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Anna K #2
Anna K: Away
It’s Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl ! Anna K Away follows the fabulous cast of characters from Anna K over the course of the next summer, when new freedoms lead to life-changing adventures, risks, and self-discovery
How the mighty have fallen. Anna K, once the golden girl of Greenwich, CT, and New York City, has been brought low by a scandalous sex tape and the tragic death of her first love, Alexia Vronsky. At the beginning of the summer, her father takes her to the other side of the world, to connect with his family in South Korea and hide her away. Is Anna in exile? Or could this be her chance to figure out who she really is?
Back in the U.S., Lolly has forgiven Steven for cheating on her, and their relationship feels stronger than ever. But when Lolly meets a boy at her beloved theater camp, she has to ask herself how well Steven will ever really know her. Meanwhile, in Manhattan, everything between Kimmie and her new boyfriend, Dustin, is easy―except when it comes to finally having sex. And Bea escapes to LA, running away from her grief at her beloved cousin’s death, until a beautiful stranger steals her heart. Is Bea ready to finally forgive Anna, and let herself truly fall in love for the very first time?
Set over the course of one unforgettable summer, Jenny Lee's Anna K Away is full of the risk, joy, heartbreak, and adventure that mark the three months between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.
How the mighty have fallen. Anna K, once the golden girl of Greenwich, CT, and New York City, has been brought low by a scandalous sex tape and the tragic death of her first love, Alexia Vronsky. At the beginning of the summer, her father takes her to the other side of the world, to connect with his family in South Korea and hide her away. Is Anna in exile? Or could this be her chance to figure out who she really is?
Back in the U.S., Lolly has forgiven Steven for cheating on her, and their relationship feels stronger than ever. But when Lolly meets a boy at her beloved theater camp, she has to ask herself how well Steven will ever really know her. Meanwhile, in Manhattan, everything between Kimmie and her new boyfriend, Dustin, is easy―except when it comes to finally having sex. And Bea escapes to LA, running away from her grief at her beloved cousin’s death, until a beautiful stranger steals her heart. Is Bea ready to finally forgive Anna, and let herself truly fall in love for the very first time?
Set over the course of one unforgettable summer, Jenny Lee's Anna K Away is full of the risk, joy, heartbreak, and adventure that mark the three months between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 27, 2021
130 people are currently reading
5810 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Lee
8 books233 followersJenny Lee's first young adult novel, a modern reinvention of Anna Karenina titled Anna K., will be published by Flatiron Books in March 2020.
Jenny previously served as Co-Executive Producer for the BET television adaptation of Boomerang. She was a writer and producer on the ABC Family sitcom Young & Hungry, as well as the Disney Channel's number-one-rated kids' show Shake It Up.
The author of four humor essay books, Jenny is also the author of Elvis and the Underdogs.
Jenny previously served as Co-Executive Producer for the BET television adaptation of Boomerang. She was a writer and producer on the ABC Family sitcom Young & Hungry, as well as the Disney Channel's number-one-rated kids' show Shake It Up.
The author of four humor essay books, Jenny is also the author of Elvis and the Underdogs.
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May 2, 2021this was everything i could've hoped for 😭one of the best contemporary sequels everr
July 5, 2021
2-2.5 stars
After reading Anna K, I had a feeling Anna K: Away would be hit or miss for me. I was really hoping for a hit, but unfortunately it was more of a miss for me personally than the first one. The first one was a lot of drama and angst but it was unputdownable. The second one also had a lot of drama, but I was quite bored. It could be me or my mood, but I didn’t enjoy this one.
After reading Anna K, I had a feeling Anna K: Away would be hit or miss for me. I was really hoping for a hit, but unfortunately it was more of a miss for me personally than the first one. The first one was a lot of drama and angst but it was unputdownable. The second one also had a lot of drama, but I was quite bored. It could be me or my mood, but I didn’t enjoy this one.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 2.5 stars
Narrators: Jenna Ushkowitz
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult/New Adult
Length: 10h 47m
June 13, 2021
Anna K Away
is another emotionally layered romp with a group of wealthy teenagers, as they deal with love, grief, family, and relationships, and spend lots of money.
Have you read last year's Anna K , by Jenny Lee? That retelling of Anna Karenina set among the teenagers of NYC and Greenwich, CT, was an entertaining if melodramatic look at how the rich are as messed up as “regular people.”
The sequel takes place right where the first book left off, and I believe I enjoyed it more than the first book! (I found the original book a little annoying because the characters were so unlikable; while they've not changed that much, maybe it just didn't bother me as much here. Mostly.)
Anna is reeling from a tragedy and the appearance of a sex tape, so her father sends her to Korea for the summer. He hopes she'll be willing to start fresh and go to school in Korea come fall. As she deals with her grief, she realizes she has the opportunity to reinvent herself and be the person she wants to be.
