Last Tang Standing

March 30, 2020
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.

April 1, 2020
A woman in her 30s contends with her family's expectations as she navigates career and romance in Singapore. Andrea Tang is 33 and single, much to her mother's chagrin. Andrea knows her family expected her to be married with children by now, but she's still reeling from a nasty breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Ivan, and is more concerned with making partner at her law firm than getting engaged. Readers who enjoy their heroines booze-soaked and battle-worn--especially when the battle is being waged against society's expectations of women, unfair treatment of women in the workplace, and judgmental aunties--will fall hard for fierce yet flawed Andrea. While the diary entries sometimes rely too heavily on dialogue and not enough on Andrea's own thoughts, her inner monologue is the perfect combination of hilariously brash and undeniably honest. She navigates a disastrous one-night stand, her mother's outspoken disapproval of her lifestyle and relationship status, and her best friend's soap-operatic dalliance with a married man with snark levels reminiscent of Bridget Jones herself. Of course, despite clocking 15-hour days at the office and eschewing Tinder, Andrea soon finds herself in a romantic entanglement or two. She unexpectedly connects with extremely eligible bachelor Eric Deng at a lavish book club meeting (complete with outlandish cocktail attire, overflowing champagne flutes, and sashimi freshly sliced by a smiling chef) hosted at his Architectural Digest-worthy home. Eric courts Andrea with fresh bouquets, pricey handbags, and fancy dinners, but she isn't sure whether she can truly commit to the much older, much richer businessman--especially since she still hasn't figured out why she is so drawn to her engaged work rival, Suresh Aditparan, and his popular webcomic series. A lush portrayal of Singapore life filled with vibrant characters and a lovable leading lady readers will root for.

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April 15, 2020
At 33, Andrea Tang is living the life she is supposed to live in Singapore; she's up for partner at her law firm, in possession of the latest designer handbag, surrounded by devoted friends, living in a posh apartment. The only thing she hasn't successfully accomplished is landing a husband. When her cousin's engagement leaves her the titular last Tang standing (i.e., unmarried), things start to get real. Competing with office mate Suresh for a promotion while dating handsome and wealthy, marriage-minded entrepreneur Eric, Andrea has to decide what she wants from her life and what happiness means to her. Does she make partner, marry Eric, and live lavishly ever after? Does she quit her job and redirect her life entirely? Is her rivalry with Suresh shifting from antagonism to civility to friendship to something else? Ho's debut is a charming and witty diary of a year in the life of Andrea Tang. It's a good match for fans of The Hating Game, Crazy Rich Asians, and young professional women who feel at a crossroads.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from June 1, 2020

DEBUT You might think that the most stressful aspect of 33-year-old Andrea Tang's life is her nonstop work in pursuit of a partnership at a high-powered law firm. But work, and the annoying coworker who shares her office, takes a back seat to the relentless family pressure to find a husband. She is, after all, the last of the current generation of Tangs to marry, which makes her a disappointment to the more traditional members of her extended Chinese Malaysian family. Andrea's friends encourage online dating, which leads to several awkward encounters, and her nights out leave her with hangovers she has to disguise at work. An encounter at a bizarre (and uproariously funny) book club connects her with billionaire Eric Deng--an impressive catch who would certainly silence any concerns about her spinsterhood. As Andrea's relationship with Eric heats up, an unexpected twist in the form of her frenemy office mate Suresh complicates matters. VERDICT The combination of an appealing lead, a glamorous setting, and relatable, funny portrayals of relationships and workplace politics make this debut one of the must-read escapist pleasures of the summer. Fans of Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians and Sally Thorne's The Hating Game will be dazzled.--Nanette Donohue, Champaign P.L., IL

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