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Drive Me to the Moon
Not yet published
Expected 25 Sep 26He desperately needs a driving licence to get out of unemployment, but he fails his test. So he kidnaps the examiner.
Because this isn’t just about passing a test. This is about life or death.
Just like driving, right?
A brutal, satirical examination of modern survival, asking how much pressure a person can endure before breaking—and what it means when a society creates the conditions for that break, then looks away.
Because this isn’t just about passing a test. This is about life or death.
Just like driving, right?
A brutal, satirical examination of modern survival, asking how much pressure a person can endure before breaking—and what it means when a society creates the conditions for that break, then looks away.
- GenresSocial Commentary
Paperback
Expected publication September 25, 2026
About the author
Ramona Lee Soo-Jun
14 books78 followersRamona Lee Soo-Jun is a German–Romanian novelist based in London.
Lee began publishing in 2012, releasing eleven books before the age of nineteen. Early in her career, she wrote under the pen name “Lee Soo-Jun”, which she chose in response to racial bias within the publishing industry, before formally adopting the name at eighteen.
In 2015, the first volume of her AGENT 00 series marked her emergence as Romania’s first martial-arts action author.
Lee's writing moves between action-comedy and literary fiction, incorporating elements of magical realism and satire.
Lee began publishing in 2012, releasing eleven books before the age of nineteen. Early in her career, she wrote under the pen name “Lee Soo-Jun”, which she chose in response to racial bias within the publishing industry, before formally adopting the name at eighteen.
In 2015, the first volume of her AGENT 00 series marked her emergence as Romania’s first martial-arts action author.
Lee's writing moves between action-comedy and literary fiction, incorporating elements of magical realism and satire.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the arc.
This was definitely a very interesting story to read and I could definitely relate to some of the things our main character was going through. The choice of using 2nd person pov was definitely the right one.
I just wished it had been slightly shorter!
This was definitely a very interesting story to read and I could definitely relate to some of the things our main character was going through. The choice of using 2nd person pov was definitely the right one.
I just wished it had been slightly shorter!
Review of advance copy received from Storygraph
Thank you, StoryGraph & Ramona Lee Soo-Jun, for the early copy of her book, Drive Me to the Moon.
4.25 ★
This was my first giveaway win EVER, so I was VERY excited to get this one.
I devoured this book. It is SO unique, and I loved how much the author managed to fit into such a small setting and such a short book. I had so many highlights and notes by the end because there was just so much here to think about. Truly, some moments of strong writing, great callbacks, hilarious descriptions, and deeply profound remarks.
Most of this book is told thru his inner monologue. Which meant I constantly thought of Dexter lol hear me out...You know those videos where they take away Dexter's inner monologue and suddenly he's just standing there looking completely extra insane? THAT is this book 😂 And it obviously works. The rants get long and repetitive at times, but that's also what makes sense for a spiraling mind. This man has clearly never gotten to say all of this shit out loud, so apparently we're getting ALL of it in his head instead. He even tells us he just wants to be listened to.
This main character is complex. He's absolutely not a good guy. Not by a long shot. But some of his thoughts and observations? He's making some damn good points. His worldview comes from his experiences and his own suffering, and I really liked that the book didn't make him easy to dismiss as simply a monster. Finding myself agreeing with this inner rambling lunatic at times was interesting lol.
My biggest issue was definitely the repetition and pacing in a few spots. The 12-page dream especially was...a choice. 😂 In a 179-page ebook, that's roughly 6% of the entire thing spent on ONE dream, and being so close to the end, it dragged for me. There were a few other spots where the rants went on longer than I needed, but nothing quite like that.
Still, I really did love this. It was weird, dark, thought-provoking, and completely different from anything I've read recently. But I have one last question...how long were they there? What an ending.
