Oh - can we just have more books surrounding food? More books discussing family, and the history of the family, mixed in with the ups and downs of restaurant life. Please? Because this was such a joy!! The journey that Jack traveled through - his waking up and having to learn about the loss of time, all of the changes, what it means to recover and rebuild what was broken... it was a really interesting mix of ups and downs and chaos.

The health side of it all was very rough to read - being a healthcare professional, and I just found so much liberty taken with the story - but I was eager to get past that, eager to see how he steps up and tries to regain his footing in the life he has missed so much of it.

I will say that for me this story was truly made good by the side characters - Juno, Zeno, Appa, they all just truly grabbed me and kept me wanting more. Jack Jr was one that although I know it was his story, I found myself just not caring at all - I couldn't get into liking him, and I'm not sure if the lack of attachment was what was the actual goal of the author - to give it that mystery type of affect, or if it was just me being unable to connect. Either way, the main character did nothing for me.

I love the look and insight into being a lower class Asian family that works from sunup to well after sundown to keep their family life going, their restaurant busy, and the family in one piece. Overall this was a really solid read and I am so thankful to both NetGalley and the Publishers for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I Leave It Up to You, is a second chance story that follows 30-year old Jack Junior who woke up from a two year coma. While he is in the coma, COVID happens, and the man he was going to marry is no longer around.
Really enjoyed this. Excellent family drama with nice characters. This was beautifully written, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy.

★★★☆☆ 3/5

I Leave It Up to You follows the story of Jack Jr., a gay Korean man who went into a coma in 2019 and awoke from it 23 months later, much to his doctor's surprise. We follow Jack Jr.'s journey through recovery, redefining what his life meant, understanding the loss of time and the change of life, and rebuilding familial bonds once given up on. It is a long and very difficult journey that we follow along on that shows how soul-crushing it can be to believe you had everything in life, then you wake up and realize you've lost it all.

: ̗̀➛ My Review Rants

Jack Jr., a now-thirty-years-old man has awoken from his coma in the recovery months of Covid. We follow his story as he recovers in the hospital before returning to a home he hasn't been to in 12 years - back home with his family. Immediately after leaving the hospital, he is thrust back into working at his family's restaurant, a Japanese-Korean sushi/omakase restaurant that is open from 5PM-9PM, giving Jack Sr., Jack Jr., and Juno enough time to do their fish runs that start at 6AM.

Jack Jr. is getting back on his feet, attempting to seek normalcy in his not-so-normal life. He is back to work, doing physical therapy, and is struggling with remembering what happened to him two years ago that resulted in him in a coma that left his family in severe debt. He is struggling to remember why Ren, his ex-fiancé, is suddenly nowhere to be seen and why no one will even mention his name to Jack Jr.

While attempting to find his footing in his chaotic life post-coma, Jack Jr. finds himself meeting up with Emil Cuddy, the attending nurse of his that was there for a majority of his time in a coma. They start to bond and form a relationship built despite the fragility of Jack's life. Things are tumultuous, difficult, and awkward between them as they try to make this balance work.

I enjoyed this book for a good while, until I found myself around 70% of the way in and realized I cannot stand Jack Jr. He had nearly no personality in this book, and I found myself drawn to the side characters stories more like Juno, Appa and Umma, and Zeno. Jack Jr. lacked the ability to communicate with everyone in this book, and I grew increasingly agitated with his nonchalance at nearly every situation. When anyone initiated conversations with him, he did absolutely nothing to carry it or make the conversation have any sort of relevance. He would constantly brush things off, say "Okay" over and over, or would just stare and stare and stare before awkwardly, or just rudely, exiting the situation. I couldn't find myself attached to him as a main character, which is disappointing when we follow such an interesting story for him. I did not personally like the relationship between Jack Jr. and Cuddy specifically because of this. I found that Cuddy was always far more receptive and reactional, expressing his emotions and intentions while Jack Jr. was very wishy-washy and nonreceptive to Cuddy despite clearly having feelings for him.

Despite that, I loved Jack Jr. and Juno together. Their growing bond throughout this novel was my favourite part of it. Such a beautiful and budding relationship between Uncle JJ (Jack Jr.) and Juno. I loved that Juno would express he really needed someone in his life to support him, and Jack Jr. stepped up to be the rock supporting him. Juno was a wonderful kid, and Jack Jr. was a wonderful uncle to him. I loved their fish runs and interactions, and I love how wholesome Juno is. He is such a passionate character with so many relatable internal conflicts.

