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I Leave It Up to You
Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 23:59:03
50 copies available
U.S. only
From the award-winning author of Flux comes a dazzling novel about love, family, and the art of sushi that asks: What if you could return to the point of a fateful choice, wiser than before, and find the courage to forge a new path?
A coma can change a man, but the world Jack Jr. awakens to is one he barely recognizes. His advertising job is history, his Manhattan apartment is gone, and the love of his life has left him behind. He’s been asleep for two years; with no one to turn to, he realizes it’s been ten years since he last saw his family.
Lost and disoriented, he makes a reluctant homecoming back to the bustling Korean American enclave of Fort Lee, New Jersey; back into the waiting arms of his parents, who are operating under the illusion he never left; and back to Joja, their ever-struggling sushi restaurant that he was set to inherit before he ran away from it all. As he steps back into the life he abandoned—learning his Appa’s life lessons over crates of tuna on bleary-eyed 4 AM fish runs, doling out amberjack behind the omakase counter while his Umma tallies the night's pitiful number of customers, and sparring with his recovering alcoholic brother, James—he embraces new roles, That of romantic interest to the male nurse who took care of him throughout, and that of sage (but underqualified) uncle to his gangly teenage nephew.
There is value in the joyous rhythms of this once-abandoned life. But second chances are an even messier business than running a restaurant, and the lure of a self-determined path might, once again, prove too hard to resist.
Why do we run from those we love, and why do we still love those who run from us? A highly entertaining and poignant story about second chances and self-discovery, I Leave It Up to You pilots through the loss, love, and absurdity of finding one’s footing after the ground gives way.
A coma can change a man, but the world Jack Jr. awakens to is one he barely recognizes. His advertising job is history, his Manhattan apartment is gone, and the love of his life has left him behind. He’s been asleep for two years; with no one to turn to, he realizes it’s been ten years since he last saw his family.
Lost and disoriented, he makes a reluctant homecoming back to the bustling Korean American enclave of Fort Lee, New Jersey; back into the waiting arms of his parents, who are operating under the illusion he never left; and back to Joja, their ever-struggling sushi restaurant that he was set to inherit before he ran away from it all. As he steps back into the life he abandoned—learning his Appa’s life lessons over crates of tuna on bleary-eyed 4 AM fish runs, doling out amberjack behind the omakase counter while his Umma tallies the night's pitiful number of customers, and sparring with his recovering alcoholic brother, James—he embraces new roles, That of romantic interest to the male nurse who took care of him throughout, and that of sage (but underqualified) uncle to his gangly teenage nephew.
There is value in the joyous rhythms of this once-abandoned life. But second chances are an even messier business than running a restaurant, and the lure of a self-determined path might, once again, prove too hard to resist.
Why do we run from those we love, and why do we still love those who run from us? A highly entertaining and poignant story about second chances and self-discovery, I Leave It Up to You pilots through the loss, love, and absurdity of finding one’s footing after the ground gives way.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2025
679 people are currently reading
55290 people want to read
About the author
Jinwoo Chong
3books330followersJinwoo Chong is the author of the novels I Leave It Up to You and Flux, a New York Times Editor’s Choice, a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel and shortlisted for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, and named a best book of 2023 by Esquire, Apple Books, HuffPost, GQ, Cosmopolitan, and ŷ.
His short stories and other work have appeared or are forthcoming in Guernica, The Southern Review, The Rumpus, LitHub, Chicago Quarterly Review, and Electric Literature.
He lives in New York.
His short stories and other work have appeared or are forthcoming in Guernica, The Southern Review, The Rumpus, LitHub, Chicago Quarterly Review, and Electric Literature.
He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 611 reviews
April 29, 2025
i'm ready to take my love of sushi to the next level (reading about it)
(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
May 11, 2025
A couple of things surprised me about this book:
1. The Korean parents were given a voice written in language that wasn't broken. I hate that term - broken English. So many writers do that to immigrant or foreign or non-white characters to try to make them more believable. I feel like that's a disservice to people who a) may not actually be immigrants and b) who may be and may still have excellent language skills. I also find it distracts from the story, and if it's an audiobook, it's usually read by someone who doesn't know how to do an authentic accent, and then I feel like it perpetuates xenophobia. Plus, even if they spoke in haltering, imperfect, accented English, the narrator is telling his story in the way he interacts with his parents, and in his mind, they speak perfectly well, be it in the most perfect English or some combination of English and Korean or only in Korean.
2. This is the first book about Koreans where parents don't necessarily want their children to pursue excellence in education.
3. Koreans are notoriously homophobic. Their homophobia is homophobic. So to see a family fully supportive of a gay son/brother/uncle, is both surprising and beautiful.
The influx of Korean immigrants largely occurred in the 70s through the 90s. I came to the US in the 70s. I've been in this country for over 50 years now. So it's actually very plausible that this family may have been in the country as long, which might explain some of these differences than the norms I grew up with. It's a story of three generations. It shows the fluctuations in how families and cultures grow and expand with time, and that was my favorite part of this book.
