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Just the Two of Us #1
Just the Two of Us
A heartwarming story of two people who were meant for each other.
Soohyuk: a pediatric emergency medicine specialist. A man who never eats something someone else gives him.
Soohyuk, the tyrant who rules S University Hospital’s pediatric emergency room. He only cares about treating sick children, whether or not that gets in the way of advancing his career. He, a grouch to everyone aside from the patients, suddenly starts noticing a woman: the woman who feeds him.
Yuna: a chef who makes boxed lunches. A woman who panics and collapses whenever she meets a man, due to trauma from her past.
Wanting to do what she likes rather than going off to college, Yuna opens up her own business that specializes in boxed lunches, A Tasty Meal. She gets scared when one day she sees the tall Soohyuk standing outside her restaurant, but she soon learns he is only drawn to the delicious smell. And, somehow, she comes to be in charge of his everyday meals.
When Soohyuk meets Yuna, a confident, surefooted woman who gets startled and scared when he comes near, he wants to know everything there is to know about her.
“Did you collapse because you don’t like me? Or are you scared of men?”
Soohyuk: a pediatric emergency medicine specialist. A man who never eats something someone else gives him.
Soohyuk, the tyrant who rules S University Hospital’s pediatric emergency room. He only cares about treating sick children, whether or not that gets in the way of advancing his career. He, a grouch to everyone aside from the patients, suddenly starts noticing a woman: the woman who feeds him.
Yuna: a chef who makes boxed lunches. A woman who panics and collapses whenever she meets a man, due to trauma from her past.
Wanting to do what she likes rather than going off to college, Yuna opens up her own business that specializes in boxed lunches, A Tasty Meal. She gets scared when one day she sees the tall Soohyuk standing outside her restaurant, but she soon learns he is only drawn to the delicious smell. And, somehow, she comes to be in charge of his everyday meals.
When Soohyuk meets Yuna, a confident, surefooted woman who gets startled and scared when he comes near, he wants to know everything there is to know about her.
“Did you collapse because you don’t like me? Or are you scared of men?”
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
18 people are currently reading
1442 people want to read
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November 15, 2021super surprised to win this in a Goodreads giveaway bc that's happened never??
literally a kdrama plot and also it sounds so soft and angsty and good??
literally a kdrama plot and also it sounds so soft and angsty and good??
January 18, 2021
If this hadn't been an ARC, I would have DNF'ed it a long time ago... probably around 5%. I won't be doing a long review because honestly, I spent way too much time on this book even though I hated it and I just want to forget about it to move on to better things! Now, if you've seen a few reviews of this book, you'll know that it has huge problems of translation/writing but even if the translation had been perfect, I don't think it would have been a great read either way. If you're like me and expect an enjoyable romance standalone by looking at that cover, change your expectations. If you enjoyed reading this book though, I'm glad for you. You must stronger than me since this was a chore from beginning to end. Sorry.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
April 7, 2021
The colorful cover and the enticing summary tricked me into thinking this was going to be a great contemporary romance. Sadly, it wasn't. I wish I could have loved this; I wanted to. But I soon discovered that the book wasn't what I was expecting. It was a challenging task trying to read and finish this novel. I don't even know how I managed to do so. I found the structure of the book to be confusing. There was no reason to keep going since we already knew from the beginning how the conflict was going to end. I didn't connect with any of the characters, especially Soohyuk. He came off as unlikeable and rude. The book tried to handle many pressing issues but without any real care. Some passages even left a bad taste in my mouth because of how poorly tackled these issues were. The writing style and editing were also bothersome. The book kept jumping from one thing to the other - it felt incomplete. At times it was almost impossible to understand what the author was trying to say. I won't read the second one unless there are significant changes to the writing style and translation.
Arc kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Arc kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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May 31, 2023
***ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
Just the Two of Us is a slow burn Korean rom-com. It follows the two main characters: Soohyuk, a pediatrician suffering from OCD and Yuna, a chef and food blogger. He is strange and aloof. She is lovable and nice. They are both trauma survivors, that being the common ground on which they fall in love.
The story was cute but the translation issues and abrupt ending were hard to overlook.
Just the Two of Us is a slow burn Korean rom-com. It follows the two main characters: Soohyuk, a pediatrician suffering from OCD and Yuna, a chef and food blogger. He is strange and aloof. She is lovable and nice. They are both trauma survivors, that being the common ground on which they fall in love.
The story was cute but the translation issues and abrupt ending were hard to overlook.
January 5, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Just the Two of Us was an okay and kind of a cute book. In it, you will meet Yuna and Soohyuk. She is a chef and just loves to cook. Honestly all the dishes she made sounded so freaking good and made me extremely hungry. Oh, and he recently moved to Korea from the US for an exchange program. In other words, he is a doctor.
I'm not going to lie, these two had some cute and then super weird interactions with one another. Or even when they weren't together. It took me to drink my second cup of coffee to realize all of this. So in a way, it kind of baffled me but it also seemed like a lost in translation thing as well.
In the end, I enjoyed it somewhat but it ended kind of abruptly. At least to me. Still enjoyable though and I definitely had food envy while reading it.
Just the Two of Us was an okay and kind of a cute book. In it, you will meet Yuna and Soohyuk. She is a chef and just loves to cook. Honestly all the dishes she made sounded so freaking good and made me extremely hungry. Oh, and he recently moved to Korea from the US for an exchange program. In other words, he is a doctor.
I'm not going to lie, these two had some cute and then super weird interactions with one another. Or even when they weren't together. It took me to drink my second cup of coffee to realize all of this. So in a way, it kind of baffled me but it also seemed like a lost in translation thing as well.
In the end, I enjoyed it somewhat but it ended kind of abruptly. At least to me. Still enjoyable though and I definitely had food envy while reading it.
March 13, 2021
Edit: I apparently have no sense of self-preservation, because I also read book 2.
The following book contains language, mentions of child abuse and molestation, and references to adult themes
Read if you... don't have time to watch a bad Asian drama, talk like Google translate, or think think stoic geniuses can be jerks as long as they have an attractive face.
I saw pediatric medicine and Asians in the synopsis and was sold...at least until I actually read the book. This is like a bad K-drama, and not the so-bad-it's-good type, but the just plain bad type.
I'm going to give Ryu Hyang the benefit of the doubt and say a lot of her story was muddled by translation issues. I know translating is no easy feat, but the writing was so stilted and awkward, it was almost difficult to read. At points, it felt like words or lines were plugged into Google Translate and just copied and pasted directly onto the final manuscript. The story randomly shifted perspectives without any kind of transition, making the writing feel even clunkier. It made it hard to enjoy the story when the writing was wooden and filled with weird stylistic choices.
While the language issues were distracting, the story was pretty bad too. The plot was what you'd expect from a K-drama but not very well-executed. It started out extremely slowly (there's no reason this should be a multiple-story book) and wasn't particularly well-developed. Let's be real, most Asian dramas are predictable and formulaic, and this was no exception.
I spotted the birth mom the minute she appeared, and the relationship between the two main characters was a poorly written version of familiar tropes: he's the brilliant, arrogant doctor and she's the cheerful, go-getter chef, they're both orphans and have traumatic pasts. Their relationship can essentially be summed up by some sad attempts at banter and repetitions of "ba-boom" and "she's so cute." (There's also amnesia, an evil mother-in-law, and a slap scene, so you get the full K-drama experience.)
Just the Two of Us had all the ingredients needed for a good K-drama; unfortunately, the execution was lacking. The descriptions of food were probably the best part of the book, but it also made me super hungry so maybe it's not a good thing? I was already craving Korean food before I read this, so now I'm just hangry.
The following book contains language, mentions of child abuse and molestation, and references to adult themes
Read if you... don't have time to watch a bad Asian drama, talk like Google translate, or think think stoic geniuses can be jerks as long as they have an attractive face.
I saw pediatric medicine and Asians in the synopsis and was sold...at least until I actually read the book. This is like a bad K-drama, and not the so-bad-it's-good type, but the just plain bad type.
