YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this heartfelt new romance by USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex—he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

Ch 1-11 (view spoiler)[ I wish I'd reread the other books before this. Not that I can't follow the plot, just so I'd have all the characters fresh in my mind.

But I feel so bad for Anna. I wish she'd told her boyfriend to f#$% off and broken up with him, what a dick.
Quan is so sweet and I like that he doesn't push her and only wants to do things that she's also into. Much better than that other asshole. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 12-21 (view spoiler)[ It's sad what happened to her dad, but she's not required to give up her life for him. Anna's older sister really makes me angry, dismissing her Autism diagnosis and insisting Anna do whatever it takes to be with their dad who's barely there.

I am holding out for Anna to stand up for herself and do what makes her happy (hide spoiler)]

Ch 22-33 (view spoiler)[ I have no idea what it's like to be neuro divergent and I know Anna struggles with saying how she feels and wants to please everyone. But when she agreed to the marriage in front of everyone and let Quan go, I was so angry.

I'm glad she told her sister no and Julian that she wasn't marrying him, but I hope she really works to make things up to Quan (hide spoiler)]

Ch 34-End (view spoiler)[ I'm glad they got back together, but with how much Quan was hurt I kind of wanted Anna to show him that she'd made progress and was ready to go all in. Instead she showed up and they had sex and everything was fine.

I did like that her mom made strides to understanding Anna was great and her sister being awful was a realistic response.

So happy that Quan got another offer from LV and gets to sell the clothing everywhere! (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 10 (view spoiler)[ Oh man I love these characters. Quan is exactly who Anna needs especially as he understands her in ways her shitty bf doesn't. And how F'd up you ask for space from the woman you supposedly want to marry, yeah sure smh (hide spoiler)]

End Part I (view spoiler)[Oh no her dad. This is going to be tough on her and their new kind of but not really relationship :P (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch. 10 [spoilers removed]"

I hate Anna's boyfriend ugh. Quan is much much better

End Part II (view spoiler)[Wow this is crazy. I do not like her sister. Calling her out like that in front of everyone, just wow that was so uncalled for. And I mean damn, her poor father is suffering and hating life but his family doesn't even really care about that, it's pretty heartbreaking! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[I loved this. I loved these two together and how Quan was so patient and understanding with Anna. I think once she got her diagnosis things in her life just started to make a little more sense! Glad they found one another! Personally I also found Anna to be relatable. I don't know what it is but it really is hard for some people to take control of their own lives especially when life society tries to dictate it all. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 1-11 I wish I'd reread the other books before this. Not that I can't follow the plot, just so I'd have all the characters fresh in my mind.

But I feel so bad for Anna. I wish she'd told her b..."

Yeah I do too. He was such a d*ck

Aly wrote: "Ch 12-21 It's sad what happened to her dad, but she's not required to give up her life for him. Anna's older sister really makes me angry, dismissing her Autism diagnosis and insisting Anna do wha..."

(view spoiler)[It was pretty hard to read how insecure she was even when it came to the simplest things :( (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 22-33 I have no idea what it's like to be neuro divergent and I know Anna struggles with saying how she feels and wants to please everyone. But when she agreed to the marriage in front of every..."

(view spoiler)[I was so livid over this whole situation. So glad she finally got the balls to tell that fu*ker off lol (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 34-End I'm glad they got back together, but with how much Quan was hurt I kind of wanted Anna to show him that she'd made progress and was ready to go all in. Instead she showed up and they had..."

Hahaha yeah makeup sex definitely took over so it was all, what argument lmao?!?!

Aly wrote: "❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch. 10 [spoilers removed]"

I hate Anna's boyfriend ugh. Quan is much much better"

Seriously. I almost wished she (view spoiler)[went off on him at that party in front of everyone. He was just so ewww in so many ways. Tells her he had sooooooo much great sex but he's ready to settle down now, wtf???? And he didn't even ask her to marry him lol, who does that smh!!! (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Aly wrote: "❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch. 10 [spoilers removed]"

I hate Anna's boyfriend ugh. Quan is much much better"

Seriously. I almost wished she [spoilers removed]"

He's disgusting and I hope he ends up with someone shallow and callous like himself

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[Ohhh boy that description of the BJ is disgusting, I could never!
I love how she's a musician, but NEVER just playing the tricky bit over and over?? No wonder she's driving herself crazy. That's all I used to do (I play the flute): play the hard parts over and over until I could piece it all together.
I really like her therapist and how she picked up on all of the tells and fakeness.
Also Julian?? He even has a douchebag name. I do see where he's coming from, but if you love the person, you shouldn't be able to see yourself without them, or want to be without them..
Also I was wondering what was up with Quan, but thank gosh they said it was cancer otherwise I'd have no clue. I don't remember anything from the other two books (hide spoiler)]

Capter 6 (view spoiler)[Okay this shit is SO CUTE I love online dating stories :D (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[Dang I relate to Anna... I'M TOTALLY LOVING THIS BOOK (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[Watch this one single instance of unprotected sex get her pregnent -_- JUST WATCH. It better not happen but it always does in fiction (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 30 (view spoiler)[I'm so glad Anna entered Quan's mind and slowed him down!

One thing that does bug me though is how these thoughts that all lovers have in romances are typical to any new relationship. It might not be long-term Love because often it's the little things in living together or routine that make you realise they're not for you (hide spoiler)]

Review: (view spoiler)[HOLY SHIT THIS WAS THE BEST OF THE SERIES. OMG I loved Quan and Anna. Anything that starts as online dating or anything is an instant pleasure for me. And the way they never LIED to each other just PLEASE I NEED MORE. The tenderness towards each other, and the way they tried to understand each other all the time, it was incredible. How stuck Anna felt with no escape, the way she was raised, I couldn't imagine that :( (hide spoiler)]