Many people have described this as "You've Got Mail" in a high school, and I don't disagree. I appreciated the discussion of online harassment and bullying, as well as putting common issues from private schools on blast. Cute story!

Seventeen-year-old Kiki Siregar has always been confident, even describing herself as "loud and unapologetically obnoxious."

The only place Kiki's had to be cautious with sharing her whole self is when she's online. Gaming is easier as a guy (Dudebro10 specfically). She isn't harassed and threatened by other players. She isn't punished by the game's algorithmic ranking system for reporting said harassment. While pretending to be a guy, Kiki also makes a very real friend in another player named Sourdawg. She never expected a real friendship to be an issue in Warfront Heroes, but now that she and Sourdawg have been playing and talking together for a year, Kiki hates lying to him. It feels slimy but also like the only option since she's not like to ever meet him IRL.

At least not until Kiki's parents transfer her to Jakarta's top Chinese School. Xingfa School is known for its discipline. It is also, it turns out, Sourdawg's school.

Adjusting to the conservative atmosphere at Xingfa School is harder than Kiki expects as she faces bullying, strict teachers, and students who'd rather keep their heads down than try to change the toxic environment. Kiki thinks she knows what to expect when she's roped into a matchmaking scheme which Kiki hopes will help her find Sourdawg. But Kiki soon realizes that with her confidence in tatters, she has to figure out how to find her old self-assurance before she can think of telling Sourdawg who she is in Didn't See That Coming (2023) by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

Kiki and most characters are Chinese-Indonesian. Readers of Sutanto's previous YA novel Well, That Was Unexpected (read my review) will recognize Kiki as Sharlot's cousin and will appreciate appearances from familiar characters, most notably Eleanor Roosevelt.

Kiki is a cackle-inducing narrator with plenty of acerbic observations and snappy asides. Strong friendships and new connections at school with other female students familiar with Xingfa's sexist culture help ground Kiki and give her the support she needs to speak out. The heaviness of Kiki's isolation and bullying are countered with the mystery of Sourdawg and tentative flirting with deskmate Liam Ng who may or may not be Sourdawg.

Didn't See That Coming is an empowering trifecta of humor, romance, and feminism grounded in positive change; a gamer-focused nod to the classic two person love triangle trope most commonly associated with the film You've Got Mail.

Possible Pairings: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett, Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter, Tweet Cute by Emma Lord, When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, Analee in Real Life by Janelle Milanes

*A more condensed version of this review appeared in an issue of School Library Journal as a starred review.*

This book deals with topics like sexism, online harassment & death threats.

I don’t think I read a book that deals with these topics with Asian characters. At this point you might as well send me all of Jesse Q. Sutanto, considering I read all here books and I’m a huge fan.

I think this might actually be one of her heavy books considering it’s a ya genre but I enjoyed it. Kiki would be such a role model for people, if she were real, I liked it a lot of there was still something missing. I hope to read more of her books in the future.

This book is such an important one for kids to read. I do not think I read a single book as a teen that dealt with sexism, online harassment & death threats. I certainly never got to read a book with Asian characters, let alone one set in an Asian country.

Kiki is such a good role model for teenager girls (and boys) to read about. She did not let the things that got in her way stop her from being herself.

📖My Thoughts📖

Every time I see a book by Jesse Q. Sutanto, I immediately request it on Netgalley, and each time, she gets me hooked. I’ve absolutely become a huge fan. This was a fast paced entertaining book that I devoured in less than a day. I love the way the author incorporates such controversial and real world topics. This book included bullying, harassment and sexism. While it covered some serious content that was actually quite difficult to read at times, it also had some really funny and entertaining moments intertwined throughout making for a well balanced book. I absolutely love reading Ms. Sutanto’s work. While she may be a YA writer, her ability to pull you right into a story is a skill of which not even some of the most seasoned authors, no matter the genre, are capable of pulling off. It’s so important to raise awareness to such cruel and callous issues that occur on a daily basis in some schools/communities, denying individualism while focusing in on pushing conformity with a blatant altruistic attitude. I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you Netgalley, Jesse Q. Sutanto and Random House Children’s for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The book itself is quite simple. But, if we look more deeply, the issue that the author brings it's a bit complicated. If I am not wrong, it is bringing up the issues about a girl who can easily get harassed and bullied online or real world. And, that is what happens to the main character in this book, Kiki Siregar. In short, Kiki Siregar makes a profile pretending as a boy when playing games (She said it is her own to make her feel safer), meets another player, and becomes a friend. Surprisingly, she moves into her friend's school that she just knows accidentally.