I'm going to give Ryu Hyang the benefit of the doubt and say a lot of her story was muddled by translation issues. I know translating is no easy feat, but the writing was so stilted and awkward, it was almost difficult to read. At points, it felt like words or lines were plugged into Google Translate and just copied and pasted directly onto the final manuscript. The story randomly shifted perspectives without any kind of transition, making the writing feel even clunkier. It made it hard to enjoy the story when the writing was wooden and filled with weird stylistic choices.
While the language issues were distracting, the story was pretty bad too. The plot was what you'd expect from a K-drama but not very well-executed. It started out extremely slowly (there's no reason this should be a multiple-story book) and wasn't particularly well-developed. Let's be real, most Asian dramas are predictable and formulaic, and this was no exception.
I spotted the birth mom the minute she appeared, and the relationship between the two main characters was a poorly written version of familiar tropes: he's the brilliant, arrogant doctor and she's the cheerful, go-getter chef, they're both orphans and have traumatic pasts. Their relationship can essentially be summed up by some sad attempts at banter and repetitions of "ba-boom" and "she's so cute." (There's also amnesia, an evil mother-in-law, and a slap scene, so you get the full K-drama experience.)
Just the Two of Us had all the ingredients needed for a good K-drama; unfortunately, the execution was lacking. The descriptions of food were probably the best part of the book, but it also made me super hungry so maybe it's not a good thing? I was already craving Korean food before I read this, so now I'm just hangry.
February 15, 2021
Reading this book feels like watching a mediocre kdrama. But that's not necessarily bad, as banality can help you kill time. Except this book is too stereotypically mediocre and boring.
-
The plot has used every commonly used tropes in kdrama: siblings being separated, mean wealthy mother-in-law, stoic characters with dark childhood, the one doctor that is a jerk but is also a genius. The progression of the story gives you no surprise either: you know the whole plot and how the story will progress after max.3 chapters. Cute child? He will either die or get very sick. A lady whose child went missing 30 years ago got a familiar vibe from a man? That's her child.
I actually don't really mind if the plot is too predictive. When it's executed well I can still enjoy the writing. But the writing is bland like oatmeal cooked with only water. That's really a shame for the book: though very formulaic, the side characters have their own personalities and the family dramas look pretty fun.
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I don't want to get started with the medical aspect of the book (I have so much to rant I can make a separate essay for it lol). It simply sucks and physically hurts to read. The main character is a traditional genius doctor that happens to be a jerk. But the point is, you can't be a good doctor when you don't listen to your patients. Doctors really are not the kings in a hospital, collaboration is so important. But in this book, nurses and other health professionals are reduced to people who make coffee. Also, why are all of the doctors male? As a medical student I had so many question marks when I was reading this book.
-
That being said, I'm not going to blacklist the sequel. I might want to read it when I want a bland oatmeal to get through the day.
-
Thanks for Netgalley for sending me the ARC.
-
The plot has used every commonly used tropes in kdrama: siblings being separated, mean wealthy mother-in-law, stoic characters with dark childhood, the one doctor that is a jerk but is also a genius. The progression of the story gives you no surprise either: you know the whole plot and how the story will progress after max.3 chapters. Cute child? He will either die or get very sick. A lady whose child went missing 30 years ago got a familiar vibe from a man? That's her child.
I actually don't really mind if the plot is too predictive. When it's executed well I can still enjoy the writing. But the writing is bland like oatmeal cooked with only water. That's really a shame for the book: though very formulaic, the side characters have their own personalities and the family dramas look pretty fun.
-
I don't want to get started with the medical aspect of the book (I have so much to rant I can make a separate essay for it lol). It simply sucks and physically hurts to read. The main character is a traditional genius doctor that happens to be a jerk. But the point is, you can't be a good doctor when you don't listen to your patients. Doctors really are not the kings in a hospital, collaboration is so important. But in this book, nurses and other health professionals are reduced to people who make coffee. Also, why are all of the doctors male? As a medical student I had so many question marks when I was reading this book.
-
That being said, I'm not going to blacklist the sequel. I might want to read it when I want a bland oatmeal to get through the day.
-
Thanks for Netgalley for sending me the ARC.
November 13, 2020
[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself] //ENGLISH REVIEW BELOW//
2'5 estrellitas.
Este es un libro de esos de "no eres tú, soy yo". Creo que lo habría leído de otro modo si llego a saber que la siguiente entrega de la serie es una continuación de esta y no otra historia distinta.
No es un libro que esté mal, únicamente que yo no he conectado con él (especialmente por el modo en el que está escrito, carente de emociones). Es un kdrama que, si llego a ver en formato audiovisual (ya me ouedo imaginar a Park Seojoon como protagonista 😍), me lo devoro pero que, como historia escrita, no me ha conquistado, me ha costado horrores conectar con ella. Creo que hay que conocer un poco la sociedad coreana y sus valores para entender el porqué de algunos comportamientos y reacciones.
Sin embargo, deja la historia tan en el aire que probablemente lea la continuación, ya que siento mucha curiosidad por ver cómo se resuelve (si es que se resuelve en la segunda parte) la historia de Soohyuk.
-------------
So sad I couldn't connect with this story!
I love kdramas and this book is the perfect screenplay for one of them (with Park Seojoon as MC, please!) but transferred into a book it's too slow paced for my taste.
Although I was very interested I couldn't connect with the story. I know Soohyuk has OCD and that is the reasong for his behaviour but he's so emotionless sometimes it bothered me. The rest of the characters are more likable but if you know something about Korean society you already know thet they're shy and not into exposing their emotions. The book is pretty accurate showing us that but made the whole story too cold.
However, the ending cliffhanger has left me wanting to know what's going to happen with Soohyuk, so I'm going to keep reading the series.
2'5 estrellitas.
Este es un libro de esos de "no eres tú, soy yo". Creo que lo habría leído de otro modo si llego a saber que la siguiente entrega de la serie es una continuación de esta y no otra historia distinta.
No es un libro que esté mal, únicamente que yo no he conectado con él (especialmente por el modo en el que está escrito, carente de emociones). Es un kdrama que, si llego a ver en formato audiovisual (ya me ouedo imaginar a Park Seojoon como protagonista 😍), me lo devoro pero que, como historia escrita, no me ha conquistado, me ha costado horrores conectar con ella. Creo que hay que conocer un poco la sociedad coreana y sus valores para entender el porqué de algunos comportamientos y reacciones.
Sin embargo, deja la historia tan en el aire que probablemente lea la continuación, ya que siento mucha curiosidad por ver cómo se resuelve (si es que se resuelve en la segunda parte) la historia de Soohyuk.
-------------
So sad I couldn't connect with this story!
I love kdramas and this book is the perfect screenplay for one of them (with Park Seojoon as MC, please!) but transferred into a book it's too slow paced for my taste.
Although I was very interested I couldn't connect with the story. I know Soohyuk has OCD and that is the reasong for his behaviour but he's so emotionless sometimes it bothered me. The rest of the characters are more likable but if you know something about Korean society you already know thet they're shy and not into exposing their emotions. The book is pretty accurate showing us that but made the whole story too cold.
However, the ending cliffhanger has left me wanting to know what's going to happen with Soohyuk, so I'm going to keep reading the series.
November 15, 2020
Soohyuk moves to Korea from US as part of an exchange program. He is a pediatric emergency medicine specialist who only cares about treating sick children and never eats something someone else gives him.
Yuna is a chef who makes boxed lunches. She panics and collapses whenever she meets a man, due to trauma from her past.
Once is Korea, Soohyuk struggles to find time and means to find food which meets his tastes and thus ends up being dependent on Yuna for his daily meals. A grouchy and unsociable person by nature, Soohyuk suddenly finds himself being comfortable and different around Yuna.
Can Soohyuk and Yuna find a way to be at ease with each other while being able to deal with their personal traumas?
This was a fun and light read!
I felt like as if I was reading the script of a K-drama. The story was sweet and cute at the same time. I loved all the characters. Apart from the romance aspect of the plot, I also liked reading about how each of the characters deal with the different challenges they face owing to their personal traumas.
