When George ClooneyTanuwijaya’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. The novel is full to the brim with humor, heart, and a joyous celebration of Chinese Indonesian culture. In a novel that brings to mind Bridget Jones’ Diary, Sutanto has created a book that readers will want to return to again and again.” —Booklist, starred review After George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father walks in on him clumsily exploring his sexuality, his father freaks out. Things are going to change around here!

Following the story of Sharlot, taken to Indonesia by a mother after a near-miss with a scandal, and George, under pressure during a time of great publicity before an important event for his family, nothing about the plot was compelling. Even moments of supposed suspense or romance produced nothing but yawns. George Clooney Tanuwijaya is the son of one of the wealthiest families in Indonesia. His father insists that he settle down soon and find a wife. I knew going into this that Sutanto's sense of humor meshes really well with my own. I love how realistically she writes her characters thoughts, which are always so darn on point and witty.

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And, one my fave parts of the story: INDONESIA. So: Sharlot grew up in the US, and she doesn't know much about her mother's culture. On top of that she's half white, half Asian: she feels at home nowhere, and often struggles to fit into her loving (but filterless) family. Over the course of the book, her relationship with Chinese Indonesian culture deepens. It’s complicated and layered and something Sharlot is very much growing into-and we, the readers, get to be right with her. So while Sharlot learns more about the history of Indonesia, Dutch colonization, Chinese Indonesian society and customs, and many other things, so do we. We get to experience Jakarta both from Sharlot and George’s point of view, and it's fantastic and unique. Yes, I am ready to visit. I have now read Jesse Q. Sutanto’s writing in three (3) different genres, so let me make something very clear: I will follow her into the very fires of Mordor. What is she publishing next? Children's literature? Middle grade? Graphic novel? I am reading it. A cookie recipe? I'm ALSO reading it. The phone book? I'm reading that too. Is she doodling on a roll of toiler paper while she's on the phone? TAKE MY MONEY because I'm buying it. Seriously, this author's talent is so multifaceted and boundless, I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Jesse Q. Sutanto books have a way of bringing me home. It might be because I am exactly matched to her in terms of culture (Chinese-Indonesian bitches for the win) but something about the combination of relatable protagonists, rolling-on-the-floor crying humor, and gorgeous Chinese-Indonesian representation just makes me feel so seen and recognized and whole. A delightful, hilarious, captivating love letter to Indonesia, and coming of age in a large meddlesome family, and the thrill of finding your person where you least expect it!"--Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

Open Library

A small development late in the story (70%) provided some very small relief from the tedium, but that development was dropped almost as suddenly as it was brought up, aside from a tiny mention at the very end. A hilarious, heartfelt rom-com with a refreshing take on matchmaking, complete with embarrassing, yet well meaning, parents and a social media twist.” —Krystal Marquis, author of The Davenports this book was hilarious from the get go and i was hooked from the beginning to end. i ended up reading this in just a day! the book starts off with sharlot and george, caught in awkward situations (not together, they're in different countries) by their parents. sharlot's mom whisks her away to indonesia for the summer.