“People who let themselves learn new things are the best kind of people.”
Frankly In Love by David Yoon
Page Count: 432
Genre: Young Adult
Published by: G.P. Putnam Son’s Books, 2019
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Indiana
Synopsis:
Frank Li has two names: Frank Li, his American name and Sung-Min Li, his Korean name. Going into his senior year of high school, he feels caught between both monikers and the identities that come with them.
Though he barely speaks Korean, his parents have made it clear that he should only date a Korean girl, which is a problem since he recently fell for a white girl at school named Brit.
He hatches a plan when he realizes that a family friend, Joy Song, has a similar problem. They pretend to date so they can really hang out with their significant others (neither of whom are Korean).
In the process, they both discover things about themselves and about their families that draw them closer together, just as serious family health issues arise and the end of high school/beginning of college looms over them.
Thoughts:
The synopsis on the book flap makes the story sound mildly predictable, but plot surprised me the whole way through. It seemed like it was going to be a rom-com, however, halfway through, the characters start to really try to confront both sides of their identities and the biases (or blatant racism) that their parents have. Well-written, heart-breaking, and, at times, funny.
Lit Lens 
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