Also, being a foodie, I loved all the descriptions and talk of food. Wish I could also actually order a boxed lunch from Yuna.
There are some obvious flaws in the translation and at times it does cause a bit of hindrance. So, I really hope they are corrected. Apart from that an enjoyable read, and eagerly looking forward to the next book!
Thank You to NetGalley and POPPYPUB for this ARC!
Yuna is a chef who makes boxed lunches. She panics and collapses whenever she meets a man, due to trauma from her past.
Once is Korea, Soohyuk struggles to find time and means to find food which meets his tastes and thus ends up being dependent on Yuna for his daily meals. A grouchy and unsociable person by nature, Soohyuk suddenly finds himself being comfortable and different around Yuna.
Can Soohyuk and Yuna find a way to be at ease with each other while being able to deal with their personal traumas?
This was a fun and light read!
I felt like as if I was reading the script of a K-drama. The story was sweet and cute at the same time. I loved all the characters. Apart from the romance aspect of the plot, I also liked reading about how each of the characters deal with the different challenges they face owing to their personal traumas.
Also, being a foodie, I loved all the descriptions and talk of food. Wish I could also actually order a boxed lunch from Yuna.
There are some obvious flaws in the translation and at times it does cause a bit of hindrance. So, I really hope they are corrected. Apart from that an enjoyable read, and eagerly looking forward to the next book!
Thank You to NetGalley and POPPYPUB for this ARC!
December 24, 2020
Just the Two of Us by Ryu Hyang is a rom-com Korean drama centering about two people who complement each other despite the polar opposites they stand on; a stoic, eccentric pediatrician named Soohyuk and loveable blogging chef named Yuna. It's a slow burn romance, not a cup of my tea, but it plays out a natural scheme of falling-in-love so I think it is an okay read because the build-up of getting some romantised elements is really satisfying after witnessing them denying their feelings towards each other for quite a long time.
At first, I couldn't get used to its writing style, particularly the execution of the translation. Since this book is originally published in Korean, it feels awkward to read the translated one. There are some noticeable jarring words in which I find unfitting to be put in sentences and to be related to situations that the author wants us to imagine. Some scenes I couldn't understand, it's a lot worse at the beginning of the story but then it's getting better when coming through the middle of the story. Seemingly the word choices are important to be highlighted here because they do really give some impact to readers whether they want to continue reading this book or not. I'm not sure if the translation is lost due to the cultural differences, I just hope this book will get properly edited, and perhaps ask for assistance from people who possess a good command of Korean and English language literacy.
However, it doesn't mean that the story is overall bad. There are some aspects that I would like to shower praises besides the aforesaid amazing build-up, one of them is the characterisation. Soohyuk is a guy whom you always label as a typical protagonist whereby he just gives everyone a cold shoulder but then only show a frail side of him towards the heroine and kids (he's a pediatrician). I must say that I'll always fall for this trope 🤣 love it. In this story, Soohyuk's cold demeanour stems from the past experiences he has had during his childhood; a domestic violence incurred by his stepfather. Thus, he resolves not to let any kids experience the same experiences he has gone through by becoming the best specialist in this field. Same as the female lead, she has encountered a gnawing trauma by being confined in a small space (claustrophobia) and being molested by a man. Love begins to blossom when these two could fill in each other's void.
Reasons why I rated it 2 stars is because of the poor translation and the abrupt ending; a cliffhanger that doesn't provoke me to read the sequel. I almost abandoned it after passing the first few chapters but then, I love watching k-dramas and this book has bits similar to it. So I beared with it till the end, just casually enjoying the story without focusing much on its writing style.
Thank you Netgalley and POPPYPUB for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also up on my blog: https://tirabookreviews.blogspot.com/...
At first, I couldn't get used to its writing style, particularly the execution of the translation. Since this book is originally published in Korean, it feels awkward to read the translated one. There are some noticeable jarring words in which I find unfitting to be put in sentences and to be related to situations that the author wants us to imagine. Some scenes I couldn't understand, it's a lot worse at the beginning of the story but then it's getting better when coming through the middle of the story. Seemingly the word choices are important to be highlighted here because they do really give some impact to readers whether they want to continue reading this book or not. I'm not sure if the translation is lost due to the cultural differences, I just hope this book will get properly edited, and perhaps ask for assistance from people who possess a good command of Korean and English language literacy.
However, it doesn't mean that the story is overall bad. There are some aspects that I would like to shower praises besides the aforesaid amazing build-up, one of them is the characterisation. Soohyuk is a guy whom you always label as a typical protagonist whereby he just gives everyone a cold shoulder but then only show a frail side of him towards the heroine and kids (he's a pediatrician). I must say that I'll always fall for this trope 🤣 love it. In this story, Soohyuk's cold demeanour stems from the past experiences he has had during his childhood; a domestic violence incurred by his stepfather. Thus, he resolves not to let any kids experience the same experiences he has gone through by becoming the best specialist in this field. Same as the female lead, she has encountered a gnawing trauma by being confined in a small space (claustrophobia) and being molested by a man. Love begins to blossom when these two could fill in each other's void.
Reasons why I rated it 2 stars is because of the poor translation and the abrupt ending; a cliffhanger that doesn't provoke me to read the sequel. I almost abandoned it after passing the first few chapters but then, I love watching k-dramas and this book has bits similar to it. So I beared with it till the end, just casually enjoying the story without focusing much on its writing style.
Thank you Netgalley and POPPYPUB for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also up on my blog: https://tirabookreviews.blogspot.com/...
January 7, 2021
Emergency pediatric specialist Dr. Soohyuk, on a whim, decides to return to Korea to try to find his birth parents by way of a doctoral exchange program. His search seems to be put in the background as he works at the University Hospital where he throws himself into work. He is blunt and emotionally distant, but always puts his patients (the kids) first. It makes him a great doctor but very unliked by his colleagues. He doesn't know the city or culture very well and is practically starving when he stumbles into Yuma's shop. She sells preordered boxed lunches which Soohyuk quickly discovers is the only food he desires. Yuma has some hangups about men but sees something in Soohyuk. They have some awkward moments as they tentatively begin to have a friendship.
First let me point out two things: there is some awkward language which I chalked up to a translation issue. Once I got past that, this story started to hook me. However, the ending really pissed me off. I DESPISE when authors abruptly end a story in what appears to be a random place. I think I would actually prefer a cliffhanger or a sad ending. It irks me to no end.
As for the rest of the story, I have grown to like Yuma and Soohyuk. I wasn't buying it initially but as the story progressed, I could see the potential. What was strange was the whole adoption/birth parent plot. It becomes pretty clear who Soohyuk's family is pretty early, so you end up expecting something to trigger that revelation to the characters involved. It frustrated me, but I suppose I have to admit that the author did a good job of teasing me to think a breakthrough was imminent. I guess I'm just pissed that another book has to be written before we find out. I feel like all these things could have been accomplished in ONE book if the author had trimmed things up a little. I did like it. It was "cute". I just wish there wasn't a sequel to look out for and we got the story all at once.
First let me point out two things: there is some awkward language which I chalked up to a translation issue. Once I got past that, this story started to hook me. However, the ending really pissed me off. I DESPISE when authors abruptly end a story in what appears to be a random place. I think I would actually prefer a cliffhanger or a sad ending. It irks me to no end.
As for the rest of the story, I have grown to like Yuma and Soohyuk. I wasn't buying it initially but as the story progressed, I could see the potential. What was strange was the whole adoption/birth parent plot. It becomes pretty clear who Soohyuk's family is pretty early, so you end up expecting something to trigger that revelation to the characters involved. It frustrated me, but I suppose I have to admit that the author did a good job of teasing me to think a breakthrough was imminent. I guess I'm just pissed that another book has to be written before we find out. I feel like all these things could have been accomplished in ONE book if the author had trimmed things up a little. I did like it. It was "cute". I just wish there wasn't a sequel to look out for and we got the story all at once.
