I absolutely loved this story so so much! It was so raw and real and emotional. I now want to read this authors entire backlist. Will be recommending to everyone. This story will stick with me for awhile. So many important messages to take away from this book. Thank you so much for the arc copy!! I rated it a 4.5 stars rounded up.

This didn’t hit for me, but if you enjoy age gap sapphic love, you will love it! I look forward to reading more from Sutanto!

Sutano's latest novel is told through the lens of an Indo-Chinese grandmother telling the story of her youth to her queer granddaughter. When Magnolia Chen, widow and matriarch of the Chen family, shows up to a family event with a girlfriend at her side, her granddaughter Izzy is shocked to find that her grandmother is queer like her. Magnolia tells a twisty, bittersweet tale of her long-lost love story over the course of over a decade.

The framing of this novel is lovely, as in the gorgeously-told story of a woman trying to be herself in the midst of a homophobic and misogynistic culture. At times, the novel is sometimes a little bit too on-the-nose with its condemnations of that culture, but I found I didn't mind that for the most part. The characters are well-developed, the L.A. setting is beautifully rendered, and the emotional layering of the story is exquisite. It's definitely bittersweet--don't go in expecting this to be a happy-ever-after romance--but it's one of those books that will make you cry and you'll love ever second of it.

I can’t wait for everyone to read this book! This was such a beautiful story of love, loss/heartbreak, feeling alone, and learning to embrace yourself when you don’t fit into the mold. It was written in a way where it felt like you were in Izzy’s shoes hearing the story directly from Magnolia and that kept me so engaged. Magnolia has so much depth and is an amazing and brave woman. I’m not one to get emotional but this provoked so many emotions for me - THE LAST 20% 😭!! I highly recommend this book!!

Wow, oh wow—I truly loved and hated that ending (in the best way). It’s been a long time since a book made me cry, so hats off to Jesse Q. Sutanto for pulling those tears out of me!

As a queer person who came out later in life, I felt so seen in this story. The assumption of straightness, especially in households where only heterosexual relationships are validated, hit home.

From start to finish, I loved being on this ride with Magnolia. Watching her transform from a shy teen, to a quiet wife, to a “hear me roar” force who refuses to be silenced was incredibly powerful.

I also appreciated the inclusion of mental health themes and how different cultures (in this case, Indonesian) perceive it. While I wished that aspect had been explored a little deeper—especially from the lens of a licensed mental health professional—it was still a valuable and honest touch.

I’ve long been a fan of Sutanto’s hilarious books (Dial A for Aunties, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Solving Murders), and this novel felt like a real evolution in her writing. It still held her signature heart, but with a more serious and emotional tone.

One small hiccup: I wasn’t sure if this was set in the present or future. Magnolia is a grandmother with grandchildren, but one chapter states she was 26 in 2007—putting her birth year around 1981, which would make her 44 today. I eventually let that go and just embraced the book magic.

A moving, deeply personal, and beautifully written novel.

There is so much life in these pages. This novel was a breathtaking, heart-wrenching exploration of self-discovery.

Reading a JQS novel is never just reading. It's cultural insight, it's fresh perspective, an entertaining truth woven through fiction. You travel the world through her writing - especially in this story.

She handled social issues with such care and depth. Immersive, emotional, and deeply eye-opening. The final 20% will absolutely break you, but also leave you with an incredible sense of hope.

Thank you to Berkley, the author & NetGalley for the eArc

The premise of the book really really drew me in! I was so excited to read it and it was a very unique format ! Storytelling this way definitely wasn’t for me but I gave it a shot.

However some bits like the sex scenes being described to her young granddaughter made my nose scrunch , and I didn’t like it that much. I kept remembering who she was telling this too and I almost thought it would work better as just a consistent timeline .

I also never got closure . There’s no happy ending and it’s not the heartwarming read that I expected. It left me feeling unfinished . Some parts were very cute but definitely not my type of book.

Oh I looooooved this. Reading Magnolia and Ellery’s story, especially in their early days, felt achingly familiar. I think just about any sapphic person would see themselves in some part of their relationship. I loved having Magnolia as the narrator and having her present day POV sprinkled throughout the story. She was a fantastic MC. The backdrops of Jakarta and LA also added to the story. My only complaint is that, compared to everyone else, Izzy felt way less developed as a character. But I’d still highly recommend this book!

This book was so beautiful and the end was devastating. I loved the characters and the plot was really well done. The way Nainai told her story to Izzy made it feel super personal and kept me hooked. I also really liked how it tackled themes like breaking cultural norms and feminism in such a powerful way. Definitely a story that’s going to stick with me.

This unexpectedly blew my mind.

This beautiful story of sisterhood, generational trauma and queerness wrapped in Chinese-Indonesian culture was so touching and at times heartbreaking. Sutanto wrote unforgettable characters that made you believe they were real and that is something that never goes unnoticed for me. I love how Magnolia was such a vulnerable character and I loved to see her find her place in the world. I don’t want to say too much but PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.

Now I fear I might have to go through the author’s entire backlist.

Jesse Q. Sutanto, thank you for this stunning book. It is now a favorite and I cannot wait to buy it when it comes out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book !

