author for adeptly avoiding any possible insensitivity when it comes to cross dressing and instead focus on the feminism aspect, but I rolled my eyes so hard many many times at the shenanigans that go down. Thankfully Mulan isa quick study so she only falls in literal poop once before she "mans up" and starts being competent again. It's definitely the weakest aspect and unfortunately the longest part. Thankfully the romance is sweet! loved Shang and thought they had great chemistry. There's the typical guilt and lame tension that comes with a mistaken identity story, but overall liked the romance a lot.

The Chinese culture and love between the family members was great! Loved seeing all the little quirks of the aunties and uncles, the stories of immigrant experiences, and the FOOD as always. The last 20% of so really hits home the feminist aspect of the story and was also really enjoyable.

Overall it's fine? Again, definitely don't expect a Mulan retelling. It's a rom com, heavy on the com that's not actually funny, so it is just okay.

I loved the movie Mulan when I was a kid so to say I was excited is definitely an understandment. Shang was dreamy and I just wish there would have been a little bit more spice. Still well written and an enjoyable piece of the series. A solid 3.5 stars for me!

I found this one to be very cute and funny. Definitely hits the rom-com tropes in a feel-good way. I’m always down for a fairytale/disney retelling. Mulan in a finance role is not one I would have imagined, but it worked well for this story. This was a fun exploration of being a woman in a man’s world and learning the power of being a woman. I loved the characters of Mushu. The romance was instant, but I loved the banter. Overall, it’s a very fun take on a modern Mulan.

Maybe I'm not feminist enough, but I felt like Mulan was fighting just to fight about anything that had to do with equality. I was so torn because there were parts of this book that got me excited because it felt very kdramaesque, but Shang just didn't do it for me. I feel like movie Shang and book Shang were not the same person, and I struggled with that a lot. He's more aloof and I would've loved a more gradual slip into him being aloof and disinterested into the respect and admiration of her. I understand that it's a modern day retelling, so it's going to be different, but I was a little let down by this one.

Jesse Q. Sutanto captured the iconic lines of Disney's classic Mulan in this modern day interpretation.
Mulan is working for her father's hedge fund company. Her father is in the midst of negotiating a merger with a Whiskey company that has a hyper masculine marketing scheme and board of directors embodies "old school" *read sexist* ideals. When Fa Zhou has a heat attack Mulan impersonates him in order to secure the deal. She just didn't bargain for the chemistry between her and the CEO, Shang.

Mulan is a finance bro opposite a feminist Shang with Mushu providing comedic relief. I honestly pictured Awkwafiina every time Mushu was on the page, definitely a different vibe from the animated Mushu. There were some hilarious moments where Mulan struggled with the ranch life. I enjoyed the conclusion of the book but felt like the resolution was a bit rushed.

What I liked:
Shang.
Shang's mom.

What I didn't like:
Every time after the first few references to" finance bro" yes I did hear "I want a man in finance" every time, thanks for asking.
Insta lust on the part of Mulan. She defiantly was thirsting after Shang and it honestly hindered the stories tension a bit.

SPOILER * They get intimate before she corrects the lie* and that really negatively impacted my reading experience.


Video review to come, will update social links.

I am a huge Disney nerd so I was excited when Hyperion offered the Meant to Be Series. These modern retellings of classic Disney stories are simply fantastic, and Worth Fighting For is no exception! It's a modern day retelling of Mulan's story from the gifted pen of Jesse Q. Sutanto, the author of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and the Dial A For Aunties series. A match made in heaven!

My expectations for this book were high, and I'm pleased to report that they were absolutely MET! The characters are all richly drawn and the nods to the original story are clear and lovely. I laughed, cringed, cheered, and swooned. Sutanto does a phenomenal job of balancing the comic nuance you'd expect from the original story, with closed door romance and the absolutely real struggles that women face in the workforce. Sutanto did not gloss over issues that deserve this spotlight and bold headlines.

It's tough to pick a favorite from this series, but if I was made to choose, Worth Fighting For would come out on top. I'm hoping this series continues and am looking forward to see what's next! Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing this advanced review copy prior to the book's publication in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc to read and review. All opinions my own.

When I first saw that the next book in the Meant To Be collection was inspired by Mulan, I was incredibly excited as Mulan was one of my favorite Disney movies growing up. Worth Fighting For was a fun take, but I feel like there were so many elements missing from the story it’s based on. I think I may have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t apart of this series and was a story on its own with different character names. Shang was also conveniently too perfect and I felt like Mulan’s character lacked some consistency with being too bland and then towards the end making her so much more quirky than she was at the start of the book; it didn’t feel like it was natural or that character. There were some fun moments though, and I loved her relationship with her parents.

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto is an absolute blast—funny, smart, and full of swoon-worthy moments. This modern Mulan-inspired rom-com follows Fa Mulan, a powerhouse in her father’s private equity firm who’s used to holding her own in a world dominated by finance bros. But when her father falls ill in the middle of a big business deal, she takes matters into her own hands—by pretending to be him.

The catch? The company she’s negotiating with is an ultra-masculine whiskey brand run by a tight-knit, old-school family that only trusts her father. And their head negotiator? The overworked but ridiculously attractive Shang. When an email exchange turns into an in-person meeting, Mulan suddenly finds herself at a weeklong ranch retreat, trying to prove she’s the high-powered CEO they think she is—all while wrangling cattle, throwing axes, and battling some very inconvenient feelings for Shang.

This book is packed with sharp humor, romantic tension, and plenty of hilarious fish-out-of-water moments. If you love strong heroines, mistaken identity shenanigans, and a slow-burn romance that will make you swoon, Worth Fighting For is a must-read!

What a great take on an updated version of the classic Mulan story! Jesse Q. Sutanto's vivid imagery pulls you into the story and the characters are well written. Mulan is smart, determined, strong, and caring, while working to break stereotypes and prove herself with every challenge she faces. Mushu steals the show with her humor - she's the perfect sidekick!

The story explores themes of tradition and stereotypes, but in true rom-com fashion there are plenty of laugh out loud moments and a touch of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so so much!!! It was so cute and so funny and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times at the shenanigans that Mulan finds herself into! I didn’t even realize it was a retelling of Mulan (I have yet to see the movie). I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved the premise of a young woman making it in a male-dominated finance world and doing very well at it. Mulan should serve as a role model to young women that want to go into business and finance but are too intimated by men. I didn’t even know this book was a part of a series which can be read as stand-alones and which I will be adding all to my TBR if they aren’t there already!

Mulan is my favorite Disney character of all time - so to say that I was excited to read this book is an understatement! The characters were so fun and I loved the modern twist on this beloved story.

Mulan is a sophisticated, incredibly smart, financial analyst who is constantly looked down upon by her male peers.

Mushu is Mulan’s hilarious cousin, fashionable best friend, and accomplice in all sorts of business shenanigans.

Shang is a distractingly good looking CEO of Wutai Gold, a whiskey company that Hua Zhou (Mulan’s father) is trying to acquire.

While Sutanto’s modern retelling of this story is
undeniably humorous, it also offers a genuine portrayal of the challenges women face in the business world every day. Additionally, it serves as a poignant reminder of the many struggles that immigrants endure.

***Once you've finished the book, I highly encourage you to read the acknowledgements at the end, where she shares her own personal background.***

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to to read this ARC! 5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️