thank you netgalley for this arc!

overall i really enjoyed. the ending seemed to come super fast but i really enjoyed the different pieces of cultural pieces explored and always love a lgbtq+ rep book!

I was incredibly excited for this release, but, unfortunately it was not for me. I didn’t feel that I could connect with the characters and I also found there to be various spots throughout the book with unnecessary cursing which is just not for me! I am sure others will eat this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishing team for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I have so many thoughts about this book. First off, it takes place in the future, but this is never clarified or explained. Magnolia, who is 73, is telling her 16 year old granddaughter, Izzy, about her romantic history, and she starts when she is 13 in 1995. I am a similar age to Magnolia, according to this timeline, and the references to the '90s are very confusing. Characters are texting and using cell phones, which didn't happen at that time.

At 16, Magnolia is sent from Jakarta to LA to begin at a junior college. She meets a 22 year old woman named Ellery, and they become best friends. Magnolia falls in love with Ellery, and this really creeped me out. I think it's inappropriate for a 16 year and 22 year old to be together, and I couldn't get past that. After Ellery leaves to go to school elsewhere, Magnolia dates James. She meets James when she is 16, and he is 19. He asks her on a date when she turns 18, and this also creeped me out.

Throughout the story, Magnolia tells Izzy about her romances, and eventually, how she marries Izzy's grandfather. So many things happen in this story that broke my heart, and I was hoping for a happy ending, but that ending did not come.

I had issues with how Magnolia treated her husband, Parker, and their relationship didn't work for me. I'm avoiding spoilers, but their storyline made me upset.

If you're looking for a romcom or a romance with a happy ending, this is not that book. Magnolia's story is filled with twists and turns, but overall, it's filled with sadness and the feeling of what could have/might have been. I didn't understand many of Magnolia's choices, and I kept looking for her to justify them.

This book touched something deep and personal in me. The way Jesse Q. Sutanto weaves a multi-generational story of love, identity, and courage is simply breathtaking. I loved how the story doesn’t shy away from the complexities of culture, family expectations, and self-discovery. The writing is warm and heartfelt, full of moments that made me pause and feel every emotion with the characters. It is a story about bravery; the bravery to live your truth and the bravery to love fiercely, even when the world tries to tell you otherwise. It’s a love story, a family saga, and an inspiring journey all rolled into one. I absolutely adored it.

A coming of age story with a unique setting of Jakarta and Los Angeles. The story revolves around a teenager who is struggling to fit in her Chinese-Indonesian family and a Grandmother who shares her own coming of age story. I thought the author did a great job exploring the expected role of women in a traditional family told across multiple generations. It was also interesting learning more about Indonesian culture as I don’t recall reading another fiction book set in Jakarta. This is a definite change from the authors previous work, missing some of the more humorous aspects of multigenerational differences, and I hope she continues with this emotionally moving story telling.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC and this is my voluntary review.

Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q Sutanto was a whirlwind of a book! I did not want to let go of these characters or their stories once it was finished and was left with wanting more.

The story follows Magnolia (Nainai), our seemingly fearless grandmother as she stuns her Indonesian family by arriving to their Chinese New Year celebration with her girlfriend. Izzy, Magnolias granddaughter is taken aback - first off that her grandmother is bringing a woman and second that they just kissed! Little to Izzys knowledge -they are more alike than it seems . What captivated me about this book was the way it was told. We jump between Magnolia speaking to Izzy about her adventures at 16 as they take walks throughout the night with interludes from Izzy.

We see themes of love, death, LGBTQIA, family tension, the struggle of feeling like home isn't where you grew up, sacrifices, and so so so much more.

This book was so close to being a 5 star read for me. I wanted more of Hazels and Izzy's story line and even more of Izzys thoughts as we read. If I could I would say a 4.5 is a better rating.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc!

Accidentally, I stumbled upon one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read, and I’m so glad I did. Next Time Will Be Our Turn is a powerful exploration of breaking free from societal norms and the courage it takes to live authentically. Set between Indonesia and the United States, the novel beautifully contrasts two cultures—each with its own set of expectations, traditions, and limitations. It’s a story about fighting for what truly matters, and the emotional toll of making the hardest, most impossible choices.

