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hajar93's review
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
sassyykassie's review
4.0
*thank you to Penguin Randomhouse for an eARC in exchange for an ho eat review*
I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn follows Melody, whose mother decides to move her from New York back to Korea to live with Melody’s father again for the first time since she was little. Starting junior year at a new private elite school in Korea, Melody is frustrated that she was ripped from where she feels is her home to go live in the country she has never experienced firsthand. But as she starts making friends and getting to know Seoul herself, she realizes there’s more to love than she first thought.
I loved this story so much more than I ever thought! First and foremost, it made me so hungry every time Melody described a meal. I also found every single character so fun and interesting. They all felt like they were important to moving the plot and/or our main character further through the story. The vibe of this one was so light and fun while also including some deep moving topics. I absolutely loved it!
I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn follows Melody, whose mother decides to move her from New York back to Korea to live with Melody’s father again for the first time since she was little. Starting junior year at a new private elite school in Korea, Melody is frustrated that she was ripped from where she feels is her home to go live in the country she has never experienced firsthand. But as she starts making friends and getting to know Seoul herself, she realizes there’s more to love than she first thought.
I loved this story so much more than I ever thought! First and foremost, it made me so hungry every time Melody described a meal. I also found every single character so fun and interesting. They all felt like they were important to moving the plot and/or our main character further through the story. The vibe of this one was so light and fun while also including some deep moving topics. I absolutely loved it!
cossettereads's review
3.0
i guess this one just wasn't for me :/
2.5, rounded up to a 3?
( also, am unrelated side note, but mamma mia closed on broadway in 2015.... )
2.5, rounded up to a 3?
( also, am unrelated side note, but mamma mia closed on broadway in 2015.... )
kaylareadsbooks's review
5.0
I want to thank the author and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adored this book so much! I loved the writing of the book and the characters. The setting of both Manhattan and Seoul were so beautifully written and I felt like I could really picture Seoul. I loved the way the relationship between Melody and her dad developed. The friends that she makes are fierce, fun and such great people. I really loved when they go to Lotte World, that was so cute and so cool! I really enjoyed learning more and more about Korean culture. I highly recommend this one!
katiesbooklist's review
4.0
This is probably the best 'first book by an author' I've read this year.
I know next to nothing about Korea or Korean culture, but Claire Ahn did a wonderful job integrating New York and Seoul together seamlessly. While typically having a lot of detail in a book can be boring, the food and locations and people were so foreign to me that I was completely enthralled. I could practically see, taste and smell Mel's adventures learning about her heritage, and now want to go see Korea for myself.
The characters are all interesting and well developed, no one seems too flat or like a caricature. The story line is well thought out and believable. And while the main character is a teenager, and sometimes acts as such, she wasn't too immature or unrelatable.
Highly recommend.
I know next to nothing about Korea or Korean culture, but Claire Ahn did a wonderful job integrating New York and Seoul together seamlessly. While typically having a lot of detail in a book can be boring, the food and locations and people were so foreign to me that I was completely enthralled. I could practically see, taste and smell Mel's adventures learning about her heritage, and now want to go see Korea for myself.
The characters are all interesting and well developed, no one seems too flat or like a caricature. The story line is well thought out and believable. And while the main character is a teenager, and sometimes acts as such, she wasn't too immature or unrelatable.
Highly recommend.
bookishlyzoe's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Solmi is the kind of frustrating that only gets her a pass because she’s sixteen and all sixteen year olds are frustrating. She’s super judgmental and doesn’t know how to communicate well. Overall it was a cute book but she spends a lot of the time talking about her problems and not understanding that her friends have some too.
trinity_rose9149's review
4.0
I've read a few books in this past month that take place in Seoul, they were great books don't get me wrong but this book transported me. Claire Ahn describes Seoul so beautifully I imagined myself hanging out in the numerous cafes where Melody and her friends hung out. AND THE FOOD!! I've never read a book that describes so many different dishes from street food, cafe sweets, home-cooked meals, upscale restaurants, and convenience store insta noodles. Definitely had to snack while reading this, I got so hungry
ellenumeration's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25