Meanwhile, back in New York, her brother Steven and his girlfriend Lolly attend lavish parties and bicker, as Lolly prepares to attend theater camp for the summer. (Lolly's worries about Steven's previous infidelity take on extra weight as she's away for the summer.) Lolly's sister Kimmie and her boyfriend Dustin are both nervous about taking their relationship to the next level, each for different reasons. And Beatrice, dealing with her own grief and anger, finds real love for the first time and isn’t prepared for how much it changes her.
While you could read this as a stand-alone, I’d definitely recommend reading Anna K first. I’m fascinated by the extravagance of how the “other half” lives, but what I really enjoyed about this book was its emotional nuances. These characters are, in many cases, spoiled and/or shallow, but they’re also more complex than you think they are. This book was fun, too—there’s even a little K-pop!>
BookSparks invited me to be part of their #SRC2021 campaign, and as such, they and Flatiron Books sent me a complimentary copy of Anna K Away in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Have you read last year's Anna K , by Jenny Lee? That retelling of Anna Karenina set among the teenagers of NYC and Greenwich, CT, was an entertaining if melodramatic look at how the rich are as messed up as “regular people.”
The sequel takes place right where the first book left off, and I believe I enjoyed it more than the first book! (I found the original book a little annoying because the characters were so unlikable; while they've not changed that much, maybe it just didn't bother me as much here. Mostly.)
Anna is reeling from a tragedy and the appearance of a sex tape, so her father sends her to Korea for the summer. He hopes she'll be willing to start fresh and go to school in Korea come fall. As she deals with her grief, she realizes she has the opportunity to reinvent herself and be the person she wants to be.
Meanwhile, back in New York, her brother Steven and his girlfriend Lolly attend lavish parties and bicker, as Lolly prepares to attend theater camp for the summer. (Lolly's worries about Steven's previous infidelity take on extra weight as she's away for the summer.) Lolly's sister Kimmie and her boyfriend Dustin are both nervous about taking their relationship to the next level, each for different reasons. And Beatrice, dealing with her own grief and anger, finds real love for the first time and isn’t prepared for how much it changes her.
While you could read this as a stand-alone, I’d definitely recommend reading Anna K first. I’m fascinated by the extravagance of how the “other half” lives, but what I really enjoyed about this book was its emotional nuances. These characters are, in many cases, spoiled and/or shallow, but they’re also more complex than you think they are. This book was fun, too—there’s even a little K-pop!>
BookSparks invited me to be part of their #SRC2021 campaign, and as such, they and Flatiron Books sent me a complimentary copy of Anna K Away in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
August 12, 2021
this book just didn’t do it for me unfortunately :(
i liked seeing the characters again but the only pov chapters i was interested in were anna’s, and no part of this book felt very consequential in terms of the overall story
i never laughed, i never cried, i never felt much of anything; i binge read this in the hopes that something interesting would happen eventually only to finish the last page and end up with nothing………. though to be fair it is surely hard to write a follow up to an anna karenina retelling
i liked seeing the characters again but the only pov chapters i was interested in were anna’s, and no part of this book felt very consequential in terms of the overall story
i never laughed, i never cried, i never felt much of anything; i binge read this in the hopes that something interesting would happen eventually only to finish the last page and end up with nothing………. though to be fair it is surely hard to write a follow up to an anna karenina retelling
March 17, 2021
Anna K: A Love Story was one of the most surprising reads of 2020. It was a lot of fun, reminded me of Gossip Girl and I definitely didn’t see that ending coming. I thought it was a great stand-alone, but I was excited when I heard there was a sequel announced.
Anna K. Away is starting where Anna K. ended. It didn’t take much effort to get into the story. I was sucked into it really fast. Lee has such an easy writing style. It is easy, fast-paced and I always read a little more than I planned to.
You read from many perspectives, and because it is really fast-paced I sometimes got the feeling missed a couple of “steps” from the characters, it all happened so fast. Lee makes a couple of time jumps, and that’s not always clear. But still I enjoyed these characters immensely. In the end I just wanted more of them.
If you enjoyed Anna K. I definitely recommend Anna K. Away. It’s a great book, but not as great as Anna K. It was too fast-paced and it lacked a little on the character development. I hope there will be a Netflix movie or series from these books, because it would look great on screen. Lee has such an easy writing style and I am looking forward to what else she will write(and maybe I am secretly hoping for another book in this series).
Thank you Edelweiss and Flatirion Books for this free E-Arc¸ this hasn’t influenced my opinion.
Anna K. Away is starting where Anna K. ended. It didn’t take much effort to get into the story. I was sucked into it really fast. Lee has such an easy writing style. It is easy, fast-paced and I always read a little more than I planned to.
You read from many perspectives, and because it is really fast-paced I sometimes got the feeling missed a couple of “steps” from the characters, it all happened so fast. Lee makes a couple of time jumps, and that’s not always clear. But still I enjoyed these characters immensely. In the end I just wanted more of them.
If you enjoyed Anna K. I definitely recommend Anna K. Away. It’s a great book, but not as great as Anna K. It was too fast-paced and it lacked a little on the character development. I hope there will be a Netflix movie or series from these books, because it would look great on screen. Lee has such an easy writing style and I am looking forward to what else she will write(and maybe I am secretly hoping for another book in this series).
