thank you so much to netgalley and tbr and beyond books for the early copy! all opinions are my own!

i can't believe i had so much fun with a book, when was the last time something like this happened?? 😱
this book was PHENOMENAL from start to finish. i loved reading from River's POV, all his doubts and insecurities as a teenager because most of the time we don't get that in YA anymore. his reactions and ideas were just the best, and his relationship with Sarang had me soaring. all the banter and the side characters were amazing, i loved every single one of them and how important they were for the store. and as usual, the Korean aspect was really cool as well, i never knew what a bingsu was before the book. but omg the WAY THIS BOOK INFURIATED ME AND MADE ME LAUGH AT THE SAME TIME, it's just unvelievable. it's so fast paced, the drama makes sense and the social media aspect was on point.
i don't know what you're doing that you're not reading this book right now because YOU SHOULD, it's beautiful 😍😍😍

Such a fun book! Really enjoyed how the inclusion of social media, slang, etc. didn't feel out of place or super cringey. My biggest plus in my book was the fact that the romance wasn't instalove and the relationship felt developed which is not something I can say for most of the romcoms I read. Definitely one of my top romcom books.

A fun read, Bingsu for Two is an and enjoyable romance. I am always wary of books that include text strings, and the screenplay sections confused me at first, but they worked really well in the end. The easy humor in the videos came through nicely using the script format, and the texting wasn't overused. The main character was a little frustrating at first, because he was so unsure of his thoughts and motivations, but in the end, it makes sense for a 17 year old trying to figure things out. The other characters show a good deal of variety and humor. Great for teens looking for a light and fun read.

A very sweet YA with a loveable cast and cozy setting. River is a realistic and flawed protagonist, but ultimately endearing. There is also a surprising and well-done mix of script and text messages throughout which was a nice touch!

A light, easy read with a sweet romance and gang of misfits.

River Langston-Lee is having the worst day of his life having broken up with his girlfriend, walked out of the SATs and quit his parents' cafe. He gets a new job at a failing Korean cafe, Bingsu for Two., but his new nemesis is there. Sarang Cho, a goth girl with green hair, and it happens to be her family's place. When River accidentally posts a video of co-worker chaos they go viral. The fans ship him & Sarang so they decide to pretend something's brewing (yes intended coffee pun here), to keep the interest and help the store. But what happens when his parents and ex find out?

Brutally honest, this presents a 'give it to you straight with great imagery' inner voice. I really like how River expresses himself. It is a wonderfully endearing POV. We feel what he is going through, the doubts, the journey to self-discovery. I immensely enjoyed the clever additions to the narrative such as the lists River makes in his head, the group chats, the script-like interpretation of the videos etc. The storytelling is friendly, comfortable and heartwarmingly relatable. I liked the humorous chapter names.

The awkward 'you can't believe they're happening' situations are a delight to read. The fake-dating is fun as they tease and make one another comfortable until they really start to see each other. The real-life drama is gripping, grounded and conveyed beautifully, making you wanna hug the characters. And the true bad guy of the situation is unbelievably diabolical.

River is a bit lost, studying to get snark down to a science to compete with Sarang, even though he's actually good-natured. The zingers they exchange are all the money. It is wonderful how you feel you know everybody at the cafe and how much you like them. Too hard to pick a favorite. But the little brother must be protected at all costs.

The meet-hate seems a little forced but when they start to work together their antagonism steadily finds its groove. Also, some of the conclusions may seem overly quick and too good to be true, but I'm a sucker for happy endings. I admit I cheered and teared up for one of them.

This book is about figuring out who you are and what you really want. Not falling into the people-pleasing rut. Trust yourself to know what is better for you. Ultimately it is your life and your happiness. It also deals with the often randomness of internet success and its pros and cons.

A genuinely funny, coffee-drenched, slow burn with delicious tension, enemies to lovers, hold your heart, found family tale. It is an invitation to not give up on dreams and to love what you do. Home is really where the heart is.

“I finally know. Know what I want, who I am, and who I want. Her love turned me brave enough to ask the question, and the answer all along has been her. The realization makes me ache in ways that are quiet and intense all at once. She makes me feel real.”

