The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. YeeThe Epic Crush of Genie Lo #1
Published by Amulet Books on August 8th 2017
Age Group & Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
She annihilates standardized tests and the bad guys.
Genie Lo is one among droves of Ivy-hopeful overachievers in her sleepy Bay Area suburb. You know, the type who wins. When she’s not crushing it at volleyball or hitting the books, Genie is typically working on how to crack the elusive Harvard entry code.
But when her hometown comes under siege from hellspawn straight out of Chinese folklore, her priorities are dramatically rearranged. Enter Quentin Sun, a mysterious new kid in class who becomes Genie’s self-appointed guide to battling demons. While Genie knows Quentin only as an attractive transfer student with an oddly formal command of the English language, in another reality he is Sun Wukong, the mythological Monkey King incarnate—right down to the furry tale and penchant for peaches.
Suddenly, acing the SATs is the least of Genie’s worries. The fates of her friends, family, and the entire Bay Area all depend on her summoning an inner power that Quentin assures her is strong enough to level the very gates of Heaven. But every second Genie spends tapping into the secret of her true nature is a second in which the lives of her loved ones hang in the balance.
A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo comes out next week! I repeat, NEXT WEEK! F. C. Yee’s debut novel might be my favorite book of this year, taking a spot right next to I Believe In a Thing Called Love and When Dimple Met Rishi.
Here’s why you, as a fabulous bookworm, need to check out Yee’s debut novel when it hits shelves next week:
Chinese Mythology – As someone who is Chinese, I am ALWAYS on the lookout for Chinese representation in the books I read. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo focuses on a particular story, but those who are unfamiliar with Chinese Mythology will find the explanations included not overbearing.
Hilarious – Genie Lo is hilarious, and I swear 80% of my reading notes contain laughing emojis. There is never a dull moment in this book – every scene has a line that will have you laughing out loud, or trying hard not to laugh in public (I get embarrassed).
Breaking Stereotypes – I am SO glad there is a book out there breaking stereotypes. Genie Lo is tall and angry, something not typically associated with Asians. We’re not all small and docile – we have claws, too!
Just A Little Bit of Romance – I am not a romantic person, but I loved the developing relationship between Genie and transfer student Quentin. It’s not taking over the overall plot and action, and their interactions are entertaining to read as well.
Relatable – I’m not saying Genie Lo is relatable because she’s Chinese like me. She’s relatable to all of us – the ones who have gone through or will go through the struggles of junior/senior year of college: choosing the right college, writing the best essay possible, striving for good grades and scores, etc. There aren’t many books in the YA category that deals with characters fighting demons while they’re stressing over schoolwork and everything else at the same time.
With action and fantasy set in the modern world and comedic lines, The Epic Crush of Genie Lo deserves all the hype it has been getting the book community and so much more.
RELATED: Check out my review for the sequel, The Iron Will of Genie Lo
Sophia started blogging in February 2012 for the hell of it and is surprisingly still around. She has a GIF for nearly everything, probably listens to too much K-Pop and is generally in an existential crisis of sorts (she's trying her best). More of her bookish reviews and K-Pop Roundups can be found at The Arts STL.
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