Acclaimed author of Last Tang Standing and Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic in her YA debut: a sharp yet sweet rivals-to-romance romp through Kuala Lumpur—perfect for fans of Emiko Jean, Abigail Hing Wen, and Kat Cho.
Agnes Chan never expected to be the punchline of her own life . . .
But how else do you explain getting accidentally run over and seeing a lifetime of careful preparation, endless training, and all your hopes of a track scholarship to college destroyed in a split second? Not to mention the only witness to your humiliation being your #1 archnemesis, Royce Taslim.
So, when Agnes finds a new answer to her scholarship predicament in the form of an international stand-up comedy contest for teens, the last person she expects to be up against is also the last person she wants to see: Royce. Because for years Royce has represented everything Agnes loathes: extreme privilege, popularity, and physical perfection (ok maybe she doesn’t hate that part so much).
Behind the scenes, though, Royce’s flawless façade fades away, revealing someone Agnes never expected—someone who shows her that perhaps the best parts of life are the ones you aren’t prepared for—and as the competition heats up, so do things between these two rivals. But will the pressure to win be too much for them to handle—or will Agnes (and Royce) get the last laugh?
Praise for Bite Me, Royce Taslim
“A solid addition to the list of rivals-to-lovers romances.” –Kirkus
“Using humor to highlight issues surrounding mental health and socioeconomic status, Ho (Lucie Yi Is Not a Romantic, for adults) offers a lighthearted enemies-to-lovers YA debut set in Kuala Lumpur that’s quick-paced and angsty with laughs to spare.” –Publishers Weekly
“A fun and delightful love story that proves that laughter really is the best medicine!” –Kat Cho, New York Times best-selling author of Once Upon a K-Prom
“I went in expecting a fluffy, fun read, and this was all sorts of fun but also kicked me in the heart with all the feels! I was swept along with Agnes’s struggles and I would like to never leave Kuala Lumpur, please. The Southeast Asian romance we all deserve!” –Jesse Q. Sutanto, author of Dial A for Aunties
“Lauren Ho knows how to hit your funny bone and your heart! With an arsenal of witty one-liners, Bite Me, Royce Taslim proves that when life gives you lemons, sometimes the best thing to do is just shove them aside and laugh!” –Jason June, New York Times best-selling author of Out of the Blue
“Bite Me, Royce Taslim is in the elite class of romcoms that will actually have you laughing and sighing contentedly out loud. This is a very fun book to read.” –Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of In the Wild Light
“Hilariously heartfelt, Lauren Ho seamlessly infuses comedy and culture in her swoony YA debut. A smart, laugh-out-loud rom-com that will have you in stitches.” –Grace K. Shim, author of The Noh Family and Not Your Average Jo
“A delightful escape into the world of stand-up and never-ending jokes, Bite Me, Royce Taslim transported me to a place I didn’t know I needed, and felt like a home I didn’t want to leave. Ho beautifully oscillates between grappling with mental health and the burdens we carry from our family, to the sunnier side of jokes as a balm of healing and laughter, and the strength that comes from having people in your corner. I truly didn’t want this book to end.” –Claire Ahn, author of I Guess I Live Here Now
“Lauren Ho works her magic again! A fun rivals-to-lovers romance laced with a deeper and angstier emotional pull, Bite Me, Royce Taslim hits all the right notes! From the zany Murphy’s Law meet-cute, to the what-will-she-reveal-next character exploration, I could not put this book down until I reached the last page…and then hugged it so hard to my heart. Impossible not to love!” –Susan Lee, author of Seoulmates and The Name Drop
