SOLVING FOR THE UNKNOWN

Vietnamese American college students navigate pressures, expectations, and the future in this companion to A Phở Love Story (2021).

Entering the University of California, Davis, is a big adjustment for Việt. Between worrying about not being around to act as middleman in his parents’ rocky relationship and feeling unmoored in this new setting, he falls into depression again. After an initial not-so meet-cute, Việt keeps finding himself in the orbit of third-year student Evie, older sister to Linh, a friend from home. Their genuine connection leads to budding feelings that he tries to keep in check. Aspiring pediatrician Evie has a boyfriend, Jake, but she wonders whether he’s truly meeting her emotional needs. Le tackles college coming-of-age beats—dating and breaking up, attending sloppy parties, meeting a new roommate, finding chosen family—portraying them with welcome cultural nuance and heartfelt characterization. Evie and Việt struggle with loneliness and guilt connected to their family obligations, as they grapple with putting some of their own desires first and figuring out who they want to become. It’s easy to root for this pair as they come out of their shells and into their own, separately and together. Le explores topics such as mental health, wealth and privilege, and providing emotional support to others. The story’s slice-of-life format and the carefully built foundation of the leads’ friendship make for a leisurely pace in this solid slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance.

A sweet love story of self-discovery and mutual support.