Made in Korea follows Valerie Kwon and Wes Jung as they battle it out to become the top Korean business at their school,
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I really enjoyed this contemporary! The pacing was good, and most of the characters were fully fleshed out. I thought that the romance was sweet, and I especially loved how some topics and ideas were handled. The writing style was very engrossing, and I was hooked from the first chapter. I would recommend this for fans of Shark Tank and Always, Never Yours!
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I also loved how familial relationships were explored, especially with Valerie. The dual perspectives worked well for this book.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book run exchange for my honest opinion.

All of the characters in Made in Korea are so well developed, and are all lovable!! From the two main characters, Valerie and Wes, to the numerous side characters, like Pauline, Charlie, and Taemon, I was always invested in the lives of the people I read in the book.

The plot was very fast-paced and fairly intense for a contemporary romance. This was not at all a bad thing though. It only made me that much involved in what was happening in the book, and just added to how much I enjoyed it.

I loved Valerie’s relationship with her grandmother. Valerie was so dedicated to doing what she could for her, and they had such a special bond that I just loved reading about.

Charlie is Valerie’s cousin and business partner, and he was probably my favorite character in the book. He was always so sweet and funny. I would one hundred percent read a book from his perspective, which would be amazing.

The book is about two teens competing with school businesses and reminded me a lot of The Henna Wars, by Adiba Jaigirdar, one of my all-time favorite books. The not-so-friendly competition, the absolutely adorable romance, and the drama were what turned Made in Korea into the most adorable book I’ve read this year.

The writing really contributed to how much I loved the book. There was a noticeable difference between Valerie and Wes’s chapters, and because of that, the two strands of the story were easy to separate and weave together.

Made in Korea was a book that I had very high expectations for, and I was not let down reading it! Every moment of the book was exciting and engaging, and I loved all of the characters so much!!

My rating: 5/5 stars

When I first read its description — “Frankly in Love meets Shark Tank” — I knew I would be absolutely hooked. I devoured this book in just a few short sittings and totally fell in love with Valerie and Wes, both as a couple and as individuals. While I loved getting to learn more about Korean culture such as K-Pop, K-Beauty, and haenyeo (female divers in Jeju), I mostly loved seeing how Valerie and Wes come to term with their own identities, passions, challenges, and more.

I always love stories that portray the Asian American experience as diverse, beautiful, and joyous, rather than as a monolith. For example, Wes wants to explore his passion for music, while Valerie is in love with running her K-Beauty business. Her cousin Charlie is a bit of a class clown who loves sports, while his crush Pauline has a passion for sea life. I loved how diverse their interests were. As a young person, and especially as a young Asian person, I used to really internalize a lot of stereotypes and racist thinking in terms of the model minority myth. For example, I’d often choose my activities or interests based on what I thought others viewed me as, versus what I was actually passionate about, which looking back, seems silly but was definitely a thing. This book was such a wonderful example of young Asian people really finding joy in their passions, whatever those things may be. And as an adult reading it, it brought me a lot of joy!

I also loved that while this book was a fun romance with an awesome enemies-to-lovers trope, juxtaposed with the two Korean businesses battling it out for the top spot, it also dealt with identity in really powerful ways. I loved reading the conversations between Wes and Valerie as they discuss their own identities as Koreans and dissect how their individual family experiences play into how they view themselves. I think it’s such a powerful, important discussion to have and as an adult who is just now coming to accept who I am and recognize my own unique identity as an Asian American woman, I wish I had read a conversation like this back in high school or middle school. I know it would’ve resonated deeply with me and maybe helped me learn to accept myself earlier. However, better late than never! This book handled these discussions with grace, compassion, and dignity, along with a dose of romance, friendship, humor, and love.

[Adapted from my full review on my blog]

Author Sarah Suk’s debut, Made in Korea, is a dual point of view Young Adult coming-of-age novel featuring enterprising high school senior Valerie Kwon. Add in a dose of wholesome teenage drama, a puppy love romance, and lots of Hi-Chew references, and you’ve got this sweet story. It’s a quick read that’ll be a worthy addition to your YA lineup.

I enjoyed the balance of plot and character development in Made in Korea. The story moves along smoothly, strategically braced with subtle but revealing backstory and relationship-defining dialogue. I think the author’s voice was spot on, and the characters well-established within this cozy universe. As a first-generation Asian-American, the family dynamics presented felt very well represented.

