I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Do-Over by Suzanne ParkPublished by Avon Books on April 4, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Women
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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From the author of the “genuinely funny” and “delightful” Loathe at First Sight (NPR) and “cinematic, charming” So We Meet Again (Emily Henry), a fun rom-com about a young Korean-American woman having to return to college after discovering she’s a few credits shy of completing her degree—only to find one of her TAs is her old college boyfriend.
Bestselling author Lily Lee is on a short deadline to deliver her new career guide How to Land the Perfect Job, and she’s been interviewing at all the top companies around town. But when she’s offered a coveted position at her dream company, the employer’s background check reveals she never actually finished her college degree. Unbelievably, her worst nightmare has come true.
Lily returns to her alma mater to relive her senior year of college, after walking across the stage at graduation a decade earlier. Just as she starts getting used to the idea of being a student again, things get even more weird and chaotic when she discovers her computer science TA is her old college boyfriend, Jake Cho.
As Lily and Jake reconnect, she sees that her late-blooming ex has done well for himself: the handsome, charming grad student appears to have his life together, while Lily’s on the brink of losing her reputation and her book deal.
Told in present day with glimpses of the past, The Do-Over is a delightfully warm and hopeful story about second chances in life and love, and how the future might not be a straight line, but we still end up exactly where we’re supposed to be.
I really enjoyed this story. Lily is a bestselling author and is hoping to start her dream job. She is shocked to learn that she failed the background screening because she didn’t actually complete the degree she thought she had earned a decade earlier. So she is back to school to finish those final credits and get her diploma. When she realizes the TA is none other than her college boyfriend, Jake Cho, she is more than a little surprised.
I went into this book expecting a fun romance and romance does play a role in the story but I felt this book was women’s fiction more than anything since the focus is on Lily’s journey and growth. I couldn’t imagine finding out I needed to go back to school after a decade and I respected that Lily immediately took the steps necessary to correct the error. Her roommate and best friend were fantastic and I loved the way they always seemed to be ready to do whatever they could to be supportive. It does take some time for Jake and Lily to work out all of their issues but I was thrilled to see them get a second chance and loved the chemistry that they shared.
I would recommend this book to others. I really enjoyed being able to tag along with Lily as she took this journey and loved watching her work through some pretty big issues. I look forward to reading more of Suzanne Park’s writing in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books.
I am glad that you enjoyed this one. Women’s fiction is a hard one for me, it has to be well done and has to be marketed so I am prepared for the romance being the backstory. It sounds like you got a kick out of this charming story.
Great review.
This does sound more like women’s fiction since the focus seems to be on Lily’s journey and the primary focus isn’t all about the romance. Seems like it was a good balance, though.
Don’t we all wish for a do over now and then. 🙂
sherry @ fundinmental
I like books which are more layered and complex like this. Life fiction!
Dang, how does that even happen? How do you not know if you actually got the degree you thought you had.
This sound like a really good story.
The whole thing with her having to go back to college totally makes me want to read this one.
I had vivid dreams for months after finishing college that I had forgot a final and hadn’t actually graduated! I’d be a little scared that this would bring those back! This does sound like an entertaining read.
How could she not know that?! Intriguing