I didn't know what I expect from this book but it surely not... this
Francine has been aware that the problem is in her grandpa's head, her parents already told her that it's not her problem. AND YET--
I couldn't do this sorry

I was looking forward to this after really enjoying Michelle's debut. While I did enjoy this, it didnt quite meet my expectations for how excited i was. It felt a little rushed and i wish there had just been a little more going on. I did like the character and the plot as a whole. I liked seeing how familial history has different impacts for different people.
I will say it hit pretty close to home - my own grandpa recently died and my other is in the hospital - and the thought that so much history is gone because it wasn't shared, or it's only available in photos with no context is fairly relatable.
Overall, I did enjoy this.

This was a cute little YA romcom with the grumpy and sunshine trope along with the overachiever and slacker trope. Ollie and Francine were super cute and I liked that their issues were solved quickly and that Ollie maintained his sanity. He knows Francine’s plan but he goes along with it for Francine. I also loved the differences between the family dynamic. Ollie and Francine have polar opposite family dynamics so if was fun to see how they handled their relationship and navigate the differences. Overall it was a cute fun story.

After loving Michelle's debut, I had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint! Once again, I loved Michelle's writing style and found that the dual POVs added a lot of dimension to the plot. We got a wide range of intriguing characters that grabbed my attention immediately. Each of the side characters had their own stories and personalities and created a great community for the book to be set in. I'd have to say that my favourite character was Francine. I loved reading about her journey toward discovering who she really was and what was important to her. I was also rooting for Ollie and Francine from the beginning. The romance was very well-paced and had all the heartwarming vibes! While it does feature an adorable romance, The Boy You Always Wanted also explores heavy topics like family expectations, health struggles, and self-love. This range of topics created a multi-dimensional reading experience.

With a focus on family and self-discovery, plus an adorable romance, you have to add The Boy You Always Wanted to your tbr! I cannot wait to read more of Michelle's work in the future.

Quach’s debut novel was a favorite in 2021, so I was elated to receive an eARC for her next book. The title reflects the central conflicts of the story: Francine enlists the help of a boy she's always crushed on to serve as her grandfather's heir because he has always wanted a son to carry on the family name and carry out the ancestral rites.

I connected with the story on multiple levels, which made the book a special one to me. In having Francine and Ollie have different personalities and also vastly different relationships with their parents, the story emphasizes how complex life can be for children of the diaspora; there is no single dominating narrative. I appreciated this immensely about The Boy You Always Wanted.

I loved Francine and how she didn’t shy away from the hard things. Her boldness and willingness to be herself made her likeable as a character but meant she could be intimidating to those her age, specifically individuals like Ollie. I wish I had been more like Francine in this aspect when I was growing up–unwilling to compromise who I was for my peers.

The Boy You Always Wanted is a multi-layered story encompassing a teenage romance and complicated family dynamics. Readers who enjoy YA romances and opposites attract should pick this one up. It is especially perfect for children of the diaspora, those who can identify with Francine and Ollie.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange of my honest review. I had high hopes for this book and wanted to love it but it was just mid when I wanted more to come it never did.

Francine’s grandfather regrets having neither sons nor grandsons, and because he’s dying, Francine hatches a scheme to ease his mind. She asks her classmate to pretend to be her A Gung’s officially adopted grandson so that there will be someone to tend to the family ancestors. Yes, she knows her grandfather’s attitude is outdated and misogynistic, but she loves her A Gung and it would only be a little while.

It is worth mentioning that Francine has a crush on Ollie. Well, she used to. (Okay, she still does, but she’s managing it.) Part of why Francine likes Ollie is that he’s a lot softer than he’d have people think, even if that means he tends to take the easy way out most of the time. Which is why he initially rebuff’s Francine when she proposes her scheme to him.

Obviously he changes his mind, and there are high school shenanigans and a decent supporting cast of best friends and family members (it was refreshing to see Vietnamese and Chinese Vietnamese characters represented), but it almost feels like the plot was secondary in this book, compared with the author’s need to work through her own emotional turmoil when a family member received a terminal diagnosis. The whole book feels like an examination of the ways grief and regret and trauma can affect people, and how that can be passed down through generations, whether in the form of casual, unexamined misogyny or a relentless need to always earn more money to feel secure. Quach does a good job with this. Better, in all honesty, than she does with plot or characterization.

