Main Characters:
Sharlot Citra - female main character; US-born high school student
George Clooney Tanuwijaya - male main character, heir to the Tanuijaya Dynasty
Eleonor Roosevelt Tanuwijaya - sister of George, a family favorite, and had a part in taking over George's ShareIt profile
Pei Qing - mother of Sharlot and impersonated her in Sharlot's ShareIt profile.
Shu Ling / Eighth Auntie - matron head of the Tanuwijaya Dynasty

POV: multi-POV

Character: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Writing: 4
Plot: 4
Intrigue: 4
Logic: 3
Enjoyment: 4
Overall: 3.7 ~ 4 stars
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I enjoyed the world-building of the book. It is fantastic to see that even after visiting Indonesia (Jakarta and Bali), there were still a lot of places I had not experienced, like the white water rafting at Ayung River or the Wayang Museum (a museum dedicated to Javan wayang puppetry).
This book is a definite ode to Indonesia. I enjoyed revisiting known famous tourist spots like the Uluwatu Temple, and Monkey Temple were a few places that brought back wonderful and mirthful memories. One of these memories also experienced by the MCs in the book was ensuring to secure all essential items else, expect a monkey to steal them from you. Also, I remembered ensuring proper attire when entering the sacred grounds, so my friend had to have her shoulders and legs covered by a scarf and sarong, which Sharlot had to do!

I love the book's gastronomical journey and showcasing the many types of food the country offers, especially in Bali. It further educates readers that Indonesia is one of the world's top coffee-producing countries, home to several islands renowned for coffee. There are a vast number of Indonesian coffee brands that represent a large number of distinguished regions.

I appreciate the author's insight into the different cultural traditions and customary beliefs about the Indonesian heritage that may seem very conservative to outsiders. The double standards of men versus women in Indo society, brought up a lot by the author, is one of the frustrating issues in the book. I felt so invested in this topic but helpless in the book, especially when someone exposed the secrets of one side (of course, Sharlot's side).

I had trouble connecting with the MCs since both were still young and the mistakes and insecurities of teenagers for that age. Sharlot was more annoying than George. I sided with George more but later shifted to Sharlot, especially after she got to know her mother and backstory. Ultimately, I was relieved that George, in his capacity, did the right thing by disclosing his side of the story. But even after George's sharing with the world, the brunt of the attacks was still centered on Sharlot, which drove me so mad! Given Indonesia's modernity and world-class offerings, one would think this would not be an issue. Still, ironically, patriarchy is alive and thriving in this part of the world.

Ironically, I pushed through the book more because of the supporting characters. I relished the banter and comic relief provided by the parents and relatives of both Sharlot and George - in broken English! All of these people were more appealing to me, especially Eleonore and Kiki, who were stellar in their roles and stole the show!

There is ample LGBTQ+ representation. But fair warning, there was a lot of "backward thinking" on this topic due to societal challenges and prejudices regarding homosexuality. (Although most parts of Indonesia do not currently prohibit non-commercial, private, and consensual sexual activity between same-sex members, there is no specific Indonesian law that protects the LGBT community against discrimination and hate crimes.) I suppose I was naive to believe in general acceptance. Still, when the book mentioned that homosexuality is illegal in some areas of Indonesia and may be punishable by flogging or imprisonment - I was shaking! I was frustrated and sad. Unfortunately, the book did not resolve this societal issue (i.e., public acceptance); the characters found a way to unite and "workaround" their restrictions, making the story a double HEA.

Given the above, I must mention that the book took me longer to finish. The beginnings of both MCs were tough to read through. It was inappropriate in some parts and seemed to be tangent to Asian upbringing. But I had to remind myself that this is a YA book targeting a younger audience and with MCs in their teens (college-bound). I must be more forgiving of the sometimes juvenile actions and reactions, especially at the beginning of the book. I.e., getting caught in compromising positions of the MCs in the book by their parents thus started this whole stalking and catfishing each other on social media by their respective parents.

In summary, I recommend Well, That Was Unexpected to YA audiences who love cute, humorous romances and coming-of-age tropes and travel buffs who want to know about Indonesia or other Asian cultures. The book is full of flawed yet exciting characters like meddling yet well-meaning relatives/matchmakers and flawed yet resourceful younger generation MCs.
I may not be overly excited in the first few chapters with some cringe moments for parents taking over a dating app chat. Still, the overall message of being true to oneself through self-reflection will relate to readers of all ages.

