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Boring Asian Female
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24 days and 00:45:51
15 copies available
U.S. only
“Thank you for your interest in our school, but we regret to inform you that…”
you’re not special. You’re too average. You’re too boring.
Well, in that case, she’ll have to show them just how interesting she can be.
Elizabeth Zhang is well aware of her place in the world. She’s in the tenth percentile for likability, the seventieth percentile for attractiveness, and the ninety-ninth percentile for academics. While she’s never been the most beautiful or the most liked, she knows she has the intelligence and ambition to achieve her greatest dream: Harvard Law School. But when Harvard rejects Elizabeth for not standing out enough—which she knows means she's just another boring Asian female—her carefully constructed life falls apart. What shocks her even more is that Laura Kim, a classmate at Columbia, got in. Elizabeth can’t figure out how this could have happened. Why was Laura accepted? What makes her so interesting?
At first, she follows her because she’s just curious. What Laura orders for lunch. Where Laura shops. What Laura’s hobbies are. All of these things must contribute to her overall package, what makes her an acceptable person to Harvard. But still, Elizabeth just can’t see it. The only thing she sees is that Laura has taken her spot.
A spot that she knows she deserves after working so hard. A spot that she’ll simply have to take back.
Layered and subversive, this novel brings to light how, in the face of societal expectations and self-inflicted pressures, a person can unlock the darkest parts of themselves and show how far they’re willing to go to achieve their vision of success.
Well, in that case, she’ll have to show them just how interesting she can be.
Elizabeth Zhang is well aware of her place in the world. She’s in the tenth percentile for likability, the seventieth percentile for attractiveness, and the ninety-ninth percentile for academics. While she’s never been the most beautiful or the most liked, she knows she has the intelligence and ambition to achieve her greatest dream: Harvard Law School. But when Harvard rejects Elizabeth for not standing out enough—which she knows means she's just another boring Asian female—her carefully constructed life falls apart. What shocks her even more is that Laura Kim, a classmate at Columbia, got in. Elizabeth can’t figure out how this could have happened. Why was Laura accepted? What makes her so interesting?
At first, she follows her because she’s just curious. What Laura orders for lunch. Where Laura shops. What Laura’s hobbies are. All of these things must contribute to her overall package, what makes her an acceptable person to Harvard. But still, Elizabeth just can’t see it. The only thing she sees is that Laura has taken her spot.
A spot that she knows she deserves after working so hard. A spot that she’ll simply have to take back.
Layered and subversive, this novel brings to light how, in the face of societal expectations and self-inflicted pressures, a person can unlock the darkest parts of themselves and show how far they’re willing to go to achieve their vision of success.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2026
6504 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow that was wild! A first person POV but we don't get the character's feelings, only her thoughts. Just so wild.
Pre-Read Notes:
Honestly, anything Berkely publishes in lit fic, women's fiction, and horror just really really hits my happy reader buttons. This press and I definitely have aligned aesthetic sensibilities. I love it when they give me a chance to read early! I'm looking forward to this dark coming of age story and dip into morally subversive women's rage.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) The middle section of the book is sort of dull by repetition. The character escalates her actions but for some reason neither story conflict nor stakes escalate with her.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "I’m not so pretty that women find me intimidating, but I’m pretty enough that men want to be friends with me." p11 That's the sweet spot if you're lucky enough to land in it, but it's a very very small sweet spot. And it's brutal and infuriating that most women are left out of this privilege, which can honestly take a woman a long, long way. I'm only just starting this book and I can already feel the rage vibrating between the lines.
✔️ "No, I’m not racist. I’m just finely attuned to how our society is racist." p11 This is just freaking brilliant, a cleanly stated rejection of "you're racist against whiteness!"
✔️ This book makes some astute and nuanced statements about growing up in the US with our capitalist values. It makes me feel so seen in this respect. "It’s a blend of independence and vulnerability that characterizes people who had to at least partially raise themselves." p22
✔️ Oof. "I knew that rock bottom was only something humans made up to convince themselves that life could only get better. But the secret was that rock bottom didn’t exist. Each time you thought you had reached the lowest point you could go, the floor would fall out from under you, and you’d simply be demoted to an even lower level of failure and despair. It was oddly comforting, the inverse of climbing a mountain. Just like how there were no limits to how high you could go, there were no limits to how low you could fall." p225 This book is relentlessly cynical. I kind of have to admire the dedication.
Content Notes:
racism, wealth disparity, end stage capitalism, immigrant experiences in the US, racial purity tests, colorism, nepotism, performative cruelty, stalking, sabotage, pregnancy, abortion (off page), lying, cheating (academic),
Thank you to the author Canwen Xu, Berkeley Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of BORING ASIAN FEMALE. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
Honestly, anything Berkely publishes in lit fic, women's fiction, and horror just really really hits my happy reader buttons. This press and I definitely have aligned aesthetic sensibilities. I love it when they give me a chance to read early! I'm looking forward to this dark coming of age story and dip into morally subversive women's rage.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) The middle section of the book is sort of dull by repetition. The character escalates her actions but for some reason neither story conflict nor stakes escalate with her.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "I’m not so pretty that women find me intimidating, but I’m pretty enough that men want to be friends with me." p11 That's the sweet spot if you're lucky enough to land in it, but it's a very very small sweet spot. And it's brutal and infuriating that most women are left out of this privilege, which can honestly take a woman a long, long way. I'm only just starting this book and I can already feel the rage vibrating between the lines.
✔️ "No, I’m not racist. I’m just finely attuned to how our society is racist." p11 This is just freaking brilliant, a cleanly stated rejection of "you're racist against whiteness!"
✔️ This book makes some astute and nuanced statements about growing up in the US with our capitalist values. It makes me feel so seen in this respect. "It’s a blend of independence and vulnerability that characterizes people who had to at least partially raise themselves." p22
✔️ Oof. "I knew that rock bottom was only something humans made up to convince themselves that life could only get better. But the secret was that rock bottom didn’t exist. Each time you thought you had reached the lowest point you could go, the floor would fall out from under you, and you’d simply be demoted to an even lower level of failure and despair. It was oddly comforting, the inverse of climbing a mountain. Just like how there were no limits to how high you could go, there were no limits to how low you could fall." p225 This book is relentlessly cynical. I kind of have to admire the dedication.
Content Notes:
racism, wealth disparity, end stage capitalism, immigrant experiences in the US, racial purity tests, colorism, nepotism, performative cruelty, stalking, sabotage, pregnancy, abortion (off page), lying, cheating (academic),
Thank you to the author Canwen Xu, Berkeley Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of BORING ASIAN FEMALE. All views are mine.
December 9, 2025
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu is the story of a diligent, motivated Columbia University student named Elizabeth. Elizabeth is singularly focused on one goal: Harvard Law School admission. When she finds that she isn’t, in fact, going to be attending the dream school that has occupied so many years, she begins a downward spiral of self-loathing, obsession, and amoral desperation.
