I liked this light-hearted rom-com. This is the first book I’ve read in the “Meant to Be” series. I didn’t feel I was missing information to read this fifth book in the series.Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. My reading speed if this epub version was slower since the NetGalley app did not provide the option for a black background with white letters with a dyslexic font, like how i amable to read most ARCs on NG. The story was fun to read and the character Mushu was my favorite of all. My favorite setting was at the Li family ranch. I recommend this relaxing read to those who love rom-com that mix the generations and fusion of Chinese and modern American culture. The story was funny and I liked how the main character Mulan evolved. Only part that dragged story was Mulan’s extended self reflection. Also Shang seemed a bit to perfect. All in all good 3 star book with satisfying ending. My favorite from the author is the Aunties series since I found myself chuckling over more characters.

I loved this book! I am not a huge fan of fairytale retellings but when I saw this was Mulan inspired I had to read it. Boy was i glad i did! The Mulan aspects were amazing inspired by the original story but it fit the story so well. I loved the family and tradition as well as the growth from so many characters. I also found myself giggling and kicking my feet at the easy banter between Shang and Mulan. This book has it all. This is a must read!

It's the Mulan retelling we all needed! First, I love Jess Q. Sutanto as an author so I was excited to read this. I love the modern-day spin on Mulan. Making Mulan someone who plays in the boy's sandbox was brilliant. I also loved the idea of Shang being a big time CEO. Mushu's character was spot on and a highlight of the book. Like the movie, this book is about self-discovery and love. It's pretty good and one of the best in this entire series.

4.5/5 stars! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
The pacing of some events were a tad off, but I liked the dialogue and interactions between characters, and the overall premise was true to the overarching theme of Disney’s Mulan. I even loved that some of the classic Mulan dialogue lines were included in the text!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the e-book copy in exchange for an honest review.

FIve stars. I mean, "Mulan" was one of my favorites growing up for her spunk, her intelligence, and her courage. Jesse Q. Sutanto brought such a beloved Disney classic into the contemporary environment while also adding some much needed depth within the dynamics and struggles of immigrant families, especially women! I laughed. I cried. And more importantly, I learned. Thank you, NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

I’ll start by staying I always love and appreciate these sort of modern day Disney retellings! This was a fun addition to the series.

No spoilers in my review!

I did enjoy a lot of this book, and especially Shang. He is witty and dreamy! I didn’t like Mushu at all. Mulan was okay!

The book flowed really well and it was really easy to get through.

The primary reason for the 3 stars. This book had insta-love which in general isn’t my favorite especially because I feel like relationships end up underdeveloped, and this was no exception. Their relationship felt a bit rushed and certain things skipped over at times.

I still enjoyed it but wish the ending especially was maybe developed a little bit more!

Rounded up.
This is the problem with Disney getting thier hands on adults: A woman who should be capable, intelligent, and independent is reduced to a bumbling stooge with one bad idea after another culminating in inevitable suffering that is in no way either necessary or inevitable.

I love this series! I did struggle a little with this being labeled as a romance, as it does follow the story arc of one, but lacks the feel of one. The protagonist's dilemma felt a little forced and not worth the hassle of basically the entire plot. I do, however, love Jesse Sutanto and liked her writing, and especially loved the fun and quirky sidekick, Mushu (Awkwafina, anyone?)

As a fan of Disney's Mulan, I couldn’t resist picking up Worth Fighting For--Jesse Q. Sutanto’s contribution to the Meant to Be series. This is the third book in the series I’ve read—I've also read By the Book by Jasmine Guillory and Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren—and I’d rank it right in between: better than By the Book but not quite as enjoyable as Tangled Up in You.

One of the things that initially drew me to this book was curiosity about how they would translate “woman disguises herself as a man to fight in a war” into a modern-day setting. Sutanto’s solution was both clever and fitting: a high-stakes, cutthroat corporate environment. I saw one reviewer describe it as “a Mulan reimagining set in the Bay Area amongst finance bros”—and I’m going to wholeheartedly cosign that, because it sums up the vibe perfectly.

Sutanto’s character work is where the book truly shines. She does an amazing job helping us imagine both the physical and emotional dimensions of her cast. In fact, in my head canon, Mushu--Mulan's cousin in this version of the story--was played by Awkwafina. The chemistry between the leads felt genuine albeit a bit insta-lovey, and the themes of loyalty, courage, and of course, honor pay loving tribute to the spirit of Mulan while giving it a fresh, contemporary twist.

4★

Thank you NetGalley & Hyperion Avenue for the opportunity to read this ARC 💌

Worth Fighting For was such a charming and funny modern day retelling of Mulan! This story follows Fa Mulan who works as the right hand of her father’s hedge fund company. As a woman in finance, she works ten times smarter and harder to show that she’s as capable as the finance bros she works with. When her father, Fa Zhou, is hospitalized in the middle of an important acquisition with Wutai Gold, known for its masculine whiskey brand, and led by Shang Li and his old-fashioned family members, Mulan decides to pretend she’s her father so the deal won’t fall through. They’ve only corresponded over email so things should proceed smoothly, right? What Mulan doesn’t expect is the email leading to an in-person meeting and an invitation to the Li family ranch.

Having watched Mulan a million and two times, I was still so surprised at how much I loved this! The storyline and romance between Shang and Mulan was so well written, fun, and exciting! Their banter and chemistry was off the charts and I was touched by their moments of vulnerability. I enjoyed how they were able to let their masks slip off and explore their true selves and individuality with each other. The ranch scenes were by far my favourite, as the romance between Shang and Mulan develops, but we also dive into Chinese culture and upbringing which was informative. I appreciated how even in the modern world, this book still conveyed the message of how challenging it is for women to work in male dominated fields and how women are capable of achieving great things and lead in a position of power.

