Book Review: Chloe and the Kaishao Boys

Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto

Chloe Liang is turning 18 soon and has never dated anyone. In the Philippines, it is marked with a debutante's ball, prompting her Filipino-Chinese family to set her up with Kaishao Boys. And this is all when she's about to move to America for college to follow her dreams as an animator. Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.

If you are new to this blog, this is a site dedicated to reverse harem. It's when there are three guys or more who are romantically interested in the heroine. Since yours truly is a Filipina and the title and premise are well about Kaishao Boys, reading this was a priority. But this was not a reverse harem in a traditional four flower-sense. (see Levels of Reverse Harem) In a way. it can be a reverse harem if we put it from the perspective of one of her aunts: The trick to meeting boys is to collect and select. You’re supposed to collect as many potential suitors as possible before you select the best one. Bless her wisdom!

After reading non-stop Japanese light novels it took a while to get reacquainted with young adult reading hat mode. But before you know it, you can't put it down and you'll start enjoying the weird metaphors and their cringey families. It has a slice-of-life-ish feel and a cute romance that is not contrived. The writing captures the innocence of youth. The drama. The angst. Chloe's dilemmas are anything but chill but you'll get mellow vibes. Chloe and the Kaishao Boys take me back to my roots of Sweet Dreams 'pocketbooks' of my high school.

Being a Filipina I get all the jargon, the pop culture references...everything. Even then, it was hard to empathize with anyone at first but by end of the book you'll love them all and it is like they're all someone you know in your clan reunion. And of course, love Chloe. She seems so unassuming and low-key but she has a competitive streak and a one-track mind that needed a bit of nudging.

Pinoys (Filipinos) have these cliche assumptions of the Fil-Chi community so it's enlightening to get to know more of the family dynamics on a more personal level. There were also a ton of cheesy comical situations thanks to her family but the fun moments were the subtle ones. Like Chloe's memorable line: Shit. Was I on a date?

Kaishao is Hokkien for “to introduce.” It’s when friends or family introduce you to single potential partners. The first kaishao is hilarious. Her family's idea of meet-cute is one for the books. The second kaishao is equally hilarious. I was dying. Well, the last candidate is predictable but it's okay just to balance it out. Japanese light novels have illustration inserts, especially from the most critical moments which would have been perfect for the meetings with the boys. The cute cover art of the book is totally asking for it. Let's normalize more illustrations pretty please!

Debuts are a big deal in my country. And I can already imagine the debut party as a climax in a movie. Calling dibs that this will be your next THE romcom movie after To All The Boys I've Loved Before. The novel is not just about Chloe and the Kaishao Boys. It is pretty clever in sidetracking you. It ended on a cliffhanger and the only consolation is that it has a sequel or trilogy potential. And I'm recommending this not because I'm a Filipina, I'm recommending this because I simply loved it. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

UPDATE: Attended a book signing with the author last December 17, 2023 and she recognized the name of the blog from the reviews!

Purchase titles/ related to the titles mentioned: (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):

Chloe and the Kaishao Boys https://amzn.to/3YnB3ja

The To All the Boys I've Loved Before Paperback Collection (Boxed Set): To All the Boys I've Loved Before; P.S. I Still Love You; Always and Forever, Lara Jean https://amzn.to/3ZmkjdC

Love Reverse Harem Garden? Follow on: Youtube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

If you enjoyed this post please consider buying Kofi. Shares and whitelisting of the site are also appreciated. :)

Comments

👑 18 Treasures: Favorite Reverse Harem Reads from 2020-2025 (Manga, Manhwa, Webtoons, Light Novels & More!)

Hello, Wallflowers! This is Ayreesa. I recently shared my 18 Gems : reverse harem reads from 2007–2019 that shaped me. Now it’s time for my personal favorite* reverse harem reads from 2020 to present , listed in the order I read them. Personal favorite = Some are problematic. 😅Sorry! Who knows, this might turn into one of your treasured favorites, too! Winning a copy of Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Report back in 2020 gave me the push to request review copies and start covering licensed titles + licensing news . I’d love to cover even more stories, but both time and budget keep me from reading everything on my list. To make the most of my schedule, I share quick impressions and mini-reviews on Patreon. If you’d like to help me keep exploring new titles, you can support me through Patreon or Ko-fi . E very bit means so much! This is Part 2 of 4 of Reverse Harem Garden 18th birthday series . In the Philippines, a debut ball includes dancing with...

