Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Nojadera
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet, romantic tale about identity and family expectations.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Chloe Wang, also known as Jing-Jing to her traditional Taiwanese parents, doesn't want to marry Hongbo, the wealthiest bachelor in her family's tight-knit Asian American community in Palo Alto, California. So she decides to RENT A BOYFRIEND from Rent for Your 'Rents. Drew Chan, an aspiring artist who joined Rent for Your 'Rents after his family cut him off for dropping out of college, has been trained to impress Asian parents no matter the situation. When Chloe hires Drew as her fake boyfriend, she thinks it'll be easy to convince her parents that she already has a boyfriend who's better than Hongbo. But what happens when Chloe and Drew start falling for each other? Can their fake relationship become something real?
Is It Any Good?
This sweet and romantic coming-of-age novel thoughtfully explores family expectations and identity making it a must-read for teens. Gloria Chao's loveable and relatable characters have swoonworthy chemistry, and readers will love their witty banter and how supportive they are of each other. Rent a Boyfriend seamlessly alternates between Chloe's and Drew's perspectives, revealing how their families' traditional values affect their relationships and sense of self-worth. But as the story progresses, teens will root for Chloe and Drew as they learn the importance of open, honest communication in healthy relationships and find a way to embrace their cultures while staying true to themselves.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the generational conflict in Rent a Boyfriend. Teens: Do your parents have values or traditions that you think are old-fashioned and have no place in today's world?
Mother-daughter relationships can be fraught with tension and strong bonds. Do any of the conflicts in the book sound familiar to you?
Talk about the various kinds of diversity in the novel. Why are diverse representations important in children's and young adult literature?
Does the romance portrayed seem realistic and relatable? Do YA romance novels help readers sort out their feelings and learn how to communicate, or do they create false expectations about teen relationships?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : November 10, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 28, 2021
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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