When Francine finds out her grandfather has cancer, she is determined to make his last wish come true: to give him a male heir to carry on their family traditions. While she knows the idea is outdated, she wants to make him, and everyone else around her, happy. She turns to a family friend, and former crush, Ollie for his help with The Plan. Ollie is reluctant at first, but when he needs Francine’s help for himself, they agree to work together.

I thought this was a pretty average YA contemporary. The story is pretty good, but the twist that is thrown in at the end felt a little bit out of left field, in my opinion. It took me a little while to warm up to both Francine and Ollie. I actually liked the side characters of Rollo and Jiya a bit more than the two main characters. I also wish there had been a bit more depth and discussion to the sexism that was occurring. It felt a bit surface level and I thought there could have been more room made for these conversations. The romance and ending of the book felt a little rushed to me; a lot happened in about the last 15% of the book and it all kind of got squished together. Overall, not a bad book, just pretty average for me.

Michelle Quach has quickly become one of my auto-buy authors. Her writing is not only riveting, she always delivers well-characterized and well-plotted books. The Boy You Always Wanted is no exception to this. The story follows the two narrators: Ollie and Francine who are ex-best friends to more who because of Francine's dying grandfather's wishes pretend that Ollie is an honorary head of the family. Overall, I enjoyed this book!

If you like:
- ex best friends
- a forced proximity plot
- grunge music, science class, and family history
- the two most awkward teens you've ever met

You need to read The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach!

Francine's grandfather is dying and his last wish is one she will do anything to fulfil. He wants a male heir to carry on the spiritual duties of their family. Stomaching her opinions on this outdated tradition, Francine finds her solution- Ollie Tran.

Ollie has made it policy to avoid Francine. And when she corners him with The Plan, he sticks to that policy and shuts down her plan since its too backwards and sexist to be a part of. However Francine does not back down easily and pretty soon Ollie finds himself mixed up in it all. But as everything gets out of control, Francine has to decide what she really needs because the boy she always wanted wasn't quite what she expected.

Listen the plot is a lot and you kinda want to yell at her A Gung the entire time but damn if Ollie and Francine aren't so cute. It makes it all worth it.

The story is told in alternating POVs and its so much fun to see Ollie go from being annoyed by Francine's constant enthusiasm to getting caught up in it. Francine is absolutely a force to be reckoned with. I'm pretty sure she's autistic but maybe I'm projecting.

I really enjoyed the side characters and I like the growth we get from Francine's parents. Jiya and Rollo are hilarious additions as well, they really helped both Francine and Ollie get out of their shells.

I really enjoy Quach's writing style, I was a big fan of her debut novel Not Here to be Liked. She has a punchy and direct style that balances internal monologue, description, and dialogue really well. I did prefer her debut a little bit more than this one just because it had more resolution on the heavy themes covered. But I'd definitely recommend this one too!

The pacing was a little wonky, I felt like The Plan blew up and resolved really quickly. We didn't even get to see the explanation with A Gung, we only find Francine and her parents told him about The Plan afterwards from Ollie's POV.

Overall, this was a fun and emotional read that had me laughing, tearing up, and hoping Ollie and Francine could get out of their own way to be happy (which they did<3).

When Francine's grandfather announces he has terminal cancer the only regret he has is that he never had a son to carry on the family names or duties. So Francine comes up with a plan to meet that dying regret: ask Ollie Tran to pretend to be an honorary heir. Ollie doesn't usually talk to Francine; she's too invested in everything for Ollie. This request is no exception to the reasons that Ollie formed that opinion. And yet, Ollie finds himself spending more and more time with Francine and getting more invested in the plan and in the girl who thought it up.

Michelle Quach does a wonderful job of exploring how grief and hope spill together all while you're trying to just live up to expectations both from your self and from your family. Quach also finds the balance within this book of humor and romance with the impending loss that Francine is trying so hard to make easier, which made the story feel so much more true to me. I loved the kind dedication and enthusiasm that Francine brought to every one of her chapters while Ollie offered a more grounding point of view. This book gives you exactly what it says, and does so with a sweet sense of humor and an understanding that friendships and community are what can make most everything bearable.

