I loved this! I hadn't read any books in this (loosely connected) series before, so I wasn't sure what exactly to expect as an adaptation of the animated movie. I loved the reimagining of Mulan into a contemporary world with the same pressures of gender-bias and family expectations. There were Easter-egg moments from the movie in the book that made me laugh out loud!

Amazing retelling of Mulan! I am half Chinese so this meant a lot to read and I love this author. Thank you for this amazing novel. Other Disney fans will rejoice for this one.

Getting this ARC of “Worth Fighting For” by Jesse Q Sutanto was such a great surprise. I was at a book talk with Christina Lauren speaking at “Tangled Up In You” release here in Nashville. They announced that Jesse Q Sutanto would be writing the latest installment of the “Meant to Be series! As soon as I saw it on NetGalley I hit request… but resigned to the fact I may not get it. Well I did get the notification that it was waiting for me and I jumped for joy.

“Worth Fighting For” is the modern day retelling of Disney’s Mulan. I absolutely LOVED this book! The author did a phenomenal job of bringing this Mulan to life and made such a wonderful story! I highly recommend this one!!

Worth Fighting For is the second Disney to modern romance novel adaptation I've read, and it is very well done! Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Books for this advance reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased review. This novel is the modern-day adaptation of Mulan, and the author does a fantastic job translating Mulan's story and bringing the characters to life in the high-pressure world of finance in California. Mulan is the daughter of the head of a finance firm, a brilliant finance whiz, and completely used to being one of the only females in her workplace. She has integrated herself into the "finance bro" world of her industry and is able to successfully navigate relationships with the men she works with using patience, flattery and being as un-ladylike as possible (burping contest during lunch!). Her father, Zhou, is extremely interested in purchasing a family-run, traditional company that makes high-end whisky called Wutai Gold. Right before the initial pitch to the company owners, Zhou has a heart attack and ends up gravely ill in the hospital. Mulan vows to successfully close the deal, and decides to impersonate Zhou. Of course, things quickly get complicated as the deal involves visiting the family ranch and camping with the owners of Wutai Gold. Mulan also meets Shang, with whom she shares an instant and deep attraction. They share many similar views and get to know each other as Mulan and Mushu work to win Shang's family over. Sutanto describes their attraction and slow-burn relationship vividly and authentically. The reader really feels the sparks of attraction between Shang and Mulan. Various things go awry, and Mulan's true identity is exposed, which leads to the family cancelling the deal. Mulan is heartbroken and devastated at her failure, But that experience leads her to share her feelings of inadequacy with her parents, and helps her heal over a lifetime of feeling not enough as a female in the world. I loved how Sutanto wrote Mulan's feelings, frustrations, and inner thoughts as a woman. I also loved how she adapted the cultural part of this story. She adapted many cultural elements of the original story that felt really authentic and natural in the modern-day version of Mulan. Worth Fighting For is an excellent adaptation of the legend and tale of Mulan. It is a great read and next installment in the Disney to modern romance adaptations!

I truly enjoy Jesse Suanto’s writing. The latest work, Worth Fighting For was a great read. I highly recommend it!

Thank you Hyperion Avenue and Netgalley for providing this digital ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

A modern day retelling of Mulan? "Sign me up for the next war!" -Mulan 1998

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q Sutanto is a reimagining of Disney's Mulan. Mulan in this version is working in the finance field at her father's equity firm. In order for her to be successful, she has to juggle different masks- corporate Mulan and loving daughter Mulan. When her father, Zhou, has a medical emergency in the midst of a company acquisition, Mulan decides to impersonate her father in order to win the acquisition. The business is a very traditional whiskey company run by the Li family. Zhou's communication to the company is just through email and Mulan believes she will be able to convince the family that she's her father. The only catch is that Zhou boasted via email about growing up on a farm, while Mulan has lived in the city her whole life. When Mulan is invited to the company's family ranch, she must prove to the aunties and uncles of the whiskey brand that she has what it takes all while trying not to fall the CEO, Shang.

