Are you obsessed with zombies lately? Suzanne Park’s debut, The Perfect Escape is an action packed contemporary delivering zombies, perfect chemistry, and differences in privilege. The Perfect Escape is one of my most anticipated books, so I’m thrilled to be writing this book review!
Summary
Nate Jae-Woo Kim wants to be rich, just like everyone else at the elite private school where he’s a scholarship student. When one of the wealthiest kids at school offers Nate a huge sum of money to commit grade fraud, he knows that taking the windfall would help support his prideful Korean family—and they need the money, since Nate’s dad just lost his job. But is compromising his integrity worth it?
Kate Anderson wants a fresh start, away from her controlling father. She fantasizes about escaping to New York, where she can pursue her dreams. But how can Kate get there when she can’t even buy dinner without his approval?
Worlds collide when Nate meets Kate at the zombie-themed escape room where they both work. As sparks fly, fate steps in: a local tech company is hosting a weekend-long survivalist competition with a huge cash prize that could solve all their problems. The real challenge? Making it through the weekend with their hearts intact…
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Kate and Nate’s lives couldn’t be anymore different. United by a love of zombies, Kate lives in a tech mansion and barely sees her father while Nate is a scholarship kid with dreams of being a rich inventor. Park’s characters in The Perfect Escape are so detailed and they practically fly off the page. Told in dual POV, we are able to see the way Kate subverts her extremely controlling father, how Nate’s family finances affect his family, and his relationship with his adorable younger sister.
I loved how Park explores the topic of money in The Perfect Escape. For each of them it represents an escape. For Kate, it’s a vehicle in which she can house her dreams and literally escape from her father. For Nate, it represents an escape from these factors holding his family and his future. What’s better than winning the lottery? Training to win a zombie survival competition. I loved their interactions because we can see that behind all these factors which differentiate them, they’re just secretly adorkable.
Characters
Give me all the lactose intolerant characters please! The Perfect Escape is full of mom-jokes, friends who get you into the best kind of trouble, and questions about whether stability or dreams are more important. Cute chemistry, opposites attract in The Perfect Escape. I ended up reading The Perfect Escape in one day, not only because it was such a good escape from my own life, but because it was the perfect blend between genuine and entertaining. The stakes are high for each of them, in their own way, which makes the characters come off as more authentic.
Overall,
The Perfect Escape is full of detailed characters. From Nate’s family, to Kate’s best friend. It’s a book perfect for zombie fans, readers who love quirky families, and a romance story line full of awkward moments and nerves! Find The Perfect Escape on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound & The Book Depository.