You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Actual Rating 3.5
This was very cute and very pure. I love the K-drama aspect, but that aside I did find myself feeling a bit disconnected during this read. I never felt super invested or like I had to know what was going to happen next. Regardless this was cute and a quick read that I recommend for anyone looking for an own voices contemporary that has some unique aspects to it.
This was very cute and very pure. I love the K-drama aspect, but that aside I did find myself feeling a bit disconnected during this read. I never felt super invested or like I had to know what was going to happen next. Regardless this was cute and a quick read that I recommend for anyone looking for an own voices contemporary that has some unique aspects to it.
Not usually one to dive into a YA book, but this caught my interest with its focus around the silly love rules of K Dramas. The book is what you would expect from a story about a HS girl and love. Personally I loved every minute of it. It reminds me of the recent Netflix / book - To all the boys I’ve loved before (diff author). It was smart and sharp. Read it if you need something light-hearted and cute. Def want to read more from Maureen Goo!
This was sooo cute! I feel like this was an original concept that I hadn't seen before. It was a book entirely aware of romance tropes and embraced them with full force. I really loved the mushing of K-dramas with a contemporary ya novel. I think there can always be more representation in ya books and this book was a perfect example of how good diverse books are. This book included lgbt characters without making them feel one dimensional or make them feel forced. This book included grander concepts that came along with the love story.
I have a fond affection for K-idol dramas and I Believe in a Thing Called Love knows exactly how to hook me in, with its references to the various dramas that have been produced in recent years. And how amazing is it to see representation for Asian Americans in YA lit? The whole premise of this story is cool and I'm glad to see a book like this published! Part of it probably has to do with the hallyu craze that's sweeping the world, but nonetheless it's still really cool to see a heroine like Desi Lee exist.
Desi Lee is a typical type A personality, a girl who is juggling a seemingly insane amount of things. She's an all-round perfect student; a soccer star, working hard on getting admitted into her dream school Stanford and student body president. Above it all, Desi thinks that everything can work out as long as you have the perfect plan to move towards your goal:
Desi's gumption and her can-do-attitude is extremely lovable. Unfortunately, she's also cursed with an inability to act normally around guys with her attempts at flirting usually ending terribly and as future fodder for her friends to tease her about. After yet another embarrassing encounter with a crush, in walks Luca Drakos. Luca is a brooding mysterious artist, who seems to connect with Desi in a way that she's never experienced before.
Determined to land the boy of her dreams, Desi draws up a strategy based on the various K-dramas that her father is obsessed with. By following the list, Desi seemingly does the impossible and manages to truly connect with Luca.
The selling point of the book, to me, is its references to K dramas and the absolute insanity that can occur in them. Life threatening moments, terrible misunderstandings and public humiliation are all par for course in these dramas and all these occur in Desi's life, as part of her plan to land the boy. There are definitely hijinks afoot and Desi does many questionable things to land Luca.
A problem is also that at one point that Desi does something that could sabotage her future by picking Luca.
Furthermore, I never really bought into the connection between Luca and Desi.
But despite these issues, I loved the secondary characters. Desi's best friends are Mexican American fashionista Fiona and sleazy, lovable Wes. Both of them have no issues with the relationship department, unlike Desi, but nonetheless they support her in her crazy plans to land Luca. Her father was also extremely lovable:
Desi Lee is a typical type A personality, a girl who is juggling a seemingly insane amount of things. She's an all-round perfect student; a soccer star, working hard on getting admitted into her dream school Stanford and student body president. Above it all, Desi thinks that everything can work out as long as you have the perfect plan to move towards your goal:
You just needed a plan, to take action. It's how I convinced my dad to let me raise geese in our backyard, how I saved our underfunded middle school library from closure, how I overcame a fear of heights by bungee jumping on my sixteenth birthday (with only a little pee escaping me), and how I became number one in my class year after year. I believed, and still believe, that you can build your dreams brick by brick. That you can accomplish everything with persistence.
Even falling in love.
Desi's gumption and her can-do-attitude is extremely lovable. Unfortunately, she's also cursed with an inability to act normally around guys with her attempts at flirting usually ending terribly and as future fodder for her friends to tease her about. After yet another embarrassing encounter with a crush, in walks Luca Drakos. Luca is a brooding mysterious artist, who seems to connect with Desi in a way that she's never experienced before.
Determined to land the boy of her dreams, Desi draws up a strategy based on the various K-dramas that her father is obsessed with. By following the list, Desi seemingly does the impossible and manages to truly connect with Luca.
