Kiss Her Once for Me

DNF? Technically I finished it, but I skimmed the rest of the book after the first 30 pages. The writing style and characters are simply not for me. Ellie is self-deprecating and very miserable, which isn't something I really want to read about. After those 30 pages, I looked at reviews and spoilers. And yeah, I didn't feel like fully reading it anymore knowing the outcome.

I was interested in this book after seeing a TikTok about it, and the premise seemed very interesting. But I don't think rom-com fake-dating and miscommunication tropes are for me anymore, they're just... overly formulaic and recycled but in different plot settings. Reading this book felt like a Wattpad sometimes, especially with the pop culture references. The webcomic Ellie is writing? It's so nitty gritty in detail that it takes me out of the experience that she's writing a webcomic - girl, this is a very detailed NOVEL now.

Jack and Andrew's family finds out about the arrangement/love trapezoid through Ellie's webcomic, which makes no sense at all. This implies Ellie made updates about this whole scenario, including more and more details, WHILE hanging out with them. That is so bizarre and kind of creepy. I highly doubt she actually did that too, but whatever is convenient to cause drama, right?

I don't like it when character development or growth happens in the last 2 chapters. I'm glad Ellie finally stands up for herself and decides to take better care of herself. I just wish it didn't take this entire scenario for her to realize that. I also am not convinced by the “fall in love in one day” scenario. Granted, I didn't fully read the flashbacks (they were boring for me since I already know Ellie falls madly in love with her anyway), so I don't know fully how “connected” they really are. But I do remember seeing a line where they both said, “It feels like I've known you forever”. Oh, this cliche... all of this in 6 hours? Seriously?

Lastly, the Korean erasure needs to be addressed. I don't expect a white, non-Korean author to know Korean culture well enough to write about it, but then it begs the question: why include it at all? Casual diverse representation is the norm now, but I can't help and wonder whether racial diversity is to fill a quota and appeal to more liberal and open-minded audience, or there is a genuine desire to have these characters in the story for a greater meaning, while paying ode to their heritage and background. Nothing stopped the author from making the Kim-Prescotts simply a monoracial Korean family. Why make them a biracial family if you were going to erase every aspect of their Korean culture? 2 of 3 grandmas are white, and the only Korean grandma they have is dead. I don't remember seeing any other incorporation of Korean culture into their family get-together besides a mention of Mrs. Kim's ribs, the use of "halmoni", and the Kim last name. There are far more Taylor Swift references than any acknowledgment or inclusion of their Korean heritage. Not to mention, we have another case of white man marries Korean/Asian wife but treats her horribly. Yes, I understand a need to have nuance and layered relationships but this felt really shallow.