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Book Review: Dating Makes Perfect by Pintip Dunn
Thursday, September 24, 2020
PopSugar 2020 Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A
Other PS 2020 reading prompts this would satisfy: A book that's published in 2020, A book by a WOC, A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads, A book with a three-word title
TW: Racism
I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope. I can’t help it, I just find them to be so enjoyable and easy to cheer for! I loved Dating Makes Perfect because it’s a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, and seriously, this entire book is perfect.
The Tech sisters have never been allowed to date in high school, though the older Tech twins have always been next to perfect. So when Winnie’s older sisters come home from college not yet engaged, and their parents don’t understand why, they share it’s because they never had practice! So Winnie’s parents, ever so true to the phrase “practice makes perfect,” decide that Winnie can date in high school, only as practice, on dates they plan, and only with boys that they pick. Oh, not to mention each date is based off a scene from an American rom-com movie. Winnie must go through several of these dates with her childhood friend, now mortal enemy, and he must grade her on each date. Nothing could go wrong, right?
As soon as I started reading this book, I was totally hooked. The story is set up so well, and totally perfectly. The MC, her family dynamics, the boys, the best friend - it was so easy to fall in love with this story and its characters. But let me warn you, this book is sugary sweet, and while sometimes I would not be into that, it’s truly just done so well here. I swear, this book is perfect.
Even the stuff that aggravated me at certain points (like how insecure and mean Winnie is to herself at times) made sense and really added depth and growth opportunities for her. I loved her family too. As frustrating as her parents could be, they were truly just so sweet and kind. Her sisters, while portrayed as such perfect humans, were supportive and lovely sisters. I feel like so many books portray terrible, unsupportive family dynamics, and I realize that is the case for so many people (those reading and writing books), but I really love reading a book that has good family dynamics. It’s such a breath of fresh air.
"Words do count. They can hurt, and they heal." - Dating Makes Perfect, Pintip Dunn
This book really gave me strong Frankly In Love vibes. There were a lot of similar themes, but of course this book is also a completely different story, outcome, etc. This is truly such a lovely #ownvoices novel that really dives into the dynamics of the Thai-American family and many of the stereotypes faced, the expectations set for first-generation Thai-American children. I loved this book.
Goodreads rating: ★★★★★
*I received an ARC of this book for review. All opinions are entirely my own.
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