Throwback by Maurene Goo is a coming-of-age fantasy YA novel about a Gen Z Korean-American named Samantha who travels back to the 1990’s and meets her teenage mother, with the mission to change their future. With that description alone, I was ready to swan dive into this book. It sounded like a wonderful package of the things I love, like a zany k-drama meets 90’s teen movie. And I’m so glad that it fully delivered.
Sam and her mom do not get along in present-day, as they’re two very different people who want very different things. Sam is easy-going and just wanting to go with the flow, while her mom is materialistic and craving social acceptance. Naturally, when Sam is nominated for homecoming queen, she doesn’t care and doesn’t understand why her mom does. Sure, her mom didn’t win homecoming queen herself back in the day, but what’s the big deal? It’s apparently a huge deal, and the two get into what’s sure to be a life-altering fight… when Sam is suddenly thrown into the past.
Similar to the 80’s film Back to the Future, the time travel device here is a car — a ridesharing app called Throwback Rides that takes Sam directly to her high school in the year 1995. With a younger (hotter?!) version of her teacher, and a younger “mean girl” version of her mother, Priscilla. It was both hilarious and striking to have Sam as a woke teenager having to maneuver around a not-so-woke environment. Witnessing the cliché of jocks bullying nerds. Witnessing the blatant racism, not only from kids but from teachers and other adult figures. At times, Sam could be a bit much and get too aggressive, but I still appreciated how passionate and vocal she was. Girl was calling people out, and for good reason!
Sam was especially vocal towards Priscilla, and it was interesting to see them clash as two young individuals instead of as mother and daughter. Their differences seemed all the more prominent, yet somehow, once Sam decided to help Priscilla win homecoming queen (in order to get back to her own time), they became the dynamic duo I didn’t know I needed. They formed a natural bond, and Sam was able to see all the layers that made Priscilla her mom. I loved their friendship so much that I almost didn’t want Sam to leave the past. There’s one scene in particular that absolutely broke me, that happens during the homecoming game halftime. It played out like an epic movie scene in my head, and it gave me all the feels. Was definitely my favorite part of the whole book.
There were many more parts to the book that I enjoyed, such as Sam’s relationship to her grandmother (versus Priscilla’s relationship to the grandmother), and, of course, Sam’s unexpected feelings for mystery boy Jamie. I wasn’t quite sure where Maurene was going with the romance at first, but it ended up being super exciting and satisfying. The writing was just so vivid and swoony that, again, things would play out like a movie. There were times I was reading where my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
I’ve enjoyed all of Maurene’s books — they’re just so fun and warm, and I always find myself never wanting to leave the little world she creates. Throwback is hands-down my favorite of hers so far. I knew this the moment I wanted to slow down to savor the story but couldn’t because I had to keep reading. There was so much on the line for Sam, and it was great to experience this crazy ride with her. She had her own personal growth, but it was the multi-generational growth that really hit home.
I think that I would’ve liked the book no matter what, but I love it because those elements were executed so well. Now, if only I could contact Throwback Rides and go back in time to read the book for the first time again…
**Much thanks to NetGalley and Zando Projects for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Throwback will be released on April 11.
Rating: ★★★★★
Sara Bechtol 