Another thing I really loved about this book was the exploration of being raised in a lower-class Asian family. While it's not common for many Asians, I could personally relate to it and really felt I connected to the situations, especially the emotions of 18-year-old Jack Jr. and Juno. It is hard to be relied on by your family as the sole income to provide for your family while also taking care of them. There are far too many sacrifices to be made and when you are so young and inexperienced, that responsibility is harrowing and traumatizing. The exploration of this on parallel situations between Jack Jr. in the past and Juno in the present time was well done.

I do wish we got more exploration into Zeno's character. She felt like such a vital person to have introduced and while we got so many hints into the abusive lifestyle she lived, I really wished we had gotten to see more for her and where her life went.

: ̗̀➛ Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a good read. A solid 3/5 for me, and I would definitely recommend it to others.

"I Leave It Up to You" is Jinwoo Chong's sophomore novel. Reading it made me immediately put his first novel, "Flux," on my TBR list! It was that good!

Chong has a singular voice, deftly weaving deep sorrow and loss into a family saga filled with love, humor, and an infectious warmth that tragedy and life struggles simply can not diminish.

The story opens with a miracle... a man named Jack, Jr. has been comatose for 23 months following a horrific car accident. Without any clinical indicators, he suddenly and completely wakes up and begins talking (a lot), asking questions (too many), and with more mobility than his atrophied limbs have any right to possess!

The fact that he can not remember anything about the accident and subsequent hospitalization isn't the worst thing with which he has to come to terms. What he does remember is the crushing knowledge that he had purposely and almost completely distanced himself (both physically and emotionally) for over a decade before the accident from his whole family. As he struggles his way back to the waking world, he is astonished (and guilt-ridden) to find those very same family members surrounding him with their loud, demonstrative, opinionated, messy, and unconditional love!!

I simply adored this story's underlying messages of forgiveness, acceptance, and the strained but unbreakable bonds of familial love! You know, the kind of love that not only offers second chances but is willing to wait as long as it takes for the damaged relationships to find their own steady equilibrium once again.

This novel made my heart happy, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. "I Leave It Up to You" was published on March 4, 2025. I thank the author for his work and NetGalley for offering an advanced copy to me.

#ILeaveItUptoYou
#JinwooChong
#NetGalley

I leave it up to you is Chong’s follow-up to flux and takes an interesting premise-how much would one’s life change after two years in a coma? That is what happens to JJ-who winds up in a coma and reawakens two years later to a new world both globally and personally. Covid has hit-JJ has lost his home-his relationship with his family is splintered-his partner has moved on. Where does he go from here now and how does he make sense of the gaps in time and build a future for himself? Heartwarming, funny, and sad, this novel is ultimately about relationships-those lost, those bruised, and those gained. It is JJs relationships with himself and his loved ones that drives the narrative and keeps the plot moving forward and will draw the readers in. Jj is a fully realized character who readers will have empathy for even with all his flaws. His family and loved ones around him
Are also uniquely rounded chracters who add richness and dynamic to the narrative. An uplifting read and enjoyable read!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved FLUX by Jinwoo Chong, so I figured their latest book - I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU - would have me feeling much of the same, if not very similar, sentiments.... and I was right. This book's premise of waking up from a coma after 2 years, and navigating such a unique experience as a sort of "second chance" and journey toward healing both past and current wounds, is propulsive, compelling, and ultimately eye-opening in so many ways. Our MC, JJ, is multi-dimensional in his undeniable humanity & flair for the dramatic— he's flawed, he's still figuring things out, and he's forced to quickly learn how to adjust and adapt to all the many ways his world has become altered since he's been away (i.e., how he fell into a coma in the first place; the COVID pandemic; his fractured and awkward relationship with his family; his previous partner now being married; losing his home; etc). Chong does a stellar job at approaching all of these moments with a raw sense of poignancy, nuance, and even humor [at times] for levity. Because healing is not always linear and, above all else, takes time. It's not something that just happens overnight. The supporting/ensemble cast also felt very well-rounded and each pulled their own weight in relation to JJ's arc of rebuilding his life and redefining his sense of self— where FLUX leaned more into it's unseriousness and surrealism when dealing with its own emotional depth, I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU takes a more grounded approach to this in both its plot and pacing. I'd consider this to be a "slice-of-life" story in that its quieter moments of introspection are what really take center stage and serve to elevate the novel's impact on its reader. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a bittersweet, yet still very much rewarding, read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the storyline and the character development. I would definitely recommend this book.