December 30, 2020
Just the Two of Us by Ryu Hyang follows a doctor, Soohyuk Cha, as he moves from the US to Korea as a part of an exchange program. As a doctor, he treats his patients with care and kindness, but outside the hospital, he's quite closed-off and blunt. When walking to work one day, he passes by a restaurant that has an intoxicating smell, and eventually meets Yuna Lee, the owner. Soohyuk finds comfort in her food, and eventually in their friendship and then romance.
This was such a cute, soft read!!! This book has many of my favorite tropes, including a meet-cute over home-cooked food and the classic grump/ray of sunshine duo. Soohyuk and Yuna have solid character development over the course of the book — both of them experienced trauma when they were younger and were hesitant to trust people outside their immediate circle. Over the course of the book, they really grew to understand and trust one another. I'm excited to read part 2 of the series!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This was such a cute, soft read!!! This book has many of my favorite tropes, including a meet-cute over home-cooked food and the classic grump/ray of sunshine duo. Soohyuk and Yuna have solid character development over the course of the book — both of them experienced trauma when they were younger and were hesitant to trust people outside their immediate circle. Over the course of the book, they really grew to understand and trust one another. I'm excited to read part 2 of the series!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
March 6, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and POPPYPUB for an eARC copy of this to read and review.
I really, REALLY wanted to love this book. It's translated from Korean and takes place mainly in Korea. I have never been to Korea and don't know much about the culture and like to try to read books that expand my horizons, however this just didn't work for me. I had to DNF at 18%. I didn't like the H and the translation seems like it might need some more work.
It is stated multiple times that the H uses crude/non-polite forms of speech, but American English doesn't have a polite and casual form of speech, at least, not to the extent that other languages do, so the H doesn't come across as crude and vulgar, just as a bit brisk and rude.
Also, a lot of the word choices seems off and I just couldn't immerse myself into the story. I wanted to, but I wasn't able to do so. It was too clunky for me, it didn't flow.
That being said, I am not against reading books in translation, but another book I had tried to read that was a translation from the Spanish also confused me, so maybe it's just me and I need to learn the culture of a place before I can understand the fiction that comes from there.
With the understanding that this is all quite possibly from a reader who may not comprehend the culture appropriately, but who WANTS to and isn't negative towards it, I am rating the book on how well I enjoyed it.
2, it might be me or it could be the translation, stars.
If anyone has any recommendations, I would welcome them. Thanks and while this book didn't work for me, it may work very well for other readers and I wouldn't hesitate to suggest it to someone looking for something different in the contemporary romance genre.
I really, REALLY wanted to love this book. It's translated from Korean and takes place mainly in Korea. I have never been to Korea and don't know much about the culture and like to try to read books that expand my horizons, however this just didn't work for me. I had to DNF at 18%. I didn't like the H and the translation seems like it might need some more work.
It is stated multiple times that the H uses crude/non-polite forms of speech, but American English doesn't have a polite and casual form of speech, at least, not to the extent that other languages do, so the H doesn't come across as crude and vulgar, just as a bit brisk and rude.
Also, a lot of the word choices seems off and I just couldn't immerse myself into the story. I wanted to, but I wasn't able to do so. It was too clunky for me, it didn't flow.
That being said, I am not against reading books in translation, but another book I had tried to read that was a translation from the Spanish also confused me, so maybe it's just me and I need to learn the culture of a place before I can understand the fiction that comes from there.
With the understanding that this is all quite possibly from a reader who may not comprehend the culture appropriately, but who WANTS to and isn't negative towards it, I am rating the book on how well I enjoyed it.
2, it might be me or it could be the translation, stars.
If anyone has any recommendations, I would welcome them. Thanks and while this book didn't work for me, it may work very well for other readers and I wouldn't hesitate to suggest it to someone looking for something different in the contemporary romance genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2021
This was okay, sort of cute rom-com. But i felt that we got to know Yuna alot more than Soohyuk. Though, i`m not even sure it was much character development, well for Soohyuk - since i felt he wasn`t there much in the story, at first he was, but i was hella confused who Matt was and it all felt very random and wierd. But Yuna was cute and i might read the next one.
I got this eARC from Netgalley.
I got this eARC from Netgalley.
December 30, 2020
Just the two of us by Ryu Hyang, Stephanie Cha is an adult romance, Soohyuk: a pediatric emergency medicine specialist. A man who never eats something someone else gives him. Yuna: a chef who makes boxed lunches. A woman who panics and collapses whenever she meets a man, due to trauma from her past.
I felt the story to be very stretched out, I wanted to read the book seeing the Asian character and culture, so thought it would be different. But it was just the same. The unwanted information kind off ruined the book.
_______
Thanks to NetGalley and POPPYPUB for this eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
2.5 stars
I felt the story to be very stretched out, I wanted to read the book seeing the Asian character and culture, so thought it would be different. But it was just the same. The unwanted information kind off ruined the book.
_______
Thanks to NetGalley and POPPYPUB for this eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
2.5 stars
January 6, 2021
It took me a bit to get into this book. I believe it's been translated into English, so I think some of the wording was a bit off and it didn't flow as well as it probably does in the author's native language. Once I got used to the writing style, it was easier to dive into the story.
This centers around Soohyuk, a pediatric doctor who lacks people skills and empathy. He's good with his patients, but is easily frustrated by adults and doesn't sugarcoat anything. I thought he was weird and not my favorite character, though I did appreciate when he told off parents for putting their children in harm's way.
Our other main character is Yuna, the complete opposite of Soohyuk. She's sweet and kind and everyone loves her. She cares deeply for her family, especially her nephew, and makes delicious food that hooks Soohyuk right away. I don't know why she likes him so much, but she does bring out a softer side in him. I think if they really start to date then we'll see some changes in Soohyuk for the better.
The ending was pretty abrupt and I didn't realize there would be a sequel. We didn't really get to see Soohyuk and Yuna date, but they're making definite progress. I also want to know what will happen with Yuna's nephew because I need a happy ending for everyone!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This centers around Soohyuk, a pediatric doctor who lacks people skills and empathy. He's good with his patients, but is easily frustrated by adults and doesn't sugarcoat anything. I thought he was weird and not my favorite character, though I did appreciate when he told off parents for putting their children in harm's way.
Our other main character is Yuna, the complete opposite of Soohyuk. She's sweet and kind and everyone loves her. She cares deeply for her family, especially her nephew, and makes delicious food that hooks Soohyuk right away. I don't know why she likes him so much, but she does bring out a softer side in him. I think if they really start to date then we'll see some changes in Soohyuk for the better.
The ending was pretty abrupt and I didn't realize there would be a sequel. We didn't really get to see Soohyuk and Yuna date, but they're making definite progress. I also want to know what will happen with Yuna's nephew because I need a happy ending for everyone!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2021
This took me sometime to finish because I really struggled with the writing or rather the way the book was translated. There were also POVs in this book that just got me confused, I feel some POVs were unnecessary.
I did enjoy this one because Soohyuk and Yuna together just screams KDRAMA romance, honestly they were adorable. I am always a sucker for the grump and sunshine couples, and this is the perfect description for the two. Both had experienced trauma when they were younger but I loved seeing them outgrew that individually and together, and I loved how they learned to open up and trust each other. Honestly, their journey was great. Sometimes I had a hard time connecting with Soohyuk honestly. I guess I read this book with too much expectation to love him being a doctor and all but unfortunately I sometimes find his character bit boring.
Aside from these two, we also see Yuna’s family and I absolutely love them. They were so supportive, caring, and loving of her and honestly just parents being parents.
All in all, as a huge fan of KDRAMAs, I still enjoyed the romance despite the book ending in such a cliffhanger (to be fair I was not aware that this was not a standalone haha). This was a perfect weekend read as it got to make me laugh and relax while reading it!
