"I Hope This Doesn't Find You" by Ann Liang

Review by jjj000yyy

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy of this title. Despite receiving the copy for free, all opinions and thoughts are mine and mine alone. This book is now available for purchase as it was published in February 2024.

This YA contemporary romance reimagines "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" where the main character's private hate letters get sent to everyone including her biggest rival. This story is filled with lighthearted moments, grounded worries, and just a touch of angst.

Sadie is the school co-captain, straight A student, and deadset on getting into a good university. There isn't anything she can't do but it always seems like Julius is always trying to one-up her ever since they met. It seems like she's about to finally make the school lean in her favour until her drafts of vent emails get sent to the entire student body.

This story will resonate with Asian kids who have gone through the stress and turmoil of academic success and the conflict of good grades versus interpersonal relationships. Especially Asian kids who keep getting compared to other better-performing Asian kids. I remember being so school-focused in high school that I was losing sight that grades weren't the only thing that mattered and Sadie goes through that very story arc of discovering grades not being the be all end all. Not only that, she slowly realizes her feelings for Julius may not be just hostility.

For the romance aspect of the story, I found the banter really fun and the love interest to be a fully realized character with his issues and arc. I liked how not only does Julius better Sadie with her shortcomings in social interactions but she also helps him with his issues regarding family.

If you want a fun light read that relates to the stressed-out good Asian student experience, I would highly recommend this novel.