Last Tang Standing: The most hilarious, feel-good debut romcom you’ll read all year!

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Although the book comps compare this story to Bridget Jones meets Crazy Rich Asians (true--in a way-- through journal entries and, well, crazy rich Asians), Lauren Ho has created a truly new vibe with her unique (and perfectly in tune/ on point/ relatable/ full of laughable snark) writing style. Lastly, you may think that Last Tang Standing already sounds fun here, but isn't it Crazy Rich Asians all over again since it talks about family interference on the relationship?

The book focuses on Andrea's desire to progress in her career, the fact she hates her job and felt like she didn't have a choice outside of law and medicine. Andrea Tang is the protagonist that we all need to remind us of the complications of navigating our thirties.

On the other hand, Andrea's relationship with the very much mature Eric is often formal and one-sided. I couldn't imagine having to put yourself out there in the dating scene at age 33, so I am in great awe of Andrea and her willingness to meet men both online (it's the post-millenium after all) and conventionally for a prospective partner. Lauren has a sharp observation of the concerns and norms about relationships in these modern days, including the challenges facing interracial couples, cradle-snatcher love (姐弟恋), blind dates (相亲) and online dating. My issue is that none of it is challenged at all - not in the text and not by any of the characters. I felt like the 'Bridget Jones' type character might be too obvious and maybe a little cringe, but I quickly changed my mind.

She mistakes him for the staff because of his rumpled clothing, and willingness to listen to her make fun of rich people. What stands out to me is at the end of the book when the MC questions her mother about this, she says that her child would have to convert and possibly must tolerate her husband marrying multiple other women. It's also written in epistolary journal format, like BRIDGET JONES, and like Bridget, the heroine is unlucky in love and very insecure and has some habits she would like to break but can't (in her case, it's drinking instead of smoking). I appreciated having a woman of color depicted as a high-powered lawyer, and the neurotic lawyer archetype might be attractive to some readers. Bought this after reading rave reviews by bookstagrammers and they were not lying: a laugh-out-loud rom-com from start to finish.Both joyfully entertaining and socially perceptive, Lauren Ho’s debut is a vivid read on dating, work and family in Singapore through the lens of a brutally honest protagonist of gold. Andrea is quite content, thank you very much - or at least she believes she is, and she doesn't need a man to make her happy!