Cover Image: So We Meet Again

So We Meet Again

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Member Reviews

Jessie Kim is an investment banker who gets laid off in a virtual meeting. When moves back home to Nashville to find her path in life, she runs into her childhood nemesis, Daniel Choi.

Suzanne Park did a great job of drawing on stories from friends about the racism and sexism on Wall Street and writing it as a part of Jessie’s story. I loved that Jessie and Daniel were always competitive with each other growing up, and as adults Jessie realized that Daniel wasn’t as perfect as she thought. It made for a cute love story. The food aspect was super fun. Jessie’s cooking show features many Korean dishes — and it was even more charming that her mother was brought into the mix. Food was a way for Jessie and her mom to relate to each other. They weren’t always on the same wavelength, but their cooking show brought them closer together. So We Meet Again is a coming of age rom-com that will make you hungry, in the best way!

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I enjoyed this! However, I do think that the synopsis (at least on Goodreads) is very misleading - I'd actually suggest not reading it because it gives away pretty much the whole plot. It also seems to imply that this is more of an enemies to lovers romance than it really is (I'd categorize it more as fiction with some romance). I think the pacing was a bit off for me simply because I kept waiting for the events I had seen in the synopsis. Some of these happened almost at the end of the book! There are also some time skips towards the end where I wasn't sure how much time had actually passed, so I felt like this was a bit rushed.

On to the positives though! I absolutely wanted to keep reading this throughout the book. It's very easy to read, and there were soooooo many delicious food descriptions. I wanted to eat all the things and would actually love these recipes! I thought there was also a lot of relatable content here. It touches on things like your voice being suppressed at work, as well as a discussion of this "boy's club" type of culture and whitewashing.

Jessie, our main character, is trying to figure out what to do with her life. She has a lot of support from her parents which was great to see. I really liked seeing her start up her YouTube channel again! This provided some fun, relatable things for me since I have a booktube channel. I thought that the author did a good job of representing people around my age and some of the problems this generation faces. I loved reading about Jessie gaining confidence in herself - this was fabulous, and I particularly liked the ending! Overall, Jessie was a great main character and was funny, relatable, and smart. I totally understand her more detail-oriented mind with her Excel spreadsheets! I really enjoyed watching her try new things and expand her comfort zone.

In terms of the other characters, I thought that Flora and Celeste were fun friends! I really liked that Flora was doing a PhD. They were both very supportive overall. Jessie's parents were adorable, and I loved seeing them get involved with Jessie's channel and business. Jessie thinks that they're disappointed in her, so there are some touching conversations about this. The business idea is very cute, and I liked how it brought Jessie and her mom closer together!

Of course, we should mention Daniel. They certainly have an interesting dynamic, but I wouldn't really categorize it as enemies to lovers. They had a childhood rivalry and while some of that spills over a little into the present day, it's not true "hate to love." Daniel seems nice overall and tries to do right by Jessie (with mixed results). At the end of the day though, he does come through when it really matters.

Overall, I thought this was such a fun book! Again, I'd highly suggest not reading the full synopsis so that the pacing isn't off due to your expectations.

My video review can be seen on my booktube channel (around minutes 0:49-5:00 of this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXlpGVQcic4

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So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park was such a lighthearted and lovely romance. The book is perfect for summer. It would also make a great beach read as So We Meet Again can easily be devoured in a single sitting. While the romance is fast paced and incredibly sweet, the characters on their own are able to shine. 

Jess, the protagonist, is a relatable and funny character. Park's writing encapsulated the uncertainty of losing one's job and starting over in a new place.

While I started the book for the romance, the book became so much more than that. It turned into a journey of perseverance, finding yourself, and becoming your own boss. It was such a great book that pulled at your heartstrings. 

I used to live in South Korea so the food mentioned and the atmosphere that encompasses the story made me nostalgic. Park was able to explore facets of Korean American culture in a gorgeous and sometimes even funny way. I wish the book included recipes because a lot of the food discussed made my mouth water.

Park's writing was absolutely fantastic! I went into this book hesitant since I had read a book from her previously. I had expected a lot more from The Escape Room, a young adult novel, than readers received and was wholly disappointed by it. However, I was willing to give her another chance and I'm so glad I did. So We Meet Again was so much more than I had originally was expecting. The writing was great, the story was adorable, and the ending was absolutely fantastic. It certainly ends on an inspiring note that readers will not soon forget.

So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park is definitely book I'll want to meet again and again.

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Thanks to Avon for this digital ARC.

This was my first time reading a Suzanne Park book but it won’t be my last. A funny and sweet story about a Korean woman trying to find her path in life after getting laid off from her Wall Street job. Jess was content in her job and making good money but life was in a standstill since all she did was work. Being laid off seemed horrible but might be a blessing in disguise. Running back home and living with her parents she feels so low in life with no prospects but it ends up showing her there’s a lot more than working 24/7. With a fun family dynamic that explores the Korean heritage (and the added bonus of Korean cooking!) and a sweet and sassy encounter with an old nemesis turned love interest keeps these pages turning.
Can’t wait to read more from Suzanne Park!

