Heart and Seoul by Jen Frederick: All her life Hara Wilson knew that she was different, not only did she look 
nothing like her adoptive parents but she always felt like there was something missing in her soul. However when her father suddenly dies Hara is faced with a few harsh words at the funeral making her once again question her identity. This is exactly what pushes her to travel to Seoul, Korea in search of her true self.
Hoping to find her roots and a bit more about her culture in Seoul, Hara definitely did not expect to find all the drama that was to unfold. With her new spontaneous friend Hara embarks on an adventure full of ups and down tangled with loads of family politics and some eye opening reveals. The question is will Hara finally be able to find her footing or will she be a lost soul in Seoul?
This was definitely an interesting read, right from the start you can already see that this is going to be an emotionally charged read. I really liked that we got to see Hara grow as the book progressed. My heart truly hurt for Hara, it’s definitely not easy feeling like you don’t fully belong in your own family but for other people to keep bring attention to the differences is just rough. Normally I really enjoy a novel with multicultural characters and this was no different, though I will say that Frederick highlights the harsh reality that comes with being an ‘other’.
My only issue was that the romance department was lacking in my opinion, this was more of a novel about a woman looking to find herself and discover her roots. I absolutely loved that we got to learn more about the Korean culture along side Hara, the entire journey to Korea was brilliant written.
Overall this was a good read, but as a diehard romance lover this book just lacked that romance sparkle that I look for in a novel.
Book Info:
Publication: May 25th 2021 | Berkley Books | Seoul Series #1
As a Korean adoptee, Hara Wilson doesn’t need anyone telling her she looks different from her white parents. She knows. Every time Hara looks in the mirror, she’s reminded that she doesn’t look like anyone else in her family—not her loving mother, Ellen; not her jerk of a father, Pat; and certainly not like Pat’s new wife and new “real” son.
At the age of twenty-five, she thought she had come to terms with it all, but when her father suddenly dies, an offhand comment at his funeral triggers an identity crisis that has her running off to Seoul in search of her roots.
What Hara finds there has all the makings of a classic K-drama: a tall, mysterious stranger who greets her at the airport, spontaneous adventures across the city, and a mess of familial ties, along with a red string of destiny that winds its way around her heart and soul. Hara goes to Korea looking for answers, but what she gets instead is love—a forbidden love that will either welcome Hara home…or destroy her chance of finding one
