Sophie Reads YA: Hot Key

ARC Review: Bingsu for Two by Sujin Witherspoon

10:00

Bingsu for Two
Series: None
Author: Sujin Witherspoon
Published January 14th 2025 by Union Square & Co./Hot Key Books

Goodreads Synopsis
This outrageously charming and infuriatingly adorable enemies-to-lovers coffee shop romance is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Better Than the Movies.

Meet River Langston-Lee. In the past 24 hours, he’s dumped his girlfriend, walked out of his SATs, and quit his job at his parents’ cafe in spectacularly disastrous fashion—even for him.

Somehow, he manages to talk his way into a gig at a failing Korean cafe, Bingsu for Two, which is his lucky break until he meets short, grumpy, and goth: Sarang Cho. She’s his new no-BS co-worker who’s as determined to make River’s life hell as she is to save her family’s cafe.

After River accidentally uploads a video of his chaotic co-workers to his popular fandom account, they strike viral fame. The kicker? Their new fans ship River and Sarang big-time. In order to keep the Internet’s attention—and the cafe’s new paying customers—River and Sarang must pretend that the tension between them is definitely of the romantic variety, not the considering the best way to kill you and hide your body variety.

But when Bingsu for Two’s newfound success catches the attention of River’s ex and his parents’ cafe around the corner, he faces a choice: keep letting others control his life or stand up for the place that’s become home. And a green-haired girl who’s not as heartless as he originally thought . . .
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

River Langston-Lee has a great life on paper - he's got a beautiful girlfriend, he's doing well in school, and his family have given him managerial control of their newest cafe. But in one day, he manages to ruin it all: dumping his girlfriend, quitting his job, and walking out of his test. He's floundering, and needs something to focus him, but what? Well, the rival cafe, Bingsu for Two, needs all the help it can get before it's forced to close, and an accidental viral video soon puts the cafe, River, and his new nemesis, Sarang, on the map. The only hang up - he and Sarang have to pretend to be a couple to keep the attention on the cafe. Can they get over their animosity enough for the good of Bingsu for Two?

This was a really cute read. I liked the camaraderie between all of the characters working at Bingsu for Two, and especially the dynamic between River and Sarang. For a long time, it was a will they, won't they kind of relationship, and it was well worth it. River was a bit of a tortured character, who had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he felt like he couldn't be himself with his ex, his family, or in the new Cafe Gong store. It had turned so far away from the traditional, family-run Korean cafe, to one which was mass-produced, and commercialised. Being at Bingsu brought back that spark, and Sarang definitely helped too. I didn't like the blackmail plotline, nor the secret keeping, but it was an enjoyable book nonetheless.

Dates Read:
September 27-28, 2025

Rating
4 Stars

2 Stars

ARC Review: Sophie Someone by Hayley Long

10:00

Sophie Someone
Series: None
Author: Hayley Long
Published May 5th 2016 by Hot Key Books

Goodreads Synopsis
A remarkable tale of confusion and betrayal - and a very special girl called Sophie.

'Some stories are hard to tell.
Even to your very best friend.
And some words are hard to get out of your mouth. Because they spell out secrets that are too huge to be spoken out loud.
But if you bottle them up, you might burst.
So here's my story. Told the only way I dare tell it.'

Sophie Nieuwenleven is sort of English and sort of Belgian. Sophie and her family came to live in Belgium when she was only four or five years old, but she's fourteen now and has never been quite sure why they left England in the first place. Then, one day, Sophie makes a startling discovery. Finally Sophie can unlock the mystery of who she really is. This is a story about identity and confusion - and feeling so utterly freaked out that you just can't put it into words. But it's also about hope. And the belief that, somehow, everything will work out OK.

SOPHIE SOMEONE is a tale of well-intentioned but stupid parenting, shock, acceptance and, ultimately, forgiveness, written in a brave, memorable and unique language all of its own.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

I think this will probably be a fairly quick review. Sophie Someone has got to be one of the most confusing books I have ever read, and not in a good way. As soon as you start it, you see that Sophie has a weird made up language - which isn't explained until right at the end - and I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, in case it was a for an important reason, but it wasn't, in my opinion. Every other word has been changed to something, and some made sense, but others really didn't. I found that part of the book so jarring and annoying, that I didn't want to care about Sophie, or her situation, even if it had been any good. The reason for the whole book, and Sophie's story was easy to guess from about page 5, and I found myself just skimming the last half. I hoped it would pick up, but it didn't. I'm going to say this is probably 1.5 stars, but I won't be recommending it to anyone, and thank god it's now off my NG shelf and I didn't spend money on it!

Dates Read:
October 23-24, 2022

Rating
2 Stars

2 Stars