Pop-Culturalist.com

There are very few YA contemporary authors that are an automatic must read for me. Maurene Goo is one of them. Her stories are fun, fresh, and follow classic rom-com storytelling. Her first two novels, I Believe in a Thing Called Love and The Way You Make Me Feel, feature endearing Korean American characters, sweet love stories, and plenty of laughs. I highly recommend you give them a try.

Goo’s upcoming Somewhere Only We Know is a K-pop inspired retelling of the classic film Roman Holiday. It follows Lucky, a K-pop star burned out from her hectic life, as she roams the streets of Hong Kong in search of a hamburger. Jack Lim is a part time paparazzo looking for his next big story. A chance encounter on a bus between Lucky and Jack leads to a whirlwind adventure through Hong Kong. As the two teens get closer, they are forced to consider what they truly want out of life and whether they are brave enough to go after it.

Goo has a talent for writing lovable main characters that are fleshed out and layered. Lucky is confident, goofy, and feisty, but is discontent with her successful life. Jack is sweet, considerate, and an all-around good guy, but is unsure of what he wants his life to be. Their flirty banter is interspersed with meaningful discussions about who they are and their life. Some of my favorite scenes are when Lucky and Jack have honest and deep conversations about self-doubt, fear of disappointing loved ones, and finding their place between two cultures. Their bond is built on this shared understanding and the chemistry is just an added bonus. The dual perspective narration is flawlessly done.

I really loved the setting of Hong Kong! Goo paints a lively, vibrant picture of this bustling city that we get to experience right along with Lucky. Her wonder and excitement at finally getting to the tour city jumps off the page. We get a glimpse of the night life, music scene, and are treated to many savory meals. The novel is peppered with lots of sumptuous descriptions of food that will leave you craving Korean food!

Somewhere Only We Know goes beyond telling a love story between two Korean American teens. At its heart, it is about discovering your passion and believing your dream is worth pursuing. It’s about being brave enough to embrace your true self and doing what makes you happy. This is a beautiful and important message for readers.

Final thoughts: With plenty of heart, humor, and irresistible charm, Somewhere Only We Know is the K-pop Roman Holiday we didn’t know we needed.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for sending us an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.