Hello again, traveler! Are you searching for a fun, diverse book by an Asian-American author? Look no further! Let’s discuss Not THAT Rich by Belinda Lei, a debut YA novel to the tune of Crazy Rich Asians and Gossip Girl that had me absolutely hooked from start to finish and gave me a bit of sunlight during freezing, frightening times.
SYNOPSIS:
Hunter and Trisha Wang, like the majority of their classmates, are trying to balance AP classes, Ivy League applications, numerous extracurriculars, and tumultuously juicy social lives, all while living in their affluent, suburban bubble.
Will Hunter get into Stanford and still be able to maintain his relationship with the “it girl” Sierra Jones? Will Trisha find love with outsider Ray Martinez and figure out what’s going on with her influencer best friend, Pamela Shah? Will billionaire newcomer Jack Zhou figure out how to fit in? And who exactly is The Stranger?
Welcome to Winchester High, a prestigious college preparatory school where students live seemingly perfect, privileged lives.
Goodreads | Book Depository | IndieBound
Rep: Chinese-American author, protagonists, and characters; Asian and BIPOC cast; queer characters
Content Warnings: unplanned pregnancy; racism and xenophobia; homophobia; loss of a loved one; drug and substance use; bullying; physical and psychological abuse
tl;dr: Do I recommend this book?
MY RATING: ★★★★★
In short: eat the rich. They have some delicious stories to tell.
This is the sort of high-school drama I’ve been searching for all of my life.
Continue reading “Amity, Affluence, and AP Exams: A Review of Not THAT Rich”
Sophie Ligaya dela Cruz 