This book was absolutely riveting for the absolutely brilliant character work the author has done with Elizabeth, our main character. While she’s our main character, she’s far from a protagonist. Xu has created such a perfectly loathsome narrator. Each time you think Elizabeth is close to making a breakthrough and realizing how messed up she is, she veers in an equally terrible direction. She’s judgmental, self-loathing, myopic, Machiavellian and pathetic. The story arc about her attempting to keep a pregnancy for the sole purpose of a graduate school admissions essay is the perfectly sociopathic icing on the terrible narrator cake. While some reviewers didn’t like just how detestable Elizabeth was, for me, this was half the fun. Sometimes you don’t want to root for the narrator-instead you just want a wild ride.
I think that the author also touches on some very interesting themes throughout the book. Something that I really loved was the way she talked about social media and its influence on people’s lives. At various times social media is deployed to create drama, do research, or even attempt ruining different characters. Social media has become omnipresent, and it has a great influence in this story as well. I also loved the way that the author discussed internal/private struggle versus observed privilege. Certain characters that do have an obvious amount of privilege also carry immense baggage and trauma.
I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I devoured it. If you’re looking for a young woman behaving absolutely unhinged, Xu’s story is going to be a must-read. 5/5!
Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu is the story of a diligent, motivated Columbia University student named Elizabeth. Elizabeth is singularly focused on one goal: Harvard Law School admission. When she finds that she isn’t, in fact, going to be attending the dream school that has occupied so many years, she begins a downward spiral of self-loathing, obsession, and amoral desperation.
This book was absolutely riveting for the absolutely brilliant character work the author has done with Elizabeth, our main character. While she’s our main character, she’s far from a protagonist. Xu has created such a perfectly loathsome narrator. Each time you think Elizabeth is close to making a breakthrough and realizing how messed up she is, she veers in an equally terrible direction. She’s judgmental, self-loathing, myopic, Machiavellian and pathetic. The story arc about her attempting to keep a pregnancy for the sole purpose of a graduate school admissions essay is the perfectly sociopathic icing on the terrible narrator cake. While some reviewers didn’t like just how detestable Elizabeth was, for me, this was half the fun. Sometimes you don’t want to root for the narrator-instead you just want a wild ride.
I think that the author also touches on some very interesting themes throughout the book. Something that I really loved was the way she talked about social media and its influence on people’s lives. At various times social media is deployed to create drama, do research, or even attempt ruining different characters. Social media has become omnipresent, and it has a great influence in this story as well. I also loved the way that the author discussed internal/private struggle versus observed privilege. Certain characters that do have an obvious amount of privilege also carry immense baggage and trauma.
I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I devoured it. If you’re looking for a young woman behaving absolutely unhinged, Xu’s story is going to be a must-read. 5/5!
January 11, 2026
Hope the author gets the help they need
Want to read
November 12, 2025My first Berkley arc approval 🥹🥹🥹
October 14, 2025
What a wild ride! Elizabeth was a terrifying yet still relatable character. She becomes consumed with wanting to attend the school of her dreams and when she doesn’t get in she seems to spiral. The spiral is such a wild ride and at times I was cheering her on but other times I found myself so nervous for her and the lengths she would go to just to get what she wanted and felt she deserved. With themes of societal pressure, race, a campus death, identity theft, and academic scandal there are so many ups and downs throughout this book. I gasped at the twists and felt the heavy burden of guilt Elizabeth did. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love reading about envy and I love an academia setting. This novel was perfect if that's your style, we follow Elizabeth, a Chinese American student at Columbia who is trying to get into Harvard but is rejected, apparently for being too stereotypically Asian: a Boring Asian Female. When she finds out that fellow Asian student Laura, a talented Korean American, has been accepted, Elizabeth feels there is something wrong: either Laura shouldn't have been accepted, or she must have lied on her application. She starts studying Laura to find out, scrolling her Instagram endlessly, following her around campus, and becomes obsessed with her.
Elizabeth is a great villain because she isn't outright awful, her awfulness is mostly inside her own head. She is convinced of her own greatness. She categorises people, including her friends, in percentiles: she is in the 70th percentile for looks, 90th percentile for intelligence. She rates Laura in the 90th percentile for looks. She considers having a baby at 21 to have something to write about in her Harvard application. She uses her friends for social credit. She becomes gradually worse at every page, and she has no redeeming feature. I loved reading about her and I loved the pace of the novel, I found it really entertaining and a pleasure to read.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
Elizabeth is a great villain because she isn't outright awful, her awfulness is mostly inside her own head. She is convinced of her own greatness. She categorises people, including her friends, in percentiles: she is in the 70th percentile for looks, 90th percentile for intelligence. She rates Laura in the 90th percentile for looks. She considers having a baby at 21 to have something to write about in her Harvard application. She uses her friends for social credit. She becomes gradually worse at every page, and she has no redeeming feature. I loved reading about her and I loved the pace of the novel, I found it really entertaining and a pleasure to read.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
2026
October 13, 2025ANHPI TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
November 9, 2025
I am extremely grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the privilege of reviewing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Boring Asian Female is another take on the familiar "envy-driven" narrative, this time set in academia. The story centers on Columbia University senior Elizabeth Zhang - an overachieving daughter of Chinese immigrants. Although Liz's application for Harvard Law School ticks all the boxes - stellar LSAT scores, nearly perfect GPA, powerful immigrant story - she finds herself turned down by her dream school...and several of her backups. When Liz seeks answers as to why she wasn't good enough she is hit with the reality that she may be just too boring.
The rejection begins a downward spiral of declining mental health and a dark obsession with a classmate, Korean-American student Laura Kim, who DID make the cut for Harvard Law. Elizabeth becomes consumed with figuring out what Laura has that she doesn't, to the point of stalking her and trying to emulate her every move. When Elizabeth's mind starts to fracture and she imagines herself becoming the girl that Harvard wanted, the lines between envy and evil become dangerously blurred.
There were pros and cons here. I think this is a solid-enough debut novel that will find traction with readers who enjoy academia, thrillers and stories of psychological unravelings. There is a lot of exploring racial and cultural tropes, especially the whole "Asian diligence" and the uncomfortable space of being "white adjacent" to some but not others.
I was expecting this to lean more on satire and some darker subversiveness but I felt like I got more of a straightforward thriller with Asian-American women. The risk of the obssession trope is that you can end up with a main character who is largely unlikeable. That definitely was the case for me. Every time I tried to root for Elizabeth, she did something absolutely awful and then spent a few paragraphs justifying it. I wanted there to be somewhat of a redemption arc but it didn't happen.