I'll end on this: I NEED the audiobook. I want the accent. I want the anger. I want the RAGE. The way his thoughts got going the rambling the intensity the sudden shift back to calmness within a single paragraph I would 100% revisit this as an audiobook just for that! I already have his voice in my head, and I desperately need to hear what someone else does with it 😂
What a great first giveaway experience!
4.25 ★
This was my first giveaway win EVER, so I was VERY excited to get this one.
I devoured this book. It is SO unique, and I loved how much the author managed to fit into such a small setting and such a short book. I had so many highlights and notes by the end because there was just so much here to think about. Truly, some moments of strong writing, great callbacks, hilarious descriptions, and deeply profound remarks.
Most of this book is told thru his inner monologue. Which meant I constantly thought of Dexter lol hear me out...You know those videos where they take away Dexter's inner monologue and suddenly he's just standing there looking completely extra insane? THAT is this book 😂 And it obviously works. The rants get long and repetitive at times, but that's also what makes sense for a spiraling mind. This man has clearly never gotten to say all of this shit out loud, so apparently we're getting ALL of it in his head instead. He even tells us he just wants to be listened to.
This main character is complex. He's absolutely not a good guy. Not by a long shot. But some of his thoughts and observations? He's making some damn good points. His worldview comes from his experiences and his own suffering, and I really liked that the book didn't make him easy to dismiss as simply a monster. Finding myself agreeing with this inner rambling lunatic at times was interesting lol.
My biggest issue was definitely the repetition and pacing in a few spots. The 12-page dream especially was...a choice. 😂 In a 179-page ebook, that's roughly 6% of the entire thing spent on ONE dream, and being so close to the end, it dragged for me. There were a few other spots where the rants went on longer than I needed, but nothing quite like that.
Still, I really did love this. It was weird, dark, thought-provoking, and completely different from anything I've read recently. But I have one last question...how long were they there? What an ending.
I'll end on this: I NEED the audiobook. I want the accent. I want the anger. I want the RAGE. The way his thoughts got going the rambling the intensity the sudden shift back to calmness within a single paragraph I would 100% revisit this as an audiobook just for that! I already have his voice in my head, and I desperately need to hear what someone else does with it 😂
What a great first giveaway experience!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I stumbled upon the author (and advance copy) via Facebook and found the premise of the author's and the book's perspective of children of immigrants drawing me in as a first generation Romanian immigrant into Western Society myself.
The book wastes no time introducing us to the inner thoughts of the main character, which is where you are then, for most of the book, "held hostage" just as the driving instructor is. The small breaks progressing the outside world, which much to the protagonists' disappointment continues to move forward, felt like grounding moments with a mix of (almost welcome?) confirmation for his obsessive overthinking and, more often, triggers for self reflection.
I believe the book hits the mark on being relatable and somewhat cathartic in the same way movies like Falling Down and parts of Persepolis feel. A strong, self-fuelling, visceral response towards perceived unfairness and, more importantly, the lack of control (partially self inflicted).
Through the internal rants (the language chosen is strong enough to not call it just an internal monologue, I'd argue) you get exposed to the built up anger, sense of futility and resentment at all that is unfair in society through the protagonist's lens. To the point where it feels tiring to exist in this person's head that is fundamentally cursed with being too observant more than anything else, wholly unable to take a step back without external input.
In the first half, the character comes across as self centered, while in the second half, flashes of self-awareness come alive together Dave's consciousness. My favourite example being the reaction to Dave's answer to the "trick question" . The greatest flaw of the character is definitely self-centred-ness, perfectly shown by the inability to contain his destructive impulse, even keenly aware of the impact it would have on his beloved family.
That being said, parts of the rants do feel like they slightly overstay their welcome. One could get the impression that the author found some personal catharsis as well through getting these feelings written down. (Românilor le place să se plângă până la urmă :) )
All in all, would recommend the book, an interesting read.
