Abraham Chang has worked in publishing for years, so it's no shock that his debut novel displays a confidence more common among established authors. 888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers knows exactly what it is doing, and the only question at this point is just how many people will fall in love with Young Wang and his search for perfection--in numbers and in life.
Set in the mid-to-late '90s, this book is a quiet riot of pop-culture references, full of song titles and movie moments, AOL and pager code. The structure and pacing are strong, bouncing between Young's second year at New York University and the flashback sections focused on his first five loves, starting in elementary school with Denise, who has a "Leia-likeness." There's a magical first kiss at the sixth-grade dance ("You and Natalie are alone now; there doesn't seem to be anyone around."), and a dramatic broken heart just before college. Each segment is cinematic, getting every detail just right.
Besides the delightful barrage of '90s nerdery, the other thread that ties Chang's work together is Young's insistence on the importance of numbers, some good ("11: Two #1s. Make a wish. GOOD.") and others terrifying ("44: SO BAD. ALWAYS AVOID"). Young's uncle Su Su believes "we only get seven great loves in life: man, woman, thing, whoever and whatever gets your motor running," so when he falls for Erena (his number six), he is forced to question his faith in the numbers. Could she be his 888 love--"The most magical of numbers: the triple 8. The triple A, top grade, best of the best. Infinity upon infinity upon infinity"--or is number seven out there waiting for him?
Young is a film nerd who regularly dreams of revered directors like George Lucas, Quentin Tarantino, and John Hughes offering advice: "Don't wait for some bolt of lightning that may never come!" As an "ABC" (American Born Chinese), Young's love for his New York City home is enriched by his Chinese heritage, and soon John Woo and Ang Lee are the directors in his dreams, reminding him, "You carry these stories with you, in whatever you do."
Perfect for GenX readers or younger fans of such classics as Ready Player One, this coming-of-age story is thoroughly fresh while touching something universal, that tender reminder of the power of love. --Sara Beth West, freelance reviewer and librarian
Shelf Talker: A spot-on dive into 1990s New York and the struggles of finding out who you are meant to be and all the ways you might be meant to love, Abraham Chang's debut is hilarious and sweet, a pure delight.