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I Guess I Live Here Now
Uprooted from her life in New York City and relocated to her father's villa in Seoul, sixteen-year-old Melody soon discovers the alluring aspects of living in Korea as well as family secrets as she struggles to reconcile her identity in a place she is expected to call home.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2022
82 people are currently reading
9716 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
June 27, 2024
yall ive been reading this since march... decided OK I'LL FINISH IT IN MAY BC ITS AAPIH MONTH... didnt finish... tried picking it back up... didnt work...
this was always gonna be a 3 star read, I just know it and I know whats gonna happen soooooo... dnf 51%
review coming soon?????
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Reading this for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!!
this was always gonna be a 3 star read, I just know it and I know whats gonna happen soooooo... dnf 51%
review coming soon?????
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Reading this for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!!
Want to read
January 17, 202213.12.2021 i don't know why but contemporary books where protagonists move to a new place, start anew, and find new love just speak to me.
May 29, 2022
This book was all sorts of real and I'm still trying not to take it personally.
April 10, 2022
i guess this one just wasn't for me :/
2.5, rounded up to a 3?
( also, am unrelated side note, but mamma mia closed on broadway in 2015.... )
2.5, rounded up to a 3?
( also, am unrelated side note, but mamma mia closed on broadway in 2015.... )
July 10, 2022
I GUESS I LIVE HERE NOW
By Claire Ahn
I had the opportunity to visit Seoul pre-covid in the tail end of 2019 and I know that reading this book will make me long for another visit - with the food, sights, and sounds of Seoul that Anh writes in this debut novel. The story is about 16 year old Melody Lee who suddenly gets uprooted from her life in America to move to Seoul with her mother, to live with her father.
I enjoyed reading this debut novel for the characters, the immersion to the Korean culture, all told in themes that resonate finding one’s identity, friendship, and family secrets.
By Claire Ahn
I had the opportunity to visit Seoul pre-covid in the tail end of 2019 and I know that reading this book will make me long for another visit - with the food, sights, and sounds of Seoul that Anh writes in this debut novel. The story is about 16 year old Melody Lee who suddenly gets uprooted from her life in America to move to Seoul with her mother, to live with her father.
I enjoyed reading this debut novel for the characters, the immersion to the Korean culture, all told in themes that resonate finding one’s identity, friendship, and family secrets.
May 19, 2022
3.5 stars. There are definitely things I loved about this one (like the Seoul setting, which made me want to visit even more, and the mentions of different dishes, which just made me hungry), but the thing that really stands out to me is how I felt like I could relate to Melody’s internal struggles over her own identity after growing up in one place in one way for so long and then having that abruptly uprooted with the end result being she’s in a different place and operating with different dynamics.
June 6, 2022
if you ever wished a kdrama was reincarnated as a ya book, this is for you!! very cute and heartwarming and gaaahhh main character things much? adored the character development!
July 23, 2023
5/5 stars, what a fun reading experience
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group & Viking Books for Young Readers for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I'm so thankful that my library had this book and I was finally able to finish this, I initially received this arc back in May of 2022 and started reading it in June of that same year. I just wasn't able to finish it out, even though I was having such a fun time. So now I finally got to finish this amazing book, and the parts I reread (only like 30% of the book) were just as good as the first time. There's really nothing that I disliked about this book because while I felt upset and frustrated about things, it was because I was supposed to feel that way.
I really think one of my favorite things about this book was the writing style, and how the author managed to write everything in a very realistic way. There was a strong start, and then everything got even better when Melody began exploring Korea. I learned a lot about the food and daily life in this culture from this book, and I honestly found it really fascinating. Whenever I was reading about the food though I definitely got hungry haha, except for the one moment where she was trying squid, I absolutely would not be able to eat that. I also felt the plot was really realistic, as the reader I watched Melody struggle in school, adjusting to her new life, and creating new relationships with her family and new friends. There were lots of moments where she messed up, as teenagers do, but it was obvious she tried to get better.
Beyond how Melody is written very realistically in terms of her mistakes and how she deals with them, I truly loved her determination. It made me want to go out and achieve my own dreams because even when things in every aspect of her life get hard she doesn't give up. She has her moments where she feels like she might, but in the end, she keeps working. I also felt that all the emotions she felt throughout this book were perfectly valid for her situation, and the writing style made it very easy to feel those emotions with her. I loved how this book created it's characters, even if I thought her family was annoying, it's a different culture, and parts of this are acknowledged and I came to understand parts of it.
[TW: underage drug use and alcohol use, divorce mentioned, homophobia]
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group & Viking Books for Young Readers for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I'm so thankful that my library had this book and I was finally able to finish this, I initially received this arc back in May of 2022 and started reading it in June of that same year. I just wasn't able to finish it out, even though I was having such a fun time. So now I finally got to finish this amazing book, and the parts I reread (only like 30% of the book) were just as good as the first time. There's really nothing that I disliked about this book because while I felt upset and frustrated about things, it was because I was supposed to feel that way.
