However, with Emergency Contact, the characterization of Sam and Penny and their relationship, while present and consistent, lacked that wow writing factor and wow character development factor. For example, with the most recent young-adult book I think I’ve read and loved, Picture Us in the Light, the characterization of our protagonist and side characters felt so dynamic and emotional and sincere, which made me feel so invested that the romance kinda came across just as the cherry on top.

I wanted a bit more complexity of character development on both Sam and Penny’s parts though. It’s clear that Choi cares about her characters and respects their unique social identities and positions. Components of the book drew my heart in, such as Penny and Sam dealing with their complex relationships with their mothers, or how Penny has high standards for people and struggles to find friends who meet her standards. Choi explicitly names the racism her Asian American protagonist experiences as well as directly addresses issues of class. I love a lot of the disparate elements of this book, such as how Mary H.K.