"I Leave It Up To You" is the second novel by the award-winning author of "Flux," Jinwoo Chong.

I was hooked after the first chapter. The story begins with our protagonist, Jack Jr., waking up in 2021 after being in a coma for almost two years. To Jack Jr.’s dismay, not only has the world undergone significant, life-altering events, but he has also lost his home, career, and fiancée.

All that remains is his family and his past. He returns to his Korean American family in New Jersey and their struggling sushi restaurant. The result is an awkward, heartwarming, and humorous journey - exactly what one might expect when going back home to a uniquely dysfunctional but loving family.

If this novel had a theme song, it would be "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones because *sometimes* you might find that you get what you need.

I highly recommend this novel. It's an engaging story about second chances, family, and self-discovery. It was a joy to read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for the ARC.

This is a fascinating novel about a Japanese-Korean gay man (Jack Jr.) who awakens in the hospital, intubated and not remembering why he's there even though he's been in a coma for almost 2 years. Nurse Emil Cuddy is delighted he's awake but can provide few answers for him as he apparently drove his car into the Hudson River. His boyfriend, Ren has since gotten married and his family owns a sushi restaurant so they take him in as he begins to rehabilitate and work there. But he can't get nurse Cuddy out of his head. And so begins a lovely, often-heartbreaking look at healing and what the human mind and heart can do when supposedly "broken."
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!