David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Unless He Gets Into an Ivy League College

by Ed Lin

“You’re not allowed to have a girlfriend until college,” my mother warned. “And you’d better get into an Ivy League school!”

David Tung is a Chinese American high-school student who works in his family’s restaurant, competes for top rank at his upscale, Asian-majority, suburban New Jersey high school, and hangs with his “real” friends at weekend Chinese school in NYC’s working-class Chinatown. When popular girl Christina Tau asks David to the high school Dame’s Dance, David’s tightly regimented life gets thrown into a tailspin. He soon realizes that he actually has feelings for Betty, the smartest girl at Chinese school. But, as his mother reminds him, he’s not allowed to have a girlfriend! Should he defy his mother and go to the dance, or defy Cristina’s wishes and spend Saturday night studying for the MCATs? Ed Lin’s YA-debut explores coming-of-age in the Asian diaspora while navigating relationships through race, class, young love, and the confusing expectations of immigrant parental pressure.

Praise for David Tung Can’t Have A Girlfriend Until He Gets Into An Ivy League College

“David Tung is a nerd-hero readers will cheer on to the end.”
— MARIE MYUNG-OK LEE, author of Finding My Voice

"You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll get straight A's."
— CHRIS L. TERRY, author of Black Card and Zero Fade

"You’ll fall hard for David Tung, a high-achieving teen with a heart of gold. Lin writes
with a keen sense of character; even the most minor characters spring alive off the page."
— SHEBA KARIM, author of That Thing Called a Heart and Mariam Sharma Hits the Road

"With tender and hilarious insight, Ed Lin offers an irresistible tale of first love,
complete with swooning crushes, tongue-tied blunders, overbearing-but-well-meaning parents, and an outrageous cast of supporting characters only New York and New Jersey can produce."
— JJ STRONG, author of Us Kids Know

“A beautifully observed, hilariously truthful, uplifting coming-of-age story that
captures the heart and humanity of a Chinese American male teenager. I am impressed and inspired by Ed Lin’s achievement and wish I could’ve read this book when I was in high school."
— DAVID HENRY HWANG, playwright of FOB and M. Butterfly

"I cringed, I cheered, I wished this book had been there for me as a teen."
— JUNG KIM, Teacher-educator and Associate Professor of Literacy at Lewis University

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Asian Literature, High School, Contemporary, Romance, Family

338 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2020

About the author

Ed Lin is a journalist by training and an all-around stand-up kinda guy. He's the author of several books: Waylaid, his literary debut, and his Robert Chow crime series, set in 1970s Manhattan Chinatown: This Is a Bust, Snakes Can't Run, and One Red Bastard. Lin, who is of Taiwanese and Chinese descent, is the first author to win three Asian American Literary Awards. Lin lives in New York with his wife, actress Cindy Cheung.

Reviews

[Shenwei · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-ish
Overall a pretty funny and even touching diaspora story, just aggressively cisallohet in some places

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley

This book brought me straight back to high school. Even though I'm not Chinese, I could relate to a lot of things David lives through because my high school rhythm was similar to his - I graduated with honors and spent most of my time studying. Well, thankfully, I didn't have to work evenings after that as David did! Being a straight A's student is already hard enough, without the added work.

And although I don't normally enjoy being brought back into my teen memories as it wasn't my best time, I enjoyed this book - because David seems to be handling things much better than I did. I really liked his character, and sometimes I wondered how things would be now if I had it in me to get out of the situations the way David managed.

I liked the story, and it wraps up very nicely, and reads quickly. It doesn't have very big dramatic events - just regular things in the life of a Chinese teen, growing up in America - but all the better, because daily struggles are just as real as life drama. So I can definitely recommend this read.

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

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[Karissa]

Did not finish. I was willing to let the very bland writing style go and keep giving it a chance for at least a chapter or two, but not even 3% into the book and the main character/narrator is talking about how he can't believe there's a girl ahead of him in the class rank who is not only extremely smart, but very attractive as well, and how he can't believe she may be smarter than him. Nope. Not doing it. Sorry, Ed Lin.

[Ifrah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was kind of disappointing. When I read the summary, I thought I would enjoy this, but there was a lot of focus on details that I didn’t think were interesting like David’s daily schedule as he went through his classes. The plot didn’t feel like it was building towards anything so there wasn’t really a climax and I could predict the ending as soon as one of the key characters was introduced.