What really resonated with me was the way the characters grapple with personal freedom versus the pressure of their backgrounds. In Indonesia, they are bound by the weight of social expectations, the universal struggle of reconciling who you are with the world around you.

This isn’t just a love story; it’s a story of courage and defiance. The characters are faced with heartbreaking choices that force them to question everything they thought they knew about themselves and their place in the world. The emotional depth of their journey, especially in the context of love and personal fulfillment, is profound and moving.

Ultimately, this novel is a tribute to the strength of those who refuse to conform to society’s mold. It’s about women—though not just women—who have the courage to pave their own way, despite the overwhelming pressures from family, community, and even their own pasts. It made me reflect deeply on my own life and the freedoms I sometimes take for granted.

The way the story navigates the tension between two cultures makes it rich and layered, and I can’t help but imagine how this would make an incredible movie. The contrast of the Indonesian landscape and culture with the modernity of the US would be visually stunning, while the emotional complexity of the characters would be just as compelling on screen.

This is a beautifully written novel, and I’m so grateful for the way it made me reflect on the choices we make and the lives we want to lead, no matter the cost. It’s a stunning reminder of the power of personal freedom and the courage it takes to live the life you truly desire.

wow wow wow absolutely loved this. A different way of telling the story that kept me intrigued the whole way through, the pacing was incredible really kept me hooked in, I read 75% of the book in one sitting. Loved the way the different relationships were explored- sisters, grandparents, lovers, etc. my favorite book of the year so far- I was tearing up at the end!

“I have colored every corner of Cal with memories of us.” This line really got me, because there was no “us” when Magnolia was in Cal—all the memories were just her imagining Ellery at Cal with her. 3.5/5: easy reading, authentic portrayal of Asian culture (maybe ultimately too authentic), and in my opinion unnecessarily/unrealistically unhappy.

I have a lot of thoughts on this one. Let me start by saying that I am Chinese-American, so not exactly the same as Magnolia and Izzy’s Chinese-Indonesian, but same enough to have the shared experiences. Came for the authentic Asian representation, and got plenty of it (especially from M’s parents). Right off the bat, I was confused by M being referred to as “Nainai” while it seemed she was Izzy’s maternal grandmother. (This is the word for PATERNAL grandmother in Chinese). I thought maybe it could just be an Indonesian thing (and I trust that the author, a woman with an Indonesian background, wouldn’t just have something so glaringly wrong there if it was wrong) but I couldn’t find anything confirming Nainai could mean paternal gma in Indonesian and it really really grated on me the whole time???

Then the other thing - they’re all Chens, but we’re talking about women in a patriarchal society. M mentions at some point that she intended for her children to take her name, but we saw that Hazel ended up being a staunch traditionalist (more on that later) and so - did Hazel also insist that her children take her surname, (out of character) or did she also marry a Chen (not impossible, Chen is a common one), or was this an oversight?

With the reveal that Izzy is Hazel’s daughter, I was so… disappointed. I had to go back to the beginning of the book and reread “Mama”‘s lines. It just doesn’t seem realistic to me that M would go through what she did, throw her whole life away, and then not impart her values to her kids. Especially Hazel, who I feel should’ve been more “hers” than “hers and Parker’s”. It felt devastating, and a huge blow to Iris’s memory.

“I looked at my husband and wondered how I could have loved him.” This. This is how she actually feels. And yet, so much of this story has her justifying to Izzy, or to herself, that she loves her husband, that they find pleasure together, that they do work out.. it’s contradictory, because she also hints that they had issues related to her stubbornness that we never got to read about. I fully understand putting a child first and not letting her get lost to her abusive stranger of a father. But M could have allowed Ellery to accompany her back to Indonesia, or left Parker after she secured Hazel’s guardianship, or after she turned 18 if she was scared of losing guardianship before then, or after her youngest turned 18 if she didn’t want to separate from her husband while her kids were young… it just didn’t seem necessary or, more importantly, in character, for Magnolia to just accept it and then keep accepting it until she was old. This is why I said at the start that parts were too authentic. M’s behavior fits an authentic Chindo, but she has been written as anything but. So it’s inauthentic to her.