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I am sure you'll see this across ALL the reviews - don't read this book if you are hungry! The amount of food talk and prep is astounding, making me Hangry.

I listened to the audio book, even though I had both options. Narrator did a fantastic job of conveying accents, emotions and the various personalities. This novel brings back together two nemesis from High School for a chance at love. Both have had mishaps in their careers and find themselves back in their hometown, Nashville. Together, they start a Youtube channel dedicated to Korean cooking. Needless to say the channel goes viral.

Quick read, plausible romance story and a lot of fun with food in So We Meet Again. Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the complimentary copy of the book. And, thank you Harper Collins for the audiobook.

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This is easily my favorite by Suzanne Park!! This seems like it's marketed more as a romance, but it reads much more like women's fiction to me with a side of romance. I loved that this book was mostly focusing on starting over, changing careers, and finding your passion. This story deals with imposter syndrome and learning to trust yourself and your worth. I loved the support from Jess' family and friends - specifically, her relationship with her mom. Jess and Daniel's relationship progressed realistically - but I also loved that this was not the main storyline. And, I also loved all the Korean family expectations, food references, and this made me want to create the food hacks and recipe upgrades Jess and her mom recommended!⁣

I listened to the audiobook of this one and was laughing so much throughout. I loved the narration and pacing, Jackie Chung did an excellent job and I could not put this down and was so inspired to keep doing more errands around the house to finish this one!

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So We Meet Again is a perfect blend of women's fiction and romance. Suzanne Park captures the complicated feelings of returning home as an adult and trying to find how you fit back into your parents' lives. Park employes the enemies to lovers trope in this romance novel and does it so well! The tension and central conflict were so well fleshed out and believable.

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THIS BOOK WAS CUTE. i loved how complex daniel and jessie's relationship was and i did love that.

that being said, this book, to me, was more about jessie's journey over her romance with daniel. and i loved it. the messages about sexism and racism ( especially in workplace environments ) were so realistic and important. and i also enjoyed jessie's relationship with her mother too. her mother, in general, was such a great character, i loved her.

my one problem with this book was the pacing at times. sometimes it felt boring, per say, and kind of dragged. but still, it was enjoyable.

overall, i would definitely recommend this book. the romance was cute and i very much did love it. the tackling of the important topics was also great and the side characters were amazing too.

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Fun and heartwarming, a story about finding yourself and the bonds of family. Great Korean America representation and appeal to anyone who has ever found themselves at a crossroads or starting over. Well paced and immersive, overall a good time and a solid read

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I was hoping this book would get me out of a weeks long reading slump and it delivered! There’s not much more I love than a romcom, and I appreciate them even more when they have diverse voices and interesting plots. This book is about a Korean America overachievers Jess and Daniel and how Jess learns that failing at her Wall Street banking job can lead to starting her real passion project- a Korean cooking brand. I loved almost everything about this book, especially the Nashville backdrop. Some of it felt a little too trendy- like all the talk about the meal kits and the Dolly Parton bar- which makes me think it might not necessarily age well, but it doesn’t take away from the book as a whole. Overall, I loved it and would recommend to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted rom com. Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

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A slow burn enemies to lovers with a guy that is just as hot and delicious as the food Jesse is cooking up. Jessie’s mother literally steals the show with this one and takes this romcom to a whole different level. Don’t go into this one hungry, trust me. Just reading about the meals in this book will add a few pounds to your waistline.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted read with some laugh out loud moments and a unique comeback for an unexpected early life crisis, this is the read for you!

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Thank you so much to @letstalkbookspromo and @avonbooks for my gifted copy of So We Meet Again, by @SuzannePark! This fabulous book came out yesterday and if you loved her other books, don’t miss this one too. The full synopsis is in the comments section.

One of the things I love about Suzanne Park is that her main character is usually a strong woman in the business world. She’s typically worked her ass off to get there, and Jessie Kim was no exception to this rule. I admired the hard work she put in to build her business, and how she handled relations with her family during it. I have a few other thoughts about the second half of the book, but don’t want to spoil the book for those of you about to read it.

Park also has a fabulous sense of humor. I audibly laughed out loud at some points, which caused my husband to give me a few funny looks. Much of the humor comes from supporting characters as well, which makes the book that much more entertaining.

Looking for something entertaining and funny, but with a serious side at the same time? Look no further!

If you were to start your own business, what would you do?

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This was a DNF read for me. I liked it, but couldn't fully get into it. All completely personal preference and does not reflect poorly on the book. Thank you so much for the ARC! :)

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"𝘐 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 '𝘣𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘰 𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨' 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 - 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦-𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰."

