Heartwarming Childhood-Friends-to-Lovers Contemporary
Ever since I heard about this book, I was so hyped for it. I’m not a huge friends-to-lovers fan but I’ve read a few estranged-childhood-friends-to-lovers books that I really enjoyed recently, so I decided to give this one a try! Seoulmates told the story of two estranged childhood best friends reuniting and finding their identities in a world that’s always told them what to be.
I thought the protagonists’ character arcs were interesting! Her entire life, Hannah has rejected so much of the Korean side of her Korean-American identity; this wasn’t something I really related to but can understand in concept. She wanted to fit in with her white American classmates, and now that they’re all fascinated by her culture, she doesn’t get it. However, this doesn’t mean that they get to judge her Korean-ness just because they know a little about the culture from dramas. Over time, Hannah grows to learn that how she identifies with her culture is enough and that she doesn’t have to compartmentalize a part of herself to fit in.
Meanwhile, Jacob is happy to be able to provide for his family after years of hardship. However, his acting career has taken a toll on his social life, or lack thereof, and he can’t help but feel stifled, especially when his studio is forcing him to seemingly date his cruel co-star. Hannah helps him realize that he doesn’t have to put up with this in order to be successful, as well as his mother telling him that he doesn’t have to carry the weight of providing for their family by himself.
The romance itself was cute! Hannah and Jacob were friends “even before birth,” as their mothers put it since they became friends while pregnant with the two of them. Three years ago, when Jacob and his family moved to South Korea, the two of them had an argument and haven’t talked since then. Hannah is reluctant to spend time with him when his family comes to stay with hers, but they quickly find that they know each other too well to hate each other.
Seoulmates was a heartwarming story of becoming comfortable with yourself in your culture and your career. I liked the characters and thought the romance cute. You should look into Seoulmates if you’re looking for a heartfelt contemporary with a “estranged childhood friends to lovers” romance!
I thought the protagonists’ character arcs were interesting! Her entire life, Hannah has rejected so much of the Korean side of her Korean-American identity; this wasn’t something I really related to but can understand in concept. She wanted to fit in with her white American classmates, and now that they’re all fascinated by her culture, she doesn’t get it. However, this doesn’t mean that they get to judge her Korean-ness just because they know a little about the culture from dramas. Over time, Hannah grows to learn that how she identifies with her culture is enough and that she doesn’t have to compartmentalize a part of herself to fit in.
Meanwhile, Jacob is happy to be able to provide for his family after years of hardship. However, his acting career has taken a toll on his social life, or lack thereof, and he can’t help but feel stifled, especially when his studio is forcing him to seemingly date his cruel co-star. Hannah helps him realize that he doesn’t have to put up with this in order to be successful, as well as his mother telling him that he doesn’t have to carry the weight of providing for their family by himself.
The romance itself was cute! Hannah and Jacob were friends “even before birth,” as their mothers put it since they became friends while pregnant with the two of them. Three years ago, when Jacob and his family moved to South Korea, the two of them had an argument and haven’t talked since then. Hannah is reluctant to spend time with him when his family comes to stay with hers, but they quickly find that they know each other too well to hate each other.
Seoulmates was a heartwarming story of becoming comfortable with yourself in your culture and your career. I liked the characters and thought the romance cute. You should look into Seoulmates if you’re looking for a heartfelt contemporary with a “estranged childhood friends to lovers” romance!