Chloe and the Kaishao Boys was a cute, quick YA!

I thought the premise was fun—her aunt tried to set her up with a couple of different guys. It’s a little awkward and cringey, and overall I would’ve been just as mortified as Chloe was! However, one of them is very promising and ends up being very cute. I won’t say more as to avoid spoiling it.

I really enjoyed the relationship building between Chloe and her dad. They are very close and also have some growing pains as Chloe makes adult decisions that her dad wasn’t entirely ready to come to terms with. It’s evident that they care for each other very much.

I have to add that I loved the glimpse into a different culture. In traditional American fashion, I was completely ignorant about the cultural history of Chinese people in the Philippines. I learned something new! I also appreciate the way the author candidly brought up the racism that exists between different ethnic groups. She did a great job of exploring that heavy topic.

Last, but not least, I appreciated Chloe’s self-growth journey. The time before one leaves for college is a special time. I think her experience is relatable to a lot of people, especially international students.

Overall, a great book! I would recommend it to anybody who enjoys a great YA contemporary romance.

I loved this book! It was cute, funny, and I couldn't put it down. Chloe's journey and decision to ultimately follow her dreams was so relatable. I also totally swooned at the romance. Team Jappy forever! 10/10 would recommend this book.

This was so cute and full of culture. I loved the funny banter between Chloe and the boy she ends up falling for. Her journey when trying to figure out if she should follow her dreams was realistic and interesting. Such a delightful book!

#ChloeAndTheKaishaoBoys is a hilarious #YA #romcom about a Chinese-Filipina girl whose family sets her up on a marathon of arranged dates in hopes of convincing her to stay close to home for college... which made for a really fun (and funny!) storyline. Do you love YA books? Do you love romcoms? How about YA Rom Coms?! If you answered yes to any of those, then pick this book up ASAP!! It is adorably cute, funny and heartwarming too. This book is very character driven, and has amazing character development thought the book. I really loved all of Chloe's friends... and her crazy family too.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• family drama / relationships
• cute romcoms
• coming-of-age
• summer romance
• Chinese-Filipina culture
• teen protagonist
• character development
• bff's brother trope
• bi rep

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪: @penguinteen! 😘

Thank you Penguin Teen for this ARC via NetGalley!

Chloe and the Kaishao Boys was such a cute and good-feeling heartfelt book! There were so many. moments of laughter (and the LOL-IRL ones), moments of sadness, and moments of genuine excitement I felt for Chloe but also those close around her (I see you Jappy). Mae did an amazing job growing the main character’s relationships whether it be with her auntie and cousin or with the chosen kaishao boys and her best friend Cia (Side note: are you pronouncing it like “sia” or “chia” or “kia”?).

The book and some lines were definitely cheesy but I feel I know what I’m getting going into YA books. I want that cheesiness! Especially when it came to Jappy and his interactions with Chlo. I mean c’mon! The dancing? I’d love to see that in action. #swoon

The only things missing, in my opinion, were:

her full growth potential - even near the end she was still questioning herself and I know it’s because she was young and that’s the point but I would’ve loved to see more self-confidence

and

I was honestly rooting for … one of the other Kaishao boys. I hate that we didn’t get to see how that “relationship” transpired after all or there being a discussion of it - it just sort of … happened what was going to happen with him.

Overall, highly recommend! This story had be BAWLING by the end of it - I didn’t want it to end!!!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this title to read and review. Chloe and the Kaishao Boys was a delightful read that was simultaneously funny and light hearted while also delivering some serious emotional heft. To me, this story was very much more about family and finding your place - rather than the plot of Chloe being set up on a series of surprise dates by her family's circle. Reading about Chloe balancing her career and academic ambitions with being there for her dad (and aligning with his vision for her future) was so great. I really look forward to reading more from this author!

