#20 Frankly in Love by David Yoon

[Chris]

This thread is to discuss our Monthly Read Frankly in Love. Please use Spoiler tags and indicate where you are in the book, so members can read and post at there own pace throughout the month . Enjoy!

[Koriana]

currently reading and so far I'm loving it!!!

[Chris]

I just started listening to this one!!

[Chris]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[I'm actually feeling sorry for Frank's parents. They are so excited he is dating Joy. I know their prejudice is awful for Frank and I can't image being a second generation Korean and and having to deal with his parents racial issues, but this lying isn't a good decision. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

I'm currently reading this and I have so many thoughts.. lol

(view spoiler)[ So, initially I did not like Frank very much at all- but, as I read further and further into the book, Frank is a huge improvement on his parents. The dude is trying- but, he's up against some pretty crappy odds in the whole 'being a decent person' department.
I totally get the whole situation that happens with Britt. It's crappy and cruel to a decent character- but, it didn't feel intentional. It felt like something that happened by accident. In Frank's defense, they hadn't been dating long at all when he suddenly realizes who he has feelings for. Goodness have I ever been there! My parents also had very strong feelings about who I should date and I will admit that I did something very much like Frank and swapped a current boyfriend my parents didn't like for one my parents did like. Just, sometimes you are just tired of swimming upstream all the time and just are ready for the path of least resistance. If family is important to you, you realize that ending up with someone your family doesn't like isn't going to do that person any favors either. Who wants to be in a relationship with someone and have inlaws who strongly dislike you? But, at least I was honest about it, granted, I was in my early 20's and a bit more mature than Frank. That's where Frank screws up is not warning Britt about his racist parents right from the beginning.

I'm not finished reading this book yet, I have to admit that the whole thing reads very believable. I just hit a major plot point that throws yet another wrinkle in Frank's life. I will admit that I didn't really like the first third of the book, but, after that Frank realizes some important stuff and gets his crap together. I'm curious to see how this book will wrap up. I borrowed this from the library because the local Books A Million has a beautiful signed copy, but, I don't buy signed copies until I've read the book. I'm leaning towards buying it- the book is beautiful and the story is complex enough where I may want to revisit it at some point. (hide spoiler)]

[Chris]

Jennifer wrote: "I'm currently reading this and I have so many thoughts.. lol

So, initially I did not like Frank very much at all- but, as I read further and further into the book, Frank is a huge improvement on ..."

I agree! (view spoiler)[I'm only on chapter 20, but I feel so bad for Britt. He deserves to know the truth about Frank's parents even if it is a tough subject. Even though I feel like Frank is making all the wrong choices, I understand how he has gotten into this situation. His sister was disowned by his parents and that is huge. I'm finding the 2nd generation Korean story line very interesting and I'm learning from this book which I love. I think so far the race issues are written well and I'm anxious to see how the rest unfolds. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Chris wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I'm currently reading this and I have so many thoughts.. lol

So, initially I did not like Frank very much at all- but, as I read further and further into the book, Frank is a hug..."

Alright, finished it this evening
(view spoiler)[ Okay, I'm not sure why this book is marketed as a romance- it really isn't that romantic at all.. lol That's probably why I liked it though, it was really mostly about family and finding your place in the world. I actually have to admit that I really liked it. The whole thing felt very real. (hide spoiler)]

[Chris]

Jennifer wrote: "Chris wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I'm currently reading this and I have so many thoughts.. lol

So, initially I did not like Frank very much at all- but, as I read further and further into the book, ..."

I loved this book!! (view spoiler)[I think this was a really well written complex book that deals with love, racism, social classes, identity and the complexities of family. I loved the diversity. I loved the secondary characters. I learned a lot about the complexity of family when you are a second generation immigrant. I agree with you on how real the story felt. I cried the last 10% of the book. I felt liking experiencing Frank's journey taught me a lot. (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

I just started listening to this one!

[Chris]

Deanna (A Novel Glimpse) wrote: "I just started listening to this one!"

I love this book!!!

[Deanna]

Finished (view spoiler)[ So I really loved this book -- right from the start. I grew up in the PNW and the city I grew up in has a lot of Korean-Americans families. I even dated a guy who was Korean-American in high school. I swear he passed my Filipina-American best friend off as his girlfriend (in the car just like the book has Q in the car) instead of me to keep the peace. I also have a Vietnamese-American friend who didn't tell her parents she was dating a Chinese guy and had to major in engineering because her parents made her. So, I could see a ton of truths in the story. Anyways. I really loved how Frank and his relationships matured over the entire book. It just felt real to me in so many ways. It definitely hit me in the feels. I'm so excited to find out what's next. I hope his story continues in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Chris]

Deanna (A Novel Glimpse) wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I felt like the story was very realistic too. I didn't have the same experiences as you, but my daughters went to a high school that the students were 57% Asian to 12% White and one of our dear friends teaches there to, so we heard a lot of stories of the pressures from the Asian families. (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

Chris wrote: "Deanna (A Novel Glimpse) wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I bet you did!