Book Review of "Chloe and the Kaishao Boys" by Mae Coyiuto

Will love prevent you from achieving your dreams?

That is exactly what happens in Mae Coyiuto’s new YA novel Chloe and the Kaishao Boys.

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Set in Manila, Philippines, recent graduate Chloe Liang aspires to study animation at USC School of Cinematic Arts. When she was waitlisted, she thought that her dreams were about to be nothing more than just a fantasy; until it wasn’t. That acceptance email had finally come, but in the back of Chloe’s mind, she thinks herself as second best.

Before leaving for America, her Aunt Queenie wants to through Chloe a Debut. This means an extravagant eighteenth birthday party that Chloe does not want to have but has to go along with because it’s for the family. If that’s not enough on Chloe’s plate, she now must deal with the surprise tag team of her dad and Aunt Queenie as they devise a plot to find Chloe a boyfriend so that love will prevent her from leaving.

The idea of a kaishao is not common unless you are Chinese, according to Chole’s conversation with her best friend Cia. As a Chinese-Filipino, a kaishao is a great way to meet with other Chinese descendants to date, and eventually marry. However, relationships are far from Chloe’s mind, but that does not mean she cannot admire the cute boy she is set up with.

Miles is Chloe’s gym crush. Her interactions are not the smoothest, but what can you expect from a teenage girl trying to mind her business around a hottie. When she runs into him at Cia’s birthday party, Chole took a leap and had a conversation with Miles. By the end of it, her crush grew even stronger.

Aunt Queenie set up Chloe with Miles during an early morning fun run event. Not the best location or time for a date but given that Chloe is a runner and Miles an athlete, Aunt Queenie and Chloe’s dad thought it would be an ideal place for them to interact. By the end of the run, Miles has a new appreciation for Chloe, and they agree to meet again.

Now, this story isn’t about one guy. Let me remind you that Coyiuto’s novel is called Chloe and the Kaishao Boys, not Chloe and the Kaishao Boy. Cia is dating Raph, a comedic romantic who loves Cia dearly. Well, given that Raph has a family that strictly allows him to date girls only of Chinese decedents, he didn’t tell them he is dating a powerhouse Filipina. Thus, going on a kaishao with Chloe.

As a best friend, Chloe defends and advises Raph to clear the air with Cia. When he does, their relationship comes to a halt. Cia, a dynamite of a friend filled with beauty and grace, morphs into a crying mess with Chole there to comfort her. And what better way to comfort a friend than to share a deep, dark secret.

Chloe had her first kaishao with Cia’s brother Jappy. It was at church, and it caught Chloe completely off guard, but she and Jappy shed light on the surprise ambush. It’s not like Chloe liked Jappy in that way, they were only friends.

Since Jappy is Cia’s brother, Chloe would see Jappy all the time. It doesn’t take long to fall for his dimpled smile and long, messy hair. And much to Chloe’s surprise, Jappy drops hints that he is interested in her too.

The whole book doesn’t just consist of the kaishao boys, but a lot on family. Chloe lives with her dad while her mom moved to California. She has a great relationship with both of them, but Chloe was mostly raised by her dad’s side of the family, making them really close.

However, talking to them about her dreams isn’t a common topic. In fact, anything about her feelings is mostly brushed away. Chloe’s dad shares everything on social media but holds back when it comes to facing Chloe in person. The actions her family expresses makes her want to leave even faster, but then there are instances that makes it hard for Chloe to leave Manila.

Until the very end, Chloe is torn whether she should stay home with her family and explore her newfound love life, or spread her wings and study aboard.

Coyiuto created a story that speaks heart and soul. In a truly swoon worthy, heartfelt book on dreams and relationships, Coyiuto shows the struggle of life changing decisions.

There are too many pointers I would love to share and gush over in this Chloe and the Kaishao Boys book review, but then this will be a novel length review on it’s own. Instead, I will narrow it down to three important takeaways from Coyiuto’s novel that I think are reasons to pick up her book.

Reason #1

We are exploring a new country from the POV of a teenager native of said country. I grew up in the United States and the books I read growing up have been from the American point of view. When I think oversea books, it is either set in another country with an American traveler or it’s a translated version of the original story. I am prefacing that we are reading about a YA romance set in the Philippines. How cool is that! The author writes with passion and authenticity, and it shows from her scenes.

“Pa always runs the same five-kilometer loop around our gated community…he insists on wearing the jersey with a T-shirt underneath. Manila is so hot you never need to layer,”

Reason #2

No one can really escape being an outsider. Chloe decided to go abroad for her schooling, and her family does not really understand the appeal. Aunt Queenie thinks every unorthodox thing is because of the “Americanized” exposure. Chloe is confided to the Americanization stereotype her family placed onto her when her decisions are just her dreams. It is as if Chloe resembles our own journey.

She wants to be her own person, but the overwhelming love from her family blocks her heart from following her dreams. Many teens feel this way as they try to explore new traits and places. Coyiuto thoughtfully wrote a book that reflects the unbalanced nature of what a teenager faces.

“Instead of an obedient successor, Pa got a daughter who fantasized about becoming an animator.”

One thing that resonated with me the most is Chloe’s bilingualism; she doesn’t speak Hokkien but understands it. As a second generational Chinese-Filipino, Chloe resonates with her Filipino home. Like Chloe, I am second generational Mexican-American and my Spanish comprehension is 100x better than my speaking skills. It’s refreshing to read about a character who experiences life in both cultures. That is how it is nowadays, it’s important for young adults to relate with a character that is just like them.

“…she knows I can understand Hokkien perfectly. I just don’t speak it.”

Reason #3

The romance. I seriously cannot get over how cute the entire romance scenes were. The amount of times I reread a section just to feel the warm fuzzies is too embarrassing to share. If there is a romance book that I would read over and over again, it is this one. Lately, I am loving the enemies to lovers/friends to lovers trope. If I share any more adorable moments shared between Chloe and her kaishao boys, then I am afraid I would be ruining the magic of the story.

“His face breaks into a smile, and I nudge him back with my knee. This time, his knee stays pressed against mine. My heartbeats start synchronizing with the pounding rain above, and all that swirling and fluttering in my gut hits me ten times harder. I’m not sure if he’s doing this on purpose, but I kind of don’t want him to move away.”

There you have it! The three takeaways of why Chloe and the Kaishao Boys is a must read. I hope you grab yourself a copy of Mae Coyiuto’s adorable YA book.

You can find a copy here Bookshop.org | Amazon | Kindle | Audible

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Happy reading!