I really think one of my favorite things about this book was the writing style, and how the author managed to write everything in a very realistic way. There was a strong start, and then everything got even better when Melody began exploring Korea. I learned a lot about the food and daily life in this culture from this book, and I honestly found it really fascinating. Whenever I was reading about the food though I definitely got hungry haha, except for the one moment where she was trying squid, I absolutely would not be able to eat that. I also felt the plot was really realistic, as the reader I watched Melody struggle in school, adjusting to her new life, and creating new relationships with her family and new friends. There were lots of moments where she messed up, as teenagers do, but it was obvious she tried to get better.
Beyond how Melody is written very realistically in terms of her mistakes and how she deals with them, I truly loved her determination. It made me want to go out and achieve my own dreams because even when things in every aspect of her life get hard she doesn't give up. She has her moments where she feels like she might, but in the end, she keeps working. I also felt that all the emotions she felt throughout this book were perfectly valid for her situation, and the writing style made it very easy to feel those emotions with her. I loved how this book created it's characters, even if I thought her family was annoying, it's a different culture, and parts of this are acknowledged and I came to understand parts of it.
[TW: underage drug use and alcohol use, divorce mentioned, homophobia]
June 13, 2024
3.25 stars
This was pretty okay, though some things were annoying.
This was pretty okay, though some things were annoying.
May 16, 2022
I tried so hard to enjoy this book but I simply couldn't.
On the surface, it seems like a good premise. A teenage girl with dreams of becoming an interior designer is unceremoniously uprooted from her life in New York City and moved to her family home in Korea. Sounds interesting, right? That's why I'm so confused about how the author made this book so boring.
Without the food and location descriptions, this book would have been 75 pages shorter. I'm not even kidding. Those things are great for creating atmosphere, but they were over the top. I also didn't like the characters. The writing style was first person, but I still felt like I didn't really know the main character. I was told how she felt without seeing it in her mind. Also, the first-person point-of-view kept me from getting to know the other characters well and it was weird when she became super close friends so quickly with people she hardly knew.
The plot was so low stakes that I wanted to quit reading multiple times. There simply wasn't anything going on. Also, Solmi's family moves her to Korea with little to no explanation, they keep things from her, they try to plan out her life without her consent, and they end up taking little to no responsibility for the emotional turmoil they cause her. It's just treated as "I'm just a teenager and I was wrong to disrespect my parents by asking questions." Like... WHAT?!
If you're interested in a meandering, unfocused book with tons of food and location descriptions, give it a shot. Just don't expect anything earth-shattering.
I don't usually give 1-star reviews to books unless the book is problematic, but I truly do not think this book is good and it was a waste of my time to read it.
I was given an E-ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
On the surface, it seems like a good premise. A teenage girl with dreams of becoming an interior designer is unceremoniously uprooted from her life in New York City and moved to her family home in Korea. Sounds interesting, right? That's why I'm so confused about how the author made this book so boring.
Without the food and location descriptions, this book would have been 75 pages shorter. I'm not even kidding. Those things are great for creating atmosphere, but they were over the top. I also didn't like the characters. The writing style was first person, but I still felt like I didn't really know the main character. I was told how she felt without seeing it in her mind. Also, the first-person point-of-view kept me from getting to know the other characters well and it was weird when she became super close friends so quickly with people she hardly knew.
The plot was so low stakes that I wanted to quit reading multiple times. There simply wasn't anything going on. Also, Solmi's family moves her to Korea with little to no explanation, they keep things from her, they try to plan out her life without her consent, and they end up taking little to no responsibility for the emotional turmoil they cause her. It's just treated as "I'm just a teenager and I was wrong to disrespect my parents by asking questions." Like... WHAT?!
If you're interested in a meandering, unfocused book with tons of food and location descriptions, give it a shot. Just don't expect anything earth-shattering.
I don't usually give 1-star reviews to books unless the book is problematic, but I truly do not think this book is good and it was a waste of my time to read it.
I was given an E-ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
December 14, 2021okay but this cover >>>>>>
June 13, 2022
I’ve always been a little fascinated by Korea, starting when I met my middle school best friend when I lived in Nebraska. She’s half Korean, and would go back to visit her mother in Korea every summer. It’s from her that I learned to enjoy kimchee, and to cook bulgogi (and not to water fake plants, lol). Then when we moved back to northern Virginia, a lot of my classmates and my neighbors were from Korea, and occasionally I’d be invited to dinner at their homes, full of amazingly delicious dishes. Even now Korean food is one of my comfort foods, so when I learned about this book, featuring a young girl who’s uprooted by her mother and moved to Seoul to learn more about her Korean heritage, I was intrigued.
Unfortunately, this book was a disappointment. I really wanted to love it because a book about a young kid being uprooted with no input and moved to an entirely new place is one I’m familiar with. My parents were in the Navy when I was a kid, and while we never moved to another country, we still switched states every few years. So I understood how difficult Melody had it when her mother moved her to Korea.
