Bingsu for Two – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Korean, American, catastrophe, job, girlfriend.
YA book title: Bingsu for Two.
YA authors: Sujin Witherspoon.
Genre: Teen Fiction/Young Adult.
Published by: Hot Key Books.
ISBN: 9781471417740.
Recommended for children aged: 14+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback January 2024.
This YA book is ideal for: KS3 & KS4 who enjoy teen fiction, young adult and contemporary romance or Asian literature.
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Our review:
River Langston Lee is a typical Korean teenager who, during an unusually catastrophic day, manages to walk out of his exams, quit his job at the family coffee shop, and jilt his girlfriend. In a desperate attempt to find a new job, he stumbles into a local, ramshackle Korean café and meets Sarang Cho – the petite, green-haired goth who co-owns the place. Immediate loathing ensues as they become what appears to be arch-enemies.
After unintentionally uploading video clips of himself and his co-workers onto social media via his fandom account, the café goes viral, triggering an unexpected tangle of fame, fortune, rivalry, and envy, with River at the centre of a potential disaster.
His loyalties are tested: should he return to the family business, savour his new family – the coffee shop colleagues – or submit to the demands of his ex-girlfriend? Throw Sarang into the mix – the girl he thought was a heartless, obnoxious young woman – and the reader embarks on an adventure that tugs at the heartstrings.
Our verdict:
Bingsu for Two is an amusing romcom that most young adults will find relatable. The story is a smouldering yet chaotic journey with enthralling twists and turns, topped off with a trickle of solace, providing hope and courage to young adults facing the inevitable challenges of their teenage years.
Many thanks to Hot Key Books for the review copy.
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