Proceed With Caution:
This book contains discussion of depression and suicide, racism, abuse, and distribution of nude photos.
The Basics:
Loveboat, Taipei is the story of Ever's last summer before college. Her parents want her to attend Northwestern to study medicine, but she wants to go to Tisch and dance. But before that can even happen, she needs to survive eight weeks of Chinese school in Taiwan! Lucky for Ever, it's not the stuffy environment she's fearing. In fact, this is the most free Ever has ever felt, much to her parents' horror.
My Thoughts:
I loved Loveboat, Taipei! It was exactly what I was wanting to read and more! I adored Ever from the beginning. Her passion for dance is so clear, and her need for her parents' approval was also clear. I was mortified by the way her mother treated her when she found out she had been accepted in a dance school, but it also rang true with what we knew about Ever's parents and their plans for her. Of course, this all happens before they send her across the world to learn about her culture, which Ever takes as punishment. Until she actually arrives.
Loveboat, Taipei was so fun! The program Ever's parents have enrolled her in was nicknamed the Loveboat by students, because it's a great place to find a parent approved significant other! Ever has never been allowed to date, or really do anything, so she writes out a list of rules she's going to break! A few of which have to do with boys! Boy drama does take up a large part of the story, but that's not all there is. Plus it was good boy drama.
Yes, there is a love triangle. Well, it's actually a love rhombus, I suppose, since Ever's roommate Sophie is also involved at one point. The first person Ever meets upon landing is Rick aka Boy Wonder. She's heard about his accomplishments her entire life, so she hates him on sight. Or does she? Then there's super hot bad boy, Xavier, who Sophie has eyes on. This situation is such a huge mess and I was there for it! I don't want to give anything away, but dang. Drama. I also had no idea who would end up with who. It's close.
Loveboat, Taipei is ultimately about Ever finally standing up to her parents and going after what she wants in life. She learns so much about herself while in Taiwan. Instead of simply breaking her parents' rules just for the sake of breaking them, she discovers what she actually wants for herself. Does she have it all figured out? No, but she has a plan that she hopes her parents can accept, because she's doing it!
Loveboat, Taipei just made me really happy. It does have it's darker moments when it delves into mental health and abuse, but it handles these subjects delicately. There is a big epic cheesy moment at the end, but it totally worked!