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The Oks Are Not OK
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A contemporary young adult novel by Grace K. Shim that mixes the humor of Schitt’s Creek with the heritage and heart of Minari.
Seventeen-year-old Elena Ok (pronounced Oak) has mastered the art of being both a Los Angeles party girl and financially savvy influencer, but her family doesn’t see the brilliance behind her carefully curated image. Instead, they endlessly praise her older brother Gavin, whose most impressive achievement is consistently forgetting his homework. All of Elena’s hard work and social clout disintegrates when the Oks, founders of the wildly popular (and now bankrupt) fast fashion brand It’s Ok! (pronounced “OKAY”), lose their fortune overnight.
With their empire crumbling and an investigation underway, the Oks flee to Blaire, CA—a farming town that’s as glamourous as Temu. Mr. Ok, a now disgraced retail mogul, and Mrs. Ok, a now also disgraced fashion-forward matriarch, realize they’ve spent decades perfecting their public personas at the expense of actually knowing their kids. Meanwhile, Elena and Gavin are stuck in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to distract them from their family’s unraveling dynamics—or each other’s annoying habits.
But life in Blaire isn’t all bad. As the family reconnects with their Korean farming heritage, Elena discovers a hidden the Blaire Fair, the local market brimming with untapped potential. Applying her business savvy, she helps the small-town vendors thrive and sees how they put their profits back into the community. For the first time, Elena begins to question her own definition of success.
The Oks are Not OK offers humor and drama to tell a story about family, self-discovery, and the fine line between building a brand and building a life.
Seventeen-year-old Elena Ok (pronounced Oak) has mastered the art of being both a Los Angeles party girl and financially savvy influencer, but her family doesn’t see the brilliance behind her carefully curated image. Instead, they endlessly praise her older brother Gavin, whose most impressive achievement is consistently forgetting his homework. All of Elena’s hard work and social clout disintegrates when the Oks, founders of the wildly popular (and now bankrupt) fast fashion brand It’s Ok! (pronounced “OKAY”), lose their fortune overnight.
With their empire crumbling and an investigation underway, the Oks flee to Blaire, CA—a farming town that’s as glamourous as Temu. Mr. Ok, a now disgraced retail mogul, and Mrs. Ok, a now also disgraced fashion-forward matriarch, realize they’ve spent decades perfecting their public personas at the expense of actually knowing their kids. Meanwhile, Elena and Gavin are stuck in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to distract them from their family’s unraveling dynamics—or each other’s annoying habits.
But life in Blaire isn’t all bad. As the family reconnects with their Korean farming heritage, Elena discovers a hidden the Blaire Fair, the local market brimming with untapped potential. Applying her business savvy, she helps the small-town vendors thrive and sees how they put their profits back into the community. For the first time, Elena begins to question her own definition of success.
The Oks are Not OK offers humor and drama to tell a story about family, self-discovery, and the fine line between building a brand and building a life.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 3, 2026
6 people are currently reading
2739 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
2026
December 1, 2025ANHPI TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Kokila
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Kokila
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November 30, 2025pre-read
the oks are not ok and neither am i. :D
the oks are not ok and neither am i. :D
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
《 3.75 stars 》a coming-of-age story that revolves around two socialite siblings, told through the eyes of the younger sister. its chaotic, hilarious and an absolute mess as you get first class seats to a dysfunctional family in the backdrop of a no-name small town.