It wasn't a badly written book and I think it will find an audience - it just wasn't for me. 3.25 stars
Boring Asian Female is another take on the familiar "envy-driven" narrative, this time set in academia. The story centers on Columbia University senior Elizabeth Zhang - an overachieving daughter of Chinese immigrants. Although Liz's application for Harvard Law School ticks all the boxes - stellar LSAT scores, nearly perfect GPA, powerful immigrant story - she finds herself turned down by her dream school...and several of her backups. When Liz seeks answers as to why she wasn't good enough she is hit with the reality that she may be just too boring.
The rejection begins a downward spiral of declining mental health and a dark obsession with a classmate, Korean-American student Laura Kim, who DID make the cut for Harvard Law. Elizabeth becomes consumed with figuring out what Laura has that she doesn't, to the point of stalking her and trying to emulate her every move. When Elizabeth's mind starts to fracture and she imagines herself becoming the girl that Harvard wanted, the lines between envy and evil become dangerously blurred.
There were pros and cons here. I think this is a solid-enough debut novel that will find traction with readers who enjoy academia, thrillers and stories of psychological unravelings. There is a lot of exploring racial and cultural tropes, especially the whole "Asian diligence" and the uncomfortable space of being "white adjacent" to some but not others.
I was expecting this to lean more on satire and some darker subversiveness but I felt like I got more of a straightforward thriller with Asian-American women. The risk of the obssession trope is that you can end up with a main character who is largely unlikeable. That definitely was the case for me. Every time I tried to root for Elizabeth, she did something absolutely awful and then spent a few paragraphs justifying it. I wanted there to be somewhat of a redemption arc but it didn't happen.
It wasn't a badly written book and I think it will find an audience - it just wasn't for me. 3.25 stars
November 26, 2025
This was well-written but man, I sped through the latter half of this book just to get out of Elizabeth's headspace. I do enjoy unreliable narrators, but she was so over-the-top awful that I just wanted it to be over.
December 23, 2025
Boring Asian Female belongs to the 95th percentile of book excellence, and this is only the author’s debut. Mark my words: Canwen Xu is going to be your new favorite author.
Boring Asian Female follows Elizabeth Zhang, a young woman who has her whole life planned out. With excellent GPA and LSAT scores a prestigious spot at Harvard Law School seems in the bag, so when Elizabeth receives a rejection letter from not only Harvard, but also Yale, Stanford, and Columbia… Elizabeth starts spiraling - especially when she finds out that Laura Kim of all people is accepted. Soon Elizabeth becomes obsessed with Laura, the woman who got Elizabeth’s rightful spot and apparently deemed not-a-boring-Asian-female.
What’s so great about Boring Asian Female is that Elizabeth seemed stripped off a personality. She is singleminded, ambitious and indeed a bit bland and boring. That is, until Elizabeth finally finds her true calling: obsessing over Laura Kim. I love how the chosen first person perspective allowed for Elizabeth to come across sensible, even though her behavior became more and more irrational. Her choices range from poor to outrageous, and her morals and mental state soon deteriorate, but the witty narratives she spins to justify the unjustifiable, will definitely land her a spot at the prestigious unhinged women literature list.
Lastly, I am in awe of the author pulling off such an unlikely character, that ironically finds herself on the receiving end of racism, stereotypes, and somehow let that work for her. Her dream to go to Havard Law School is an insatiable monster and there were many, many moments Elizabeth made me clutch my pearls, but I’m the first to admit she made me laugh out loud for her boldness and determination.
All praise!
Pub date: 7 May 2026
Thank you Bedford Square Publishers for ARC
Boring Asian Female follows Elizabeth Zhang, a young woman who has her whole life planned out. With excellent GPA and LSAT scores a prestigious spot at Harvard Law School seems in the bag, so when Elizabeth receives a rejection letter from not only Harvard, but also Yale, Stanford, and Columbia… Elizabeth starts spiraling - especially when she finds out that Laura Kim of all people is accepted. Soon Elizabeth becomes obsessed with Laura, the woman who got Elizabeth’s rightful spot and apparently deemed not-a-boring-Asian-female.
What’s so great about Boring Asian Female is that Elizabeth seemed stripped off a personality. She is singleminded, ambitious and indeed a bit bland and boring. That is, until Elizabeth finally finds her true calling: obsessing over Laura Kim. I love how the chosen first person perspective allowed for Elizabeth to come across sensible, even though her behavior became more and more irrational. Her choices range from poor to outrageous, and her morals and mental state soon deteriorate, but the witty narratives she spins to justify the unjustifiable, will definitely land her a spot at the prestigious unhinged women literature list.
Lastly, I am in awe of the author pulling off such an unlikely character, that ironically finds herself on the receiving end of racism, stereotypes, and somehow let that work for her. Her dream to go to Havard Law School is an insatiable monster and there were many, many moments Elizabeth made me clutch my pearls, but I’m the first to admit she made me laugh out loud for her boldness and determination.
All praise!
Pub date: 7 May 2026
Thank you Bedford Square Publishers for ARC
January 5, 2026
I certainly will add to this review later but for now all I have to say is 1. South Dakota represent ! 2. Unhinged female main character who is unabashedly materialistic and painfully aware of society’s sick rules for success yet somehow even more painfully unaware of her unraveling and subsequent societal faux pas?? Obsessed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
January 12, 2026This sounds so interesting!
December 19, 2025
2,5 stars
"Boring Asian Female" was not what I expected:
I liked the overall premise, but the writing fell somewhat flat for me. The protagonist was too over the top for me, and the other characters weren't all that well developed.
While I couldn't stop reading the book, I can't say I really enjoyed it.
"Boring Asian Female" was not what I expected:
I liked the overall premise, but the writing fell somewhat flat for me. The protagonist was too over the top for me, and the other characters weren't all that well developed.
While I couldn't stop reading the book, I can't say I really enjoyed it.
December 2, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an advanced copy of this book to me.
Firstly, I want to say that I really liked the book and I am still thinking about it after reading it. With that all being said, I really disliked the main character and the author really did a great job portraying her as a sociopath. Elizabeth was just not likable and with every decision she made and thoughts she had, I just disliked her even more.
This book is about a college aged woman, Elizabeth, who grew up with a single mother and because of her childhood, she has created this image in her head of what it is to be the perfect daughter. This includes getting into a good undergrad college and then going on to the law school she has always dreamed of, at all cost. She has created this nemesis narrative, in her head, with another student who applied to the same law school as Elizabeth and this person has no idea who she is even. Throughout the book several events occurred that could have been avoided if Elizabeth were not so envious. I didn't really like the ending but the many shocking moments kept me engaged throughout the book. I would recommend this to my book club friends.
Firstly, I want to say that I really liked the book and I am still thinking about it after reading it. With that all being said, I really disliked the main character and the author really did a great job portraying her as a sociopath. Elizabeth was just not likable and with every decision she made and thoughts she had, I just disliked her even more.