The book wastes no time introducing us to the inner thoughts of the main character, which is where you are then, for most of the book, "held hostage" just as the driving instructor is. The small breaks progressing the outside world, which much to the protagonists' disappointment continues to move forward, felt like grounding moments with a mix of (almost welcome?) confirmation for his obsessive overthinking and, more often, triggers for self reflection.
I believe the book hits the mark on being relatable and somewhat cathartic in the same way movies like Falling Down and parts of Persepolis feel. A strong, self-fuelling, visceral response towards perceived unfairness and, more importantly, the lack of control (partially self inflicted).
Through the internal rants (the language chosen is strong enough to not call it just an internal monologue, I'd argue) you get exposed to the built up anger, sense of futility and resentment at all that is unfair in society through the protagonist's lens. To the point where it feels tiring to exist in this person's head that is fundamentally cursed with being too observant more than anything else, wholly unable to take a step back without external input.
In the first half, the character comes across as self centered, while in the second half, flashes of self-awareness come alive together Dave's consciousness. My favourite example being the reaction to Dave's answer to the "trick question" . The greatest flaw of the character is definitely self-centred-ness, perfectly shown by the inability to contain his destructive impulse, even keenly aware of the impact it would have on his beloved family.
That being said, parts of the rants do feel like they slightly overstay their welcome. One could get the impression that the author found some personal catharsis as well through getting these feelings written down. (Românilor le place să se plângă până la urmă :) )
All in all, would recommend the book, an interesting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Drive Me to the Moon is indeed a good title for this book. It’s a short book, but I genuinely felt like we went to the moon and back through the range of emotions and storytelling that ultimately led to the characters’ actions.
The narrator describes himself as a second generation immigrant, or a “white other”, and the book is told mostly from that perspective. It’s largely a monologue of thought, alongside brief conversations with the driving examiner. Through this, the narrator takes us through his experience of being a secound generation Eastern European immigrant in London and what that feels and looks like when you’re employed or looking for work. Are you actually valued, or are you just the diversity hire when diversity happens to be in season?
I found the idea of “otherness” particularly interesting. The book explores people who aren’t necessarily outwardly different at first glance from white people in terms of appearance or colour, but who can still experience that feeling of being an outsider.
The more I got into the book, the more relatable it became. As a millennial person of colour living in London, I found myself connecting with a lot of the observations around identity, work, belonging and navigating life in London. However, this is a thriller, and without giving anything away, this short book took me through a whole range of emotions. I was constantly trying to figure out whether my relatability to the character was influencing how I felt about the story, while also thinking quite deeply about mental health and the impact of feeling alienated or unseen.
The more you get into it, the more troubling it becomes.
It’s suspenseful and looks at power dynamics, identity and mental health, but it also has this feeling of peeking through your own worldview and making you question what you’re seeing.
For such a short book, there is a lot packed into it. I definitely went to the moon and back with this one.
The narrator describes himself as a second generation immigrant, or a “white other”, and the book is told mostly from that perspective. It’s largely a monologue of thought, alongside brief conversations with the driving examiner. Through this, the narrator takes us through his experience of being a secound generation Eastern European immigrant in London and what that feels and looks like when you’re employed or looking for work. Are you actually valued, or are you just the diversity hire when diversity happens to be in season?
I found the idea of “otherness” particularly interesting. The book explores people who aren’t necessarily outwardly different at first glance from white people in terms of appearance or colour, but who can still experience that feeling of being an outsider.
The more I got into the book, the more relatable it became. As a millennial person of colour living in London, I found myself connecting with a lot of the observations around identity, work, belonging and navigating life in London. However, this is a thriller, and without giving anything away, this short book took me through a whole range of emotions. I was constantly trying to figure out whether my relatability to the character was influencing how I felt about the story, while also thinking quite deeply about mental health and the impact of feeling alienated or unseen.
The more you get into it, the more troubling it becomes.
It’s suspenseful and looks at power dynamics, identity and mental health, but it also has this feeling of peeking through your own worldview and making you question what you’re seeing.
