Author: Suzanne Park
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Book Description: From the author of the “genuinely funny” and “delightful” Loathe at First Sight (NPR), a young Korean American woman’s journey to finding a new career and new love means learning to embrace the awkward and unexpected—exploring familial expectations, finding your voice, and unimaginably falling for your childhood rival.
When investment banker Jessie Kim is laid off in a virtual meeting and then overhears why (“she’s already being overpaid anyway for a woman” and “Asians are worker bees, not someone who can drum up new deals”) she delivers an “eff you guys” speech and storms out.
After moving back home to Tennessee to live with her loving but meddling mother and father, she runs into her childhood nemesis—golden child Daniel Choi—at the local Asian grocery store. The smart, charming lawyer appears to have it all…while Jessie has nothing.
Jess begrudgingly accepts Daniel’s help to relaunch her long abandoned Korean cooking YouTube channel: HANGUK HACKS, showcasing easy meal prep for busy professionals. But just as she discovers Daniel’s life isn’t as perfect as it seems and there’s more to him than meets the eye, he shows up for a life-changing business opportunity, and their rivalry is back on . . .
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This a cute rom-com with an enemies to lovers theme. When the story opens Jessie Kim is laid off from her high pressure job at an investment firm for not having leadership potential. She leaves New York to move back home with her parents in Nashville as she figures out what she wants to do with her life. Daniel is a corporate lawyer who has taken a sabbatical from his current position and moves back to Nashville, where his father has accepted a position to return to the church he used to minister at.
Jessie and Daniel were always competitive in High School and at first it feels like nothing has changed. However, when Jessie comes up with a plan to launch an internet cooking show on how to hack mail meal kits and easily upgrade them to Korean masterpieces, Daniel swoops in and helps her upgrade her business to become very profitable.
Through this new venture, Jessie and Daniel become closer with many near moments of kissing and “other” things. Parents keep interrupting, but the biggest threat to the budding relationship is Daniel’s new job, which put Jessie in an almost impossible situation.
This book had a lot of typical elements of a rom-com, but it was just so enjoyable and satisfying. Park brings her unique perspective with our two Korean-American protagonists. Jessie’s parents are absolutely brilliant additions to this book and make it that much better. If you are looking for something light and fun to read do not pass this one up.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Obsessed Bookaholic 