savvyrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Hannah and Jacob were best friends—until he moved away to South Korea and became a famous actor, and Hannah felt abandoned and pushed him away. When they reunite in San Diego, it’s the last thing Hannah wants…but their connection may be about to reignite.
I was extremely excited for this one, and it ended up being a cute a fluffy YA read. I actually tried it in every format—first ebook, then switched to my physical read, and finally ended up on audio, which is the way I consumed the majority of the book. There were some aspects I *really* liked, including Hannah’s journey to find connection with her Korean-American identity, and the overall message on prioritizing happiness over traditional “success.”
That said, the main conflict in the plot is miscommunication-based, and even giving some grace for the fact it was a YA novel I still felt frustrated by how immaturely the characters behaved for large parts of the book. I also felt like there could have been a bit more resolution and a more thorough epilogue (but I’m someone who REALLY likes to see the HEA play out, which is harder in a YA novel where the characters are younger).
Overall, I’m still looking forward to reading Susan Lee’s second novel very soon, and recommend this one if you want a fast-paced YA with some interesting themes!
Recommended if you like: K-Dramas/K-Pop, friends-to-lovers meets second chance; themes of self-discovery
CW: Mentions of loss of parent; bullying; abandonment; racism (including internalized prejudices)
Hannah and Jacob were best friends—until he moved away to South Korea and became a famous actor, and Hannah felt abandoned and pushed him away. When they reunite in San Diego, it’s the last thing Hannah wants…but their connection may be about to reignite.
I was extremely excited for this one, and it ended up being a cute a fluffy YA read. I actually tried it in every format—first ebook, then switched to my physical read, and finally ended up on audio, which is the way I consumed the majority of the book. There were some aspects I *really* liked, including Hannah’s journey to find connection with her Korean-American identity, and the overall message on prioritizing happiness over traditional “success.”
That said, the main conflict in the plot is miscommunication-based, and even giving some grace for the fact it was a YA novel I still felt frustrated by how immaturely the characters behaved for large parts of the book. I also felt like there could have been a bit more resolution and a more thorough epilogue (but I’m someone who REALLY likes to see the HEA play out, which is harder in a YA novel where the characters are younger).
Overall, I’m still looking forward to reading Susan Lee’s second novel very soon, and recommend this one if you want a fast-paced YA with some interesting themes!
Recommended if you like: K-Dramas/K-Pop, friends-to-lovers meets second chance; themes of self-discovery
CW: Mentions of loss of parent; bullying; abandonment; racism (including internalized prejudices)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Abandonment and Racism
rosie_valadez's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent
pagebypaigebks's review
slow-paced
2.5
I'd like to thank HarperCollins Canada for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
I haven't read many books that feature celebrity characters, so I was excited to see how it was incorporated into Seoulmates. The overall concept of the book was intriguing, unfortunately I found the plot to be repetitive, especially when miscommunication came into play. I enjoyed learning about the K-drama industry through Jacob's perspective, but I wish we explored that more. The plot was mostly focused on Hannah and Jacob's relationship, and this led to some areas of the book lagging. I also found the characters to be very one dimensional, especially Hannah. I would have liked to see more of her personality and see her grow on her own instead of needing Jacob to guide her. I found the romance to be cheesy but cute at times. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if the characters were more developed.
I haven't read many books that feature celebrity characters, so I was excited to see how it was incorporated into Seoulmates. The overall concept of the book was intriguing, unfortunately I found the plot to be repetitive, especially when miscommunication came into play. I enjoyed learning about the K-drama industry through Jacob's perspective, but I wish we explored that more. The plot was mostly focused on Hannah and Jacob's relationship, and this led to some areas of the book lagging. I also found the characters to be very one dimensional, especially Hannah. I would have liked to see more of her personality and see her grow on her own instead of needing Jacob to guide her. I found the romance to be cheesy but cute at times. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if the characters were more developed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, and Sexism
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
nitya's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Best friends to estranged to lovers?? Say no more
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexism, Racism, and Fatphobia
Minor: Sexual content and Bullying
minathefangirl's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death of parent, Cancer, and Sexual content
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