I absolutely adored this book! It has such strong themes while also being a funny, laugh out loud, lighthearted YA rom com. River was such an amazing character to have the story told from. It’s rare that we see YA novels written from a masculine perspective rather than from the feminine perspective but it was so refreshing!!!!! I usually don’t like social media in novels, but I made an exception for this one. River being a fanboy and knowing how to navigate everything was so funny. I hated that he was in such a toxic relationship in the past, but glad he found Sarang. Them two together are just so chaotic, I love to see it. Every time there was a scene of them together, I was laughing or smiling so hard!!!!! I also loved the queer side characters and relationships. This book was very diverse and I loved that. Overall, I think this was a wonderful debut novel and I can’t wait to see what SUJIN has in store for us next. 10/10.

A charming romcom that sweeps you off your feet from the very first page. Set in a cozy Korean coffee shop, the story follows River and Sarang, two opposites stuck together in a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. The plot moves at a lively pace, keeping you hooked while allowing the characters to develop in a natural and satisfying way.

River, with his lovable and chaotic personality, is a joy to follow. His growth throughout the story is both humorous and heartfelt, making him an easy character to root for. Sarang, meanwhile, is tough and determined, fighting to keep her family’s café alive. Her initially prickly dynamic with River evolves beautifully, with their banter and eventual mutual respect adding depth to their relationship.

The supporting cast adds a vibrant touch, from quirky café employees to River’s meddlesome ex. Each character brings a unique charm to the story, making the world feel rich and inviting. The social media elements, woven into the plot, are handled skillfully, striking the right balance without feeling overwhelming.

What truly makes Bingsu for Two stand out is its blend of humor and heart. Witherspoon masterfully balances laugh-out-loud moments with touching emotional beats, creating a story that feels both lighthearted and meaningful. The romance builds steadily, leading to a deeply satisfying conclusion.

In short, Bingsu for Two is a delightful, heartwarming read that leaves a lasting impression with its witty dialogue, lovable characters, and perfect mix of romance and humor.

This was very easy reading, full of found family love, and banter! Whilst I couldn't personally connect much to the main couple, I liked the characters individually and this book shines from accepting all the mess that goes into growing up, finding your dream and chasing your heart.

At times, the writing felt forced with its enemies to lovers angle and I didn't really feel the chemistry build up even though I usually EAT UP fake dating.

Thank you Netgalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Bingsu for Two” by Sujin Witherspoon is a hilarious and heartwarming rom-com that follows River, a down-on-his-luck young man who finds himself in the middle of a chaotic life spiral. After walking out on an exam, quitting his parents’ café job, and dealing with a painful breakup, River’s life feels like a series of bad decisions. When he stumbles upon a new job at Bingsu for Two—a trendy Korean café—he’s forced to work alongside Sarang, the rude customer from his previous job. Their tense relationship evolves into a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. What I actually enjoyed the most in this book (even more than the romance) is the found family troupe, as shown through the barista family River gets to make in the book. I absolutely love the found family troupe, and it’s really well done in this book.

River is a standout protagonist. His messy, chaotic energy and poor decision-making skills make him a compelling and entertaining narrator. His growth throughout the story, particularly regarding his relationships with his ex-girlfriend and family, is well-developed and relatable. River’s arc from feeling lost and disappointed in himself to finding purpose and confidence is both heartwarming and humorous. His new role as a barista and accidental social media manager brings out some of the book’s most fun moments, especially as he and his coworkers bond over viral videos and café events. The multimedia format, which includes tweets and texts, adds a fresh, engaging layer to the storytelling. I had so much fun reading this book that I was flying through it; it’s very fast-paced, and the humor makes it even more of a joy to read.

Sarang, River’s love interest, starts off as a prickly and bossy character, making their initial interactions tense and awkward. I did find Sarang’s early rudeness a bit uncalled for, but the slow burn of their relationship feels rewarding. Their romance takes time to develop, offering a refreshing break from the often overused insta-love trope in rom-coms. The tension between them is gradually replaced with mutual respect and affection, culminating in a sweet and believable love story. Their enemies-to-lovers transition is a bit underdeveloped (the transition happens too quickly for my taste), but the found family troupe more than makes up for this.