For me, this was an average book that I’m afraid I won’t remember any details of by next Monday, but others’ mileage may vary.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I loved Michelle Quach's "Not Here to Be Liked" so I was super excited for this. Honestly, this one didn't captivate me as much. I liked the characters a lot, and I liked the premise, but nothing stuck with me. As much as I tried to stay immersed, I couldn't. I think it had a bit to do with the writing style but just, the characters fell a bit flat. Overall, I liked it, but I didn't love it, and I'm a tad disappointed!

I really liked the book, Not Here to Be Liked, by this author, so I was excited to try this one! While this book was not entirely my favorite, it was still a pretty good book overall!

Something I like most about this author is that they discuss a lot of important topics in their books, especially in relation to the realm of problems within Asian American communities. This book was no different, and I always enjoy seeing and learning more about Asian culture as an Asian reader. It's nice to see myself represented.

As for the book itself, I thought it had a pretty unique plot with interesting characters! I found myself relating to Francine & Ollie quite a lot. However, I felt like the book overall was a bit lacking and fell pretty flat, especially on the romance end of things. It had a lot of potential, but I'm not sure that it was executed to the best of its abilities.

I would still recommend this book to YA readers! I did want to enjoy it more, but I think that maybe I was just a bit too old for this book as well. However, I did feel very at home with this book, and it had some quality writing and good moments. I'm looking forward to reading more of Michelle Quach's work!

Thank you to HarperCollins + NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!

3.75/5 ⭐️

This was really cute. Michelle Quach knows how to write a good romance. I did find that the 3rd act breakup was rushed and not very fleshed out. I loved Francine’s family they were so funny and I love learning about that little family.

While I did enjoy this story a couple things didn’t really hit as well as I wanted them too. The side characters weren’t fleshed out very well and a few small plot points weren’t completely wrapped up.

Overall I didn’t enjoy this as much as her debut but I definitely still recommend it!

I think I enjoyed this one even more than the author's first book, Not Here to be Liked. I feel like there's something very addicting about her books or some quality that make the books very easily to consume. I'd binge read that one in like five hours I think and even though this one felt just as easy and just as addicting, I tried to pace it out by only reading a couple chapters before sleep so I could savor it more.

When I'd requested the book, I felt the story was a bit wack lol but it was an author whose work I wanted to read so I gave it a try, and the author really did an amazing job of it! If you've read the premise, then you know what I'm talking about. Overall, the premise actually made a lot of sense and was something I learned more about through this book. I also loved the main characters and their storyline a lot, it felt genuine and very realistic and gave me warm and fuzzy feelings.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read more of Quach's works in the future!

I found this book super enthralling. I’m not someone who is very versed in Chinese or Vietnamese culture, but having lived in Japan I found it super interesting to compare the three. But what I liked most, was Francine. She was just a star in gloomy sky. I kept wanting to scream at her throughout the whole book that she deserved more. Luckily though, Ollie was there to take care of that. I loved how diverse the characters were, and how I really felt like I got to know each and everyone of them. Obviously I would have liked to have been able to learn more regarding Ollie’s family, but for the amount we were given, it was an amazing amount of character development. I loved how the author stuck true to the situation going on in the book and didn’t just give it a Disney ending. It felt raw, and real. I am so excited to put this book in our library so that hopefully kids can connect with it just like I did.

Rating: 4/5 ☀️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, which was given in exchange for an unbiased review.

YA contemporary romances are sort of a hit or miss for me, but this book sounded like it had a compelling, unique plot, so I decided to give it a chance. And I’m definitely glad I did. It was a very sweet, emotional read.

The family dynamics were really well-written, and I loved the way the Chinese Vietnamese background informed the plot and characters. And the main characters Francine and Ollie were strong and fleshed out with interesting internal conflicts and development. The relationship progression was also very solid. There was definitely chemistry and you could see the attraction between them, and above all, they balanced each other out really well.

