Chloe and the Kaishao Boys

Mae Coyiuto

G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2023

Agent: Thao Le

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Loveboat, Taipei in this hilarious YA rom-com about a Chinese-Filipina girl in Manila whose father sets her up on a marathon of arranged dates in hopes of convincing her to stay close to home for college.

Chloe knows what it takes to be the perfect Liang daughter—stay in Manila, study business management, and join the family company. But when she unexpectedly gets off the wait list for USC, her dream of becoming an animator in the United States is suddenly within reach.

Before she goes, her auntie insists on planning a traditional debut for Chloe’s eighteenth birthday. And while a party with all her friends and family sounds like the perfect send-off, the huge production her auntie wants—complete with ball gowns and a choreographed dance number—makes Chloe want to pass out from stage fright.

To make matters worse, her father, intent on finding Chloe the perfect escort for the party, keeps setting her up on one awkward kaishao—or arranged date—after another. Why does her dad suddenly care so much about her love life? And what happens when she actually starts to fall for one of the guys, only to have to leave at the end of the summer?

At home in the Philippines, Chloe has her future all planned out for her. In America, nothing is certain. With a career in animation far from guaranteed, Chloe must decide if following her dreams is worth everything—and everyone—she’ll be leaving behind.

Reviews:

“A sweet and refreshing story about family, first love, and chasing your dreams. The way Coyiuto writes romance will completely sweep you away.” —Dustin Thao, New York Times bestselling author of You’ve Reached Sam.

"Coyiuto's lovely debut is quite funny and filled with fantastic family banter. As readers follow Chloe through different dates, they will root for her as she struggles with matters of the heart, including romance, family, and how hard it can be to make a lifechanging choice." Booklist

"Friendship, matchmaking, family expectations, and a Filipino debut come together in this sweet novel about finding who you are. [...] Between love triangles and enemies-to-lovers, this novel explores a few romantic tropes, but the highlight is a relatable heroine who is leaving her childhood behind and focusing on the adult she wants to become. With funny quips and a great deal of current pop culture, this story will appeal to most readers. Recommended for all high school libraries, especially for those serving readers look for Asian and Asian American voices." School Library Journal