However, Melody is patently unlikeable. She’s disrespectful to just about everyone in her life, especially her parents. I’m not a person that believes that parents deserve unconditional respect just for being your parents, but you should treat everyone in your life, whether they’re your elder or not, with common courtesy and respect — and Melody absolutely fails at that. She snaps at her parents constantly, she goes behind her mom’s back to meet with her aunt, and even goes into her mom’s phone to find her aunt’s number. I don’t even go into my kid’s phone without permission because I respect her. Melody also consistently tells her mother that she doesn’t have to be upfront and honest with her because her mother isn’t upfront and honest with Melody, which is not how it works. Life is not tit for tat, and there may be a good reason why parents wouldn’t reveal every last thought to their children at every moment. Melody is also really disrespectful to her best friend back in NYC and views that relationship very selfishly. The strange thing is various side characters will call Melody on her behavior, but she continues to act the same way.
There were quite a few jarring errors in the text as well, which made me think that an editor should have given it a closer read before publication. There is one time where Melody skips school on a Friday but then goes back on Monday, but then she mentions that no one seems to notice she wasn’t in school “yesterday.” They’re all small errors in time line like that, but it’s still a bit jarring to read, and it took me out of the story every time it happened.
It was hard for me to enjoy this book because Melody just acted like a terribly spoiled child, throwing a tantrum every time something didn’t go exactly her way. It was also odd to be beaten over the head with the wealth of her father and of all her school friends. OK, we get it, your dad and your friends are insanely wealthy and can afford to drop a couple of grand on a new dress. But at the same time, if Melody’s father is so wealthy and her parents are still married, why did Melody and her mother live such a frugal life in NYC? You’d think he would be supporting his wife and child in some manner.
All in all, I felt this was a bit of a letdown, which is such a shame because I really wanted to love it.
Unfortunately, this book was a disappointment. I really wanted to love it because a book about a young kid being uprooted with no input and moved to an entirely new place is one I’m familiar with. My parents were in the Navy when I was a kid, and while we never moved to another country, we still switched states every few years. So I understood how difficult Melody had it when her mother moved her to Korea.
However, Melody is patently unlikeable. She’s disrespectful to just about everyone in her life, especially her parents. I’m not a person that believes that parents deserve unconditional respect just for being your parents, but you should treat everyone in your life, whether they’re your elder or not, with common courtesy and respect — and Melody absolutely fails at that. She snaps at her parents constantly, she goes behind her mom’s back to meet with her aunt, and even goes into her mom’s phone to find her aunt’s number. I don’t even go into my kid’s phone without permission because I respect her. Melody also consistently tells her mother that she doesn’t have to be upfront and honest with her because her mother isn’t upfront and honest with Melody, which is not how it works. Life is not tit for tat, and there may be a good reason why parents wouldn’t reveal every last thought to their children at every moment. Melody is also really disrespectful to her best friend back in NYC and views that relationship very selfishly. The strange thing is various side characters will call Melody on her behavior, but she continues to act the same way.
There were quite a few jarring errors in the text as well, which made me think that an editor should have given it a closer read before publication. There is one time where Melody skips school on a Friday but then goes back on Monday, but then she mentions that no one seems to notice she wasn’t in school “yesterday.” They’re all small errors in time line like that, but it’s still a bit jarring to read, and it took me out of the story every time it happened.
It was hard for me to enjoy this book because Melody just acted like a terribly spoiled child, throwing a tantrum every time something didn’t go exactly her way. It was also odd to be beaten over the head with the wealth of her father and of all her school friends. OK, we get it, your dad and your friends are insanely wealthy and can afford to drop a couple of grand on a new dress. But at the same time, if Melody’s father is so wealthy and her parents are still married, why did Melody and her mother live such a frugal life in NYC? You’d think he would be supporting his wife and child in some manner.
All in all, I felt this was a bit of a letdown, which is such a shame because I really wanted to love it.
June 1, 2022
[3.5/5 stars]
Melody Lee is a sixteen-year-old Korean American girl who is suddenly forced to move to Korea (Seoul) with her mother to live with her father.
Ahn captures well the diaspora experience through Melody's life: back to her motherland, her struggles to adapt to the new school and language, societal expectations and meet new friends, alongside the exploration of identity and belonging. Ahn shows the many facets of contemporary Korea - on one hand, there's wealth, performance, status; on the other hand, you will be amazed by the historical areas, touristic sites, culture and activities. I felt like I was transported to Korea and reading this book increased my desire to visit it one day. Oh, I was hungry with all the food!
You will empathize with Mel as the feeling of losing control over her life intensifies, especially being child of immigrants. With lots of joy while tackling on family (distant father,...), I thought that Ahn's approach on this subject matter was realistic and grounded. While I found the "parental expectations x chase your own dreams" cliche at times, I still enjoyed reading this story. Amongst the challenges, Melody is able to learn more about her family. My complaint is that I found the family’s secrets a bit underwhelming, plus the lack of depth/emotion made this book quite forgettable. Rebellious at times, tender at times, this book made me feel like a teenager (lol).
Even though I wasn't completely blown away, I GUESS I LIVE HERE NOW was a fun read for those yearning for Korea.
[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Penguin Teen - in exchange for an honest review ]
Melody Lee is a sixteen-year-old Korean American girl who is suddenly forced to move to Korea (Seoul) with her mother to live with her father.