For such a short book, there is a lot packed into it. I definitely went to the moon and back with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Alienated Dissociation
Have you ever wanted to say what you really mean on LinkedIn and have all the corporate stooges read it with their eyes wide open in fear?
Drive Me to the Moon lives out that fantasy for us all. Written in the second-person, we are literally buckled up and strapped in for the ride as the protagonist lets loose and crashes us both with his foot firmly on the pedal, full speed ahead. To me, it was like becoming Yorick's skull as Hamlet delivers his lines. The irony of our (mostly) silent role is a question better left to the dead.
Actively aggressive in a rant that drifts in and out of a surreal meta-narrative, Ramona expertly captures a difficult frustration that plagues the modern world. The promise of how millennials and younger were told to find a career and the reality of the scraps left on the plate are an infuriating subject that we pretend doesn't exist as the 1% drifts further and further away.
The unspoken regret between an ideal of work/life balance scarcely exists as a cry for help in lost opportunities written off as an opportunity cost. And how we forget just how much those cost saving measures impact human lives in ways that are often erased from most feel-good stories.
Definitely not this one though!
I say that because you can feel a certain 90s optimism in the DNA of the author. The letdown of our current decade comes with the added weight of cultural struggles that are an integral part of growing up just different enough to never quite fit in.
Beyond the usual bullshit and lies, there is an added injustice to what it means to "forge ahead" when you don't belong.
Have you ever wanted to say what you really mean on LinkedIn and have all the corporate stooges read it with their eyes wide open in fear?
Drive Me to the Moon lives out that fantasy for us all. Written in the second-person, we are literally buckled up and strapped in for the ride as the protagonist lets loose and crashes us both with his foot firmly on the pedal, full speed ahead. To me, it was like becoming Yorick's skull as Hamlet delivers his lines. The irony of our (mostly) silent role is a question better left to the dead.
Actively aggressive in a rant that drifts in and out of a surreal meta-narrative, Ramona expertly captures a difficult frustration that plagues the modern world. The promise of how millennials and younger were told to find a career and the reality of the scraps left on the plate are an infuriating subject that we pretend doesn't exist as the 1% drifts further and further away.
The unspoken regret between an ideal of work/life balance scarcely exists as a cry for help in lost opportunities written off as an opportunity cost. And how we forget just how much those cost saving measures impact human lives in ways that are often erased from most feel-good stories.
Definitely not this one though!
I say that because you can feel a certain 90s optimism in the DNA of the author. The letdown of our current decade comes with the added weight of cultural struggles that are an integral part of growing up just different enough to never quite fit in.
Beyond the usual bullshit and lies, there is an added injustice to what it means to "forge ahead" when you don't belong.
Read
July 17, 2026**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
This is a long novella and it exposes the problems faced by immigrants in the economic and social systems of the western world.
It’s a bitter, funny and intelligent social commentary more than a story per se. The characters seem to serve more the purpose of this exposé rather than being fully fleshed human beings, which isn’t necessarily a negative point as long as you accept the story as is and enjoy it. However, they are well written and relatable.
It was interesting to read about the challenges faced by younger people who come from a diverse background than the country they were born and raised in. The rejection takes many forms, some more obvious and some more subtle, but painting an inescapable trajectory of institutionalised marginalisation. And this on top of a corporate world that has many entry barriers for those who lack the right connections.
I enjoyed getting the ins and outs of a world I never accessed due to illness right after getting my degree and it made me realise that I didn’t miss anything at all.
The language and the writing are enjoyable and add to the story a different layer and build depth.
This is a long novella and it exposes the problems faced by immigrants in the economic and social systems of the western world.
It’s a bitter, funny and intelligent social commentary more than a story per se. The characters seem to serve more the purpose of this exposé rather than being fully fleshed human beings, which isn’t necessarily a negative point as long as you accept the story as is and enjoy it. However, they are well written and relatable.
