About the Book
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Author:
- Susan Lee
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
- Cis Girl
- Korean Diaspora
- Straight
Cover Story: Stolen Touches
BFF Charm: Natalie Imbruglia
Talky Talk: Tournament of Tropes
Bonus Factor: College Struggles
Factor: Book Reviewers
Relationship Status: Not Even Fake Dating
Cover Story: Stolen Touches
This cover depicts the book’s two main protagonists well; Aiden and Irene are just as cute as they’re described to be. But it sort of gives away the ending? These two definitely don’t look like rivals here.
The Deal:
Irene Park is a successful romance book reviewer with a dedicated following of more than a million people. She has brand deals and sponsorships and has made herself a household name in the lives of romance readers. But she still feels like the quintessential middle child, especially when she compares herself to her older sister—a skincare model—and her younger brother—a golf prodigy.
When the opportunity arises to become the face of a Korean dating app, Irene’s imposter syndrome kicks in hard. How can she be the face of romance if she’s never actually experienced it? So she makes a vow to find a boyfriend during her freshman year in college, using the things she knows best: romance novel tropes. The only problem? Her nemesis and fellow romance reviewer Aiden Jeon is attending the same school. And he wants in on the competition.
BFF Charm: Natalie Imbruglia
I felt uncomfortably connected to Irene at times while reading The Romance Rivalry, and not only because I, too, am an online book reviewer. (I need to know her strategy, though, ’cause FYA is not quite to the million follower mark—yet.) She’s the child of parents who expect her to be extraordinary and suffers from both imposter syndrome and a severely misguided self-view. She’s smart and clever, and knows the ins and outs of romance books better than anyone. She doesn’t let anyone tell her that what she reads is dumb, either.
That said, she has a seriously misguided view of IRL romance, whether from reading too much fiction or just being inexperienced. She thinks she’ll find love by going through dates like I go through a bag of Swedish Fish (i.e., very quickly). When she doesn’t immediately feel an attraction to or interest in a date, she moves onto the next guy. Eventually, it seems like she’s only in the competition to check boxes, and it’s a pretty crappy way to treat people, even if many of the dudes are duds. And can you imagine finding out once you’re in a relationship because your partner thought you checked a box? I’m not sure most folks would find that a good thing.
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
I expected a higher Swoonworthy ranking going into this book, but the methodical and kinda mean way Irene goes about finding love put a serious damper on my enjoyment of any swoon. Add to that the super telegraphed motivations of Aiden, and I was left feeling as flat as one of Irene’s dates when she never talks to them again. Plus: He fell first is one of my least favorite tropes when the other person is frustratingly oblivious to what’s going on. I’ll Roger Murtaugh those plots right quick.
Talky Talk: Tournament of Tropes
Lee obviously has experience with romance, and romance tropes, because the explanations of all of them throughout the book were spot on—and in some cases even educational. She also knows her audience; her writing was witty and filled with reference like this one:
He throws his head back and laughs and I try not to notice the vein that runs down his long neck as he does so. Why does a mere human have so many veins, and why am I staring? I blame years of reading Twilight fic.
Bonus Factor: College Struggle
The Romance Rivalry clearly depicts a person who’s finding college to be way more complicated than they thought it would be. It’s nice to see a book that shows that’s it’s not just easy, breezy, college degree. It can be a seriously rude awakening—I’m thinking of you, C/D in Computer Science—for even the “most prepared” of people, and it’s great that books can warn teens of that before they dive in.
Factor: Book Reviewer
Although Irene has reached levels of fame most reviewers will never see, it was fun to read about someone in the same “field.” Made me real jealous (even while I thought about all the other things I have going on and the very little free time I currently have …), but it was fun nonetheless. We here at FYA HQ definitely get the burning passion to talk about books.
Relationship Status: Not Even Fake Dating
I’m glad you found your HEA, Book, but we are definitely not fated mates. If there were only one bed, I’d rather sleep in the bathtub. My grumpy feelings have not faded in the light of your sunshine. This age-gap romance was not meant to be. (Harsh, yes, but I had to stick with the theme.)
Literary Matchmaking
Emma Lord’s Tweet Cute is also about online rivals who grow closer thanks to a competition.
Emily Henry’s Book Lovers is also about rivals who love (and work in) books.
Michelle Quach’s Not Here to Be Liked is also about rivals who are both working toward the same goal. (Sense a trope theme, here?)
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins, but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. The Romance Rivalry is available now.
