Made in Korea

MADE IN KOREA by Sarah Suk is a YA Contemporary that follows Valerie, a young entrepreneur, who’s obsessed with the success of her K-beauty business, and Wes, the new kid in town, who ends up being Valerie’s direct competition. As the two of them navigate whether the school’s big enough for the both of them, they shake on a bet. Whoever makes the most money by the end of the year gets the other’s entire earnings. The only problem is they both really need the money— Valerie needs it so she can take her grandmother on her dream trip to Paris and prove herself to her parents, and Wes needs it so he can apply to music school. To win, they scheme against each other… until they start to develop feelings.

My absolute favorite part of this book is Valerie’s relationship with her grandmother. It’s so relatable. I love how Valerie’s grandma is the person that doesn’t judge her, encourages her, and reminds her of her dreams. There aren’t a lot of stories that examine this special bond and it was so nice to see that kind of love reflected here. The stress Valerie feels in trying to beat time by being successful as fast as possible for the sake of her grandma is both heart wrenching and familiar. Overall, the theme of family expectations is explored thoroughly in this novel, and Suk does a great job at shining a light on where they can come from and creating empathy for all involved.

I found Wes’ voice in particular to be really compelling— probably because he’s honest with himself in ways that Valerie isn’t. He’s also a great mirror to her, because his new and unexpected presence makes Valerie really take a look at herself and what she’s doing. Along those lines, all of the characters are presented as good people who on occasion make bad choices. In other words, everyone is guilty of something in this book, which makes them feel like real people. In the actual world, no one is perfect, and Suk’s characters represent that. They’re not idealized versions of people. They’re people.

Aside from all that, this book has been perfectly plotted. Every single thread ties up in a bow in the end, making the conclusion satisfying, but also a little dry. While I appreciate that there is a payoff for everything and can tell how much thought the author has put into this, I was missing a bit of spontaneity in the writing. Because of this, the book starts off slow, but recovers in the last third with a faster and exciting pace.

That being said, MADE IN KOREA is an enjoyable read that is sweet, relatable, and perfect for summer! The gorgeous cover is reason enough to pick it up.

MADE IN KOREA is a sweet romantic-comedy about competition, family, and reaching for your dreams. Valerie runs a very successful business at her high school along with her cousin, which they named V&C K-BEAUTY. They sell Korean beauty products that are sent by her cousin's father out of a locker at their high school. Their school has entrepreneurial awards, encouraging students to begin their own businesses, and V&C K-BEAUTY is one of the only businesses to be run over several school years.

In her senior year, Valerie has big goals for the sales. She wants to take her halmeoni on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris. Her halmeoni has always dreamed of traveling, and in this gift, Valerie will not only be doing something for her halmeoni, but also proving to her parents that she is good at business and worth their admiration.

Everything seems to be going well until the new (and handsome) guy in school, Wes, begins selling his own beauty product line. Wes dreams of being a musician, a career his parents absolutely do not want him to follow. His mother gave him some beauty products from a K-pop line that is really popular to share with kids at school. When he inadvertently sells them, he learns the market is there and decides to keep selling them to raise money for his application and admission to a musical college.

As their business rivalry escalates, it becomes more personal - and soon, feelings are growing in addition to their competition.

What I loved: This was a really enjoyable and cute read. The competition kept the pace going quickly, and I appreciated the dual perspectives. Both Valerie and Wes were really compelling characters, and the motives behind their businesses and desires to have their parents accept and appreciate them will resonate with readers. There are many cute and sweet moments mixed with some humor, and I loved the way they got to know each other plus pushed each other's buttons throughout.

There are some great themes about family and its complexity. I adored Valerie's halmeoni, and the way her relationships with her parents and sister evolve. Valerie has always felt like a disappointment, and she wants to prove to her parents and herself that she has what it takes in business. Her relationship with them has colored other relationships in her life, and she begins to understand these complications as she grows during the story. Similarly, Wes dreams of being a professional musician, but his uncle has pursued this career and struggled because of it. As he tries to find a way to tell his parents and prove he can do it on his own, he must learn more about himself and his decisions along the way.

Communication is another major theme of the book, and the lessons about the need to talk about concerns and feelings are really well done. Beyond the two main characters, there are many others who have needed to talk about things. Even if things don't end in the way they wished, there was still value in speaking their truths.

Final verdict: Charming and sweet with compelling characters and a delightful premise, MADE IN KOREA is a gratifying YA contemporary read about following your passions, competition, and family. Highly recommend for fans of TWEET CUTE, A PHO LOVE STORY, and DATING MAKES PERFECT.