Author: Susan Lee
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Publication Date: 20 September 2022
Pages: 304
Format: eBook - PDF
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: ARC via NetGalley
Her ex-boyfriend wants her back. Her former best friend is in town. When did Hannah’s life become a K-drama?
Hannah Cho had the next year all planned out—the perfect summer with her boyfriend, Nate, and then a fun senior year with their friends.
But then Nate does what everyone else in Hannah’s life seems to do—he leaves her, claiming they have nothing in common. He and all her friends are newly obsessed with K-pop and K-dramas, and Hannah is not. After years of trying to embrace the American part and shunning the Korean side of her Korean American identity to fit in, Hannah finds that’s exactly what now has her on the outs.
But someone who does know K-dramas—so well that he’s actually starring in one—is Jacob Kim, Hannah’s former best friend, whom she hasn’t seen in years. He’s desperate for a break from the fame, so a family trip back to San Diego might be just what he needs…that is, if he and Hannah can figure out what went wrong when they last parted and navigate the new feelings developing between them.
Seoulmates is a sweet YA contemporary tale for K-drama and K-pop fans. In terms of both YA and K-drama tropes, it ticks all the boxes. That makes it fairly predictable, but it was cute enough I was willing to let that go and simply sink in and enjoy the action. On a similar note, the plot is also a little overblown at times, but again, that's just part of the K-drama fun. This is perhaps not a book I'd ever feel the need to keep forever on my shelf and re-read, but it was one I enjoyed in the moment and that I'm glad I had the opportunity to read once. I did also like the fact that it explored the darker side of fandom/stardom in South Korea without trying to sugarcoat Jacob's life as an upcoming K-drama actor. Hannah and Jacob are characters who I'm sure will garner plenty of fans among YA readers, so I definitely recommend this to lovers of YA contemporary romance, especially if you also like K-drama and/or K-pop. It gets 4 stars from me.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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