I do wish there was more follow through for some things - for example, I was looking forward to a combined family dinner scene with Ollie’s father and Francine’s family. And the college counselor meeting never really had a follow-up. Ollie’s booth presentation at the Global Gala also fell kind of flat (I understand it might have been a realistic, understated presentation of a kid trying to get it over with, but also, I just expected a little something more, like this was his moment!).

Those small things aside though, what the book did do, it did rather well, and I very much enjoyed reading it.

"The Boy You Always Wanted" by Michelle Quach is a heartfelt and engaging young adult romance novel that explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the complexities of teenage relationships. Quach's storytelling charm shines as she crafts a tale of first loves, self-discovery, and the power of embracing one's roots. The book's relatable characters and emotional plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with teens and young adults interested in multicultural stories and romance. Quach skillfully navigates the emotions of friendship, self-acceptance, and the challenge of balancing cultural expectations with personal desires, adding depth to the narrative. "The Boy You Always Wanted" is a tender reminder that love and self-discovery often go hand in hand, leaving readers with a sense of empathy and a renewed appreciation for the complexities of teenage relationships and the importance of staying true to oneself.

a very heartfelt story about family and love! i really liked francine as a character - she's very genuine to herself and works hard for the people she cares about. ollie was a bit harder to understand at times, but he felt very true to what a lot of young men are like in high school, especially considering his lack of positive male role models. the inheritence/Plan storyline was really intriguing and carried the story well. i felt the ending was a bit rushed but otherwise the writing and pacing were very consistent and solid.

I didn't love this book, I didn't hate it. All of the main and main side characters had their moments, good and bad, but I did enjoy it. I can't speak on the cultural representation, but otherwise, I liked it less than Not Here to Be Liked and more than a lot of others I've read this year.

This book deals with a variety of heavy topics in a very thoughtful way. That means it might not be for everyone- it's so important. People are going to love this book and see themselves represented in the characters.

More and more authors are speaking out about the old traditional views of women and their place or lack of significance in the family and in society. I loved that young Francine corrals her classmate Ollie into granting her dying grandfather's wish to have a male heir, even a token one. The old Chinese tradition demands a male, biological or adopted, to carry on the family line and to revere the family ancestors after their death.

Francis doesn't fit the bill of an heir that will do the traditional honors to her grandfather after his death. She is a female, after all.

The book addresses this and other attitudes to women in general in the culture, which sees females as not belonging to their own biological family because they will eventually marry into and belong to a husband's family .

Francis and Ollie fall in love while hatching The Plan, where Ollie agrees to be the honorary son to carry on the tradition. He meets regularly with the dying grandfather, who is delighted with the arrangement.

My only question about this very worthwhile YA novel is the romance between the two high school friends. The relationship becomes strong and committed even though, in my mind, they will grow and mature during and after college, and probably not see each other the same way at age 25 as they do at 17. The novel does not hint at any possible development or change for these two in the future.

Francine always liked Ollie, even when he wasn't very likable. Now she's hoping he'll be a stand in grandson for her dying grandfather. Ollie reluctantly agrees to the "Plan" because he needs help for his own school project, and Francine can help-she can do it for him! (So much sexism in this book, but at least Ollie get better and sees what is happening, changes himself, and works on making amends.)

I did enjoy how as Francine and Ollie worked together on the "Plan" they developed a real friendship. One where both of them saw the other as who they really were, rather than who they imagined the other to be. I also found the side friends to fit in nicely and would read more about Jiya and Rollo. I did not like the big family secret; that was terrible and I do not believe that Francine would just get over it so easily.

<spoiler>She thinks Grandad needs a grandson because of male heir/sexism issues. Yes and no--it's even worse. She's "technically" not his grandchild, because she's not blood related. Dad married mom who came with her already. She had no idea until she overhears it in the hospital, but grandad had already told Ollie. Ugh.</spoiler>

dnf @ 39%
first of all this book took over 33% to get to the actual premise and in all that time all i learned is i hate ollie which did not bode well since he's supposed to be the love interest. ollie and his insufferable view on other people (especially francine) was really bogging down the reading experience but then i noticed hints of how surface level this whole book was on the topics i was really intrigued by, especially the grief and sexism. i looked at some reviews and basically learned i was right and if i continued reading all that would happen is my need to punt ollie onto the moon would grow into punting him into the sun.

thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.