Now, while I found both of the main characters quite authentic, I didn’t find them particularly likable. Valerie was pretty socially myopic for most of the novel, and Wes was a bit too much of a pushover. That said, I do feel this novel featured relatively believable characters who each harbor age-appropriate amounts of main character syndrome. After all, what is a coming-of-age novel without this type of character development which includes breaking through the shell of adolescence?

If you’re looking for an #OwnVoices YA title with a softly whimsical slice of life narrative, pick up Made in Korea— it’s a good pick for a light weekend read with a hint of romance.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the physical ARC! I also received access to the digital galley via NetGalley.

Ugh, I feel horrible for not liking this book, but I couldn't even get past the first three chapters. The writing style was not one I really liked, as it was pretty stilt-y. It also felt like I was reading in circles, where one thing would be talked about, and then suddenly we're reading about another thing, before finally coming back to that first thing. Then there were chapter breaks in weird places, and it became too annoying for me to continue.

Even though I didn't really like this book, I'd still suggest it for someone who likes those attributes. This book definitely did start off fairly cutesy, but unfortunately for me, I just didn't mesh well with the writing style.

This book HAS MY HEART!! It's been so long since I read such a good Young Adult romance. Valerie and Wes' rivals to lovers journey is absolutely swoon-worthy. And not only that, I love how Valerie is the absolute boss lady in the book and Wes is the one who's high-strung. It makes their relationship so adorable.

Made in Korea not only explores the student business scene in high school, but also complex family relations. Wes' strained relationship with his father, because of the expectations hovering over him and Valerie's relationship with her mother because of the constant comparison with her ideal older sister, are all too real as it can be when you see how Asian families usually are.

For 300+ pages, author Sarah Suk builds up Valerie and Wes' competition-cum-relationship, giving us a umpteenth moments to feel the tension between them and absolutely go feral when these two didn't understand that they are actually in love with each other. I loved how they both have a very distinct personality. And not only them, every secondary character, including Charlie and halmeoni, gets their special characteristics. BTW, I absolutely loved Charlie! He's my favourite character in the book.

Add Made in Korea into your TBRs ASAP!! Especially if you are into K-pop boy bands or K-beauty products. It will definitely bring you closer to the book!

A must read this summer. I loved the setting so much and the characters were so loveable. Definitely check this one out.

Out this month, Sarah Suk’s charming debut YA novel, “Made in Korea,” follows two entrepreneurial Korean American teen students who fight the spark between them while running competing K-beauty businesses at their Pacific Northwest high school. Along with her cousin Charlie, HI-CHEW connoisseur Valerie Kwon runs V&C K-BEAUTY with a goal of taking her beloved halmeoni to Paris, while the saxophone-playing new kid Wes Jung sells his mom’s K-pop branded beauty products to help him pay for music school tuition since he knows his parents won’t approve of his plans to pursue the arts — but first love might get in the way.

I absolutely adored Sarah Suk's debut novel Made in Korea! I loved the characters, Val and Wes especially. I strongly admired Val's determination, driven nature, and how badly she wanted to be able to achieve her goals and give her grandmother the vacation she'd always dreamed of. I loved Wes' passion for music, his kindness, and the way that he learns to stand up for himself.

I also really enjoyed the discussions on what it's like to be Asian-American in the US, whether you were born in the US or just moved there. Those were really well done and relatable.

I loved this book and can't wait for more from Sarah Suk!

Actual rating: 4.5/5

I saw the cover and I was sold, I read the synopsis and I went straight to NetGalley. I will truly be forever in debt to Simon and Schuster Publishing for accepting my request. The second I finish my review, I will go order a signed copy.

I think that this book has turned me into an ebook person... AND- I read a contemporary!

The concept of this book filled me up so, so much. It's about Korean-Americans finding their home, K-Pop, and rivals-to-lovers. This did not disappoint!! And my reading (and Hi-Chew) obsession is thriving. All thanks to Suk's writing style, plot, diversity, creativity, characters, and the clear effort put into this solid debut- I will be reading all of her future books!

I loved the plot, it was unpredictable, which given this book being a contemporary romance, I was not expecting. I was so confident in my prediction and just blown away when I was wrong.

The setting was unclear, which sometimes I liked, sometimes I didn't. I know it's set in the U.S. but not where- maybe one of the coasts? There were many fun places in this novel: aquariums, fairs, bingsu(Korean Shave Ice) shops, the school, band rooms, and Valerie's locker. All were descripted perfectly and I was right there with our main characters, Valerie and Wes.

Valerie is someone who I admire, she knows what she wants, she dreams, and she will achieve them even if her parents think her goals are 'cute'. Her goals are challenging and I would love to get some advice from her. I am so proud of my entrepreneur for growing in her thoughtfulness and character!

