#Susan Lee

[jacedevilliers]

I may not be fandom, but I have always been your biggest fan - SEOULMATES, Susan Lee

[bookaddict24-7]

New Young Adult Releases! (September 12th, 2023)

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Have I missed any new Young Adult releases? Have you added any of these books to your TBR? Let me know!

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New Standalones/First in a Series:

The Name Drop by Susan Lee

Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass

These Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson

Monstrous by Jessica Lewis

A Hundred Vicious Turns by Lee Paige O'Brien

What Stalks Among Us by Sarah Hollowell

Rez Ball by Byron Graves

Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite

The Borrow A Boyfriend Club by Page Powars

Fault Lines by Nora Shalaway Carpenter

The Eternity Gate by Katherine Briggs

The Meadows by Stephanie Oakes

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Happy reading!

[jessread-s]

Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC through YA Midwest Book Festival in exchange for an honest review.

✩ 🏙️❤️Review:

Susan Lee���s newest release is a fun summer romance!

“The Name Drop” follows Jessica Lee (an aspiring college student) and Elijah Ri (a future CEO) whose identities are mistaken when they arrive in New York City for internships at Haneul Corporation. Rather than give up the charade, the two decide to stay switched so that Elijah can explore life at the bottom of the corporate ladder while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations as the new executive-in-training intern. As they work together to avoid discovery, a spark develops between them that is impossible to ignore.

I really like how Lee’s novel alternates between the viewpoints of Jessica and Elijah. Both characters lead wildly different lives because of their status in society—Jessica being considered lower middle by American standards and Elijah being considered “elite” by Korean standards—which allows the reader to compare and contrast their respective upbringings and discern how it affects their character motivations. Lee also broaches important topics like sexism and misogyny in relation to Korean culture and the impact such norms have on women through the perspective of Jessica.

Jessica and Elijah’s chance meeting upon learning that they share the same Korean name is the perfect foundation for their reluctant romance. Before the two even act on the chemistry they have, they develop an easygoing friendship that I loved following. Their shared moments exploring New York together, trying new restaurants, and working together as part of the internship program made made my heart flutter, so much so that when they finally became a couple, I nearly suffered from a cuteness overload.

I could not recommend this enough to those who love reading upper ya romance books and cannot wait to see what Lee puts out next!

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: The Name Drop by Susan Lee

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Publication Date: September 12, 2023

Synopsis:

From the author of Seoulmates comes a story of mistaken identities, the summer of a lifetime, and a love to risk everything for. When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer. When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself. It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations. As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?

My Rating: ★★★★★

*My Review below the cut.

My Review:

This was such a delightful book. The characters were real and three-dimensional and easy to root for. Jessica was so driven and capable and it was wonderful to see Elijah becoming self-confident and learning that he could actually work hard and enjoy it. The story was easy to follow and though some of it was predictable there were also a few small twists. The characters were where it really shined. They felt like friends that I was reluctant to leave behind. It was a perfect feel-good romance and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was also impressed at how it managed to be both a feel-good summer romance AND an indictment of wealthy corporate executives and the misogyny that can be found in corporate culture. Also BTS was mentioned and that is always a highlight for me. And then to discover in the author's note that she is ARMY, and that the dedication is a quote from Kim Namjoon himself! And quoting Run made total sense with the message and narrative of the story. *Thanks to Bookishfirst and Inkyard Press for providing an early copy for review.

[fiction-heals]

“Maybe if I wasn’t so emotionally constipated”

the name drop, susan lee

[authorunpublished]

Book Review: The Name Drop

Title: The Name Drop Author: Susan Lee Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance Rating: 5 Stars Description/Synopsis: When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of…

[passionforfic]

Seoulmates by Susan Lee

Hannah and Jacob were childhood besties until Jacob's father died and he had go back to South Korea with his mother and sister. They had no choice but to stay and in order to take care of his family, Jacob became an actor. . .

Hannah stayed behind in San Diego with her mother and sister. Her father had moved to Singapure years ago to a new job. Once Jacob left, she cut ties with him, finding herself alone. And in order to survive she tried as best she could to fit in. But now her sister moved to Boston and is just her mother (who spends more time at church than around) and herself. And Nate. Her boyfrien, until he tells her they should break up at a party. . .

This story is about friends reconnecting, finding oneself, and dealing with distance relationships. I liked the story.