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Content Warning: conservatism and patriarchic views, manipulation, social media catfishing and ghosting, premarital sex attempt, masturbation

Sharlot Citra is about to have sex with her boyfriend when her mother catches them and rushes her off to visit her family across the world in Indonesia. George Clooney Tanuwijaya is caught in a similarly compromising situation by his father. With the two parents having control over their children's electronics while they're grounded, they begin to unknowingly catfish each other while looking for a suitable partner for their child. With George's family being extremely prominent in Indonesian media, this soon escalates to the two having to fake-date, each disliking the other, neither knowing that the person they had seen in the online messages was not the real them.

I really wanted to like this book. I love fake-dating and dislike-to-lovers, so this definitely sounded promising to me.

The plot is really fun. It has lots of cute fake-dating situations and hijinks. While I think that it could perhaps have been paced a little better, it's overall just a really light fluffy read.

Sharlot and George are okay main characters. Neither is unlikable, but they don't really have any distinct personality traits either. Sharlot mentions drawing once or twice, and George's eventual career goals are discussed briefly, but otherwise there is not much to make these characters particularly unique. I will say that Sharlot definitely gets more development than George does; her relationship with her mother and with her Indonesian heritage are discussed at length, whereas George doesn't really get any plotlines of the sort.

Although Sharlot and George's relationship is very cute towards the end, the development of it felt very rushed, and a little too much like insta-love for me. I think if the pacing had been a little better then it would have been possible for me to ignore the lack of anything interesting in regards to the main characters, but, unfortunately, it just jumps from them hating each other to being in love with each other extremely quickly.

The side characters vary a lot in quality. George's younger sister, Eleanor, is a definite highlight, but definitely acts much younger than her 13 years of age. Sharlot's cousin, Kiki, plays a similar role on her side of the family (though she's about the same age as the two protagonists), and is probably my favorite character. The two of them provide virtually any and all comic relief in the story, and their presence is a breath of fresh air next to the comparatively flat protagonists. There's also an LGBTQIA* plotline that I won't discuss much for fear of spoiling the book, but I don't personally feel that it was handled as well as it could have been; it either should have had more depth and build-up or not been included. It very much feels like an afterthought, simultaneously breaking up the plot and not affording the characters involved the respect they deserve.

I did really enjoy reading about the Indonesian setting. The characters do a lot of exploring, and I liked learning more about Indonesian culture, something which I wasn't horribly familiar with before reading the book (and still am not super familiar with afterwards, but it's a start). I can't speak to how good the representation is, but I'm pretty sure it's #OwnVoices, so I'm going to assume that it's good unless I see any reviews stating otherwise.

Another thing I enjoyed was how sex-positive the book is. By nature of the premise, there's a lot of discussion of the dichotomy between the older generation in both protagonists' families being very anti-sex, and the younger characters being much more nonchalant about it. It never strays away from YA territory (there's nothing even remotely explicit), but I think that the open dialogue about it is something that's important to see in YA books.

Overall, Well That Was Unexpected is a fun, fluffy YA romance. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for much character depth or interest, but if you just want a quick read to get your fake-dating or dislike-to-lovers fix then you can't really go wrong with this. I'm giving this book 3/5 stars.

This was a fun and cute story. I was so excited once I got approved for this book and knew it would be good. It definitely delivered. Fake dating has been around for a while now but this story has a twist and makes the story flow well. It was fake dating gone wrong that leads to love. I was hooked from the beginning and really liked watching the characters grow. Not really surprised about loving this book as this author is definitely a favorite. I would recommend everyone check this book out.

I love this book. It's the Asian-centered teen rom-com of my dreams. I just know teen Cindy would have loved this book. Heck, adult Cindy loves this book. Anyways, I will stop referring to myself in the third person.

The point is this book is a delight. It is a reflection of what it is like to grow up as an Asian teen both stateside and overseas. From the crazy family dynamics and hierarchy to the wonderful insight into Indonesia, this book had a bit of everything. It also touches on the double standards for men and women, sexism, misogyny, and more.

Yet it somehow manages to tackle those things with a sense of humor and heart that leaves one feeling almost content.

It is a book that puts an absolute smile on my face, and I hope it does for other readers as well.

It has been a minute since I read any YA and I enjoyed this so much.

Sharlot Citra's mom whisks her to Indonesia for the summer after she catches her about to 'do the deed' with her boyfriend. If that wasn't mortifying enough, now she's being forced to spend the summer in an unfamiliar place with family she doesn't know.