Wes was such a great character and I related to him on so many levels! He had a great voice, and Suk did an amazing job keeping Valerie and Wes's voices different while giving them things in common.

The romance was so sweet! This book takes place over a school year and part of summer, and this felt very fast moving for taking 9 months in the book! It also made the romance very realistic, it wasn't instant-love but not slow-burn, which means the timing was perfect.

The writing style fit this book- it did a fair amount of show not tell, varying sentence length, and brought the characters to life!

Everything about this book has something wonderful about it! Made in Korea is a great debut that I fully recommend to anyone, people trying to get into contemporary, people who already love contemporary, and someone looking for a sweet romance with a twist!

I really loved this one. It was a fun little YA contemporary story that is perfect for the summers and most important, summer vacation. It's got an upbeat feel to it and even the conflicts that these kids came across throughout the story weren't too overwhelming. It's light and airy with a bit of conversation about identity, but ultimately a fun treat when you need a break.

As I mentioned, the conflicts in this novel were real conflicts, but still light and fun. Making a bet to see who's K-beauty business will win at the end of the year sounds like a fun but serious endeavor and the kinds of havoc it wreaked on both Valerie and Wes weren't the kinds that would threaten their lives or put them in danger. It was more about trusting each other, having good senses, and avoiding the urge to cheat.

I loved the characters the most. Valerie is this very determined person who's had a K-beauty business working out of her school locker for the entirety of their high school career. She's finally at the home stretch when her rival, Wes Jung, comes into town with some unique products of his own. I was so surprised that these teens had their own business and had the blessing of their school to run them. I didn't even know programs like that existed and honestly, I wish I had one for myself. Valerie felt like someone I knew at my old job who has the head for business. I love that she knows what she wants and driven to get it. I also loved that despite feeling like an adult, she still made mistakes and there was still a lesson for her to learn.

I also really enjoyed Wes. I resonated a lot with him especially when I was younger and also a musician and wanted to do something with that world. His hard conversations with his family also reminded me a lot of the ones I had as a kid. It's tough to tell your immigrant parents that you want to pursue a career that won't make a lot of money if you're not successful. I wholeheartedly felt what Wes felt and rooted for him to have that hard conversation with his parents. But I also loved that it wasn't all hard work for him. He still had his interests, his own friends, and even someone he was into. He felt rounded out and not just the music geek who wanted to overcome his obstacles.

Overall, this was such a delight and I truly enjoyed every second of it. I can't wait to see what else Sarah Suk puts out because I think I'll definitely read more from her.

Let me just start off by saying this was such a cute read! I really needed a light and fluffy book to help me destress in the midst of finals, and this was the perfect read for that.

Made In Korea follows Valerie and Wes as they compete to sell K-Beauty products to their classmates. The one to sell more products and make more in total profits by Prom will be declared the winner. This was rivals to lovers do I need to say more?  It’s my favorite trope, so I was so excited to dive into this. I loved both characters equally, but I think my favorite character was a side character. I might be a bit biased because I saw so much of myself in her (being biracial and all), but I didn’t expect to connect with a character so much (much less one of the side characters.)

The romance was cute enough. I though the pacing was a little off towards the middle since Wes seemed to fall for Valerie so suddenly after being so apprehensive of her at the start. I really loved Valerie’s stubbornness even if it got her into some trouble throughout the book. I think the tension of their rivalry was well done, and the pining was so much fun to read.

Overall, this was such a heartwarming read! It genuinely made me smile with the sweet & cute moments, and there were quite a few heartfelt ones too. I’d highly recommend it if that’s something you’re looking for.

I was in two minds about this book as I did manage to finish it but it still felt not quite right for me as the book starts with Valerie who has a K-beauty business at school run from her locker with her cousin Charlie. They have done well and this is Valerie's senior year and she thinks this will help her college applications and her dream is also to take her Nana to Paris, France with the money she has earned. Things are going well until new hottie Wes comes along and ends up creating a business of his selling Crown Tiger merchandise and this becomes a competition for Valerie. The thing too is that Wes is more personable than Valerie but he too is driven as he wants to go to Music School and since his parents don't agree, he has to earn the money himself. You can tell that this book is set up for the pair to have a relationship, but it is a very very slow burn as they don't show sparks together until almost near the end of the book. I have to admit this wasn't a favorite either as I found the two main characters quite selfish and only caring about themselves which frustrated me as they were both so narrow-minded and acted like they didn't care about anyone but themselves. I don't know if I felt this way as I am older and read a lot of books, and if I was maybe a teen myself, I might have felt different.

This is a super cute rivals to lovers teen romance.

Valerie sells Korean beauty products at school to earn money to take her grandma - Halmeoni- to Paris and get her mother to take her seriously. But then a hot new boy, Wes, starts selling K-pop merchandise and cutting into Valerie’s profits. He has his own reasons for needing the money - his parents don’t support his dream of going to music school. Valerie’s determined to take Wes down. There’s only room for one successful student business at their school.

Valerie and Wes have chemistry right away, and it’s fun to watch her struggle with her feelings for him and her desire to be the best. The two also get into a lot of trouble along the way, making bets, spying on each other and bribing people not to shop at each other’s store.

The supporting characters are great, too. We have lovestruck cousin Charlie, who wants to take the girl who got away to prom; Taemin, who’s working on turning his life around but still has shady connections; and Kristy Lo, the gossip queen of the school who can make or break Valerie and Wes’s sales with one group text.

This was a fun, light read that left me smiling.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.

Cute start, but honestly I skimmed - I prefer to read on my kindle or paper books, but this was only available on the app. Definitely think the intended audience (YA) will love this book!

'Made in Korea' is a breath of fresh air even for someone who reads a lot of YA contemporaries. Everything about this book was likable and exactly what I needed.

It’s the beginning of Senior year and Valerie Kwon is ready to make more sales from her student-run business, V&C K-BEAUTY. She’s run her successful Korean beauty supply business with her cousin, Charlie, for the past few years. They’re not only the longest-running business at her school, but they are the most successful. V&C K-BEAUTY means everything to Valerie. She’s not only brilliant at running it but she dreams of finally taking her halmeoni (grandmother) to Paris this summer.

Enter, Wes Jung, the new kid at school who pops up and ruins everything for Valerie.

After his mom thrusts free samples of the hottest K-pop group’s new lip balm line at him to share with his friends, Wes finds himself in an unexpected situation. He quickly realizes that he needs to earn money and fast if he plans to go to music school next year without his parent’s approval. When he sees that the kids at his new school like the freebies his mom happily gives him, Wes decides to open his own student-run business of selling K-pop merch. That merch just so happens to be mostly beauty supplies at the moment, and Valerie is not happy.

Told through dual POVs it’s easy to fall in love with both Valerie and Wes. Valerie comes off cold, angry, and uninterested in anyone who she doesn’t consider a customer. Wes is the polar opposite. He’s sweet, caring, and incredibly shy especially when it comes to confrontations with Valerie. It was so much fun to see the roles reversed in a YA contemporary! We usually read about a kind and loving girl character falling for the bad boy, but here we have a bit of the opposite when it came to Valerie and Wes. I loved it!

They turn into rivals and a lot of drama comes along with this. Lots of betrayals, betting on who can make more sales, and face-offs. Underneath the funny games between the two, there’s a lot of heart in this book, too. Both Valerie and Wes are at a turning point in their lives and they’re unsure of where to go next.

I think a lot of young readers will be able to relate to this story, especially readers who feel like they have obligations to their family. Both Valerie and Wes want to make their families proud, but they aren’t sure if by doing so they’ll find their own happiness. Their families play a major role in their story. I enjoyed reading about the insecurities they felt inside of their homes because it was so honest. Sarah Suk did a wonderful job exploring two different sides of how it feels to grow up with a family that expects more out of you than what you can give.

Overall, I adored 'Made in Korea'. The writing was the cherry on top! I was completely engaged with the characters and their fun antics. I’m happy we got dual POVs because we were able to understand where both Valerie and Wes were coming from, and how their businesses motivated them differently.

If you enjoy YA contemporary, rom-coms, or stories centered around family then this is the perfect book for you!

Made in Korea is about two Korean-American high schoolers, Valerie and Wes. Valerie runs a Korean beauty product line with her cousin Charlie, which has been very successful since its inception. Until now. Wes is the new kid in town, again. His mom’s job causes his family to move around often, so Wes never really feels at home anywhere. That’s why it comes as a shock to Wes when he accidentally sells K-pop merch and becomes an instant success and rival to Valerie. Wes ultimately decides to pursue his newly found business because he is trying to pay his way through music school, unbeknownst to his disapproving parents. However, Valerie has an underlying motivation as well—in order to prove her worth to her judgmental mother, Valerie aspires to take her grandmother, Valerie’s best friend, to Paris. Valerie reasons that if she can pay her own way to Paris based on the proceeds of her business, her mother might finally offer her some approval. When it becomes apparent that there isn’t room for both businesses, Valerie and Wes must figure out how to coexist as business owners, friends, and maybe more.