🌸 Spring Reverse Harem 2025 🌸 (anime, dramas, manga, manhwa, webtoons and light novels)

Hey there, wallflowers! 🌸 Spring is here, and if you're new to Reverse Harem Garden, I also include kinda and unconfirmed reverse harem titles. And I have actually created five different levels of reverse harem and to know more about it, I highly recommend checking out Levels of Reverse Harem after this. This list will be updated continuously, so stay tuned. Let me know if I missed anything. Happy watching and reading! And a few disclaimers: There's a separate spring list on Patreon so make sure to check it out. Follow Reverse Harem Garden's socials. ( Youtube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok ) Titles that haven’t been reviewed yet are considered unconfirmed reverse harem. Dates may change, and videos might not be available in all regions. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Ko-fi – If you enjoyed this post, you can support me wi...

All-Time Top Ten Reverse Harem Anime

Hello Wallflowers! I am not going to do a decade in review since I did that already a couple of years ago. but I am loooong overdue for my top 10 anime. I actually made one coincidentally a decade ago but it's a consolidated top 10 of everything from anime, manga and dramas as the titles are fewer back in 2010. I should have done it sooner but it's the nagging feeling that I should finish everything before I can post this. What if there's a hidden gem in my backlog that piled up beginning 2015 (due to pregnancy)? Fast forward to last year and major life events later, I have finished nine anime in eight months. It felt like forever. And after that, I found out I could actually start the list even without watching the backlog. LOL But the good thing is I was able to finish it and that has put off a lot of guilt feelings from me. I mean who blogs about reverse harem and never watches past the first episode??? Sadly, I don't remember most of the story of the anime...

Reverse Harem Freshest News: Villains Are Destined to Die Is Getting an Anime Adaptation!

DISCLAIMERS: -Some are not confirmed reverse harem unless reviewed. -Some may fall under kinda reverse harem. See more of Bloom Index/ Levels of Reverse Harem . -As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Villains are Destined to Die is getting an anime. It was announced on the Japanese Piccoma app following the release of the webtoon's final main chapter. The anime is currently in production. Source: xomyseries . The manhwa/webtoon ended in Korea on July 10, while the English releases are still ongoing on Tapas, Tappytoon, and Manta. It is based on a web novel, which is also available on Tapas. Both the manhwa and web novel are also available in print under Ize Press. See Novel Review . This game’s got me obsessed! It’s like it’s taken over my life... wait—HARD MODE ACTIVATED. No-no-no-no-no! It has literally taken me and thrown me into the part of Penelope Eckhart. Love is easy as the heroine, but as the hated villain, I’m trying very har...

🌸 START HERE 🌸 Reverse Harem Garden: The Ultimate Resource Guide

Welcome to Reverse Harem Garden! 18 years of chronicling the past, present, and future of reverse harem through curation and commentary. Whether you're new to reverse harem or a longtime fan, here's a curated collection of the Garden's most popular guides and recommendations. 🌷The Garden Essentials Reverse Harem Anime 2026 Reverse Harem Dramas 2026 Archive Yearly lineup of OT titles on Patreon 🍃 Seasonal Guides Winter 2026 Spring 2026 Summer 2026 Archive 👩‍🌾 Editor's Picks 18 Roses: Top 18 Reverse Harem Anime 18 Candles: Top 18 Reverse Harem Dramas 18 Treasures: Favorite Reverse Harem Reads (2020-2025 Manga, Manhwa, Webtoons & Novels ) 18 Gems: Reverse Harem Reads That Shaped Me (2007-2019 Manhwa, Manga & Novels) Other Top 10s 🪏 Reverse Harem 101 Intro to Reverse Harem and Reverse Harem Garden Bloom Index / Levels of Reverse Harem Defining Reverse Harem Through Different Lenses: Reverse Harem Garden's Bloom Index, Joseimuke, and Why ...

