I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

If Bao Nguyen had to describe himself, he’d say he was a rock. Steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. He works at his parents’ pho restaurant, and even there, he is his parents’ fifth favorite employee. Not ideal.

If Linh Mai had to describe herself, she’d say she was a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and fire. She loves art and dreams pursuing a career in it. The only problem? Her parents rely on her in ways they’re not willing to admit, including working practically full-time at her family’s pho restaurant.

For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.

But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember.

Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?

Short and Sweet Review

A Pho Love Story follows Bao and Linh, both teens work at their family’s pho restaurant and these restaurants happen to be across the street from each other. Their families have been rivals for a while and there’s a story there but neither Linh or Bao know what it is. Bao and Linh end up connecting and then working on a project, the only problem is they have to keep their meetings a secret from their parents.

This book was good but it wasn’t extraordinary. I found the plot predictable and at times I found the story to be slow and I would wait for something to happen. We get both Bao and Linh’s POVs I didn’t prefer one over the other I think they both read the same. Bao would describe himself as someone who isn’t too interesting but he’s dependable, he isn’t sure what he wants to do in the future but he knows he likes writing. Linh has a lot of pressure on her, she enjoys art but that isn’t a profession her parents approve of so she ends up trying to hide that part of herself. Bao and Linh end up doing a project for the school newspaper and the more time they spend together they try to figure out how they can continue being together but that involves digging into their parents past. We follow these two as they work in the restaurant, spend time together, and try to figure out their own lives, and what happened in the past. I was bored for a while I think the pacing was slow and not a lot was going on in their lives that was exciting it was very flat. I do like the cultural aspect and I could see how trying to please tier parents affected both of them but I did appreciate that they wanted to forge their own paths.

Overall, I liked the book but it wasn’t a very gripping book. I do think it’s good if you want a Romeo and Juliet kind of story but without the dying. I’m interested to see what happens in the companion novel that follows Viet.