Review by Booklist Review
When Lily Lee finds out 10 years later that her final college courses did not count toward her graduation, she gets the chance to go back to her undergrad years. But not only does she have to put her life on hold to make up the class credits and live on campus, her TA is none other than her college sweetheart, Jake Cho. As Lily navigates her new/old college life, she struggles with major anxiety issues. As a professional author, she's worried that the fact that she didn't graduate will get out and discredit all of her hard work, and fellow authors are sniffing around even as her PR friend, Mia, is determined to support her. Then there's Jake, who is more than willing to prove his loyalty to Lily. It's a fun and sexy book, as Park (So We Meet Again, 32021) ties in mental-health issues with a strong female protagonist and of course a little bit of love. A fast read full of funny moments among friends, tense moments between rivals, and romantic moments between old lovers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A woman gets a second chance at her college years in this charming rom-com from Park (The Christmas Clash). Acclaimed author Lily Lee has everything going for her: a series of smash-hit career empowerment books for women and a promising new executive role at her dream company. But when the company runs a background check, it discovers--to Lily's surprise and horror--that she never officially graduated from college due to a clerical error. Lily has no choice but to leave New York City and discreetly return to Carlthorpe College to finish her degree without her publisher or her fans finding out. Matters grow even more complicated when she realizes that her new TA is her college ex, PhD candidate Jake Cho, who instantly recognizes Lily and seizes his "twice-in-a-lifetime chance" to make things right between them and win her back. As Lily navigates collegiate coming-of-age--again--she's presented with a unique opportunity to explore what could have been if her life had taken a different route. Park's pitch-perfect comedic timing and knack for creating heartstrings-tugging moments make this thoughtful romance really shine. This is a winner. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada U.S. (Apr.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Lily Lee is about to publish a book about how to land a dream job, but then the background check for her own dream job reveals she is actually a few credits shy of completing the degree she graduated with ten years ago due to an error by her advisor. On top of that, when she returns to campus, the TA for one of her required classes is none other than her college boyfriend, Jake Cho. Even though Lily tries to drop the class, she ultimately ends up enjoying it far more than expected. Lily's reputation takes a hit as the online gossip channels find out she actually did not graduate, and she has to stand up for herself against a bully trying to tarnish her and her brand. What started out as a way to complete her degree under the radar turns into a second chance at experiencing the things she missed during her earlier college years--and possibly even love, as Lily's chemistry with Jake becomes difficult to ignore. VERDICT Park's (So We Meet Again) latest does an excellent job of navigating topics of anxiety, self-doubt, nepotism, and misogyny through an enjoyable second-chance romance with great characters. This book is an essential read and highly recommended.--Ashli Wells
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A bestselling author is forced to go back to college and revisit more than one part of her past. Lily Lee is best known in the literary world as the go-to author for learning how to succeed in the workplace. In fact, she's on top of the world in her corporate career, with a job offer from a dream company and a second book in the works. That all comes to a screeching halt when her new employer's background check reveals that she never officially graduated from her alma mater 10 years ago--she's a few credits short of a diploma, even though she walked across the stage at commencement, and what's more, she'll have to go back to school in order to complete her degree. Although Lily initially balks at the idea, she eventually decides to let herself relive her senior year of college. But it's not all frat parties and dining hall meals; the teaching assistant for one of her classes is none other than her ex-boyfriend Jake Cho. As far as Lily's concerned, Jake is the one who broke her heart when they were at school together. She's reluctant to let him back into her life, especially when he seems to have everything together and her world couldn't be more out-of-order by comparison. Now that she has a second chance to get things right, though, does that mean she should give things with Jake another try? Park's latest novel skews a bit closer to women's fiction than romance--Lily's journey to self-empowerment and making peace with her setbacks feels more essential to the plot than her relationship with Jake. That said, the story is rooted in complex, relatable issues that are sure to have readers rooting for Lily the whole way through. A story of second chances in life more than love. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