It doesn't stop there though. Sharlot's mom confiscates her phone and ends up catfishing a guy in an effort to get her a 'nice, respectable boyfriend', and then forces Sharlot to go on a date with him.

George Clooney Tanuwijaya (yes, that's his actual name) is also being harassed by his family to find a nice girlfriend, after he's caught...ahem...having some alone time. His dad and younger sister end up talking to Sharlot's mom on social media and it's a case of double catfish.

The two go on their date, and it turns out their families know each other from way back. Sharlot and George are forced into a fake dating situation, but we all know where forced proximity leads...

In true Sutanto style this book is over the top 🍌 but it's also hilarious and sweet too. I really enjoyed all the characters, and felt truly transported to Indonesia and Bali. Unlike all the other Aussies I know, I haven't had a chance to visit either place, but I did study Indonesian in High School, and it was such a cool language.

Well, that was completely over-the-top in the best way - the comedy, the fake dating romance, and the family drama. My favorite aspect of the novel were the refreshingly, non-toxic family and friends. They weren't perfect, but they also weren't the stereotypical characters. I also appreciated the introduction to Indonesia and the representation of Chinese Indonesian culture.

Overall, this novel is worth reading if you like over-the-top, rom-com, coming of age stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://booksaremagictoo.wordpress.com/2022/09/27/book-tour-well-that-was-unexpected-by-jesse-q-sutanto/This was just the book I need to read during a rough week, what I loved MOST was how Sharlot found her family + roots after a disastrous awkward moment that had her mom moving her from California back “home” to Jakarta, where her family is from but she has never even visited before now.

Sutano’s books always have the best, crazy and fun families that get into trouble and grow through that love no matter the situation and this YA story had all the best parts of her writing style. It was her first YA I had read, and I have her upcoming adult VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS (March 2023) on it’s way to me to read and review and I can’t wait, her books just bring me such joy! While the previous titles I had read typically feature a murder, I really enjoyed this switch to a catfishing love story that seemed so realistic and made for a fun, quick and easy read I would highly recommend!

The book made me really think about our expectations of family and how those relationships can impact our lives. Do you live where you're from? Or have you moved away from your family, how did you end up where you are now? I’d love to hear the variety of choices and reasons for WHERE we are and who we’ve become as a result!

Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours for having me on the book tour, and to Delacorte Press ? GetUnderlined + Netgalley for providing the copy to read and review in exchange for my honest review.

You’re always looking for character development in at least one of the main characters but in “Well, That Was Unexpected” everyone seems to grow. Everyone's story is intertwined with the FMC and MMC. They add to the book and help to move the story along.

Sutanto manages to add detailed descriptions of locations and scenes that also add to the story. I’m a Black girl from the South who feels like I’ve been to "Indo" (ha… read, you’ll get it) where I ate the food, saw the sites, lived the life. For real, when I actually do go, I will come back to this book for what to order (and I’ll grab some charcoal pills on the way)! Sutanto does all that while keeping your interest. You're laughing, shaking your head, and cheering everyone on.

When you read a love story you know it’s likely going to be a HEA so that’s typically not what moves you. The moving part is seeing how clever the author is about making a HEA happen. Sutanto does not disappoint. It was ingenious. It was real. It was fun. It was the perfect ending to a great book!

Parental catfishing at its finest!

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a standalone young adult romance novel and was such a breath of fresh air and so much fun! When Sharlot gets caught in a not so ideal situation, her mother decides to reeducate her by going back to Indonesia. While there, she gets set up on a date in one of the most unconventional ways, and meets George. How well can this actually go?

Well, That Was Unexpected, was such a great experience! I loved that this was centered on an Indonesian family and had a high focus on the balance between sticking to their culture while also embracing American culture. Sharlot being a second generation American, she’s grown up in American society and embraces more American culture than Indonesian, while her mom takes on more of her home country’s culture. This is such a common occurrence in the States and many families experience this very same push and pull between the parents and children! There’s much to relate to due it’s universal themes as well as the constant comedy throughout the story!

I loved that there was a great blend of diverse perspectives blended and familial boundaries being crossed in some of the worst ways. The fact that these types of experience are normal occurrences in some cultures, makes it even more relatable and entertaining. Many readers will think, “omg, this is so me!” and it opens the doors for more voices to be heard and more experiences to be shared. I also liked that it was international and had an emphasis on the generational differences, even in two different countries. One thing that stood out was the broken English. It was so authentic in expressing the fact that the character’s first language may not have been English, yet they are thriving in it. Very authentic!