“And maybe fifty to a hundred of them are of you, and I know even then that’s fifty to a hundred way too many thoughts of you.” 🥹🥹 Magnolia’s a good writer too, as much as she claims otherwise. Only when it comes to pining for Ellery, though. I too felt Izzy’s betrayal at the end-visceral and gut punching-but the epilogue eased my pain a little. A little.

“Your sister needs to burn a lot less bright if she’s going to find a good husband.” “You have fulfilled our expectations.” “This is why we kept trying to teach you to give in.” As much as I hated M’s parents, I thought they were well written. Very realistic. We Asians care way too much about face, to the detriment of the real people and lives and feelings at stake. I was glad to see that M acknowledged her own inherent biases from being raised a certain way and then how, in turn, she felt uncomfortable when either she had those thoughts or those thoughts/opinions were expressed to her. I was so happy to cheer her on.

The writing was easy to read, and I was absorbed throughout. I sensed from early on that something was either up or going to happen to Iris, and it kept me on the edge of my seat to find out. I wasn’t too fond of the parts where M spoke to Izzy—it was always the same, always “you don’t think your grandma can do this?” or “you’re blushing because I’m talking about sex!” and it got a bit trite. Anyway, this book flies by, and though I felt all the emotions, the ones that remain most vivid after putting the book down is bewilderment/disappointment [that M would be ok living her life for so long like that], and betrayal.

Shoutout to the Berkeley squirrels who aren’t afraid of people - guess college squirrels are the same no matter which college it is :)

I honestly don’t know what I can say about this book that would do it justice. Go read this book… read it, savor it, absorb it, sit with it, and feel every word that you read. There is nothing more that I can say other than if you are reading this review, then you should stop and go read this book instead!

A tender coming of age story that delves into aspects of questioning one's sexuality, relationship, cultural ties, and more. The development of characters in this story are touching and relatable, especially in the relationship between Magnolia and Iris. I was a bit confused by the timeline and time period portrayed in the book. At times, it was jarring to realize that certain moments did not necessary make sense for that particular time period. As the book neared the end, it was a bit gut-wrenching, but I can also understand why the story went in the direction that it did, and in my opinion it added more impact to the overall story.

I want to give 5 stars for the first 85% of this book and 2-3 stars for the last 15%. I loved the relationship between "Tulip" and Ellery - Sutanto captured the young love vibes perfectly. I also appreciated the insight into Indonesian culture.

Did not love a plot point that set things off for the last 15% of the book, and while I was already in a bad mood, the ending made me even more mad.

I adore Sutanto's Vera Wong series, and loved her non-cozy thriller You Will Never Be Me--I'm impressed with her ability to write across genres and will continue to read more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publishes November 11, 2025.

Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Next Time Will Be Our Turn is a moving, multigenerational novel that intertwines this family 's secrets, enmeshes political upheaval, and adds personal awakening with grace and emotional depth. Set between modern day California and post colonial Indonesia, it follows a teenage girl who learns the truth of her grandmother's past...and the quiet power it took to survive it.

Sutanto excels in capturing the emotional complexity of intergenerational dynamics, especially as it relates to anti-Chinese violence and political persecution. But what was I guess the subplot of the novel is the grandmother’s lost love. A love revealed in a stunning moment when she kisses a woman at a dinner during the Chinese New Year family gathering. This mixture (of past and present) weaves a story of rebellion, queerness, and longing that resonates deeply- it highlights and takes to task the exploration of ones identity and the burdens women carry.

The pacing dips slightly in the middle, and a few characters could have gotten a little bit more stage time, but the novel's emotional notes, the historical insight, and the moments of joy (especially grandma's reconnected love) make this a heartfelt read.

The best way to sum it up would be to say that Next Time Will Be Our Turn will break your heart and then mend it in the best of ways, whilst reminding us that history doesn't have to repeat itself. Which I think is very timely concept to remember in 2025!