Thank you Edelweiss and Flatirion Books for this free E-Arc¸ this hasn’t influenced my opinion.
April 26, 2021
QUICK TAKE: let's be clear, I freakin' adored ANNA K. one of my favorite books of 2020, there were a lot of expectations heading into the sequel. Does it live up to the first book. Short answer: no. But ANNA K AWAY is still an excellent addition to this series, and for sure worth your time. The sequel is missing the fun framework of the first book that reinterpreted ANNA KARENINA...here, this is just a continuation of the characters from the first book without those classic literature Easter eggs that made ANNA K so brilliant. I also had issues with the characters spending most of the time apart...I enjoyed the camaraderie of the kids in the first book and missed that here (they come together in the last 50 pages and it really feels like a different book when that happens). That being said, I found this to be an excellent story of teenagers dealing with trauma and grief, and Jenny Lee still does a fantastic job with specificity and detail and wish fulfillment and fun...I could definitely use a spin-off series centered around the k-pop drama she introduces. Ultimately, if you liked the first book, I definitely think you'll enjoy this one!
January 30, 2022
Shoutout to Libro.fm's review copy without which I would not have been able to listen to this before release day, I personally love to see it. If you're trying to get rid of Audible + want to support local bookstores go check 'em out.
As for Ms Anna K Away? She was the moment. Going in I wasn't sure what to expect even after having read the synopsis. The first book in this duology sent me for a loop at the end and I wasn't quite sure how a sequel was going to pick up and continue to tell the tale; I have to say that while it's not the book I would have predicted I was getting it was a book that I enjoyed from the cast of characters at the beginning to the reading of the credits at the end of the audiobook. There might have been a few moments of hesitation at the onset of the story but as the novel unfolded and we were dragged deeper into the mess and chaos of our protagonists I was thoroughly enraptured in the world that Lee penned.
The prose wasn't as solid in this one. It did have that same almost literary, sort of a pseudo-Vanity Fair exposé quality to it; the kind of cover story that eventually winds up the basis of a low-budget movie that tries to be an Awards Season underdog. Here though there were more moments that felt clunky and didn't quite work with the overall flow of the story.
As for the plot, we follow three main arcs I would say. First is Anna grieving the loss of her first love and finding herself in the center of a K-Pop love triangle. I say love triangle, but that's mainly for simplicity and to not get too deep into spoilers; it's definitely not the most accurate way to describe it. It's really an arc of Anna finding herself, coming to terms with want she wants and allowing herself to go for it. Then we have Lolly and Steven, who are spending the summer partially separated as Lolly attends her final year at theatre camp; finding herself in a more compromising position than she initially expected. Dustin and Kimmie sort of form the periphery of this as they try to make their relationship work [ the age gap here remains somewhat disturbing, but in a soap of a book I'm not going to act as though while reading I actually wanted to dnf at any time ]. Natalia also circles that quartet slightly, acting as something of a sounding board for Kimmie, and while her arc isn't much of anything I did enjoy having her around. Lastly, we have Bea who is spending the summer with her uncle in Los Angeles where she finds love for the first time and is finally able to come to terms with her grief and processing that in a more healthy way.
I wouldn't say that it's immediately apparent how Lee planned to have all the characters come together, but it is one of the most successful books I've read set during the three-month break between academic years. Just as in Anna K the characters felt vibrant, both those we'd already come to know and love in the first book and those that made up the supporting cast here. There's definitely a part of me that is sad to have left Anna here. I would like nothing more than to check back in on these characters every few years, see where they ultimately wind up and the hijinks that their offspring have. It managed to match the energy and the entertainment I had with the first book and I will eagerly anticipate whatever Lee has in store next for their older readers.
As for Ms Anna K Away? She was the moment. Going in I wasn't sure what to expect even after having read the synopsis. The first book in this duology sent me for a loop at the end and I wasn't quite sure how a sequel was going to pick up and continue to tell the tale; I have to say that while it's not the book I would have predicted I was getting it was a book that I enjoyed from the cast of characters at the beginning to the reading of the credits at the end of the audiobook. There might have been a few moments of hesitation at the onset of the story but as the novel unfolded and we were dragged deeper into the mess and chaos of our protagonists I was thoroughly enraptured in the world that Lee penned.
The prose wasn't as solid in this one. It did have that same almost literary, sort of a pseudo-Vanity Fair exposé quality to it; the kind of cover story that eventually winds up the basis of a low-budget movie that tries to be an Awards Season underdog. Here though there were more moments that felt clunky and didn't quite work with the overall flow of the story.