Izzy feels like the black sheep of the family, especially with her hidden sexuality. So when her grandmother, Magnolia, shows off her new relationship with a woman at the Chinese New Year celebration, it leaves the entire family shocked. Wanting to confide in her grandchild, Magnolia sets off on telling her story.

Magnolia had been sent to the United States to earn a degree to strengthen her chances of finding a suitable husband. She found herself unprepared for the insights and steps through life she began to take. Her story is a telling of not just how she met the love of her life but how she finds herself along the way.

This book is a heavy hitter on breaking tradition and what is “comfortable” to be your true self. It’s never too late to try something new in life or reach a new milestone. Find a partner who can laugh with you through life. Don’t let misogyny and conformity dictate your actions. Be an example so others know they are not alone. Question your upbringing and society, even if you are not the one being oppressed.

This book grew on me throughout the story of Magnolia. It is inspirational and more than a typical romance book. I ended up giving this book 4 stars.

Wiping tears from my eyes while writing this review. The book started off a little slow but developed into such a beautiful story that felt like the perfect read during pride month. Were some of the characters infuriating? yes. Did I mind too much? absolutely not. This story was beautiful. I especially loved the emphasis on the importance of mental health despite the stigmatization apparent within Magnolia’s culture. This book was well written and incredibly emotional in the best way possible. 4 stars!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
I wouldn’t classify this as a romance - it’s more a new adult coming-of-age story for both our main characters: Magnolia Chen and her granddaughter Izzy. They’re both trying to figure things out at the time, and Izzy has quite the guide in the form of Nainai. She clearly learned so much from her time in California and her relationship with Ellery. Along with their evolution from friends to lovers, it made some smart points about societal and parental expectations, the patriarchy, and how you give fewer fucks (can I swear here?) as you get older,
And yes, the story itself was a sweet and smart one, but the way it was told (in second person, in the form of a story to Izzy) made it all the more compelling. It also emphasized the connection between the family members.

I. loved. this. and I wasn’t expecting to cry at this one but I did!!!
I was going into this expecting a purely sapphic romance book Happily Ever After vibe book (and was down for that, although I do prefer some nuance that literary love stories often have more of) and was greatly surprised when this book had a very multi-faceted plot.
It was not just about being gay, it was about the reckoning of that with traditional Chinese-Indonesian values and the trapping confines of patriarchy and how everyone (your family, your friends, your entire community) is involved with your inner life.


what worked: the story of sisterhood, the efforts of breaking generational trauma and generational expectations, friendship, the overall cast of characters we are introduced to, the unexpectedness of the story as it goes along

what didn't: the reason I did not give this 5 stars...I found the writing to be a bit weird at times. it is a grandmother telling her granddaughter a story, but it isn't always clear. there are random moments when you are immersed in the story and then you hear her say something to her grand daughter and it just takes you out of it. im trying to find a good example but there were no real quotations so sometimes the voice we were reading wasn't consistent. story was 5/5 but writing was def a 3/5.

I can't recommend it enough! I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, I finished it in a couple of days!

This book was very interesting. It has many layers. We learn a lot about the characters and truly whee we love looks like. It has family, friendship, humor, and life lessons. I really enjoyed it and found myself smiling so big at the end!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a powerful and emotionally resonant historical novel that brings to life a pivotal moment in Indonesian history through the eyes of a fierce young heroine. Sutanto’s vivid storytelling and heartfelt prose shine as she explores themes of resistance, identity, and family. It’s a gripping, unforgettable tale that blends personal and political stakes with masterful intensity.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of Next Time Will Be Our Turn, all thoughts and review following are solely my own.

This novel is such a bittersweet and heartbreaking story of a grandmother retelling her life to her 16 year old granddaughter. Reminiscing after she moved to America from Indonesia as a young woman and meeting the love of her life. The author story weaves together patriarchy, self-discovery, and romance were written in a way that's poignant and emotionally heart wrenching.

There are a couple of trigger warnings that need to be relayed before reading this book such as a age gap between two characters in love, over/under age.

not rated - dnf

Sadly, I couldn't finish this book. While I was really enjoying the plot and the writing style, I just felt uncomfortable reading about a romance between a 16-year-old and a 22-year-old. Personally, I think the age gap was unnecessary, since it didn't really add anything to the story—in my case, it actually made me not want to continue reading. Still, I think the themes of the story are great, and if you can get past that (nothing physical happens at that age), I would recommend it!

I will, however, read something else by her because I definitely think it was just bad luck (I'm very picky about age gaps!).

*thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC*

Tender, bold, and beautifully told, Next Time Will Be Our Turn is Jesse Q. Sutanto at her most heartfelt—an intergenerational love story that explores identity, family, and the quiet courage it takes to live authentically. When Izzy’s formidable Nainai kisses a woman at their lavish Chinese New Year dinner, it sends ripples through their traditional family—and opens the door to a story Izzy never expected. Sutanto seamlessly weaves Magnolia’s past and Izzy’s present into a sweeping, emotional narrative full of forbidden love, cultural expectations, and the enduring power of self-discovery. With wit, warmth, and just the right touch of rebellion, this novel is a radiant reminder that it’s never too late to embrace who you truly are.