By David Yoon
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2019. 406 pages. Young Adult
Frank Li is Korean American, trying to live his own life while also meeting the expectations of his parents. When he falls for Brit Means, a smart, beautiful, funny girl, he devises a plan to date her without his racist parents knowing, because Brit is white. With the help of one of his best Korean friends, Joy Song, Frank dates Brit under the guise of dating Joy, thrilling both sets of parents with such an excellent match. However, “dating” Joy leaves Frank wondering if he ever really understood love and relationships at all.
This is cute contemporary rom-com that, while it was easy to guess how things would turn out, was still an enjoyable read. The complex family relationships and struggle to bridge multiple cultures was well done. Yoon used a lot of his own experiences growing up to inform his writing, making it feel realistic and authentic. Fans of TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE and I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE will find a lot to love here.
ACS
1 comment:
It is so hard to describe this book. On the surface it is a standard romantic comedy. Frank Li wants to date Brit Means. But Frank Li's parents want him to date a nice Korean girl and Brit Means is white. So, under the guise of dating his Korean friend, Joy, he secretly dates Brit. But this book is so much more than a love story with a zany twist. It deals with complex family issues like deep seated familial racism, generation gaps, sexual identity, and racial identity. Just when you think it is ready to wrap up, it brings up a new issue and more delightful social commentary. David Yoon's own personal experiences helped him write this book, and it is clear that this helped him create Frank's authentic voice.
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