Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Lunar New Year’s coming up,
And this book’s just for you!
Whether you’re a romance enthusiast or a comics fan, this book has it all. With a sweet storyline and beautiful artwork, Lunar New Year Love Story written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by LeUyen Pham is a graphic novel that will capture your hearts. Destined for heartbreak, Valentina gives up on all things romantic and related to Valentine’s Day—including her childhood best friend Saint V. But fate has other plans for her. Follow her as she goes on a heart-wrenching journey of family, love, and destiny.
After a shocking discovery, Saint V gives a heartbroken Valentina an ultimatum of one year to find love, or else she must give up her heart for good. Determined to avoid her fate, she sets out to find a boyfriend. As she embarks on her search, she reconnects with her culture and connects with new people. Yang incorporates many references to Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese cultures in the story, including the traditional art of lion dancing.
Yang also delves into each character’s motivation and reasoning behind what they do, allowing readers to empathize with them. This aspect of the story makes it much more relatable and lovable as we squeal for Valentina to meet her one true love.
And although Valentina’s love story is certainly adorable, Yang also talks about the more painful side of love. He masterfully includes the various ideas of love that different people have, all without overshadowing the main storyline. Lunar New Year Love Story even mentions various topics like commitment issues and toxic relationships, giving the novel depth and meaning.
Obviously, Valentina is not just faced with the burden of love, she’s been dealt tough cards her whole life (get it?) At a young age, her mom is removed from her life and so she grows up with a single parent, who she has a rocky relationship with. Unlike the typical love story which solely focuses on the romantic aspect of some character’s life, Yang pulls this graphic novel across the border from fictional to realistic by approaching heavy topics like grief and loss.
Valentina never stops developing either—she is dynamic throughout the story and changes as different plot events affect her. This character development is the final piece that really makes this novel a success.
Not only is Yang’s story a beautiful collaboration of Asian holiday traditions and Valentine’s Day, but the art is gorgeous as well. Pham’s art style was the perfect choice to capture the emotions of the novel. The colors shift based on what Valentina experiences: in times of heartbreak and sorrow the color palette turns monotone and dull, while at times of joy and love the colors shift towards vibrant shades of pink and red. We see her developing not only through her actions but also through these illustrations. As the colors bend and mix, we are able to see Valentina’s inner emotions and this insight allows us to truly empathize with her. Saint V is also a beautiful symbol of her development as his appearance accurately reflects Valentina’s emotional state.
Lunar New Year Love Story is the perfect book for all readers—a blend of colors, emotions, and plot that will leave you wishing for a love story of your own.