4.5/5

Chloe is an aspiring animator who made it off the waitlist at USC and is leaving her home in the Philippines to go to school there and chase her dreams. She has one last summer back at home though, and before she leaves her aunt plans to throw her a massive traditional debut party. Chloe's family combines forces to set her up on Kaishao dates and find her the perfect escort. As Chloe copes with societal expectations and finds out where she fits into the world, norms will be tested and unexpected romance will bloom.

This was a really interesting novel with a lot of cultural depth. It did an excellent job of exploring coming of age when you are between two cultures, and how societal expectations can play into ideas about romance. It also explored themes of colorism and the trials of cross-cultural romance, and this all made for a really wonderful read. I liked the way the kaishao boys all fit into the story on their own terms, and the writing style of this novel was gorgeous in its world building and descriptions.

I highly recommend this novel to YA readers! Thank you so much to Net Galley and Penguin Teen for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC and PRH Audio for providing me with a complimentary audiobook of Chloe and the Kaishao Boys!

Chloe and the Kaishao Boys gave me all of the same fluffy & cute vibes (along with some laughs) thatWhen Dimple Met Rishi gave me. Literally have been searching for the cozy/comfort read for so long & am so thankful that I came across Chloe and the Kaishao Boys! Loved the romance, loved the story, loved the characters -- just all-in-all this book is a 10 out of 10.

I thoroughly enjoyed this funny young adult contemporary novel. Chloe being torn between her home and moving to go to college in America felt so real and I learned about the Chinese-Filipino culture which I knew absolutely nothing about going in. I love reading own-voices novels because I am exposed to cultures I otherwise may not have been. Reading is awesome in that way.

The idea of Chloe's family setting her up on blind-dates was so fun and while I sometimes became frustrated with her family (just like Chloe was), I liked that I could tell they overall had her best interest at heart. Sometimes books make the family the villain, and I liked how that wasn't the case here.

The writing was engaging and fun. I'll definitely look for more books from Mae Coyiuto in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book took me a while to get into but eventually the character relationships got me invested. However I think my fav aspect was that of the Filipino culture. This was a cute and easy read and I think one going to be quite popular

This is more about the family dynamics than the dates and I honestly really appreciate that factor. Which reminded me of a better 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston.

I loved this. This was beautiful. The relationships in this book were real and so well developed. I loved learning more about Chinese Filipino culture and Filipino culture throughout the book. I loved the moments we had of Chloe and Pa, their relationship is so sweet. The ending was amazing. I loved this.

4/5 stars

I really enjoyed this novel! It was such a cute coming-of-age novel set in a non-Western culture. I loved seeing the planning of the debut, and the Filipino-Chinese culture set in the Philippines. I loved seeing Chloe struggle to talk to both sets of parents for differing things. I was rooting for her and wanted her to win in whatever way she thought was best.

The only thing that really dinged the novel for me was the romance aspect. I felt like it was obvious who the one she’d choose would be and then the ending between the two of them felt a little too opened ended.

When I first started reading this, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. In fact, I did delay reading it for a bit because I wasn't feeling it (I'm very much a mood reader), but after reading a couple of chapters, I really enjoyed it. Chloe is a totally relatable character, and I liked how normal she was. I feel like with some YA contemporary books, the main character is trying too hard to be "not like the other girls" but this felt genuine. A cute story overall, I feel like it would make a cute movie or tv adaptation.

I thought this was an absolutely adorable adventure! I loved seeing Chloe get to know everyone around her, and to see the ways she handled the problems before her. Very fun.

4.5 rounded up

when i picked this up, i was expecting a cheesy rom-com with some coming-of-age elements, but what i got was a story that made me laugh and cry and generally appreciate my family more. this is the first book i've read where the mc has separated parents, and the scenes between chloe and her dad hit me in the gut as a result. all of the relationships in this book are very well done, and though i'm not filipino or chinese, i have definitely met auntie queenie's in my life.

i was expecting more romance in this book, but i think that this book balances the romance and the coming-of-age story lines well. the romance elements were really really sweet and i was rooting for chloe the whole time, but the familial relationshps were the true backbone of this story, and i thought they were very well done.