Francine used to like her childhood friend Ollie a long time ago and then because Ollie was embarrassed about this they pulled apart. But now Francine's grandfather is dying with no son to take his family name and honor the Vietnamese customs as head of the family, she enlisted Ollie in her plan to make her grandfather think Ollie will be his honorary son.

3+

I find the part about the Vietnamese culture very nice, it's presented to us in a seamless way, that doesn't feel like we're being lectured anything but it also manages not to alienate us, it's done in a manner you get what's going on almost by osmosis.

I like that they understand the customs, how much it matters to Francine's grandfather, but they don't condone the sexism behind his motivations. It's always a struggle when you're talking about another country's uses to discern what is indeed acceptable or not. Moreover, I think it's a great topic to discuss with others who read the book with you, like in a book club. If not, it is food for thought.

It's a nice story, very pleasant to read and not overwhelming with the cultural elements, at the same time they are there, making it richer. However, when it came to the romance, it disappointed me. The problem with Ollie, and how immature he was in dealing with Francine's feelings from years before, is showing enough, but I don't think he fully got over himself in the end. But I think that would have been okay if the romance that was born in them becoming allies to execute The Plan had been more convincing. When it really counted, you could feel the author needing to pull strings to make them cross the line of friendship and be a couple. They did have chemistry, but I didn't buy how the development was done, and that took away the fun of reading a romance. At least, they're not a mismatch, but the steps from being friends to becoming a couple needed more work.

Recommended to anyone who likes a romantic YA that is more than just the romance, including a plot twist I loved.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This YA contemporary novel was the perfect blend of heartfelt emotion and a cute romantic story. The pacing was steady and intriguing the entire book; I especially loved the dual POV from Francine and Ollie. Though the second half of the book was my favorite and where I really didn’t want to put the book down at all.

As Francine attempts to get Ollie to help her execute a plan to convince her dying Grandpa that he will have a male heir in his family when he passes, she realizes this boy she used to crush on is not who she thought he was. At the same time, Ollie learns so much about himself and life through Francine and her family.

Michelle Quach is so great at creating characters with depth even when we don’t get to spend a lot of time with them.

Love love loved this book!

a cute story, i read it over a few days.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the review copy.

The Boy You Always Wanted was a delightful read that explores gender roles and expectations within family and cultural traditions. Francine is a character you want to root for. She cares so much about others but it’s not until she reconnects with Ollie that she begins to wonder what it would be like to put herself first. I really enjoyed their scenes together as they explored other sides of themselves and brought out the best in each other. I look forward to reading more of Michelle’s works!

I really like Michelle Quach's writing style, it reminds me why I like YA so much. Unfortunately, this one was really slow paced to me, so I had a hard time working through it and DNFed about a quarter of the way through. I definitely want to come back to it when I'm in a different mood though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book follows Francine. She is the only grandchild, and normally in Chinese culture, ancestors are worshipped after death by grandsons. Granddaughters don't count because they eventually become a part of their husbands' households. Francine thinks it's a great idea to involve her current crush, Ollie, to be "adopted" into the family as her grandfather's heir. Ollie is a second son, so he is considered a spare.

I haven't read a YA contemporary book in so long, and reading this book is the reason why. This book wasn't bad, it was okay -- but it's not for me. I enjoyed learning a little bit about the Chinese culture, but I found the Francine to be annoying. I did not feel any connection in regard to Ollie and Francine. I feel like if I would have read this book when I was younger, I would have enjoyed it more.

I read this author’s debut and I absolutely loved it and I was hoping to enjoy this one just as much but it unfortunately fell short. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and therefore it was difficult to root for them in the familial relationships, friendships and romance. I didn’t feel a big connection between Francine and Ollie. Their romance felt sort of forced and it just never seemed like they were a good fit together.
This story focused a lot on family and tradition and I would’ve loved to see more of a resolution with Francine and her family. They were keeping a huge secret from her and she finds out all while her grandpa is suffering from a severe form of cancer. I kept waiting for a moment that would show growth from all the characters involved and I never got it.
I do think this author’s writing itself is good, it was easy to follow and had good pacing. There’s also great Chinese Vietnamese representation. I just didn’t click with this story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I read ‘Not here to be liked’ from Michelle Quach and absolutely loved it, what made me very excited to read her new book. Again it deals with some heavy topics, this time what it means to be a daughter in an Vietnamese-Chinese household and how to bring that into line with your modern believes. When family and feminism clash, where do you draw the line?
Unfortunately I couldn’t quite connect with the main characters as much this time and the behavior of the FMC during the last chapters irritated me immensely. I also got the feeling the problems weren’t quite resolved and the story felt a bit rushed in the end. The friends and the dog were great tho.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with the earc!