I did enjoy this one because Soohyuk and Yuna together just screams KDRAMA romance, honestly they were adorable. I am always a sucker for the grump and sunshine couples, and this is the perfect description for the two. Both had experienced trauma when they were younger but I loved seeing them outgrew that individually and together, and I loved how they learned to open up and trust each other. Honestly, their journey was great. Sometimes I had a hard time connecting with Soohyuk honestly. I guess I read this book with too much expectation to love him being a doctor and all but unfortunately I sometimes find his character bit boring.
Aside from these two, we also see Yuna’s family and I absolutely love them. They were so supportive, caring, and loving of her and honestly just parents being parents.
All in all, as a huge fan of KDRAMAs, I still enjoyed the romance despite the book ending in such a cliffhanger (to be fair I was not aware that this was not a standalone haha). This was a perfect weekend read as it got to make me laugh and relax while reading it!
November 16, 2020
Soohyuk is a a pediatric emergency medicine specialist. His dry, straightforward personality tends to put people on edge, but he is the best practitioner when it comes to emergencies and children. Yuna runs a business making boxed lunches. Men make her panic. They become unlikely friends but what does life have in store for them? Can they work through their past traumas and finally move forward?
.
The premise of this book excited me. What I found was a book that ended on heavy cliffhangers and was full of triggering material. If you are someone who is triggered by any type of abusive behavior (molestation, verbal and physical abuse, etc), abandonment, injured or sick children, and more, then this book is not for you.
.
I generally found the book to be mediocre and there were definitely cringy moments. Some of it was choppy which I would guess is because it is a translated work. While there is supposed to be a second book, there was a lot left unresolved. Overall, it left me wanting more. And I almost wished that Soohyuk had admitted to being on the scale of autism, because his behaviors lined up with that and it could have added to the story.
.
If you are looking for a story where people are trying to move forward past what has happened to them in their early years, you may enjoy this book.
.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
.
The premise of this book excited me. What I found was a book that ended on heavy cliffhangers and was full of triggering material. If you are someone who is triggered by any type of abusive behavior (molestation, verbal and physical abuse, etc), abandonment, injured or sick children, and more, then this book is not for you.
.
I generally found the book to be mediocre and there were definitely cringy moments. Some of it was choppy which I would guess is because it is a translated work. While there is supposed to be a second book, there was a lot left unresolved. Overall, it left me wanting more. And I almost wished that Soohyuk had admitted to being on the scale of autism, because his behaviors lined up with that and it could have added to the story.
.
If you are looking for a story where people are trying to move forward past what has happened to them in their early years, you may enjoy this book.
.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 9, 2020
This was a surprisingly cute grumpy and sunshine romance that has it's serious moments. It's about a doctor on a pediatric emergency room, who has moved from America to Korea to work at a hospital in the country where he was born. Soohyuk is unintentionally blunt and mean to others, particularly his colleagues, but he's really passionate about saving the kids that come to the emergency room.
Yuna makes boxed lunches to order. By chance, she meets Soohyuk, and given he doesn't have much time to look after himself, he asks that she make him meals. Yuna is full of care, supporting her family before anything else. She looks after her nephew quite a lot.
I really liked this book. Grumpy and sunshine is one of my favourite romance tropes. Sometimes the writing is a bit clumsy, and I wasn't a fan of the cliffhanger at the end (urgh, waiting for book two), but overall it was a great story.
Yuna makes boxed lunches to order. By chance, she meets Soohyuk, and given he doesn't have much time to look after himself, he asks that she make him meals. Yuna is full of care, supporting her family before anything else. She looks after her nephew quite a lot.
I really liked this book. Grumpy and sunshine is one of my favourite romance tropes. Sometimes the writing is a bit clumsy, and I wasn't a fan of the cliffhanger at the end (urgh, waiting for book two), but overall it was a great story.
July 26, 2023
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
just the two of us relies on a near-constant suspension of disbelief. readers follow pediatric specialist cha soohyuk from america to south korea as he voluntarily—though even using that adverb is being generous—transfers hospitals in order to reconnect with his birth parents, using only korean he's briefly learned through a friend and a collection of k-films notorious for the fact that they're offensively vulgar.
his move is marked by an intense dislike for his home country that is largely irrational and never seems to lessen at any point in the narrative, something i found developmentally disorienting, especially considering the bulk of his evolution is reliant on warming up to new things through lee yuna, a woman running a cozy boxed lunch business near soohyuk's hospital. it would have made sense for him to also warm up to seoul, south korea and its culture through yuna. this, however, never seems to be the case. i say this because what little narrative evolution he experiences relies on his relationship with yuna. as his attraction for her grows, so too does his willingness to think before he speaks, or stop being so needlessly cold to everyone, for example.
i'm inclined to cut this book quite a bit of slack because it's a translated work, and i know by nature translations are imperfect, fluid attempts at interpretation on the part of one pair of hands. in this case, the translation was definitely lacking and i suspect a lot of the author's style and narrative voice was lost to large cultural and linguistic gaps. there's also the fact that this is book one in what appears to be a series and is therefore an incomplete glimpse of a much larger web of narratives.
some of the stronger elements of this story included the food writing (which i guess i'm just a sucker for, and never get tired of in novels), the relationship between yuna and her eight-year-old nephew minjoon + his parents (which did in fact bring me to tears around the 75% mark), and yuna and soohyuk's slow, thawing romance. this romance ruled most of the novel's pacing; every other element was beholden to these two, and rightfully so. because i love slowburn, particularly when that lazy simmer sparks between two people who don't initially get along, this made the reading experience far more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise.
the downside is that in narratives like these, other elements suffer when romance is given disproportionate attention. soohyuk makes little to no headway with his korean roots, despite the fact that it's immediately obvious who his birth family is, and that he has regular—unwitting—contact with them all.
though he shares a tragic, parent-less origin story with yuna, he is never forced to open up to her about his own abuse, while romance with soohyuk is contingent upon yuna answering his questions about her own trauma with men and physical nearness/touching. this imbalance threw me off quite a bit.
now, because this is principally a hospital narrative, abuse (including molestation mentions), injury/illness, and gore feature heavily throughout—most often specific to young children. some might find this hard to get through. the most perplexing for me was not that soohyuk is a cold, resentful character whose ire no one in the hospital is spared from; instead, it was the narrative choice to focus the vast majority of that ire on the women around him, with very woman-specific language to match.
more to the point, most women in this novel are relegated to roles involving cooking, cleaning, and/or submitting to men in some capacity (most often, soohyuk). i wished there was a greater speaking role for the women of the hospital the same way dr. cho, hwihyun, and even professor park were allowed. unless my memory is failing me, i don't think any female staff even earned a name in the narrative. they were simply "nurse" or "head nurse." it's like the women of the novel only come into focus as their importance to soohyuk sharpens. otherwise, they are featureless, faceless, nameless creatures who exist to be berated by soohyuk.
having said that, when the women of the novel are given speaking roles, they really do shine. yuna, ms. seo, and kyungjo were always narratively fascinating—though one-off lines like, "he was a stoic husband who didn't reciprocate even half of the affection kyungjo displayed," were mind-boggling characterizations of their male counterparts/partners. yuna, in particular, and her relationship with food and her family were wonderful at every point in the novel. i loved watching her come out of her shell and truly enjoyed all the ways she clashed with and then slowly warmed to soohyuk. despite the issue i take with much of soohyuk's characterization, his romance with yuna was his—and this novel's—saving grace and is a large reason why i would say this book is closer to a 3.5 than a 3 for me.
overall, just the two of us is about as subtle as a slap to the face, though there are a good number of tender, stand-out moments between the central couple, yuna's family, and ms. seo and her son that save an otherwise simplistic rendition of what often feels like a network television novella.
just the two of us relies on a near-constant suspension of disbelief. readers follow pediatric specialist cha soohyuk from america to south korea as he voluntarily—though even using that adverb is being generous—transfers hospitals in order to reconnect with his birth parents, using only korean he's briefly learned through a friend and a collection of k-films notorious for the fact that they're offensively vulgar.
