“Because everyone loves a girlboss until she tries to tell you what to do.”
All Eliza Quan had ever wanted since she became part of The Bugle was to be editor in chief for the school newspaper. Being the only person running for the position, her dream was so close she could almost taste it…until Len DiMartile came in to ruin everything. Ex-baseball player and just recent fellow writer for The Bugle, Len takes the team by storm and wins the elections for editor.
But what is the reason behind all that unprecedented support for a practical stranger? Is it his jock charm? Is it her appalling lack of effort for being liked? Is it the inherent sexism present in her school? Eliza is not entirely sure, but she is ready to spill all her feelings into one rage-filled article that she has no intention of publishing. What she isn’t expecting, however, is that her words are about to get leaked, exposing her feelings to the entire school…and no one takes being called out too well.
Michelle Quach’s first work Not Here to Be Liked is an upcoming YA novel that has been widely compared to Moxie and rightfully so. Witty, assertive, and bold, Not Here to Be Liked hits all the marks when it comes to current well-known books that combine feminism, romance, and self-love.
Like Moxie, Michelle Quach’s debut deals with the subtle ways in which sexism works its way into every single aspect of social life: women have to be perfect to achieve their goals, both intellectually and physically. Women have to be pretty, smart, and kind—and women have to keep quiet. But this is the 21st century, and being a complacent woman is obviously outdated. Eliza Quan, our main character, is here to cause a ruckus and many of the girls in her school will join her in her quest for justice. We can only hope you, reader, will join her too.
However, what Not Here to Be Liked truly stands out for is its intersectionality and the focus on the influence of race in feminism. Being Chinese-Vietnamese-American—like Quach herself—Eliza is very aware of the struggles she faces, not only as a woman, but also as an Asian woman. And even if a bit superficial at times when addressing feminist issues, author and main character are adamant when calling out sexism both in and out of their community. Here, Quach takes the opportunity to address another layer of discrimination. She shows how there are different levels of injustice and oppression, because while both black and Asian women are socially overlooked and mistreated, the former are the ones who suffer from sexism and racism the most.
Along with the intertwining of sexism and race, Quach also introduces the reader to the life of Eliza as a second-generation immigrant and how the children of immigrants experience life in the US. She offers a glimpse into the tight-knit communities that people build in an attempt to keep a certain sense of cultural roots, bringing a small piece of their home-countries to their new location to survive the so-called American-dream.
To wrap things up, it is very stimulating to read about a main character who is aware of being unlikeable by society’s standards and yet, never strives to change her ways. For the most part, this is very refreshing to read. Eliza is strong, intelligent, independent… and unapologetically so in a delightfully snarky manner. And yet, she is also self-righteous and tends to judge people by their cover. Those would have been perfectly acceptable flaws for an unlikeable character, if not for her constant harshness towards girly women. And for a novel that mostly revolves around feminist issues, that lack of sorority is quite…disheartening.
Overall, Not Here to Be Liked is a quick read with an easy-going prose for those who want to enjoy a fun, feminist take of the tropes we all have learned to love in the last couple of years. With a couple of unexpected turns, some loveably unlovable characters, and a cute romance doused in bubble tea, Not Here to Be Liked is—despite its title—one novel you’ll have no hard time liking.
Not Here to Be Liked is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Emergency Contact meets Moxie in this cheeky and searing novel that unpacks just how complicated new love can get…when you fall for your enemy.
Eliza Quan is the perfect candidate for editor in chief of her school paper. That is, until ex-jock Len DiMartile decides on a whim to run against her. Suddenly her vast qualifications mean squat because inexperienced Len—who is tall, handsome, and male—just seems more like a leader.
When Eliza’s frustration spills out in a viral essay, she finds herself inspiring a feminist movement she never meant to start, caught between those who believe she’s a gender equality champion and others who think she’s simply crying misogyny.
Amid this growing tension, the school asks Eliza and Len to work side by side to demonstrate civility. But as they get to know one another, Eliza feels increasingly trapped by a horrifying realization—she just might be falling for the face of the patriarchy himself.
