Cover Image: Seoulmates

Seoulmates

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Member Reviews

This was a great YA debut novel from Susan Lee!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

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"Seoulmates" by Susan Lee is an absolute delight that effortlessly captures the essence of a Korean drama. The adorable characters and heartwarming romance make it a compelling one-sit read. Beyond the love story, Lee skillfully addresses the cultural divide between being Korean and Korean American, adding depth to the narrative. The book's pacing, reminiscent of a K-drama, keeps the reader hooked until the very end. "Seoulmates" is a charming blend of romance and cultural exploration, making it a must-read for those seeking an enchanting and thoughtful escape.

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To all of my kdrama fans, this book is for you. Why you ask? Because it has all of the kdrama elements with reuniting old friends, discovering yourself after a break-up, and maybe finding new love. All of these components plays into Hannah life. She is going to rediscover herself after her break-up and denying her heritage part. While she learn herself again, she will also have time reuniting with her former best friend.

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Swoony and smart, this book was everything that I was hoping for in a romance. I never wanted to leave the world of this story. Fantastic!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for this DRC.
As a California resident and a K-pop fan, this rom-com hit a lot of the right notes with me (Aju Nice!) Old friends who are carrying a lot of past hurt have to find their way back to each other, plus have a lot of adventures and Mexican food.
#Soulmates #NetGalley

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This was a cute, quick, fun read and one that I overall enjoyed.
The first time I attempted to read this book, I could not stay focused and into the story. Several months later, I gave it another go and read it in a night.
If you are a fan of Kpop, K-dramas, idols, etc then you will probably enjoy this book.
For me, it veered a little too far into the unbelievable at times.... newbie or not, anyone famous knows to be more discreet and more careful about posting to social media. There were times that I was annoyed with the characters simply because so much could have been avoided, for the age of the characters, certain moments were a little too childish. It did have its moments though and for that, I did enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Inkyard Press for providing me with an ARC copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Being a Korean adoptee, I'm always interested in reading Korean based books and I throughly enjoyed this one. This is a super fun YA friends to lovers that ticks every box. It was really interesting how the author used the characters to comment on the new found hype for Korean culture via k-pop/k-dramas by non Koreans and how it can make Koreans feel about their own culture and the different variations of it.

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Cute premise, but this book was awful, Lee's writing is clunky and awkward. The profanity usage bounces back and forth between made up terms and harsh language. The secondary characters didn't have much personality. The subplot was extremely thin. I love the cover, though.

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I liked this romcom. It was a cute story about second chance romances. I don’t want to say that it was “too YA” because that wasn’t my issue with the plot. Some of the story was a little far fetched and based on miscommunication which is always something I get annoyed with. Overall, I did enjoy the story and would read more from Susan Lee.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Susan Lee can write anything and I’ll read it. This book was the kdrama I wanted and I found myself never wanting to put it down. When it was over, I wanted to start my re-read immediately.

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No offense to the author, but I just couldn't get into Seoulmates. I DNF'd this book pretty early on.`

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced copy of this book.

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I was really excited about this, started reading it and then immediately put it down. The main female character annoyed me and came off as unlikeable. I picked it up again and finally got through it. It took a weird turn from becoming enjoyable and sweet, to reading like a drama. Not my fave, but not terrible.

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This book made me so happy! It was wonderful to have both Hannah and Jacobs perspectives. They are so cute and their relationship felt so natural! This book was full of growth, family, romance, and joy!

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This was a sweet YA friends to lovers story. Hannah is crushed when her boyfriend Nate dumps her and ruins her carefully laid out plans for the summer and senior year. Then her former best friend Jacob who is a popular k-drama star in Korea comes back to San Diego for a much needed break. Can they figure out what went wrong with their friendship and try again or is there something more happening between them now. If you love K-pop/K-dramas like I do then you will love this book.

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This was a light and pretty cute! I enjoyed the characters. I feel like if you're into fan culture like K-pop then you will really enjoy it. However, I did have to bring my rating down because of all of the miscommunication. I feel younger audiences would enjoy this, making it a cute summer book to pick up.

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This is a sweet young adult romance. It’s the type of book that you pick up and can immediately fall into.

Hannah’s story is relatable in how she’s trying to find herself and where she belongs in the world. She’s been embracing all things American to fit in at school but when her boyfriend breaks up with her because she doesn’t know enough about K-pop. When her ex-friend from childhood, Jacob, is in town for the summer to get a break from K-pop fame it really adds insult to injury when she realizes how little she does know about it. Jacob and Hannah’s relationship was a fun one but there were moments where their immaturity made the book drag slightly but I still really enjoyed their story.

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Unfortunately this book was a DNF for me. I just couldn't work out why the heroine was so upset with her friend leaving the country -- the characters are only supposed to be in their teens and for her to get so upset and blaming him for leaving her did not make sense to me. I really appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy of this book and I'll definitely give this author's next upcoming book a chance.

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My babies 💜💜💜💜💜 that’s all read this book the book was amazing I didn’t know I would like it that much but I did. Both main characters Jacob and Hannah were amazing and I love them really much I can’t wait to read more by Susan she has an amazing way of writing that makes me think that love is real and I understand a lot from this book. The book taught me so much about Korean Americans wow. Love it 109% recommended

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I liked the setting, San Diego, and two friends reconnecting with a to-do list. That’s why I requested an eARC from NetGalley. Thanks, NetGalley!

Hannah has the next year planned out, starting with the perfect summer. But then her boyfriend Nate dumps her, claiming they have nothing in common. Their friends are newly obsessed with K-pop and K-dramas, while Hannah is not. After years of shunning her Korean side, that's why she finds herself on the outs. Then her former best friend, K-drama star Jacob, returns to San Diego, desperate for a break from the fame. Hannah then gets roped into helping him complete his summer to-do list, and their feelings may rekindle.

Just like Hannah, I am not into K-pop and K-dramas, but I’m not Korean. I do like how they start off with Hannah not liking Jacob at first, but him wanting to reconnect with her. I enjoyed the book, and it even had me guessing what was going to happen. The story didn’t feel rushed, but natural.

The only part of the book I didn’t like was the annoying ‘K-drama workers’, like the girl who played the opposite of Jacob’s character, and the ones that wanted him back in Korea before his summer was over. The pressure he was under…man, it was real but intense.

Even if you’re not a fan of K-pop and K-dramas, you’ll enjoy this book. It’s a lighthearted romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a pleasure to read.

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