Francine is a good daughter, she loves her family, and when she discovers that her beloved grandfather is diagnosed with terminal cancer she wants to make sure he has everything he wants... even if it means asking her former crush Ollie Tran to pretend to be adopted into her family so her grandfather can feel like he has a male heir.... but that means convincing Ollie to even go along with it. Francine loves her family, she is familial and always trying to be happy. Yet when her beloved grandfather is diagnosed with terminal cancer and tells her that he wishes he had a male heir to carry on the family traditions after his passing she knows she'll do whatever it takes to get him one... despite her already being a heir in the family. The Plan then is to try and convince her former crush Ollie Tran, an old family friend the boy Francine use to have a crush on before he got fed up with her and publicly announced he wasn't even her friend and nothing to do with her to agree to pretend to be adopted and act like the grandson her grandpa never had... the only issue is that Ollie wants nothing to do with said plan and thinks its sexist. But the more Ollie and Francine spend time together and delve into their family history the more connected they become and the more Ollie finds himself investing himself in the plan and rethinking everything he ever felt about Francine.... but family secrets will soon come out and Francine is about to learn that sometimes the boy you always wanted isn't the boy you expected. This was a really interesting story and I did enjoy the romance between Francine and Ollie. The topic of family duties and traditions that pass on as well as how we are raised and how it impacts us was so well done, and as an Asian myself, I really found the story to be spot on and well discussed. I really loved the sweet chemistry between Ollie and Francine as they both got a chance to fall for one another and I am a sucker for the "she fell first but he fell harder" trope because lets face it Ollie facing his feelings and learning that it's okay to express them and that it doesn't make him any less of a "man" for wanting to express and show them was wonderful. Overall, I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend it~!

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Katherine Tegen Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Francine wants nothing more than to please her dying grandfather. One problem: she was born a girl. After hearing her grandad lament the fact that he had no grandsons, Francine hatches a scheme to find someone to be the adoptive heir. In need of a boy, she turns to an old friend, Ollie Tran, and asks him to pretend that he will be her granddad’s adoptive heir.

This book dealt with some hard topics. Sexism among grandparents is something that unfortunately a lot of us can relate to. How do we reconcile the hurtful things our family thinks of us, with the love we feel for them? Francine was giving all of herself to her family and making herself smaller in the process. She struggles to set healthy boundaries without feeling like she is denying others the help they deserve. This book had a more serious tone throughout, which worked well.

Francine is the highlight of this book. A people pleasure, rule-following girl who doesn’t see value in herself, but in what she can do for others. My heart aches for her, and I found her to be relatable in a lot of ways. I wish we could have seen her grow more naturally into herself, but that process was rushed in the end.

I did not like Ollie, our other main character. He came off as bland and didn’t have much empathy for anyone. It didn’t sit well with me that he thought awful things about Francine, and that only changed when he started to think of her in a romantic way.

The romance plays such a big role (this is a contemporary YA novel after all) but it fell flat. As mentioned above, I loved Francine and not Ollie, so I questioned how quickly they went from enemies to friends, to lovers. Also, I was hoping for more connections between them. Cute moments between them are very few since most of their interactions also include the grandfather.

The plot was good, but not as high of stakes as I was expecting. This worked for me, up until the very end. From 80% on it felt very rushed, and I didn’t get the closure I needed. Relationships weren’t mended on page, except for a few short and unsatisfactory conversations.

Honestly, I’d recommend you give this one a go. I have the feeling every reader will find something in this book that touches them.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins children's books for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Many thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I think that this might be one of the "it's not you, it's me" case: this book will, without a doubt, bring comfort to many readers, but unfortunately, I have realized that YA contemporary is not a genre that I continue to enjoy.