The selling point of the book, to me, is its references to K dramas and the absolute insanity that can occur in them. Life threatening moments, terrible misunderstandings and public humiliation are all par for course in these dramas and all these occur in Desi's life, as part of her plan to land the boy. There are definitely hijinks afoot and Desi does many questionable things to land Luca.
Spoiler
Two of the things that are the craziest to me are getting rid of the anchor-things that are holding his father's yacht down and in planning a road accident, both of which are intended to draw them closer. I'm not totally sure I liked the way that these incidents were addressed, because while Desi seemingly feels some guilt each time it never seems enough to deter her from carrying out the next step though...A problem is also that at one point that Desi does something that could sabotage her future by picking Luca.
Spoiler
I mean, I guess the point is that Desi truly likes Luca and isn't just manipulating him for the sake of winning him like a prize. BUT the situation was so contrived, in that Desi could've just told him the truth from the start.Furthermore, I never really bought into the connection between Luca and Desi.
Spoiler
Especially when most of the time, Desi really was putting on an act to draw closer to him such as in enrolling for art club.But despite these issues, I loved the secondary characters. Desi's best friends are Mexican American fashionista Fiona and sleazy, lovable Wes. Both of them have no issues with the relationship department, unlike Desi, but nonetheless they support her in her crazy plans to land Luca. Her father was also extremely lovable:
He paused the show on a class Korean drama moment: a hotheaded stud carrying a very drunk mousy girl home on his back.
"Haven't you watched this one already?" I teased. Wait for it...
My dad straightened and bellowed, "This is different one. They're not all the same!"
Okay, so listen: I really, really wanted to love this book. I really do. I went into it thinking that I was going to enjoy the hell out of it, because I'm in a cute contemporary mood right now, and that I would treasure the story for the rest of my life (okay, that's a lie, I would not have gone that far), but I just could not.
The beginning of the story was amazing, and even the first chapters were really funny.
I loved the writing style and the characters. Her father was just the cutest being ever and I loved the relationship Desi had with him. Her friends were the absolute best and I loved their friendship.
Unfortunately I started disliking Desi everytime she orchestrated something to "make" Luca love her. It was like some cliche Disney Channel Movie and I was like, uhh nooooooo why can't you just give yourself a chance and be yourself???? Every time she was attempting something I was preparing myself for the worst and had to close the book before continuing. And in the end she did manipulate him and it felt so wrong.
I also could not feel the chemistry between Desi and Luca. Maybe that's just me, but nothing was really romantic. And honestly after the first 15 chapters or so I stopped trying to like it and was just ready to be over with it.
Also, for someone who had never seen K dramas (and who does not plan on watching them), there were a lot of references that I did not understand. Maybe less references would have been better? But it did add something to the plot, so really I did not mind it that much.
So yes, while this was undoubtedly cute, I just could not bring myself to like it. So 3 stars it is.
p.s: if the writer releases another book with a different plot I will be tempted to give it a try though, I really like her writing style.
The beginning of the story was amazing, and even the first chapters were really funny.
I loved the writing style and the characters. Her father was just the cutest being ever and I loved the relationship Desi had with him. Her friends were the absolute best and I loved their friendship.
Unfortunately I started disliking Desi everytime she orchestrated something to "make" Luca love her. It was like some cliche Disney Channel Movie and I was like, uhh nooooooo why can't you just give yourself a chance and be yourself???? Every time she was attempting something I was preparing myself for the worst and had to close the book before continuing. And in the end she did manipulate him and it felt so wrong.
I also could not feel the chemistry between Desi and Luca. Maybe that's just me, but nothing was really romantic. And honestly after the first 15 chapters or so I stopped trying to like it and was just ready to be over with it.
Also, for someone who had never seen K dramas (and who does not plan on watching them), there were a lot of references that I did not understand. Maybe less references would have been better? But it did add something to the plot, so really I did not mind it that much.
So yes, while this was undoubtedly cute, I just could not bring myself to like it. So 3 stars it is.
p.s: if the writer releases another book with a different plot I will be tempted to give it a try though, I really like her writing style.
An enjoyable read. Maybe that's just me: I biased towards anything Asian in contemporary novels/modern works of fiction.