thank you to kokila books and netgalley for the eARC! this does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way! out on march 03, 2026 ^^
elena is thoroughly a seventeen year old person that had access to fame and media's scrutiny from a very young age. and knowing that helps understand her choices even if they are wild and bizarre at times. ngl i paused reading a lot of times because of how elena looks at the world, her priorities and her actions 😅 but getting to see her character development was very precious 🥹✨️
elena and her brother, gavin are honestly the main characters in this novel. the story revolves around them and the evolution of their relationship through these hard times. in a way gavin fits the perfect ya main character archetype because of how his character arc goes (read and find out lol) seeing them both adapt to life in blaire was such a joy! especially elena and her starting to make friends in the town 💗
overall, the oks are not ok is a fun read that keeps family at its core. it explores what it is like to be an immigrant and how your culture is always a part of you. the writing is easy to read and keeps you engaged throughout the journey (*^^*)
thank you to kokila books and netgalley for the eARC! this does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way! out on march 03, 2026 ^^
elena is thoroughly a seventeen year old person that had access to fame and media's scrutiny from a very young age. and knowing that helps understand her choices even if they are wild and bizarre at times. ngl i paused reading a lot of times because of how elena looks at the world, her priorities and her actions 😅 but getting to see her character development was very precious 🥹✨️
elena and her brother, gavin are honestly the main characters in this novel. the story revolves around them and the evolution of their relationship through these hard times. in a way gavin fits the perfect ya main character archetype because of how his character arc goes (read and find out lol) seeing them both adapt to life in blaire was such a joy! especially elena and her starting to make friends in the town 💗
overall, the oks are not ok is a fun read that keeps family at its core. it explores what it is like to be an immigrant and how your culture is always a part of you. the writing is easy to read and keeps you engaged throughout the journey (*^^*)
January 9, 2026
The Oks Are Not OK was such a fun and quick read, but even though it’s a short book, it still left me with a few frustrations, especially toward the end. Going in, I expected some level of rushing or slight inconclusiveness simply because of the length, but I didn’t think it would be so noticeable in the final 20% of the story. That’s where things started to feel brushed aside.
The story follows the Ok family, a wealthy family that owns a massive retail company (think Macy’s or Nordstrom). After a sudden financial collapse, they’re forced to leave their lavish lifestyle behind and move to Blaire, a small farming town with no internet, TV, or modern technology due to a nearby telescope that can’t risk interference. The family settles into a farm their parents own while their lawyer attempts to fix the situation. The premise is genuinely entertaining and sets up a strong fish-out-of-water dynamic that works well for most of the book.
One of the strongest aspects of the story is the family dynamic. Despite being related, the Oks barely know each other, and being forced to live together becomes a chance for them to truly connect. I liked this storyline a lot, even though some of their actions and dialogue occasionally annoyed me. Elena Ok, in particular, stood out as an interesting protagonist. As an influencer, she quickly learns that once her status disappears, so do her “friends,” leaving her isolated and forced to confront who she really is without the validation of social media. While her character development was satisfying, it came quite late, around 70% into the book, and I wish her growth had started earlier and been given more room to fully land.
My biggest issue, though, was the financial conflict that drives the entire story. What exactly happened? Did it just… disappear? Once the characters begin to grow and settle into their new lives, the problem that brought them to Blaire in the first place fades completely into the background and is never truly addressed. It felt like a major loose thread, especially since it was such a central part of the setup.
Overall, The Oks Are Not OK is a fun, light, and easy read with humor, moments of growth, and a storyline that clearly draws Schitt’s Creek comparisons. While it succeeds in charm and character interactions, it struggles to fully follow through on some plotlines, and the romance feels underdeveloped and rushed. Still, it’s an enjoyable contemporary YA with heart just one that could have benefited from a stronger, more cohesive ending.
The story follows the Ok family, a wealthy family that owns a massive retail company (think Macy’s or Nordstrom). After a sudden financial collapse, they’re forced to leave their lavish lifestyle behind and move to Blaire, a small farming town with no internet, TV, or modern technology due to a nearby telescope that can’t risk interference. The family settles into a farm their parents own while their lawyer attempts to fix the situation. The premise is genuinely entertaining and sets up a strong fish-out-of-water dynamic that works well for most of the book.
One of the strongest aspects of the story is the family dynamic. Despite being related, the Oks barely know each other, and being forced to live together becomes a chance for them to truly connect. I liked this storyline a lot, even though some of their actions and dialogue occasionally annoyed me. Elena Ok, in particular, stood out as an interesting protagonist. As an influencer, she quickly learns that once her status disappears, so do her “friends,” leaving her isolated and forced to confront who she really is without the validation of social media. While her character development was satisfying, it came quite late, around 70% into the book, and I wish her growth had started earlier and been given more room to fully land.
My biggest issue, though, was the financial conflict that drives the entire story. What exactly happened? Did it just… disappear? Once the characters begin to grow and settle into their new lives, the problem that brought them to Blaire in the first place fades completely into the background and is never truly addressed. It felt like a major loose thread, especially since it was such a central part of the setup.
Overall, The Oks Are Not OK is a fun, light, and easy read with humor, moments of growth, and a storyline that clearly draws Schitt’s Creek comparisons. While it succeeds in charm and character interactions, it struggles to fully follow through on some plotlines, and the romance feels underdeveloped and rushed. Still, it’s an enjoyable contemporary YA with heart just one that could have benefited from a stronger, more cohesive ending.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Oks are Not OK is the YA version of the 1960s television show Green Acres, but better. It's a classic fish-out-of-water tale that is like none other!
