Funny Ethnics

Great book, terrible title. Like, “Bin Chickens and Boba Tea” was RIGHT THERE. I will just imagine that as the title in my head.
Publishers, pls re-release 2nd edition with a new title.
Read it in one go and laughed out loud the whole way.
Zadie Smith eat your heart out? Hanif Kureishi vibes too, to be honest.

If you were in highschool in 2000s Australia you will love this book. If you grew up in a family that aspired to prosperity via education or grew up 2nd gen Australian, you will double love this book.
Shirley Le has the observational wit and sparkle of Zadie Smith if Zadie Smith was born in Western Sydney instead of NW London, was Viet-Australian, and boasted a wicked sense of humour.

Somehow Le balances the bleak (racism - internalised and direct, misogyny - internalised and direct, body shaming, eating disorders, capitalism) with the warmth and humour of kinship, friendship, and the trained eye of an older and wiser narrator.