Probably the strongest aspect of the book is how relatable it would be for immigrant or first generation teens. Even myself, as an immigrant with parents that wanted me to be a doctor, found a lot of David’s experiences relatable. My parents weren’t nearly as strict, but they also put a strong emphasis on getting good grades and not being distracted by dating or a social life. They thought any guy I talked to was my boyfriend and although they never explicitly said so, it was assumed that I wasn’t “allowed” to date until I at least graduated high school. I can imagine that for someone who hasn’t had these experiences, reading this book would be like culture shock, but for myself, it was too familiar to the point that I found myself completely unphased by anything that happened in the book.

I liked that It tackled different issues like class difference, the immigrant experience, racism and discrimination (from those within and outside of the Chinese community), but I wish more actually happened in this book. Some people may like that this book is more subtle and introspective, but that just didn’t work for me.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this eARC from Netgalley in exhange for a honest review
DNF 76%
At first i thought the book was going to be light. fluffy and fun but around 3-5% in , as other reviewers has mentioned David talks about how he can`t believe a girl is ahead of him in rank at school and that she`s attractive and smart, and he can`t believe she is smarter than him. THAT dragged the book down and i tried to hold out for a while - but i was just bored. it was just blabbing after blabbing and i didn`t feel it was any progress with the story at all.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

When David isn't studying for his high caliber classes, he is either working in his family restaurant or attending Chinese school. What he's NOT doing is dating, because, according to his mother, David Tung can't have a girlfriend until he gets into an ivy league college. David may understand this, but his heart might not have received the message.

I really enjoyed getting to know David. Though this story was told from the point of view of a first generation American born Chinese young man, I still found many aspects of his life relatable. When David talked about the pressures of his coursework and juggling his work and school life, while trying to live up to his parents' high expectations, it was easy to understand to some degree where he was coming from.

I breathed a sigh of relief for David when Saturdays rolled around, and he went to Chinese school. Instead of attending the local school, he traveled to China Town in New York. There, he was able to escape many of the things that constantly pressed upon him. This was his haven. A school, where he didn't have to worry about how well he performed. He was free from his responsibilities and could simply enjoy the time with his peers.

Though Chinese school offered a respite from the rigors of high school, work, and familial obligations, it was another place where David felt like a bit of an outsider. The students in the school all lived in China Town and shared a common background, and there were times he felt disconnected from them because he didn't. I thought he was more at home there than he was in his own town though. He lived in a town with a large Chinese population, and though David's family were residents, they did not enjoy the economic success of the other inhabitants. Due to the this, he found it difficult to fit in with his schoolmates. I think so many could relate to David's general feelings of otherness more than anything.

I know I have you feeling sad for David, but I have to say, all these things were explored with so much humor and levity. Seriously, I laughed a LOT as I read this book. David's voice was fantastic, and his observations were witty and wry, and well, really dead-on at times. There were so many things I adored, but one of my favorite things was the friendship between David and Betty.

Betty was a bit of a Chinese school outsider too, due to her being biracial. Despite that, she was the best student at the school, and initially resented David and his slacker friends. Circumstances brought them together, and a beautiful friendship blossomed between them. Their exchanges made me smile until my cheeks hurt, and I loved how much David learned about himself via this relationship with Betty. He experience a tremendous amount of growth in the time spent with her, and I was as enchanted with Betty as David was.

This was such a wonderful coming-of-age tale. It was told with lots of humor, which delighted me, and also a lot of honesty and heart. The ending left me all sorts of warm and fuzzy, and I found myself really proud of how far David had come.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing a copy of this book for me.

David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Unless He Gets Into an Ivy League College was not what I expected at all. In the best possible way.

I loved getting to know David Tung. He immediately felt like such a special character to me. He is driven and a little socially awkward (except in Chinese School when he's a right rebel). He is obedient and genuinely cares for his family. He has high hopes and high dreams and American Asian or not he is highly relatable.

I loved this insight into David as an American Asian character but since I am neither American or Asian, I will leave the analysis of this particular aspect to more capable reviewers.

I also loved his relationship with his friends at Chinese School, the way he is determined to see the best in people even though he doesn't have the best time at his high school. He is considerate and nice and he is falling in love for the very first time. And I feel very privileged to got to go on that wild ride with him.