The Ok (pronounced Oak) family are the founders of the wildly popular fashion brand It's Ok! Seventeen year old Elena Ok has used her family's business as a starting point to bolster her career as an LA socialite and financially savvy influencer, but her family doesn't see how hard she has worked to carefully cultivate her brand. Instead, they just see her as a "party girl," while her older brother Gavin is endlessly praised and brought into all of the ins and outs of It's OK!.
When a scandal strikes, the Oks lose their fortune overnight, have to file bankruptcy, and are forced to move to Blaire, CA - a tiny farming town that also happens to be a Radio Quiet Zone. Translation - they are living in the middle of nowhere, in a run down house, with no WIFI or cell phone service, and nothing to do. Being forced together for the first time in a long time, Mr. and Mrs. Ok begin to realize they don't really know their children at all, and Elena and Gavin are struggling to get along.
Despite their unraveling family dynamics, they soon discover that life in Blaire isn't as bad as they thought it would be. Mr. and Mrs. Ok reconnect with their Korean farming heritage while Elena and Gavin quickly make friends with some of the locals. Elena uses her business savvy to help the small-town vendors thrive and put profits back into the community. By doing so, she begins to discover that there are more important things in life than building a brand and always being in the lime light.
The Oks are Not Ok is both a humorous and drama filled story. Watching the Oks go from living a life of luxury with a full staff to do everything for them, to "slumming it" in a farm town with a population of 150 people, is quite entertaining. But at it's heart, this is a story about self-discovery that challenges family values, how people want to be viewed, and emphasizes what is really important in life.
Fantastic book!
The Ok (pronounced Oak) family are the founders of the wildly popular fashion brand It's Ok! Seventeen year old Elena Ok has used her family's business as a starting point to bolster her career as an LA socialite and financially savvy influencer, but her family doesn't see how hard she has worked to carefully cultivate her brand. Instead, they just see her as a "party girl," while her older brother Gavin is endlessly praised and brought into all of the ins and outs of It's OK!.
When a scandal strikes, the Oks lose their fortune overnight, have to file bankruptcy, and are forced to move to Blaire, CA - a tiny farming town that also happens to be a Radio Quiet Zone. Translation - they are living in the middle of nowhere, in a run down house, with no WIFI or cell phone service, and nothing to do. Being forced together for the first time in a long time, Mr. and Mrs. Ok begin to realize they don't really know their children at all, and Elena and Gavin are struggling to get along.
Despite their unraveling family dynamics, they soon discover that life in Blaire isn't as bad as they thought it would be. Mr. and Mrs. Ok reconnect with their Korean farming heritage while Elena and Gavin quickly make friends with some of the locals. Elena uses her business savvy to help the small-town vendors thrive and put profits back into the community. By doing so, she begins to discover that there are more important things in life than building a brand and always being in the lime light.
The Oks are Not Ok is both a humorous and drama filled story. Watching the Oks go from living a life of luxury with a full staff to do everything for them, to "slumming it" in a farm town with a population of 150 people, is quite entertaining. But at it's heart, this is a story about self-discovery that challenges family values, how people want to be viewed, and emphasizes what is really important in life.
Fantastic book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The OKs Are Not Okay was a short read yet I felt somewhat unfilled by how it ended. The story highlights the Ok (pronounced Oak) family to have a successful business in which they can live a lavish lifestyle. However, the company faces a financial crisis. This leads the Ok family to relocate to a small town called Blaire due to buying their forgotten “retirement” home. In this town, there is no wifi or modern technology due to their town’s telescope/observatory. During this time, the family transitions from being lavish to now farmer/small town. Family members, Dale (Company Owner), Gloria (Was a Co-Owner), Gavin (Works under Father), and Elena (Mainstream Social Media Influencer) realize living together in this small town uncovers their true feelings, new love (Gavin & Elena?), and a better understanding of what they want to accomplish in their lives.
Personally, I felt this story has so much more potential. When I started reading, the pacing of the plot was a tad bit slow, however, it does pick up when the family transitions to Blaire and getting to know the community. Yet, in the last couple chapters, I felt the ending was rushed involving how the scandal ends or how it was handled and honestly I am happy for Gavin yet, leaving Elena out of romance was sad for me.
