A slow-burn, book-themed romance with appeal for patient readers of character-driven stories.
During a time of censorship, two young people who are flouting the law find one another.
Joseon Dynasty Korea, 1792: King Jeongjo just reinforced a ban on fiction, but not everyone follows the rules. Eighteen-year-old Shin Haewon, a cunning young commoner, transcribes novels under the pseudonym “Magpie” for Five Willows, a secret bookshop that lends out forbidden texts for “a small fortune.” Nineteen-year-old Yu Seojun is torn between pleasing his traditional father, an important government official, and doing what he loves most: writing fiction. After the reinstatement of the Munchebanjeong edict, Seojun, or “Black Lotus,” stopped writing his novel—or responding to letters from his transcriber and pen pal, Magpie. When their paths finally cross in person, they meet as strangers. Seojun dismisses Haewon because of her social status, while Haewon sees Seojun as arrogant “Lord Perfect.” But over time, Seojun develops a fondness for Haewon and realizes her identity; Haewon takes longer to recognize who Seojun is, let alone her feelings for him. In this heartwarmingly beautiful yet frustratingly slow romance that riffs on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, layers of secrecy, mystery, and sociopolitical risk weave tension into a charming love story.
A slow-burn, book-themed romance with appeal for patient readers of character-driven stories. (historical note, character list, author’s note) (Historical romance. 14-adult)Pub Date: May 19, 2026
ISBN: 9781250348081
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK TO SCREEN
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