My first normal world book in a hot minute. Slow start but the second half is totally worth it. Giving this a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Imagine waking up from a coma to learn your then fiance has moved on, the world survived a pandemic, and that your family's restaurant is failing. That's Jacks life after we wakes up from a coma two years after his car is pulled from the river. This book reads like a biography and I honestly love it for that. I will admit the beginning is a bit slow, which fits the tone of Jack slowly getting his ducks in a row.

This is a modern coming of age, where 30 is the new 20, which speaks so much to my generation. Jack doesn't judge himself for what he did in his past, but over time.comes to learn why he did what he did and then uses what he has learned to help his family.

Yes there is romance, but it is slow and soft like ice cream.

Overall really poignant read.

I really enjoyed this book! Give me a comedic dysfunctional family who heals and gets a happy ending and I'm all for it.

I Leave It Up To You starts with Jack Jr waking up in the hospital. He doesn’t know why he feels so terrible or why his nurse is freaking out and everyone is wearing masks. He comes to learn it’s 2021 and he’s been in a coma for the past two years. During that time, he lost his job, his apartment in the city and his fiance. How do you rebuild from there?

I loved going through this story with Jack Jr as he figured out what comes next. This was a story of family - loyalty, obligation, love and everything in between. I also loved the depiction of life in a family restaurant. Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Jinwoo Chong for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jinwoo Chong’s I Leave It Up to You begins with Jack Jr. waking up from a two year coma. At the time of the car accident that resulted in the coma, Jack Jr. had a fiance, a great job, and a home in New York City. Now, he returns to his Korean American family in Fort Lee, New Jersey, a room in his dad’s house, and a job at the family sushi restaurant. As he relives his early adult years, Jack Jr. has to decide whether he wants to return to the city and a life of independence or pursue love, work in the family restaurant, and be an active part of his family.

I Leave It Up to You is a story of family - biological family and chosen family. The scenes where Jack Jr. visits the fish market with his father, Appa, and awkward nephew are particularly endearing. Chong’s latest is also a story of food, including descriptions of sushi, cooking, and preparing omakase to create an experience for customers. Chong’s book is also an honest love story. Jack Jr. begins a relationship with the nurse who cared for him during his coma.

Wildly different from Flux, Chong’s previous novel, I Leave It Up to You offers readers a meaningful love story and family drama that’s entertaining and easy to read.

Jinwoo Chong has such a knack for writing deep, interesting characters! I absolutely loved this! I knew when I read Flux that I’d found a new favorite author, and I Leave It Up to you has solidified this opinion fully! I absolutely loved every character, but felt especially partial to Juno. Can’t wait to read what this author writes next!

4 ⭐️ wow, what a novel. I Leave It Up To You was such an interesting story and a wild premise. Imagine waking up from a 2 year coma and everything in your life has turned upside down, including the world dealing with a large scale pandemic. The story follows Jack Jr while he navigates his second chance and acclimates to his new reality.

This story had so many positives but my favorite thing about it was the characters. Not only is Jack Jr such an interesting and well developed person but the entirety of the supporting characters. They are multifaceted and flawed and feel so real that by the end of the novel, I feel like I know each of them so well.

The setting of the family sushi restaurant was such a fascinating background for our story to take place. I enjoyed all of the snippets of fish/sushi knowledge as someone who loves it.

The one big con with If I Leave It Up To You is the lack of explaining the accident. I feel like you could make an inference but I was hoping for a clear answer by the end.

All in all, such a good story! I look forward to reading more of Jinwoo Chong’s writing.

When Jack Jr wakes up from a 2-year coma he's lost his entire adult life - his marketing job, his city apartment, even his fiance. He's left in Fort Lee, New Jersey with his Korean-American family of origin, from whom he's been estranged, and their struggling sushi restaurant. As he resumes the life he abruptly left as an adolescent, he forges new relationships with family members and redefines his place in a world that has changed in ways he struggles to understand.

I Leave It Up to You is an absorbing and affecting read, despite its deliberate pace. The unusual premise provides a path to the narrator's quarter-life crisis, which is portrayed in a thoughtful and interesting way. I enjoyed the introspective, lyrical narrative voice and the gradual way characters' relationships were developed and revealed.

That said, the cover and marketing copy - suggesting a fun and slightly silly read - are at odds with the novel's muted, meditative mood. Readers should expect to think more than they feel with this book.

I loved this book! I had high expectations going in because I adored Chong’s debut novel, Flux, and this story met them with flying colors.

There’s so much to reflect on; the pandemic, mental health (particularly for health care workers), family, small businesses, and love - and somehow it all comes together beautifully.

