OFF THE MENU
Christine Son
New American Library
ISBN: 978-0-451-22417-0
August 2008
Chick Lit

"At the end of the day, all Asian parents care about is money" is the focal point of Christine Son's debut novel. Meet Whitney Lee, an attorney who is a third-year associate who spends most of her time reviewing documents for the firm's partners. She works seventeen hours a day, goes out with her friends once a month and tries to squeeze in a relationship with her boyfriend, Scott. Her parents are thrilled with her life. Whitney is not. She really wants a music career, but that is a secret that is best kept to herself.

Hercules Huang is a friend of Whitney's; she is a member of the Valedictorians, a group of the only three Asians girls who graduated from Loyola Academy with identical GPAs. All of them returned to Houston and meet monthly at Hercules' restaurant. Being the owner of a successful restaurant with her second one already in the planning stages, Hercules feels she is a success. The only problem with that idea is the fact that her father makes it clear to her that he is not impressed.

Audrey Henley is the last member of the Valedictorians. Having been adopted into a Caucasian family as an infant, she is the heiress to a Texas oil fortune. In the midst of finishing her dissertation for her doctorate degree, Audrey secretly wants to become a college professor. Her boyfriend, Victor, is a high school teacher. However, Aubrey's mother thinks Victor isn't "good enough" for her daughter and makes it clear she needs to marry someone who is "absolutely right for her."

The three Valedictorians find that their own relationship with each other has to change. Instead of meeting monthly to announce their latest accomplishments, they soon realize they need to listen to each other to solve their current dilemmas, which involve their parents.

Ms. Son is adept at characterizations. You will enjoy this in-depth look at the lives of "twenty-something" professional women who have endured their parental expectations.

As debut author, Ms. Son lends an originality, which can only lead the reader to hope she will embark on her second novel soon.

Reviewed By Charlene McConnell
Rating: 4