Overall, I generally enjoyed the family aspect of how parental upbringing can influence values/morals which can make or break a family. It was awesome of how Grace K. Shim portrays the Ok family to navigate through these tough conversations. I do wish for more of a conclusion of the scandal and its impact to the family. In addition, I would love to have more romance for Gavin and Elena (if possible). I still feel like it was a great YA read!
Personally, I felt this story has so much more potential. When I started reading, the pacing of the plot was a tad bit slow, however, it does pick up when the family transitions to Blaire and getting to know the community. Yet, in the last couple chapters, I felt the ending was rushed involving how the scandal ends or how it was handled and honestly I am happy for Gavin yet, leaving Elena out of romance was sad for me.
Overall, I generally enjoyed the family aspect of how parental upbringing can influence values/morals which can make or break a family. It was awesome of how Grace K. Shim portrays the Ok family to navigate through these tough conversations. I do wish for more of a conclusion of the scandal and its impact to the family. In addition, I would love to have more romance for Gavin and Elena (if possible). I still feel like it was a great YA read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars! Such a heartfelt book, I really enjoyed reading it! I loved the drama/glamour of Elena's life as an influencer, and enjoyed seeing her getting back in touch with reality and the fish out of water situation she was in. But the real treasure of the book was the character development. It's easy to understand why people wouldn't like Elena or would become frustrated with the Oks, but I was easily rooting for her and the family as a whole. And the ending gave me the best warm fuzzy feelings, it was such a treat to read. If you're looking for a book that's mostly focused on character development, this is the one for you. I especially liked how Elena and Gavin's relationship developed as they actually began understanding and spending time with each other, rather than working off of judgement and assumptions. My biggest complaint, though, was that I thought the character development maybe started a little too late, ~50% of the way through the book. But overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend. It's got the glamour only unapologetically out of touch characters can give, a fish out of water background that spurred satisfying character development, and a cozy setting that made me want to disconnect from the internet. Would recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers, Penguin Young Readers Group, for providing me with an eARC.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers, Penguin Young Readers Group, for providing me with an eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved the movie Minari and I love fish-out-of-water comedies, so I had so much fun reading this book, with a setting I don't think I've seen anywhere else. Narrator Elena's fashion-forward, self-involved influencer lifestyle is on a collision course with the humble agricultural town of Blaire, which doesn't even allow Wi-Fi (for excellent scientific reasons!). And something's gotta give.
Watching Elena mature from a bratty diva into a mature, responsible woman gave this book a weight and relevance beyond its initial sitcom setup. I especially liked her evolving relationships with her family, as she and her brother, Gavin, got beyond their bickering banter and learned to embrace what they had in common. The scenes of making kimchi with her mom, who tells her about its significance in Korean culture, were an education for me. As someone who lives in a rural area where many urban professionals have settled and started farming, I really related to the themes of this sweet and funny gem of a book! Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy.
Watching Elena mature from a bratty diva into a mature, responsible woman gave this book a weight and relevance beyond its initial sitcom setup. I especially liked her evolving relationships with her family, as she and her brother, Gavin, got beyond their bickering banter and learned to embrace what they had in common. The scenes of making kimchi with her mom, who tells her about its significance in Korean culture, were an education for me. As someone who lives in a rural area where many urban professionals have settled and started farming, I really related to the themes of this sweet and funny gem of a book! Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Elena Ok has it all. Well, she did until her father's poor financial decisions bankrupt his company and leave her a social pariah. No longer is she the "it girl" hired for parties and ad campaigns. Instead, she, her brother, Gavin, and her parents are stuck in the small town of Blaire with no connection to the outside world. When no one knows who she is (or her famous catchphrase), Elena must decide who she wants to be.
This story was both heartwarming and humorous. I especially loved the sibling relationship between Gavin and Elena. This will be a great choice for upper middle grade and high school libraries!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
This story was both heartwarming and humorous. I especially loved the sibling relationship between Gavin and Elena. This will be a great choice for upper middle grade and high school libraries!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Kokila for the ARC!
After the ultra-wealthy and famous Ok family's financial collapse, they are forced to relocate to the tiny town of Blaire, where their parents bought some farm land to settle down on when they retire. Not only is this small farm town, not what siblings Elena and Gavin are used to, it's also a National Radio Quiet Zone which means no wifi or cell phones allowed!