I had read Flux in 2023. I thought it was awful (gave it a one!). So I cringed a little when I realized it was the same author. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance (largely because I loved the cover art). I really loved every single character. Plus, Fort Lee is an area I'm very familiar with, having grown up in the surrounding area (greater metro NYC), and because my parents lived there in their elder years. It brought back a touch of nostalgia for me too. It was nice to revisit.
1. The Korean parents were given a voice written in language that wasn't broken. I hate that term - broken English. So many writers do that to immigrant or foreign or non-white characters to try to make them more believable. I feel like that's a disservice to people who a) may not actually be immigrants and b) who may be and may still have excellent language skills. I also find it distracts from the story, and if it's an audiobook, it's usually read by someone who doesn't know how to do an authentic accent, and then I feel like it perpetuates xenophobia. Plus, even if they spoke in haltering, imperfect, accented English, the narrator is telling his story in the way he interacts with his parents, and in his mind, they speak perfectly well, be it in the most perfect English or some combination of English and Korean or only in Korean.
2. This is the first book about Koreans where parents don't necessarily want their children to pursue excellence in education.
3. Koreans are notoriously homophobic. Their homophobia is homophobic. So to see a family fully supportive of a gay son/brother/uncle, is both surprising and beautiful.
The influx of Korean immigrants largely occurred in the 70s through the 90s. I came to the US in the 70s. I've been in this country for over 50 years now. So it's actually very plausible that this family may have been in the country as long, which might explain some of these differences than the norms I grew up with. It's a story of three generations. It shows the fluctuations in how families and cultures grow and expand with time, and that was my favorite part of this book.
I had read Flux in 2023. I thought it was awful (gave it a one!). So I cringed a little when I realized it was the same author. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance (largely because I loved the cover art). I really loved every single character. Plus, Fort Lee is an area I'm very familiar with, having grown up in the surrounding area (greater metro NYC), and because my parents lived there in their elder years. It brought back a touch of nostalgia for me too. It was nice to revisit.
March 23, 2025
★★★☆� 3/5
I Leave It Up to You follows the story of Jack Jr., a gay Korean man who went into a coma in 2019 and awoke from it 23 months later, much to his doctor's surprise. We follow Jack Jr.'s journey through recovery, redefining what his life meant, understanding the loss of time and the change of life, and rebuilding familial bonds once given up on. It is a long and very difficult journey that we follow along on that shows how soul-crushing it can be to believe you had everything in life, then you wake up and realize you've lost it all.
: ̗̀� My Review Rants
Jack Jr., a now-thirty-years-old man has awoken from his coma in the recovery months of Covid. We follow his story as he recovers in the hospital before returning to a home he hasn't been to in 12 years - back home with his family. Immediately after leaving the hospital, he is thrust back into working at his family's restaurant, a Japanese-Korean sushi/omakase restaurant that is open from 5PM-9PM, giving Jack Sr., Jack Jr., and Juno enough time to do their fish runs that start at 6AM.
Jack Jr. is getting back on his feet, attempting to seek normalcy in his not-so-normal life. He is back to work, doing physical therapy, and is struggling with remembering what happened to him two years ago that resulted in him in a coma that left his family in severe debt. He is struggling to remember why Ren, his ex-fiancé, is suddenly nowhere to be seen and why no one will even mention his name to Jack Jr.
While attempting to find his footing in his chaotic life post-coma, Jack Jr. finds himself meeting up with Emil Cuddy, the attending nurse of his that was there for a majority of his time in a coma. They start to bond and form a relationship built despite the fragility of Jack's life. Things are tumultuous, difficult, and awkward between them as they try to make this balance work.
I enjoyed this book for a good while, until I found myself around 70% of the way in and realized I cannot stand Jack Jr. He had nearly no personality in this book, and I found myself drawn to the side characters stories more like Juno, Appa and Umma, and Zeno. Jack Jr. lacked the ability to communicate with everyone in this book, and I grew increasingly agitated with his nonchalance at nearly every situation. When anyone initiated conversations with him, he did absolutely nothing to carry it or make the conversation have any sort of relevance. He would constantly brush things off, say "Okay" over and over, or would just stare and stare and stare before awkwardly, or just rudely, exiting the situation. I couldn't find myself attached to him as a main character, which is disappointing when we follow such an interesting story for him. I did not personally like the relationship between Jack Jr. and Cuddy specifically because of this. I found that Cuddy was always far more receptive and reactional, expressing his emotions and intentions while Jack Jr. was very wishy-washy and nonreceptive to Cuddy despite clearly having feelings for him.
Despite that, I loved Jack Jr. and Juno together. Their growing bond throughout this novel was my favourite part of it. Such a beautiful and budding relationship between Uncle JJ (Jack Jr.) and Juno. I loved that Juno would express he really needed someone in his life to support him, and Jack Jr. stepped up to be the rock supporting him. Juno was a wonderful kid and Jack Jr. was a wonderful uncle to him. I loved their fish runs and interactions, and I love how wholesome Juno is. He is such a passionate character with so many relatable internal conflicts.