Reverse Harem News Roundup: Twisted Wonderland Episode of Savanaclaw Premiere Date, The Remarried Empress Poster & More Manga News & Digital Manhwa Releases

DISCLAIMERS: -Some are not confirmed reverse harem unless reviewed. -Some may fall under kinda reverse harem. See more of Bloom Index/ Levels of Reverse Harem . -As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Anime and Drama News: Disney+ has unveiled the key visual for Twisted Wonderland The Animation: Episode of Savanaclaw. The sequel premieres this December. The first season, Episode of Heartslabyul, debuted in October 2025. The anime is planned for three seasons. Source: ANN (Not a reverse harem, but Savanaclaw manga features a female protagonist. ) manga synopsis: Stranded in the world of Twisted Wonderland, Yu must brave a magical school filled with ghosts, monsters, and uncooperative students! Yu finds herself at Night Raven College, a school for magic users, where the staff and students are getting ready for the interdormitory Spelldrive tournament. It sounds fun, but Yu soon learns that intensity, intrigue, and fierce competitiveness abound! Disney...

July Newsletter: Summer First Impressions, Mid-Year Roundup: Must-Watch & Must-Read & More! (Patreon Exclusive)

📢 Special Feature: Mid-Year Roundup: Must-Watch & Must-Read Reverse Harem Favorites (On Patreon) 13 Favorite Reverse Harem (& Kinda Reverse Harem) Titles from January to June 2026. 🎬 Summer Lineup First Impressions & More! Newsletter exclusive for 🌷Bud ($3) and 🌸Flower($5) tiers. 👉 Join the Forbidden Garden and unlock this issue on Patreon. Hana Kimi | Please Excuse My Younger Brothers |Red River |My Life as an Internet Novel | Auspicous Nobles | Blossoms of Power | The Legend of The Rosy Clouds | The Summer I Turned Pretty | Blooms For Her

Reverse Harem Manga on Manga Million

DISCLAIMERS: -Some are not confirmed reverse harem unless reviewed. -Some may fall under kinda reverse harem. See more of Bloom Index/ Levels of Reverse Harem . -As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Shueisha has launched MangaMILLION, a global digital manga platform featuring over one million pages of translated manga in 100 languages. Shueisha has stated that the translations were not produced using AI. Source: ANN However, the project has faced concerns over its ties to companies that use AI-powered translation. Readers may want to look into the issue before deciding whether to use the platform. The service will run until December 2027. One of its goals is to see which manga are popular worldwide and use that information for future translations and partnerships with local publishers Source: Shueisha via Shonen Jump News Here are the reverse harem titles currently available on MangaMILLION, including confirmed, k...

xxx- Over Flowers

Yoko Kamio's "Hana Yori Dango" manga has captured the world that it had spawned Japanese, Taiwanese and Korean live action dramas. It was also copied by Chinese and now it will soon-to-be adapted into an American drama too. She might have not expected that it will also start the foursome trend in Korean dramas (you can check out out dramabeans for more info) and variations of the monicker with totally different storylines. Boys Over Flowers - The one that started it all in Korea. A Gentleman's Dignity - Amidst the foursome and flower boys trend this drama upgraded their own and marketed the foursome as F40. Yup, flower boys in their forties. Grandpa Over Flowers - It doesn't end there. The title gets an extra, extra upgrade. Move over F4 and F40, it's the Grandpa Over Flowers. It's a reality show of grandpas traveling in different countries. Noonas Over Flowers - After the success of, Grandpa Over Flowers, the...

Reverse Harem Freshest News: Please Save My Earth Live-Action Adaptation & Twisted Wonderland Episode of Savanaclaw PV

DISCLAIMERS: -Some are not confirmed reverse harem unless reviewed. -Some may fall under kinda reverse harem. See more of Bloom Index/ Levels of Reverse Harem . -As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. OVA trailer Please Save My Earth manga is getting a live-action adaptation that will stream exclusively worldwide on Amazon Prime Video in fall 2027. Alice Hirose will play the role of Mokuren. The manga ran from 1986 to 1994 and was published in English by Viz Media. It received a six-part anime OVA in 1993, followed by a sequel manga in 2004 and another sequel that has been ongoing since 2015. Source: ANN See OVA review. (But maybe spoilerish?) Manga synopsis: Life's hard when you're shy, harder still when you move from your quiet hometown to the bustle of a big city and a new high school. Poor Alice also has to cope with being regularly harassed by the bratty neighbor boy, Rin. Her life turns upside-down when she's stuck babysitting Rin...

Reverse Harem Garden

Search This Blog