In search of a fast, fun romantic read? Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo will hit just the right note.
10 00 p.m.: Lucky is the biggest K-pop star on the scene, and she’s just performed her hit song “Heartbeat” in Hong Kong to thousands of adoring fans. She’s about to debut on The Tonight Show in America, hopefully a breakout performance for her career. But right now? She’s in her fancy hotel, trying to fall asleep but dying for a hamburger.
11 00 p.m.: Jack is sneaking into a fancy hotel, on assignment for his tabloid job that he keeps secret from his parents. On his way out of the hotel, he runs into a girl wearing slippers, a girl who is single-mindedly determined to find a hamburger. She looks kind of familiar. She’s very cute. He’s maybe curious.
12:00 a.m.: Nothing will ever be the same.
A a sweet, fast-paced rom-com framed around the world of K-Pop, Somewhere Only We Know has a super cute premise and features two captivating characters. Each of them is struggling with their current place in life, and figuring out what they want next (and how to also please the other people in their lives, while making themselves happy). It’s something I think everyone has struggled with in some way, which makes these emotions easily relatable. But it’s the extreme circumstances that makes Somewhere Only We Know such a fun read, especially framed around Lucky’s role as a K-Pop star.
The one aspect of the story that I really struggled with is how Jack spends the entire time lying to Lucky; it made it harder to feel for him and root for him, knowing he was looking to exploit her. I try to remind myself that he’s young, and we all make mistakes like this when we’re young, but the overall feel of it still made me feel a little icky.
As much fun as Jack and Lucky’s madcap day of adventures in Hong Kong was to read about, my favorite part of the book was actually the ending. I loved seeing what happened after, and almost wish that could have been the focus of the book. But alas; maybe for another day.
Somewhere Only We Know is still a quick, fun, romantic read. Look for it in stores May 7th.
Novel Novice 
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