I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU

“I’m a mess. I’m in my thirties and sleeping in the bedroom I used to share with James when I was eight. I’m a cook with no training and I think I’m being set up to run an entire restaurant by myself. And I’m dating my nurse.”

POV: you wake up from a coma after 23 months. Covid happened. And oh yeah, you’ve been back home with your estranged family in NJ riding it out.

Jack Jr. fled across the river to NYC a decade ago, turning his back on his hometown, his family and their restaurant where he grew up learning to slice fish like his dad. He built a life with his partner Ren that was far from the early morning fish runs and shaky relationships and he had no plan to come back until an accident forces him home – and gives him a second chance at life.

THIS BOOK! It doesn’t sugarcoat anything and I loved it for that. It will pull at your heartstrings but make you laugh at the same time. You’ll feel compelled to pick up your phone and call a loved one. And you’ll walk away with a renewed outlook on life. This was such a stunning slice of life story about reconnecting with family and rediscovering yourself. I’m a sucker for family dynamics and I fell in love with every character as they worked together to heal their broken relationships with each other. I loved how this led with lots of heart and humor to offset the emotional moments. It’s without a doubt a new favorite of mine.
The scene where Jack Jr.’s mom talked about seeing the tips of the Manhattan skyline from their home and how it made her happy knowing that he was just right over the trees living life, being happy and falling in love all those years estranged!!

The way Ren visited Jack Jr. every day at the hospital for a year!!

Jack Jrs.’s unexpected relationship with his nurse (which feels like it violates something somewhere but I’m also here for it)!!

Thank you SO much for a digital copy of this beautiful story @ballantine @randomhouse

A meet cute for the boys and I’m here for it! Being part of the LGBTQIAP+ community, I highly recommend this book. To any and all.
The storyline is fun, heartwarming and will make your heart smile.
Thank you NetGalley the ARC.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, including the unique plot of waking up from a coma after COVID, the exploration of the complexities of an Asian American family, and the author's humorous writing style. On the downside, it seemed to gloss over certain plot points (e.g. why exactly it was the best option for someone not to attend university). I was also looking forward to the setting of Fort Lee, NJ, which was where I grew up; it seemed like the author had done little research on this unique enclave.

The opening chapter of this novel is "What the Actual F- Man?" and a dizzying dream sequence that places the reader promptly into the disorienting experience of poor Jack Jr., who has been in a coma for a whopping two years. If you think that's disorienting, imagine you fell asleep in 2019 and awakened in 2021. His first thought is that he is contagious, as everyone wears masks and protective gear. His second is, "Hey, what happened to Trump?"

Yes, there is much to catch Jack Jr. up on, but that's not the meat of this story and never hinders the plot.

The significant discoveries are that Jack's advertising job is over, his Manhattan apartment is gone, and his partner has moved on with someone else. Waking up in a New Jersey hospital, he finds his parents at his bedside, having waited for him despite not seeing him in ten years.

Luckily for us and for Jack Jr., his family is happy about his return. Upon discharge, he returns to his childhood home and discovers a new sense of purpose at the family restaurant. There, his father, Appa, has mastered the art of sushi in a zany but harmonious hybrid of Korean-Japanese food experiences. He has always hoped that his son would be interested in the place he cares for so deeply and blissfully shows him the ropes.

As Jack discovers a new role, he must rectify his complicated past with his brother and deepen his bond with his teenage nephew. Oh, and maybe the love of his life was with him for the whole two years, caring for him as his nurse.

This slice-of-life story packs a punch with a swoon-worthy love story and gentle, well-woven twists layered into this family drama. It will remind you what a privilege it is to be loved and to be able to come home. The food descriptions are mouth-watering, as Chong captures the essence of a struggling restaurant that still has so much to give its patrons.

Originally a short story, Chong expanded it into a novel as he went through the grueling process of selling his debut, Flux. He wrote this novel to remind himself of the joy in writing and life. Don't be surprised if your face aches from smiling through this one—he unlocked the joy for me, too—it will be a huge hit with Colton Gentry's Third Act fans and J. Ryan Stradal enthusiasts.

I enjoyed this book so so much. It was such a feel good read full of growth and acceptance from every single character. Each one was so unique in their learning and experience and you had no choice but to love them all.

The romance aspect was also so well done despite the book itself not being in the romance genre. Watching Jack jr and Emil work in a fast paced relationship while also trying to both heal and evolve as people was so special.

Honestly what an amazing book full of culture, life, love, and learning - will definitely be rereading in the future !!