You know what this book is?! Absolutely EXCELLENT.
I’m so excited to be on the blog tour! I’m literally bursting out of my small socks with happiness, because this book was just that good and has already sneaked onto my list of 2019-favourites and also taken over my whole heart.
You can see the full tour schedule here and also there will be a giveaway at the end of this post! (I desperately need everyone to read this book omg.)
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for having me on the blog tour!
For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.
Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him.
When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.
Goodreads | Simon & Schuster | Book Depository | Booktopia
Mary H.K. Choi is a Korean-American author, editor, television and print journalist. She is the author of young adult novel Emergency Contact (2018). She is the culture correspondent on Vice News Tonight on HBO and was previously a columnist at Wired and Allure magazines as well as a freelance writer. She attended a large public high school in a suburb of San Antonio, then college at the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in Textile and Apparel.
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I am absolutely wholly and messily in love with this book.
It totally caught my heart and I turned into an invertible bucket of soapy emotions. I just??? loved everything about it. The anxiety rep was SO GOOD. Not to mention I am half in love with Penny and Sam and by the end I just wanted to tuck this book to my chest and hold it forever.
I knew I’d like it…but noooo. I LOVED it.
➸ It’s a story of college and the awkwardness of growing up and anxiety.
I really like books about upper-teens, early-20s, because there’s so much to unpack with those first feels of being out of home and discovering who you are as a person when no one else knows you. Both Sam and Penny have messy relationships with their parents and both are stuck. Penny feels like a veritable blob that no one cares about or finds interesting and she’s scared to be open or get close to people (with good reason but…spoilers shh). Sam is crushingly in love with his ex who does NOT love him back and he’s got about $17 bucks to his name and can’t even pay for college. He literally lives in the coffee shop where he works and he’s spiralling into an anxious depressed heap.
➸ I found them both SO relatable.
They both narrate and maybe I liked Sam’s chapters a little more. He is a soft boy™ and he bakes (HE BAKES!!!) and if his hair is fluffy, he’s feeling the softest (I was WAITING for his hair to get fluffy for Penny afjdkslad). Penny wants to be, to actually exist, after a life of non-existing. She’s Korean-American and tired of casual racism and being the tagalong friend. They meet because of a mutual friend, but then Sam basically has a panic attack AND FAINTS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION and Penny scrapes him off the ground and they become “emergency contacts”. Aka they text. All the time.
IT IS SO ADORABLE. I DIE. Their relationship was SO well built up that I rooted for them as friends, and then…just kiss, you little onions. Just kiss.
➸ I loved all the diversity in the book too!
From the #ownvoices Korean-American representation (there is an EXCELLENT dialogue in Penny’s writing class about writing diversity that was just…so important) to the anxiety rep (they both struggle with it for different reasons and it was wholly relatable to me). It also was about being poor and had body-acceptance messages. AND IT HAD A+ BAKED GOODS REP. What we all deserve.
➸ Basically what I want from a book? MAKE ME FEEL.
And I felt all the things for these two afjdksald. The book is basically: “NOBODY has their shit together, it’s ok to lean on your friends.” And I love that??? There is no “their love cures them!” but instead it’s about how you do. not. have. to. be. alone when you’re going through stuff. It is full of little everyday emergencies and twisty complex feelings and the slowest gentlest romance that was just so frikkin’ sweet, my heart melted. It made me care about Sam and Penny. 10/10 would do anything for them.
Australian only!
Totes excited about this book. I like things that make me have feels. (Cos, you know, it’s hard to do with my cold, black heart.) Soft boys are only bested by morally grey boys with sharp cheekbones, shaved heads and ravens called Chainsaw. Also, I just finished The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding, and it made me 😭😭😭 (but just 3 times), otherwise I would have turned into a pile of goo a la the Wicked Witch of the West.
(And fave Shadowhunters is TID, but probs only because I haven’t started TDA yet… hyped books SCARE me.)
Honestly RELATE with the cold/dead heart tbh, but this still made me feel things??? MAGICAL. SORCERY. And I also want to read The Summer of Jordi Perez 😍😍 (and lol I feel so dumb, but I forgot to change the question in the rafflecopter, so sorry for how random that was!)
