Last Tang Standing

Ho’s witty, slow-burning debut opens on the holiday dreaded by Southeast Asian singles across the world—Chinese New Year. After Andrea Tang, the last single woman in her family, is forced to face the “‘Why Are You Still Single in Your Thirties, You Disappointment to Your Ancestors” inquisition, she leaves the family gathering more determined than ever to become a partner at her Singapore law firm and somehow find a man who will meet her family’s expectations. In humorous diary entries, Andrea details her awkward dating app encounters and near-constant hangovers. Before long, she’s caught between two potential suitors: Eric Deng, a handsome entrepreneur her family is sure to approve of, and her work rival, Suresh Aditparan, who she can’t seem to get out of her head even though her family would not approve because he’s not Chinese. Though Andrea’s obliviousness to her own and others’ emotions becomes increasingly frustrating as she struggles to choose between her head and her heart, this fun, upbeat tale remains entertaining throughout. Ho’s cute, quippy love story is sure to captivate rom-com fans. Agent: Allison Hunter, Janklow & Nesbit. (June)