This was truly an enjoyable read. I felt like I was watching a familiar rom com or Hallmark movie where I was rooting for both characters to ultimately find their way to a happy ending. I don’t want to over simplify the book, though. Suk includes a lot of topics to be taken seriously by the characters and readers alike. Topics like, identity, parental approval, being true to your self and culture, and miscommunication. One of the topics that I enjoyed seeing play out was miscommunication—in a high school (and lately, adult) setting, this often leads to ghosting. I liked how the characters acknowledged that being upfront and honest with people ends up being so much easier and more effective than trying to tip toe around uncomfortable conversations. This is obviously easier said than done, which I think is why is resonated with me. This isn’t just a “young adult” issue—everyone at some point struggles with this as well. This is just one example of how Suk skillfully incorporates topics that apply not only to young adults but adult readers, too.

Another notable feature of Made in Korea is, unsurprisingly, the references to Korean culture. Suk includes Korean words and phrases, but always provides an English comparable. Suk does this in a way that wasn’t distracting—the Korean and it’s English counterpart flowed very well, and I learned something new about the culture along the way.

What prevented me from giving this 5 stars is the predictability. As I mentioned, it definitely felt like a rom com. That definitely isn’t a bad thing, and I don’t think one of the goals of the book was surprises and plot twists. To me, the predictability made the pace of the book slow a bit— it wasn’t a compulsive read that I couldn’t tear myself away from. However, it was a book that was cozy, enjoyable, and poignant—one that I would definitely recommend!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.


Sarah Suk’s Made in Korea is a cute enemies to kissing YA contemporary that focuses on the tension between personal dreams & parental expectations.

Senior Valerie Kwon is very business-oriented, focused on how she can keep her student-run business V&C K-BEAUTY the most successful at her school. She’s saving her profits from the business she runs with her cousin so she can take her Halmeoni on a trip to Paris. & maybe also so she prove that she’s talented & accomplished in her own right to the mother who constantly compares her to her older sister.

But she runs into some competition from Wes Jung, who’s new to her school & decides that selling some K-pop products his mom has gotten from her job (some of which she offered to him personally; none of which she has approved to be sold at his school) is a way that he can finance his music education hopes. He’s a saxophonist at heart but try telling that to his parents, especially his dad who wouldn’t approve of a music career in the slightest.

So Valerie & Wes are competitors, each of them eventually trying on some behaviors that aren’t quite aboveboard, but for reasons that would be relatable to many.

Of course they’re also attracted to each other & respect each other, which makes their competition a little more confusing for them.

Three cheers for a heroine who isn’t immediately “likeable” to everyone; who is ambitious & driven (occasionally cutthroat ;) ) & who makes some mistakes & not-so-great decisions because not only is the business her priority ambition-wise; it’s also related to some family pressures.

I did want to see a bit more evidence of growth from Valerie—I wanted that part of the story to be considered a bit more & maybe a little earlier in the story—but in general I’m excited to see more rep of teen girls like this & appreciate how it’s balanced by her softness toward her grandmother & eventually Wes.

& Wes is a sweetie, awkward & kind, as Valerie eventually realizes, & the way that he comes to see Valerie’s honesty & confidence as things to emulate are lovely.

Suk compellingly offers common ground between them—the judgment they face from their parents, the feeling of not always feeling completely “at home” because Valerie is Korean American & Wes is a Third-culture kid.

While there’s a lot to savor about this one, the engagement between leads feels somewhat lacking to me. I didn’t totally buy their romance because I just didn’t feel that they had enough meaningful interaction spread throughout the story.

All things considered, Made in Korea was a fun way to spend my time & introduced me to a talented writer, but it also falls a little flat in some respects for me.

3.5 ⭐️. Release date: 5/18. Please read Own Voices reviews.

Made in Korea is a sweet, charming, and entertaining young adult enemies-to-lovers romance. With a headstrong female protagonist and an endearing male protagonist, this story packs family, romance, and coming-of-age challenges into an engaging, compulsively readable package. Fans of YA music books, stories with entrepreneurial characters, and family-oriented YA will love this story. It also has mild, infrequent profanity and would be suitable for younger YA readers.

This book is so cute I really enjoyed it. Book has two POV Valerie and Wes both high school students competing in selling K-beauty that become rivals! Super fun book that had me laughing out loud!

Thank you to @simonteen @sarahaelisuk and @netgalley for this read!