Julia Song is undateable

YA author Lee (Seoulmates) explores the complexities of cultural identity, family expectations, and personal choice in her charming adult debut. Julia Song, founder and CEO of Starlight Cosmetics, wants to expand her Korean American business into the Korean market but faces challenges due to gender bias. Meanwhile, her family cares more about her lack of romantic prospects than all of her successes. When Julia's grandmother makes it her "dying wish" to see Julia married, she agrees to let family neighbor and go-to community handyman man Tae Kim coach her through three blind dates. Tae himself has been in love with Julia since childhood and, as the dates take comically disastrous turns, Julia comes to return his feelings--which may have been her meddling grandmother's plan all along. The plot becomes somewhat repetitive, which causes the middle to drag a bit, but, for the most part, Lee successfully balances lighthearted rom-com fun with grounded real-world conflicts, including the struggle to juggle love, family, and career. Adult fans of Lee's YA novels will fall just as hard for this sweet love story. (Oct.)

Childhood neighbors Tae and Julia reconnect when he agrees to be her dating coach. At 30, Julia Song has a thriving professional life. Four years after she founded Starlight Cosmetics in Santa Monica, California, the company is eyeing possible investors for global expansion. Julia's romantic life is nonexistent, though, and she's determined that her propensity for being bluntly honest, her inability to make small talk, and her reluctance to downplay her career ambitions have made her undatable. But while Julia might be fine with giving up on love, she believes her family won't be fully impressed with her life choices until she has a "fat diamond engagement ring." At her grandmother's 80th birthday party, these fears are confirmed when Halmoni tells Julia that the doctor "found something" and it is her dying wish for Julia to get married. Unable to say no to her beloved grandmother, Julia agrees to be set up on three dates by her family. But how can she make sure they go well? Enter Julia's childhood neighbor, 25-year-old Taehyung Kim. The dutiful son has dropped everything to return home to his parents in Irvine after his father's cancer diagnosis. When selfless Tae reconnects with Julia--on whom he's been nursing a crush since childhood--he agrees to become her dating coach, helping her overcome the interpersonal pitfalls that have kept her from finding The One. As they grow closer, sparks soon fly, but navigating their disparate life circumstances--Julia the wealthy chief executive, Tae the unemployed son living with his parents--might nip their growing attraction in the bud. The novel's main conceit--that Julia's family cares more about marrying her off than they do about her wildly successful career--chafes against modern sensibilities, and this belittling behavior is not deeply interrogated. But author Lee navigates Tae's questions about purpose, ambition, and carving his own path with nuance and heart. A swoonworthy rom-com about finding true love--and finding your true self along the way. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.