Loveboat Reunion by Abigail Hing Wen | Book Review

May 9, 2022

I wish more people were reading Abigail Hing Wen. Her debut, Loveboat Taipei really hit for me — I love drama and travel and coming of age stories. So, I was very eager to pick up Loveboat Reunion, a companion to Loveboat Taipei. Loveboat Reunion is a long book, but let me tell you, it is fully transporting. There wasn’t a moment reading this book where I thought I wanted it to end so I could be onto the next book.

Loveboat Reunion by Abigail Hing Wen is a long book, but let me tell you, it is fully transporting. I loved this book.

Loveboat Reunion follows two side characters from the first book — Sophie Ha and Xavier Yeh. Sophie is from somewhat humble origins. She is attending Dartmouth on a scholarship and it has occured to her that she can make her own way in life — she doesn’t need a man. Sophie is brilliant and is doing her best to get into a popular AI class off the waitlist. Meanwhile, Xavier is forced to repeat his senior year at a high school in Los Angeles. Although they are across the country from each other, their friendship is really blossoming over the long distance. Xavier offers to fly Sophie to Taipei to look into some cutting edge technology his aunt is developing for the family company. However, Sophie accidentally ends up organizing the trip as a Loveboat reunion (hence the title).

I loved the college aspect to this book. And the message! I love how Sophie learns to believe in herself and fight for her ideas. She puts in the work and she executes. You can tell she’s a brilliant main character with such drive. I just loved Sophie’s passion. As for Xavier, what a tough hand he has been dealt. Xavier has dyslexia and so he can’t read very well. He struggles with learning but he is given different tools at his new high school. Plus, he learns to value his way of thinking and processing things.

There is also something to be said for the friends to lovers trope. I feel like I already had investment in Sophie and Xavier. By the time things started happening, I was rooting so hard for them! Loveboat Reunion is a blast to read and a great story about embracing your perceived flaws.


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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
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About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.