his move is marked by an intense dislike for his home country that is largely irrational and never seems to lessen at any point in the narrative, something i found developmentally disorienting, especially considering the bulk of his evolution is reliant on warming up to new things through lee yuna, a woman running a cozy boxed lunch business near soohyuk's hospital. it would have made sense for him to also warm up to seoul, south korea and its culture through yuna. this, however, never seems to be the case. i say this because what little narrative evolution he experiences relies on his relationship with yuna. as his attraction for her grows, so too does his willingness to think before he speaks, or stop being so needlessly cold to everyone, for example.
i'm inclined to cut this book quite a bit of slack because it's a translated work, and i know by nature translations are imperfect, fluid attempts at interpretation on the part of one pair of hands. in this case, the translation was definitely lacking and i suspect a lot of the author's style and narrative voice was lost to large cultural and linguistic gaps. there's also the fact that this is book one in what appears to be a series and is therefore an incomplete glimpse of a much larger web of narratives.
some of the stronger elements of this story included the food writing (which i guess i'm just a sucker for, and never get tired of in novels), the relationship between yuna and her eight-year-old nephew minjoon + his parents (which did in fact bring me to tears around the 75% mark), and yuna and soohyuk's slow, thawing romance. this romance ruled most of the novel's pacing; every other element was beholden to these two, and rightfully so. because i love slowburn, particularly when that lazy simmer sparks between two people who don't initially get along, this made the reading experience far more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise.
the downside is that in narratives like these, other elements suffer when romance is given disproportionate attention. soohyuk makes little to no headway with his korean roots, despite the fact that it's immediately obvious who his birth family is, and that he has regular—unwitting—contact with them all.
though he shares a tragic, parent-less origin story with yuna, he is never forced to open up to her about his own abuse, while romance with soohyuk is contingent upon yuna answering his questions about her own trauma with men and physical nearness/touching. this imbalance threw me off quite a bit.
now, because this is principally a hospital narrative, abuse (including molestation mentions), injury/illness, and gore feature heavily throughout—most often specific to young children. some might find this hard to get through. the most perplexing for me was not that soohyuk is a cold, resentful character whose ire no one in the hospital is spared from; instead, it was the narrative choice to focus the vast majority of that ire on the women around him, with very woman-specific language to match.
more to the point, most women in this novel are relegated to roles involving cooking, cleaning, and/or submitting to men in some capacity (most often, soohyuk). i wished there was a greater speaking role for the women of the hospital the same way dr. cho, hwihyun, and even professor park were allowed. unless my memory is failing me, i don't think any female staff even earned a name in the narrative. they were simply "nurse" or "head nurse." it's like the women of the novel only come into focus as their importance to soohyuk sharpens. otherwise, they are featureless, faceless, nameless creatures who exist to be berated by soohyuk.
having said that, when the women of the novel are given speaking roles, they really do shine. yuna, ms. seo, and kyungjo were always narratively fascinating—though one-off lines like, "he was a stoic husband who didn't reciprocate even half of the affection kyungjo displayed," were mind-boggling characterizations of their male counterparts/partners. yuna, in particular, and her relationship with food and her family were wonderful at every point in the novel. i loved watching her come out of her shell and truly enjoyed all the ways she clashed with and then slowly warmed to soohyuk. despite the issue i take with much of soohyuk's characterization, his romance with yuna was his—and this novel's—saving grace and is a large reason why i would say this book is closer to a 3.5 than a 3 for me.
overall, just the two of us is about as subtle as a slap to the face, though there are a good number of tender, stand-out moments between the central couple, yuna's family, and ms. seo and her son that save an otherwise simplistic rendition of what often feels like a network television novella.
July 11, 2021
You can find this review of Just the Two of Us on my blog, Heart's Content!
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This is a difficult book to review. I’m not even sure how to explain what was difficult because I’m not sure I can articulate to my own mind what I found difficult. When I found out that the book was translated there was definitely that little bit that I had to set aside in my mind. But then again, I didn’t particularly have an issue with the writing in itself. It was translated well enough and yes, there may be lots lost in translation but I think for the most part, the translation was comfortable enough.
The largest staggering spots for me with the book was perhaps the style, mostly because I wasn’t used to it in books. Usually books are written in first person, second, or third or alternate between characters in any one of these three styles. However, in Just the Two of Us, the narration was as it would be on television. Within a scene, many people appear on screen taking turns expressing their feelings/thoughts. That’s kind of how it is in JtToU; meaning within a paragraph, the POVs jumps among the characters interacting on page. But I find it hard to blame the writing for this because if this is a writing style that’s normal for the original language that the book was written in, then I can’t judge it for that. So I can only say, this style was personally very disorienting for me because I wasn’t used to it and hindered with my progress.
I loved the details. It truly was like watching a Korean Drama show. There was slow but steady progress with the characters and there were many things happening around both the protagonists and many other characters who are a part of the book in the story. The characters were true to their personalities steadily throughout. Soohyuk was difficult in the beginning and difficult at times even towards the end. What was redeemable about him was how we come to understand how his personality was forged and how he slowly breaks out of the shell. Yuna was a sweet heroine, brave and gentle. Like with Soohyuk, Yuna too slowly reveals herself and finds her own as the book progresses.
A big benefit for the book was that this isn’t a standalone which means the author took their time to let the characters find themselves slowly and just at the cusp of their understanding oneself and one another, the setting for book two was created.
I’m hovering on a slightly more neutral rating, because I struggled as much as I liked the book. 2.5-3 stars.
Happy reading and stay safe!
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This is a difficult book to review. I’m not even sure how to explain what was difficult because I’m not sure I can articulate to my own mind what I found difficult. When I found out that the book was translated there was definitely that little bit that I had to set aside in my mind. But then again, I didn’t particularly have an issue with the writing in itself. It was translated well enough and yes, there may be lots lost in translation but I think for the most part, the translation was comfortable enough.
The largest staggering spots for me with the book was perhaps the style, mostly because I wasn’t used to it in books. Usually books are written in first person, second, or third or alternate between characters in any one of these three styles. However, in Just the Two of Us, the narration was as it would be on television. Within a scene, many people appear on screen taking turns expressing their feelings/thoughts. That’s kind of how it is in JtToU; meaning within a paragraph, the POVs jumps among the characters interacting on page. But I find it hard to blame the writing for this because if this is a writing style that’s normal for the original language that the book was written in, then I can’t judge it for that. So I can only say, this style was personally very disorienting for me because I wasn’t used to it and hindered with my progress.
I loved the details. It truly was like watching a Korean Drama show. There was slow but steady progress with the characters and there were many things happening around both the protagonists and many other characters who are a part of the book in the story. The characters were true to their personalities steadily throughout. Soohyuk was difficult in the beginning and difficult at times even towards the end. What was redeemable about him was how we come to understand how his personality was forged and how he slowly breaks out of the shell. Yuna was a sweet heroine, brave and gentle. Like with Soohyuk, Yuna too slowly reveals herself and finds her own as the book progresses.
A big benefit for the book was that this isn’t a standalone which means the author took their time to let the characters find themselves slowly and just at the cusp of their understanding oneself and one another, the setting for book two was created.
I’m hovering on a slightly more neutral rating, because I struggled as much as I liked the book. 2.5-3 stars.
Happy reading and stay safe!
July 31, 2021
I have kindly received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, the synopsis was fascinating and the cover was so pretty. Sadly, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought to have would. Since this book had been originally Korean then translated, the writing style was awkward as if it had been google translated. The characters were also were hard to like. This book handles sensitive issues horribly, I don't know if it's the author or the poor translation. It had an abrupt ending that wasn't compelling enough for me to want to read the sequel.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, the synopsis was fascinating and the cover was so pretty. Sadly, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought to have would. Since this book had been originally Korean then translated, the writing style was awkward as if it had been google translated. The characters were also were hard to like. This book handles sensitive issues horribly, I don't know if it's the author or the poor translation. It had an abrupt ending that wasn't compelling enough for me to want to read the sequel.