This book is about a college aged woman, Elizabeth, who grew up with a single mother and because of her childhood, she has created this image in her head of what it is to be the perfect daughter. This includes getting into a good undergrad college and then going on to the law school she has always dreamed of, at all cost. She has created this nemesis narrative, in her head, with another student who applied to the same law school as Elizabeth and this person has no idea who she is even. Throughout the book several events occurred that could have been avoided if Elizabeth were not so envious. I didn't really like the ending but the many shocking moments kept me engaged throughout the book. I would recommend this to my book club friends.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In her debut novel, author Canwen Xu take readers on a harrowing journey from the first-person perspective of Elizabeth Zhang, a senior at Columbia University who's determined to gain entry into Harvard Law School. Despite her lifelong determination to accomplish this achievement, highlighted in how she assesses both her friends' and her own attractiveness and intelligence by percentiles, Elizabeth is shocked to receive a denial on her application despite her near-perfect GPA, LSAT scores, and otherwise seemingly-flawless qualifications. Her world is even further upended when she discovers that her fellow classmate, Laura Kim, has been accepted - and the days and weeks that follow, Elizabeth quickly spirals as she can't understand why Laura was given a place, her place, at the prestigious law school.
Elizabeth's obsession takes her on dangerous paths, as she becomes determined to uncover any reason for Laura's acceptance, eventually landing on the conclusion that she was denied for being a Boring Asian Female. Determined to reinvent herself to present herself as the opposite to the admissions team, she turns her attention to Laura and the factors that must have set her apart. Elizabeth's focus begins relatively innocuously - the usual internet and social media searches, followed by trying to mimic her lunch order at the school dining hall. But Elizabeth's singular focus quickly falls into darker paths as she tries to assume even more of Laura's character and ventures into the dangerous and damaging - and her actions result in an outcome that there's no coming back from.
I was intrigued by "Boring Asian Female" given how accurately the title described me (hah!) and my own personal experience growing up Chinese American with a great deal of academic pressure from my parents (and myself). Elizabeth's upbringing and focus was relatable and understandable but I struggled with her overall tone and voice; it was singular and robotic which, given her character was understandable, but made it difficult to truly empathize with her. There are flashbacks to her upbringing and childhood, which included the fact that her father had abandoned her and her mother when she was young, that helped to add more context but didn't feel sufficient. It made it even harder to justify actions and decisions in the second half of the book which quickly spiral, putting both herself and others at risk.
I do appreciate the novel for the glaring light it sheds on pressing issues, especially for the Asian-American minorities - including the societal and academic expectations placed on children from the moment they're born, the racial disparities and interracial classes that exist, and the unavoidable weight of capitalism - but struggled with the delivery and execution of its themes. This is a thought-provoking and subversive novel however that I think many others would appreciate when it's published in April 2026!
Elizabeth's obsession takes her on dangerous paths, as she becomes determined to uncover any reason for Laura's acceptance, eventually landing on the conclusion that she was denied for being a Boring Asian Female. Determined to reinvent herself to present herself as the opposite to the admissions team, she turns her attention to Laura and the factors that must have set her apart. Elizabeth's focus begins relatively innocuously - the usual internet and social media searches, followed by trying to mimic her lunch order at the school dining hall. But Elizabeth's singular focus quickly falls into darker paths as she tries to assume even more of Laura's character and ventures into the dangerous and damaging - and her actions result in an outcome that there's no coming back from.
I was intrigued by "Boring Asian Female" given how accurately the title described me (hah!) and my own personal experience growing up Chinese American with a great deal of academic pressure from my parents (and myself). Elizabeth's upbringing and focus was relatable and understandable but I struggled with her overall tone and voice; it was singular and robotic which, given her character was understandable, but made it difficult to truly empathize with her. There are flashbacks to her upbringing and childhood, which included the fact that her father had abandoned her and her mother when she was young, that helped to add more context but didn't feel sufficient. It made it even harder to justify actions and decisions in the second half of the book which quickly spiral, putting both herself and others at risk.
I do appreciate the novel for the glaring light it sheds on pressing issues, especially for the Asian-American minorities - including the societal and academic expectations placed on children from the moment they're born, the racial disparities and interracial classes that exist, and the unavoidable weight of capitalism - but struggled with the delivery and execution of its themes. This is a thought-provoking and subversive novel however that I think many others would appreciate when it's published in April 2026!
December 31, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was such a wild ride. We meet the main character, Elizabeth, who judges people based on appearance and intelligence and who also has a goal of becoming a lawyer theough Harvard Law School. She doesn't get accepted and chaos ensues. There is death and pregnancy and stalking and manipulation. Liz was definitely obsessed and just assumed she was better than most people. Growing up in an Asian household, I could kind of see where she was coming from, but she took it to the extremes. The ending actually made me sad because the whole ordeal almost felt like it was all for nothing. I get Liz wanted to become successful to prove to others and her father she was great and not just another boring Asian female, but the way she went about it was honestly terrible. Nothing is ever that serious. Academics isn't everything. Being happy is also important as well. I also liked her relationship with her friends and especially Euijin. Her advice to her friends was always solid, but she always seemed to make the worse choices. Hopefully she makes better ones.
Plot spoilers below
Liz stalks Laura so much so that she tries to first get Laura kicked out of Harvard Law. She stalks Laura and pretends to be her. She even gets pregnant to become a better school candidate and more "interesting". She pepper sprays Laura and that could potentially be what killed Laura. Euijin knows Liz was the pepper sprayer and seems to end their friendship with the metronome. I cant believe she tried all of this on Laura and even pretended to be here on the Facebook and show up to the meet and then come to find out, they made a mistake and she got accepted to Harvard ..... All of this she had done for nothing because she ended up getting in. She had a miscarriage over the stress. She even got hit by a bus and could've died. Poor choices. Hopefully Nora continues to help with therapy. I dont think Liz should go to Harvard law school but we don't know her answer. I hope she doesnt go. She needs to do something else with her life.
This book was such a wild ride. We meet the main character, Elizabeth, who judges people based on appearance and intelligence and who also has a goal of becoming a lawyer theough Harvard Law School. She doesn't get accepted and chaos ensues. There is death and pregnancy and stalking and manipulation. Liz was definitely obsessed and just assumed she was better than most people. Growing up in an Asian household, I could kind of see where she was coming from, but she took it to the extremes. The ending actually made me sad because the whole ordeal almost felt like it was all for nothing. I get Liz wanted to become successful to prove to others and her father she was great and not just another boring Asian female, but the way she went about it was honestly terrible. Nothing is ever that serious. Academics isn't everything. Being happy is also important as well. I also liked her relationship with her friends and especially Euijin. Her advice to her friends was always solid, but she always seemed to make the worse choices. Hopefully she makes better ones.