Ahn captures well the diaspora experience through Melody's life: back to her motherland, her struggles to adapt to the new school and language, societal expectations and meet new friends, alongside the exploration of identity and belonging. Ahn shows the many facets of contemporary Korea - on one hand, there's wealth, performance, status; on the other hand, you will be amazed by the historical areas, touristic sites, culture and activities. I felt like I was transported to Korea and reading this book increased my desire to visit it one day. Oh, I was hungry with all the food!
You will empathize with Mel as the feeling of losing control over her life intensifies, especially being child of immigrants. With lots of joy while tackling on family (distant father,...), I thought that Ahn's approach on this subject matter was realistic and grounded. While I found the "parental expectations x chase your own dreams" cliche at times, I still enjoyed reading this story. Amongst the challenges, Melody is able to learn more about her family. My complaint is that I found the family’s secrets a bit underwhelming, plus the lack of depth/emotion made this book quite forgettable. Rebellious at times, tender at times, this book made me feel like a teenager (lol).
Even though I wasn't completely blown away, I GUESS I LIVE HERE NOW was a fun read for those yearning for Korea.
[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Penguin Teen - in exchange for an honest review ]
September 18, 2022
I'm a sucker for YA novels set in Korea, whether it's chaebol drama or K-pop chaos. This book wasn't as exciting as its counterparts in the genre and nor does it offer anything new, but I enjoyed it overall.
There's no big conflict to propel what is essentially a coming-of-age story, which focuses on Melody adjusting to life in Seoul while navigating school, grades, romance, parental expectations and the pursuit of an unconventional career path frowned upon by her parents. I enjoyed following the protagonist as she grapples with her two identities, family secrets and first love.
I loved the book's themes but found Melody hard to like even though I get that it's part of character development. She was disrespectful to her elders and often speaking out of turn; sometimes well-intentioned but many times overboard. Not forgetting how she snoops through her mum's phone and keeps giving the poor woman a hard time. Melody is also highly self-absorbed and hardly asks about Sophia when the two talk, even wondering to herself "What does Soph know?"
Still, this is a beautiful love letter to Seoul and Korean culture. I loved all the descriptions of food, hanoks, cafes and even the subway system. It reminds me of my own visit and I can't wait to go back again. In the meantime, I'll just keep reading books like this one!
There's no big conflict to propel what is essentially a coming-of-age story, which focuses on Melody adjusting to life in Seoul while navigating school, grades, romance, parental expectations and the pursuit of an unconventional career path frowned upon by her parents. I enjoyed following the protagonist as she grapples with her two identities, family secrets and first love.
I loved the book's themes but found Melody hard to like even though I get that it's part of character development. She was disrespectful to her elders and often speaking out of turn; sometimes well-intentioned but many times overboard. Not forgetting how she snoops through her mum's phone and keeps giving the poor woman a hard time. Melody is also highly self-absorbed and hardly asks about Sophia when the two talk, even wondering to herself "What does Soph know?"
Still, this is a beautiful love letter to Seoul and Korean culture. I loved all the descriptions of food, hanoks, cafes and even the subway system. It reminds me of my own visit and I can't wait to go back again. In the meantime, I'll just keep reading books like this one!
April 21, 2022
Please tell me there is going to be a sequel!?
So, my first impression of this book wasn’t great. I felt like it started off kind of slow and I didn’t love the main character, Solmi. I thought that maybe I’ve finally outgrown YA contemporaries. However, do not be discouraged! I really grew to love Solmi as a character and the story picks up a lot.
So, now that we have that out of the way, this story is more than just moving to a different country. It’s about healing parts of a broken family, learning about where one comes from, and what makes a home, home. I think that Solmi is 100% relatable when she first moves to Korea. I mean, talk about devastating! She’s in the middle of her high school career and switches up countries, cultures, and languages. It’s a jarring experience. I thought that the author was great at keeping Solmi’s experience authentic.
Next, I LOVED the descriptions of Korea and Korean food! I felt like I was transported there. The food had my mouth watering and the setting had my wanderlust kicking into gear. Korea has always been on my list of places to travel to, but it just jumped up a few spots!
Lastly, the author doesn’t shy away from the complexities of learning one’s identity and complicated family history. I mean, what family doesn’t have a complicated history? I think that this book does such a great job of describing the struggle that kids/grandkids of immigrants feel. Sure, you have some customs and idea of your cultural background, but you still feel out of place in your family’s country of origin and in the country you were born in. I think this book will resonate with a lot of readers!
Now, I just have to say that the book ended SO suddenly and I’m dying to know what happens next. Sure, a bunch of loose ends were tied up and it ended on a positive note, but surely the story doesn’t end there!?
Thank you PenguinTeen and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC! I highly enjoyed it and I think anybody who loves YA contemporaries will enjoy this one as well. If you’re a fan of I’ll Be the One (for the drama) or From Little Tokyo, With Love (for the descriptions that transport you to the place), then I highly suggest picking this one up.
So, my first impression of this book wasn’t great. I felt like it started off kind of slow and I didn’t love the main character, Solmi. I thought that maybe I’ve finally outgrown YA contemporaries. However, do not be discouraged! I really grew to love Solmi as a character and the story picks up a lot.