I will heartily recommend David Tung's story to everyone who wants to read a comfortable and nice slice of life/coming of age story with a lot of heart and a lot of love.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

The following book contains references to underaged drinking, language, mentions of racism, and LGBT characters

"It was funny. In one sense we were skipping Chinese school, but in another, this was real-life Chinese school. I was getting a lesson in inter-generational immigration and community."

Me after reading this book:

I know I've been giving Asian authors--especially in YA fiction--a hard time for writing predictable, bad stories, but today is a momentous day because I think I may have found the elusive Asian American YA contemporary I've been waiting for. This is the first Asian America YA novel that resonated with me because it wasn’t just a piece of fluff. (Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the occasional cliched YA romance, Asian American or otherwise, but we need some variety. Let’s show the world we’re more than silent—or not-so-silent—rebels against our repressive, unreasonable parents before adding yet another Asian American author to the fake dating trope pile, okay?) Was this the most beautifully written or perfectly crafted novel? No, but sometimes heart matters more than execution.

The synopsis makes it sound like yet another YA love triangle featuring an Asian American protagonist and his/her immigrant parents' unrealistic demands on their child's love life (or lack of, in this case,) but I gave it a chance because even though I've been burned before, I really want a win for the Asians. I was so pleasantly surprised. I'd thought I had the story figured out when I read the blurb, but this book is less about a boy choosing between two girls and more about an Asian American kid just trying to find his way in life.

Yes, the book's premise is that David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Unless He Gets Into an Ivy League College, but it's also David Tung is a Top Ten Student and Restaurant Kid. It's David Tung Wants to Be a Doctor and His Parents Do Too. It's David Tung Gets a Glimpse of Asian American Life on the Other Side of the Tracks.



This book is unapologetically Asian American. There's just something really genuine and relatable in the way Lin paints a picture of Chinese kids growing up in America and it's so refreshing. He's able to speak to the distinctly Asian idiosyncrasies--the polite dance of refusing and accepting anything, the unspoken food offering used to express love, the three rounds of waving goodbye to any guest--without making it feel like a stereotype, and he touches on some interesting points about the Asian American life that I wish were explored more.

Not every Asian American experience is the same, and that's what makes David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Unless He Gets Into an Ivy League College so great. Nuanced, relatable, flawed, Lin's characters prove growing up as an ABC (American Born Chinese) isn't a fortune cookie cutter experience. Asian Americans can be smart and driven. But Asian Americans can also be gangsters. Asian Americans can be crazy rich kids. Asian Americans can be hustlers.

And that's the beauty of this book; it brings kids together from different backgrounds. There are crazy rich Asian Americans, suburbian Asian Americans, overachieving Asian Americans, delinquent Asian Americans. There are FOBs and hapas and immigrants and second-gens. It's not a comprehensive look by any means, and a majority of the book is spent exploring David Tung's life as a restaurant kid, but I love the fact that Lin doesn't just clump us all into one generic group.

I appreciated Lin's attempt to create a more nuanced protagonist. David Tung isn't one-dimensional. He's driven and insecure and loyal and outspoken and decent. (I also have a bit of a soft spot for him because he wants to be an oncologist and has a bit of a dry wit.) He isn't just a stereotypical Asian American with tiger parents like many of his peers in the genre. The adults aren't painted as the big bad wolves out to stifle their children's freedom and independence with their backwards Chinese ways; instead, they're individuals whose own struggles and stories have shaped them into the people they are now.

That's not to say the book is without its flaws. The storytelling could use some work, the writing is a little dry, and the plot kind of meanders. The first act especially, drags on a bit, and the opening few chapters are literally spent following David from class to class with no real transition in between. Lin also throws in a few minor plot twists toward the end which feel particularly unnecessary since they're resolved so quickly. Still, when you write something the resonates with readers like Ed Lin did in David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Unless He Gets Into an Ivy League College, you deserve to be commended. So 4.5 stars it is! (Also, remember that I'm reviewing an ARC, so some of this stuff might get cleaned up before the pub date.)

