a purpose and a dream | never thought I'd end up here by ann liang

by - 9:30 AM

Ann Liang is synonymous in this household with adorable fluffy rom-coms that leave you smiling like an idiot while simultaneously bringing on the tears for perfectly putting into words the experience of being a child of immigrants. Never Thought I'd End Up Here offers a gentle reconciliation towards the experience of growing up between two different cultures and the journey it takes to discover one's unique cultural identity.

pages: 320 | source: netgalley, colored pages book tours
publication date: June 03, 2025
tags: young adult, contemporary, romance, asian-rep
rating:  7.5/10

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This may be a big moment because I think I found my favorite Ann Liang novel. Something about Never Thought I'd End Up Here just clicked - from the relatable experiences of defining one's identity through the Asian American lens to what has to be one of the sweetest romances I've ever read, I cannot sing enough praises for this book.

As someone who also got the chance to participate in a cultural-immersion camp, seeing Leah discover her Chinese heritage through a new lens and all the challenges she faced throughout resonated so much with me that seeing her overcome them felt like a personal victory. Leah had to essentially learn what it meant to be just her and the process of becoming so vulnerable is a scary one but for the first time in a while she is surrounded by so much love and zero judgement. And despite all the cringey teenage moments of embarrassment, her experiences in Shanghai finally give her the support system she's been missing to truly enjoy her life. Though credit where credit is due, I adore her mother and how she calls Leah Baobei - truly made me tear up every time.

Of course, we cannot talk about an Ann Liang rom-com without addressing the romance because this one was truly top-tier. Cyrus wins the #1 spot because he was truly the softest, most sweetest MMC ever and he deserves the biggest hug. I loved how we got to do a deep dive into two incredibly different Asian American experiences and see the shared fear of failure and disappointment that often underscores many children of immigrants' lives. It truly offers a different perspective and reinforces how you never know what's behind the mask of perfection that everyone projects.

I think this is the first time I've finished a YA novel in a long time where I just want to go back and reread the story because of how genuine it felt. To prevent any further gushing over these characters and because the more I think about it, the more I'll miss my family in Taiwan, here's a line that really just solidified the impact that this book left on me: The longer I stay in this country, the more words I collect. It happens naturally, as if they've been hidden in the corners of my mind this whole time, waiting for me to brush away the dust.


huge thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours, Ann Liang, and Scholastics Press for a chance to participate on this tour! be sure to check out all the amazing stops!
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