I just want to preface this by saying that Jesse, Q Sutanto is one of my favorite authors and if I see anything that she has written, I am going to want to read it so you can automatically go ahead and give me advance copies of all of her books I will also more than likely be purchasing any of her books as well, so just wanna get that out-of-the-way this book Like any other book I read by her is super cute. It is one that I did not want to put down. It’s funny it’s refreshing it’s something that you want to recommend to your girlfriends.

As I said before, I will read anything Jesse writes. She has written in a few different genres and I have loved them all. I was so excited to get a story about Kiki from Well, That Was Unexpected. It was also awesome to see Eleanor Roosevelt again. She is one of my favorites. Kiki gets transferred to the worst school ever because her parents think she will get a better education. She is bullied from day one and no one helps her even the staff. She plays an online game as a guy to be treated fairly. While at school she thinks she meets her online bff. Should she tell him? The story was so fun. It did give me some anxiety and made me want to punch some people for Kiki. LOL It was such a great read! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

a heartfelt and thought-provoking read. It reminds us of the importance of being true to ourselves and embracing our passions, both online and offline. If you're into gaming, friendship, and self-discovery, I definitely recommend giving this book a try.

Get ready, gamers. This book is definitely a winner.

As a mom of gamers, I have watched them make friends online (dubiously, at first) and navigate into adulthood as streamers. It's been an experience that so many teens share, and this book does it just right.

I mean, adults always tell teens to just be themselves. But it's hard to figure out who that is!

"It might seem weird that I don't know his actual name, but I've never dared to ask," Kiki begins. And really, her story is pretty normal. Us old folks sometimes don't believe you can be 'actual' friends with someone you've never met irl.

Kiki has another problem, of course, when she falls for a gamer friend. Oops. And dating is sometimes a minefield, even if you're used to winning in-game.

Be aware - there is a lot of bullying and gaslighting and taunting and unfriending and sexism and misrepresentation. "Is there anything more obnoxious than guys calling each other 'bro'?" But it's deeper than that: "In all my years, I have never - never! - met such a disrespectful, disobedient student."

At the story's heart, though, is the truism that you really can be yourself. Truly.

"I think I've learned that I don't actually want to fit in."

I enjoyed this so much! I think it really touched well on the facts about womanhood such as not being able to enjoy things like men get to, the victim blaming and non belief from adults or authority figures, how sometimes even other women perpetuate the issues, and even the bullshit of “pulling pigtails” being pushed. And all of this was done in a really fun story with an enjoyable main character and main love interest (who was so sweet omg)

Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q Sutanto

Thank you to @randomhouse, @delacortepress, and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my honest book review.

This is the sequel to young adult romcom Well, That Was Unexpected and while reading that first will give you some background into the characters, it can be read as a standalone or out of sequence. I was so deeply invested in Kiki and Liam! This was incredibly frustrating to watch unfold but super rewarding. Girl power wins the day and we love to see it! I highly recommend this for all romcom lovers but especially those young adults looking for their place in the world. 🩷

TW: b*llying, g*slighting, s*xism, yucky entitled rich guys, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.25/5

Jesse Q. Sutanto's "Didn't See That Coming" takes readers on an emotional roller coaster, offering a narrative that is unpredictable and sometimes achingly sad. Set in Indonesia, the story delves into the world of a gamer girl, Kiki Siregar, who navigates the challenges of concealing her true identity while forming a deep online connection.

The novel is reminiscent of the atmosphere in "Moxie," with references to the book adding an interesting layer to the narrative. Sutanto draws inspiration from personal school experiences, giving the story an authentic touch that reflects the unique school culture in Indonesia.

Like a roller coaster, the plot has its ups and downs. While it eventually reaches a satisfying happily-ever-after, a large portion of the book is marked by a prevailing sadness. Kiki's journey tugs at the heartstrings, and readers will find themselves empathizing with her struggles.

Despite the publisher's description labeling the book as "hilariously fresh and romantic," some readers may not resonate with this characterization. The humor is present, but the overarching mood is more somber than expected. The contrast between the book's tone and the publisher's portrayal could leave readers with different expectations.

