While I have a lot of appreciation for the author and her previous works, this particular book didn't resonate with me. I think it may be because I’m not the intended audience, as I feel I might be a bit too old for it.
I appreciate the publisher/author for providing this complimentary advanced copy. The opinions shared in this review are entirely my own.

Mulan is a female finance powerhouse in a finance-bro world. She is excellent at her job and it used to being underestimated because of her gender. When her firm founder, her father, collapses on the verge of securing a new contract, Mulan has very big shoes to fill in her absence. The only way she can think of to be taken seriously is to impersonate him as the leader of the company. It all seems fine until she is pushed to test her strength as a man and needs to figure out who she really is

The Meant To Be series continues to hold a special place in my heart and this book is no exception. I grew up loving princess fairytales so seeing them reimagined in adult worlds that I can relate to at this point in my life bring me so much joy. Sutanto does a fantastic job of retelling Mulan's story with a fresh perspective. I laughed at Mushu throughout, just as I did in the movie. This is another hit in the Meant To Be series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC of Worth Fighting For.

This whole series is such a fun escape, especially for Disney fans! I was so excited to read this one because I love Jesse Q. Sutanto's humor in her Vera Wong series. Of all the Disney Princess stories, I would imagine that Mulan's would be the most challenging to adapt into a modern setting, but I love how it all came together! Mulan is trying to make it in the world of finance and must go in her father's place to save an important business deal when he is too ill. She has to show her abilities in various masculine endeavors to win over the family behind a whiskey company with a Marlboro Man-like image to uphold. Jesse Q. Sutanto does a great job painting a picture of the dynamics of both Chinese families and descriptions of delicious Chinese food. The romance was very sweet and the ending was satisfying.

Cute!!! I really liked this one. I was thought the romance was super sweet. The characters were great and the story was very enjoyable

I went into Worth Fighting For without knowing it was a retelling. And a retelling of Mulan at that. The twist was that a banker had to pretend that all prior correspondence between a potential client and her father was really with her once her father falls ill. She didn’t have to pretend to be a man in person but she had to pretend that it was her in all prior conversations, including his childhood on a ranch. This was cute and fun and made me giggle. And it had one of my favorite themes that women can do anything men can do and that we must eliminate historical gender norms. If you like Mulan, this is for you.

Another great book in this modernized dinsey re-telling series! Jesse Q Sutanto did a great job with this one and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This book was amazing and my favorite from the Meant For More Series. Highly recommend for people who enjoy modern retellings of Disney stories. Love this book.

4.25 stars

Worth Fighting For is a great addition to the Meant to Be series with author Jesse Q. Sutanto delivering on a fantastic modern interpretation of Mulan.

Readers who love the original movie will appreciate the way that Mushu is depicted, as Mulan’s best friend/cousin, and enjoy the subtle Easter eggs that pay homage to the film. Even if you haven’t watched the film, this book stands alone because of its wit, humor, and great storyline.

If you’re looking for a funny, closed-door romance with a healthy amount of hijinks, this is the book for you!

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a whip-smart, laugh-out-loud contemporary romance that reimagines Mulan in the high-stakes world of hedge funds, whiskey empires, and mistaken identity—with a whole lot of heart.

Fa Mulan is the brilliant, no-nonsense right hand at her father’s hedge fund. When he falls ill during a critical acquisition, she steps in—by pretending to be him. The catch? The deal involves a traditional, ultra-masculine whiskey company run by the skeptical but swoon-worthy Shang. What starts as a clever ruse turns into a weeklong retreat full of cattle wrangling, axe-throwing, and undeniable chemistry.

Sutanto delivers her signature blend of sharp humor, romantic tension, and cultural insight. The banter is electric, the stakes are high, and the emotional payoff is worth every page. It’s a modern love story about identity, legacy, and finding your voice—even if you have to fake it first.

Perfect for fans of Dial A for Aunties and anyone who loves a rom-com with brains, brawn, and a whole lot of heart. 💼💘🥃

#WorthFightingFor #JesseQSutanto #RomComReads #ModernMulan #Bookstagram #MeantToBeSeries

What drew me in was the fact that it was a Mulan retelling. I liked that they kept the character names, because it made it easy for me to follow.

What got me frustrated in this book was the heavy emphasis on sexism and how the FMC worked through it. I felt like it was said way too much. Very "beat the dead horse". I appreciated learning about the Chinese culture and foods. I understood where the FMC came from because we have similar backgrounds. Since the seismic was something the FMC really struggled with, I can see how it would be stated more often, but for me, was to the point that it was off putting.

I really loved the family dynamics, and the storyline itself is great. I thought her doing farm things was funny, and can totally see the character hyping herself up to do those things. My favorite moments were the FMC with her cousin and when she was cooking. I enjoyed the twist with James. Although I was expecting it to be more explosive. I love Auntie Jaiyi, and loved to see her in action at the end. 

The romance was very much a slow burn. There is kissing in this story, but spice is closed door. 

I would recommend this to someone who enjoys Asian culture, clean/closed door romances, and Mulan retellings.

