Review Detail

What worked: Endearing contemporary tale of BFFs and the summer of change. I loved this story of three Asian American best friends and the challenges and growth they all experience during the summer.

Everett, Ariel, and Jia have been friends since childhood. Summers together were always filled with magic, but this one will be different as two of them will not be in NYC.

Everett longs to be a Broadway star and goes to a drama camp in Ohio with dreams of landing the lead. Only what she encounters is at best racist to the core. Even though she excels in her audition, she lands the part of a stereotypical Asian character.

Ariel lands a prestigious STEM scholarship and goes to San Francisco but she longs for her older sister Bea who died tragically in Busan, Korea.

Jia is expected to take over her family's Chinatown restaurant, but she wants to attend a four-year university.

Add to all of this is the cute new boy in the neighborhood, dreams being challenged, and confronting your worse fears. These friends are ones that you'd love to have as your own.

Fast-paced with an empowering message to be proactive, especially against wrongs like blatant racism.

Heartfelt coming-of-age story that will resonate with you long after you finish the last page.