888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers

A Novel

By: Abraham Chang

Narrated by: Eunice Wong

"Narrator Eunice Wong breathes life into the diverse cast of characters with an energetic precision that gives this audiobook the feeling of a lively radio drama."—AudioFile

“Abraham Chang’s novel, packed with pop culture, is wonderfully alive. This is a beautifully tender and funny examination of love, of identity, of making your way in a world that is getting bigger and smaller at the same time.”—Kevin Wilson, bestselling author of Nothing To See Here

Young Wang has received plenty of wisdom from his beloved uncle: don’t take life too seriously, get out on the road when you can, and everyone gets just seven great loves in their life—so don’t blow it. This last one sticks with Young as he is an obsessive cataloger of his life: movies watched, favorite albums . . . all filtered through Chinese numerology and superstition. He finds meaning in almost everything, for which his two best friends endlessly tease him. But then, at the end of 1995, when Young is at New York University, he meets Erena. She’s brilliant, charismatic, quick-witted, and crassly funny. They fall in love and, for Young, it feels so real that he’s thrilled and terrified. As Young and Erena’s relationship blossoms, we get flashbacks to Young’s first five loves. That means Erena is “number six.” Was his uncle wrong—is she the one and only? Or are they fated for failure to make room for Young’s final, seventh love?

A love letter to Western pop culture, Eastern traditions, and being a first-generation New Yorker, Abraham Chang’s dazzling debut reminds us that luck only gets us so far when it comes to matters of the heart.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2024 Abraham Chang (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Abraham Chang’s debut crackles with energy and verve—a heartfelt tale about life, love, and the challenges we stumble into along the way. His thoughtful prose and sharp dialogue make his debut the kind of exploration of identity that will linger with you long after you’ve turned the final page.”—Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity

"An ecstatically written, sensory feast with a depth, range and inventiveness that perfectly encapsulates that period of your life where every time you look up your name is written in the stars. Expect to fall in love with this vibrant, powerful and memorable debut that will bowl you over—and leave your heart full."—Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and I'm the Girl

"Abraham Chang has created a novel that is packed with pop culture, a dizzying collection of movies and music and moments that capture the 90s in a way that doesn't feel nostalgic but wonderfully alive. This is a beautifully tender and funny examination of love, of identity, of making your way in a world that is getting bigger and smaller at the same time."—Kevin Wilson, bestselling author of Nothing to See Here

Good but may have preferred hard copy

I don't like lists in books, drives me crazy. Makes me think of the bible. Just long lists of so and so begot somebody who begot somebody else. Ok, so this wasn't that bad. I did list bands and band members at times, those were relatively small and I guess used to help with placing the setting in time. But lists of numbers used for old beeper codes drive me crazy. I don't think seeing it presented in a book would have been too bad but listening to it I just wanted to skip ahead.

That's just one of my quirky issues I suppose. Still rated high. an 80's/90's coming of age story which was quite cute. Relatable to an extent as that was the era I grew up in and a good bit of humor.

Just wish that had presented it slightly different in audiobook format.

Forever Young!!

In this erstwhile tome, the author skillfully delineates the ephemeral nature of adolescent ardor, juxtaposing the protagonist's nascent self-discovery with the vicissitudes of first love.

The narrative oscillates between poignant introspection and effervescent dialogue, rendering a verisimilar portrait of the pangs and ecstasies inherent to this critical juncture in human development.

Through a labyrinthine exploration of the human experience, the author adroitly plumbs the depths of emotional vulnerability, laying bare the insecurities and aspirations that define the high school years.

The denouement, replete with pathos and introspection, serves as a poignant reminder of the indelible imprint of first love upon the human psyche.

Set against the backdrop of Queens, NY circa the 90s, this novel constitutes a tour de force of literary virtuosity, offering a nuanced and affecting portrayal of the coming-of-age experience that will resonate with readers of all ages.

Exceptional performance by Eunice Wong

A trip down memory lane if you lived through the 90s plus a great perspective of what it is like to grow up as an American-born Chinese. Rich with detail and the sense you're in Queens, NY. Most importantly, the audiobook comes alive with Eunice Wong's performance.(She's now in my Top 3 Narrators)... Not sure about the ending but the overwhelming majority of the book is a great listen.

Eunice Wong's narration is quite sublime

This was clearly written to be an audio book. Eunice Wong effortlessly incorporates the Chinese portions of the text as she perfectly voices and portrays the extensive range of characters, of both sexes and all ages. A delight!

Absolutely stunning narration!

Loved the characters. Playful, witty, heart felt, so enjoyable! Best, most dynamic narration I’ve ever heard!

Not for me

I don't know, I didn't really vibe with this book. The pop culture stuff seemed a little over done and a decent amount of the book had me cringing (especially at the beginning).

The coming-of-age aspect through the lense of Young's six loves was interesting, but overall the story didn't do it for me.