Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Hello friends! I just finished Throwback by Maurene Goo and I have to say, this one was such a nostalgic, heartfelt ride. If you’ve ever wished you could understand your parents a little better-or just want to relive the 90s with all their quirks and questionable fashion-this book is for you.

Throwback follows Samantha Kang, a Gen Z teen who’s never quite seen eye-to-eye with her mom, Priscilla. Priscilla is the classic first-generation Korean American parent: all about appearances, country clubs, and homecoming queen dreams, while Sam would rather skip the clichés and just be herself. After a blowout fight, Sam does what any frustrated teen would do-calls a rideshare. But instead of a ride to school, she ends up in 1995, face-to-face with her 17-year-old mom. Cue the analog chaos: microfiche, payphones, and a world where “casual” racism and misogyny are the norm, not the exception.

The time-travel twist is so much fun, but what really makes this book shine is how real and raw the mother-daughter relationship feels. I loved watching Sam navigate the awkwardness of the 90s, but even more, I loved seeing her slowly understand the pressures her mom faced as a teen-balancing her own dreams, her immigrant mom’s expectations, and the weight of grief and responsibility. There’s something so universal about that feeling of being misunderstood by your parents, and Maurene Goo nails it, weaving in humor, heart, and just the right amount of teenage angst.

Sam’s voice is sharp and funny, and I found myself laughing out loud at her reactions to 90s trends (and cringing right along with her at some of the era’s attitudes). The romance subplot is sweet but never overshadows the real heart of the story: Sam learning to see her mom not just as “mom,” but as a person with her own struggles, dreams, and heartbreaks. I also loved the little moments of Korean culture sprinkled throughout, from family meals to the threads of generational tension that run deep in immigrant families.

If I had one wish, it’s that the book was a little longer, I would have loved to see more about how Sam’s actions in the past changed the present for the other students. But honestly, that’s just me wanting to stay in this world a bit longer. The ending is both satisfying and a little bittersweet, with just enough of a twist to make you smile.

I’d recommend Throwback to any YA reader who’s ever felt out of sync with their parents, and to every adult who’s wondered if their kids will ever truly understand them. It’s funny, moving, and packed with 90s nostalgia in the best way. Maurene Goo has crafted a story that’s as much about finding common ground as it is about finding yourself. Until next time, happy reading, and maybe call your mom, just because.