So, now that we have that out of the way, this story is more than just moving to a different country. It’s about healing parts of a broken family, learning about where one comes from, and what makes a home, home. I think that Solmi is 100% relatable when she first moves to Korea. I mean, talk about devastating! She’s in the middle of her high school career and switches up countries, cultures, and languages. It’s a jarring experience. I thought that the author was great at keeping Solmi’s experience authentic.
Next, I LOVED the descriptions of Korea and Korean food! I felt like I was transported there. The food had my mouth watering and the setting had my wanderlust kicking into gear. Korea has always been on my list of places to travel to, but it just jumped up a few spots!
Lastly, the author doesn’t shy away from the complexities of learning one’s identity and complicated family history. I mean, what family doesn’t have a complicated history? I think that this book does such a great job of describing the struggle that kids/grandkids of immigrants feel. Sure, you have some customs and idea of your cultural background, but you still feel out of place in your family’s country of origin and in the country you were born in. I think this book will resonate with a lot of readers!
Now, I just have to say that the book ended SO suddenly and I’m dying to know what happens next. Sure, a bunch of loose ends were tied up and it ended on a positive note, but surely the story doesn’t end there!?
Thank you PenguinTeen and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC! I highly enjoyed it and I think anybody who loves YA contemporaries will enjoy this one as well. If you’re a fan of I’ll Be the One (for the drama) or From Little Tokyo, With Love (for the descriptions that transport you to the place), then I highly suggest picking this one up.
May 25, 2022
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
more like a 4.5
I Guess I Live Here Now is a book that captured my entire heart. I instantly fell in love with Melody. The ways in which she feels dropped in Korea without knowing anyone and the reasons why. Her journey to figuring out the why of their return is compelling. It's a discovery not only born of secrets, but also in ambitions diverging. Everything is new for her. And while her family has never truly supported her interior design dreams, the actual split between security and ambition is even more heightened.
When she emerges in Korea, the life waiting for her is so drastically different than she could have imagined. It's one of wealth, social status, and performance. With the new addition of living with her father, the diaspora feelings, the ways she's grown up in the US, is even more pronounced. It makes her feel even more betrayed by her mother because of their close relationship without secrets. The ways it was just us against the world. Except her mother seems to have been hiding even more than she imagined.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
more like a 4.5
I Guess I Live Here Now is a book that captured my entire heart. I instantly fell in love with Melody. The ways in which she feels dropped in Korea without knowing anyone and the reasons why. Her journey to figuring out the why of their return is compelling. It's a discovery not only born of secrets, but also in ambitions diverging. Everything is new for her. And while her family has never truly supported her interior design dreams, the actual split between security and ambition is even more heightened.
When she emerges in Korea, the life waiting for her is so drastically different than she could have imagined. It's one of wealth, social status, and performance. With the new addition of living with her father, the diaspora feelings, the ways she's grown up in the US, is even more pronounced. It makes her feel even more betrayed by her mother because of their close relationship without secrets. The ways it was just us against the world. Except her mother seems to have been hiding even more than she imagined.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
October 9, 2022
2.5
I was really hoping to love this book but there were a few things that I really just didn’t enjoy and really affected my overall enjoyment of the book.
This book follows melody when she unwillingly moves with her mom to Korea and starts a new life at a new school and possibly a new romance. Although it’s not something she’s excited for, she ends up enjoying her new life in Seoul and dives right into the Korean experience despite being homesick. As always, there are broken friendships, new romance, as well as some family secrets that Melody has navigate in her new life. Hopefully it’s all worth it!
I don’t think this is a bad book whatsoever, I actually think many people are thoroughly going to enjoy this book. however, I first found it very strange that her father was never around. He lives in Korea works in Korea and although her parents are not separated he only spent a week or two with her in New York (obviously before she was to Korea). Already I think the dynamic and relationship between father and daughter is very strange and in my opinion “fixed” itself too quickly.
I didn’t connect with Melody very well. I found her to be quite selfish and a little annoying. I guess some people can argue that there are a lot of teenagers who act that way but I just couldn’t connect with her as a character in any of her feelings. I also found any time she had a disagreement or was unhappy, she was able to work through her feelings and suddenly that issue was no longer a bit deal the next day.
The school is described as being a very high end school which means the academics are very difficult. The narrative of the story continuously push that and yet it felt like Melody had a lot of extra free time to do all these other things in her life. It just didn’t seem very balanced to me.
The romance, I had no feelings towards. It was your typical good looking guy interested in the new girl and some misunderstanding feelings which in the end lead to a relationship. Very generic and boring in my opinion.
Once again, I think there’s gonna be a lot of people who thoroughly enjoy the story and it just wasn’t for me. Although the descriptions of all the foods that Melody had were to die for. I was drooling the whole time 🤤.
If you’re someone who is interested in Korean culture, food, language and would like to read a quick contemporary story with a romance then I think this is the book for you
I was really hoping to love this book but there were a few things that I really just didn’t enjoy and really affected my overall enjoyment of the book.
This book follows melody when she unwillingly moves with her mom to Korea and starts a new life at a new school and possibly a new romance. Although it’s not something she’s excited for, she ends up enjoying her new life in Seoul and dives right into the Korean experience despite being homesick. As always, there are broken friendships, new romance, as well as some family secrets that Melody has navigate in her new life. Hopefully it’s all worth it!