I had a great time with this story and can’t wait to dive into more from Jesse!

This is a great story for older teens and up. It’s super relatable! Between the fake dating, comedy, and it ultimately being a coming of age story, it’s something for everyone.

Other books by author:
Adult: Dial A for Aunties | Four Aunties and a Wedding |
YA: The Obsession | The New Girl
MG: Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit | Theo Tan Book 2 (Coming soon)

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Well, That Was Unexpected from Jesse Q. Sutanto via NetGalley

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Penguin Teen, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press.

After Sharlot Citra's mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother's native Indonesia. It'll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks. When George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot's mother and George's father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children. When the kids find out about their parents' actions, they are horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?

In many ways, this story was a love letter to Indonesia and everything its culture offers and the reader can absolutely feel the love and pride Sutanto has for her country. I did wish the character development and romance development was slower. I cannot help but feel it would have built a stronger story. The characters were alright but there was quite a bit to keep up on with all of them. It was really hard to believe that the two got together so fast and were on solid footing by the end of the book. I however cannot ignore the ageist comments that were made. I thought the idea of this book was better than its execution. There were also some elements that I felt were unnecessary. The story itself was cute and if you liked Dial A for Aunties, this brings a lot of that same charm but for a younger audience. It has fake dating, meddling families, and a ton of situational humor.

Jesse Q. Sutanto’s books always make me laugh! This is her first YA novel, and it was just as hilarious and charming as her Aunties series!

Sharlot is whisked away from LA to her mother’s native Indonesia after her mother catches her in a very awkward situation. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, George’s father catches him in an equally embarrassing situation. Sharlot’s mother and George’s father do what any good parent would do: catfish each other’s teenagers through an online dating app! Needless to say, Sharlot and George are mortified, but as they get to know each other better, they begin to wonder if their parents were right to set them up.

These characters were so lovable and charming! I know nothing about Indonesia, so I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history, food, fashion, and customs through this book! The descriptions of the setting and culture were fascinating and beautiful, and it was really fun to follow Sharlot and George on their dates throughout Indonesia! The side characters were amazing too! Sharlot’s mom and George’s dad and aunties (especially Eighth Aunt!!) would clearly do anything for their family, and it warmed my heart. This YA romcom was delightfully sweet, entertaining, and sprinkled with just the right amount of humor! At this point, I will happily read anything Jesse Q. Sutanto writes!

This was cute! I was a little unsure about Jesse Q. Sutanto being able to write a YA Romance that didn't feel like adult - but she definitely pulled it off- I'm so sorry for doubting you, Jesse! I think this has a lot of the same qualities of what makes her adult romances great - but with a teen voice.

What really stood out to me is the unique way she played with the miscommunication tropes. I generally hate miscommunication in romance, but it worked in this one because of how Sutanto played with that concept.

Also please give me all the food and beverages mentioned in this book.

If you're looking for a contemporary romance comedy with beautiful world building, loveable characters and Crazy Rich Asian vibes, then I highly suggest to read this one!

I absolutely adore this book!
I'm Indonesian and I'm very familiar with the Chinese Indonesian culture so I could totally relate to the characters growing up in that society- with the huge family expectation and their "high curiosity" to young people.

The author did a good job on the research about Indonesia, especially about the cultures, places, foods and coffee.
The author also has a great writing style to tackle some serious topics but still makes it as an easy light reading.

This story is told in dual POV, Sharlot and George.
I laugh and smile a lot while reading about Sharlot & George's flirting with each other as well as the bantering from their sibling and cousins.

Overall, this is such a page turner!
It's a fun, heart warming and entertaining read with lots of great messages as well.
I'm satisfied with how it ends, everything was wrapped up nicely.
I'm definitely looking forward to read more books from this author!

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, Jesse Q. Sutanto and Delacorte Press for granting this e-ARC to me.
I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily!

Thank you so much @netgalley and @delacortepress for my e-Arc!

This book was HILARIOUS!!!! If you enjoyed Jesse’s book, Dial A For Aunties, then I guarantee you’ll love this one too! I actually liked this one more. Even though it’s YA, it doesn’t feel like it while you’re reading which makes it perfect for adults too.

The way Sharlot and George meet is the funniest thing I’ve ever read 🤣 You’ve got fake dating, a famous family, and meddlesome parents & aunts! I love all the different representation, and everything else about this book! Pure perfection 💕

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to laugh while reading!