One of the highlights of “Bingsu for Two” is the vibrant cast of secondary characters. River’s coworkers, particularly Kai, are richly developed and add depth to the café’s found-family dynamic. Each character has a distinct personality, and their interactions bring warmth and humor to the story. The side romances are just as engaging as the main one, leaving me wishing for spin-off stories featuring these characters.

Overall, “Bingsu for Two” is a delightful rom-com with a unique premise, lovable characters, and a perfect blend of humor and heart. Sujin Witherspoon delivers a story that balances chaotic fun with emotional depth, making this book an enjoyable and memorable read for fans of the genre.

4,25⭐️

First, thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC.

Bingsu for Two by Sujin Witherspoon is a fast-paced contemporary YA book.

I loved River and Sarang’s relationship, but at the same time, I would’ve liked to see more of its development.
Regardless, I really liked the whole cast of characters and the found family vibes.
In addition, I also found it quite refreshing to read a YA contemporary book with the POV of the MMC.

In general, I enjoyed Sujin Witherspoon’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more of her books.

This story had its charming moments. I enjoyed the witty humor, cozy cafe atmosphere, the sense of found family, and fun fandom references. However, I struggled to connect with the characters, especially River. His personal struggles felt shallow, lacking the emotional depth and backstory needed to truly engage me. The subplot involving an employee quitting to join a competitor and lying about wage fraud for her sister's sake felt unnecessarily messy and hard to sympathize with. Moreover, the chemistry between River and Sarang was underwhelming, leaving their relationship feeling flat and unconvincing. While the premise had potential, more emotional depth could have made this a standout. It had enjoyable moments, but ultimately, it left me wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a cute story and I have to admit, I love all the Seattle references. The whole group is fun and has a nice found family vibe to it.

It loses stars for me because 1) I thought the relationship between River and Sarang was undeveloped. There wasn't enough interaction between the two of them for their transition from enemies to lovers feel realistic. and 2) lots of the plot points did not happen till later in the book and felt undeveloped. For example, the fake dating trope happened around the 40% mark and there didn't really seem to be a reason for its existence.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This book could not have found me at a better time!!

There were definitely some very important reminders of things I needed to be told when I was 17, that I still need to hear now even though I’m 20, that “Maybe it’s fine not to have answers for everything all the time”, “And maybe it’s okay to still be figuring out who I am, or what I’m supposed to be doing,”.

River was such a relatable character to follow in so many aspects, and I absolutely adored his character growth, and found family in Bingsu For Two. The whole cast of characters, made this book something truly special!

I cannot recommend enough checking out this incredible book!!🩷

Bingsu for Two is a cute romcom with cozy cafe vibes. I appreciated the found family vibes and the friendships that grew between River and Haneul, Sarang, Isabette, Vanna, and Kai. I love the enemies-to-lovers trope and I thought it was really well done for River and Sarang. Watching them slowly grow to trust each other was really heartwarming.

"I never stopped caring. My earliest memories are coffee-stained."

This book.....it's like a warm hug, a hearty cup of coffee and a breath of fresh air all at once. Witherspoon handles incredibly important themes surrounding culture, consent and confidence in one's choices, all whilst delivering the chaos and hilarity that ensues once everything in our main character's life goes to shit.

"Why? Why hadn’t I allowed myself to teeter in the uncharted territory between yes and no? Black and white? What was so scary about gray? I don’t know. And that’s scary."

Witherspoon's depiction of River—his struggles around being Korean-American, his burning desire to make something of himself (and the internal guilt and doubt that battles against that), the love he has for his family and friends and coffee—everything about him, the good/the bad/the ugly, made me so attached to his growth and his story. Some men deserve rights. I can happily say that River is one of them.

"Except this isn’t really an 80K slow burn enemies-to-lovers fic. It’s just me—a douchebag—and her—also a douchebag—and our stupid skit that ends after tonight."

BINGSU FOR TWO is more than just a hilarious, sickeningly sweet meet-cute (questionable on the cute) romance. It's a story with as much heritage and history built into its walls as the cafe it depicts. There is a cast of loveable, diverse characters, an accurate exploration of the algorithm and what pursuing virality can do to the people who star in it and a very well-deserved happy ending that doesn't leave you aching for more. It was a pleasure to play my part in River and Sarang's story, and I hope that BFT, and Witherspoon, continue to get the praise they deserve.

"I’ve always tilted toward her instead of the sun."

You will regret not pre-orderering this book for its January, 2025 release. Truly.