Plot spoilers below
Liz stalks Laura so much so that she tries to first get Laura kicked out of Harvard Law. She stalks Laura and pretends to be her. She even gets pregnant to become a better school candidate and more "interesting". She pepper sprays Laura and that could potentially be what killed Laura. Euijin knows Liz was the pepper sprayer and seems to end their friendship with the metronome. I cant believe she tried all of this on Laura and even pretended to be here on the Facebook and show up to the meet and then come to find out, they made a mistake and she got accepted to Harvard ..... All of this she had done for nothing because she ended up getting in. She had a miscarriage over the stress. She even got hit by a bus and could've died. Poor choices. Hopefully Nora continues to help with therapy. I dont think Liz should go to Harvard law school but we don't know her answer. I hope she doesnt go. She needs to do something else with her life.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Holy fffluffernutter! I could not put down this fantastically riveting character study about ambition, competition, and obsession.
Raised by her single mother in a suburban South Dakota town where she feels like an outsider as the only Asian student in her high school, Elizabeth Zhang becomes determined to to create a brighter, more prosperous future for herself by charting a very rigid and specific path onward and upward through the Ivy League and into corporate law. Powered by hard work and rule-following, merciless perfectionism, and relentless self-evaluation and negative self-comparison, Elizabeth achieves success on the initial leg of her journey. However, when her plans are unexpectedly thwarted mid-stride, she absolutely cannot recalibrate to process this: She rejects her rejection, so to speak.
Derailed by her nonacceptance of her non-acceptance, Elizabeth’s all-consuming drive spirals into something more ruthlessly and delusionally aspirational, and her search for an explanation and understanding devolves into a quest to identify a target of blame and to reattain control of her fate.
Narrated primarily via Elizabeth’s interior monologue, the novel is darkly humorous, with shocking developments sprinkled throughout, absorbing, and so skilled in style, voice, and tone that it made me feel crazy as it sucked me into Elizabeth’s twisted priorities and warped perception of reality. The novel also features a vivid depiction of academic life and a cast of interesting and realistic side characters whose perspectives help illuminate a fuller and more accurate picture of Elizabeth and her circumstances.
At risk of engaging in Elizabeth’s penchant for comparisons, this book probably reminded me of R F Kuang’s Yellowface more than any other recent novels I could think of, but it’s its own original thing and I absolutely cannot wait to see what this debut author does next. While it’s still early to tell, I would imagine that this novel deserves a very high percentile ranking among the quality buzzworthy debut new releases of this year!
I am 100% thankful to NetGalley, Berkley, and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Raised by her single mother in a suburban South Dakota town where she feels like an outsider as the only Asian student in her high school, Elizabeth Zhang becomes determined to to create a brighter, more prosperous future for herself by charting a very rigid and specific path onward and upward through the Ivy League and into corporate law. Powered by hard work and rule-following, merciless perfectionism, and relentless self-evaluation and negative self-comparison, Elizabeth achieves success on the initial leg of her journey. However, when her plans are unexpectedly thwarted mid-stride, she absolutely cannot recalibrate to process this: She rejects her rejection, so to speak.
Derailed by her nonacceptance of her non-acceptance, Elizabeth’s all-consuming drive spirals into something more ruthlessly and delusionally aspirational, and her search for an explanation and understanding devolves into a quest to identify a target of blame and to reattain control of her fate.
Narrated primarily via Elizabeth’s interior monologue, the novel is darkly humorous, with shocking developments sprinkled throughout, absorbing, and so skilled in style, voice, and tone that it made me feel crazy as it sucked me into Elizabeth’s twisted priorities and warped perception of reality. The novel also features a vivid depiction of academic life and a cast of interesting and realistic side characters whose perspectives help illuminate a fuller and more accurate picture of Elizabeth and her circumstances.
At risk of engaging in Elizabeth’s penchant for comparisons, this book probably reminded me of R F Kuang’s Yellowface more than any other recent novels I could think of, but it’s its own original thing and I absolutely cannot wait to see what this debut author does next. While it’s still early to tell, I would imagine that this novel deserves a very high percentile ranking among the quality buzzworthy debut new releases of this year!
I am 100% thankful to NetGalley, Berkley, and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
December 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this eARC!
This book is a complete whirlwind, following Elizabeth Zhang, a girl who has been taught that achievement is not just important but the entire point of life. From a young age, Elizabeth commits herself to being the best Asian female she can be—valedictorian in high school, Ivy League student at Columbia, and a flawless pre-law candidate destined for Harvard. But when she’s denied admission and a pre-law advisor sums up her rejection in three devastating words—boring Asian female—everything she’s worked for suddenly feels threatened, not erased. Instead of giving up, Elizabeth becomes even more desperate to prove herself and to change the admissions committee’s mind, no matter the cost. What follows is a rapid and unsettling descent driven by obsession, compulsion, self-loathing, and desperation.
This was a crossover of literary fiction and psychological thriller where everything feels almost too normal at first, which makes the suspense build in a quietly terrifying way. The level of obsession makes perfect sense in Elizabeth’s mind, but as a reader you can clearly see how wrong things are and how quickly she’s unraveling. Once I hit about 50%, I genuinely could not put this book down. It’s wild, subversive, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way—this is a type of book I didn’t even know existed, but absolutely needed.
As a second-generation Filipina who grew up in a predominantly white suburb, I related to so many of Elizabeth’s thoughts and experiences in ways I didn’t expect. It was validating to realize how many moments I assumed were “just me” were actually shared experiences shaped by culture, pressure, and expectations. The way this book explores privilege—especially how it intersects with race, gender, and ambition—is incredibly well done and subtly integrated, which makes it even more powerful. Reading this also made me reflect on how much I’ve grown from the toxic mindsets I once internalized. This book was intense, thought-provoking, and honestly kind of life-affirming in a strange way.
This book is a complete whirlwind, following Elizabeth Zhang, a girl who has been taught that achievement is not just important but the entire point of life. From a young age, Elizabeth commits herself to being the best Asian female she can be—valedictorian in high school, Ivy League student at Columbia, and a flawless pre-law candidate destined for Harvard. But when she’s denied admission and a pre-law advisor sums up her rejection in three devastating words—boring Asian female—everything she’s worked for suddenly feels threatened, not erased. Instead of giving up, Elizabeth becomes even more desperate to prove herself and to change the admissions committee’s mind, no matter the cost. What follows is a rapid and unsettling descent driven by obsession, compulsion, self-loathing, and desperation.
This was a crossover of literary fiction and psychological thriller where everything feels almost too normal at first, which makes the suspense build in a quietly terrifying way. The level of obsession makes perfect sense in Elizabeth’s mind, but as a reader you can clearly see how wrong things are and how quickly she’s unraveling. Once I hit about 50%, I genuinely could not put this book down. It’s wild, subversive, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way—this is a type of book I didn’t even know existed, but absolutely needed.