The themes treated in this book mean a lot to me. Being Asian-American myself, I felt seen by the discussion of family heritage, traditional values, identity and labels. I also appreciate the discussion around being having both Chinese and Vietnamese heritage, as I don't see it represented often.

Nevertheless, the characters and the romance aren't particularly to my taste: I find the characters quite juvenile for their age, and the progression of the friendship/romance feels rushed. I must admit that I skimmed a lot of pages, because the secondhand embarassement was pretty strong half-way through the book.

My favorite characters are Rollo and the dog so kudos to them.

Find me on my Bookstagram: @shardsofdeadlove.

I liked the idea of this a lot, but it ended up being a miss for me because I couldn't get into the writing. There was a really sweet story about heritage and family at the heart of this, but a lot felt too emotionally detached.

Even though this wasn't for me, I do think other readers that connect more with the writing style will enjoy this a lot.

Another thoughtful, nuanced, satisfying rom-com from Quach! I loved the back and forth dynamics of the main characters and watching them work through their own baggage on the way to each other. Heartwarming and beautifully crafted.

3.5 stars

With this most recent effort, Michelle Quach offers readers another solid YA contemporary featuring two characters who share perspectives: Francine and Ollie.

Francine and Ollie have been in school together for years but have had some miscommunications, leading to their wavering closeness. When the novel begins, Francine tells Ollie the sad news that her grandfather is terminally ill, and she has one wild plan that she needs Ollie's help to fulfill. Of course, Ollie complies, and to no surprise of the readers, there are revelations of all kinds: some for Francine, some for Ollie, and some for the two of them. There are also some romantic vibes that arise in addition to the more serious (and at times sad) family-related content.

Readers who know Quach's work will get great characters (the secondary characters are included in this!) and some really intriguing cultural elements, many of which were new to me. An added bonus for me is reading about the location since Quach's works tend to be set in my neck of the woods!

This is a nice contemporary YA novel that will please, especially, those looking to learn more about the cultural and familial structures described here.

This was another solid book by Michelle Quach! I read Not Here to Be Liked last year with my high school students for our afterschool book club and I absolutely devoured it! Michelle Quach's writing is detailed and digestible. The Boy You Always Wanted felt like such a personal read to me. I loved how much of East Asian aspects are included in this book such as the emphasis on family and ancestry. The characters were dynamic and interesting and I especially loved that it was written in dual perspective!

Title: A Heartfelt Journey of Deception and Discovery

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Review:
The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach is a heartwarming tale of love, family, and unexpected connections. Francine, a determined young woman, takes it upon herself to fulfill her grandfather's dying wish for a male heir. She enlists the help of Ollie, a reluctant family friend, to play the role of the grandson her grandfather longs for. As they embark on this unconventional journey, the story explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the unpredictability of love.

The author skillfully captures the complexities of family dynamics and the lengths one may go to fulfill a loved one's wishes. Francine's unwavering determination to bring comfort to her grandfather creates a compelling narrative that delves into themes of tradition, cultural expectations, and the complexities of personal desires. Ollie's initial reluctance and gradual involvement in Francine's plan provide a contrast that adds depth and tension to their evolving relationship.

Quach's writing style is engaging and filled with emotional depth. The story unfolds at a steady pace, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the characters' journeys. The exploration of Francine and Ollie's individual growth, as well as their growing connection, is heartfelt and satisfying. The author's ability to evoke genuine emotions through their interactions and internal struggles is commendable.

While the book explores important themes and offers a satisfying narrative, there were moments where I wished for deeper exploration of certain plot points and character motivations. Some aspects of the story felt slightly rushed, leaving potential for further development. Despite this, The Boy You Always Wanted remains a captivating and enjoyable read.

In conclusion, Michelle Quach's The Boy You Always Wanted is a touching story that delves into the complexities of family, love, and personal desires. With its well-drawn characters and heartfelt exploration of identity, the book resonates with authenticity. I give it a solid 4-star rating, acknowledging its strengths in storytelling and emotional depth. Readers who appreciate heartfelt journeys of self-discovery and unconventional relationships will find themselves captivated by Francine and Ollie's intertwined tale in The Boy You Always Wanted.