Well now I want to know what the new thing to comment on is! As of right this second I’m about 200 pages into Autoboyogrphy and I don’t think I will be ok by the end of it. Calling it now. If I do come out of it alive, I will likely resemble a pile of soggy tissues.
“Just kiss, you little onions. Just kiss.” Onions make people cry… do I really want to read this book??
(haha of cOURSE I do it sounds amazing. As do most books when you describe them?? Your control over your [devoted] minions hasn’t slipped, Cait… ;P)
Oh it’s not sad, hahaa. I mean, it’s feelsy but not like DEVASTATING or anything?! I didn’t write it (LOL LOL I KID, I KID).
And I’m so proud with how many people I’ve converted to trying this one. 😍😌My skills are monstrous.
OMG I saw this book at the bookstore when I was there the other day and I totally should’ve picked it up! I’ve been on a quite steady diet on fantasy/ASOUE, but perhaps I will break for this awesomely awesome sounding contemporary 😀
Aww I hope you do try it someday 😍 TOTALLY WORTH IT!!
THIS BOOK FITS MY HEART EXACTLY / I loved it so much. And I related to both characters, like….. baking is my thing, I have a complicated relationship with my mom, I have anxiety, I keep emergency snacks in my purse, getting close to people is hard. I think a lot of people in their 20’s relate to most of this book which is why it’s so good. I was cheering so hard for Penny & Sam to be 2GETHER 4EVER they are so adorable.
omggg I’m so glad you loved it too! It was just…perfect?! I wanted to keep reading it every second and whenever I had to stop, all I did was think about it. 😍😍 MY HEART.
I read this last week and ADORED it just like you did. It was just staggeringly relatable? I [articlarly though that Mary HK Choi was really good at writing in internet speak and examining why close relationships which develop online can be kind of fraught (I felt quite called out because some of Sam and Penny’s situation EXACTLY paralleled mine, let’s just say angsty boy baristas are tood good at texting lol). anyway this was a book that really surprised me and I’m so on board with your review It also inspired me to write!
YES YES EXACTLY!! I can’t actually fathom why anyone wouldn’t love it lmao. I found the texting so relatable and also comforting…??? Like YES friendships can be built over text and be really epic. Also if you find yourself a baking boy barista then well done, is all I can say. 😏
I’ve seen this floating around before but I never really read the synopsis. Definitely looks like it needs to go on my TBR tho 😮
It’s totally worth it 😍
I CAN’T WAIT TO READ THIS
I HAVEN’T HEARD OF IT UNTIL NOW
BUT I STILL NEED TO READ IT
Congrats on being on the blog tour!!!…
Honestly I have no idea what that is but it sounds like a big deal. 😹
Side note: I ordered your book and I have to wait another MONTH or a for it to come in!!!!
I’m in AGONYYYYY
A
G
O
N
Y.
I can’t wait
Actually I can but I don’t want to
*dies of waiting*
ahhh I hope you get a chance to read it soon 😍 it is just the CUTEST. And fasjdklad THANK YOU FOR ALSO GETTING MY BOOK. I WILL SEND YOU ALL THE CAKE NOW *happy cries*
Oh, that book looks so cute! I’d love to read it ;D
I MONSTROUSLY RECOMMEND IT. 😍😍
Not gonna lie, I totally only bought this book because Rainbow Rowell blurbed it. xD That was all the info I needed to know I was going to like it. And the writing felt like Rainbow Rowell’s, which is a super addictive style for me. I loved Sam a lot and the modern reality of how close he and Penny got via text. My introverted heart was happy. I didn’t totally get into Penny’s character, which may have colored some of the book for me, but overall it was pretty good! I was surprised how quickly I went through it considering it was long for a contemporary.
I didn’t really think about it till now, but it’s SO like Fangirl too!? They are like sibling books *flails* And agreed that Penny was a little hard to relate to, but I kind of understood that more once I found out what she went through. 😭 But omggg SAM. He was so adorable. And I loved the texts!! It was such a love letter, almost also, to internet friendship.