River’s life is falling apart. In the span of just one week, he broke up with his girlfriend of four years, walked out of his SATs, and quit his job as the co-manager of his family’s cafe. When his best friend convinces him to work at a struggling rival cafe, Bingsu for Two, River isn’t expecting anything special. He just hopes to avoid the nagging and frustrations of his disappointed parents. Under the guise of studying for the SAT, River joins the eclectic team at Bingsu for Two, led by the fiery Sarang and her sister Haneul, who inherited the business from their parents. When River accidentally records and uploads a video of the chaotic dynamic of his coworkers on social media, the cafe goes viral and earns a large fanbase that begins to “ship” River and Sarang. With this newfound popularity, the cafe and its crewmembers must rise to the occasion and come together to save the cafe that has grown to mean so much to each of them.

Enemies to lovers with an emphasis on found family? Sign me up! After looking at the summary of Bingsu for Two, I was incredibly excited to start reading and, for the most part, the book did not disappoint. The cast of characters was charming and diverse, and the relationships that developed between every member of the Bingsu for Two crew were simultaneously beautiful and realistically flawed. I love it when I can connect with and root for the supporting characters of a book just as much as the main protagonists, and this book allowed me to do just that. However, throughout the book, I felt as if I was missing something, as if there were a book I should have read before this one in order to have a better understanding of the characters and their relationships. It was challenging for me to understand how River and Cecilia could have been together for four years and yet seem as if they know and care so little about each other throughout the narrative. Also, with River’s family being such an integral part of his motivations and internal conflicts throughout the novel, I wish we could have seen more of their dynamic together. Instead, I felt as if we got brief glimpses into River’s family life, but not enough to garner an understanding of how his family life influenced his character arc. Despite this, Bingsu for Two offered an endearing cast of characters to accompany an interesting narrative progression.

There's something about fake dating and viral internet fame which will get me every time. Throw in a disastrous meet cute and I'm hooked! What I initially loved about A Bingsu for Two is the way it explores familial obligations and our own path forwards. What happens when the person we want to be doesn't fit into our path? What happens when the 'family' part of our family business becomes just a job? At the same time, we love a good friendship group that's formed from unlikely connections and A Bingsu for Two delivers!

The most FUN book I’ve read in a long time! 🤩

From the beginning, this book HAD me and didn’t let go! I wasn’t expecting it to be from River’s POV, but I really enjoyed it — like WOW was he weaving a tangled web of a life, and I couldn’t stop reading to see how everything would unfold 👀

The romance between Sarang & River was so funny and cute, and their banter was everything! Enemies to lovers with a side of ‘but-I-can’t-help-but-be-attracted-to-you’ will always be my kryptonite 🤌 But mostly, I’ll never get over how much I loved the entire cast of characters in this book! The co-workers, too, were a little messy and entertaining but also very real and lovable. By the time the book ended, they all felt like my family with the cafe as my home too 🥹

I also have to say I was skeptical about how much social media and chronically online energy would be present in this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by how it was written! The script format was so unique and pulled me even deeper into the story. I couldn’t get enough of how creative the writing was!

All in all, this book took me on the best ride! It had lots of fun and bingeable drama with no dull moments and the most lively and vibrant group of characters. Despite how chaotic the story was at times, it also felt real and contained so much heart. The unapologetic Korean rep was also so amazing to see. This debut was wonderful, and I already can’t wait for what Sujin writes next! 🫶

Thank you so much to Sujin Witherspoon & Union Square & Co. & NetGalley for an ARC of this book! 💌

This is one of the most humorous books I've ever read! It follows River Langston-Lee whose life starts falling apart, starting with him breaking up with his girlfriend, leaving the SATs mid-exam, and quitting his manager job at his parents' "family" cafe, Cafe Gong. River's dad is furious, and his mom is undeniably disappointed. In a moment of desperation, he applies to work at the same cafe as his best friend. But the problem: Sarang Cho is at this cafe, and she and River do not get along. At all. So when River accidentally publicly posts a video of him with his new co-workers, it goes viral. And the previously failing cafe suddenly booms in business. But now there's another problem: everyone things River and Sarang are dating. So they have to fake it for the sake of the cafe.

Right from the first chapter, this book is absolutely hilarious. On top of the well-developed plot and characters, the humor enhances the book to a whole new level. I don't know if the humor is just my style, but I loved it so, soooo much. It was witty, fun, and engaging. The overall theme of everything in River's life going wrong was such a fun way to connect all the details of the plot into a cohesive story. Things kept getting worse and worse, to the point where I was more anxious for River's well-being than he might have been.

The characters were so fun! River is a relatable protagonist. His entire life, all he's known is Cafe Gong. Everything in his life has been planned by his parents, and he just follows there wishes, despite his feelings being different. He has no idea what he really wants to do with his life, but he knows it's not what he currently has. The few things he loves, the fandom he's a part of and his social media expertise, are things his parents don't understand or appreciate. But then he goes to Bingsu for Two, and his social media skills are the number one way to keep the cafe afloat. Finally, he's appreciated for who he is and the skills he possesses. The other characters are also interesting. I love the irony of Sarang's name, specifically. Her name means "love" in Korean, yet you'll almost always find her scowling, especially with River.

The enemies to lovers romance is so cute, and I was rooting for them the entire time. The instant chemistry and River's quick attraction to Sarang, combined with their constant bickering, made for a fairly frustrating development in their relationship. But the ending was definitely worth the wait, and not just with the romance. River's seemingly ruined life led to so many new opportunities for him, and it was heartwarming to see his new close-knit community with his co-workers, as well as his old concerns and hardships throughout his life being resolved.

Overall, this was one of the most entertaining books I've ever read. From beginning to end, it was consistently fun, yet it's still so emotional, and I loved the message!

BINGSU FOR TWO by Sujin Witherspoon

Pub date: Jan. 14th, 2025
Publisher: Union Square & Co.
Rating: 5 / 5


At what point do you stop living to please others and start living for yourself?

River Langston-Lee is... well, screwed (see: quit family cafe, broke up with girlfriend, tanked college prospects, etc). The cherry on top? River is now working for a rival, though struggling, cafe called Bingsu For Two. When a video of Bingsu's dysfunctional employees goes viral, River not only has to work overtime keeping his job a secret from his parents, but also being shipped by the masses with his infuriatingly serious coworker Sarang Cho, the daughter of Bingsu's owner. As the crew works to keep up with Bingsu's newfound fame, River realizes he might have found something– or, things– finally worth fighting for.

Bingsu For Two is like the perfect dessert: sweet, but not too sweet! Sujin Witherspoon serves up plenty of YA antics alongside snarky banter and classic rom-com plotlines, with the heart of the story being a relatable and emotional arc for River. River is both a huge nerd who runs secret fandom accounts and fake dates his goth coworker, and also a teenager finding courage to step out of the comfort zone he's always been in. His growth throughout the book is so well written and enjoyable even when frustrating at times. Another fantastic aspect of this book is the ensemble! The Bingsu crew felt so real and easy to love, and their various dynamics brought so much vibrancy to the story. This debut is sure to delight espresso-loving readers who want messy characters taking control of their lives, movie-worthy shenanigans with laugh-out-loud dialogue, and food descriptions so tasty you'll be locating your nearest Korean cafe before you finish reading!


(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

I haven't read a lot of YA set in the workplace, but Bingsu for Two definitely brought back lots of memories of my first few jobs in high school, making friends with people who were outside my regular friend group. I genuinely love the "found family" trope, and I thought the book did a great job portraying those relationships, though I wonder if it would have been more poignant if there were multiple POVs handling the narration -- filtering everything through River's eyes meant we didn't really get to know Dario or Vanna or even Isabette.

Adding an extra star for an incredible amount of diversity that didn't feel forced or out-of-place.

Trigger warning for a parent-child physical altercation toward the end.

Was an enemies-to-lovers cafe rom-com with the cutest found family and painfully relatable themes of being your own person as a teenage who's expected to have their whole life planned out ever going to be less than five stars? Maybe if Sujin hadn't written it so perfectly, blending giggle worthy humor, squeal out loud romantic moments, and such sincere emotional arcs that I teared up. This is one of my favorite coming of age books I've read in a long time!

|| ARC REVIEW ||

{ Bingsu For Two }
by Sujin Witherspoon

★ ★ ★ ★.5

Thanks so much to @tbrbeyondtours & @sujinwitherspoon for my advanced copy of 𝔹𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤𝕦 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕋𝕨𝕠. 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮!

𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🍨 ya slow burn romance
🍨 enemies to lovers
🍨 fandoms & social media
🍨 diverse ethnic representation
🍨 friend group

Length: 351p
Source: ARC - TBR & Beyond, NetGalley, physical copy - Union Square & Co.
Release Date: January 14, 2025

•••••••
Wow.
I pretty much devoured this fun little ya romance. The characters were poignant, flawed, and SO REAL. The relationships were organic and complex. The plot was detailed and fraught with tension and angst from all directions. The villain is a nasty NASTY person who deserved worse.

And the slow burn, hard fought romance was sweet and so realistic. Sarang and River had chemistry, although sometimes it was more explosive than simmering. I definitely shipped 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘓𝘦𝘦 as much as their fandom.

This group of friends and co-workers were young people with a lot of emotions and thoughts. They ALL made mistakes and my heart hurt for many of them but they showed maturity by owning those mistakes and offering apology and forgiveness. LOVED how realistic this part was.

This is Sujin Witherspoon’s debut novel and I’m completed hooked on her writing! The flow was steady, the plot natural, and the character arcs fulfilling. I can’t wait to see what else we get from this new author!

{I received a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

I thoroughly enjoyed this YA rom-com. It hits on a plethora of tropes that most romance readers would enjoy! I especially loved the enemies to lovers situation. The book kicks off with River breaking up with his long term girlfriend and walking out of the SATs in the same 24 hours. He spirals until his best friend convinces him to work with him at a Korean cafe, Bingsu for Two. This cafe is the catalyst of a lot of events within the novel, and you're consistently wondering what will happen next.

There are many conflicts within the text that keep you engaged and make you want to continue reading! I would highly recommend for anyone looking for an easy, low stakes read.

This is probably the best YA romcom I've read since high school (and I graduated in 2019). The chapter titles made me laugh out loud, and that's nothing compared to how much River's narrative voice made me giggle. Beyond that, every character had a totally unique voice and demeanor, which made me care deeply for all of them. The video scripts were superbly well-written; they felt utterly natural, and to be honest they were my favorite sections of the book (though the entire thing was wonderful). I'm crossing all my fingers that this book becomes a film or TV show someday soon, because based on those scripts alone, it would translate to screen fantastically well.

All in all, this book felt like a homecoming--like being a teenager again, reading curled up in my bedroom, staying up far too late on a school night. I binged it in 2.5 days, and I would have read it even faster if I didn't have responsibilities (blegh). If you're looking for a fun, adorable next read, please pick up this love letter to fandom culture and coffee. You will not be disappointed!

I’m disappointed because the concept and the start were amazing. I have a major problem with this book; the constant mention and lowkey praise of Instagram and Twitter, and the somewhat negative depiction of tiktok. Apps are political IMO, and depicting Instagram and Twitter as the cool apps that kids use is not really realistic, and also a bit tone deaf. “Nobody uses tiktok”? In a book about teenagers? I also found the depiction of internet culture not authentic. It’s on tiktok that videos go viral and have a positive effect on businesses. The book sounded to me like Instagram promo, which really rubbed me the wrong way and I’m sad about it.

In the past 24 hours, River Langston-Lee has turned his life upside down. Feeling overwhelmed, he walked away from everything: his father’s coffee cafe franchise shop, the SAT, his future, and his relationship with his girlfriend, Cecelia.

After confiding in his best friend Kai, River reluctantly agrees to take a job at Kai’s workplace, a failing Korean cafe called “Bingsu for Two.” Ironically, this is the same place River and his ex once joked about running out of business with their successful coffee cafe franchise shop, which is just down the street. Things only get more complicated when River bumps into Sarang Cho, the green-haired girl who had once spilled her drink on him, triggering his emotional meltdown and prompting him to quit his co-manager job at his father's cafe.

“Blessings come in many forms.” Could this be one of them?

As River starts to care about ‘Bingsu for Two,” he reignites his passion for small business. In the process, River rediscovers his true talents and a sense of purpose.

But River faces a dilemma: can he navigate his newfound connection to ‘Bingsu for Two,” while secretly promoting it through his online short films, effectively becoming a rival to his own family’s coffee cafe franchise?

This novel, targeted toward YA readers, explores themes of cultural expectation and personal identity. Many will relate to River's internal struggle: should we meet our parents’ expectations, or can we express our true selves and have open conversations with them?

I appreciated the subtle development of the “fake dating” trope between River and Sarang Cho, even though I personally would have preferred them to remain platonic friends. Not every relationship needs to become romantic. On a similar note, I’m glad the author addressed Dario’s behavior, pointing out how he's sending mixed signals to his ex-boyfriend Kai, something that isn’t fair to either of them.