February 15, 2021
Absolutely entertaining read, I could not put this book down. Yeah there seemed to be a few problems in translation (originally written in Korean) but if you can overcome it(and it’s worth doing) this is a really lovely story, with great characters , I think a lot of people didn’t appreciate this as it’s quite like a Korean drama and if you’re not used to the, it might be a bit confusing, but this is full of drama, full cast of quirky characters and most of all novel about family, perseverance, and love.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
November 29, 2020
Soohyuk is a doctor who was adopted from his native South Korea into the US. He suffered abuse as a kid and eventually, at thirty four years of age, decided to transfer to Korea for two years to try and find his birth parents. He has OCD and a sensitive stomach so he doesn't eat anything another person might try to give him.
Enter Yuna, a thirty year old woman who runs her own boxed lunch store. One day Soohyuk is drawn in by the smell and it's not long before he becomes one of Yuna's regulars. But Yuna has her own troubles too, trauma related to men that makes her reluctant to trust any, especially one as intimidating as Soohyuk.
Over the course of the book, the two leads get closer, try to recover from their bad experiences but...there's also not much romance going on.
A lot of the book is spent at the hospital. And since Soohyuk is a pediatric emergency specialist there's some seriously awful cases mentioned. It's all to show how much he cares about the patients but not anyone else. He yells at the guardians a lot but it doesn't come off as "shocking" as it should because of translation issues.
In general the translation bugged me, even though I love watching kdramas and had a good idea about the actual words spoken and why they were rude when they didn't come across that way.
I also wasn't very attached to any of the characters apart from Yuna and Minjoon.
Then there was all the repetitiveness...specifically about Soohyuk and how everyone was talking about him but almost always saying the exact same thing (how he's cold, won't share a meal, but he's a good doctor, the best doctor, cares about patients etc).
And the only word Soohyuk could use for Yuna for most of the book was "cute".
So what did I like?
The family relationships. How caring Yuna's family is towards her, her business and Minjoon.
THE FOOD. I got hungry at least twenty times while reading this book. Never enough food mentions.
The subtle relationship change between Yuna and Soohyuk. The actual romance barely happens at the end, and yes, I'm annoyed by that because their story didn't finish, and I do wish they got together sooner so it would be more fulfilling, but I liked it.
Some of the kdrama references were fun too.
So while I did like this book, it was only okay/alright on that scale.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Enter Yuna, a thirty year old woman who runs her own boxed lunch store. One day Soohyuk is drawn in by the smell and it's not long before he becomes one of Yuna's regulars. But Yuna has her own troubles too, trauma related to men that makes her reluctant to trust any, especially one as intimidating as Soohyuk.
Over the course of the book, the two leads get closer, try to recover from their bad experiences but...there's also not much romance going on.
A lot of the book is spent at the hospital. And since Soohyuk is a pediatric emergency specialist there's some seriously awful cases mentioned. It's all to show how much he cares about the patients but not anyone else. He yells at the guardians a lot but it doesn't come off as "shocking" as it should because of translation issues.
In general the translation bugged me, even though I love watching kdramas and had a good idea about the actual words spoken and why they were rude when they didn't come across that way.
I also wasn't very attached to any of the characters apart from Yuna and Minjoon.
Then there was all the repetitiveness...specifically about Soohyuk and how everyone was talking about him but almost always saying the exact same thing (how he's cold, won't share a meal, but he's a good doctor, the best doctor, cares about patients etc).
And the only word Soohyuk could use for Yuna for most of the book was "cute".
So what did I like?
The family relationships. How caring Yuna's family is towards her, her business and Minjoon.
THE FOOD. I got hungry at least twenty times while reading this book. Never enough food mentions.
The subtle relationship change between Yuna and Soohyuk. The actual romance barely happens at the end, and yes, I'm annoyed by that because their story didn't finish, and I do wish they got together sooner so it would be more fulfilling, but I liked it.
Some of the kdrama references were fun too.
So while I did like this book, it was only okay/alright on that scale.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
December 16, 2020
I saw this title on Netgalley at one point and was very intrigued by the blurb. I didn’t request it because I had so many to read through (and still do 😂) but one a free ebook through Goodreads! Even though I have a lot of books to read through, I was excited to start this one.
The book starts off with an introduction for our main character, Matt aka Soohyuk. He comes from a troubled childhood but grew up and became a great doctor through it all. He didn’t slide through without it affecting his emotions. Because of this, he can be real standoffish. His attitude made me laugh quite a lot.
The plot of the book of the book takes him to Seoul and I enjoyed seeing him in a new country and trying to understand everything that comes with such a move. He definitely tends to live in a shell until he meets Yuna.
Yuna was a really enjoyable character. She is loyal to her family and would do anything for them, especially her nephew. Just like Soohyuk, her childhood hasn’t been easy and she has had to deal with trauma because of it.
There are a lot of other characters and a few get their own point-of-views. I will say that the transition between them isn’t always smooth and can happen quite abruptly but it didn’t stop me from enjoying this book. I liked learning more about each character.
Of course, the plot does include a bit of romance but it’s a slow, slow burn. The only thing that happens is kissing and even that is very minimal. So if that isn’t your thing and you are in it just for the romance, this book may not be for you. I didn’t mind it though as there was a lot of development and because of Soohyuk and Yuna’s traumatic childhood it just made sense that it was slow-going.
I wouldn’t say that this book has many plot twists and the ending wasn’t the usual cliffhanger but I am still excited to pick up the next book whenever it comes out!
Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
CW: Abuse (Physical/Sexual)
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads for hosting a giveaway for an eebook!
The book starts off with an introduction for our main character, Matt aka Soohyuk. He comes from a troubled childhood but grew up and became a great doctor through it all. He didn’t slide through without it affecting his emotions. Because of this, he can be real standoffish. His attitude made me laugh quite a lot.
The plot of the book of the book takes him to Seoul and I enjoyed seeing him in a new country and trying to understand everything that comes with such a move. He definitely tends to live in a shell until he meets Yuna.
Yuna was a really enjoyable character. She is loyal to her family and would do anything for them, especially her nephew. Just like Soohyuk, her childhood hasn’t been easy and she has had to deal with trauma because of it.
There are a lot of other characters and a few get their own point-of-views. I will say that the transition between them isn’t always smooth and can happen quite abruptly but it didn’t stop me from enjoying this book. I liked learning more about each character.
Of course, the plot does include a bit of romance but it’s a slow, slow burn. The only thing that happens is kissing and even that is very minimal. So if that isn’t your thing and you are in it just for the romance, this book may not be for you. I didn’t mind it though as there was a lot of development and because of Soohyuk and Yuna’s traumatic childhood it just made sense that it was slow-going.
I wouldn’t say that this book has many plot twists and the ending wasn’t the usual cliffhanger but I am still excited to pick up the next book whenever it comes out!
Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
CW: Abuse (Physical/Sexual)
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads for hosting a giveaway for an eebook!
April 12, 2021
This is going to be very hard for me to review, because I am somewhat confused. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about this book. Is it me? Is it the book?
I was drawn to this one with the cute cover, the synopsis sounded TERRIFIC, and I just had to have it. But as soon as I started reading I was kind of shocked by the writing itself. I am still slightly intrigued... is the writing and the way characters talk a cultural thing? Is it the translation? How can an immediate disconnect like this happen to me?
To be quite honest I was frustrated with all the cursing and the directness of the main character. At the very start, our main character exchanges words with the woman living in his apartment, him calling her a slut, and she calling him a damn orphan!? The conversation felt so unnatural, so uncomfortable. And don't get me wrong, I love an arrogant dude who can hold a great conversation and even a bickering session, but this felt unnecessary.
I would have put the book down immediately if Yuna wasn't introduced. She was cute and quirky and kind and funny. I liked her voice, I loved everything about her.
But somewhere half into the book, everyone starting being a drama queen. A lot of 'HOW DARE YOUS'' and a lot of slapping and even pulling of hair wow! I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into. I think this may have been a shock for me, and having not expecting all the drama I was startled.