A quick, engaging YA read that feels like a charming mashup of Schitt’s Creek and Green Acres. I loved watching Elena’s growth and the authentic evolution of the family dynamics as everyone moved from merely living together to truly knowing and supporting one another.
After the ultra-wealthy and famous Ok family's financial collapse, they are forced to relocate to the tiny town of Blaire, where their parents bought some farm land to settle down on when they retire. Not only is this small farm town, not what siblings Elena and Gavin are used to, it's also a National Radio Quiet Zone which means no wifi or cell phones allowed!
A quick, engaging YA read that feels like a charming mashup of Schitt’s Creek and Green Acres. I loved watching Elena’s growth and the authentic evolution of the family dynamics as everyone moved from merely living together to truly knowing and supporting one another.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Oks are not ok is a coming-of-age book about navigating family dynamics and finding who you are. The story navigates complicated family relationships, learning about your heritage, and figuring out who you are through making mistakes. I really liked Elena’s character development throughout the book, and I was rooting for her the whole time. I think that the ending fell a little flat for me, but overall, I really liked the book. I think this book is great for fans of Schitt's Creek and anyone who has navigated complicated relationships with their family.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this story of heritage, family & finding yourself.
The family dynamics in this are EVERYTHING! I enjoyed following Eleanas character arc as I found her highly entertaining & easy to root for. I loved seeing her & her relationships grow.
The ending did feel a little rushed as I wanted more but was still satisfying with the year on epilogue.
Would highly recommend for fans of Schitts Creek like me!
The family dynamics in this are EVERYTHING! I enjoyed following Eleanas character arc as I found her highly entertaining & easy to root for. I loved seeing her & her relationships grow.
The ending did feel a little rushed as I wanted more but was still satisfying with the year on epilogue.
Would highly recommend for fans of Schitts Creek like me!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was 3.5 stars. I felt a bit disconnected from the beginning because it felt an unrealistic but after they end up in the small town the story took on more shape. It looked at difficult subjects and allowed Elena and her entire family to come into their own. It was a cute story that had some areas that were lacking. The game time in the story felt the most impactful to me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fun, gleefully vibey book about adapting to your surroundings, toxic masculinity, and learning to be beyond yourself. a super fun main protagonist and a great network of characters made this work. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a cozy family story about losing your way and figuring out what’s truly important and who you really are. It will have you laughing and crying along with its charming, emotionally complex characters. If you're a fan of Schitt’s Creek, you will adore this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Kokila for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a very sweet take on what Schitt's Creek might have been like if the leading family was Korean. While Elena and Gavin are sometimes annoying, they do begin to grow on you. And the purchase of this retirement property in the middle of nowhere is such an intriguing choice.
I loved the play on Ok (pronounced 'oak') and OK (pronounced 'okay').
I think this book might be even more fun as an audiobook!
This is a very sweet take on what Schitt's Creek might have been like if the leading family was Korean. While Elena and Gavin are sometimes annoying, they do begin to grow on you. And the purchase of this retirement property in the middle of nowhere is such an intriguing choice.
I loved the play on Ok (pronounced 'oak') and OK (pronounced 'okay').
I think this book might be even more fun as an audiobook!
November 24, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
February 10, 2026
The book centers around Elena, a socialite turned influencer, who loses everything when her parent's business goes bankrupt. Her character growth throughout the novel is perfect and shows a similar entrepreneurial spirit that represents her father.
The writing itself is super simplistic, but it makes sense when you consider that it follows Elena's POV. Her thoughts kept me engaged throughout the book because she definitely looks at her circumstances differently than how she's expected to.
Overall, The Oks are not Ok is a fun, humorous read that keeps family and culture at its core. For my first contemporary YA fiction read, it set the tone but lacked in some areas, so I'm giving it three out of five stars.
Read my full review: https://bellaandbooks5.wordpress.com/...
The writing itself is super simplistic, but it makes sense when you consider that it follows Elena's POV. Her thoughts kept me engaged throughout the book because she definitely looks at her circumstances differently than how she's expected to.
Overall, The Oks are not Ok is a fun, humorous read that keeps family and culture at its core. For my first contemporary YA fiction read, it set the tone but lacked in some areas, so I'm giving it three out of five stars.
Read my full review: https://bellaandbooks5.wordpress.com/...
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews