I absolutely adored this book and ate it up in a day. It was so super cute, I laughed so much and I just lived my best K-Drama inspired life! There were some great gems and balance of funny to serious. I found myself cosigning so much of Hana said (cause she didn't tell any lies). Lyla didn't let me down with this book and I want even more from her. I would highly recommend both of Lyla's books!

Flip the Script was an enjoyable dive into the world of Korean media with a new story. Fans of KPop and KDramas will already be aware of how different the entertainment world is over there, and Lee pitched the narration perfectly to explain the differences in a natural voice. The characters were interesting and I couldn't put it down.

Lyla Lee once said that she wrote this book because she couldn't find any that spoke to her. So she wrote it herself.

This book is unapologetic about LGBTQIA+ representation. Main character Hana, a K-drama actor, is bi, but not allowed to be out due to Korean culture restrictions. Any kpop or kdrama fans know, you might ship idols together, but the real relationships are frowned upon.

The book also deals with depression and anxiety, taboo discussions in Korea still today.

The three teen protagonists in this book are each brave in their own ways, and should inspire readers of all ages to be brave knowing they are not alone.

I saved so many quotes from this book, it would take pages for me to share them all. So here are just a few.

"I don't think the anxiety ever goes away. I know lots of famous pop stars who still struggle with it and are secretly in therapy or cope with it in not-so-good ways. Knowing that we're all struggling... makes me feel less alone."

"Full disclosure, but I really can't come out right now. Yeah, there are queer K-pop stars that are out like Holland, but my folks probably wouldn't be okay with it. They're really conservative and homophobic."

Last one:

"Oh, and by the way, I'm pan; Hana knows; and yes, your secret is safe with me. We're all queer. Yay! Okay bye."

It’s hard to conceive of anything better than getting the big break you’ve been waiting for after putting years of hard work into your deepest passion. But as many of the characters in Flip the Script find, including the protagonist, Hana, fulfilling your dream doesn’t feel as satisfactory when it is placed in opposition with your very identity.

Hana is a teenaged actress whose talent and aptitude for acting inspired her parents’ move from Florida to Seoul when she was in middle school in order to prime her for the Hallyu machine. This big move has paid off in Hana’s big break as the lead character in a new Korean drama opposite hearthrob and K-pop idol Bryan Yoon. Preoccupied with maintaining stellar grades at school and portraying her drama character as engagingly as she possibly can, Hana has little time for anything else. Even when she’s home with her parents all she can think about is making them proud, worrying that she’s not doing enough to keep viewers tuned into the show. Typically, she’d take her worries to her best friend and school rival but ever since she beat her for the lead role in the show, she’s not heard a pipe nor a peep from her. Things change when a network executive strongly suggests that she and her costar fake a relationship to boost ratings—making their slightly friendly co-working vibe change into a positively awkward exchange. What’s worse is that while she doesn’t feel any attraction towards Bryan, his legions of fans don’t know that. So while Hana finds joy in hanging out with him, it gains a bitter tinge when a contingent of his fans and social media trolls make her online and regular life a hassle. Thankfully, this is when her bestie reappears, but nothing that follows goes as smoothly as those involved would hope.

As one of the resident K-drama enthusiasts on the BGC team, I’ve longed for a book to give me a similar setting and vibe. Flip the Script yields the precise appeal and challenge that a large contingent of drama fans have been looking for, with a young protagonist who knows what she wants and what she’s willing to do to get her needs met. This book also provides queer representation via pan and sapphic relationships that readers and drama fans alike will be delighted by. Lyla Lee’s writing is not to be missed, especially in this highly evocative tale.

This book was the epitome of adorable and I could not stop smiling the entire time. It's absolutely perfect for al the k-drama fans who want the unexpected twist from a love triangle and breaking through the homophobic stereotypes of society. This is my second Lyla Lee novel and it has cemented her status as a comfort pick-me-up author!

This was SO CUTE! I adored every moment! I also know nothing about K Dramas, but that did not hinder my reading experience at all. The characters were so amazing, and the story was very well done! I was also just… very intrigued in the plot line of the show they were filming, and I was taking in every little detail that I could about it! Super highly recommend!!

Hana is an up and coming Korean American actress starring in a new kdrama opposite a kpop idol. When the ratings aren't as good as they had hoped to be, management pushes them into a fake dating scheme to raise ratings, or at least interest. To help boost them even more, Hana's best friend from middle school, Minjee, is cast as her romantic rival on the show, which leads to real feelings among the fake dating, just not for her kpop idol fake boyfriend.

