I started this one but was unable to finish. It started of exciting, the aspect of her moving to a new country and a slight mystery aspect, but I lost interest.

Sadly this is a case of it's me, not you. I tried this book many times and I just am not feeling it. It isn't the book for me but that doesn't mean it isn't the book for you.

Boy, am I ever ready to hop on a plane to Seoul and spend the next few months discovering this city. If it’s anything like what I’ve read in the last few books, I’m ready to start travelling! Seoul here I come!

I loved this sweet story of the creative and passionate Melody. Having grown up in the States, she’s out of touch with her Korean culture to a large extent, so when her mom (whom she’s always been tight with) decides that she’s moving the two of them to the other side of the world, Melody is rightly shocked. She grew up with her parents living separately. With her father visiting every six months at most, Melody never got the to know him beyond a surface level, and certainly not as a true parental figure. Now, they’re moving from their humble apartment to the luxurious condo owned by the father that Melody barely knows. Her whole life uprooted, Melody now is caught between pursing the passions that have driven her for years, to becoming the obedient and doting daughter that her family expects her to be.

This is an excellent coming-of-age story of a young girl full of life and passion. She is driven, intelligent, and so creative. However, she’s not exactly what her father and grandparents in Korea would exactly call successful. The creative arts are discouraged in her family, and she is expected to follow in the paternal footsteps towards becoming a lawyer. Yuck! Through the experience of relocating half a world away, Melody loses and finds herself again, embarking on a journey to uncover her true self. She learns what is worth fighting for and how hard work, dedication, and a level head can lead to productive and fulfilling conversations. Melody grows up in Korea and truly finds her voice.

I really love this story. A mix of romance, friendship, Kdrama, family, and soul-searching, it’s a refreshing and fun read. The characters are all endearing and Ahn is a talented writer with a knack for vivacious and full-bodied secondary characters. This is her debut, and it’s an impressive one at that. It’s sweet, happy, and a truly endearing read. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I lived the way the author describes the NY and Seoul settings. I felt like I was there tasting and smelling with the characters. Melody is selfish but what sixteen year old isn’t? I found her relatable. Really great for a debut novel

This book was absolute chaos AND THE STRESS. I wanted to yell at so many characters so many times, but I also really enjoyed the ride.

I respect the author for making Melody just a little bit hateable in a way that's totally understandable. Uprooted from her life in New York, she's shoved into a world she's been far removed from all her life - upper class Seoul. Feeling out of place, tossed into classes that are much too hard for her current learning levels, forced on arranged dates by her estranged father, and saddled with expectations she didn't know exists, Melody is a tad bit stressed and a lot judgmental.

I found this to be an interesting take on relationships - instead of there being moments of heart to hearts as I had expected to happen (and they do! Just not as expect), a lot of this is showing Melody that 16 year old kids don't have all the answers and sometimes that okay. This story is very much about Melody letting go of her preconceived notions of the "rich" life, her judgment of her parents' choices, her own hatred for her circumstances and how she turns them into opportunities to learn and grow. That's not to say she doesn't complain and moan about it all throughout this character growth, but it was very in character for a teenager and it felt so real.

That being said, this does lose a star because I feel like something got the Asian "brush it under the rug, it doesn't exist anymore" treatment, particularly her relationship with her dad. I respect that the author chose to leave the end open to more growth, because realistically life is like that sometimes. You can't get to all the nooks and crannies of your familial dysfunction in two months. However, as a reader in a fictional book, I was kind of mad because Melody's dad was the one I was the angriest at.

Where this book also shines is in the friendships Melody makes at school. While I had to suspend some belief, because there is no way she did all that gallivanting and daydreaming while still managed to study (despite her always seeming to be behind in her courses), I loved touring different districts of Seoul with her and her friends. I also loved that each character had their own voice and getting to know them with Melody was a treat. They all brought different perspectives to the table that really helped to flesh them out, while also giving things to Melody to reflect on (and allowed her to evaluate her own biases, as well).

As a whole, this was a really well constructed story and so much fun! I really enjoyed it and love the teen-ness of it all!

Rep: Korean cast, gay secondary character

TW: alcohol consumption, homophobia (countered), drug use (an attempt at weed); mentions death of a parent

Plot: 4/5
Character: 5/5
World Building: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Viking Books for Young Readers via Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars, what a fun reading experience

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group & Viking Books for Young Readers for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I'm so thankful that my library had this book and I was finally able to finish this, I initially received this arc back in May of 2022 and started reading it in June of that same year. I just wasn't able to finish it out, even though I was having such a fun time. So now I finally got to finish this amazing book, and the parts I reread (only like 30% of the book) were just as good as the first time. There's really nothing that I disliked about this book because while I felt upset and frustrated about things, it was because I was supposed to feel that way.