As for the plot, we follow three main arcs I would say. First is Anna grieving the loss of her first love and finding herself in the center of a K-Pop love triangle. I say love triangle, but that's mainly for simplicity and to not get too deep into spoilers; it's definitely not the most accurate way to describe it. It's really an arc of Anna finding herself, coming to terms with want she wants and allowing herself to go for it. Then we have Lolly and Steven, who are spending the summer partially separated as Lolly attends her final year at theatre camp; finding herself in a more compromising position than she initially expected. Dustin and Kimmie sort of form the periphery of this as they try to make their relationship work [ the age gap here remains somewhat disturbing, but in a soap of a book I'm not going to act as though while reading I actually wanted to dnf at any time ]. Natalia also circles that quartet slightly, acting as something of a sounding board for Kimmie, and while her arc isn't much of anything I did enjoy having her around. Lastly, we have Bea who is spending the summer with her uncle in Los Angeles where she finds love for the first time and is finally able to come to terms with her grief and processing that in a more healthy way.
I wouldn't say that it's immediately apparent how Lee planned to have all the characters come together, but it is one of the most successful books I've read set during the three-month break between academic years. Just as in Anna K the characters felt vibrant, both those we'd already come to know and love in the first book and those that made up the supporting cast here. There's definitely a part of me that is sad to have left Anna here. I would like nothing more than to check back in on these characters every few years, see where they ultimately wind up and the hijinks that their offspring have. It managed to match the energy and the entertainment I had with the first book and I will eagerly anticipate whatever Lee has in store next for their older readers.
Want to read
May 20, 2020
March 11, 2021
I loved Anna K and was glad to be reunited with the characters. The sequel is much slower to get going, the first 1/2 felt like too much exposition and rehashing of the first book. Not enough action or new story. But as the book got going, it got better. There is still the drama from the first book but it’s considerably less fun, which makes sense given the end of Anna K. It’s a good read and sets us up for a very fun book 3 (I hope).
Read
May 20, 2021this was so fun!! it reminded me of my love for entertaining stories and messy characters :”)
February 7, 2024
i’ll take sequels that shouldn’t exist for for £150 please
March 17, 2024
This was a pretty good sequel, though honestly I'm not sure I really needed a followup to Anna K. The characters are going their separate ways for the summer, dealing with grief and loss, relationship drama and more. It's still this Gossip Girl meets Crazy Rich Asians vibe, this time with the titular Anna spending time in Korea and befriending a member of a K-pop group. There are a lot of pop culture references, which at once grounds it in a certain time and place and will also make it age quicker. It was fun and a quick read, but I didn't find it as moving as the first book. The audio narration is good and fits the fun, pop sort of vibe. I received an audio copy from Libro.FM, all opinions are my own.
May 1, 2021
3.25/5 Stars
I wasn't sure what to expect from this sequel. Anna K, the first book, was a retelling of the well-known Russian classic Anna Karenina and even though it was set in contemporary New York you could definitely recognize some scenes and characters. But with Anna K: Away the book explores very uncharted territory in terms of plot.
I didn't enjoy this story as much as the first book. It was still entertaining and fun, and it definitely offers a glimpse of a very over-the-top lifestyle, but nothing more for me.
My favourite POV was definitely Anna's, I appreciated seeing things from her perspective and also reading how she coped with everything that happened at the end of book one. I also think it was the most fun since I got to see her travel all over the world.
Even though I don't think this novel compares to the previous book, I do still think it's a very entertaining read.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this sequel. Anna K, the first book, was a retelling of the well-known Russian classic Anna Karenina and even though it was set in contemporary New York you could definitely recognize some scenes and characters. But with Anna K: Away the book explores very uncharted territory in terms of plot.
I didn't enjoy this story as much as the first book. It was still entertaining and fun, and it definitely offers a glimpse of a very over-the-top lifestyle, but nothing more for me.
My favourite POV was definitely Anna's, I appreciated seeing things from her perspective and also reading how she coped with everything that happened at the end of book one. I also think it was the most fun since I got to see her travel all over the world.
Even though I don't think this novel compares to the previous book, I do still think it's a very entertaining read.
May 17, 2021
*2.5
I don't fully know what "crack-fic" means, but I'm pretty sure this book qualifies as one.
I don't fully know what "crack-fic" means, but I'm pretty sure this book qualifies as one.
May 29, 2021
Just no, there was so much I hated about this book. I loved the first one, but this was such a let down. There was a ton of WE ARE RICH. The first book did this too, but you could get hammered in two pages if you did a shot per use of the word “rich.” I understand that they’re wealthy, but good lord you don’t need to remind me every other sentence. I also hated the characterization of Dean. Way to pull a total cliche out and throw it into the story. Most of the characters in this are basic teen tropes and nothing even happens. The story is also written with a ton of telling and has a certain emotional detachment at odds with the subject matter in many areas. I wouldn’t bother to read this. I only finished because I paid for the preorder.
April 15, 2021
Who else loves a good juicy, gossipy read?! 🙋🏻♀️🙋🏻♀️🙋🏻♀️ I finally listened to Anna K last month and then my friends @librofm came through with the sequel so it was perfect timing!
You definitely need to read the first book before this one but both are great, and this one picks up right after the events in book one. The narration in this was awesome, it was such a breezy one to listen to, so I highly recommend the audio version. I don’t often recommend a beach listen as opposed to a read but this would be ideal to listen to poolside this summer, it’s sharp, funny and outrageous but wickedly fun.
You definitely need to read the first book before this one but both are great, and this one picks up right after the events in book one. The narration in this was awesome, it was such a breezy one to listen to, so I highly recommend the audio version. I don’t often recommend a beach listen as opposed to a read but this would be ideal to listen to poolside this summer, it’s sharp, funny and outrageous but wickedly fun.
April 21, 2021
I was immediately brought back into the luxurious and elite lives of Anna K and company. Anna K: Away has all the pomp and glamour that I fell in love from the first book, plus a lot of great explorations of grief and healing following Vronsky's death and how it has impacted our cast of characters. While I do think that the characters were not as interconnected as in book 1, I think I appreciated that each one got to stand on their own and develop outside of their relationship to Anna K. I also think getting out of New York helped this too - from L.A. to Seoul, we have a lot of ground to cover and plenty of drama all summer long. The new character introductions immediately felt right at home with these larger-than-life cast, and this book was just so much fun to read!
I received an advanced copy of the book from libro.fm in exchange for an honest review
I received an advanced copy of the book from libro.fm in exchange for an honest review
June 5, 2021
Esta duologia de libros ha sido mi descubrimiento del 2021, como lo decía en mi reseña del primer libro, no esperaba mucho de esta historia y me termino sorprendiendo bastante, y esta segunda parte no me dejo nada indiferente, un poco inferior al primer libro pero aún así con muy buena calidad.
Después del trágico desenlace que tuvimos pues era de esperar que nuestra protagonista Anna K se encontrara devastada y perdida, y en este punto de la historia es donde partimos, no sólo Anna está siendo afectada por los sucesos, un POV que no se había desarrollado mucho en el libro anterior aquí toma protagonismo y es el de Bea, la prima de Vronski, además de los problemas de Lolly que igual crece más en esta novela y otros que son dejados un poco de lado como Justin y Kimmie, aún así la autora logra antretejer una gran historia adolescente de duelo, de amor y amistad, y donde todos los personajes maduran y tienen gran crecimiento, que fue una de las cosas que más me gustaron.
Este libro creo que se maneja ya como una historia independiente a lo que fue el primer libro que se basaba en el clásico de Anna Karenina, aquí Jenny Lee decide tomar al 100 el destino de sus personajes, sin duda fue interesante ver cómo encajaba la historia de Karenina en el 2020 pero esta segunda parte también estuvo bien como siguió esta historia.
Después del trágico desenlace que tuvimos pues era de esperar que nuestra protagonista Anna K se encontrara devastada y perdida, y en este punto de la historia es donde partimos, no sólo Anna está siendo afectada por los sucesos, un POV que no se había desarrollado mucho en el libro anterior aquí toma protagonismo y es el de Bea, la prima de Vronski, además de los problemas de Lolly que igual crece más en esta novela y otros que son dejados un poco de lado como Justin y Kimmie, aún así la autora logra antretejer una gran historia adolescente de duelo, de amor y amistad, y donde todos los personajes maduran y tienen gran crecimiento, que fue una de las cosas que más me gustaron.
Este libro creo que se maneja ya como una historia independiente a lo que fue el primer libro que se basaba en el clásico de Anna Karenina, aquí Jenny Lee decide tomar al 100 el destino de sus personajes, sin duda fue interesante ver cómo encajaba la historia de Karenina en el 2020 pero esta segunda parte también estuvo bien como siguió esta historia.
May 5, 2021
💄💄💄(three stars as rated in The Mystery Girl's signature red lipstick)
Once the teen queen of the New York City, Anna K has all but disappeared from the social scene following the tragic death of her boyfriend, Alexia Vronsky. Her father, currently estranged from his own wife, has decided that time away will do the pair of them some good and so it's off to Korea for them both. In their absence, Anna's brother Steven is having troubles of his own. His girlfriend Lolly is preparing for a stint away at drama camp, putting strains on the trust that is still healing from Steven's past infidelity. Steven's best friend Dustin struggles to navigate his own burgeoning relationship with Kimmie, Lolly's younger sister, while simultaneously trying to forge some sort of family unit with his late brother's girlfriend, Natalia. On the other side of country, Beatrice (Vronksy's cousin and BFF), is also reeling from the loss of her partner in crime. She despises Anna K for stealing Alexia from her and has vowed to spend the whole summer drinking and wallowing in misery. That is until a pretty girl working the hotel reception desk catches her eye...
"Haters are always gonna hate…but everyone loves a good comeback tour."
If while reading Anna K you thought to yourself, "what that book needs is some more K-pop," then have I got the sequel of your DREAMS! This book is the chunky monkey ice cream of teen dramas. It is just so much stinking fun to DEVOUR in a single sitting. Which, is what I love to do anyway! Full disclosure, Anna K: Away reads a teeny bit slower than its predecessor and a lot of what goes on with some of the characters is clearly set up for book three. Because there is obviously going to be a book three. So. Many. Cliffhangers!
What I think I enjoyed most about this book is how it deals with the fallout of Anna K and Vronsky's relationship as well as Alexia's subsequent death. The whole situation is so horrible traumatizing to everyone and, unlike in Anna Karenina, the reader gets to witness how that all plays out. Even the characters that didn't really know Anna and Alexia discuss how the situation affected them. Everyone carries a small piece of guilt which, is what I like to think would have happened in Anna Karenina had we gotten a bit more at the end there as well. I found this creative decision to be very special and was really pleased with Jenny Lee's choice to use her continuation of the story to give some justice to the memory of Anna K's infamous inspiration. Well done!
"It's like waiting for the big one - the big wave. You gotta just follow your gut to tell you when it's the right wave to go for. As soon as you're up on your board and riding it there's no sense in worrying anymore. You just gotta relax into it and ride the wave."
✨ Rep in this book: Korean-American MC, Black supporting character, Queer MC
✨ Content warnings for this book: death of a loved one, infidelity, revenge porn, gun violence, alcohol use, sexual content, drug abuse, vomit
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April 27, 2021
Anna K Away picks up where Anna K left off -- I highly recommend reading that one first (just be sure not to read the Anna K Away synopsis ahead of time as it's got spoilers for the first book in the series).
I found Anna K Away to be frothier than Anna K -- lighter on details, lighter on drama and tragedy. Anna is in Seoul, Bea is in LA, and Lolly is at theater camp; the narrative bounces between the three. While Steven, Kimmie, and Dustin make appearances, I felt the book focuses more on the other three (perhaps because they're outside NYC?). Though, personally, I'd have liked even more of Lolly, given how engaging and juicy her storyline was in this installment.
And that's really my hope for Anna K Away - that it's just one book in a series of at least three, not (as @cindyheartsbooks put it) an extended epilogue of Anna K. It felt to me like author Jenny Lee was moving pieces around to set things up for the third book -- fingers crossed for that!
Jenna Ushkowitz is again a great narrator; I'm glad to have listened to this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and libro.fm for a free ALC of this title for review.
I found Anna K Away to be frothier than Anna K -- lighter on details, lighter on drama and tragedy. Anna is in Seoul, Bea is in LA, and Lolly is at theater camp; the narrative bounces between the three. While Steven, Kimmie, and Dustin make appearances, I felt the book focuses more on the other three (perhaps because they're outside NYC?). Though, personally, I'd have liked even more of Lolly, given how engaging and juicy her storyline was in this installment.
And that's really my hope for Anna K Away - that it's just one book in a series of at least three, not (as @cindyheartsbooks put it) an extended epilogue of Anna K. It felt to me like author Jenny Lee was moving pieces around to set things up for the third book -- fingers crossed for that!
Jenna Ushkowitz is again a great narrator; I'm glad to have listened to this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and libro.fm for a free ALC of this title for review.
June 2, 2021
In Anna K Away, the sequel to Anna K, our heroine finds herself in Korea, connecting with her family abroad and meeting the newest stars of K-pop. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC on NetGalley!
Rating: 3.5 (rounded up to 4 for Goodreads)
Pub date: April 27th (out now!)
When we last saw Anna, she was grieving the death of her love Vronsky and dealing with the fallout of a sex tape. Her father sends her to Korea to get away from the drama, but of course Anna will always find attention - making headlines as the "mystery girl" tied to a K-pop star. We also get updates on Lolly and Stephen, apart for the summer as Lolly attends Interlochen, as well as Beatrice and her new surfer love, and Dustin and Kimmie.
In the first book, the characters were together in their posh NYC bubble - here they are spread out on new adventures. It took me a bit to get used to this structure, but I enjoyed seeing each character's coming of age journey. Jenna Ushkowitz (of Glee fame) did an awesome job with the narration - the characters sounded like the teens they are, and they were differentiated well by voice. The characters' heart-to-hearts sounded just like chats you'd have with a friend.
Some of the arcs were stronger than others - of course Anna was my favorite! I also enjoyed Beatrice's and Lolly's stories as they learned more about love outside of the Manhattan bubble. Kimmie's story fell a little flat for me, but I did like seeing her character growth at the end.
Whereas Anna K read like Gossip Girl meets Crazy Rich Asians, this book skews a little more toward the Gossip Girl side - it feels a little younger, maybe due to the absence of the Anna K-Vronsky relationship. It was still a really fun audiobook for me as a 30-something, but I'm not sure if it would feel too young for an older audience.
Review posted to Goodreads and Instagram on 5/2/21.
Rating: 3.5 (rounded up to 4 for Goodreads)
Pub date: April 27th (out now!)
When we last saw Anna, she was grieving the death of her love Vronsky and dealing with the fallout of a sex tape. Her father sends her to Korea to get away from the drama, but of course Anna will always find attention - making headlines as the "mystery girl" tied to a K-pop star. We also get updates on Lolly and Stephen, apart for the summer as Lolly attends Interlochen, as well as Beatrice and her new surfer love, and Dustin and Kimmie.