I would have loved to read more after the conflict was resolved and felt like the ending was rushed, but overall I enjoyed this so much, it made the little kid in me so happy! Worth Fighting For releases on June 3rd ♥️

A fun and modern rom-com take on Mulan! I felt like some of the commentary was too on the nose or over-explained, but overall, I really enjoyed this read. Shang and Shang's mom really stole the show; oh, and mushu, of course! Looking forward to reading more from this author!

If you love Disney you will love this book! Such a fun twist on Mulan the movie. I have loved this series with all the modern day princesses. Shang is my favorite in this book.
Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing this ARC.
Such a fun story!

I’ve loved all the Collabs that went into the series and this one is no different! I truly and wholeheartedly loved this modern Mulan retelling! Loved all the characters especially Mushu. This book is packed with laugh out loud humor. A lot of romantic tension. This book is a slow-burn romance that will make you swoon. Enjoyed this book so much! I loved the original movie Mulan so I was excited to read this and it didn’t not disappoint! Truly amazing!!

This next book in the Disney series it true to the Mulan story outline. It’s a little overly focused on some silly bits, but overall with a good message. Definitely predictable and not as developed as the others in the series, but a light easy read.

Aside from the first in this series, none of the other books have really blown me away. This was fine, cheesy at times, but I could feel the Mulan connection. I won’t say it will be particularly memorable and the lie felt a bit pronounced given the circumstances, making it harder to root for Mulan. Mushu was particularly annoying and not as lovable as I believe the author intended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Like all these Meant to Be novels, this is not a Mulan retelling, rather a romantic comedy (heavy on the comedy) inspired by Mulan. And it's...a mixed bag. Overall it's serviceable as a rom com if you can suspend your disbelief a LOT.

Mulan herself is great! She's brave, bold, has a strong sense of duty, wants to do the right thing and knows her own worth. Shang is also capable, a real gentleman, great at cooking anda great love interest.

Mushu is there as the comedic relief, and mostly just says groaners or gives me embarrassing Awkwafina energy. The rest of the finance bros and sexist Li family are basically cardboard cutouts.

The plot is just ridiculous. Like your suspension of disbelief has to be SO STRONG to buy any of this for even a second. I commend the author for adeptly avoiding any possible insensitivity when it comes to cross dressing and instead focus on the feminism aspect, but I rolled my eyes so hard many many times at the shenanigans that go down. Thankfully Mulan isa quick study so she only falls in literal poop once before she "mans up" and starts being competent again. It's definitely the weakest aspect and unfortunately the longest part. Thankfully the romance is sweet! loved Shang and thought they had great chemistry. There's the typical guilt and lame tension that comes with a mistaken identity story, but overall liked the romance a lot.

The Chinese culture and love between the family members was great! Loved seeing all the little quirks of the aunties and uncles, the stories of immigrant experiences, and the FOOD as always. The last 20% of so really hits home the feminist aspect of the story and was also really enjoyable.

Overall it's fine? Again, definitely don't expect a Mulan retelling. It's a rom com, heavy on the com that's not actually funny, so it is just okay.

I loved the movie Mulan when I was a kid so to say I was excited is definitely an understandment. Shang was dreamy and I just wish there would have been a little bit more spice. Still well written and an enjoyable piece of the series. A solid 3.5 stars for me!

I found this one to be very cute and funny. Definitely hits the rom-com tropes in a feel-good way. I’m always down for a fairytale/disney retelling. Mulan in a finance role is not one I would have imagined, but it worked well for this story. This was a fun exploration of being a woman in a man’s world and learning the power of being a woman. I loved the characters of Mushu. The romance was instant, but I loved the banter. Overall, it’s a very fun take on a modern Mulan.

Maybe I'm not feminist enough, but I felt like Mulan was fighting just to fight about anything that had to do with equality. I was so torn because there were parts of this book that got me excited because it felt very kdramaesque, but Shang just didn't do it for me. I feel like movie Shang and book Shang were not the same person, and I struggled with that a lot. He's more aloof and I would've loved a more gradual slip into him being aloof and disinterested into the respect and admiration of her. I understand that it's a modern day retelling, so it's going to be different, but I was a little let down by this one.

Jesse Q. Sutanto captured the iconic lines of Disney's classic Mulan in this modern day interpretation.
Mulan is working for her father's hedge fund company. Her father is in the midst of negotiating a merger with a Whiskey company that has a hyper masculine marketing scheme and board of directors embodies "old school" *read sexist* ideals. When Fa Zhou has a heat attack Mulan impersonates him in order to secure the deal. She just didn't bargain for the chemistry between her and the CEO, Shang.

Mulan is a finance bro opposite a feminist Shang with Mushu providing comedic relief. I honestly pictured Awkwafiina every time Mushu was on the page, definitely a different vibe from the animated Mushu. There were some hilarious moments where Mulan struggled with the ranch life. I enjoyed the conclusion of the book but felt like the resolution was a bit rushed.

What I liked:
Shang.
Shang's mom.

What I didn't like:
Every time after the first few references to" finance bro" yes I did hear "I want a man in finance" every time, thanks for asking.
Insta lust on the part of Mulan. She defiantly was thirsting after Shang and it honestly hindered the stories tension a bit.

SPOILER * They get intimate before she corrects the lie* and that really negatively impacted my reading experience.


Video review to come, will update social links.