I really think one of my favorite things about this book was the writing style, and how the author managed to write everything in a very realistic way. There was a strong start, and then everything got even better when Melody began exploring Korea. I learned a lot about the food and daily life in this culture from this book, and I honestly found it really fascinating. Whenever I was reading about the food though I definitely got hungry haha, except for the one moment where she was trying squid, I absolutely would not be able to eat that. I also felt the plot was really realistic, as the reader I watched Melody struggle in school, adjusting to her new life, and creating new relationships with her family and new friends. There were lots of moments where she messed up, as teenagers do, but it was obvious she tried to get better.

Beyond how Melody is written very realistically in terms of her mistakes and how she deals with them, I truly loved her determination. It made me want to go out and achieve my own dreams because even when things in every aspect of her life get hard she doesn't give up. She has her moments where she feels like she might, but in the end, she keeps working. I also felt that all the emotions she felt throughout this book were perfectly valid for her situation, and the writing style made it very easy to feel those emotions with her. I loved how this book created it's characters, even if I thought her family was annoying, it's a different culture and parts of this are acknowledged and I came to understand parts of it.

[TW: underage drug use and alcohol use, divorce mentioned, homophobia]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

This isn't necessarily a bad book, I just really couldn't connect with it. I had so many issues with the MC, as well as other portions of the book that I just didn't end up enjoying it. The romance dynamic felt just, blah. I just hoped for more and all in all didn't enjoy this one.

The premise of this novel is great. I really wanted to enjoy it but I struggled to remain engaged and found myself just clicking to the next page not really sure what was going on. Eventually I did decide to not finish.

When Melody finds out her parents are uprooting the entire family to move back to Seoul, she's shattered. Who randomly decides that without some months of deliberation, and why?

Before I read the book, I perused some of the previous reviews for the book and I have to disagree with them saying that Melody is disrespectful to her parents. Her parents uproot her and move her across the WORLD, not just the country, and she goes from being able to talk to everyone around her to barely being able to communicate in a country that she's only tied to by ethnicity. Her parents constantly keep her out of the loop and when she does the same thing to them, people think she's being disrespectful. Melody is a teenager whose entire life has been turned upside down, not to mention she is a CHILD. She's disrespectful to her best friend back in New York City - but keep in mind she's still just a kid who just lost everything she's ever known.

Storywise, I found some of the plot twists predictable, but Melody being angry all the time really spoke to me because sometimes I read books like this and I find the characters way too passive.

This book had so much going on! Abruptly uprooted from her home in New York City, Melody is forced to adjust to a startling new life in Seoul, Korea where her father’s high powered career is centered. There she contends with all the intricacies of new surroundings, new friends, and new romance in addition to complex family dynamics, cultural differences, and new found secrets. Ahn’s rich description of Melody’s sudden immersion into Seoul was incredible.

Melody’s journey throughout this book made me fall in love with her more.

It’s a story that shows a character who’s trying to discover her identity and also learning more about her culture. This story gives insight to the Korean culture, parental expectations, and so much more.

If you’re a foodie and lover of Kara as, then this is for you.

3.5 stars. There are definitely things I loved about this one (like the Seoul setting, which made me want to visit even more, and the mentions of different dishes, which just made me hungry), but the thing that really stands out to me is how I felt like I could relate to Melody’s internal struggles over her own identity after growing up in one place in one way for so long and then having that abruptly uprooted with the end result being she’s in a different place and operating with different dynamics.

A PG-13 version of Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl, I GUESS I LIVE HERE NOW is a thoroughly entertaining YA contemporary novel about family, home, identity, and belonging. Mel is a likable protagonist with an excellent taste in books. Her SIA crew are adorable and it was nice to watch her let go of her prejudices and realize that her classmates aren’t just spoiled, rich brats—they’re dealing with a lot too.

Yura is the best friend every girl wants, but she’s resigned herself to taking over her mom’s department store empire. Kimbeom just wants to be accepted for who he is but he’s terrified of what will happen once his father finds out he’s gay. Junghoon’s family forced him into going on a date with Mel. And Wonjae? She doesn’t know all that much about the incredibly handsome and equally annoying millionaire heir.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t that invested in Mel’s love life during most of the book but now that I’m done reading, I want to know where it goes! Perhaps we’ll get to read more about that and more about her friends’ futures in a sequel?

Mel’s parents were two of my favorite characters! I would have liked to read more of their first-gen immigrant story and would have also liked to see a few more interactions with Mel’s grandparents, so there’s definitely scope for a sequel there!

Just no more Sophie, please. We don’t care about Sophie.

16 year old Korean American Melody wakes up one morning in her small New York City apartment to the news that her mom is moving them to join her father in Seoul. She's whisked away to a very different (& very wealthy) lifestyle, yet finds pieces of both Seoul & of herself that she loves there. She meets new friends, learns more about her family, & becomes more confident in herself & her work as an interior designer. And the FOOD IN THIS BOOK. Do not read hungry! I loved escaping into the sights, sounds, & smells of Seoul & I love that this book exists. I know I've said it in a previous post, but YA is just so freaking good right now, I cannot.
.
I have to add all the books mentioned in this!! I really enjoyed seeing some of my favorites mentioned including Ember in Ashes, Coraline, & (haven't read this one yet but it's on my tbr) Permanent Record. 📚

2.5

I was really hoping to love this book but there were a few things that I really just didn’t enjoy and really affected my overall enjoyment of the book.

