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15-year-old Emma Chan is an aspiring musician with her eyes aimed at the stars. Sure, she might not have won any notable competitions, but she isn’t “bad” by any means… unless you’ve met her easygoing and charming best friend, Naomi Lin, who seems to have the unique ability to accelerate Emma’s heartbeat.
In a world that constantly demands more…
how do you find a way to feel enough?
On the surface, Naomi has her life together. Outside of being dubbed a child musical prodigy, she’s just another 15-year-old who likes coding, spending time with her friends, and reading celebrity gossip. But deep down, she longs to escape her life of expectations and build one that she truly desires, even if she doesn’t know what it means yet.
When the two friends team up to compete in a coding contest hosted by their childhood idol, their seven years’ worth of friendship falls into the danger of being blown wide apart by deepening feelings, desperately hidden secrets, and the pressure of growing up. Emma and Naomi will have to adapt to the changing shape of their relationship, even if it means realising that life can be so much more complicated than they imagined.
What People Have Said About Stuck in Her Head
“Stuck in Her Head perfectly captures both the wonder and the agony of being a teenager in bustling, stifling Hong Kong. A pleasure to read, and a remarkable achievement.”
Jane Lo
Author of All I Ever Wanted
“This is a very well-written story of two teenagers’ friendship and their growing pains set in the bustling city of Hong Kong. The story is heartfelt, the tone melodic and the vibes in tune with the spontaneous moods of youth. This enchanting novel deeply touched my heart. Highly recommended.”
Alice Poon
Author of The Heavenly Sword
“With their expert storytelling skills, Wang and Tang have crafted a tale that is sure to tug at your heartstrings and leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.” (Read More)
Suzie Housley
Senior Reviewer at Midwest Review
“These are definitely two writers to watch. Read Stuck in Her Head, and you’ll understand why.” (Read more)
B. Lynn Goodwin
Award-winning author of Talent and Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62
“Stuck in Her Head is a relatable and encouraging YA novel that dives deep into the lives of Hong Kong teenagers, or Asian teens, who live in a comparison culture with high expectations from their parents and peers… This incredible book should not be limited to teens but recommend to anyone seeking a meaningful life.”
Sue Ng
Reporter at the South China Morning Post
Some Words from B. Lynn Goodwin, Award-winning author of Talent:
When you’re a talented teen, how do you find your way into the life you most want to lead? Experimentation is one path. Hard work is another. Mix the two together and add equal parts empathy and honesty, and you’ll have a formula for success. Not that formulas always work. After all, every teen is an individual seeking control of her life and choices. Kylie Wang and Liana Tang’s Stuck in Her Head is a YA crossover written by two wise teenage women, that celebrates all the complexities successful teens experience as they search for their unique place in the world.
Set in contemporary Hong Kong, Stuck in Her Head is the story of Emma Chan, an aspiring musician with big dreams, and her best friend, Naomi Lin, who seems more talented and relaxed—at least on the surface. Emma wants to please her parents and goes to extremes to do so. The same is true of Naomi, who thinks her talent is coding rather than music—which she has a love-hate relationship with.
Both are dissatisfied with the expectations life has thrust upon them. They want to find their own paths when they sign up for a coding competition with another student, Laurence. The plan is to use their musical skills to make their project unique. Despite their banter and competitive nature, deep longings and dark thoughts emerge. In addition to all the desire to succeed, their teenage hormones complicate Emma and Naomi’s relationships, which are already fraught with the need to prove themselves to their parents and the world. The coding contest and lying to avoid hurting others bring them together, pull them apart, and reshape their relationship into something more nuanced and mature.
Wang and Tang both started life in Hong Kong. Their backgrounds are an integral part of this story of two wise, sensitive, and empathetic Chinese teen girls. It’s YA by and for teens, but it will also appeal to parents and teachers. With honesty and strong writing chops they tell a story filled with the need for balance, empathy, and recognition. This is a coming of age story without drugs, alcohol, or car accidents. The excitement comes from their striving along with a few embarrassing mistakes on the road to discovery. These are definitely two writers to watch. Read Stuck in Her Head, and you’ll understand why.
Stuck in Her Head is Hong Kong’s First Modern YA Novel
Set in contemporary Hong Kong, Stuck in Her Head is an honest story about cherishing loved ones, healing from mental illness, and, most of all, facing the ultimate challenge of the teenage experience—trying to be enough in a world that constantly demands more.
Stuck in Her Head is published by: Earnshaw Books
Published October 2023
Publisher: Earnshaw Books
Stuck in Her Head is supported by YoungArts.
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Stuck in Her Head is Released!
Two Teen Authors 