I was expecting a somewhat generic story, so this was a pleasant surprise. Ed Lin gives me hope for the future of Asian American YA. So to all the Chinese YA authors out there, 加油！

Thanks to NetGalley and Kaya press for the ARC!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a YA book. The characters are teens. They think, speak, and act like teens. Add into all the teen angst the expectations of the son of immigrants. It can be a lot but David is up for it until girls enter the picture. His mom says no dating until he gets a college acceptance. David is a junior who took the SATs as a sophomore and studies test MCAT questions to calm himself, as a reader I felt rather confident that a good college was in his future! I can't speak to how accurate David's mom and her attitude are, but it felt like a true presentation of a parent who has put all their hopes and dreams onto their child. The characters are predictable but the story is a sweet, and sometimes bittersweet, look at what it is like to be young and trying to straddle the expectations of two different cultures.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kaya Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Kaya Press for providing me with a digital ARC for honest review

David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets into An Ivy League College follows Chinese-American student David Tung as he competes in his cutthroat high school full of the elite of New Jersey. Vying for a coveted internship, David is asked to a dance by his competitor, popular girl Christina Tau. There's just one problem; David can't date till he gets into an Ivy league college. We follow David through his trials at school, with every other waking hour spent at his family's restaurant, excepting his Saturdays which are spent at the Chinese school where he finds refuge from expectations.

I expected this book to be a light-hearted contemporary romance with hard hitting moments. However, it didn't deliver for me. The book deals with a few important issues, specifically the pressures of school and grades, the idea of being Chinese 'enough' whether this be through being mixed race or living in a gentrified area, and classism in schools. These are all really important things, which made it all the more disappointing when they fell flat. The problem with the book is that it felt like there was no stakes. We're always told how David feels like he's under a lot of pressure, but we're never shown it. This is largely due to the tone David has. He often has an indifferent attitude, which is unusual in someone who is apparently so driven. The other issue with his tone is the air of superiority he has. While I'm someone that does love a problematic character, David's superiority was never really acknowledged as a problem. As a matter of fact, a lot of the time David is a real arse, and he never faces repercussions, often the book celebrates him for being somewhat of a bad person. All this would be redeemable if we saw David grow or develop as a character, but this doesn't happen. David's big revelation is that people still matter even if he doesn't care about them, and even this doesn't feel earned. He has the realisation off the cuff and again is celebrated for showing a glimmer of humanity. The final problem I had with this book was the latent misogyny. The book often objectifies girls, which I could excuse in the beginning as it suited the voice of the teenage boy we were following. However, again there's no consequences for David's view of women, the book almost reinforces a 'boys will be boys' view. Not only are girls objectified for seemingly no reason, but this book falls into the adage of pinning women against each other. It's 2020! Descriptions like: "Betty wasn't as sexy as Christina. She wasn't sexy at all... Betty didn't wear the necessary clothes, jewelry, or beauty products to play that sort of game" just make me roll my eyes. Christina is constantly represented as being vapid and shallow even though she has a higher class ranking than David. The girls in this book exist for nothing more than to give David something to look at.

With all that said I want to make it clear, I didn't hate this book! It was just fine. There was no real plot or point to the book, but it was an easy-going read that did have some humorous moments and some interesting insights into the Chinese-American experience. But unfortunately this wasn't enough to compensate for the problems I had.

[Raisa Choudhury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed reading this book quite a lot. Being from asian descent myself, the pressure of expectations was very relatable! I loved the teenage friendships most; along with the high-school competition, drama and romance! It was also good in representing the everyday struggles of immigrants trying to provide the best future for their children.

Special thanks to NetGalley for sending me this ARC!
#NetGalley

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminds me of all my Asian friends, and how they had to work so hard in college because of their parents. David Tung says, int he book, that yes, he had to do the same, but also because he wants to.

If you want a good look at life amongst the diaspora of Chinese living in the United States. We follow David as he goes to public high school, goes to work at his families Chinese restaurant, and goes to Chinese school in NYC Chinatown.

The details are interesting, but they don’t advance the story. Each time David, through the author, goes into detail, I’m thinking it will be something we need to know, and it often is not.

This is more a slice of life, chracter driven novel, more than anything. There is not much action. The big urgency is whether or not David can take Christina to a dance, and that is wrapped up in the first half of the book.

So, while it is a good slice of life, I kept hoping for something more to happen, and it never quite did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one! I found it super relatable as someone who went to a majority Asian, academically rigorous high school where Ivy Leagues were a pretty attainable goal for lots of students. I definitely went to students with kids like David.

It's definitely has a more juvenile writing style, but I also felt it was very accurate to what a socially awkward Asian high school boy would sound like. Although his parents were annoying, it was also a pretty accurate description of some classmates' parents and the pressure they put on them.