In the first book, the characters were together in their posh NYC bubble - here they are spread out on new adventures. It took me a bit to get used to this structure, but I enjoyed seeing each character's coming of age journey. Jenna Ushkowitz (of Glee fame) did an awesome job with the narration - the characters sounded like the teens they are, and they were differentiated well by voice. The characters' heart-to-hearts sounded just like chats you'd have with a friend.
Some of the arcs were stronger than others - of course Anna was my favorite! I also enjoyed Beatrice's and Lolly's stories as they learned more about love outside of the Manhattan bubble. Kimmie's story fell a little flat for me, but I did like seeing her character growth at the end.
Whereas Anna K read like Gossip Girl meets Crazy Rich Asians, this book skews a little more toward the Gossip Girl side - it feels a little younger, maybe due to the absence of the Anna K-Vronsky relationship. It was still a really fun audiobook for me as a 30-something, but I'm not sure if it would feel too young for an older audience.
Review posted to Goodreads and Instagram on 5/2/21.
May 29, 2021
Put this one at the top of your Beach Reads list for this summer.
The sequel to Anna K is the same brand of frivolous fun as the original, and this one veers far from anything even remotely tragic, sticking to the lighter stuff that was the best part of the original. We’re a long way from Anna Karenina now, though I’m not sure that was ever truly the point of reading these.
I loved the travel elements of this book, especially Anna’s time in Korea. She remains far and away the best character in the series, so I’m pleased that she remained the central focus of the story for the most part. I also liked the new Korean characters introduced in this book.
Lolly finally got a good plot line (yay!) and the subplots with some of the adults were kind of interesting. I do wish Bea was allowed to do something other than date. It’s boring and there could be so much more to her character.
Lee’s writing style always takes a little getting used to. It’s odd for the genre, though I mean that in the best way. The humor and fun brand shoutouts and name drops are as good here as they were in the first book. The retelling of a classic theme isn’t really in play anymore, so the series is more like a less nasty and more diverse version of Gossip Girl, which makes it an excellent choice for a fun summer read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The sequel to Anna K is the same brand of frivolous fun as the original, and this one veers far from anything even remotely tragic, sticking to the lighter stuff that was the best part of the original. We’re a long way from Anna Karenina now, though I’m not sure that was ever truly the point of reading these.
I loved the travel elements of this book, especially Anna’s time in Korea. She remains far and away the best character in the series, so I’m pleased that she remained the central focus of the story for the most part. I also liked the new Korean characters introduced in this book.
Lolly finally got a good plot line (yay!) and the subplots with some of the adults were kind of interesting. I do wish Bea was allowed to do something other than date. It’s boring and there could be so much more to her character.
Lee’s writing style always takes a little getting used to. It’s odd for the genre, though I mean that in the best way. The humor and fun brand shoutouts and name drops are as good here as they were in the first book. The retelling of a classic theme isn’t really in play anymore, so the series is more like a less nasty and more diverse version of Gossip Girl, which makes it an excellent choice for a fun summer read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 11, 2021
Honestly, I just had a lot of fun reading about more of the chaotic (and often morally questionable situations) Anna and the people around her find themselves in. There's more of the messiness that readers might recall from the first novel, but I can't deny it was still quite entertaining to read. (It definitely reminded me of my tween days reading the Gossip Girl novels, that's for sure.)
While it does have similar dramatics and tension to its predecessor, I spent Anna K: Away feeling more introspective than I expected. I'm always drawn to stories where characters are processing difficult, powerful emotions, and it was riveting watching Anna deal with her grief and her own further self-discovery. I genuinely got caught up in this story all over again! It does end pretty definitively, but I could also see myself reading more about these characters if the author were ever to write another story about them.
Content Warnings (I'm not sure I caught them all, so please make sure to look up other reviews for more information): grief, death of a loved one (mentioned), violence (including gun violence), emotional affair/cheating, drinking, drugs, sex
While it does have similar dramatics and tension to its predecessor, I spent Anna K: Away feeling more introspective than I expected. I'm always drawn to stories where characters are processing difficult, powerful emotions, and it was riveting watching Anna deal with her grief and her own further self-discovery. I genuinely got caught up in this story all over again! It does end pretty definitively, but I could also see myself reading more about these characters if the author were ever to write another story about them.
Content Warnings (I'm not sure I caught them all, so please make sure to look up other reviews for more information): grief, death of a loved one (mentioned), violence (including gun violence), emotional affair/cheating, drinking, drugs, sex
May 21, 2021
Anna K Away picks up the story from Anna K: A Love Story, which was a modern retelling of Anna Karenina. In Anna K Away, we follow several of the characters during the summer following the events of Anna K. Anna is heartbroken over the loss of her first love, Vronsky. She is also dealing with the fall out of their sex video being leaked. To escape all this, Anna's father takes her with him to visit family in South Korea. Anna's brother's girlfriend Lolly spends the summer at theater camp where she meets a co-star who sparks something in her. Bea goes to California and meets a lovely young woman. Kimmie spends the summer in NYC with her new boyfriend Dustin. The story pops around between these 4 different storylines as we see who the summer of the crew from Anna K shakes out.
