really fun romance between two cool characters in Mulan (here, VP of her father's venture capital firm) and Shang (here, a director of his family's whiskey company). 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for the eARC. I love the Mulan cartoon but this one didn’t bring the magic that story has for me. This one just wasn’t for me. Mulan pretends to be her father to close a deal. She deals with so much sexism throughout the story. Cute moments with Shang but just okay story overall.

This story is being marketed as a modern day re-imagining of Disney's Mulan. Like the other books in the "Meant to Be" series, it is an adult, closed-door romance novel.

We follow Mulan, as she works in her father's hedge fund and is working in a male-dominated field. Shortly into the story, she witnesses her father suffer a medical emergency and needing to spend extended time in the hospital to recover. Her father told her she needed to "close the deal" on a family-owned whiskey company, which is run on Shang's family farm. The family owned company has a reputation of being very closed-minded towards making changes and focusing on a "manly" image. Mulan works hard to convince Shang and his family to sell their family business to her father's firm.

What I love most about Sutanto's writing, is the way she depicts families and ensemble characters. After reading both the Dial A for Auntie's series and Vera Wong, it is clear she has perfected the art of writing the family dynamics, where each character's voice is heard and is unique to the story. I really enjoyed reading about Shang's family, and Mulan's family as well. In a lot of ways, the original story was present in the re-imagining, and I enjoyed the Easter Eggs throughout the story.

Some of the areas within the story that I didn't think worked, where some of the pacing within the visit to the farm. I found myself struggling to pick up the story at times, but the romance between Shang and Mulan really grew organically throughout this part. The story also focused a lot on the miscommunication trope which does not always work for me. I think the third act "break-up", which was not really a break up, as not really needed.

Overall, I did enjoy this story! I found the second half to be more original and enjoyable than the first. I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoyed the original source material, folks who enjoy a full cast of characters and for those who need a strong female to lead to root for.

Great retelling! I loved the direction this took; the way Mulan came to know her real self through this experience was so beautiful. MUSHU. WAS. PERFECT. Such a great blend of shenanigans and pep talks.

Jesse Q Sutanto’s clever whit shines through in the latest Meant To Be Installment. More than that is the joy in watching Mulan grow into the “real Mulan”, no mask needed.

It was super fun finding the movie references. And I loved Mushu’s little nod to Vera’s wonderful tea. IYKYK

#JesseQSutanto
#MeantToBe
#WorthFightingFor
#Mulan

This is probably closer to a 2.75 but I rounded up. I also apologize in advance for this review because I hate that I didn’t enjoy this book.

This was one of my more anticipated books for this year and I’m so bummed it was a miss for me. A modern retelling of Mulan yet somehow this story manages to be too much toxic masculinity, too feminist, and also too weak. I don’t know how all three existed at the same time and yet here we are. I also worried that either I’m too close to the Disney movie Mulan or I’m not close enough to Chinese culture because I felt like so many moments were almost there and then fell apart in the last seconds for no reason I was able to discern. There are a handful of nods to the Disney film and classic moments we loved, but there are even more moments where I assumed a nod to the film was building up…places I could imagine the reference easily added into and then it just never happens. And I don’t really know why it kept getting close and then stopping.

The plot itself was weak to me. Mulan’s family owns an acquisition company that wants to buy Shang’s family Whisky company. The acquisition company is full of finance bros (a phrase I never want to hear ever again) and the whisky company is…toxically masculine because women apparently aren’t allowed to drink whisky. Mulan’s father had been corresponding via email with Shang when he falls ill so Mulan takes on his name and pretends she was the person from the emails. That’s….it. She doesn’t pretend to be a man. She just pretends to have a different name. Think Pat as a male or female name...that’s the plot. Mushu has somehow become a forgettable cousin who joins Mulan on a trip to Shang’s family ranch where all his uncles and cousins are also macho men…but Shang is notably called effeminate for cooking and liking audiobooks and cleaning his home. For some unclear reason, Mulan spends 50% of the book convinced Shang is just as bad as the other guys even though he repeatedly shows himself to have zero of those qualities and Mulan talks in circles saying it’s the first time she’s to taking off her “mask” so many times that I can’t figure out why she thinks the mask is still there. The first 30% of the book is super slow and is so Gen z heavy in the writing that I almost gave up. The ranch part is easily the best for plot even though the writing is 50% having the hots for Shang and then telling herself to be professional. Literally she is so into Shang at all times that she wonders to herself if she just perverted multiple times and constantly asks why everything she says to him sounds like innuendo. Mushu has no real influence on any plot and has a random conclusion and Mulan is shunned for….using a fake name. For me, Shang’s mother was a really redeeming part of the story for me and her backstory and journey to America is really where the heart of this book was. The romance was flat and felt lopsided to me. Insta-romance that had no real depth that I could see and Mulan was supposed to be a strong warrior but just…was using a pseudonym.

This may be something current romance readers enjoy, but coming from the Disney Meant To Be series I just expected more. And I wanted Mulan to be that strong warrior we loved in the film.