Thank you to Sutanto for yet another heartwarming and thought provoking story! Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this heartbreaking and mending!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. ♡

₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: this book cover is so stunning. i cant wait to see what we've got coming to us!

DNF at 45%

I was so excited to read this, as I have heard nothing but good things about Jesse Sutanto. I read almost entirely queer books, so I was excited to see that she had written a queer book, and the premise hooked me immediately. Unforutunately, this one just wasn't for me. My biggest issue was the timeline. The grandmother was 16 in 1998. I can only assume that this must take place in the future as she's 78 now, but there's no indication of that, and there's no good reason that I could see to set this beyond contemporary.

The timeline stuff keeps getting worse - in 1998, we have multiple references to people having cellphones and texting each other. That simply wouldn't have happened in the 90s. As someone who grew up in the 90s, I can confidently say that absolutely nothing in this book felt "90s" to me, so I can't fathom why the author chose to set it then. The older love interest is out, even to the point of casually mentioning it in conversation to a younger friend's immigrant parent who she just met - I just don't believe this would have happened, even in LA.

I *might* have been able to get past all of this timeline stuff, but honestly, the book wasn't very compelling otherwise. I'm not always a huge fan of May-December romances anyway, but there was never any chemistry developed between our two love interests other than Magnolia's infatuation. Once they have a falling out, Magnolia continues to pine over this woman, but given the relationship the reader has been shown between them, there's no reason to believe that they were ever that close. The writing is extremely "voicey," which I might have enjoyed if I hadn't found all of the characters hard to like (or honestly, even believe).

Fans of Sutanto's might enjoy this - I haven't read anything else by her, so I don't know if this is par for the course. But too many timeline inconsistencies and/or stretches combined with characters with no there there made this a DNF for me.

Wow, this book had me until the very end!! I love everything I've read that Jesse Q. Sutanto's writes. This was different from what I normally read, but I needed to know how the story evolved and the turns were unpredictable! There was some confusion on my part with the timeline, because if Izzy is present day - Magnolia being 16 in the late 90s doesn't make sense to me. I was able to move past it though and the ending was bittersweet. I fell in love with the characters and was emotional at the end 😆 I can't wait to see what's up next for one of my favorite authors!

This was an enjoyable read and I appreciated the presence of an older lesbian couple. But I had a hard time with the fact the 73-year-old grandmother was born in the early 80s, meaning the "present day" timeline is actually set in 2055.

Be warned: this story will make you cry. A perfect read for someone who needs some guidance through the long journey of self discovery. There are so many valuable life lessons that this book teaches you, and it will stay in your thoughts long after you finish reading. The concept of an older lesbian couple is so infrequent in LGBTQ+ media, but this book does a perfect job of describing what it would be like, especially in times where being gay is not acceptable. The soulmatism of it all...beautiful.

As I think about this book and it is though-provoking, I realize that not all books have storybook endings. This one felt like it ended a bit abruptly to me, not that it didn't tie up all the threads, but I felt like I needed more about Izzy and especially Hazel. My only other reason for giving it four stars instead of five was the beginning few chapters felt draggy and slow to me. I wanted Magnolia to kick some butt a bit sooner than she did.
The story opens with sixteen year old Izzy at her family's much sought-after Chinese New Year party, but Izzy really does not want to be there. She feels like an outsider in her own family. Things pick up when her grandmother aka Nainai or Magnolia arrives with her girlfriend and kisses her in front of all their Indonesian family and friends. Shock waves ripple. Later that night when Izzy sneaks out to go for a walk, Nainai is waiting for her. She begins to tell her the story of her life, beginning when she was Izzy's age. She tells her about finding love, making friends with her sister, meeting and marrying Izzy's grandfather, but mostly the story of meeting and losing the great love of her life. As she tells the story, Izzy recognizes herself and discovers Nainai sees her for who she is and wants her to fully live her life as she chooses.
This is a lovely coming of age story, of self-discovery and choosing how to live one's best life.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t read a lot of lesbian books, but I still loved this one…the author’s writing is very easy to read and the characters development is so, so good I almost forgot they were fictional character!