The Oks are Not OK

by Grace K. Shim

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.

Genres: Young Adult, Young Adult Contemporary, Asian Literature, Contemporary, Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Mai H.]

ANHPI TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Kokila

[brontësaurus]

pre-read
the oks are not ok and neither am i. :D

[Brooke DeBoest · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus