Book Review: Julia Song Is Undateable By Susan Lee

If the shorter days and longer nights are starting to get to you, have no fear! Now is as good a time as any for a fun adult rom-com like Julia Song is Undateable by Susan Lee that’ll make you feel something.

One thing about us here at THP: a diverse rom-com is our bread and butter. So when we found out Julia Song is Undateable features a Korean American cast with a successful businesswoman at its center looking for love, we knew it’d become a fast favorite. Here are three things we love about Julia Song is Undateable!

Book Overview: Julia Song Is Undateable

Content warnings: mentions of depression, car accident

Summary: Julia Song, CEO of Starlight Cosmetics, is at the height of her career. Then why does she feel like such a failure? Maybe because she’s thirty and single, with a terrible track record at dating. And in the eyes of her Korean family, that is just unacceptable. It never really bothered her—that is until her beloved grandmother drops the bomb that she is sick and her dying wish is for Julia to get married. Impossible. So in a moment of weakness, Julia asks her family for help. Set her up on three dates to help her find The One. But it will never work—Julia is undateable. If only there was a coach for that…

Tae Kim knows about the weight of familial expectation. He’s currently unemployed, living in his parents’ basement to care for his ill father. Sure, he’s become somewhat of a fix-it man for the Korean community around town, but that’s not a real job. And the pressure to get his life together is getting to be too much. So when the Julia Song—his childhood crush—asks for his help, it may be just the distraction he needs. He’ll do whatever it takes, even coach her for these three dates. Problem is, the more time they spend together and the closer they get, the more Tae wonders if anyone is good enough for Julia…including him.

The Arranged Dates

The arranged (and nightmarish) dates in Julia Song is Undateable are almost too relatable. Julia gives her family three chances to set her up with The One™, taking caution not to scare them away with her bluntness. From a lawyer who doesn’t take her vegetarianism seriously to a trot singer who can only talk about himself, Julia goes through the wringer three times over. Luckily, there’s a boy next door who can help her prepare for these dates and win her over with his charm and thoughtfulness.

Tae. That’s It.

Whew, Taehyung “Tae” Kim. The man that you are. We’re so glad Julia Song is Undateable has both Julia and Tae’s points of view. Because we really get a sense of Tae’s yearning for Julia, who’s been his crush since childhood. Despite Tae being five years younger than her, he’s ready to show her how grown, mature, and romantic he is. Not that we needed any convincing after seeing how well he treats his family and the Song family. Not only is he filial, down-to-earth, and the best hype-man, but he also has a jealous and protective side that we loved to read! We rooted for him all the way.

Everyone Stays In Julia’s Business

Julia may work hard, but the Korean Gossip Network (KGN) works harder. Once her family starts searching for potential suitors, every Korean family in Orange County and beyond vies for one of the three coveted spots. She’s a successful businesswoman with her own company and money and deserves nothing less than the best, after all. It was hilarious to read all the date debriefs with her family and two best friends, Sonia and Rachel, however infuriating they were in the moment. And we have Julia’s scheming halmoni, or grandmother, to thank for such a juicy plot.

Julia Song is Undateable by Susan Lee comes out October 28th, and you can order a copy of it here!

Did you enjoy Susan Lee’s new adult romance as much as we did? Are you adding Julia Song is Undateable to your TBR? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

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