This was such a fun book. It had Crazy Rich Asian vibes, but written like Bridget Jones' Diary. I love diary-style stories because it feels more intimate and quirky at the same time. You get to see how Andrea's inner brain and it seemed really scattered lol.

I also loved that there wasn't a clear person she was interested in. There were a few prospects, but my favorite part was seeing her go through them rather than be attracted to one person only. It really felt like it imagined real world dating and put it into a book. She even uses apps like Tindr to find dates!

There wasn't much conflict in this one. Yeah, there were situations here and there that came up to move the story forward, but nothing too heavy that Andrea couldn't bounce back from. Many of the situations had a clear resolution, so you weren't too concerned for too long.

Overall, a fun book to read and laugh with. Relatable to many of my family's own perspectives when it comes to dating and marriage. Will definitely read more from Lauren Ho in the future.

Took me a while to get into this book but it ended up being way funnier and entertaining that what I expected.  I discussed a lot more in depth in my reading vlog on my YT channel: https://youtu.be/MFVr_LO6o5I

Last Tang Standing is billed as being in the tradition of Bridget Jones's Diary, and there are a lot of parallels - it's told through diary entries by Andrea, whose self-sabotage drives much of the action.

Instead of an almost thirty white singleton in London, Andrea is a high-powered mergers and acquisitions lawyer in Singapore. She is of Chinese heritage, and her family is putting a LOT of pressure on her to marry. She has lots of dating disasters, which she balances with long hours at work and her determination to be made partner in her law firm. 

Andrea can be pretty frustrating, which is likely part of the point. It's obvious that her most of her decisions are bad ones, and the ensuing aftermath is no big surprise. It's also obvious how the book is going to turn out, but it takes a loooong time to get to that conclusion. 

The main draw of this story is the narrative voice, which is funny, gossipy, and full of snark. Even though Andrea can be annoyingly un-self-aware, she's what holds the story together.

This book was described as “Crazy Rich Asians meets Bridget Jones’s Diary” and honestly, that could not have been more perfect. While the writing style being comprised of diary entries took a few chapters to acclimate to, I found this to be a very refreshing read! Being Chinese American, I always love reading books that discuss my own heritage because they’re always so fun and enlightening! There were many parts in this book that felt relatable and had me laughing out loud. (I just about died when there was talk about a red envelope Excel matrix!) Plus the characters were hilarious and so lovably quirky… even though there were times when I wanted to yell at two of them to just fall in love already! I also felt this book was important in other ways because it brought up cultural and familial pressures which I am sure so many people can connect with in some capacity. I thought Andrea was an excellent heroine as she both experienced these pressures, but was also strong and fought for what she wanted for herself. Anyways, if you are looking for a little escape read, I would check this one out!

This one was okay, but took far too long to get into for it to be anything other than just fine. I know plenty of people really enjoyed this one so it might just not be for me.

The synopsis of Crazy Rich Asians meets Bridget Jones’s Diary grabbed my attention right away, considering I loved them both!

I thought Last Tang Standing was a fun read, about a thirty-something lawyer going through a recent break up. She’s now the last in her Tang family to be married, which is a disappointment to her family.

There were plenty of laughable moments and I overall enjoyed this one! 

*many thanks to Putnam and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

So much fun. If you enjoyed Bridget Jones, this is even better - funny, and snarky and the perfect escape.

It’s been a long time since a book got me laughing out loud and cheering for the heroine this much.  

Andrea Tang is completely relatable as a professional in her thirties with a lot going for her, but also dealing with the conditional love of her family who want to know why she hasn’t yet married an eligible man and popped out babies. Add in fierce competition for that precious partnership opportunity at work, some  fun friendships, and the horrors of millennial dating, and an absolute gem of a book!

The diary format fits the story perfectly and let me indulge in giggling non-stop at Andrea’s inner monologue.  One of the absolute best books released in 2020. This is also a story type that lends itself super well, to the audio format (which I also listened to).

Loved, loved, loved it!

DNF @ 21%

Absolutely chaotic, and not in a good way. I don't make it a habit to DNF ARCs and I was interested in the interracial romance here between an East Asian woman and a South Asian man. But I just couldn't get through this book.

