In I Hope This Doesn’t Find You, Ann Liang delivers a solid and cute read. I found it incredibly capturing; I couldn’t put it down because the premise was just too fun. While it definitely wasn’t the best or most powerful romance ever written, it was a wholesome source of comfort, and the banter between the leads kept me smiling the whole way through.

Sadie Wen, the female protagonist, is an incredibly relatable character for anyone, including myself, who has ever chased academic validation. Her drive to be the best and her struggle with people-pleasing and perfectionism felt so authentic. I loved her growth as she realized she didn’t always need to be perfect in order to be happy. 

On the other hand, Julius Gong, Sadie’s love interest and academic rival, is the classic “cold exterior, warm inside” male lead. He is a total gentleman, and the way he acts around Sadie is absolutely adorable. Their chemistry felt natural, especially as they transitioned from supposedly loathing each other to sharing sweet, slightly cliche moments, like him offering her his coat to keep her from getting soaked in the rain.

However, the book wasn’t without its flaws. I felt like throughout the book, Julius’s character lacked a lot of depth; at times it seemed like he was only there to support Sadie’s journey. Some of the side characters also felt a bit one-dimensional, and the plot was fairly predictable and tropey. It seemed like the author prioritized keeping things more lighthearted and fluffy, rather than diving into the more heavy or emotional aspects of the characters.

Despite these minor issues, this was a really good fast-paced palate cleanser. It’s the perfect read if you want something cozy and funny with a satisfying slow burn romance.