blog tour + arc review | well, that was unexpected

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Series: Well, That Was Unexpected #1
Expected publication: September 27, 2022 by Delacorte Press
Age Range: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rep: Indonesian-Chinese cast, f/f pairing

Rating:

Synopsis:

After Sharlot Citra’s mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother’s native Indonesia. It’ll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.

When George Clooney Tanuwijaya’s father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot’s mother and George’s father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.

When the kids find out about their parents’ actions, they’re horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?

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Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour for choosing me as one of the participants in the #WellThatWasUnexpected tour. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you’re interested in the other tour stops, check out the schedule!

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Ahem, well, we started off very awkwardly with Sharlot’s mom catching her half-naked on top of a boyfriend Sharlot wasn’t supposed to have and George’s father finding him with his pants down in front of the computer screen. Whisked off to Jakarta, Sharlot visits her mother’s home country for the first time. For some reason, her mom has never mentioned why she didn’t contact her family for so long. Meanwhile, George is banned from his computer and phone.

What makes things more awkward between George and Sharlot is that both of their parents have been catfishing each other. Worried about him, George’s dad and young sister created a dating account and talked to Sharlot online. Turns out, Sharlot isn’t Sharlot but is actually, Sharlot’s mother. After finding Sharlot in bed with a boy, she’s determined to find a good Indonesian boy for her daughter. The parents shared false information about their child like how Sharlot loves cooking and that George’s favorite subject is Math. When they first met, Sharlot and George both had whole other expectations.

Whisked away to Bali, Sharlot landed herself as George’s girlfriend. Though, this whole thing is fake. George’s relatives want him to settle with a respectable, obedient girl since he’s the only boy in his generation, the lifeline of the Tanuwijaya blood. Meanwhile, Sharlot finds out that her mother was best friends with George’s Eighth Aunt and hence finds herself as a fake girlfriend to one of the richest families in Jakarta.

Although things were weird between George and Sharlot, each thinking that they aren’t compatible, the other is totally weirded out, and the whole meeting is just awkward. Sharlot realized that George isn’t that bad after all. He’s actually really passionate about the app that he’s been working hard on and is not a boring person. Similarly, George’s assumptions about Sharlot were debunked after talking to her for a while. They had really tender moments, talking about parents, love life, expectations of being an Indonesian-Chinese, etc.

As usual, Jesse Q. Sutanto’s book is filled with awkward moments and hilarious dialogues. It’s the kind that I can never look away from because I want to know what’s going on. I loved that we got to explore Indonesia in different parts. First, there was Jakarta and then Bali. There’s the element of a family involved as well. If you’ve read Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Dial A For Aunties, you know about huge, meddlesome families. Add in a wealthy family that can jet you anywhere you want with a snap of a finger.

I’m not too sure if Well, That Was Unexpected will develop into a duology or even a series, but I’m here for whatever the author is writing.