AHH this review makes me SO happy, I’m so glad you loved this book so much <3 It is one of my favorite books of all times, I adored Sam and Penny and their relationship, how it slowly developed over time and how endearing and relatable they both were. so happy you enjoyed it as well! <3 Wonderful review <3
omg I’m so glad you enjoyed it too 😍😍I’ve seen so many meh reviews for it and I’m over here like: jUST TAKE MY HEART, YOU DAMAGED LIKE SQUISHES *falls into a bucket of emotions*
I actually wasn’t that interested in this book until now!! It looks sooo cute ahhh. *flails*
confession: I only read City of Bones and basically DNFed the rest of the series. *nervous laughter* I’ve heard it gets better but I found it to be a water-downed version of Percy Jackson?? Idk something must be wrong with me. XD
IT IS CUTE. IT IS LITERALLY THE CUTEST SQUISH and also heartfelt and sad sometimes!?? So all the best things. (And I’m a huge fan of City of Bones haha. I do think the series all get better as they go along but I fully loved the first book so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ can’t comment really lmao.)
EEP I CAN”T WAIT. Haha I’m going to re-try the series so hopefully I’ll like it better. 🙂
This book sounds really interesting! I read my first contemporary at the end of 2018. The book was Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and I REALLY ENJOYED IT! Also, I LOVE it when authors write their stories about other writers! It always gives me a glimpse of what an author’s daily routine is, and It fascinates me! Great post as usual Cait!
omg YES! This is actually a good comparison for Fangirl, with the college and writers. I hope you’ll like it if you try it!
Ahhh… this sounds like such a sweet book!! <33
It totally stole my heart and I am just happy about that😍😍
Great review Cait. You made me want to read this books. I love books that did not have notion that love can cure all.
Aww thank you, Hana!! 💛💛You always leave the kindest comments!
Wow,okay! I’ve seen lots of bad reviews for this book so I haven’t been interested but Cait! You hath convinced me to give it a go!
Love from North Sydney ♡♡
You are an amazing cake monster
MY WORK HERE IS DONE.😌🎉(And tbh I’d seen mostly meh reviews too but afjdkslad I AM IN LOVE.)
(CAKE MONSTER FTW.)
Probably 70-80% of my tbr is because of this blog and I’m completely okay with that. I didn’t really consider this book at first but now I’m considering.
A book that took me surprise with how much I loved it was Starfish. I wanted a contemporary on a long car ride and originally didn’t intend to take it but it was the only thing that my library had available that sounded interesting and figured it would at least be entertaining and now I’m obsessed and it was my favorite book of 2018
You are most welcome 😌I feel like everyone’s TBRs are just in full scream mode at me all the time, but like. 😌 So welcome.
(I actually didn’t know if this would be a *me* book at ALL. But then it wholly was so !!) I’m so glad you found Starfish like that though! I think it’s amazing how sometimes are favourites are total accidents?! That’s why I love picking up books randomly. Never know what might happen.
This isn’t a book I ever thought I’d pick up (cute contemporaries are not my thing), but your review has really intrigued me! I especially liked the quotes you included. I just may have to check this out at the library and see how I like it.
Eleanor | On the Other Side of Reality
I AM CONVINCING, YAAAAS. SCORE HERE. 😂😂
My favourite contemporary books are books written by Katie West. I have read most of her books and would really like to try others by other authors! I have heard great things about Emergency Contact!
I love her books too! I haven’t read too many but I need to.😚
This sounds really good and I definitely want to read it! I really want to read more late YA fiction and writing set in university, because I frankly find 18-19 year olds more interesting than 15 year olds (maybe because I’m in the former category). Anyway, sad to not be able to enter the giveaway but I will get this from my library and AHHHH it sounds like a very enjoyable book 🙂
I hope you can get it from your library! I think this is what NA *could* have been!? It’s so relatable and also soft and sweet but heavy at times too?? That’s what I want from these types of books!!
I’ve seen SOOO many negative reviews for this book saying the characters are annoying and then so many gushing and I’m so torn about whether I want to read this or not! IT SOUNDS SO GOOD IN THIS REVIEW and I’m glad you loved it but then people can also convince me it’s not that great?? So. This is a very controversial book.
