Paramount+ released the official trailer to Love in Taipei, the upcoming film based on Abigail Hing Wen’s Loveboat, Taipei.
Weng’s young adult novel, published by HarperTeen in 2020, follows Ever, an American teenager whose parents sign her up for a summer language and culture program in Taiwan. She becomes embroiled in a love quadrangle while studying there. A Kirkus reviewer called the novel “an entertaining and heartfelt debut that takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of romance and self-discovery.”
The film, directed by Arvin Chen, stars Ashley Liao as Ever. Chelsea Zhang plays Sophie, a friend Ever meets on the program. Ross Butler stars as Rick, and Nico Haraga plays Xavier, two other program attendees.
In the trailer, Ever and Sophie meet on a bus to the program. “Do you go to college?” asks an excitable Sophie. “Are you excited for the summer? See any guys you like? Do you not like to talk?”
“I don't really know if ‘excited’ is the right word,” replies a bemused Ever.
At the end of the trailer, after scenes of the four main cast members talking, laughing, and dancing, Ever says, “This is a love letter to a place that I never knew eight weeks ago. Now, it’s part of me.”
Love in Taipei premieres Aug. 10 on Paramount+.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