As a second-generation Filipina who grew up in a predominantly white suburb, I related to so many of Elizabeth’s thoughts and experiences in ways I didn’t expect. It was validating to realize how many moments I assumed were “just me” were actually shared experiences shaped by culture, pressure, and expectations. The way this book explores privilege—especially how it intersects with race, gender, and ambition—is incredibly well done and subtly integrated, which makes it even more powerful. Reading this also made me reflect on how much I’ve grown from the toxic mindsets I once internalized. This book was intense, thought-provoking, and honestly kind of life-affirming in a strange way.
November 25, 2025
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the gifted ARC!
My brain is still wrapping around this book fully. It was eye opening to a lot of layers of racism and layers of wealth and appearances in the ultra competitive academic universe and the world as a whole really. It taps into racism that was experienced through their whole lives and not just in academia. The book was also incredibly creepy and made me have so much empathy for people who put such intense pressure on themselves. Especially when it comes to things that they perceive as their only way of being stable, respected, or important, and how it might feel to not achieve those goals.
The main character in this is a tricky one. She is unlikeable, and she knows it. I could see that being a challenge for some readers, but if you go into it with the mindset of that reality, you'll get a really interesting story. She also gets incredibly creepy and unhinged really quickly. I write in a reading journal while I read and when I was finished with this I looked back on my thoughts, and it was just progressive worrying/awful behavior.
There are some trigger points in here that I think are important to be aware of, I don't want to spoil anything so I'm not going to list them, but if you have triggers I would absolutely look into the themes of the book before cracking it open.
This totally sucked me in, it was incredibly different than my normal read but really held my attention. Mainly because I needed to know what the next unhinged thing would be that would happen. I would absolutely recommend this for people that enjoy a mystery/thriller. Probably less thriller and more suspenseful really, but very enjoyable! This releases April 28th!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
My brain is still wrapping around this book fully. It was eye opening to a lot of layers of racism and layers of wealth and appearances in the ultra competitive academic universe and the world as a whole really. It taps into racism that was experienced through their whole lives and not just in academia. The book was also incredibly creepy and made me have so much empathy for people who put such intense pressure on themselves. Especially when it comes to things that they perceive as their only way of being stable, respected, or important, and how it might feel to not achieve those goals.
The main character in this is a tricky one. She is unlikeable, and she knows it. I could see that being a challenge for some readers, but if you go into it with the mindset of that reality, you'll get a really interesting story. She also gets incredibly creepy and unhinged really quickly. I write in a reading journal while I read and when I was finished with this I looked back on my thoughts, and it was just progressive worrying/awful behavior.
There are some trigger points in here that I think are important to be aware of, I don't want to spoil anything so I'm not going to list them, but if you have triggers I would absolutely look into the themes of the book before cracking it open.
This totally sucked me in, it was incredibly different than my normal read but really held my attention. Mainly because I needed to know what the next unhinged thing would be that would happen. I would absolutely recommend this for people that enjoy a mystery/thriller. Probably less thriller and more suspenseful really, but very enjoyable! This releases April 28th!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
December 8, 2025
BORING ASIAN FEMALE
RATING: 4
GENRE: Literary fiction
Canwen Xu’s Boring Asian Female explores what makes us worthy as a person. Is it our accomplishments? Our physical looks and level of attractiveness? Our narrator, Elizabeth Zhang, has prided herself on a decent level of attractiveness, in the 70 percentile according to her scale, and in the 90 percentile for intelligence. She receives a devastating blow when she receives a rejection for the coveted Harvard Law School - only to find Laura Kim, who is average, at best (in Elizabeth’s opinion) has been accepted.
The novel delves deep into Elizabeth’s psyche on her fixation on why she is viewed as a ‘Boring Asian Female’ in contrast to Laura by the admissions board. What makes Laura special or more interesting than Elizabeth? She begins to spiral as she tries to find the answers that no one can seem to give her. The novel is seemingly a play on the 1992 film, Single White Female, where two roommates meet and one of the women becomes obsessive and jealous of her roommate’s life. She begins to follow her roommate and adapting her habits to essentially become more like her.
This book is classified as literary fiction borders on a thriller, which kept me reading up all night. It’s exciting and horrifying the lengths people will go to achieve the ‘ideal’ life. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy psychological thrillers and commentary on societal pressures. Thank you Berekley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy. It was such a fun read and I couldn’t put it down.
RATING: 4
GENRE: Literary fiction
Canwen Xu’s Boring Asian Female explores what makes us worthy as a person. Is it our accomplishments? Our physical looks and level of attractiveness? Our narrator, Elizabeth Zhang, has prided herself on a decent level of attractiveness, in the 70 percentile according to her scale, and in the 90 percentile for intelligence. She receives a devastating blow when she receives a rejection for the coveted Harvard Law School - only to find Laura Kim, who is average, at best (in Elizabeth’s opinion) has been accepted.
The novel delves deep into Elizabeth’s psyche on her fixation on why she is viewed as a ‘Boring Asian Female’ in contrast to Laura by the admissions board. What makes Laura special or more interesting than Elizabeth? She begins to spiral as she tries to find the answers that no one can seem to give her. The novel is seemingly a play on the 1992 film, Single White Female, where two roommates meet and one of the women becomes obsessive and jealous of her roommate’s life. She begins to follow her roommate and adapting her habits to essentially become more like her.
This book is classified as literary fiction borders on a thriller, which kept me reading up all night. It’s exciting and horrifying the lengths people will go to achieve the ‘ideal’ life. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy psychological thrillers and commentary on societal pressures. Thank you Berekley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy. It was such a fun read and I couldn’t put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow this is nothing like what I was expecting and it is utterly gripping reading, a great psychological insight into obsession.
Elizabeth Zhang is a 21 year old student at Columbia University. Her whole life plan is set on her going to Harvard Law School and she's assumed she's a shoo-in with her straight As all her life. But when she is rejected and classmate Laura Kim is accepted, Elizabeth can't accept the rejection. She becomes obsessed with bringing Laura down, believing that if Laura's place is rescinded, she would be the obvious replacement. She's never spoken to Laura other than to say hello, but she has decided that Laura is not worthy of the place and it should rightfully be Elizabeth's.
Her obsession with both Laura and with going to Harvard grows and grows, she can't think of anything else. She eats the food that Laura eats, goes to the venues that Laura goes to and most worryingly, starts anonymous campaigns to ruin Laura's reputation. At times it felt quite worrying and voyeuristic reading about Elizabeth's actions - there is one plot line where Elizabeth makes a decision that she is convinced will secure her place and I just wanted to grab her and try to talk sense into her.
Well worth a read even if you do end up worrying all night about fictional characters and their life choices!
Elizabeth Zhang is a 21 year old student at Columbia University. Her whole life plan is set on her going to Harvard Law School and she's assumed she's a shoo-in with her straight As all her life. But when she is rejected and classmate Laura Kim is accepted, Elizabeth can't accept the rejection. She becomes obsessed with bringing Laura down, believing that if Laura's place is rescinded, she would be the obvious replacement. She's never spoken to Laura other than to say hello, but she has decided that Laura is not worthy of the place and it should rightfully be Elizabeth's.