I think this is good if you want a more lighthearted read; I read it alongside a heavier read, and so it was a refuge and a breezy read that didn't have much consequence. I like that it is a very Asian American story, that isn't super rooted in the large Asian diaspora, being a foreigner, etc.

[Kayla Plutzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this I didnt think I was going to like it very much, I even thought I was going to DNF it. But the more I read of it, the more I loved it. I love the way David develops. He grows into a really decent guy. I also forgot just how young sophormore's in high school are. at first I was like "why is being so immature?" and then I realized, duh, he's acting like a fifteen year old boy under pressure and sometimes they are immature. I loved this. I love how we get to know David's relationship with his Chinese heritage and his parents who love him more than the world and want him to be the most successful guy he can be. I love reading about him and his Chinese school friends, they all experience being Chinese in different ways. I highly recommend this one!

[Kate Maruyama · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who's ever been to high school.

I had the most delightful weekend immersed in this book. Ed Lin has given us a hero who isn't walking the path of every other high schoo moviel trope out there, but is walking his own, unique path through very real high school life. David Tung's hilarious observations about everyone from his relentlessly tormenting bus stop crew, to his impossible to deal with parents (all of our parents were impossible when we realized we wanted life outside the house) to his very human teachers (remember that moment you saw just a little too much of a teacher's personal life?) zing with a detail that keeps you turning pages. By the end of the book I was reluctant to let it go.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Tung is doing the best he can in life. He comes from a Chinese family that wants him to work hard at school and at the families restaurant. Studying at school comes naturally to him, but what does not is all of the social aspects. How can he tell everyone that he is not able to have a girlfriend or go to a dance, when he himself doesn't understand his home life? He works so hard and tries his best, how can he come to find out there can be smiles and happiness in the times when he isn't working at the family restaurant or studying?

[Amani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I got this book in exchange for an honest review from Net Galley and Kaya Press.

This is perfect for fans of the book "Dating Makes Perfect." David is an American Chinese kid who has been told he's not allowed to have a girlfriend until he's in an ivy league college. When a popular girl asks him out to a school dance, he's torn between wanting to abide by his mother's rules and wanting to follow his heart. The characters aren't stereotypical and it's a fun book!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man this was a nail biter / riveting novel! It reminded me so much of my upbringing, except I wasn't nearly as disciplined or mature. Such a fun read :)

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

3/3.5 really but extra star because personal bias & it was so fun to read. Bit weird in a lot of parts tbh and almost ridiculously earnest. I enjoyed it a lot

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proud to have blurbed this funny and touching YA novel.

Equally an outsider at his cutthroat suburban high school and in Chinatown New York, the inspiring David Tung one-ups unexpected bullies, runs out of data while texting his top-secret crush, and works around the clock to live up to the expectations of his demanding parents.


This heartwarming coming-of-age story proves that fitting in happens after you gather the courage to assert yourself, and will engross any reader who is chasing success while feeling pulled between worlds: old country and new, suburb and city, parent and kid.


You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get straight As.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soooo good. I don't think I have ever read a book that so plainly lays out the expectations of Chinese immigrant parents and the obligations of Chinese-American children. And this may be true for other ethnic groups as well, but this book was about Chinese people. Although the way David lives could be labeled as a cliché, I see the owner's children doing their homework at my nearest Chinese restaurant, and I have known one Chinese family that was the same as David's as far as grades, and one that had their child working in the family business.

This book was very clearly written, there was no guessing about what the characters were doing. I also liked how David was sure of his strengths, and I really enjoyed the way he spoke to adults and answered questions in school. I don't know if I've read any other YA book where the characters were so academically confident and articulate. Learning about Chinese school was fascinating, but I do think the addition of Mr. Gao didn't really add much to the story and made me feel sad. I liked also that the author pointed out the different economic situations of Chinese people. I think there is a presumption by people who have not experienced an area with a large number of Asian-Americans, that Asians are largely educated and rich.

Unfortunately, I think the YAs who would relate most to the book will never read it, because reading for pleasure is something for which they have no time. I'm thinking of the pre-IB and pre-AP kids who read in 9th and 10th grade, and then stop reading for pleasure in the 11th and 12th as jobs, after school activities, and school work crowd out books. Additionally, some people who pick this up will be shocked by the concept of Chinese school and by the tight rein Mrs. Tung has on her son.