Desi Lee Hye Jin is raised in a Korean household, despite living in America for her entire life. She's a spunky, lovable character. An overachiever. The very mascot of high school girl power combining physical excellence, intelligence and leadership all in one. Only one thing was lacking, that she was a failure in everything romantic. So when Luca Drakos stepped in, she was determined to win him over with cliché K-drama steps her father used to watch at home all the time.
What adds to most of the humour in this novel was the quirk and weaknesses Luca Drakos had as a talented young artist who is not Desi Lee at all. Goo didn't make him the perfect boy heartthrob (instead the title was given to Desi's best friend, Wes). Luca was an ordinary boy with extreme talent and many other failures. He panicked more or quicker than Desi, was concerned with his well-being first before Desi's (in cases of minor accidents), and he didn't possess Desi's athletic skills. This novel switches the roles of cliché contemporary YA novels, and I enjoyed it very much.
/I thought Wes, Desi's heartthrob best friend, is going to be secretly jelaous that Desi likes Luca. But ah well, story goes on./
Good to also see Fiona being portrayed as a lesbian, and her grandmother's acceptance of her sexuality. It's very comforting, actually.
The mentions of various K-drama titles in the book excites me as well. It's sort of a massive introduction to the Western people on K-dramas and their excellence. After watching a bunch of clueless people on Fine Brothers React channel, I'm convinced that the Americans aren't really well versed of the culture outside America, so this is a great touch to spark their interests in the goodness that is sappy romantic K-dramas.
My personal recommendation? Watch Monstar, Heartstrings, or The Time We Were Not In Love.
Desi Lee Hye Jin is raised in a Korean household, despite living in America for her entire life. She's a spunky, lovable character. An overachiever. The very mascot of high school girl power combining physical excellence, intelligence and leadership all in one. Only one thing was lacking, that she was a failure in everything romantic. So when Luca Drakos stepped in, she was determined to win him over with cliché K-drama steps her father used to watch at home all the time.
What adds to most of the humour in this novel was the quirk and weaknesses Luca Drakos had as a talented young artist who is not Desi Lee at all. Goo didn't make him the perfect boy heartthrob (instead the title was given to Desi's best friend, Wes). Luca was an ordinary boy with extreme talent and many other failures. He panicked more or quicker than Desi, was concerned with his well-being first before Desi's (in cases of minor accidents), and he didn't possess Desi's athletic skills. This novel switches the roles of cliché contemporary YA novels, and I enjoyed it very much.
/I thought Wes, Desi's heartthrob best friend, is going to be secretly jelaous that Desi likes Luca. But ah well, story goes on./
Good to also see Fiona being portrayed as a lesbian, and her grandmother's acceptance of her sexuality. It's very comforting, actually.
The mentions of various K-drama titles in the book excites me as well. It's sort of a massive introduction to the Western people on K-dramas and their excellence. After watching a bunch of clueless people on Fine Brothers React channel, I'm convinced that the Americans aren't really well versed of the culture outside America, so this is a great touch to spark their interests in the goodness that is sappy romantic K-dramas.
My personal recommendation? Watch Monstar, Heartstrings, or The Time We Were Not In Love.
DNF
The concept: Great
The Characters: Cliche but manageable
The Plot: No
I love K-Dramas and even if they have awkward moments, I can still get through them. This book on the other hand, I cannot. I'm the kind of person who fast forwards awkward scenes on television, so sitting through this book was painful.
85 pages and I managed to close the book five times because I personally felt uncomfortable. It's books like this that make me stay far away from romance contemporaries.
Maybe one day I can pick up this book and finish it, but that is not today.
The concept: Great
The Characters: Cliche but manageable
The Plot: No
I love K-Dramas and even if they have awkward moments, I can still get through them. This book on the other hand, I cannot. I'm the kind of person who fast forwards awkward scenes on television, so sitting through this book was painful.
85 pages and I managed to close the book five times because I personally felt uncomfortable. It's books like this that make me stay far away from romance contemporaries.
Maybe one day I can pick up this book and finish it, but that is not today.
3.5
I loved the representation in this book.
The relation between Desi and her father was really cute ! His story with his wife was really interesting and moving.
I love how the author include korean culture in the book with food, kdrama, etc..
But Desi is too much with her actions to gain Luca's heart. Her last attempt to talk to Luca really made me worried about her.
I loved the representation in this book.
The relation between Desi and her father was really cute ! His story with his wife was really interesting and moving.
I love how the author include korean culture in the book with food, kdrama, etc..
But Desi is too much with her actions to gain Luca's heart. Her last attempt to talk to Luca really made me worried about her.