Last Tang Standing: The most hilarious, feel-good debut romcom you’ll read all year! by Lauren Ho

Product Description

Crazy Rich Asians meets Bridget Jones's Diary in this funny and irresistible debut novel about the pursuit of happiness, surviving one's thirties intact, and opening oneself up to love.

At thirty-three, Andrea Tang is living the dream: she has a successful career as a lawyer, a posh condo, and a clutch of fun-loving friends who are always in the know about Singapore's hottest clubs and restaurants. All she has to do is make partner at her law firm and she will have achieved everything she's worked for. And if she's about to become the lone unmarried member of her generation in the Tang clan--a disappointment her meddling Chinese-Malaysian family won't let her forget--well, who needs a husband, anyway?

Yet being the Last Tang Standing sends Andrea into a tailspin she wasn't expecting--and, for the first time, she begins to question the life she thought she wanted. When a chance encounter with handsome, wealthy entrepreneur Eric Deng offers her a glimpse of a future more lavish than she could have imagined, Andrea decides that giving Mr. Right-for-her-family a chance might not be so bad after all. So why can't she stop thinking about Suresh Aditparan, her annoyingly attractive office rival and the last man her relatives would approve of? With a battle waging between her head and her heart, Andrea can't help but wonder: in the endless tug-of-war between pleasing others and pleasing herself, is there room for everyone to win?

Product Details

Paperback: 416 pages

Publisher: Penguin Random House USA (9 Jun. 2020)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0593187814

ISBN-13: 978-0593187814

Product Dimensions: 13.8 x 2.2 x 20.9 cm

Customer reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars 9 customer ratings

An Interview with Lauren Ho

First of all, congratulations on your debut novel. How does it feel to be a published author?

Very surreal. I keep waiting for some ancestor to appear in my dream and tell me they are “surprised” by my bold move to become an author, then lament that they wish I had stuck with law before asking me for a list of critics, influencers and movie producers they have to “subtly influence” for various reasons. I’m also waiting to see my book in the wild, on some bookstore’s shelf, then maybe this will start to feel real to me.

Could you share with our readers how you secured a book deal with a large US publisher?

The rule (and there are exceptions) to securing a deal in traditional publishing is to first of all get yourself an agent. I wanted to be published in the US, so I matched up with my agent after pitching for one and getting offers, and she sold the book for me over a week.

Could you share with our readers how you secured a book deal with a large US publisher?
The rule (and there are exceptions) to securing a deal in traditional publishing is to first of all get yourself an agent. I wanted to be published in the US, so I matched up with my agent after pitching for one and getting offers, and she sold the book for me over a week.

Can you briefly explain the storyline for Last Tang Standing? What inspired you to write the story?
Last Tang Standing follows the adventures of a Chinese-Malaysian lawyer called Andrea Tang, who is on track for partnership in Singapore and who starts, through a series of dating and career mishaps, to move toward the life she really wants, even if it’s not the one she (or her family) has been working for. It’s written in diary form and follows Andrea over the course of a year.

What is your next project?
A sequel to Last Tang Standing—if this one sells well. Ha ha.

You are now a full-time author. How did this transition happen form being a legal counsel?
I was working in Luxembourg as a legal counsel with the central bank. I had an idea of writing a novel but could never muster the time or energy for it after a long day at work.  Then I moved to Singapore with my husband and decided to re-join the humanitarian sector. I worked with an international humanitarian aid organization for 4 years and during this time, I finally had the bandwidth to express myself creatively, whether it was through amateur stand up comedy or writing short stories again. Not long after I sold my book, my husband was seconded to Malaysia, so I resigned to move home and work full-time as an author.

Are you based full time in Malaysia or are you travelling back and forth from Singapore?
I’m currently based in Malaysia for the year, although I will be traveling quite a bit for this book’s promo once the travel restrictions lift and it is prudent to do so.

Which are your favourite films and/or books and are there any particular ones that inspired you to write Last Tang Standing?
Growing up, I loved Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole series of comedic fiction and Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary series, and while they are certainly books that inspired the diary elements of Last Tang Standing, once you’ve read mine it will be clear that this is a creation that, as one of my reviewers said, feels wholly original.

What do you want readers to walk away with after reading Last Tang Standing?

First and foremost, I would love if every reader walked away thinking, wow, that was fun, I haven't laughed like this since [*insert appropriate childhood memory*]. Life can be really bleak, and if I can make someone laugh, and in the process, learn to empathize with a character whose cultural and ethnic background differ from theirs, I've done my job.

I’m also especially proud to be putting out a book with complex, unique and talented characters from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds that aren’t afraid of pursuing success and love in their own way, while minding their culture and traditions. It was so important for me to show that because there aren’t many contemporary novels in English about people from my part of the world that are published internationally.

Reviews

“Andrea is a relatable, laugh-out-loud protagonist, a high achiever who also gives in to her weaker instincts on occasion. Last Tang Standing is a near-perfect blend of Crazy Rich Asians and Bridget Jones’s Diary, yet it still feels wholly original.”—BookPage (starred review)

“The combination of an appealing lead, a glamorous setting, and relatable, funny portrayals of relationships and workplace politics make this debut one of the must-read escapist pleasures of the summer. Fans of Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians and Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game will be dazzled.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“A lush portrayal of Singapore life filled with vibrant characters and a lovable leading lady readers will root for.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Witty…Ho’s cute, quippy love story is sure to captivate rom-com fans.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Charming and witty. . . It’s a good match for fans of The Hating Game, Crazy Rich Asians, and young professional women who feel at a crossroads.”—Booklist

“The funniest rom-com I’ve read in a very long time…The writing is so slick, the characters are so real, the pacing is so perfect! Andrea stole my heart.”—Beth O’Leary, author of The Flatshare

“A hilarious transcontinental romp filled with characters that crackle off the page. Lauren Ho’s incisive, sharp voice lays bare one of the central questions in many professional women’s lives—is everything we give up to live a ‘good life’ worth it?”—Andie J. Christopher, USA Today bestselling author of Not That Kind of Guy

“Your new favorite singleton is here and her name is Andrea Tang! Lauren Ho’s irresistible Last Tang Standing sparkles with that perfect match of hilarity and heart on every page. Smart, successful, driven lawyer-on-the-partner-track Andrea is the most endearing of heroines: trying to be a boss in her love life as she stumbles–uproariously!–through Singapore’s dating world in search of Mr. Right. You’ll fall in love with this warm, witty and winning tale of a woman learning to follow her heart–not her head–for the first time in her life!”—Aimee Agresti, author of Campaign Widows

“Joyful, exuberant and very funny. An absolute treat.”—Nicola Gill, author of The Neighbors
 
“A smart and witty depiction of navigating the world of dating, coupled with the messy (but amusing) dynamics of family life.”—Jennifer Joyce, author of The Accidental Life Swap

About the Author

Having turned her back on the legal world, Lauren Ho worked in the humanitarian sector for several years before she realized that she was the one who really needed help. After she got the news that Last Tang Standing would be published, she promptly went on an unpaid sabbatical, to the deep chagrin of her mother and every Asian friend she had. Lauren currently divides her time between Singapore, Malaysia, and France, ostensibly working on her next novel. Last Tang Standing is not based on her mother. At all. Seriously.