Tropes:
Insta-romance
One bed
Forced proximity
Cowboy
Workplace romance

Let’s get down to business…

Modern retelling of the classic Mulan. Fun, nostalgic read. This is my second book by the author. Mushu (Mulan’s cousin) was funny! Personally I was a little disappointed Mushu wasn’t a pet but I get it. The movie quotes were a nice touch. Loved Shang, the insta-live not so much BUT that is not what “Mulan” was all about.

Will definitely go back and read the other books in this series.

I've been loving the Disney's Meant to Be series and was really excited not only for Mulan (one of my favorites) but also Jesse Q Sutanto. Unfortunately, this was not my favorite in the series. I think I was missing a bit of Sutanto's quirky, fun side characters and the blatant connections to the original Mulan felt a bit forced. I was rooting for the main couple, but the reasons they had to stay separate were a bit forced and heavy handed. I just don't know if this was the best choice for a romance retelling since the original Mulan was not a romance. I did enjoy the Asian references and insight into that modern culture. Sutanto always does a great job with that. Worth the wait? Maybe. I'll continue to read this series if more are released. And if you've enjoyed the rest in the series, this is still a fun read.

I liked this book. It was interesting to read this modernized version of "Mulan" in such a unique way.

That said, "Mulan" isn't one of my favorite Disney movies. Not by a longshot. I'm not sure why, but it just never appealed to me. That's probably why I didn't like this book more.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Meant to Be series has been hit or miss for me, but I am a huge fan of both Jesse Sutanto and Mulan, so I was excited about this book… and it did not disappoint! The gender “misunderstanding” angle of the fairytale could have been really dicey in a modern setting, but the way it was worked into the story was absolutely perfect. Mulan was a great character, and Mushu was even better. Shang”s family irritated me throughout, but they were of course supposed to… and the resolution to the “business” storyline was perfectly handled in my opinion. This was a great modern update for a beloved tale. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

2.75 stars

I love Mulan and I was so ridiculously excited by the prospect of this retelling! Unfortunately, I wound up pretty disappointed.

Mulan is such an empowering character for anyone who has felt trapped by traditional gender roles. She's brave and intelligent and creative and determined. She's also reckless and fallible, but she has good heart. And I feel like a lot of that was missing from this modern Mulan. Sure, we see a couple instances where she embodies one or two of those characteristics but mostly we're told about them . . . from her PoV. I applaud the choice to put Mulan into the world of finance bros because it should create a similar tension but the execution was lacking.

Shang and Mushu fell short, too. We don't see much of Shang and what we do see is exclusively through Mulan's PoV but he felt flat and uninteresting. It's like he was stripped down to just being hot. The insta-love between Mulan and Shang was very hard to buy into. It made Mulan come across as younger than she is. The romance feels like a secondary plot line which would be okay if the primary plot line of purchasing the Li family company was stronger. And choices were made towards the end that did not sit well with me at all.

I loved that the author chose to make Mushu into Mulan's cousin and she definitely brought all the chaos you'd expect from the character. But the humor was missing! Having three pivotal, iconic characters feel two dimensional made it hard to connect with them and hard to care about the story.

Seeing the aunties and uncles bicker about the Chinese Zodiac and all the little moments of Chinese culture (and the Chinese immigrant experience) really helped ground this story. It added specificity, color, and tension that might otherwise have been missing.

It's a relatively quick read and if Lifetime movie vibes are your thing, you'd probably enjoy this quite a bit. But if you're looking for the gritty, inspiring Mulan from the movie, you might want to skip this one.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

The entire ranch portion of this book is hands-down my favorite. I had such a blast reading through Mulan's experience there and I wish that it had never ended. I could've stayed on that ranch forever and never looked back again, and I feel by the end of it, Mulan felt similarly. I will say, almost every single cheesy romance trope you can think of; yes, it was in this book. Usually, that would leave me put-off and not as invested, but I just ate all of those tropes up in this one and did not mind it. It didn't take away the enjoyability, although it did definitely pull me out of the immersion at times.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again. The characters were so much fun for me!

5/5 stars: This is Sutanto's BIPOC Romance Retelling (Mulan) which is the fifth stand-alone entry in the multi-author Meant to Be series. Set in California, it follows a private equity firm VP who's ploy to masquerade as her ailing father during an ultra masculine whiskey brand's high stakes buyout gets out of hand after she meet and falls for the family's sexy CEO. Heartfelt and laugh-out-loud funny, Sutanto's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain very likable. Sutanto's modern take on the Disney classic Mulan is perfection. The updated characters pay homage to the original animated film and the classic story of China's most famous female warrior while being new and modern and the settings: the finance industry and working ranch hit all the right notes. Mulan's tough and I love seeing her dealing with finance bro's and coming out on top, overcoming family expectations and generational biases and getting to a place that she and Shang can get their HEA. Additionally, I have to say I adored Mushu and how Sutanto incorporated the animated character's chaotic hilarity into Mulan's outrageous cousin. Oh and while this isn't a culinary themed book food and cooking plays a big part and the descriptions are deliciously yummy. Even with no OPS scenes, the romance is top notch with oh so swoony banter and flirting. While this is a stand-alone, you'll for sure want to check out the other entries in this fun series of Disney retellings with If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. Overall, I adored this so much; highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This book was so much fun. I have always loved the story of Mulan and this book shows the strength of women in a male dominated world with a lot of cultural prejudice towards women. I loved the funny lovable cousin, Mushu. Plus I think we all had a major crush on Shang. The family shenanigans at the family farm were pretty silly. Even if you aren't a big disney movie fan, I think this book still holds up as a great read.