I read a Kaya Press paperback edition, and I loved the feel of the book. I liked its size, and the beautiful thick paper. I also appreciated how each chapter was separated by a plain leaf of paper. Reading this edition was so pleasurable from a touch standpoint.

[Danna · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets into an Ivy League College is a delightful read. David Tung is an American-born Chinese living in bougie Shark Beach. His parents own the only Chinese restaurant in town, and while they are solidly middle-class, the Tungs operate in an economic class below the majority of Shark Beach's residents:

"Does Shark Beach High have the best coding classes because of the actual aptitude of the majority Asian population, or did the state allocate those resources to us because of the perceived aptitude of the majority Asian population? Hard to say. One thins is for sure, though. A lot of rich people live in Shark Beach. And rich people are always getting the best stuff out of the government."

Shark Beach High is David's battleground. He doesn't care as much about socioeconomic status or popularity as he cares about class ranking. David is determined to study his way to the top of his class so that he can get into medical school. He's been studying for the MCATs all year, literally carrying practice tests on his person at all times, and scored a 1550 on his SATs--and oh yeah, he's only a sophomore in high school.

Despite being on the fringes of dork and poor, David doesn't mind. Generally speaking, author Ed Lin makes David a nice kid who easily tunes out social drama:

"As I got closer to the bus stop, I slipped on my primary defensive weapon, my headphones. Avoiding human interaction is my primary goal each morning."

David has a loose group of friends, but no one he's incredibly close with since he spends all of his spare time studying, working at the restaurant, or attending Chinese weekend school. Until, yes, he gets distracted from that regimen by a female classmate. It's a cute romance--super innocent--and fun to watch develop. The love interest is a spitfire in her own right, which I appreciated.

There are a lot of references to Chinese-American culture, including a smaller focus on the immigrant experience and associated injustices. As a frequent reader of POC-centered novels, none of the content felt new to me, but it could provide cultural context for some readers.

My only complaint is that some the book, especially at the end, felt too nice, too simple, and too neatly wrapped up. So if you're in the mood for light reading, this is a great choice. Overall, recommended.

[Danna · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets into an Ivy League College is a delightful read. David Tung is an American-born Chinese living in bougie Shark Beach. His parents own the only Chinese restaurant in town, and while they are solidly middle-class, the Tungs operate in an economic class below the majority of Shark Beach's residents:

"Does Shark Beach High have the best coding classes because of the actual aptitude of the majority Asian population, or did the state allocate those resources to us because of the perceived aptitude of the majority Asian population? Hard to say. One thins is for sure, though. A lot of rich people live in Shark Beach. And rich people are always getting the best stuff out of the government."

Shark Beach High is David's battleground. He doesn't care as much about socioeconomic status or popularity as he cares about class ranking. David is determined to study his way to the top of his class so that he can get into medical school. He's been studying for the MCATs all year, literally carrying practice tests on his person at all times, and scored a 1550 on his SATs--and oh yeah, he's only a sophomore in high school.

Despite being on the fringes of dork and poor, David doesn't mind. Generally speaking, author Ed Lin makes David a nice kid who easily tunes out social drama:

"As I got closer to the bus stop, I slipped on my primary defensive weapon, my headphones. Avoiding human interaction is my primary goal each morning."

David has a loose group of friends, but no one he's incredibly close with since he spends all of his spare time studying, working at the restaurant, or attending Chinese weekend school. Until, yes, he gets distracted from that regimen by a female classmate. It's a cute romance--super innocent--and fun to watch develop. The love interest is a spitfire in her own right, which I appreciated.

There are a lot of references to Chinese-American culture, including a smaller focus on the immigrant experience and associated injustices. As a frequent reader of POC-centered novels, none of the content felt new to me, but it could provide cultural context for some readers.

My only complaint is that some the book, especially at the end, felt too nice, too simple, and too neatly wrapped up. So if you're in the mood for light reading, this is a great choice. Overall, recommended.

[Esta Montano · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Tung is only a sophomore, but he is fixated on his class rank. He lives in Shark Beach, NJ, an enclave or rich Chinese immigrants, where most of the families are Cantonese. His family, on the contrary, is from Northern China (his mother was from Shanghai and fled China for Taiwan as a teen), and his father claims Mongolian ancestry.
But their Cantonese neighbors are wealthy and David's family is not - they toil long hours at their Chinese restaurant, where David must spend all of his waking hours outside of school.

