What I've read so far...
Stay True - Hua Hsu
A touching memoir which has focus on (male) friendship within the Asian American community. A journey through time where Taiwanese American Hua reminisces on his friendship with Japanese American Ken before his untimely death. While it is a quick read, there's no waffling while Hua contemplates out loud. His memories and experiences growing up were detailed nicely. But it's his friendship with Ken that stands out and you can tell from the pages how much the death affected him over the years.
Yellowface - RF Kuang
A satirical piece on cultural appropriation of (East) Asian culture. June Hayward is a White author who is struggling to be a successful writer whilst her 'friend' Athena Liu an ABC is the opposite. With publishers and various people flocking to her because of her writing, June is naturally envious of Athena's success. One night when they are celebrating, Athena suddenly dies from an accident and leaves behind an incomplete manuscript on Chinese POW from WW1. Per the title of the novel, one can guess what happens next.
June decides to finish Athena's story but publishes it as her own under racially ambiguous pen name Juniper Song. This opens up doors that June never had the chance to step into and alongside success of a well-received book, criticism and other factors arise. She digs a deeper hole throughout the story as she tries to keep her success in check and tackles haters from a large number of Asian readers who call her out on racism.
RF Kuang's writing style gave me a love/hate feeling as I read along. I get it is meant to be witty though maybe I am just used to reading stories in either first or third person. I appreciated the little tidbits about the publishing industry, but June and Athena were manipulative and hard to like. Even the directors and editors trying to help June get more famous earned eyerolls from me. I suppose these are aspects I need to be very mindful of if I ever get an opportunity to be published.
On the other hand, June's jealousy towards Athena was relatable nonetheless and some of the criticism from the Asian American community were valid and Yellowface was a rather addictive read. I wanted to keep reading to see what June would make a mess of next or how she was going to weave her way out of trouble using her Whiteness.
I Want To Die But I Still Want To Eat Tteokbokki - Baek, Sehee
The sequel to I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki where Baek Sehee shares more of her conversations with her psychiatrist. There is a more positive mindset in the later chapters. The Produce 101 season 2 shout out was a surprise but it did make me chuckle briefly as Sehee talks to the psychiatrist on her guilty pleasure fangirling of Kang Daniel.
Beast's Flower (webtoon)
I pitied Lyla from the first chapter. Being born with a bad smell and then sent to live in a small cabin for most of your life because a rumour has spread that you are a cursed witch - truly unacceptable. Her family are far from supportive. However things takes a turn when she meets Viorst who is one of the only people who can tolerate Lyla's stench. It turns out he is not human and actually finds her smell alluring.
I had a love/hate relationship with Viorst because as handsome and charming he could be, there were moments where he was just unlikable. On the other hand, as I read further, there was more backstory and it turns out he was a nice boy in the past and was loved by his mother who also happened to have a stench like Lyla did. His father is a nasty man and deceiving these ladies so they can conceive an heir to the Onlion then eventually die at birth.
The support Lyla had from Viorst's servants was lovely and she honestly deserved the respect after how her sister and father treated her.
Semantic Error (webtoon)
After reading this in its entirety, there wouldn't need to be a season 2 of the web drama. Unless the fans want more thirst traps from the main couple and read more naughty shenanigans. The ending to the web drama was appropriate and I am happy to leave it as it is. The webtoon showed a lot of Sangwoo and Jaeyoung's relationship and the build up to their tension, as well as exploring their own characters.