Hana and Minjee's relationship was very cute and I loved their chemistry. The way their friendship turned into feelings and as Hana realized she had actual feelings for Minjee felt very genuine. Bryan was also hilarious as an unintentional/intentional third wheel and even though Hana was annoyed with him sometimes, I found him pretty endearing.

There was great commentary on homophobia being prominent in all kinds of film industry (and how even in America where queer relationships are more tolerated, it's still not great) and how "that's just the way the older generation thinks". The way Lee also discusses the misogyny of dramas and how often times the female characters or love interests are sacrificed for the sake of furthering the male main character's story.

Thank you to Net Galley for making this book available in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't love this one as much as I adored I'll Be the One, mainly because I wanted more of Minjee (and more of her personality to show on the page). I wanted MORE.

But it was still really great, and had a really awesome discussion of homophobia in Korea.

I also really loved a lot of the adult figures (the good ones) in the show: Sophia, and Hana's mom and dad. And, to a smaller extent, Director Cha and Mr. Choi.

This is such a fun Kdrama book. Kculture very rarely has LGBTQIA+ reps, and these characters are so relatable to high school teens. I would recommend this to any Kculture lovers and high school+ students .

Oh my goodness, I absolutely adored this book! They definitely flipped the script on me! I was expecting a basic Korean love drama story, but they through in such an adorable twist that totally went over my head at first, but once I saw it I was like, man, I should've seen that coming! I love that this book is bisexual Asian rep, and a lot of other LGBTQ+ rep, that also tackles the antiquated values that can be prevalent in Asian society. Also, as an Asian-American who does not know the language of her culture, seeing Hana go on to be a K-drama star was really awe inspiring, even if it was fiction. That little piece hit home for me. Mostly though, this book was super cute and fun and definitely full of all those positive fuzzy happy vibes that a good rom-com needs! Lyla Lee is definitely going on my must-buy list!

Flip The Script is the sapphic K-drama rom-com you will want to BEG someone to make into a real show. Please, I need this adaptation!! Hana and her friends will take you on a sightseeing and food-tasting tour of Seoul as they dodge fans and go on fake/real dates! Seriously, I’ve been left feeling like I need to plan a vacation to Seoul to take a Flip-The-Script tour!! Anyone want to go with me? Can Lyla be the tour guide?!!

As the name suggests, the tables get turned frequently in this story. Our MC, Hana, has the lead female role in a time-travel K-drama opposite a bona-fide K-pop Idol. On set she’s constantly changing from a school uniform into a traditional hanbok, but in real life she’s also adjusting from being a normal girl, to the newly minted fake girlfriend of the previously mentioned heartthrob co-star. And just in case that isn’t dramatic enough, when her former best friend becomes the new second lead actress, and a challenge to her role as main love interest, Hana will also have to fight the all too real feelings she has for her new rival. And once she’s got all of that in hand, Hana will also hope to flip the script on the societal norms that are hurting her and her friends.

I would have appreciated a bit more character development and exploration of the family dynamics, as well as a closer look at the drama that the characters are filming. Things felt a bit abrupt at times since we're only following Hana's POV, but that's a fairly common problem that I have with first person POV. I loved so much about this book, from the different family dynamics, the great cast of characters, and the push against harmful societal expectations. Just like Lyla’s other book, "I'll Be the One" (which is amazing by the way…) this book screams, DO THE THING you’ve been too scared to do. Be who YOU want to be. Speaking of that other book, I cannot stop obsessing over Sky and am so glad to hear about her successful idol career!

Thank you to Netgalley, Lyla Lee, Harper Collins Childrens Group, and Katherine Tegen Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Flip the Script provided a nice introduction to Korean cultural elements while highlighting some of the imposter syndrome that children of immigrants feel when interacting with their heritage culture. While I started off really disliking Bryan he grew on me as the story went along and I really like how his relationship with Hana developed. There were many different things that the book touched on such as issues with the Korean entertainment industry, homophobia, and more and I thought they were handled pretty well. The romance between Hana and Minjee was cute and I loved reading about them.

Hana has always been a huge fan of K-dramas, so she knows exactly what to avoid when she gets to star in one. Especially when she's forced to start fake dating her co-star, Brian Yoon, to help create media buzz for the show. Her co-star who might just be starting to fall in love with her. But Hana is just going to keep to the script.

At least, that's her plan until a new star is brought into the show. A star who might just be taking Hana's place. What Hana doesn't plan on is possibly falling for her new co-star. And their romance is definitely forbidden by those that run the show. Will Hana be able to keep her place in the show, even if she has feelings for her new on screen rival?

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an advanced copy of Flip the Script to review! I absolutely loved I'll Be The One when I read it last year, so I was excited to get my hands on Lee's newest YA. And I am so happy to say that it definitely did not disappoint!

