Title: A Pho Love Story
Author: Loan Le
Type: Fiction
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Date published: February 9, 2021

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If Bao Nguyen had to describe himself, he’d say he was a rock. Steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. He works at his parents’ pho restaurant, and even there, he is his parents’ fifth favorite employee. Not ideal.

If Linh Mai had to describe herself, she’d say she was a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and fire. She loves art and dreams pursuing a career in it. The only problem? Her parents rely on her in ways they’re not willing to admit, including working practically full-time at her family’s pho restaurant.

For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.

But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember.

Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?

⤖ My Review ⬻

This has got to be one of the cutest YA contemporary romances I’ve ever read! I found both of the characters to be both interesting and believable– part of the reason being the changing perspectives. This romance wasn’t just cute either–I would go as far as to say that the chemistry between Bao and Linh was almost palpable!

There was also a bit more mystery than I’m used to in contemporary YA which added a layer of depth, making for an even more interesting read. I wanted to see how the different parts of the story would develop–how the romance would bloom and how the mystery aspect would unfold!

As you can tell from the book’s title, there is also a focus on food in this book. I was drooling half the time while reading A Pho Love Story and actually ended up ordering pho a few times because of it, haha. I also found my favourite local pho place in the process, so thank you for that Loan Le!

I’d never read anything with a focus on Vietnamese characters, culture, or food before this (as far as I remember), which is such a shame! This also made this read all the more refreshing for me. That being said, I definitely want to explore more, and am open to suggestions! Loan Le is also someone I’ll be keeping my eye on! Can’t wait to see what she’ll write next.

⤖ About the Authors ⬻

Loan Le is the youngest child of two Vietnamese immigrants hailing from Nha Trang. She holds an MFA degree in fiction from Fairfield University, also her undergraduate alma mater. A Pushcart Prize–nominated writer, her short stories have appeared in CRAFT Literary, Mud Season Review, and Angel City Review. Loan is an editor at Simon and Schuster’s Atria Books imprint and lives in Manhattan. A Pho Love Story is her first novel. Visit her website at writerloanle.com and find her on Twitter @loanloan.

⤖ Places to Purchase the Book ⬻

⤖ Let’s Chat ⬻

THANK YOU FOR READING MY REVIEW! HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOW COME? LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS!