I was intrigued by the plot synopsis of "The Do-Over," but I didn't connect with it the way I had hoped. I enjoyed Lily and Mia, but no one else managed to feel very real to me. Some plot points felt a bit outlandish, but Park sufficiently explain most of them. Although I didn't love this book, Park has a fun approach to writing and I'll keep an eye out on any future book.

“I’m sorry, I was just shocked by how it sounded like you were in my head, Lily.”

I read this book at the exact time that I personally needed it. I've been feeling like I'm at a crossroads in my career, and this story spoke to me the whole time. I rarely buy physical copies, but this will definitely be one I will buy as soon as it comes out!

Lily is a 32-year-old business professional who happened to write a popular career motivational book. Ten years after her graduation ceremony, Lily is forced to go back to college after finding out she didn't officially graduate due to misinformation and missing credits.

Although the summary emphasizes on a second chance with young love, this story is more than that! It's about life's unexpected obstacles, leaning on old friends and making new ones, opening yourself up to new opportunities, not being too old to learn a new skill, and discovering more about yourself along the way. This is also while navigating complicated cultural and parental expectations and keeping in a professional world typically not set up for women, and especially women of color.

I couldn't put the book down once I started reading. I had to know how - not how Lily's story ends, but how it continues after this huge life hurdle. Suzanne Park does not disappoint. She gave Lily a life, career, and love HEA.

The author kindly offered an ARC through NetGalley. These opinions are my own.

So this was not as bad as I thought it might be (I was able to get through the book at least) but it also was not good at all...I had read a few reviews beforehand, so I knew going in that this was women's fiction and barely had a romance. However, I feel like barely anything happened? I guess Lily does have some character development but for the most part, she's not really learning anything new about herself. Add that to the maybe 10% romance parts (that weren't developed at all btw; I know this is second-chance romance but their past was barely established in like 3 flashbacks and there is little-to-no build-up in the present) and the plot basically being her going to class, and I just could not be bothered to feel invested with anything in this book. Also, how on earth is she getting an internship for a "top" tech company having only taken one (1) intro CS course that doesn't even really teach programming...like surely she needed at least one more semester experience to get it...

I wasn't as bored as I was with the author's last book, but I did have the same issues with the writing. Honestly, I think this is my last book of Suzanne Park's honestly because I've had this same issue with all her books and it's only getting worse. I feel like she researches the circumstances for the plot and then likes to tell you fact after fact for no reason. This was supposed to be a ROMANCE book, ended up being women's fiction, yet read like non-fiction at parts because of all the business jargon being thrown at us. In the end, this just wasn't a book for me but might be for you etc etc!

This novel is great. My stress dream is that I didn’t actually graduate from college, but this made me realize that maybe going back to college wouldn’t be so bad. Also, the romance scenes are SWOON. Love, love, love.

I am a lover of second chance romance and I was looking forward to that trope when I requested an eARC of this book on NetGalley - but this book for some reason didn't fulfill my second chance romance desires.

Lily is a successful glass ceiling breaker - in her ten years since college she has climbed the corporate ladder and written multiple best selling books. However, in the interview process for her dream job she learns she didn't pass the background check because she apparently doesn't have a college degree. This is news to her because she walked across the stage.

Turns out she was a few credits shy and now must return to college to complete her degree. College has changed, her degree no longer is offered, she is required to take STEM courses, and pass a swim test. Out of great embarrassment, she keeps her predicament quiet.

However, her publisher is breathing down her neck for her next manuscript and her competitors in the book market are looking to take her down. Once she is exposed for being degreeless she handles the outlash with grace and skill.

The story above was the story I loved about this book, Lily is strong and proved herself over and over. But the subplot is that her college boyfriend that broke her heart is the TA in the required STEM course. Their journey back to each other and backstory gave me very little entertainment. Personally I liked the strong, single Lily.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this title.

The Do-Over didn’t quite work for me as much as I hoped I’m afraid! I struggled to connect with Lily; I couldn’t quite understand her job/career or why a bachelor’s degree would be such an issue. I also could appreciate interweaving the mental health/anxiety plot, but at times the dialogue felt a bit more like I was reading a “self-improvement” book. The romance is definitely a back seat, and I don’t love teacher/student relationships so I never fell in love with their romance. There’s definitely a lot of soul searching and personal growth that happens with Lily. It has a reverse 13 going on 30 vibe, so if you like a personal growth focused romance with a slightly immature vibe this one might be for you. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

A fun premise paired with relatable characters and a satisfying wrap-up. Lily is a million times braver than I am—I'd have chickened out instead of heading back to school. I appreciate the way Park included imposter syndrome and mental health in Lily's journey. Leans into women's fiction as well as romance, which is exactly my kind of read.

Ten years after graduation, Lily finds out that she never actually graduated from college. The author of motivational books about the workplace secretly returns to college to finish her degree and encounters her college love, who happens to be her T.A. Things are definitely not easier the second time around, but Lily takes the chance to reinvent herself.

