Rent A Boyfriend by Gloria Chao - Sheaf & Ink

“Rent A Boyfriend will sweep you off your feet. Romantic, hilarious, and genuine, Chao expertly writes another profound story about family, love, and acceptance.”
Cecelia Beckman Sheaf & Ink

The STory

From the Publisher:

Chloe Wang is nervous to introduce her parents to her boyfriend, because the truth is, she hasn’t met him yet either. She hired him from Rent for Your ’Rents, a company specializing in providing fake boyfriends trained to impress even the most traditional Asian parents.

Drew Chan’s passion is art, but after his parents cut him off for dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, he became a Rent for Your ’Rents employee to keep a roof over his head. Luckily, learning protocols like “Type C parents prefer quiet, kind, zero-PDA gestures” comes naturally to him.

When Chloe rents Drew, the mission is simple: convince her parents fake Drew is worthy of their approval so they’ll stop pressuring her to accept a proposal from Hongbo, the wealthiest (and slimiest) young bachelor in their tight-knit Asian American community.

But when Chloe starts to fall for the real Drew—who, unlike his fake persona, is definitely not ’rent-worthy—her carefully curated life begins to unravel. Can she figure out what she wants before she loses everything

My Review: Rent A Boyfriend

I thoroughly enjoyed Rent A Boyfriend.

It reminded me of Chao’s American Panda novel, which is just as enduring, big-hearted, and laugh-out-loud funny. Chao seamlessly depicts a young college student who wants something different from her parents idea of her happiness. It’s difficult to digest the disconnect. How Chloe’s parents come up with this idea to marry her off to someone Chloe clearly despises.

In many ways I can see how relatable Chloe can be for young people who might be going through a similar situation. Why people would resort into hiring a boyfriend. And that’s the beauty of novels. They bridge two worlds together. Where readers can find equilibrium or an understanding in their own lives with the help of a story they see themselves in. A reflection of their own personal experiences.

I absolutely loved how Chloe painted these messy family pictures, showing the trenches often built and no way of filling them in without consequences. How lies can become toxic. Where it becomes difficult to see the truth.

But what ultimately sustained this fast-paced delight of a book was the ebb-and-flow between Chloe and Drew. Where they find they both can be brave and find a bit of happiness without costing their futures for themselves and together.

I can’t wait to read Chao’s next book!

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

RATING: – Exceptionally Inked