I don’t think this is a bad book whatsoever, I actually think many people are thoroughly going to enjoy this book. however, I first found it very strange that her father was never around. He lives in Korea works in Korea and although her parents are not separated he only spent a week or two with her in New York (obviously before she was to Korea). Already I think the dynamic and relationship between father and daughter is very strange and in my opinion “fixed” itself too quickly.
I didn’t connect with Melody very well. I found her to be quite selfish and a little annoying. I guess some people can argue that there are a lot of teenagers who act that way but I just couldn’t connect with her as a character in any of her feelings. I also found any time she had a disagreement or was unhappy, she was able to work through her feelings and suddenly that issue was no longer a bit deal the next day.
The school is described as being a very high end school which means the academics are very difficult. The narrative of the story continuously push that and yet it felt like Melody had a lot of extra free time to do all these other things in her life. It just didn’t seem very balanced to me.
The romance, I had no feelings towards. It was your typical good looking guy interested in the new girl and some misunderstanding feelings which in the end lead to a relationship. Very generic and boring in my opinion.
Once again, I think there’s gonna be a lot of people who thoroughly enjoy the story and it just wasn’t for me. Although the descriptions of all the foods that Melody had were to die for. I was drooling the whole time 🤤.
If you’re someone who is interested in Korean culture, food, language and would like to read a quick contemporary story with a romance then I think this is the book for you
May 31, 2022
10/10, would recommend as a travel guide to Seoul 🫰🏻
May 2, 2023
when melody’s mother suddenly announced that they were moving back to korea, melody had to leave behind her life in US without knowing why. despite asking her mother multiple times, melody received no answers and instead, her mother is suspiciously not explaining the situation to her. at the same time, moving back to korea meant spending time with her father whom she wasn’t close with. melody find herself lost in a world she wanted to know but never experienced before. with all the expectation that she should know her korean heritage and be fluent in the korean language, melody struggles to balance her life.
i read this pretty quickly. melody’s adjustments to her new life was tough at first. she had to get used to having another parent at home who suddenly cared about her education and pushing her to random blind dates with dudes she didn’t care about. also, moving across the world meant that melody’s friendship with sophia will take a toll which neither of them knew how to handle. there are conversations about identity, the korean culture, friendships, family, and personal growth throughout the book. it was a quick read!
i read this pretty quickly. melody’s adjustments to her new life was tough at first. she had to get used to having another parent at home who suddenly cared about her education and pushing her to random blind dates with dudes she didn’t care about. also, moving across the world meant that melody’s friendship with sophia will take a toll which neither of them knew how to handle. there are conversations about identity, the korean culture, friendships, family, and personal growth throughout the book. it was a quick read!
May 23, 2022
Fair warning: make sure to have your favorite Korean snacks or meal on hand before starting I GUESS I LOVE HERE NOW by debut author, Claire Ahn. And your favorite caffeinated beverage too. This book officially releases tomorrow, Tuesday May 24, 2022.
How does time just slip away, I read this book back in February, and I'm only just getting to posting about it. Trying to decipher my notes and handwriting.
Right before the start of her junior year of high school, Melody's parents decide that she and her mom will join her father in Seoul. Melody has a few days to pack up her life in NYC. While she finds herself angry at her parents, she soon finds friends at her new school, a few even live in the same complex.
I really enjoyed this book, parts of it were a refreshing change. Especially as to how easily Melody was able to make friends, and never worried if she was Korean enough.
It isn't just a book about coming of age in a new country, and the struggles one faces. There are various facets to the story.
One of them is dealing with parents that are strict/ have high parental expectations. This is shown to us as something that is intergenerational - it's not just through Melody's relationship with her parents, but her dad's relationship with his parents, and her mom's relationship with her sister (and in turn their parents). It's the relationship some of her new friends have with their parents. This gives us little perspectives on how to deal with expectations, and heal. That while parents have this shared goal of making sure their children are successful, the motivation is very different. This is just a small part of the underlying story.
Additionally, I loved learning about the hanoks, and visiting different districts through Melody's eyes, all in the name of research for a school project. The way that Koreans try to preserve buildings where they can. The information that is provided in the makes me wonder if it was just a lot of research that went into this, or if Ahn was previously involved in urban planning.
Thank you @penguinteen for an eARC I'm exchange for a review. (I pre-ordered a copy before I was provided the eARC.)
No café that I visit has a name as pun-ny as CappOH!ccino in but I think that Cafe LaTTea and Caffé:in come close.
Content Notes: teenage alcohol use, family secrets, controlling parents, parental death (past, off page), queer character outed to parents.
How does time just slip away, I read this book back in February, and I'm only just getting to posting about it. Trying to decipher my notes and handwriting.
Right before the start of her junior year of high school, Melody's parents decide that she and her mom will join her father in Seoul. Melody has a few days to pack up her life in NYC. While she finds herself angry at her parents, she soon finds friends at her new school, a few even live in the same complex.
I really enjoyed this book, parts of it were a refreshing change. Especially as to how easily Melody was able to make friends, and never worried if she was Korean enough.
