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A review by clairebartholomew549
I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
I really, really loved this book. Jack Jr. wakes up from a two-year coma to find that he's lost his job, his apartment, and his fiancé, and that he really only has his family left - family he hasn't spoken to in years. As he gets back on his feet, he moves in with his father and starts working at the Korean sushi restaurant his parents have owned for years. Along the way, hilarious shenanigans and emotional breakthroughs ensue.
The premise of this book sounds really depressing, but this was actually one of the funniest, most heartwarming, and most uplifting books I've read in a long time. Jack Jr.'s interior dialogue is snappy and straightforward, and the insight we get into family dynamics and each character is so deep and interesting. This narrative explores how to move forward after catastrophic loss and life changes; getting along with your family when you feel so different from them and everyone is always disappointing each other; the chaos and joy of running a restaurant; falling in love when you don't really know who you are anymore; and so much more. The relationships between Jack Jr. and his various family members made me smile so much - how he wants his father to be proud of him but also chafes at his expectations, how he and his brother have no idea how to relate to each other, how he becomes a safe place for his teenage nephew, etc. This really made me think about how families change over time, and it also was just so much fun. It made me crave sushi so much - the descriptions of Jack Jr. and his father slicing fish and preparing omakase were truly meditative. I highly, highly recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
The premise of this book sounds really depressing, but this was actually one of the funniest, most heartwarming, and most uplifting books I've read in a long time. Jack Jr.'s interior dialogue is snappy and straightforward, and the insight we get into family dynamics and each character is so deep and interesting. This narrative explores how to move forward after catastrophic loss and life changes; getting along with your family when you feel so different from them and everyone is always disappointing each other; the chaos and joy of running a restaurant; falling in love when you don't really know who you are anymore; and so much more. The relationships between Jack Jr. and his various family members made me smile so much - how he wants his father to be proud of him but also chafes at his expectations, how he and his brother have no idea how to relate to each other, how he becomes a safe place for his teenage nephew, etc. This really made me think about how families change over time, and it also was just so much fun. It made me crave sushi so much - the descriptions of Jack Jr. and his father slicing fish and preparing omakase were truly meditative. I highly, highly recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Death, Racism, Xenophobia