I enjoyed this book! It was fun connecting the similarities and finding the easter eggs from the movie. I loved Mulan, but I didn't know I could love Shang any more than the movie version! He was just a cinnamon roll of a character. At first I was a little skeptical of Mulan and Shang's careers, but it just works. I loved how the author captured the feeling of family and the aunties and uncles were so lively. Speaking of family, the author's note at the back of the book was so sweet and should not be skipped. If you're a fan of the Disney movie, Mulan or you just love a sweet romcom read, Worth Fighting For is the perfect fit!

4 stars

I have not read any other books in this series, but I really enjoyed this one. Mulan and Shang are my favorite. This story was quick and cute.

I appreciate being given the opportunity to read the arc. Unfortunately, I was unable to read this book, as the print was too small for my eyesight, and there was not an option to make the front larger. I do look forward to reading this one on paper after the pub date.

Jesse Q. Sutanto's Worth Fighting For"is a delightful and heartwarming contemporary romance that reimagines Mulan in a modern setting. The story follows Fa Mulan, who works as the right hand of her father's hedge fund company. When her father falls ill during a crucial acquisition, Mulan steps in and pretends to be him to keep the deal on track. The book is filled with humor, charm, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Mulan's journey is both hilarious and touching as she navigates the challenges of a male-dominated industry while trying to convince a skeptical family that she's the powerful CEO they've been negotiating with. The dynamic between Mulan and Shang, the dedicated but overworked leader of the family company, is electric and adds a lovely romantic element to the story. One of the things I loved most about this book is its exploration of family expectations and the pressure to uphold honor while following one's heart. Mulan's determination and resilience are truly inspiring, and her interactions with Shang's family are both entertaining and heartfelt.

Cute installment of the series and I enjoyed the story. The ARC had a lot of issues with formatting on the kindle that disrupted the flow of the book. I enjoyed the Mulan retelling and loved the way the Mushu character ended up more than a sidekick at the end of the book!

This was such a quick and cute read. It had banter, humor and romance. This author has such thought out characters snd i genuinely feel like I am part of their world. Must read !!!

Thank you Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mulan is a finance "bro" trying to prove her worth as a businesswoman in San Francisco. She loves working for her father's marketing business, until he becomes relentless about acquiring Wutai Gold, a very masculine centered whiskey company. When Mulan's father falls ill, she takes charge of the Wutai Gold business proposition. Is she bro enough to change the mind of many old fashioned aunties and uncles or will finding love on the journey completely derail everything Mulan once knew about running a business? Read more to find out!

This story is cute. I can't think of any other way to describe it. I haven't read any of the other books in the Meant to Be series despite it including some of my favorite romance authors. The one thing I really liked about this retelling is that they didn't have Mulan dress as drag or anything outlandish, she just presented as a very businesslike (cue the pantsuit) female, which I think brought an appropriate modern twist to the story. Also, this author definitely has Awkwafina in mind when writing this book because every time Mishu spoke, that's the actress I pictured (clearly I'm an Awkwafina fan). Overall this was a very cute romance with little to no smut, in case that influences your decision to read the book. Also, DO NOT skip the author's notes/acknowledgement at the end because I think it ties up the story perfectly and gives us some insight on why this story was so important to the author.

Sutanto effortlessly intertwined her romantic and comedic writing styles to create a fun twist on a Disney classic. For that reason, I would give this book a solid 4 out of 4 stars and would recommend it to all romance readers.

**Charming, Hilarious, and Heartwarming—*Worth Fighting For* by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a Must-Read!**

I absolutely loved *Worth Fighting For* by Jesse Q. Sutanto, and as a huge fan of the *Meant to Be* series, I couldn't wait to dive into this reimagining of *Mulan*. Sutanto has a real knack for blending humor, heart, and a dash of romance, and this book is no exception. Having enjoyed other titles in the *Meant to Be* franchise, I was excited to see Disney's most beloved couples given fresh, contemporary twists—and *Mulan*'s story of family, identity, and self-discovery is perfectly suited for Sutanto's witty and charming touch.