It criticizes the extreeme fan service Korean actors are pressured to do, which I have always found unhealthy. Fan can admire and love the work, the stories, and characters, but they need to separate the fiction and the actor's real life.

It also touches on identity issues of second-generation immigrants. The struggle of not being considered "American" enough because of their Korean heritage, but at the same time not being considered Koraen by those that live in South Korea because they were born and raised in the United States. This happens no matter where people move. And, it is an issue that affects people's sense of belonging and how they deal with the heritage that makes the Other where they live.

Anyway, it's a nice realistic and romantic YA story that can be a conversation opener.

[lifeofafemalebibliophile]

ARC Review: "The Name Drop" by Susan Lee

“The Name Drop” by Susan Lee Publishing Date: September 12, 2023 Genre: YA, Fiction, Contemporary Romance Page Length: 304 pages (electronic review edition) Synopsis: When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But…

[elizabethshaw]

None of us know for sure what's out there. That's why we keep looking. Keep your faith. Travel hopefully. The universe'll surprise you... constantly.

HAPPY 61ST BIRTHDAY, DOCTOR WHO!

[darkmatterzine]

Seoulmates by Susan Lee

Seoulmates by Susan Lee: a #Kdrama #romance #Review

A review by Nalini Haynes Hannah Cho lost her best friend Jacob Kim 3 years ago when he moved to Korea. A year ago, she acquired a new boyfriend but he just broke up with her. The reason? He’s a white American into K-pop and K-drama. He says they have nothing in common because she’s a Korean American who spent her life trying to be American. So she doesn’t even understand the language – the white…

[bob-belcher]

Desperate Housewives (2004-2012)

[gifs-of-puppets]

Happy Sesame Street Day! The first episode of the beloved educational series featuring Jim Henson's Sesame Street Muppets made its debut 55 years ago today!

[draculovemp3]

Switchblade Symphony released their debut album Serpentine Gallery OTD, Sept. 11 1995 🖤

[lascitasdelashoras]

Susan Sarandon

[anon55mystery]

Ideas for a GF Lost Legends sequel or well midquel.

1). We get a story that features Ford working together with Dipper and Multi-Bear!

We learn more of their friendship and their interests.

Multi-Bear meets Ford! Him, Multi-Bear, and Dipper become an unlikely trio!

They all work together to find something or someone in The Crawlspace about Ford's past. Maybe also some information of The Oracle!

Also maybe some more flashbacks of Ford's childhood and maybe Multi-Bear shares some of his childhood memories too.

Also their love of the group BABBA and their hit song Disco Girl!

2). The second story can be about Pacifica working at Greasy's Diner.

After her parents lost their mansion for pledging their alliance to Bill. Pacifica has to find work to pay off her parents new house.

While at the start, she's her usually bratty and spoiled self. She slowly learns how to be nice and compassionate to others. Also because her, and her parents aren't wealthy anymore, no one is cowering before her.

Even when Pacifica is mean to her at first, Lazy Susan is is still cheerful and polite towards her, she even lets her stay at her place when her parents are "busy" wallowing in pity.

We also learn a little bit of Lazy Susan's past and why she's nice. Also her becoming Pacifica's grandmother figure.

3). A reconcile story of Old Man McGucket and his son.

We get flashbacks of what's his childhood like and what type of people his family were.

His friendship with Stanford, him giving an axolotl, and more of their friendship during college.

Some flashbacks of him when he was healthier, and his relationship with his son Tate McGucket, along with is ex wife Emma-May.

Maybe even some tension between Ford and Tate for understandable reasons.

4). A story of Wendy during high school, and still having adventures after The Pines Family left Gravity Falls.

She's still the awesome laid-back, rebellious teenager, we know and love, but this time we learn a bit more about her childhood and who her mom was.

We see the relationship between her dad, her younger brothers, and her mom before her disappearance (I like to think she disappeared when Wendy was twelve. Also I believe in this theory)

In the flashbacks, we get to see her dad training her and her brothers for an apocalypse, and her awesome fighting skills!

The origin on how she met Tambry, despite being complete opposites. Also her eventual friendships with Nate, Lee, Robbie, and Thompson.

We also see she still goes on adventures without Soos and The Pines Family. Sometimes she goes on adventures with her friends or brothers.

Maybe even while she's ditching school during a boring trip at the museum, she finds a something about her missing mom.

[dozydawn]

Ladies Home Journal, August 1972.

Photographed by Susan Wood.

Model: Jane-Lee Salmons.