It was interesting to read about the challenges faced by younger people who come from a diverse background than the country they were born and raised in. The rejection takes many forms, some more obvious and some more subtle, but painting an inescapable trajectory of institutionalised marginalisation. And this on top of a corporate world that has many entry barriers for those who lack the right connections.
I enjoyed getting the ins and outs of a world I never accessed due to illness right after getting my degree and it made me realise that I didn’t miss anything at all.
The language and the writing are enjoyable and add to the story a different layer and build depth.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Drive Me to the Moon by German-Romanian writer Ramona Lee Soo-Jun is a thriller novel and a satirical take on how the society treats second-generation immigrants. It is going to be published on 25th September 2026.
The story follows an anonymous narrator of Romanian descent who needs a drivers license to get a new job. Unfortunately he fails and his response is a little bit wild - he kidnaps his examiner. The narrator is ought to be talking to his examiner, however sometimes it feels like an inner monologue, a bunch of flashbacks and visions, dialogic speech is rarely used throughout the book and only a few actions occur. In the writers defense, that solution works really well in the context, also the ending is very simbolical.
I firmly recommend this book because it tells a truth no one dares to speak about. Ramona Lee Soo-Jun is telling a tale not only about Eastern European immigrants, but about every person on the planet, about how diversity is praised then demolished by the same people, about second chances that are never the one.
In conclusion Drive Me to the Moon by Ramona Lee Soo-Jun is a novel worth reading despite the literary confusion it gives sometimes.
The story follows an anonymous narrator of Romanian descent who needs a drivers license to get a new job. Unfortunately he fails and his response is a little bit wild - he kidnaps his examiner. The narrator is ought to be talking to his examiner, however sometimes it feels like an inner monologue, a bunch of flashbacks and visions, dialogic speech is rarely used throughout the book and only a few actions occur. In the writers defense, that solution works really well in the context, also the ending is very simbolical.
I firmly recommend this book because it tells a truth no one dares to speak about. Ramona Lee Soo-Jun is telling a tale not only about Eastern European immigrants, but about every person on the planet, about how diversity is praised then demolished by the same people, about second chances that are never the one.
In conclusion Drive Me to the Moon by Ramona Lee Soo-Jun is a novel worth reading despite the literary confusion it gives sometimes.
Review of advance copy
A review of Drive Me to the Moon by Ramona Lee Soo-Jun
I searched for and bought this book because I knew I would relate to the story and also to the author’s plight.
As a minority within a minority in a Balkan country, I had tasted xenophobia on many levels. Due to the resourcefulness of my family we managed to leave and by traveling half the world ended up in US - our dream.
Joining the military and graduating from a top university was not the end of experiencing xenophobia. It’s a different flavor but still the same feeling. So I get what the author and the main character are experiencing.
I must admit that I dislike the main character, and I sympathize with Dave, his victim. However, every good story must have a villain and he is a pretty pathetic one. Not a Darth Vader, but more like Lester Nygaard of Fargo.
Regardless, I like the book. It’s a quick read and the writing is crisp. But you must like drama.
I searched for and bought this book because I knew I would relate to the story and also to the author’s plight.
As a minority within a minority in a Balkan country, I had tasted xenophobia on many levels. Due to the resourcefulness of my family we managed to leave and by traveling half the world ended up in US - our dream.
Joining the military and graduating from a top university was not the end of experiencing xenophobia. It’s a different flavor but still the same feeling. So I get what the author and the main character are experiencing.
I must admit that I dislike the main character, and I sympathize with Dave, his victim. However, every good story must have a villain and he is a pretty pathetic one. Not a Darth Vader, but more like Lester Nygaard of Fargo.
Regardless, I like the book. It’s a quick read and the writing is crisp. But you must like drama.
Review of advance copy received from Storygraph
I received an advance copy of this book via a giveaway on Storygraph.
I feel really conflicted about this one for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it is unique, which I really like. The whole book is written in a monologue style, which I have never come across before. It did take some getting into though, with the rhythm, and on occasions this style did feel a bit repetitive to me but I found the writing style interesting.