I tried the audiobook, but the narrator's voice was grating on my nerves. Then I switched to the ebook, which made me realize that it's in fact the writing style and the main character's voice that are not vibing with me. The heroine was irritating and the author was trying way too hard with the humour. Finally, given that this book is written in a epistolary format with diary entries, the play by play narration was incredibly repetitive and frustrating to get through. 

thank u, next

I loved, loved, loved this novel. Andrea Tang is so relatable-- her attempts to balance family expectations and work and relationships, plus her phone addiction (oh boy, does that ring true.) The short diary entry chapters made this a fun read-- much like a modern BRIDGET JONES, and I loved following the romantic travails of not only Andrea, but her cousin and friends as well. This was escapism at its finest. Really enjoyable.

Oh my goodness I liked this novel a lot!! At first, I was a bit skeptical as LAST TANG STANDING had too strong of a Crazy Rich Asian and Sex and the City vibes. (Doesn’t it say something that we automatically compare the next book set in Singapore to the only book we know that’s set in Singapore, CRA?) But as the story progressed, it became a strong, funny, heartfelt novel that I could not put down.

Andrea Tang, a 33 YO Chinese-Malaysian successful lawyer who lives in Singapore wishes for nothing but to make partner at her law firm. Even though she dislikes her job, she thinks it’s the next step in life. And of course marriage and kids. Even though she hasn’t given dating much thought and she rarely has the time thanks to work.. After immense pressure from family and her culture, she decides to jump into the dating world — all the dating apps and the whole shebang! But while Andrea is busy trying to figure out her career and dating life, she also needs to ask herself what it is that SHE truly wants in life.

While it took me some time to warm up to Andrea, towards the end, it felt like we were BFFs! I enjoyed reading about her friendships with Linda and Valerie, witnessed (and laughed so hard) some of her lowest moments. It was also enduring to see her romantic relationships fizzle and flourish. What I loved the most- despite all the societal expectations and pressure from family to marry and marry the “right breed” to “succeed,” in the end, she didn’t let anyone define her happiness and followed her heart.

While it was a slow-burning novel, and some parts were too nicely tied up, it didn’t take away from the novel as a whole. I enjoyed this novel very much. Made me miss Asia❤️

I enjoyed the quirky style of writing with diary entries and Andrea’s thought process. She’s so loveable and relatable, especially with the constant eating. 
Also, as someone who’s Asian, I could relate to so many of these cultural references like parents wanting you to get a good job! 
I loved going on Andrea’s romance journey. My favourite scenes were: the beginning where she’s with all her relatives, at the book club and the sweet ending.

Thank you to @putnambooks for the free review copy of Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho. This book is out in the world tomorrow (6/9).
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Now, I don’t read many gifted books these days. I’m totally a mood reader and so I’ve stopped requesting review copies and then pretty much stopped getting asked to review books. Not a problem for me, as I tend to binge buy used books and new releases alike. I have tons (hundreds) of unread books on my shelves and kindle and phone. But, when Putnam reached out and described this as Bridget Jones Diary meets Crazy Rich Asians, I knew I had to give it a chance. And let me tell you - they were exactly right in the description!
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Last Tang Standing is set in Singapore and centers around the Tang family (but more specifically Andrea Tang) as she tries to have it all - partnership at a big law firm, family, and love. Now, Andrea is in her mid-thirties and NOT IN A RELATIONSHIP. She’s getting tons of family pressure to couple up and start making babies. Told in diary format, this books follows Andrea’s last push towards making partner (and hopefully finding one of her own).
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I loved the diary format in this one and felt like the author really addressed some difficult subjects while keeping the book feeling light. Social class, race, gender, and religion are all roadblocks when it comes to Andrea’s work and relationships. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes on future releases from @hellolaurenho and recommend that you check out Last Tang Standing (especially if you are a Bridget Jones or Crazy Rich Asians fan and looking for an escapist rom-com)!

This book was a winner. There are only a few books like this on the market, stories that talk about the  life of rich Asians.  It was funny and was a light read, perfect for the beach.
I am looking forward to the next installment! I highly recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Last Tang Standing was a really fun summer (or any season) read that was perfect for the beach. Andrea Tang is a high powered lawyer on track to become partner with an amazing condo in Singapore, but what does that matter to her Chinese Malaysian family who just to see her married to a proper, family vetted husband? This was another one of those "hot mess tries to find love" stories, but it works and was a really enjoyable read. For an entertaining, light read, check out Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho from your local library or purchase it from your favorite local independent bookstore.

📚Book Review: Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho📚 Book Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Thank you for the gifted book @putnambooks!

When Putnam presented this one to me, they said it was Bridget Jones meets Crazy Rich Asians with this novel.