Exploring online identity and the dynamics of friendships formed in virtual spaces adds depth to the narrative. The revelation of secrets and the subsequent emotional turmoil contribute to the wild ride that is "Didn't See That Coming."

Jesse Q. Sutanto's novel is a captivating journey with moments of humor, heartache, and a resolution that brings a sense of fulfillment. While not precisely aligning with the publisher's description, the book offers a unique perspective on identity, friendship, and love in the digital age.

Kiki is an online gamer, but because she's a girl she was constantly harassed and bullied. So she took it upon herself to create a dude persona so she could play in peace. Little did she know she'd make a true friend in sourdawg. The two became close, but when Kiki moves schools she realizes her online best friend also goes to the same school. She goes through so much and this book really conveys what it's like for women in society, specifically Asian culture, and how hard it is to be able to stand up for themselves and have a mind of their own without being told they're too much. Although parts of this book had me seething, I loved how it all came together at the end.

For the first 50% of this book I was super into it I really liked how it was addressing complex issues in an age appropriate way. Like sexism and bullying in schools and gaming etc. But by the 60% mark I was kind of losing interest. The story just seemed to drag.

Kiki and Liam, our main characters, were charming. I was invested in their happiness and so proud of them for overcoming their challenges throughout the book. An adorable friends-to-lovers storyline that's supportive, and genuine. I do wish the story had focused a bit more on them in the final third. If you've read any of Sutanto's other works by now you know to expect a chaotic twist in the back half, and this book is no exception. The third act conflict was a bit obvious early in the book, but the added twist felt like it was written for the sake of creating even more drama. That aside, I respect the care and sensitivity Sutanto took in writing about topics like online harassment in the gaming community and school bullying. I applaud the mix of serious topics with an overall rom-com vibe. I love to learn through Sutanto's cultural references and dynamics in Asian families. There is a companion novel called Well, That Was Unexpected. While you don't have to read that book to enjoy this one, there are a few characters who make an appearance in this follow-up novel. I recommend this book for a fun YA contemporary romance that's set in Indonesia and revolves around two gamers.

I will not post a public review of this book. While I appreciate the publisher giving me an advanced copy, the writing in this book was of such poor quality that I do not feel I can honestly recommend it to anyone else. The characters were flat, bratty, and one dimensional. I read romance because I want to follow likeable characters. That was not the case with this book. The majority of them were "the worst."

I really enjoy Jesse Q. Sutano's writing, but this was not one of my favorites. I wasn't a huge fan of the characters, but the story was one that I believe needs to exist, mainly because it addresses sexism in gaming. I didn't necessarily like the lying, but I could see where the story was heading. I hope to see more stories from Jesse in the future.

Didn't See That Coming is a story about sexism in both the gaming community and schools in Asia. It is also a really cute romance!

I was quickly drawn in by Kiki's confidence and charm. While I am not like Kiki I still related to her and liked her as a character. I also adored Liam and willingness to be vulnerable with an online friend, as well as supporting Kiki when she was bullied. I was really rooting for them!

This book has a strong message about sexism in both the gaming community and schools in Asia. Jesse Sutanto did a great job showing that Kiki did all the correct things to try to stop her bullying but was met with dismissive attitudes. I loved the insight that sometimes it can be harder to deal with sexism when there is the attitude that it is a thing of the past.

For me, some parts of this book were a little hard to get through. The bullying and teen drama was a lot and felt juvenile at times while the problems described were very adult. HOWEVER, I fully recognize this is a book written for teenagers, not for me. Of course, parts of it feel juvenile. I will say that this isn't a book I would recommend for some younger teens. Issues of sexism, bullying, and rape threats are all discussed.

Overall I adored this book and think for an older teen it would be a five-star read for sure! As someone who isn't super familiar with issues in schools in Asia, I enjoyed reading about that. I haven't read the first book in this series but after reading this one I added it to my list right away. I am looking forward to reading more by Jesse Sutanto!

I love Jesse Sutanto’s writing and this book was no exception. I think this story was just not for me. I’m not a big fan of mega secrets being kept and this one definitely had one of those. I loved the characters and I loved the glimpses we got of previous characters. I just felt bad for Kiki the whole time.