The book did have its funny or cute moments. I really enjoyed reading about Yuna's cooking, how Dr. Cha worked, the cases in the hospital. The setting was great...It was so promising!
Towards the end, I was starting to get used to it, tho unfortunately it wasn't an enjoyable read.
I will read Book 2 now, in hopes that it's a more fun experience.
I was drawn to this one with the cute cover, the synopsis sounded TERRIFIC, and I just had to have it. But as soon as I started reading I was kind of shocked by the writing itself. I am still slightly intrigued... is the writing and the way characters talk a cultural thing? Is it the translation? How can an immediate disconnect like this happen to me?
To be quite honest I was frustrated with all the cursing and the directness of the main character. At the very start, our main character exchanges words with the woman living in his apartment, him calling her a slut, and she calling him a damn orphan!? The conversation felt so unnatural, so uncomfortable. And don't get me wrong, I love an arrogant dude who can hold a great conversation and even a bickering session, but this felt unnecessary.
I would have put the book down immediately if Yuna wasn't introduced. She was cute and quirky and kind and funny. I liked her voice, I loved everything about her.
But somewhere half into the book, everyone starting being a drama queen. A lot of 'HOW DARE YOUS'' and a lot of slapping and even pulling of hair wow! I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into. I think this may have been a shock for me, and having not expecting all the drama I was startled.
The book did have its funny or cute moments. I really enjoyed reading about Yuna's cooking, how Dr. Cha worked, the cases in the hospital. The setting was great...It was so promising!
Towards the end, I was starting to get used to it, tho unfortunately it wasn't an enjoyable read.
I will read Book 2 now, in hopes that it's a more fun experience.
November 16, 2020
Soohyuk is a a pediatric emergency medicine specialist. His dry, straightforward personality tends to put people on edge, but he is the best practitioner when it comes to emergencies and children. Yuna runs a business making boxed lunches. Men make her panic. They become unlikely friends but what does life have in store for them? Can they work through their past traumas and finally move forward?
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The premise of this book excited me. What I found was a book that ended on heavy cliffhangers and was full of triggering material. If you are someone who is triggered by any type of abusive behavior (molestation, verbal and physical abuse, etc), abandonment, injured or sick children, and more, then this book is not for you.
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I generally found the book to be mediocre and there were definitely cringy moments. Some of it was choppy which I would guess is because it is a translated work. While there is supposed to be a second book, there was a lot left unresolved. Overall, it left me wanting more. And I almost wished that Soohyuk had admitted to being on the scale of autism, because his behaviors lined up with that and it could have added to the story.
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If you are looking for a story where people are trying to move forward past what has happened to them in their early years, you may enjoy this book.
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I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
.
The premise of this book excited me. What I found was a book that ended on heavy cliffhangers and was full of triggering material. If you are someone who is triggered by any type of abusive behavior (molestation, verbal and physical abuse, etc), abandonment, injured or sick children, and more, then this book is not for you.
.
I generally found the book to be mediocre and there were definitely cringy moments. Some of it was choppy which I would guess is because it is a translated work. While there is supposed to be a second book, there was a lot left unresolved. Overall, it left me wanting more. And I almost wished that Soohyuk had admitted to being on the scale of autism, because his behaviors lined up with that and it could have added to the story.
.
If you are looking for a story where people are trying to move forward past what has happened to them in their early years, you may enjoy this book.
.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 15, 2021
I wish that Just the Two of Us would have captured me a bit more. Without being rude to the author and the story, it was like a really poorly portrayed K-Drama (which I LOVE watching and getting consumed in). It was honestly just an okay ready and cute book. In it, you will meet Yuna and Soohyuk. Yuna is a chef and cooking is her passion. Honestly, all the dishes she made sounded so freaking good and made me extremely hungry as I was reading. Soohyuk enters the story by recently moving to Korea from the United States for an exchange program so that he can focus on his practice of being a pediatrician doctor.
I'm not going to lie, these two had some cute and then super weird interactions with one another. I think there was an issue in translating the words into proper English and being able to get wrapped wholey into the story. It was just really hard to follow along at time, even if the concept of the story was good.
In the end, the details of the story were great in regards to cooking and their passions. I just wish there could've been more chemistry and background for the readers to enjoy. The translation could use improvement in regards to readers being able to follow the dialogue and concept better.
It was a cute romantic k-drama, but I wish it could've been better with grasping my attention. I will definitely give Book 2 a try.
I'm not going to lie, these two had some cute and then super weird interactions with one another. I think there was an issue in translating the words into proper English and being able to get wrapped wholey into the story. It was just really hard to follow along at time, even if the concept of the story was good.
In the end, the details of the story were great in regards to cooking and their passions. I just wish there could've been more chemistry and background for the readers to enjoy. The translation could use improvement in regards to readers being able to follow the dialogue and concept better.
It was a cute romantic k-drama, but I wish it could've been better with grasping my attention. I will definitely give Book 2 a try.
May 19, 2021
I received this eARC from Net Galley and Poppypub. Thank you for allowing me to read this. My review is my honest opinion.
Just the Two of Us by Ryu Hyang is a charming story of a Korean boy who was adopted and emigrated to America. As a grown man, Matt (aka Dr. Cha) is an excellent doctor with a picky stomach. When he goes to Korea to work at a hospital, he discovers how picky his food habits are. Lucky for him, he finds Yuna who cooks box dinners.
This story is complex, which I enjoyed. The food descriptions made me so hungry. I’m definitely going to try some of the foods talked about in the story. The plot is evenly paced. I fell in love with the characters. Dr. Cha is quirky and blunt. Love it.
The part that confused me several times was it was written in third person, but also omniscient. The story bounces between characters so it was a little hard for me to follow. That is why it’s 4 stars rather than 5.
I did not realize this is book 1; but I can’t wait for the sequel. I definitely enjoyed it, and would highly recommend it.
***Trigger warning ⚠️ : there are some difficult topics discussed that happened to the characters. Trauma, loss, and child abuse.
Just the Two of Us by Ryu Hyang is a charming story of a Korean boy who was adopted and emigrated to America. As a grown man, Matt (aka Dr. Cha) is an excellent doctor with a picky stomach. When he goes to Korea to work at a hospital, he discovers how picky his food habits are. Lucky for him, he finds Yuna who cooks box dinners.
This story is complex, which I enjoyed. The food descriptions made me so hungry. I’m definitely going to try some of the foods talked about in the story. The plot is evenly paced. I fell in love with the characters. Dr. Cha is quirky and blunt. Love it.
The part that confused me several times was it was written in third person, but also omniscient. The story bounces between characters so it was a little hard for me to follow. That is why it’s 4 stars rather than 5.
I did not realize this is book 1; but I can’t wait for the sequel. I definitely enjoyed it, and would highly recommend it.
***Trigger warning ⚠️ : there are some difficult topics discussed that happened to the characters. Trauma, loss, and child abuse.
December 10, 2020
I read the first few pages then couldn't go any further. The story and characters make no sense, the writing is mediocre.
It opens on a woman who manipulated the main character into living in his house after he didn't respond to her previous advances. He admits because she just doesn't leave his house and she flirts with him, that they're dating? But he's never tried to sleep with her or anything? Then he comes home to her having sex with some random guy in her room, his guest room, and he tells her she cheated on him? What on earth? Then she goes on a tirade about how crazy he is for never responding to her advances and it's not her fault she "cheated." So dumb. DNF, zero stars though I have to put at least one for the website.
Thanks for the ecopy in exchange for my honest review, netgalley and publisher.
It opens on a woman who manipulated the main character into living in his house after he didn't respond to her previous advances. He admits because she just doesn't leave his house and she flirts with him, that they're dating? But he's never tried to sleep with her or anything? Then he comes home to her having sex with some random guy in her room, his guest room, and he tells her she cheated on him? What on earth? Then she goes on a tirade about how crazy he is for never responding to her advances and it's not her fault she "cheated." So dumb. DNF, zero stars though I have to put at least one for the website.
Thanks for the ecopy in exchange for my honest review, netgalley and publisher.
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