How many dates will it take to find The One?
Jisu’s traditional South Korean parents are concerned by what they see as her lack of attention to her schoolwork and her future. Working with Seoul’s premiere matchmaker to find the right boyfriend is one step toward ensuring Jisu’s success, and going on the recommended dates is Jisu’s compromise to please her parents while finding space to figure out her own dreams. But when she flubs a test then skips out on a date to spend time with friends, her fed-up parents shock her by shipping her off to a private school in San Francisco. Where she’ll have the opportunity to shine academically—and be set up on more dates!
Navigating her host family, her new city and school, and more dates, Jisu finds comfort in taking the photographs that populate her ever-growing social media account. Soon attention from two very different boys sends Jisu into a tailspin of soul-searching. As her passion for photography lights her on fire, does she even want to find The One? And what if her One isn’t parent and matchmaker approved? (taken from goodreads.com)
This was so cute!
Jisu is a smart, driven, creative, passionate and caring young woman from South Korea whose parents want her to be the best of the best. Jisu is working her BEHIND off for the grades she gets, which at her school in South Korea arent the best. She comes to America and her grades are at the top of the class. But while her work ethic is the same, everything else is different.
Jisu’s personality is shy, smart and funny. She grows into someone who is outspoken and not scared to pursue her dreams. We follow her through her senior year and learn about her journey of applying to college.
The stress that Jisu’s parents put on her is a stress I think most teens can relate to, feeling the need to do better when you know that there is no more effort you could possibly put in.
Jisu’s host family welcomes her with open arms, treating her like a member of their family and wanting to make sure she is safe. I loved her host mom, and the relationship Jisu develops with her host sister too.
Jisu’s American friends are a diverse mix and a great support system for her. I do wish we got to know her friends from South Korea more, Euni and Min, who are both very important people to her and play a large role in her life.
I love the relationship Jisu has with her grandfather, they are very close and he is her number one fan. I love seeing close relationships of characters and grandparents in YA.
I love how we get to read the resumes and get a transcript of the dates that Jisu has gone on, giving us more and more insight to her and this whole experience.
This was super and super cute! I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, cute and light YA romance novel to read!