If you are looking for a fast paced and easy read then I would recommend this one but this wasn't entirely my cup of tea. I think for me, the character development especially between the relationship Lily and Jake wasn't really giving. Also romance is not the main plot but rather the sub plot in this book!

The Do-Over is a closed door romance about Lily Lee, a Korean-American business consultant and famous author who is forced to return to college and scramble to finish the degree she thought she’d earned ten years prior. One day, she’s a high powered business woman and accomplished non-fiction self help writer, and the next, she’s suddenly buying a backpack, checking out the ASA club table, and debating whether she wants to take STATs or Computer Science. Along the way, she bumps into Jake—her former college boyfriend who is now a PhD student and GTA at the school. (The book was very tasteful about that. This is not a teacher/student romance in practical execution. Jake never misuses his power and is very respectful.)

This book was sweet. But, I don’t think it was a romance. It reads more general fiction to me. Jake was cute, but he wasn’t the shining star here, and neither was their relationship. The real story driver in this novel is Lily. And I loved Lily. I really enjoyed watching her grow and learn to better manage her imposter syndrome, her anxiety, and her complicated relationship with her parents.

Mostly, I loved how this story encourages Lily to mix it up. To try new things, even though she’s a decade into her career path. I think so many people can associate with feeling stuck, and this story thoughtfully considers that experience while offering a different route and a note of hope to go with it.

I almost gave up on this one but powered through. Enjoyed the characters and the premise caught my attention. But the love story fell very flat to me.

I was excited to read The Do-Over because second chances is my favorite romance trope. However, I didn't care for this one. The romance wasn't the main focus of the story as much as Lily going back to school after ten years and dealing with her insecurities about being older than the other students. By the halfway point, Lily had maybe two conversations with the love interest, probably about five minutes each. Because the interactions were so short, there wasn't a lot of chemistry.

Honestly, I wouldn't have minded that so much if I had known going in, but this was marketed as a contemporary romance, so I just expected it to be more romance-y.

I liked the side characters, but they also seemed a little flat. After a while, I lost interest in them too.

I really struggled to get through this one.

Thank you for the ARC of this book! Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley.

This book was easy to read, but the plot just didn't hold up for me. It opens very abruptly with the main character realizing she never finished college... and I wish I got to know her first because it just made me feel like "how could you not know this?"... even though that's exactly what she explains after.

Then the love interest just bored me too. This was fine but not a favorite book.

this one is for the girlies that went to college outside of the “standard” college years.

Lily Lee is our female mc in The Do-Over. she attended Calthorpe University where she graduated with her masters, except she didn’t. although she walked the graduation stage and was handed her degree, Lily did not earn all of the credits required of her. she was forced to go back to Calthorpe to finish, essentially, what she had started.

Jake Cho could be found by Lily’s side throughout the entirety of their senior year. they broke up tragically at the beginning of their senior year. when Lily finds herself back in a lecture hall, she also finds her college boyfriend is now her TA.

although i felt that Lily and Jake’s reunion was a little forced, i loved their story as a whole. i loved Lily’s perspective as the daughter who can never please.

It was a good book and really enjoyed it all and rooted for this couple to make it. Love it all.
This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book.

It’s more a story of a woman in her 30s going back to college than it is a romance. I enjoyed the references to the FMC’s Korean culture and her bestie Mia and roommate Beth but I found the chemistry between the two main characters lacking.

I loved this book. I was expecting a simple romcom, but got an empowering, independent you got this novel instead. It was what I need at the moment, even though I thought I needed a quick fluff read. I have enjoyed Suzanne Park's books, but this is my favorite.

Upon landing her dream job, writer Lilly Lee finds out she didn't pass the background check due to an issue with her college transcripts. Turns out, after a disastrous final semester and bad advice from her dean, she didn't actually graduate.
Returning to school for a final semester after 14 years, Lily juggles her new course load, the secrecy of why she's on campus, a book timeline for a book she doesn't feel she can write, and publicity with a power brother/sister duo that undercuts her abilities. All while managing anxieties and a level of imposter syndrome, and just to make things worse, her ex is her TA.
The story follows Lilly's growth, while flashing back to the moments that led up to where she is, and how the trauma of her final semester has influenced her life up to where we see her.

The story was part cute rom-com, part honest look at expectations and anxieties, and part coming of age.

#arc
#netgalley
#thedoover

This book has such a fun premise, and it is executed so well! Lily, the main character, is very successful in the business world, and she is about to be offered a big new dream job. Unfortunately, when the company investigates her background, they find something she's conveniently forgotten about -- she never actually graduated from college and is just a few credits shy. So, she gets a "do-over." Don't we all fantasize about that in one way or another? She goes back to college and while there, meets up with an old crush who happens to be the TA in one of her classes. Lots of humor, romance, and poignant moments in this wonderful story.

I think this book was simply a Not For Me read. I love second-chance romances and was intrigued by the premise but maybe I've just been out of college too long for it to hit quite right for me.