Fa Mulan, reimagined as a savvy finance whiz working her way up in a male-dominated industry, is a protagonist you can’t help but root for. Her determination to prove herself, paired with the hilarious situation of pretending to be her father, adds a wonderful layer of both comedy and tension to the story. I couldn't get enough of the antics that ensue when she ends up on a week-long ranch retreat with Shang’s family. Cattle wrangling, axe-throwing, and keeping up a charade of being a corporate bigwig while fending off romantic sparks with Shang? It’s a recipe for disaster—and I was here for every moment of it!

The chemistry between Mulan and Shang is undeniable, and their slow-burn romance is absolutely swoon-worthy. Watching them navigate their personal and professional lives while facing the challenges of mistaken identity and family expectations makes for a deeply satisfying read. Sutanto's writing is sharp, witty, and full of heart, and she perfectly balances humor with heartfelt moments that make this story not just fun, but genuinely touching.

As a fan of the *Meant to Be* collection, I’m thrilled to see Disney’s iconic characters reimagined in such clever, contemporary settings. *Worth Fighting For* is another fantastic addition to the series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys humor, romance, and a fresh take on familiar stories. If you're looking for a fun, swoon-worthy read with tons of heart, this book is definitely worth fighting for!

First off, thank you NetGalley, and Hyperion Avenue for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I have loved the Disney reimagining series and was looking forward to this one because Mulan is one of my favorite Disney movies! Although the romance was cute, I had a hard time getting into this. A lot of finance talk that went over my head, and I just couldn’t attach myself to the characters.

However, Mushu is my favorite and I want to be bffs with her!
Anyways, once everyone was on the ranch, I started to enjoy it and really enjoyed Mulan and Shang getting close!

Overall, not my favorite in the series, but not a bad read!

Worth Fighting For was the first of this series that I’ve read and haven’t really enjoyed, which is such a bummer! I’m a big Mulan fan, but the writing felt stiff to me throughout and I never really connected with the characters or how the story was adapted.

As an Indonesian, I'm super priveleged and estatic that I received this ARC. The mulan trope without it being too obvious. Rather than pretending to be a man, she did the opposite where she 'reveals' that the person they've been talking to is a woman even though it was her father. It gives out the same message and feeling of a reveal but with a purpose. She's doing this to prove that she as a woman is as capable to run the business

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinion are of my own

#WorthFightingFor #NetGalley.

"Worth Fighting For" is another in the modern-ish takes of Disney stories. As someone who has read the others and other works by Jesse Q. Sutano, I liked this one! Mulan is my cousin's favorite Disney princess and I am all too familiar with her story. This series has proven to be full of fun reads, and I can't wait to give this book to my cousin once it's out in the wild!

I have been enjoying this Meant to Be series of Disney-classic inspired romance novels so much, and this one is absolutely a joy! The author delivers with the characters, and I particularly love Mushu. I think it's really hard to turn my favorite wacky dragon character from a cartoon into a living, breathing, believable human character in a romcom, and Suntanto did that so beautifully. I also love Mulan's exploration of family and tradition and expectations, and this delivers just the right balance of the original inspiration and the author's unique take on the character's personal and romantic journeys. I love it!

Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for the copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mulan was always my favorite Disney princess and also the first time I thought a girl could kick a** and be as strong as men are portrayed while still getting the guy. Love this reimagining romcom

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing me an arc of this book. All opinions are honest and my own.

I feel a little split about this one

On one hand, I loved watching Mulan while growing up, and Sutanto does an amazing job of capturing some of the beloved moments from the movie - at one point even quoting the soundtrack.

And I freaking loved Mushu’s character.

However, I felt like certain aspects of the romantic storyline crossed a line. Even though I was rooting for the characters, it was hard to look past this.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. It’s nostalgic, and the writing is easy to read. There are also some really poignant and beautifully written moments in here.

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: whiskey milk punch or chow mein

“The chow mein is savory, with a nice charred flavor from the wok, and the noodles are still chewy, and the sauce [he] has cooked it in hits all the right spots. ‘Best chow mein I've ever had.’”

Triggers: sexism, racism, medical content, animal injury (very slight and briefly mentioned)