This was a fun read. Like the first novel, this is edgy YA about a group of well-off teens. More sex, drugs and rock & roll but this time with a splash of K-pop.
I listened to the audio book for this one and it was well done and a fun listen. Two thumbs up for the audiobook. :)
Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook.
This was a fun read. Like the first novel, this is edgy YA about a group of well-off teens. More sex, drugs and rock & roll but this time with a splash of K-pop.
I listened to the audio book for this one and it was well done and a fun listen. Two thumbs up for the audiobook. :)
Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook.
June 4, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now while I wasn't a huge fan of the first book, Anna K: A Love Story, I will admit that I was actually pretty excited to dive into Anna K: Away. Which, yeah, sounds super weird while I'm typing this but oh well. I said what I said people.
The reason why I was excited was because I really enjoyed reading Crazy Rich Asians. I'm still not a huge fan of the Gossip Girl vibes but I was willing to make an exception if this turned out better than the previous one. Spoiler alert: I still don't like anyone. Maybe it's the characters, drama, romance, or anything else in between but there's just something that rubs me the wrong way.
I tried, like really tried to find one thing to like and right now - that's the ending. In the end, I just don't think this book was for me but I am glad that I took the risk to dive into it.
Now while I wasn't a huge fan of the first book, Anna K: A Love Story, I will admit that I was actually pretty excited to dive into Anna K: Away. Which, yeah, sounds super weird while I'm typing this but oh well. I said what I said people.
The reason why I was excited was because I really enjoyed reading Crazy Rich Asians. I'm still not a huge fan of the Gossip Girl vibes but I was willing to make an exception if this turned out better than the previous one. Spoiler alert: I still don't like anyone. Maybe it's the characters, drama, romance, or anything else in between but there's just something that rubs me the wrong way.
I tried, like really tried to find one thing to like and right now - that's the ending. In the end, I just don't think this book was for me but I am glad that I took the risk to dive into it.
March 8, 2021
Trigger warnings:
I had a lot of fun reading Anna K. and found that back in this sequel! I still enjoyed the characters and the drama a whole lot, even if I felt like some events were a little unnecessary.
Full review coming soon!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC through Edelweiss! This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts & rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
I had a lot of fun reading Anna K. and found that back in this sequel! I still enjoyed the characters and the drama a whole lot, even if I felt like some events were a little unnecessary.
Full review coming soon!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC through Edelweiss! This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts & rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
June 28, 2023
2023 reads: 202/350
this is the sequel to anna k: a love story.
amidst her scandal and her grief, anna’s father takes her to the other side of the world. in south korea, anna has to decide if this is exile or a chance to start anew. back in the u.s., anna’s friends go through a series of relationship drama, including theatre camp flings, uncertainty around sex, and strangers becoming more.
the first book captivated me with all the drama and, of course, tragedy, so i just had to see how this one played out. i appreciated the various depictions of grief through the different characters. i highly recommend this to anyone who liked the first book and wants more from the characters.
this is the sequel to anna k: a love story.
amidst her scandal and her grief, anna’s father takes her to the other side of the world. in south korea, anna has to decide if this is exile or a chance to start anew. back in the u.s., anna’s friends go through a series of relationship drama, including theatre camp flings, uncertainty around sex, and strangers becoming more.
the first book captivated me with all the drama and, of course, tragedy, so i just had to see how this one played out. i appreciated the various depictions of grief through the different characters. i highly recommend this to anyone who liked the first book and wants more from the characters.
April 26, 2021
In ANNA K AWAY, the characters from the first book head off across the globe for the summer before their senior year, all dealing with emotional trauma from events that happened in ANNA K. Whereas the first book was engrossing, this one was a lovely YA read that reminded me of Gossip Girl. I think overall I enjoyed it more than the first because the author had full control of the story and despite the rich teenage antics, the story felt more "real." It would be a great beach read!
May 3, 2021
de saaiste personages vind ik personages die veel te goed zijn, die alleen maar positieve dingen denken en doen en zich nooit laten gaan, echte mary sues. anna k. is zo'n mary sue en daardoor was anna k: away eigenlijk best saai.
lolly's verhaallijn vond ik het boeiendst, maar helaas werd daar de minste aandacht aan besteed.
ik las ergens dat dit een soort gossip girl meets crazy rich asians is, maar wat mij betreft is het iets teveel van het eerste en niet genoeg van het laatste.
lolly's verhaallijn vond ik het boeiendst, maar helaas werd daar de minste aandacht aan besteed.
ik las ergens dat dit een soort gossip girl meets crazy rich asians is, maar wat mij betreft is het iets teveel van het eerste en niet genoeg van het laatste.
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