Her obsession with both Laura and with going to Harvard grows and grows, she can't think of anything else. She eats the food that Laura eats, goes to the venues that Laura goes to and most worryingly, starts anonymous campaigns to ruin Laura's reputation. At times it felt quite worrying and voyeuristic reading about Elizabeth's actions - there is one plot line where Elizabeth makes a decision that she is convinced will secure her place and I just wanted to grab her and try to talk sense into her.
Well worth a read even if you do end up worrying all night about fictional characters and their life choices!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Elizabeth Zhang is rejected from Harvard Law School, she has to find out why and fix what is clearly an administrative error and not a reflection of the years of diligent work she's done to achieve her place in the program. After a conversation with her advisor, she decides the reason she was rejected must simply be because she's boring. Sure, her grades and LSAT scores are perfect, but she hasn't managed to differentiate herself from the other applicants, particularly the other Asian applicants, which she's convinced there's a maximum quota for. When she finds out that her classmate, Laura Kim, is accepted, she'll stop at nothing to become just like her.
This book was excruciating (in a good way). It's like watching a car crash that's so preventable. You can see the character spiraling in obsession and destroying everything in her path to achieve her dream, even though you know her dream isn't worth the destruction. I know this is going to be compared to Yellowface or Julie Chan is Dead but I actually think a more apt comparison is to She's a Lamb! or Best Offer Wins. In either case, if any of those books are your jam, this one will be, too.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was excruciating (in a good way). It's like watching a car crash that's so preventable. You can see the character spiraling in obsession and destroying everything in her path to achieve her dream, even though you know her dream isn't worth the destruction. I know this is going to be compared to Yellowface or Julie Chan is Dead but I actually think a more apt comparison is to She's a Lamb! or Best Offer Wins. In either case, if any of those books are your jam, this one will be, too.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
Elizabeth Zhang takes drastic measures when Laura Kim, a wealthier college student with similar high grades, gets into Harvard Law School and she, Elizabeth, does not.
The unique psychosis that takes over Elizabeth as she tries to reverse Harvard's decision not to accept her is the theme of this entire novel. I liked the way the author draws the personality of Elizabeth and her descent into near madness in her attempt to be like Laura Kim, whom she sees as her rival.
Elizabeth's best friend, the reasonable and kind Eunjin, tries to understand Elizabeth's actions and keep her on track. I see her as a loyal and true friend.
The issues the novel brings up has to do with the way society sees Asians, as hardworking students, driven towards success and making the most money they can in their careers. Elizabeth's fixation on Harvard Law School has to do with her view of a high ranking law career as the path to her success. But she doesn't want to be "boring" or stereotypical, but "interesting," and unique. Hence, her fixation on being just like Laura Kim.
The ending of the book was a surprise and a lesson on how fate and chance can play a dramatic part in our lives.
The unique psychosis that takes over Elizabeth as she tries to reverse Harvard's decision not to accept her is the theme of this entire novel. I liked the way the author draws the personality of Elizabeth and her descent into near madness in her attempt to be like Laura Kim, whom she sees as her rival.
Elizabeth's best friend, the reasonable and kind Eunjin, tries to understand Elizabeth's actions and keep her on track. I see her as a loyal and true friend.
The issues the novel brings up has to do with the way society sees Asians, as hardworking students, driven towards success and making the most money they can in their careers. Elizabeth's fixation on Harvard Law School has to do with her view of a high ranking law career as the path to her success. But she doesn't want to be "boring" or stereotypical, but "interesting," and unique. Hence, her fixation on being just like Laura Kim.
The ending of the book was a surprise and a lesson on how fate and chance can play a dramatic part in our lives.
November 21, 2025
Boring Asian Female is a book that will make you think about it for a while. The themes are screaming at you all throughout, and the message is everlasting. I love a good book with a delusional female main character. Canwen Xu will be an author I continue to look for, especially since this was a debut!
Jealousy, obsession, and societal expectations are the main themes that exist throughout this novel. This is prevalent from the very beginning, as they continue to grow and grow. I think that they were so impactful because the author chose to show them humorously.
As a sucker for academic settings, I loved the atmosphere. A reason I adored this book was that a lot of it centered around academic validation and the expectations that come with it, especially those you impose on yourself.
This book is very fast-paced and unputdownable. So much happens that you will not want to put it down at all ever. The main character is unlikable but relatable. You want to find out what happens with her.
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley, & Canwen Xu for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Boring Asian Female is released on April 28, 2026!
Jealousy, obsession, and societal expectations are the main themes that exist throughout this novel. This is prevalent from the very beginning, as they continue to grow and grow. I think that they were so impactful because the author chose to show them humorously.
As a sucker for academic settings, I loved the atmosphere. A reason I adored this book was that a lot of it centered around academic validation and the expectations that come with it, especially those you impose on yourself.
This book is very fast-paced and unputdownable. So much happens that you will not want to put it down at all ever. The main character is unlikable but relatable. You want to find out what happens with her.
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley, & Canwen Xu for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Boring Asian Female is released on April 28, 2026!
November 30, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel follows Elizabeth Zhang, a brilliant but tightly wound overachiever whose rejection from Harvard Law sends her into a spiral of fixation - particularly on the classmate who got in instead. While the premise sets the stage for an exploration of ambition, identity, and the pressures placed on young women of color, what really grabbed me wasn’t the plot itself but the way the story leans into obsession and emotional unraveling. It has that delicious “Obsessed” (2009) energy, but with sharper undercurrents of racism, elitism, and the impossible standards many students feel forced to meet.
I went into the book knowing very little, other than a hint of murder-mystery vibes, and I was pleasantly surprised by how unpredictable it turned out to be. I wouldn’t say I saw myself in Elizabeth, but I fully understood the drive that pushes her toward her goals, sometimes too far. The twists and turns kept me invested, avoiding the clichés that often drag down mystery-driven stories. For a debut, this is impressively bold and layered, and I’m genuinely excited to see what Canwen writes next.
This novel follows Elizabeth Zhang, a brilliant but tightly wound overachiever whose rejection from Harvard Law sends her into a spiral of fixation - particularly on the classmate who got in instead. While the premise sets the stage for an exploration of ambition, identity, and the pressures placed on young women of color, what really grabbed me wasn’t the plot itself but the way the story leans into obsession and emotional unraveling. It has that delicious “Obsessed” (2009) energy, but with sharper undercurrents of racism, elitism, and the impossible standards many students feel forced to meet.
