Kong Boys: Seven Friends Reunite for Epic Adventure to Celebrate 30th Birthdays in 11 European Cities

Kathleen: Gerald writes an incredibly heartwarming book that brings a smile and spurts of laughter to his reader with his youthful innocence and ability to reminisce the funniest and most poignant moments from an unforgettable Euro trip amongst a bushy-eyed group off boys in their twenties. He skilfully juxtaposes and reflects upon the childhood, dreamy like big hopes that they had in their twenties to the now "reality" of life upon hitting their 30s.

The author takes us on an exhilarating journey to exploring the unique but relatable transitions from from thinking you are grown up to actually growing up and all the memorable experiences that go with that. He successfully captures and verbalises what every 30 year old is thinking and what every 20 year old wishes they knew.

Gerald is highly observant, and also able to capture the nuances in every interaction, action or nonverbal cue from his friends - which makes his stories very rich in layers. His words evoke a nostalgia for the carefree, often naive, optimism of youth and the comfort of friends who have stuck by you for so long that you couldn't get rid of them if you tried. Gerald has a talent for storytelling paired with...

United States on May 31, 2021

Jeffrey K.: A fun, light read that brought me back to a trip I took many years ago to Amsterdam, and beyond... was fun reliving those memories, especially in times when travel isn’t something so common!

Canada on Apr 13, 2021

Davide Macrelli: I bought this book intrigued by the story and I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't finished it yet but I was very impressed by the moment of the separation of the boys: very often in the movies it is not clear how painful it is! I myself have suffered this discomfort and now, at 25, I continue to turn my life upside down
I hope someday to go to Hong Kong and meet a player

Italy on Apr 08, 2021

Charlie Wood: I liked Kong Boys, set during the 2016 European Championships. These loveable characters could have been from anywhere. Anyone who has followed international football. (Soccer) will understand what they are going through. Especially relevant now
with last year’s European championships being postponed until this summer, hastily followed by the World Cup next year. Fingers crossed.

United Kingdom on Apr 05, 2021

Pushun: Such a delightful and fun read! Loved the easy way it's been written, weaving stories, adventure, camaraderie, places, dishes into a cohesive lovely narrative. Particularly loved the special recipes detailed in intervals. The entire story reminded me of an Indian film 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' and the emotions that it brings out- nostalgia after meeting friends, a fun trip of self discovery and unabashed moments. Recommended for it'll bring a smile to your face

India on Apr 03, 2021

Jeffrey H Wang: Kong Boys reads a bit like an Asian-American version of the Danny Boyle film Trainspotting, but without all the hard core drugs and sex and violence (although it does have some drugs, sexy bits, but not much violence). Like Trainspotting, it is told in a rapid fire, breathless pace, as we see a group of young Asian-American men and their whilrwind adventures in Europe.

They are sort of celebrating their last hurrah before they settle down into a "responsible" adult life of marriage and children, and the writer Gerald Yeung does a great job of capturing the exhilarating tone and spirit of these times. While the characters themselves are all enduring and encounter all sorts of amusing situations, what makes Kong Boys such an entertaining read is its detailed descriptions of the food and culture of the various European locations its main characters visit.

Essentially, Kong Boys is both a portrait of the exuberant lives of Asian-American youth, as well as a well-written travelogue of Europe, and even parts of Asia. It's refreshing to see Asian-American males not portrayed as typical, nerdy, bookish types, but as wild and crazy, fully-fleshed out characters who can party...

United States on Apr 01, 2021

IJ: I liked how the book started and the boys set off on their journey across Europe. As somebody who has seen most of the cities mentioned in the book, I liked the way some of the scenes were recreated. There is a lot of football for those who enjoy the sport. I found the conversational writing style a bit much at times and preferred the storytelling pieces which explained the bond the characters of the book shared with each other.

United Kingdom on Mar 26, 2021

Amazon Customer: “Kong Boys” got to me in the end, and I’m still trying to work out why. Please, read this review, bearing in mind that the reviewer (ME) is a bit of a crank, not enamoured by any part of China (at the moment), without a group of true friends, and entering old age ungraciously.
The first “event” that got on my nerves was the endless anecdotery. If I had known first-hand any of the group that made the journey maybe it would have been different. Frankly, after a time, all the reminiscence got me down. The in-tales were somewhat pathetic. Then, there is the soccer. I like football, too, but to be informed that Ronaldo is the greatest when it is crystal-clear he isn’t irritated me. Messi is. To meet yet another fan of premier league football is not on, either. If you like hyped hype then you have gone with commercial success, not talent. English football, British football, has been bought over and out. Where are British players in the premier league? Few and far between. When British teams venture out into European and World Cups, do they do well? I don’t think so. Most of the time they are shown to be who and what they are!
I am told many girls like “Kong...

United States on Jul 13, 2020