I really appreciate how the author highlights the impact of small businesses becoming franchises and competing with family-owned shops. I also loved how the novel portrays the growth of each character, as they each come into their own and form a supportive, close-knit group. “Disappointment, validation, and self-discovery” are universal experiences, and this heartfelt story beautifully captures River's journey toward understanding himself and his place in the world.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the e-ARC!

Bingsu for Two is a heartwarming gem filled with the sweetness of young love, Korean culture, and the beauty of self-discovery. It’s the kind of book that wraps you up in a warm hug with every page, bringing a mix of cozy café vibes, charming characters, and moments that make you laugh, tear up, and cheer for more!

The story is rich with personality, from its vibrant characters to its heartfelt exploration of family and friendship. I loved how it wasn’t just about romance but also about building connections, overcoming challenges, and finding a place to belong. The café, Bingsu for Two, felt like a character itself, growing alongside the protagonists and adding layers of warmth and charm to the narrative.

The banter between the leads is absolutely delightful—playful, sharp, and full of tension that keeps you hooked. The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers arc had me rooting for them from the start, and the way their relationship unfolded felt genuine and tender. There’s also a wonderful modern twist with its nod to social media and the pressures of the digital age, making the story feel fresh and relatable.

The fast-paced writing style and unique voice made this an easy and enjoyable read. The plot has creative twists, and the found-family aspect is deeply moving, reminding me of the importance of community and support. Every detail—from the café’s growth to the characters’ personal journeys—felt intentional and meaningful.

If I could add anything, it would be a touch more romance to fully bridge the transition from enemies to lovers. While the chemistry is there, a few more tender moments would have made their relationship even more magical.

Overall, Bingsu for Two is a delightful read that brims with warmth, charm, and heart. If you’re a fan of young adult romance with lovable characters, vibrant settings, and a story that leaves you smiling long after you finish, this one’s for you. Highly recommended!🍧

This book was a possible pick for a JLG pick and sometimes with YA romance it can be so hit or miss. I really didn't know much about it but was super excited when I was able to have the opportunity to preview it through NetGalley before deciding whether to purchase it or not.
This book was shockingly suprisingly so much fun and I really think students will enjoy it. It reminded me of Emma Lord and Lynn Painter style YA romance books. I look forward to seeing more books by this author. It has a great cast of characters and the writing was engaging, and I feel like the author did a great job dealing with issues that young and old people struggle with in life. The Korean coffee shop setting, and multimedia format was something I think readers will love and of course it had that Hallmarky feeling that gives your those little squeals of delight as your root for the characters and enjoy their witty banter. It was cute and heartwarming and had all the feels. I think people will love it.
I would definitely recommend to students and those who love a great romcom.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the Arc.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Bingsu for Two!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🌃 live in Seattle
☕️ would take your coffee through an IV drip if you could
❤️ enjoy enemies to lovers
👤 have a secret fandom account

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Meet River Langston-Lee. In the past 24 hours, he’s dumped his girlfriend, walked out of his SATs, and quit his job at his parents’ cafe in spectacularly disastrous fashion—even for him.

Somehow, he manages to talk his way into a gig at a failing Korean cafe, Bingsu for Two, which is his lucky break until he meets short, grumpy, and goth: Sarang Cho. She’s his new no-BS co-worker who’s as determined to make River’s life hell as she is to save her family’s cafe.

After River accidentally uploads a video of his chaotic co-workers to his popular fandom account, they strike viral fame. The kicker? Their new fans ship River and Sarang big-time. In order to keep the Internet’s attention—and the cafe’s new paying customers—River and Sarang must pretend that the tension between them is definitely of the romantic variety, not the considering the best way to kill you and hide your body variety.

But when Bingsu for Two’s newfound success catches the attention of River’s ex and his parents’ cafe around the corner, he faces a choice: keep letting others control his life or stand up for the place that’s become home. And a green-haired girl who’s not as heartless as he originally thought . . .

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a pretty cute enemies to lovers YA story! It had a few unbelievable bits (such as high schoolers being managers of coffee shops, etc) but overall, it was incredibly funny and had me laughing a lot. River was really witty and sarcastic, which I loved. I enjoyed the story being told from his perspective as well because I don’t see this happen very often. It might have been because he fell first. Either way, I enjoyed the overall premise of the story and how it all flowed together. This is a quick read that will leave you laughing and smiling!