Book Review: Mambo in Chinatown

Book: Mambo in Chinatown by Jean Kwok

Source: Library

Rating: 3 stars

Review:

I have to say that I loved the first half of this story with 21 years old Charlie Wong transforming from an awkward young woman who lacked self esteem into this confident risk taking person.

Charlie's life hasn't always been the best, she didn't do so great while she was in school and constantly got fired from all the other jobs she had. She was currently working as a dishwasher at the local noodle restaurant. It wasn't until her younger sister Lisa suggested she apply for a job as a receptionist at a dance studio that Charlie's life was taking an unexpected change.

Charlie wound up getting the job, however one day after messing up the schedule for a beginners class. She made the mistake of scheduling the teacher not only for a private lesson but also for the beginners class for the same time. And with no one else available to run the class, Charlie was put in charge with teaching it. Although, Charlie had learned a few dance techniques from her late mother she was given the opportunity to be taught by one of the best dancers for an introductory lesson just to get her ready to teach the beginners. She also received a mini makeover from several of the dancers.

Initially she was only supposed to teach one lesson but with her being such a horrible receptionist she was instead hired on to be a dance instructor. This was something that Charlie never thought could possibly ever happen to her. With this new job opportunity came even more good fortune, her confidence was growing along with her new transformation.

But while all of these good things were happening for Charlie, her little sister Lisa was starting to have medical problems. At first everyone thought it was due to Lisa stressing out over the Hunter High School preliminary entrance examination. But as time went on, Lisa was getting worse and her symptoms were starting to remind Charlie of their mother's symptoms before she died.

Like I said I loved the first half of the story but as the story went on I felt like Lisa's medical mystery wasn't being focused on as much as it should have until it got further near the end of the story. The pacing also slowed a bit as well as Charlie started to get so wrapped up into her dance partner Ryan that I was wondering why her sister's health wasn't more on her mind.

This was a good story and I love how Charlie had grown into a confident person and I love the interaction she had with her family and friends and her new friends at the studio. I like how she was finally starting to stand up for herself because in the beginning of the story, Charlie was nearly invisible, she didn't allow herself to shine or say what she thought. Aside from the good changes, she was also changing in a negative way too because she seemed to not have the compassion and patience that she had earlier in the story.

But I think she needed that little bit of negative change so that she could see herself and make the necessary change because I like how everything sorted itself in the end in regards to her. But the end was also a sort of a let down for me because it felt rushed and last minute. I'm glad Lisa's health problems were figured out but it seemed like it took such a long time for everything to get resolved. So many of the characters (including Charlie) didn't seem to see what I hate to say was the obvious cause of Lisa's health problems. If only they would have communicated. 

The second thing that was a let down for me was the romance between Charlie and her dance partner/student Ryan. Although Ryan was an interesting character, there was no real chemistry between him and Charlie. There was absolutely no passion between them.

Charlie's transformation from dishwasher to competitive dancer reminds me of the movie "Shall We Dance" starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Jennifer Lopez because like Charlie, Richard Gere's character transformed into a more confident risk taker as well.

This was a good read (especially the first half) but it could have been better.