It isn't just a book about coming of age in a new country, and the struggles one faces. There are various facets to the story.
One of them is dealing with parents that are strict/ have high parental expectations. This is shown to us as something that is intergenerational - it's not just through Melody's relationship with her parents, but her dad's relationship with his parents, and her mom's relationship with her sister (and in turn their parents). It's the relationship some of her new friends have with their parents. This gives us little perspectives on how to deal with expectations, and heal. That while parents have this shared goal of making sure their children are successful, the motivation is very different. This is just a small part of the underlying story.
Additionally, I loved learning about the hanoks, and visiting different districts through Melody's eyes, all in the name of research for a school project. The way that Koreans try to preserve buildings where they can. The information that is provided in the makes me wonder if it was just a lot of research that went into this, or if Ahn was previously involved in urban planning.
Thank you @penguinteen for an eARC I'm exchange for a review. (I pre-ordered a copy before I was provided the eARC.)
No café that I visit has a name as pun-ny as CappOH!ccino in but I think that Cafe LaTTea and Caffé:in come close.
Content Notes: teenage alcohol use, family secrets, controlling parents, parental death (past, off page), queer character outed to parents.
June 2, 2022
⭐️ 4 Stars ⭐️
I enjoyed this book so much!
I loved the setting, characters and plot, and I think it was a great coming of age story. Melody’s character was so mature but young and childish at the same time, and she just felt so real and genuine. This all book just felt real, all the struggles and the happy moments.
The setting was amazing and this book just made me miss Korea so much. I think the descriptions were great, and I love how the interior design hobby of the main character was always displayed in the story.
This story had a lot - family problems, identity, passion to pursue your dream, friends (new and old ones), first love.
I listen to the audiobook and I think the narrate was great, also with the Korean pronunciation.
This is a book I’d definitely recommend! I really wish there would be a sequel, because I’ll definitely check it out.
I enjoyed this book so much!
I loved the setting, characters and plot, and I think it was a great coming of age story. Melody’s character was so mature but young and childish at the same time, and she just felt so real and genuine. This all book just felt real, all the struggles and the happy moments.
The setting was amazing and this book just made me miss Korea so much. I think the descriptions were great, and I love how the interior design hobby of the main character was always displayed in the story.
This story had a lot - family problems, identity, passion to pursue your dream, friends (new and old ones), first love.
I listen to the audiobook and I think the narrate was great, also with the Korean pronunciation.
This is a book I’d definitely recommend! I really wish there would be a sequel, because I’ll definitely check it out.
June 15, 2022
Claire Ahn’s debut novel was just the cutest book to pick up! I loved reading about how Melody rediscovered her identity (after moving suddenly to Seoul with her mom to live her dad), learned more about her family, talked about so much delicious food, and has amazing friends by her side ❤️ If you want to discover Seoul with Melody, please pick up this book and enjoy every minute of it! 🤗
June 15, 2022
A really great look at a contemporary Korean American family living separately. Melody's perfect life in NYC is upended when her mother announces out of the blue that they're moving back to Seoul to live with her father. Melody has culture shock as she has to adjust to a new school, new friends and a whole new country, not to mention getting to know the father she hasn't lived with for sixteen years. Perfect for fans of Loveboat Taipei or Anna K and good on audio.
March 22, 2023
DNF
Writing was quite bland and the characters all felt fake…it was like bad acting but in written form.
The main character is very dull and I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough for her situation.
I had high hopes for this book cuz I thought it would be a cute fun thing, but I guess I’m not the right demographic for it🤷🏻♀️
Writing was quite bland and the characters all felt fake…it was like bad acting but in written form.
The main character is very dull and I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough for her situation.
I had high hopes for this book cuz I thought it would be a cute fun thing, but I guess I’m not the right demographic for it🤷🏻♀️
July 25, 2023
I Guess I Live Here Now is a YA Contemporary novel that feels like watching a KDrama.
The story is easy to follow and quite gripping at first. The journey all over Seoul was enjoyable.
However, the book got pointless after the first half, as everything was resolved and there were a few things left to clear out.
But, the characters were nice, though kind of stereotypical.
The story is easy to follow and quite gripping at first. The journey all over Seoul was enjoyable.
However, the book got pointless after the first half, as everything was resolved and there were a few things left to clear out.
But, the characters were nice, though kind of stereotypical.
May 25, 2022
I Guess I Live Here Now had A LOT to bring to the table, but where Ahn truly shined was in the imagery and descriptions. I truly found myself transported to another land and felt like I was there for real. I fell in love with the world that Ahn built and for that reason alone I would recommend it to anyone seeking a getaway! This is also a wonderful description of what happens when someone must pick up everything and live in an entirely new world.
June 12, 2022
This was such a fun read! While it's a tad shaky in the beginning, this book quickly picks up with Melody moving to Korea! It's obviously a huge adjustment for her, and I do think she handled it well! A situation like that could've been very easy to write as childish or whiny, but Melody was justified in her emotions and I was right there with her.
If it's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's a good friend group and this book DELIVERS. I loved every member of the character cast and the romance was so cute. My favorite thing was seeing how they supported each other through every up and down and it was very wholesome.