overall, i'd definitely recommend this to people who like coming of age stories. warning though: if you have daddy issues, you might cry. i certainly did.

thank you to netgalley and penguinteen for an eARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

After reading non-stop Japanese light novels it took a while to get reacquainted with young adult reading hat mode. But before you know it, you can't put it down and you'll start enjoying the weird metaphors and their cringey families. It has a slice-of-life-ish feel and a cute romance that is not contrived. The writing captures the innocence of youth. The drama. The angst. Chloe's dilemmas are anything but chill but you'll get mellow vibes. Chloe and the Kaishao Boys take me back to my roots of Sweet Dreams 'pocketbooks' of my high school.

Being a Filipina I get all the jargon, the pop culture references...everything. Even then, it was hard to empathize with anyone at first but by end of the book you'll love them all and it is like they're all someone you know in your clan reunion. And of course, love Chloe. She seems so unassuming and low-key but she has a competitive streak and a one-track mind that needed a bit of nudging.

Pinoys (Filipinos) have these cliche assumptions of the Fil-Chi community so it's enlightening to get to know more of the family dynamics on a more personal level. There were also a ton of cheesy comical situations thanks to her family but the fun moments were the subtle ones. Like Chloe's memorable line: Shit. Was I on a date?

Kaishao is Hokkien for “to introduce.” It’s when friends or family introduce you to single potential partners. The first kaishao is hilarious. Her family's idea of meet-cute is one for the books. The second kaishao is equally hilarious. I was dying. Well, the last candidate is predictable but it's okay just to balance it out. Japanese light novels have illustration inserts, especially from the most critical moments which would have been perfect for the meetings with the boys. The cute cover art of the book is totally asking for it. Let's normalize more illustrations pretty please!

Debuts are a big deal in my country. And I can already imagine the debut party as a climax in a movie. Calling dibs that this will be your next THE romcom movie after To All The Boys I've Loved Before. The novel is not just about Chloe and the Kaishao Boys. It is pretty clever in sidetracking you. It ended on a cliffhanger and the only consolation is that it has a sequel or trilogy potential. And I'm recommending this not because I'm a Filipina, I'm recommending this because I simply loved it. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

I adored Chloe & The Kaishao Boys and won this in a giveaway. I would love to interview Mae for my podcast, Raise Your Words. Chloe & The Kaishao Boys is perfect for fans of Priyanka Taslim’s The Love Match & Loveboat, Taipei. You’re in for a rollercoaster rush of emotions. One of my favorite arcs!!

I really enjoyed this book which is about a girl who is about to head off to college but her dad arranges a series of dates for her to get a boyfriend so she can stay home. When I first read this summary, I was like oh wow her dad wants her to stay behind for a guy because usually, parents put studies first in their kid's life. This intrigued me to see how this whole story would play out and how it was unoriginal for something like this to happen. Coyiuto has an incredible writing style and I love how much Filipino culture was put into this book. I love learning about other cultures and it was so well blended into the story. I enjoyed the storyline and for a rom-com it brought both the rom and the com in the story. I also enjoyed the family dynamics of the story even though some bits got annoying with how involved they were. Though the writing style when it came to storyline, pacing, and setting was all perfect.

The main character in this book is Chloe. I really enjoyed her character but I have to say I couldn't really relate to her. I know some will but not me. I did enjoy her story and how much she developed herself along with her family. There are many side characters that are involved in this book like Chloe's family and the kaishao boys. Everyone is easy to read about so don't think you will be overwhelmed with characters. I won't spoil the romance aspect of this book as I think it will be a cute surprise for everyone on who she ends or doesn't end up with. It's a really cute romance story and love how it was written. Family bonds also play a strong role in this book and for me sometimes I felt that it overwhelmed the story a bit at times.

The ending was very well done and I enjoyed how this book was written. I love how diverse this book was and the culture that readers will be able to pick from this book. It was such a cute story that is entertaining and funny. I had some minor issues but overall it was a great read. I recommend it to fans of When Dimple Met Rishi and Loveboat, Taipei.