On a downside, I do feel it is a bit long. The repetition got to me a bit, and I did find myself feeling more irritation for the main character, rather than the sympathy that it was supposed to create.
There were some interesting topics raised re immigration though, and I am glad to have read it.
I feel really conflicted about this one for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it is unique, which I really like. The whole book is written in a monologue style, which I have never come across before. It did take some getting into though, with the rhythm, and on occasions this style did feel a bit repetitive to me but I found the writing style interesting.
On a downside, I do feel it is a bit long. The repetition got to me a bit, and I did find myself feeling more irritation for the main character, rather than the sympathy that it was supposed to create.
There were some interesting topics raised re immigration though, and I am glad to have read it.
Read
August 21, 2026I was really grateful to receive a copy of this from the author.
Now I think I got the wrong idea from the blurb but… this was a WILD ride!
I’m glad it was a short book because I don’t think my heart could’ve taken many more pages. A constant stream of consciousness, a long monologue that didn’t shy away from hard topics or uncomfortable feelings. But weirdly it kind of did because it’s (mostly) in the characters head?
Honestly I’ve never read a book like it and I think this will stick with me for a long time.
Thank you again for the beautiful copy :)
Now I think I got the wrong idea from the blurb but… this was a WILD ride!
I’m glad it was a short book because I don’t think my heart could’ve taken many more pages. A constant stream of consciousness, a long monologue that didn’t shy away from hard topics or uncomfortable feelings. But weirdly it kind of did because it’s (mostly) in the characters head?
Honestly I’ve never read a book like it and I think this will stick with me for a long time.
Thank you again for the beautiful copy :)
Review of advance copy received from Author
An honest and critical look at the injustices of society through a lens that is often overlooked. Ramona explores some of the nonsensical aspects of modern life, highlighting the hypocrisy and fallacies that take place every day.
If you've ever experienced corporate rage, being an outsider in an "accepting" society, or despair at the cost of living, this book may resonate with you. It's perhaps a chance to validate your experiences and laugh at the insanity of the mundane.
If you've ever experienced corporate rage, being an outsider in an "accepting" society, or despair at the cost of living, this book may resonate with you. It's perhaps a chance to validate your experiences and laugh at the insanity of the mundane.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love seeing a Romanian immigrant represented with so much care in foreign literature. I really hope more people read this. Both homesick immigrants who feel alone and everyone else, to maybe understand that feeling a little better and gain some empathy.
Such an extreme and peculiar plot, yet I genuinely can't think of a better way to get across that feeling. Weird in all the right ways.
Such an extreme and peculiar plot, yet I genuinely can't think of a better way to get across that feeling. Weird in all the right ways.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Romanian representation? Yes, please. A narrator who's a complete psycho? Yes, please. A discourse on racism and xenophobia? Yes, please. A quick read that stays with you for days after you finish it? Yes, please.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a quick and enthralling read. The author puts you directly in the situation. They are asking you these questions. They are talking with you the reader.
It is a fast read and kept me entertained and thinking even after I was done.
It is a fast read and kept me entertained and thinking even after I was done.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🧠 𝗜 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁.
Beneath the absurd premise is a fascinating character study of frustration, powerlessness, inherited disadvantage, and the desperate need to regain control. The protagonist's voice pulled me into some very dark places.
Unfortunately, there were too many stretches where the story paused to rant. While many of those rants were insightful, they eventually became repetitive.
Thank you to Ramona Lee Soo-Jun, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Beneath the absurd premise is a fascinating character study of frustration, powerlessness, inherited disadvantage, and the desperate need to regain control. The protagonist's voice pulled me into some very dark places.
Unfortunately, there were too many stretches where the story paused to rant. While many of those rants were insightful, they eventually became repetitive.
Thank you to Ramona Lee Soo-Jun, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
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