I Guess I Live Here Now

April 15, 2022
Suddenly relocated against her will from New York to Seoul, Melody finds it hard to adjust. Sixteen-year-old Melody Lee loves living with her mom in their cozy New York City apartment, spending time with her best friend, and working toward an interior design internship. Her father visits occasionally from Korea, where he lives and works; Melody's parents wanted her to get a U.S. education. But when she's caught trying weed, her mother moves them to Seoul, someplace Melody has only visited once. When her father turns out to live in a luxury villa and have a personal driver and sends Melody to a fancy international school, she rejects his lavish lifestyle while harboring resentment and anger. Still, as her new friends and crush show her around Seoul, Melody finds herself enjoying the food, nightlife, history, and culture. But her parents are fighting, her mom is keeping secrets, her relationship with her father is nonexistent, and her mom thinks interior design is not a viable career. Melody tries to balance who she is inside with her new lifestyle. This romantic comedy also focuses on friendships and family relationships as it shows the impact of wealthy parents' focus on their children's success and the toll of not being accepted for who you are before coming to a heartwarming conclusion. Romanized Korean is woven throughout, and fascinating details highlight many beautiful and charming parts of Seoul. Entertaining; a drama-filled ode to family against a well-developed Seoul backdrop. (Fiction. 12-17)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 2, 2022

Gr 9 Up-Aspiring interior designer Melody is used to navigating a divided life. While she was born and raised in New York City, her father moved back to his native Korea when she was very young to earn money to support the family. Right before the start of her junior year, Melody's mom announces that they will be moving to Seoul to live with her dad. In a matter of days Melody has traded her life in Hell's Kitchen for a palatial tower apartment in South Korea's capital and a new, rigorous international school. While she appears to be playing along-doing her best in school, going on blind dates arranged by her status-concerned father-Melody is secretly plotting her return to New York City by way of a prestigious design internship. Despite her misgivings, a few good friends and new discoveries about her family help her realize that home can be more than one place. While aspects of Ahn's novel seem K-drama inspired, they fail to fully reach the suspenseful, emotional highs necessary to draw readers in, coming off instead as repetitive and unsatisfying. Where Ahn's writing truly shines, however, is in the gorgeous descriptions of Seoul and its incredible cuisine. VERDICT While the novel highlights important transcultural themes, it may fail to grab the interest of readers; consider it a secondary purchase for libraries where coming-of-age books showcasing international settings and cultures are popular.-Mary Kamela

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.