REVIEW: Seoulmates by Jen Frederick

Seoulmates by Jen Frederick: Coming to Korea was supposed to help Hara find herself by reconnecting with her biological Korean family, however things just don’t seem to be going the way that Hara had expected. Starting with a new job at her Korean mothers company which only leaves her on the outs with her colleagues who feel that she only got her job because of nepotism. If this wasn’t bad enough Hara is hit with a major blow that she can no longer see Yujun, the one person that she completely connects with, who has turned out to be her step brother! The question is can Hara finally find that part of her self that she seem to be seeking out?

“I came to Korea to find my family, to figure out where I belonged, and what I learned was that family has never been about blood. Family is about the people you love and the people who love you back, and in that circle, you are never an outsider, a person with no name. You always belong.”

After that major cliffhanger at the end of Heart And Seoul I was itching to see what would happen to Hara and if she would finally be able to find her way, and let me just tell you Fredrick’s has done a brilliant job with bring Hara’s journey full circle. I will say that book did lean more towards a woman’s fiction read with a touch of romance.

I absolutely love that this time round we get to a more rounded and fuller character when it comes to Hara. We get to see her grow, struggle and love all while trying to fit in once again. One of the things that I didn’t like about Hara was that she was so desperate to fit in and gain others approval, that she kind of loses a bit of her self. However as the book progressed Hara began to realise that she is the only person that can control her happiness and I absolutely loved this moment!

“He’s a steady presence in a not-so-familiar place. I want to crawl onto his lap and inside his shirt, inside his heart. It’s safe there. That’s where my home is.”

I will say that in terms of romance this book was pretty light, but the snippets that we do get to see were all pretty cute. I liked the relationship and bond that was formed between Hara and Yujun. Even though they were technically half siblings they had no idea of this connection when they first meet. I loved Yujun he was such a sweetheart, he always had Hara’s back and supported her. Also I really liked that there was absolutely no unnecessary break up or drama between them.

I have to mention the element of culture and how this change played such a big role throughout the novel. Not only was it a major adjustment for Hara but we also got to see all the different norms and traditions found in Korea. I have to say that the secondary characters in this book were great, most of all I loved seeing the relationship between Hara and Wansu blossom.

Seoulmates is definitely a book that I would recommend reading, this book is a beautifully written story about self discovery, friendship, love and finding family.

Book Info:

Publication: January 25, 2022 | Berkley Books | Seoul Series #2

A woman fights to be with the one she loves while coming to terms with her identity in this romantic drama by USA Today bestselling author Jen Frederick.

Hara Wilson has finally discovered her roots, but the challenges she must face could destroy the love she has found.