QUICK TAKE: let's be clear, I freakin' adored ANNA K. one of my favorite books of 2020, there were a lot of expectations heading into the sequel. Does it live up to the first book. Short answer: no. But ANNA K AWAY is still an excellent addition to this series, and for sure worth your time. The sequel is missing the fun framework of the first book that reinterpreted ANNA KARENINA...here, this is just a continuation of the characters from the first book without those classic literature Easter eggs that made ANNA K so brilliant. I also had issues with the characters spending most of the time apart...I enjoyed the camaraderie of the kids in the first book and missed that here (they come together in the last 50 pages and it really feels like a different book when that happens). That being said, I found this to be an excellent story of teenagers dealing with trauma and grief, and Jenny Lee still does a fantastic job with specificity and detail and wish fulfillment and fun...I could definitely use a spin-off series centered around the k-pop drama she introduces. Ultimately, if you liked the first book, I definitely think you'll enjoy this one!

I won a digital ARC of this book in an Instagram giveaway from Flatiron Books. Thank you!

As the sequel to Anna K, Anna K Away is able to depart from the confines of the original Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. Where Anna K had limitations in plot, character development, and story, Anna K Away does not. The characters get to grow, well some of them, and the humility and self-awareness they gain is much more satisfying than the character development, or lack of, in Anna K. I loved the California scenes, a departure from the elitist East Coast world, and the glimpses into K-pop culture were really fun. Still over the top with glitz and glamour, like the first book, and full of instances of casual flaunting of wealth, Anna K Away stays true to the style of Anna K while allowing room for readers to make the characters more relatable and in-turn, more likeable.

The sequel to Anna K is so amazing. I devoured this book in a couple of hours. The drama that intrigue the romance, I absolutely loved and recommend this book.

Book 2 was just as good as book 1! I truly appreciate the way Jenny Lee writes these stories as you feel immersed into all their lives and right as if you’re right there with them. I could totally picture this as a tv or short series in Gossip Girl style episodes. I really like that we got to see how everyone had changed and what they were doing after the tragic death and what they had become of themselves. While the characters are not together for the majority of the story I think it allowed us to better see their individuality and have more appreciation. Given that it is a sequel to Anna K I also appreciated that she made true to that and didn’t make it a sequel that you could read without truly reading the first.

I’m one of those readers who desperately wants sequels to my favorite book, but then sets their expectations way too high and ends up feeling 😐⁣
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Since ANNA K AWAY is a sequel, and I don’t want to give anything away for ANNA K, I’ll keep this brief. ANNA K AWAY didn’t feel like a complete novel, and instead, felt like an extended epilogue. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s just not what I expected. And I can’t believe this character-over-plot person is about to say this, but I needed more plot. The characters spent way too much time apart and I didn’t start caring about Anna K’s storyline until about 70% of the way in, when a certain someone showed up. I needed that person to show up earlier and be a bigger part of the story. I want drama, damnit! ⁣
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I did find everyone else to be entertaining. Bea had a much bigger storyline which I enjoyed, and I will always be a Lolly fan. I know it seems like I didn’t like it, I did. I just didn’t love it. But I adore the way Lee writes and I’m so excited to see what her brain comes up with next!
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Really good follow up to Anna K a love story. Considering the ending of the first book this one focuses heavily on grief and how to deal with trauma. There’s also continued discussion of drug abuse and its effects on families. But at the same time this was a lot of fun with a ton of teen drama and crazy antics. Though some readers will not be able to relate to the insane amount of money on display in New York high society they will be able to relate to what it’s like to be a messy teen falling in love and figuring out their future. A great sequel overall.

This was the sequel I definitely knew I needed. I loved this story the first time around and the second was even better.

It isn't often that a sequel impresses me as much as this one did. I fell right back into the world Lee has created and got to know our familiar characters even better. Everyone showed believable growth and I had a fun time reading it.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Anna K. Away is the sequel to Anna K. which was a wildly fun retelling of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina with a Gossip Girl vibe. In the sequel, we meet the same characters again, dealing with many of the same issues they dealt with in the prior book. Although the sequel is fun, especially for people who like series like Gossip Girl, it falters a bit without the Tolstoy subtext. Anna never really fully develops into an interesting character and remains too "good" to be engaging. Lolly's storyline in this one is the most interesting, but seems to get the least amount of page time.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Loved another tale of Anna K and company although the sequel is never quite as good as the original. Anna K's father has whisked her away, Lolly and Steven are apart for the summer and Bea is off in California, the depths of Vronsky's death affecting everyone as they deal in the aftermath of finding themselves in new ways following their great loss.

I LOVED seeing the characters from book 1 continue to grow and develop, and I especially enjoyed Anna's journey. I think this book ended too quickly! There was so much action in the last few pages and it didn't feel like everything was fully resolved in the end.

I absolutely loved this book so much! Summertime funtime, The Korean version of the Masked Singer, Kpop stars, Vronsky still present in this book. I preorder the audio so.I can re-listen and experience this book again.

Anna K away is a fabuloussequel to Jenny Lee's Anna K, a YA reimagining of Anna Karenina that captured many the heart of a teen (and adult) YA reader. While the first book's plot was a given, this one isn't, and I thought Jenny Lee did a great job of exploring all the aftermath and repercussions. Definitely for fans of Anna K, but I'll also be pushing this now duology to those who hesitated because of the original's ending.

Are you a fan of sequels?

Last year I fell in love with Anna K and all of her NYC socialite crew. When I heard about 𝑨𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝑲 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒚, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.

👏 This sequel did not disappoint! It was the continuing story of 𝑨𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝑲: 𝑨 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 and all of our favorite characters were present.

The interesting thing about this book was the characters weren't with each other as much as they were in Book 1. It was nice to see each of them begin to step into their own stories.

Multiple points of view, multiple story lines, but very easy to keep track and fall even more in love with this cast.

I appreciated Author Jenny Lee letting me know that the ending of this galley isn't the exact ending to her final copy.

Do I recommend? 1000% YES!

This is set to land April 21, 2021.

A million thanks to Jenny Lee and Flatiron Books for this #gifted ARC

This was a really great read! I really enjoyed the first book so I was so excited to try out the second one. I love this author's writing style and her plot lines are very fun! I will be recommending this book to my friends.

As a result of my various committee appointments and commitments I am unable to disclose my personal thoughts on this title at this time. Please see my star rating for a general overview of how I felt about this title. Additionally, you may check my GoodReads for additional information on what thoughts I’m able to share publicly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this and any other titles you are in charge of.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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If you were disappointed by the first book's ending, you're going to love this sequel!! I loved reading about Anna and how she's coping with grief. Her father takes her to Korea to connect with his side of the family, but Anna doesn't feel like she belongs yet. Lolly forgives Steven for cheating (something I'll never understand why anyone would forgive a cheater, but okay). Kimmie and Dustin's relationship is refreshing. Meanwhile Bea is trying to decide if she's ready to forgive Anna. Forgiveness is hard and I like the fact that those emotions are highlighted in this book!