The next book on my 2020 most anticipated list is, for various reasons, associated with tea for me.
One reason is that the publisher recently had a splashy advance reader copy giveaway at an event and those early reader copies came with a bubble tea (which is incredibly fun) but also because of all the gossip and drama I am sure are within these pages.
I am excited to feature Abigail Hing Wen's Loveboat, Taipei which sounds like a young adult contemporary fans must read for winter 2020.
The Goodreads synopsis for this novel sets up a dreamy sounding premise filled with an incredible setting, lots of romance, and a fantastic coming of age story.
For fans of Crazy Rich Asians or Jane Austen Comedy of Manners, with a hint of La La Land
When eighteen-year-old Ever Wong’s parents send her from Ohio to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer, she finds herself thrust among the very over-achieving kids her parents have always wanted her to be, including Rick Woo, the Yale-bound prodigy profiled in the Chinese newspapers since they were nine—and her parents’ yardstick for her never-measuring-up life.
Unbeknownst to her parents, however, the program is actually an infamous teen meet-market nicknamed Loveboat, where the kids are more into clubbing than calligraphy and drinking snake-blood sake than touring sacred shrines.
Free for the first time, Ever sets out to break all her parents’ uber-strict rules—but how far can she go before she breaks her own heart?
Does this not sound amazing? That comparison is enough to make me want to read it all on its own. I am, however, also looking forward to the Ever and Rick romance!
Abigail has has kindly taken some time to dish on her novel, and some of the inspirations behind it (and crafted a delicious sounding ice cream).
1. What gif best describes Loveboat, Taipei?
The amazing HarperCollins cover reveal!
2. If someone were to make a signature ice cream in honour of your book, what might be included?
Ooo, I like this one! Definitely red beans and fresh coconut. Maybe boba or a milk tea flavor.
3. Your book revolves around a summer program that the protagonist gets sent to. Did you do any specific research for this part of the novel? If so, what was the most surprising thing you discovered?
I attended the actual program myself as a teenager. I also interviewed a number of alum and visited Taiwan to refresh my memory. The most surprising thing? Running into unexpected alum! Alum include Eddie Huang, author of Fresh Off the Boat, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu and even colleagues at work and friends I didn’t realize had attended.
4. Name a song you listed to for inspiration while writing this novel
Rewrite the Stars, from The Greatest Showman. I love that impossible romance!
5. If you could travel to anywhere, in any time period, when and where would you want travel?
2100. I work in artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley, and I believe it’s going to have an enormous impact on the future. I’d love to see where technology has taken us.
6. What 2020 release are you most anticipating?
There are so many amazing debuts coming out. I want to put in a special shoutout to the #roaring20sdebuts. I'd especially love to highlight my fellow VCFA alum, Nora Carpenter, whose debut novel The Edge of Anything comes out March 24, 2020, and Kate Pentacost, whose Elysium Girls comes out April 14. We all served as Grad Assistants together at VCFA this past summer!
In the non-book world, I would add Westworld Season 3. I loved Season 1, wasn’t as big a fan of Season 2, but it ended on an incredible plot twist and cliffhanger and I’m excited to see what happens next!
7. If not too spoilery, can you share the first line of Loveboat, Taipei.
“The envelope drops through our mail slot like a love letter."
Abigail has has kindly taken some time to dish on her novel, and some of the inspirations behind it (and crafted a delicious sounding ice cream).
1. What gif best describes Loveboat, Taipei?
The amazing HarperCollins cover reveal!
Ooo, I like this one! Definitely red beans and fresh coconut. Maybe boba or a milk tea flavor.
3. Your book revolves around a summer program that the protagonist gets sent to. Did you do any specific research for this part of the novel? If so, what was the most surprising thing you discovered?
I attended the actual program myself as a teenager. I also interviewed a number of alum and visited Taiwan to refresh my memory. The most surprising thing? Running into unexpected alum! Alum include Eddie Huang, author of Fresh Off the Boat, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu and even colleagues at work and friends I didn’t realize had attended.
4. Name a song you listed to for inspiration while writing this novel
Rewrite the Stars, from The Greatest Showman. I love that impossible romance!
5. If you could travel to anywhere, in any time period, when and where would you want travel?
2100. I work in artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley, and I believe it’s going to have an enormous impact on the future. I’d love to see where technology has taken us.
6. What 2020 release are you most anticipating?
There are so many amazing debuts coming out. I want to put in a special shoutout to the #roaring20sdebuts. I'd especially love to highlight my fellow VCFA alum, Nora Carpenter, whose debut novel The Edge of Anything comes out March 24, 2020, and Kate Pentacost, whose Elysium Girls comes out April 14. We all served as Grad Assistants together at VCFA this past summer!
In the non-book world, I would add Westworld Season 3. I loved Season 1, wasn’t as big a fan of Season 2, but it ended on an incredible plot twist and cliffhanger and I’m excited to see what happens next!
7. If not too spoilery, can you share the first line of Loveboat, Taipei.
“The envelope drops through our mail slot like a love letter."
Loveboat, Taipei releases January 7, 2020 but you can pre-order it right now from any retailer (and it will be a great purchase for those holiday gift cards).
You can find out more about Abigail by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website. You can also visit the official website of the series to learn more.
Do you enjoy young adult contemporary novels? Let me know in the comments.
Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2020 most anticipated list.
I am excited about this book and even more excited that it is the first in a series. I am starting the book, probably, tomorrow. I hope we both love it. And, bubble tea is so, so good.
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