If 27 Dresses is one of your comfort movies and you adore stories that strike the perfect balance between romance and friendship, then Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu is the book for you. It’s a rare treat to get a novel that celebrates the two most important relationships in a person’s life with such heartfelt representation, making it much more relatable, honest, and wholesome.
In every way, Elise Ngo’s character arc is what shines most in the novel. She’s the type of heroine whose journey many women have been (or still are) on. She’s the one who’s tirelessly bending backward and forward, trying to make ends meet while keeping things buried because it’s hard to burden those she cares about while simultaneously feeling the societal waves of shame we all put on ourselves because of where we are in life or what we’re supposed to be doing. At the same time, the novel gorgeously brings to life Chinese American wedding customs with three different nuptials, allowing readers to have different perspectives that make each celebration feel brand new despite the short periods between them.
As an Armenian woman, it’s always so enamoring for me to hear about how different cultures celebrate their weddings. While I sometimes get overwhelmed at how much we tend to do and how taxing they can be for people who are a little more introverted (hi, yes, me—sorry, family), they’re still tremendous fun to experience and marvel at. More importantly, showcasing cultural celebrations is something we need to see more of in both books and films, allowing the world to understand that there are more ways than one to say “I do.” That’s why it’s an utter joy to experience glimpses of Chinese customs in Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu, and I can only imagine how much more delightful the novel would be on screen.
Further, there’s much to praise about the found family in friendships that Tieu crafts, revealing the stunning power of sisterhoods and how love should bring people together instead of splitting them apart. A lot of times, both in the real world and in fictional worlds, we find ourselves stuck between fallouts that damage and hurt like a ton of bricks, but in this little world, set in the backdrop of LA, we have enduring friendships that feel as comforting as the romance is, making it lovelier to experience so many little relationships in one novel.
Now, as far as romance in Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu goes, Ben Yu and Elise are both sheer delights from beginning to end and a gorgeous version of the best friend’s brother trope. There’s a bit of animosity between them when we initially meet them, but the gradual progression to friends and lovers is incredibly earned. How Tieu writes their burgeoning love story allows us insight into a relationship where two people find themselves thoroughly comfortable around each other to open the parts they can’t with others. How they unwind and find solace away from the bustling sounds is adorably written and wonderfully paced. Julie Tieu is undoubtedly an author to look out for, with sharp, clever writing, loads of fun banter, and sparkling romances in every corner.
Julie Tieu is undoubtedly an author to look out for, with sharp, clever writing, loads of fun banter, and sparkling romances in every corner. Between both characters trying to find their footing to follow their dreams and leaning on each other while they do so, there are tons of little things to appreciate throughout the novel.
Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu is now available wherever books are sold.