I went into the book knowing very little, other than a hint of murder-mystery vibes, and I was pleasantly surprised by how unpredictable it turned out to be. I wouldn’t say I saw myself in Elizabeth, but I fully understood the drive that pushes her toward her goals, sometimes too far. The twists and turns kept me invested, avoiding the clichés that often drag down mystery-driven stories. For a debut, this is impressively bold and layered, and I’m genuinely excited to see what Canwen writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.75 rounded up
“Boring Asian Female” wow. I have not read such an unhinged FMC in a long time. I thought this would be a familiar Asian American experience. How wrong I was.
From the first chapter, you get the familiar parental expectations. Then it spirals. Into self inflicted pressure. Into realistic and wildly unrealistic goals.
There is judgment. Of self and of others. Racism. Abandonment. Comparison. The constant striving to be better. Or the best. A better life. Better status. A better human being?
I laughed so much reading this. From beginning to end. It is highly entertaining. I loved how silly and witty this book is, while tackling so many serious topics at the same time.
My jaw dropped in the final third. Truly unhinged.
Overall, this was an insane yet deeply relatable ride. I understood her so much. Yes, she is extreme. But I suspect many people think this way in some form, even if they never say it out loud.
No joke, I was genuinely surprised by this book. I had the best time reading it. I hope you pick it up when it becomes available.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!
“Boring Asian Female” wow. I have not read such an unhinged FMC in a long time. I thought this would be a familiar Asian American experience. How wrong I was.
From the first chapter, you get the familiar parental expectations. Then it spirals. Into self inflicted pressure. Into realistic and wildly unrealistic goals.
There is judgment. Of self and of others. Racism. Abandonment. Comparison. The constant striving to be better. Or the best. A better life. Better status. A better human being?
I laughed so much reading this. From beginning to end. It is highly entertaining. I loved how silly and witty this book is, while tackling so many serious topics at the same time.
My jaw dropped in the final third. Truly unhinged.
Overall, this was an insane yet deeply relatable ride. I understood her so much. Yes, she is extreme. But I suspect many people think this way in some form, even if they never say it out loud.
No joke, I was genuinely surprised by this book. I had the best time reading it. I hope you pick it up when it becomes available.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is some next level crazy shit. Boring Asian Female is Single White Female for a new set. The ending is a bit much for me and keeps it from a full five stars, but an intriguing read with academic drama and an unhinged main character.
Elizabeth Zhang views the world in percentiles. She’s in the tenth percentile for likability, the seventieth percentile for attractiveness, and the ninety-ninth percentile for academics. So, she knows she has the percentiles to make it to her dream, Harvard Law School. But when she gets rejected for not standing out enough, which she says is because she is a Boring Asian Female, the shock is impounded by the knowledge that her classmate, Laura Kim, got in. Elizabeth becomes determined to find out what makes Laura so interesting, and the question becomes an obsession.
What begins as seeing her around campus escalates to stalking and identity theft, framing her for crimes, and breaking into her dorm room. As lines are crossed, will Elizabeth realize how far she's going before it's too late? Or will she let nothing keep her from Harvard Law?
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Elizabeth Zhang views the world in percentiles. She’s in the tenth percentile for likability, the seventieth percentile for attractiveness, and the ninety-ninth percentile for academics. So, she knows she has the percentiles to make it to her dream, Harvard Law School. But when she gets rejected for not standing out enough, which she says is because she is a Boring Asian Female, the shock is impounded by the knowledge that her classmate, Laura Kim, got in. Elizabeth becomes determined to find out what makes Laura so interesting, and the question becomes an obsession.
What begins as seeing her around campus escalates to stalking and identity theft, framing her for crimes, and breaking into her dorm room. As lines are crossed, will Elizabeth realize how far she's going before it's too late? Or will she let nothing keep her from Harvard Law?
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
October 26, 2025
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for advanced copy of debut author's captivating novel, Boring Asian Female. This one was purposefully cringe, voyeristic, and deliciously dark.
Elizabeth Zhang, first generation Chinese immigrant from South Dakota, bides her time in high school and knows Columbia, the Ivies, will be her place to shine. She has a fail safe plan to get into Harvard Law, executes flawlessly, and then, is passed over.
This projects Elizabeth into an absolute tail spin. Her ground is untethered. After a garish meeting with pre-law advisor, he admits that she is exceptional. But, she is just another try-hard Asian girl. She doesn't stand out.
Y'all, this book is wild. Boring Asian Female is hard to read in places, but I could NOT stop reading. (I read this on holiday to London and didn't sleep most of one night because I had to finish!) Xu creates such tension with this character. It's utterly delicious! My recommendation is to go in with an open mind and enjoy the ride.
Elizabeth Zhang, first generation Chinese immigrant from South Dakota, bides her time in high school and knows Columbia, the Ivies, will be her place to shine. She has a fail safe plan to get into Harvard Law, executes flawlessly, and then, is passed over.
This projects Elizabeth into an absolute tail spin. Her ground is untethered. After a garish meeting with pre-law advisor, he admits that she is exceptional. But, she is just another try-hard Asian girl. She doesn't stand out.
Y'all, this book is wild. Boring Asian Female is hard to read in places, but I could NOT stop reading. (I read this on holiday to London and didn't sleep most of one night because I had to finish!) Xu creates such tension with this character. It's utterly delicious! My recommendation is to go in with an open mind and enjoy the ride.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.
Boring Asian Female was a thought provoking, satirical novel about Elizabeth who knows her place. She knows she is super smart, only average looking, and not that likable. She is a college student who felt pretty confident when she applied to Harvard Law school. But when she is rejected for being to plain, and her classmate Laura gets in, she goes down the rabbit hole of why Laura got in and not her? She begins to essentially stalk Laura to try and understand what made her so much more interesting than herself but she just cant comprehend it. This book takes you on the dark path of what you will do to get what you want. It was a wild ride for sure, and I think that the FMC is very relatable especially to current social standards. thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Boring Asian Female was a thought provoking, satirical novel about Elizabeth who knows her place. She knows she is super smart, only average looking, and not that likable. She is a college student who felt pretty confident when she applied to Harvard Law school. But when she is rejected for being to plain, and her classmate Laura gets in, she goes down the rabbit hole of why Laura got in and not her? She begins to essentially stalk Laura to try and understand what made her so much more interesting than herself but she just cant comprehend it. This book takes you on the dark path of what you will do to get what you want. It was a wild ride for sure, and I think that the FMC is very relatable especially to current social standards. thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't know where to start with this novel. I found the first sixty pages or so very interesting but didn't know where it was going. And then it got there. This book had a visceral impact on me while reading it. A "train crash" novel where you watch a protagonist make baffling decision after baffling decision and find yourself saying "What are you doing?!" (Like screaming at characters on screen in a horror film.)
You can't put it down because you don't know how bad it might get or what the end will bring. And there were surprises throughout.
Really recommend this book and hope it becomes a popular summer read.
You can't put it down because you don't know how bad it might get or what the end will bring. And there were surprises throughout.
Really recommend this book and hope it becomes a popular summer read.
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