As if being laid off from her NYC banking job in a virtual meeting isn't bad enough, Jessie Kim also overhears her former colleagues making racist and sexist comments about why on her way out. After moving back to her parents' house in Nashville to figure out her next steps, she's frustrated when she runs into her childhood nemesis, Daniel Choi, who seems to have everything she doesn't. But when Jessie revives her YouTube Cooking channel and comes up with a plan for a new Korean food business, she reluctantly accepts Daniels help to do it.

𝗦𝗢 𝗪𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡 is a story about self-discovery and knowing your worth, and it also gives an insightful look into Korean culture. While the cover and blurb may lead you to think this is a romcom, it's definitely more women's fiction. I adored Daniel (he is very swoon-worthy!), but my favorite duo in the book is Jessie and her mom - the way their relationship evolves is realistic, often funny and quite heartwarming. It's impossible not to root for Jessie to find success after the racism and sexism she's experienced and her path to starting over and reinventing herself is one that is entirely relatable. And the food! Do not read this book on an empty stomach.

I really enjoyed the discussions with @letstalkbookspromo and @lovearctually about 𝘚𝘰 𝘞𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 - there were lots of interesting themes to cover and we all had different perspectives on Jessie's journey.

Thanks to Avon Books, KCCPR and NetGalley for the gifted copy to review.

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I loved everything about this book! Yes, it's a trope we all know (and love) the old childhood enemies to adult lovers, thing, but Park tackled it so masterfully and had me laughing along the way. I loved the contemporary twist, and who doesn't love a youtube cooking show?!

5/5 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

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Charming and funny rom-com that left me smiling ear to ear! I would probably put this book in the women’s fiction category, but there is a touch of romance (dreamy Daniel). All of the characters were lovable and I couldn’t get enough of the hilarious interactions between Jess and her family! Loved, loved, loved this book!!

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3.5
I really loved the first half of this novel. It features a strong female character, Korean American families, and a lot of great dialogue and funny scenes. It was entertaining to read about Daniel and Jessica's childhood/adolescent rivalry and their developing friendship. The scenes with Jessica's mom were sweet - and so realistic - I loved that relationship and the mom's character (anyone familiar with Asian american culture could appreciate this content). For me, the book lost credibility (when reading and the flow of a book is interrupted by something that seems impossible or untrue it is so disappointing) when Jess' business took off at a breakneck speed. In less than a year could Jess write an entire cookbook? Could she already have a cookware deal with Target? Small details which I know moved the plot along - but I wished the timeline would have been more realistic. I wanted more exploration of her career and would have enjoyed seeing more of the business triumphs and challenges. The plot from the acquisition onward lost allure for me and moved this down from a 4.5 to 3.5 stars.

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BOOK REVIEW: So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park

The pendulum swings in life that can knock you off your feet... Or take you on the ride of your life!... Corporate success to back at home with parents to rebuilding your career... And crossing paths with old enemies? Or new friends? Or potential loves?... ✨😎✨

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books, Lifestyle & Home Ideas for Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

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So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park is a delightful novel combining enemies to lovers, a strong love for food, and a big dose of female empowerment! When Jessie Kim is laid off from her Wall Street position in a virtual meeting, she moves home with her parents and runs into her high school enemy, who is now a successful lawyer. As it turns out, Daniel has changed a bit from what Jessie remembers, and he helps her to launch a Korean cooking YouTube channel and meal prep business. On top of that, Jess realizes she is starting to fall for smart, supportive Daniel.

First of all, I absolutely loved all of the food talk in this book! I love watching cooking shows, and Jessie's Korean cooking show is certainly one I'd love to see. I'm also going to be looking into some of the foods described because I definitely want to try to make it at home!

The romance in this book was a slow burn, and on the sweet side. It took a back seat to Jessie's personal growth and empowerment and the love for food in this book, which I think worked perfectly for this story. I love that Suzanne Park emphasized gender inequities and highlighted racism. I truly enjoyed Jessie's story and her growth throughout the book.

I also have to shout out my love for Jessie's mom in this book. Her character was portrayed in such an endearingly comical way and I absolutely LOVED it. I really appreciated the nuances in Umma's relationship with Jessie and the different dynamics portrayed there. I would absolutely read a book devoted entirely to Umma!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC of this title which did not affect the contents of my voluntary review. All opinions are honest and my own.

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This was my first book from Suzanne Park, but will absolutely not be my last. I cringed when Jessie got laid off via Zoom (such a pandemic times throwback we'll remember forever), and really felt for her when she was back home in her parent's house ordering lots of business inspiration books and coffee for delivery. I felt it in my soul as a woman and could empathize with a woman of color being told she had no leadership potential, but I loved watching her discover her passions and prove to those idiots just how wrong they were. The interactions with her parents, her mom especially, were heartwarming and I understand fairly accurate for a lot of individuals! The scene where her mom hums and talks to the mirror? My favorite of the entire book. The romance inclusion was a bit lackluster for me for something marketed as a romance, but if I remove that expectation from it, it was a really highly enjoyable read about a young woman trying to find themselves and reconnecting with their roots along the way.

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