Book Reviews

Review: So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park

As a mega fan of Suzanne Park, I knew I had to read So We Meet Again. I ended up finishing So We Meet Again in a breeze, totally captivated by the chemistry and second chance romance angle. There were so many elements that were so relatable while also transporting me so far out of my day-to-day life. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.

Summary

When up-and-coming investment banker Jess Kim is passed over for a promotion, laid off in a virtual meeting, and then overhears why (“she’s already being overpaid anyway for a woman” and “Asians are worker bees, not someone who can drum up new deals”) she delivers an “eff you guys” speech and storms out of the building. Not sure what’s next, she moves back home to Tennessee with her domineering Korean mom, who tries to set her up with her pastor’s son Daniel Choi, an M&A lawyer by day and a successful video game streamer by night. Turns out he’s swoony and smart, not the awkward preacher’s kid she remembers. With his help, Jess launches a Korean cooking YouTube channel focused on easy meal prep for busy professionals.

All is going well until her mom walks on the show mid-live recording and argues about cooking technique. While she hates being berated by her mother in front of the world, it actually works in their favor—they go viral!

Soon her cooking channel becomes an actual media company and brand. When a client is suddenly interested in buying Jess out, she finds herself sitting across the table from the very investment firm she quit not so long ago. But there’s just one other problem: Daniel, the guy whose been helping her and that she’s been falling for, is the firm’s new general counsel.

Review

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

TW: sexism

So We Meet Again felt so relatable in how mortified I would be if I ran into people from my high school. Park’s latest book delivers charismatic and endearing characters, fantastic tension, and a storyline that will sweep you away. I love how Park infuses her books with delightful and mouthwatering food and parental struggles. The family in So We Meet Again was utterly charming, but also so vulnerable and authentic. How we struggle to bridge the divide between us and our parents. Those caring glances we can miss out of the corner of our eye.

Another theme that resonated with me in So We Meet Again was how Park examines achievement and self-value. How we can be so concerned with what we think we should be doing, with what looks good on paper, and not what we love and our dreams. Jess’ listlessness resonated with me deeply and the ways she is trying to figure out what to do. At the same time, I also need to channel Daniel’s energy and willingness to embrace mistakes and failure.

The chemistry in So We Meet Again is infectious. Park is able to capture the ways that Jess is trying to embrace her future and the power of someone in our lives who support us. Who can inspire us to take a leap, to live life spontaneously, and to allow ourselves to unfurl. It is charming and was exactly the read I needed! I can only recommend it for anyone who’s searching for a romance that will breeze by and is grounded in Jess’s character development and family.

(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information you can look at the Policy page. If you’re uncomfortable with that, know you can look up the book on any of the sites below to avoid the link)

Find So We Meet Again on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

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