And they weren’t kidding!

We follow Andrea Tang as she navigates the fact that she’s still single at the age of 33. Which to her family, she might as well be an old spinster already. But Andrea just hasn’t found “the one” yet...or had she?

I loved that this book was written in diary form and I loved the Singapore location. There’s also a few footnotes to give us some cultural background and I always love that. I loved that she was a strong, independent woman but I also loved that she just wanted what everyone wants...love. And she doesn’t want it constantly thrown in her face that she doesn’t have it.

What I didn’t like about it was how controlling Eric is. But that’s also the point. I also didn’t like how it dragged on in some parts but it didn’t make or break the book. I also didn’t like that the main love interest is apparent immediately and how the main character doesn’t “see” it till like halfway through was a bit meh.

But all of that to say, it was enjoyable. And definitely would recommend it to my friends and followers. I could actually see one being a super cute movie!
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I had HIGH hopes for this one based on the marketing, but I just was let down. The storyline felt meandering and fluffy, and I never connected with the main character. I think it’s important to note that pandemic stress has impacted even my reading life, and maybe I’d have been less harsh on this one in another time. But right now, it was not the right read for me. My thanks to the publisher for an early copy to read!

Last Tang Standing is a wickedly witty, hilarious quick read that definitely delivers its advertised Bridget Jones- like cringeworthy but likable protagonist. We meet Andrea Tang, a successful lawyer who is struggling between familial, cultural expectations and her unexpected attraction to her office nemesis. 

A fun, light read— I enjoyed it immensely! Being an East Asian woman familiar with law, I enjoyed the humorous take on the office politics of the field, as well as the snobby air of posh Asian society. 
But not being an ownvoices reviewer for some of the demographic discussed, I cannot speak to the accuracy of the representation shown to the ethnic and religious minorities in Malaysia.

The Last Tang Standing is described as Bridget Jones meets Crazy Rich Asians, and I agree with the caveat that I’ve seen the movie version of those books. I’d also add that it reminded me a tiny bit of The Hating Game. 

This book is told through the hilarious diary entries of 33-year-old Andrea Tang. She’s fulfilled her traditional Chinese’s mother’s wishes by becoming a corporate attorney—a career she’s good at but doesn’t love, but in the marriage department, she’s a complete failure. With no prospects on the horizon and her cousin’s unexpected marriage announcement, she’s about to become the last unmarried member of the Tang clan. On top of that, she’s in a battle for partnership at her firm with her super-cute, engaged office mate Suresh. A chance meeting with wealthy entrepreneur Eric Deng (Andrea thinks he’s a waiter, not the owner of the mansion where she’s attending an elite book club—three guesses on whether or not she read the book) offers Andrea a peek into the life her mother wants for her, but is it the life Andrea wants?

This book was a mixed bag for me. I liked a lot. It was laugh out loud funny and I was definitely routing for Andrea to figure out a path to happiness. Her friends were hysterical, although some of their antics seemed a little far-fetched. I didn’t mind going with it because their antics were really fun. The romance in the book didn’t work as well for me. It felt like relationships changed from enemies to friends to more back to enemies without the beats to support it. And a lot of things could have been cleared up with a simple conversation. Instead there were a lot of deleted unread texts, blocked numbers, and not reading heartfelt letters. There was also a lot of drinking in this book. Full disclosure, I’m not a drinker, so I’m not the best judge of what’s normal, but this seemed excessive and a tad concerning in the midst of an otherwise funny book. 

This was definitely an enjoyable read if you’re not looking for a really clear romantic thread and the characters were fantastically eccentric and memorable.

Thank you to @netgalley and @peguinbooks for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have no idea why I stalled with this book because it was such a ride!
Andrea Tang is now one of my favorite fictional characters of all time!
Last Tang Standing is only similar to Crazy Rich Asians in terms of the rich Singaporeans/Malaysians in the book (as such I think this comparison does the book more disservice than favour).

Other than that, this book follows Andrea Tang and her life decisions.
We see her be extremely introspective and grow to accept herself as well as be more tender with herself.

This book is more comedy than romance — the romance did provide a brilliant secondary theme.
I’d say Last Tang Standing is more a character driven story than it is plot driven; that feature made the reading experience much better because you aren’t too sure whether it’s the latter or former trail that the story will take.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and more people should pick this book up!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was fun watching Andrea's journey from trying to check off all the right boxes to finding out what she really wanted from life. Her back and forth and office politics with Suresh were hilarious.