ARC review
Publication date 03 June 2025

3,5 stars

“Worth Fighting For” by Jesse Q. Sutanto is part of the "Meant to Be" collection of romance books inspired by Disney stories.
This book is a retelling of "Mulan".

Thank you Hyperion Avenue for the advance digital copy of the book (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

Even if it is the 5th book in this collection, this is the first book I read.

Tropes:
- FMC in finance x CEO MMC
- Disney retelling
- Female empowerment
- Chinese representation
- Forbidden romance
- Closed-door romance

In this story, Mulan works in finance and needs to convince a a family that believes only men can do business well to let them buy their company.
She is actually impersonating her father's role as he is in the hospital.
Shang is the CEO of the small family company that produce whiskey.

We only have Mulan's perspective. She is attracted to Shang from the start, but thinks that he is also a misogyny like his male relatives.
The story was lighthearted and funny at times, but also deals with subjects like sexism, misogyny, gender equality and stereotypes.
I enjoyed the story overall, but some situations were not realistic, with Mulan managing to do some tasks after watching a few videos.

The secondary characters were also interesting. Mushu was funny and I liked that Shang's mother because an ally for Mulan.
The romance part was insta attraction from Mulan's part, then a slow burn with closed door interactions.
I would have liked to have more of their relationship.

If you enjoy Disney stories and strong women trying to prove themselves, you will enjoy this book.

This was a very entertaining modern retelling of Mulan. Instead of pretending to be a man for war, Mulan is (still as a woman) pretending to be her dad to acquire a business that has very old-school ideals about gender roles. Mushu even appears, reimagined as a cousin of Mulan. The story is funny, light-hearted and engaging, while also dealing with the consequences of decisions made and whether or not those consequences can be overcome.

Worth Fighting For is a modern romance based on Mulan, and I adored it. In parts it's a bit heavy handed, but I loved Mulan and Shang so much! And Mushu was absolutely the star of the show. I would recommend it to anybody looking for a fun romance!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy to review

I really enjoy Disney’s Meant to Be series, reimagining Disney classics. And as one might guess, this latest novel is inspired by Mulan (one of my favorites as a kid). Mulan is a leader at her father’s hedge fund company and has plenty of experience as a woman working in a “man’s world”. However when her father experiences a medical emergency right before a major client deal, she takes things into her own hands to make sure the acquisition goes through. For now, that means pretending her name is Fa Zhou - her father and the person the ultra masculine whiskey brand (owned by the Shang family) has been communicating with - and doing anything to win their trust, like traveling to their family ranch cattle wrangling, sheep shearing, & axe-throwing her way to a deal. Sparks fly between Mulan and Shang, but keeping this secret may also tear them apart.
I loved this retelling, even though it took a bit to get used to the hedge fund premise. The characters lived up to their predecessors and I could picture every step of the story.
Thank you to Hyperion Avenue for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much Hyperion Avenue for the advanced free copy of Worth Fighting For!

I just finished this reimagining of Mulan and WOW—my heart is so full! 🥹💛 This story was a stunning blend of heart, humor, and empowerment, and I’m still thinking about how beautifully it all came together.

Watching Mulan shed the expectations of others and fully embrace her true self was everything. 🌸🔥 Her journey felt so authentic, and I loved the way the author explored the complexities of masking and identity, especially in the context of culture and tradition.

And then there’s Shang… oh, Shang. 😍 He was strong, soft, and so unapologetically himself, even when facing pressure from the men in his life to be someone else. That kind of vulnerability in a male character? Chef’s kiss. 👏

Also, can we take a moment to appreciate Shang’s mom?! 👑 She was wise, witty, and supportive in all the best ways—a total scene-stealer!
And Mushu!!! 🐉💥 She was the chaotic cousin energy we all need in our lives—funny, fierce, and completely her own person. I adored her take in this version!

The plot twist added such a clever layer, and the ending wrapped things up in the most satisfying, heartwarming way. 💖 This book not only celebrated family and heritage but also gave a realistic and powerful look at what women often face in business and leadership roles. It was empowering, emotional, and just SO much fun to read. 💼✨

Highly recommend this one to anyone who loves modern retellings, family dynamics, strong women, and characters who feel like friends by the end! 🫶