I actually don’t get why some people hate it so much?! But like, my friend and I usually have 90% the same opinions on books and she DNF’d it while I am besotted with it. So what do I even tell you Ilsa. IT’S ONE OF *THOSE* KINDS OF BOOKS. 😂😂
Awwww I’m already in love with this book! I need to read it!!! I’m so glad you were able to be a part of the blog tour so I could hear about it hahahahaha! Cause it seriously sounds so sweet and cute!!! Thanks for the fabulous review, Cait! Definitely adding this to my TBR!
omg I’m just so glad you enjoyed my review 😍 I will crow from the mountaintops that all should read this one omg
Soft boys, anxiety, and romance sounds right up my alley! I had already purchased the book from an ebook sale, but this review would’ve sold me on it instantly if I hadn’t. Definitely going to have to consider this as one of my ebook reads this year. (Although it sounds so perfectly up my alley that my tendency to save things I think I’ll love for when I feel like I really need them might kick in. I wish I had an emergency contact for those moments. Or all moments. Because anxiety rules my life, honestly.)
I think my biggest surprise in the last year or so was the Griffin and Sabine series. They were recommended to me at least ten years ago, but it took me until the end of 2017/beginning of 2018 to read them. I had to track most of them down on eBay because they were out of print. But it was worth it. It was such a different sort of way to tell a story.. Maybe part of it was the novelty, but I also love most things with soulmate-type connections.
Aww yay I am so glad I’ve convinced you to bump it up the TBR!! *heart eyes* It’s just…so soft and good and made me feel far more things than I expected to!? I love it fiercely.
(Also I very much relate to having planned to read a book for aGES and then only getting to it and falling in love later!)
It’s been so long since I’ve been here, did you cut your hair smushy’; You’re looking fabulous, the author life certainly agrees with you! I loved this one too and loved the awkwardness because as much as I love romance in young adult, these are teens we’re talking about, they’re not that smooth. I preferred Sam as a character compared to Penny, she was a little too judgy for my liking.. But the BAKED GOODS! So glad you enjoyed this one smushy, wonderful review! ♥♥♥
KELLYYYYY I THOUGHT A MAGPIE MUST’VE EATEN YOU!! (Actually no it’s ME who has been a blogging puddle these last few months. But I’m attempting to do better now!!) I’m so glad you liked this one too afjkdslad they were so cute. I also really feel this is what NA could’ve been!?
Let’s face it: it won me over with the baked goods.
One of my fave is Love and Geloto. 🙂
Nabila | Hot Town Cool Girl
I still need to read that one!!
Aw this actually sounds so good! I love it when books have great anxiety rep. SAM SOUNDS ADORABLE TOO.
SAM WAS SO ADORABLE I CAN’T EVEN.
There’s a baked goods rep? Now I HAVE to read this book 😂 Honestly though, I have been gazing longingly at this book for a while, but the indecisiveness that eternally plagues me has prevented me from buying it. Now it’s officially added to my TBR! (though that means absolutely nothing, and I think we can agree that TBR’s exist solely to taunt us).
I hope you get a chance to try it, and excuse me while I just FLAIL that my review was convincing!!! (And omg TBRs exist to haunt us. 😂)
OH MY GOD IM SO HAPPY YOU LOVED EMERGENCY CONTACT. I read this book last year and I swear to God, it’s taken over my entire life. It’s literally there on my Top 3 Fave Contemporaries (next to The Art of Feeling and The Foxhole Court). I feel so much for this book.
Everyone is so *soft* in this book?? Even the angst is soft? And as someone who ADORES the texting trope, it was just so,,,, perfect. I love the point you made about no one having their shit together but leaning on their friends for support bc THAT’S LITERALLY this book.
I also REALLY loved Penny’s Writing classes and her writing project. It was creepy and also inspiring asdfgjo I need help but ok.
I AM SO SO WITH YOU fajdksalfd I have so many feelings and I honestly didn’t expect it to like kidnap my entire heart and run off with it?? I’m so in love with this book. and YES that’s exactly it!! It’s so angsty, but it’s soft angst. And I was just sitting here literally waiting for Sam’s hair to get fluff for Penny and omg. I did not ask to have all these feelings.
Oooh, I really love the cover of this book but wasn’t sure if it was for me or not but after reading your review I am definitely in, it sounds wonderful!
Its on my list!!!
Blurg. My list is too long.
🙁
I’m so glad my review was convincing!!
I’m so glad you liked this one! I was worried I wouldn’t because YA romance is really hit-or-miss with me, but it was one of my most-loved reads from 2018.
btw I’m REALLY behind on reading blogs because I just noticed you’ve changed the design of your featured image. It looks really nice! (I loved the old design too though. Basically you can do no wrong.)