Even though I have never watched a K-drama in my life, I have seen clips and know that Lee nailed that aspect of this book. Lee shows how difficult it can be for these stars to have their own personal lives when the show runners basically make all of their decisions for them. This book really touches on the expectations that Korean culture places on these stars, and I liked that Hana was able to fight against these a bit.

And the characters! Hana, Minjee, and Brian absolutely stole the show. The way they support each other through everything that was going on was so sweet. They also had a few adult characters behind them cheering them on, and I just loved that dynamic. Hana and Minjee's budding relationship felt realistic and adorable and I would read another book about them for sure.

I think the only thing I wanted more of was some of the behind the scenes regarding filming the show. Other than that, you should absolutely add this book to your summer TBR!

I LOVED this! This is one of those books that was so cute and sweet it just made me feel so warm and my heart so full. This book is just full of so much joy and while it does still deal with some dark subjects its still done so well. I loved the relationships in this book and I'm not just talking about romantic ones. The friendship is this book was fun and sweet and the Hana's relationship with her parents made me smile. I just loved everything about this book!

Another fun one by Lyla and I enjoyed reading this one and especially highly recommended for the K-drama vibes in this book!

What I love about Flip the Script is how its soul lies in the characters. The premise of being cast in a K-Drama where your nemesis is actually your maybe crush? That went straight to the heart. Flip the Script is swoony. I loved watching this tentative love bloom. At the same time, Lee does not shy away from the homophobia in the industry. The ways that a crush is never just a crush. It can become a career ender, threatening of our safety, or even just the delicate balancing act of admitting it to someone who might not return our feelings.

Flip the Script tackles very real issues of censorship and the pressures of show business - in connection with homophobia. At the same time, Lee illustrates the pressures of acting. How tentative and tenuous everything feels. The knowledge that our ruin could just be around the corner. Flip the Script highlights the necessity of always hustling, of appeasing our fans, and of maintaining an image. But what room does it leave for love and our personal lives?

This book is yet another winner from Lyla Lee. Similar to her first book, it follows a Korean American girl trying to make it in the Korean entertainment industry. Where "I'll Be the One" flirts with the main character's bisexual identity, "Flip the Script" leans into it entirely. Hana is a loveable lead who is surrounded with a variety of appealing love interests both male and female. This title follows her romantic relationships, her struggles to be an outstanding actress, and her attempts to make her parent's sacrifices feel worthwhile.

Come to this book for the generous K-Drama references and fun South Korea setting, stay for the love triangle and commentary on casual homophobia in the Korean entertainment industry. I would highly recommend this title for both middle and high school library collections. It has swoony romance, but does not go beyond kissing on the page. I will definitely be acquiring it for my middle school library upon release.

I am a huge fan of author Lyla Lee. I loved her previous book, I'll Be the One, and I adored Flip the Script, too! One of the things I most admire of Lee's books is how she challenges societal norms yet leaves us hopeful as her characters navigate tough topics and situations. This is a book I recommend for my shy readers because I feel this is an empowering story as well as any K-drama/K-pop fans, theater kids, and realistic fiction readers.

We are introduced to Hana, the unlikely star of a new K-drama. However, when it doesn't do as well as hoped, the producers not only tell her to fake-date her famous co-star, Bryan, but also bring in her school rival, Mingee, to create on an-screen love triangle. However, sparks fly not with Hana and Bryan, but between Hana and Mingee.

Hana must not only deal with the producers who are very stuck in their ways as to how they work towards and view success, but also challenge conservative South Korean culture as she develops feelings for her friend, Mingee. Of course, this is all while trying to follow her acting dreams.

I look forward to Lyla Lee's. next book!

There's a lot to like about this book; K drama, a love triangle that includes bi/queer characters, fast plot. I was fascinated by the way K dramas are filmed, and liked getting a behind the scenes look in this book. Hana and Bryan's "fake" relationship sometimes felt a little bit too put on, but it was fun to see her reckon with her growing feelings for her female love interest/frenemy.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.

4.5 stars. This was a delightful read!

This is the story of a Korean American up-and-coming actress who has to fake date her male co-star as told to her by the network producers to boost ratings, all while having a crush on her female rival/friend. All of the characters were fun and believable. After the author's previous book, I loved that we have a supportive family to the main character. It was also lovely to have a love triangle where none of the rivals were petty or awful, and the females were fighting each other. Like her previous book, it was interesting to see behind the curtain of k-entertainment. I did not know that a lot of k-drama films while the show is currently airing and make changes as the audience reacts. I absolutely loved seeing bi representation and having a queer happy love story. The story was not that deep and didn't go into difficult issues, but it did not need to. Overall this is an entertaining, easy, and quick read that will make you smile and not think.