CHLOE AND THE KAISHAO BOYS

A Chinese Filipino teen in Manila must choose between chasing her dreams in America and staying home to support her family’s business.

Chloe Liang is one step closer to her dream of becoming an animator when she finally gets off the waitlist at the University of Southern California. But her family won’t let her leave the Philippines without the most extravagant send-off possible: her debut, a traditional Filipino 18th-birthday celebration. Chloe needs the closest men and women in her life to participate, but when Auntie Queenie notices that most of the men are Chloe’s uncles, she intervenes to kaishao her, the Hokkien term for matchmaking. Chloe’s father approves these blind dates, hoping she will stay home for college and join Zip and Lock, the Liang family company, like her cousins. Ethnically Chinese Chloe fully embraces her Filipino nationality but is aware of the desire—to varying degrees—of her Chinese Filipino friends and family to maintain their identity by only marrying within their ethnic community; Cia, Chloe’s Filipino best friend, is in a secret relationship with Chinese Filipino Raph because the latter’s parents only want him to date other Chinoys. Chloe is very conveniently arranged on dates with boys she already knows, but her experience of the fluttery feeling of kilig (in places both expected and unexpected) is entirely wholesome and sincere.

An endearing story from a fresh voice of family, first love, and taking chances.