This book follows melody when she unwillingly moves with her mom to Korea and starts a new life at a new school and possibly a new romance. Although it’s not something she’s excited for, she ends up enjoying her new life in Seoul and dives right into the Korean experience despite being homesick. As always, there are broken friendships, new romance, as well as some family secrets that Melody has navigate in her new life. Hopefully it’s all worth it!

I don’t think this is a bad book whatsoever, I actually think many people are thoroughly going to enjoy this book. however, I first found it very strange that her father was never around. He lives in Korea works in Korea and although her parents are not separated he only spent a week or two with her in New York (obviously before she was to Korea). Already I think the dynamic and relationship between father and daughter is very strange and in my opinion “fixed” itself too quickly.

I didn’t connect with Melody very well. I found her to be quite selfish and a little annoying. I guess some people can argue that there are a lot of teenagers who act that way but I just couldn’t connect with her as a character in any of her feelings. I also found any time she had a disagreement or was unhappy, she was able to work through her feelings and suddenly that issue was no longer a bit deal the next day.

The school is described as being a very high end school which means the academics are very difficult. The narrative of the story continuously push that and yet it felt like Melody had a lot of extra free time to do all these other things in her life. It just didn’t seem very balanced to me.

The romance, I had no feelings towards. It was your typical good looking guy interested in the new girl and some misunderstanding feelings which in the end lead to a relationship. Very generic and boring in my opinion.

Once again, I think there’s gonna be a lot of people who thoroughly enjoy the story and it just wasn’t for me. Although the descriptions of all the foods that Melody had were to die for. I was drooling the whole time 🤤.

If you’re someone who is interested in Korean culture, food, language and would like to read a quick contemporary story with a romance then I think this is the book for you

I read this book to celebrate Asian month back in May and filmed a reading vlog covering this book as well as other Asian books and this one was one that I really enjoyed. I loved the cultural aspect to this book and how the MC faced with cultural identity as she was uprooted from everything she knew to a completely different country and culture. I also loved seeing the growth of the MC throughout the book.

The friendships, family dynamics and romances were also incredibly well done.

I also loved the ending because I loved seeing how so many misunderstandings were finally being fixed due to miscommunication or lack thereof and it just made me happy to see things finally being addressed and mended.

The book didn't get a 5* from me because of the conflict between the MC and her grandparents from her father's side. It was touched upon a few times but nothing was really resolved at the end so it didn't feel finished.

Overall though, great book.

After a minor indiscretion, Melody’s mother tells her that they are moving back to Korea. Melody is shocked, as there was no warning, and she’s not looking forward to it as is not looking forward to leaving New York City, her home, her best friend Sophie, and her upcoming final year of school.

When they arrive in South Korea, Melody is shocked by how rich her father is, and how controlling he is. She has spent little time with him over the years, as he stayed in South Korea while she grew up in the States with her mother, with whom she has a good relationship.

Melody experiences culture shock from her spotty command of her mother tongue, different academic standards, her wealthy peers at school, and a very strict relationship with her dad, all while battling loneliness and homesickness.

Melody also discovers her mother and father are both keeping secrets from her regarding her mother’s sister, her father’s wishes for his life, and she’s not yet told them that she wants to become an interior designer.

There’s lots to like here:
-Melody’s long friendship with Sophie, which is shaken by Melody’s sudden move to Korea
-Melody’s passion for a field her parents dismiss as a hobby
-the way the family’s relationships with each other need to grow and change once they finally begin loving together
-the friendships Melody forges with a small group of classmates at her new school
-Melody’s budding romance with one member of this small group.

Melody grows up a lot over months after the move. It’s a hard but interesting transition to a more mature person with stronger relationships with her best friend and her parents. I liked his book a lot (I read most of it in one day!) and would love to know how Melody began working towards her interior design dreams, and how her family life and romance grew.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.

*thank you to Penguin Randomhouse for an eARC in exchange for an ho eat review*

I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn follows Melody, whose mother decides to move her from New York back to Korea to live with Melody’s father again for the first time since she was little. Starting junior year at a new private elite school in Korea, Melody is frustrated that she was ripped from where she feels is her home to go live in the country she has never experienced firsthand. But as she starts making friends and getting to know Seoul herself, she realizes there’s more to love than she first thought.

I loved this story so much more than I ever thought! First and foremost, it made me so hungry every time Melody described a meal. I also found every single character so fun and interesting. They all felt like they were important to moving the plot and/or our main character further through the story. The vibe of this one was so light and fun while also including some deep moving topics. I absolutely loved it!