David also spends Saturdays at Chinese school in Chinatown, rather than attending the local Chinese school, as his mother had some sort of issue with them 8 years prior. David spends his time at Chinese school hanging out with his rough-around-the edges Chinese friends, from whom he learns about life in Chinatown and how it differs from his own. David lives a conundrum, too working class for Shark Beach, and too suburban for Chinatown.

Most of all, David is at his mother's beck and call. She has "trained him to battle for grades" and will not allow him to date until he is accepted into an Ivy League school. David, meanwhile, has internalized the academic pressure and does some hilarious things to work his way to the top, such as figuring out that one of his teachers gives pop quizzes when his socks are unmatched. But highest on David's list of priorities is a medical internship at Harmony Health Cancer Center -- David, who wants to be an oncologist (because he was inspired by Steve Jobs' story), obsesses about his candidacy. He watches every video that the oncology chief has ever produced, and because he obtained a high SAT score, jumps ahead to start studying for the MCAT every chance he gets.

David is nerdy, hilarious, introspective and totally captures the reader's heart. His quest for love and self acceptance is heartwarming and inspiring. This book provides a close look at the academic pressures that many Chinese American children face. It also dives into the classism, bias and internalized racism within the Chinese community. While YA, this book is totally appropriate and entertaining for adult readers. Once I started reading, I was hooked! #netgalley #DavidTungCan'tHaveAGirlfriendUntilHeGetsIntoAnIvyLeagueCollege

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I would not necessarily consider the writing style one of my favorites and there were times I questioned the inclusion of certain details about characters (especially earlier on) who turned out not to be that important, I really appreciated how class was interwoven throughout the book, whether it was David being among the visibly poorer kids (relatively speaking) in his increasingly wealthy Asian "high-achieving" public school in the suburbs but still being more class privileged than many of his friends at the Chinese school he attended in Chinatown, evictions and wage theft, the grad students who did deliveries at the restaurant to pay their bills but preferred it being far enough that they wouldn't have to serve their classmates, the assumptions his Chinese American peers in Shark Beach made about what was normal and affordable that affect even some of the taken-for-granted social rituals in US high schools, and how teachers at the school couldn't afford to live in the area. There were little details like Shanghainese people looking down upon Cantonese people or David's mom's family having fled Shanghai when the CCP took over and going to Taiwan which I appreciate as they indicate an author who really does have familiarities with the Chinese/Taiwanese/Hong Konger diasporas he's writing about. I laughed when David mentioned that white people started going to Tung's Garden when a vegan blog posted about it. Also, although I felt uncomfortable with how one of the few white characters, Al, suggested there was "reverse racism" happening because of the unfriendliness of his Asian American classmates toward him, I do feel like it was a realistic portrayal based on my experiences growing up and those I've heard or read about (e.g. in the movie Try Harder! about Lowell, or the book Trespassers: Asian Americans and the Battle for Suburbia) of the attitudes of some white people who go to academically competitive schools with a significant Asian population. I did end up cheering for David and Betty by the end of it even though what I loved most about the book was the explicit grappling with class dynamics with "Chinese American" communities more so than the romance.

[Andrew Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been an avid reader's of Mr. Lin's novels for some time now. I think part of my enjoyment I can appreciate the similar Chinese/Taiwanese-American perspective he brings although mine has the tint of suburban West Coast. So I was very intrigued by this extremely on the nose title and a change from crime to Young Adult fiction.

David Tung is a high school sophomore in present day Shark's Beach New Jersey, a suburban town that has seen its population grow towards an upper middle class Chinese-American demographic over the years. This is represented in his school which is majority Chinese-American and fiercely competitive given the background of the majority of its student population. David though, is a an outlier as he works daily at his parents' Chinese restaurant and while he fits in with the cutthroat quest for grades and ranking, he shares non of the lifestyle with his Chinese-American classmates. His mother event sent him to the Saturday Chinese school in Chinatown due to a dispute with the local Chinese school leadership.

At the start of the novel, we are introduced to David's daily navigation through balancing grades with his home life when suddenly Christina Tau, another classmate ranked right above him but from a family with much more means, asks him to the upcoming Dame's Dance. Suddenly, David's life is thrown for a loop.