Overall, this was such a heartwarming book and I highly recommend.
I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If it's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's a good friend group and this book DELIVERS. I loved every member of the character cast and the romance was so cute. My favorite thing was seeing how they supported each other through every up and down and it was very wholesome.
Overall, this was such a heartwarming book and I highly recommend.
I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2022
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Content warnings: internalized racism, homophobia
Thanks to PenguinTeen for the free digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really cute book. The writing could have been better and stronger but I loved the main character because not only was she able to be a teenager in terms of discovering more about herself and her identity but she was such a smart young woman too. While I would have liked to have seen Melody in New York more, I appreciate all of her interactions and feelings when and while she moved to Korea. I almost feel like...if I were to ever go to Korea (where my mom is from) I would feel many of the same things she did: discovering the food, the land, the culture, etc. It was so nice to follow Melody as she did these things. I understand, too, that there is a level of diaspora that I won't comprehend in the same way.
The complicated relationship Melody had with her father was...interesting. I almost feel like an entire separate story could be written about her parents as well, considering their situation. I'm glad that the author didn't neglect how Melody's mother felt in the grand scheme of things or how difficult Melody's father was at times. The latter (and most of Melody's friends in Korea, to be honest) really falls into that traditional East Asian stereotype of the family business and how children will take over their parents' company when they get older. The pressure that Melody faces at school, too, from her father is kind of frustrating. He really expects her to be good at certain things (Honors Korean class for example) and doesn't seem to understand--or even want to understand--how difficult it is for her. But I could see her father slowly opening up and understanding Melody more, so I thought that was a good. It's really slow progress though.
I enjoyed how Melody was able to find friends quickly and friends that she could depend on. The contrast between how rich they are compared to how Melody and her mom lived in Korea is really important to note as well, though I thought Melody seemed to adapt pretty well. I wasn't super convinced of the romance between Melody and one of the male characters but it was kind of cute.
As I stated earlier I didn't find the writing super strong. It reads as a younger YA book, but I don't mean that in a bad way. For me personally I struggle with contemporary YA books sometimes because it's the writing that is either a hit or miss for me. I think the writing has been stronger than this would have received a solid four stars. It's definitely not a bad book, and I look forward to what else Ahn will write as I hope her writing will mature.
Content warnings: internalized racism, homophobia
Thanks to PenguinTeen for the free digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really cute book. The writing could have been better and stronger but I loved the main character because not only was she able to be a teenager in terms of discovering more about herself and her identity but she was such a smart young woman too. While I would have liked to have seen Melody in New York more, I appreciate all of her interactions and feelings when and while she moved to Korea. I almost feel like...if I were to ever go to Korea (where my mom is from) I would feel many of the same things she did: discovering the food, the land, the culture, etc. It was so nice to follow Melody as she did these things. I understand, too, that there is a level of diaspora that I won't comprehend in the same way.
The complicated relationship Melody had with her father was...interesting. I almost feel like an entire separate story could be written about her parents as well, considering their situation. I'm glad that the author didn't neglect how Melody's mother felt in the grand scheme of things or how difficult Melody's father was at times. The latter (and most of Melody's friends in Korea, to be honest) really falls into that traditional East Asian stereotype of the family business and how children will take over their parents' company when they get older. The pressure that Melody faces at school, too, from her father is kind of frustrating. He really expects her to be good at certain things (Honors Korean class for example) and doesn't seem to understand--or even want to understand--how difficult it is for her. But I could see her father slowly opening up and understanding Melody more, so I thought that was a good. It's really slow progress though.
I enjoyed how Melody was able to find friends quickly and friends that she could depend on. The contrast between how rich they are compared to how Melody and her mom lived in Korea is really important to note as well, though I thought Melody seemed to adapt pretty well. I wasn't super convinced of the romance between Melody and one of the male characters but it was kind of cute.
As I stated earlier I didn't find the writing super strong. It reads as a younger YA book, but I don't mean that in a bad way. For me personally I struggle with contemporary YA books sometimes because it's the writing that is either a hit or miss for me. I think the writing has been stronger than this would have received a solid four stars. It's definitely not a bad book, and I look forward to what else Ahn will write as I hope her writing will mature.
April 10, 2023
When Melody and her mom suddenly move to Seoul with her dad, she is surrounded by a new life. New friends, cute cafes, and more secrets that she previously didn’t notice fill her life. How can she be the same person when her life is so different?
I really enjoyed learning about Korean culture through the perspective of a Korean American teen!! The places, food, and social connections were cool to read about.
I didn’t vibe with the writing style. It wasn’t bad or annoying, just didn’t add to the story in any way. And Melody wasn’t my favorite character. She got on my nerves at certain points.
Although it took me a while to finish this, I’m glad I read it. But, it’s not very impactful for me.
I really enjoyed learning about Korean culture through the perspective of a Korean American teen!! The places, food, and social connections were cool to read about.
I didn’t vibe with the writing style. It wasn’t bad or annoying, just didn’t add to the story in any way. And Melody wasn’t my favorite character. She got on my nerves at certain points.
Although it took me a while to finish this, I’m glad I read it. But, it’s not very impactful for me.
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