Jesse Q. Sutanto is probably one of my newest favorite authors and I've cemented her as an autobuy author. Seriously, love her. I've read her Aunties books and now this. I wasn't sure what to expect from a YA romcom but this was incredible. Indonesia is such an interesting country with fascinating history and I loved that we got a story set there. I think that Jesse's voice is needed and I love these stories. And a romance? Heck yes! I will be picking up literally everything she writes.

When Sharlot’s mom catches her almost having sex, she immediately whisks her away to Indonesia to spend the summer with family Sharlot has never met. While in Indonesia, Sharlot’s mom joins a dating app on Sharlot’s behalf to help her meet the right kind of guy. She connects with George Clooney Tanuwijaya and they begin a conversation and agree to meet. What Sharlot’s mother doesn’t know when she arranges this date is that George’s dad is the one behind the dating app. The teenagers reluctantly meet but know there is no way they will ever fall for each other. But when they get caught on camera by reporters interested in George and his very wealthy family, they pretend to be dating, and end up having to continue their fake relationship to help George’s latest app succeed.

Jesse Q. Sutanto writes the best books for when you are in the mood to laugh out loud. I adore her adult cozy mystery series, so I was excited to try this YA rom com from her, and I was very happy to see the same hilarious and outrageous writing style. The storyline was wild and filled with hilarious twists and mishaps, but still some serious moments and beautiful character development. Also, after reading this story, I now want to travel to Indonesia. With this book, Jesse wrote a stunning love letter to what sounds like a beautiful country. Her vivid descriptions brought the country to life. Overall, this book is incredible. Go read it.

Thanks to Delacorte Press for the advance copy.

I love this book so much. Jesse Q. Sutanto never misses; Sharlot and George's relationship was adorable, their family dynamics were hilarious, and the setting absolutely permeates the pages of this incredible YA novel. I'm incredibly amazed that Sutanto is able to churn out book after amazing book, and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store.

thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up. this was a pretty fun young adult romance and i liked the individual characters! both leads' chapters were interesting to read about which i find rare in romances, and their perspectives were varied enough that i didn't feel like i was reading the same person's thoughts but similar enough that it made sense for them to be in a relationship together. however, i felt that their romance was very rushed. especially seeing as to how awkward the relationship felt in the opening chapters, it was really hard to believe that the two got together so fast and were on solid footing by the end of the book. i've read sutanto's adult dial a for aunties duology, and was interested in seeing how she adapted her writing style to suit ya but her themes and development seemed largely similar to her adult books. there's also a very very specific complaint i had with a big reveal used for shock which i'll specifically talk about on release day that prevented me from rating this higher.

Sharlot's mother has just walked in on her in a compromising position with a boy.
George's father has just walked in on him in a compromising position alone.
Sharlot's mother takes this as a sign that she should whisk her daughter away to Indonesia for the summer.
George's dad, encourage by George's younger sister Eleanor, takes this as a sign that he should find his son a suitable girlfriend.
So the parents get to talking. As their children.
And now suddenly Sharlot and George find themselves on a date with each other, expecting the fictional versions their parents have created. But George's family is rich and famous, and this one coffee date turns into a fake relationship to keep up public opinion in the lead-up to the app George and his family are launching.
But Sharlot knows George thinks she's a traditional girl who just wants to cook and clean for a husband who provides for her. And George knows Sharlot thinks his only hobby is math.
Slowly, as they spend time with each other for the sake of the company, they realize that the other is not who they expected... and that they might actually like each other.

Well, That Was Unexpected is sweet, and funny-- I laughed out loud multiple times and found myself on the edge of my seat wanting things to work out for George and Sharlot. They're both awkward and sweet and I really, really loved them. The plot was intriguing, the awkwardness was perfectly balanced (it very easily could have been uncomfortably awkward, but it never was), and all the characters were fantastic.

Some other things I really loved about the book:
The app George is developing is aimed at teenage boys, to help break the "boys will be boys" mentality, which I really loved.
There are a few queer characters in the book, and with all of them, the reveal is really sweet.
The humor! There were a few moments that were just unreasonably funny.
Kiki and Eleanor's friendship-- Sharlot's cousin and George's sister have the most ridiculous, adorable friendship, to the point where I want a whole book about their adventures.

I loved this book and these characters, and I think this book is going to stay with me for a long time.

At first, I wasn’t sure about this book, but then the more and more I read I fell in love with the characters. I finished this book in 2 days! This book was about family, and finding out about yourself along the way with a romance at the backstory. Families being worried and taking things into their own hands is how Sharlot and George first met.