Although this novel was classified in the YA genre, I found it very reminiscent of what I experienced a lot in my own high school years in the early aughts and saw this as a great coming-of-age Asian American story. Since I was accustomed to Mr. Lin's detective protagonist, Robert Chow, I could sense the same down to earth descriptors he employed from young David's perspective but it still fit the atmosphere; whether with is overbearing Taiwanese mother, rich snob classmates, or Chinatown pals. Plot wise it was an overall feel good story with a nice twist that may or may not surprise you but was enjoyable nonetheless. A big recommend for anyone interested in the Asian-American experience from a YA perspective.

[Raymond Goss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good young adult story about an ambitious, intelligent Chinese American 10th grader, who works for his parents in their restaurant just outside of NYC. The main character, David, is checking all the boxes to get into a top university and a bit overly concerned about competing for class rank, struggling with classism, the bigotry of his fellow Chinese American cohorts, and pressure from the adults in his world.

My 11th grade son, who is half South Asian & half white, read this first and said it was "Pretty Good," which is a high complement from him. He probably could see similarities in the characters to some of his peers. I found the book well written and progressively got more interesting as the story unfolded. While I come from a white background, I think I had similar pressures from my peers, financial limitations, and weekend family-church obligations that allowed me to relate to the character. Most teenagers probably feel that they are on the outside of the in-group. I thoroughly enjoyed the quick read.

Note: the author, Ed, and I were friends, spending a year in high-school together. We both went on to Ivy League schools. While we did get good grades, I didn't think either of us were as concerned about class rank.? I'm sure Ed writes from experience, but hopefully he had a better time in school than David. We always thought it was cool that Ed lived in a hotel and drove his own car to school. I do know that he wanted be a writer, but his parents wanted him to study engineering. It was the opposite for me.

[Antonetta · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was pretty bland. I found that there was too much attention paid to the day-to-day goings on in David's classes, but not enough time spent making the story interesting. There was some interesting stuff in the final 20% though, and I did feel happy at the end, but I wasn't on the edge of my seat or anything.

I found myself relating to David, as I too grew up with very strict parents with very strict no dating rules, but I think this book was aimed at a much younger audience than me (perhaps 13-17). This usually doesn't bother me, but it all came back to the writing style which I didn't enjoy. Maybe for someone younger this would have been okay, but I prefer a bit more detail. I also thought the characters acted a bit like 8-year-olds rather than the teens they supposedly were, which was also kinda off-putting.

I don't think there is enough to make you get invested in any of the characters. It felt like they were all written a bit surface-level, with some deeper details, but not enough to make me root for anyone or feel anything in particular at any point. I didn't really care for any of them, and I think this is the reason I didn't like it so much.

I persevered and finished the book; it was a very easy read, so I thought I would see it through to the end. I wouldn't say I have regrets about finishing it, but I definitely wouldn't be reading it again.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a lopsided endeavor because the book could have been succinctly written to tighten up some plot points and hit home what Lin's likely message was. There is a richness in how the main character explains the diaspora of Asian cultures from his vantage point in New Jersey with a working family background who own a restaurant that they all work at endlessly which is very different than the performative rich Asian kids in his neighborhood. There's some us/them especially when it comes to Tung's attendance at a Chinese School on the weekend in the city rather than in New Jersey where he lives because of his mother.

However there were some hard elements to get over. In particular Tung's commentary on his academic prowess and the "She's All That" kind of trope in which a girl finally pays attention to him but he can't date her but she wants to help him, but he can't manage to find a way to overcome his parents' beliefs about dating. Specifically there was some internal dialogue that explains that he doesn't believe that one of the girls ahead of him in class rank (in the top 10) can be both beautiful and pretty. But it's hard to swallow in the approach. He's an unlikeable character from my reading of the story and I don't feel much sympathy toward him.

[dfchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things I liked -- a lot of things that Asian immigrant kids are probably going to relate to, and there's a novelty to being able to read that that is valuable in and of itself. I also like how this book touches on the diversity within the Chinese American community (language communities, urban/suburban, class differences) when we are so used to an entire continent being conceived of as a monolith. Things I didn't think were as strong -- honestly the title had me thinking the real conflict of the book would be more between David and his parents and I would have wanted more exploration of that dynamic; also the romantic relationship that unfolds in the book didn't develop that convincingly to me.
Overall though, I am happy something like this is out there. Books like this didn't exist when I was growing up (my teens are well past me haha), and even now, seems like it's there much more in the way of youth reading with Asian-American female protagonists out there than male, so this kind of book is still quite a rarity even in the expanding catalog of Asian representation in popular lit.