I really love these Meant to Be romances, they are so fun and I love seeing the contemporary twist the authors give these stories. Mulan is one of my favorite Disney movies so I was really looking forward to seeing what Sutanto did with the story. This was so charming. I loved this version of Mulan who is trying to succeed in the finance world, a very "finance bro" coded space. She works for her dad's company and wants to make him proud. When the opportunity comes to take on a client her father really wants, Mulan must go in disguise to visit the potential client in order to be taken seriously. This was such a fun and clever way to "update" the Mulan story for the contemporary setting. The hijinks Mulan got up to on the farm and with the Li family were so funny and I really felt for her. The romance with Shang was extremely lovely and felt really organic. It's sort of a love at first sight situation but Mulan is lying about who she is so whle she is falling even more for Shang she is still living her charade.

These books are such a fun way to focus on the romance of these classic stories and update them for a modern audience. I will keep reading them as long as they keep publishing them!

Thank you so much to Hyperion and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mulan is my favorite Disney princess so I was ecstatic to read this retelling! As always with Jesse Sutanto’s writing, you can expect humor and wittiness. It was a quick and fun read.

I just love Jesse Q. Sutanto’s writing so much. This is the fifth book I’ve read by her, and she always nails the humor and the heart, especially when it comes to family, both blood and found. Worth Fighting For is a modern twist on Mulan, and I had such a great time with it.

In this version, Mulan has to step in for her father and close an important business deal when he falls ill. The catch? The company they’re trying to acquire is super old-fashioned and will only negotiate with a man. I really appreciated that Sutanto didn’t go the route of Mulan pretending to be a man, it works in the original or in a fantasy setting, but it would’ve felt too over-the-top in a contemporary story. Instead, the book focuses on Mulan navigating this situation with wit, heart, and a whole lot of awkward ranch encounters.

This story was full of warmth and charm. I especially loved the different family dynamics we got to see, and watching city girl Mulan try (and fail) to blend into ranch life had me laughing out loud. It’s a quick, fun summer read that still manages to pack an emotional punch.

As a proud Disney girlie, I adore the Meant to Be collection, and Worth Fighting For was no exception!

Let’s get down to business–Jesse Q. Sutanto delivers a fun, fast-paced, and swoon-worthy modern reimagining of Mulan that had me grinning, blushing, and cheering the FMC on every step of the way.

I loved watching this version of Mulan try to navigate not just a high-stakes business deal, but her own journey of self-discovery. She’s smart, bold, and hilariously real, especially as she fakes her way through sheep shearing and cattle wrangling. The added twist of mistaken identity worked perfectly in a corporate setting, and the chemistry between Mulan and Shang? Delicious.

If you’re into sharp heroines, fake identities, and retellings that celebrate fierce women following their own path, Worth Fighting For is absolutely worth picking up.

Read if you like:
🤠 Workplace Romance
🤠 Mistaken/Hidden Identity
🤠 Forced Proximity
🤠 Meet Cute

I have loved this series of retellings and thought this was a good twist on the Mulan story. I enjoyed the start and finish of the book more than the middle. The middle dragged for me and I felt like being able to do farming tasks from watching Tiktoks was a bit unbelievable. I also don't love how far the relationship went where someone was still lying about who they were.

Overall this book fell right in the middle at 3 stars.

This book!!! The Meant to Be Series has another winner. I absolutely LOVED Jesse’s retelling of a modern day Mulan and how she incorporated the female warrior in a modern setting. It’s a story of female empowerment and finding love. I LOVED it!

Thanks to @booksparks and @jesseqsutanto for a #gifted copy of Worth Fighting For, the next book in Track 4 of the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge.
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Mulan is back and this time, she’s trading her sword for spreadsheets and saddle sores. In this delightful modern retelling, Jesse Q. Sutanto gives our favorite warrior a fierce, feminist glow-up in the world of private equity!
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Mulan knows how to slay in the boardroom. But when her father’s sudden illness forces her to impersonate him during a high-stakes whiskey acquisition, she finds herself out of her element. Enter Shang. He’s broody, brawny, and baffled by this mysterious “Fa Zhou” who’s suddenly showing up at the family ranch for team-building and axe throwing.
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From cattle wrangling to corporate wrangling, Worth Fighting For is equal parts rom-com, workplace drama, and cowboy chaos. Sutanto delivers all the laughs, swoons, and sharp commentary with a baddie heroine you can’t help but love. And a love interest that is extremely swoony!
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What you’ll fine:
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✅ Fake identity
✅ Slow-burn romance with sizzling chemistry
✅ Strong women navigating male-dominated spaces
✅ A splash of “yee-haw” with your business strategy

I loved everything about this modern interpretation of Mulan! Putting Mulan in the corporate world with the Finance Bros was inspired and hilarious! I found myself consistently comparing this to the movie and was amazed by how well it followed it but still had its own story to tell. The characters were all well-developed and likeable (as much as they’re supposed to be) and there were some heartwarming moments that were the perfect complement to the serious business negotiations and Mushu’s antics. Highly recommended!

A very cute retelling of Mulan. The instalove was a bit much but the banter between Mulan and Shang was really good. Mushu though stole the book for me. She was such a great character.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Great romance. Social commentary regarding the patriarchy society and anti-feminism. Quick read. Based on Mu;an.