Another thing I really loved about this book was the exploration of being raised in a lower-class Asian family. While it's not common for many Asians, I could personally relate to it and really felt I connected to the situations, especially the emotions of 18-year-old Jack Jr. and Juno. It is hard to be relied on by your family as the sole income to provide for your family while also taking care of them. There are far too many sacrifices to be made and when you are so young and inexperienced, that responsibility is harrowing and traumatizing. The exploration of this on parallel situations between Jack Jr. in the past and Juno in the present time was well done.
I do wish we got more exploration into Zeno's character. She felt like such a vital person to have introduced and while we got so many hints into the abusive lifestyle she lived, I really wished we had gotten to see more for her and where her life went.
: ̗̀� Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a good read. A solid 3/5 for me, and I would definitely recommend it to others. Although it is important to note, while this book does follow the life of a man after awaking from a coma and trying to find stability in a modern time during Covid, it is very slice-of-life and doesn't have any direct plot to it. It is just that - following a man through his normal, day-to-day lifestyle. That isn't for everyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this!
I Leave It Up to You follows the story of Jack Jr., a gay Korean man who went into a coma in 2019 and awoke from it 23 months later, much to his doctor's surprise. We follow Jack Jr.'s journey through recovery, redefining what his life meant, understanding the loss of time and the change of life, and rebuilding familial bonds once given up on. It is a long and very difficult journey that we follow along on that shows how soul-crushing it can be to believe you had everything in life, then you wake up and realize you've lost it all.
: ̗̀� My Review Rants
Jack Jr., a now-thirty-years-old man has awoken from his coma in the recovery months of Covid. We follow his story as he recovers in the hospital before returning to a home he hasn't been to in 12 years - back home with his family. Immediately after leaving the hospital, he is thrust back into working at his family's restaurant, a Japanese-Korean sushi/omakase restaurant that is open from 5PM-9PM, giving Jack Sr., Jack Jr., and Juno enough time to do their fish runs that start at 6AM.
Jack Jr. is getting back on his feet, attempting to seek normalcy in his not-so-normal life. He is back to work, doing physical therapy, and is struggling with remembering what happened to him two years ago that resulted in him in a coma that left his family in severe debt. He is struggling to remember why Ren, his ex-fiancé, is suddenly nowhere to be seen and why no one will even mention his name to Jack Jr.
While attempting to find his footing in his chaotic life post-coma, Jack Jr. finds himself meeting up with Emil Cuddy, the attending nurse of his that was there for a majority of his time in a coma. They start to bond and form a relationship built despite the fragility of Jack's life. Things are tumultuous, difficult, and awkward between them as they try to make this balance work.
I enjoyed this book for a good while, until I found myself around 70% of the way in and realized I cannot stand Jack Jr. He had nearly no personality in this book, and I found myself drawn to the side characters stories more like Juno, Appa and Umma, and Zeno. Jack Jr. lacked the ability to communicate with everyone in this book, and I grew increasingly agitated with his nonchalance at nearly every situation. When anyone initiated conversations with him, he did absolutely nothing to carry it or make the conversation have any sort of relevance. He would constantly brush things off, say "Okay" over and over, or would just stare and stare and stare before awkwardly, or just rudely, exiting the situation. I couldn't find myself attached to him as a main character, which is disappointing when we follow such an interesting story for him. I did not personally like the relationship between Jack Jr. and Cuddy specifically because of this. I found that Cuddy was always far more receptive and reactional, expressing his emotions and intentions while Jack Jr. was very wishy-washy and nonreceptive to Cuddy despite clearly having feelings for him.
Despite that, I loved Jack Jr. and Juno together. Their growing bond throughout this novel was my favourite part of it. Such a beautiful and budding relationship between Uncle JJ (Jack Jr.) and Juno. I loved that Juno would express he really needed someone in his life to support him, and Jack Jr. stepped up to be the rock supporting him. Juno was a wonderful kid and Jack Jr. was a wonderful uncle to him. I loved their fish runs and interactions, and I love how wholesome Juno is. He is such a passionate character with so many relatable internal conflicts.
Another thing I really loved about this book was the exploration of being raised in a lower-class Asian family. While it's not common for many Asians, I could personally relate to it and really felt I connected to the situations, especially the emotions of 18-year-old Jack Jr. and Juno. It is hard to be relied on by your family as the sole income to provide for your family while also taking care of them. There are far too many sacrifices to be made and when you are so young and inexperienced, that responsibility is harrowing and traumatizing. The exploration of this on parallel situations between Jack Jr. in the past and Juno in the present time was well done.
I do wish we got more exploration into Zeno's character. She felt like such a vital person to have introduced and while we got so many hints into the abusive lifestyle she lived, I really wished we had gotten to see more for her and where her life went.
: ̗̀� Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a good read. A solid 3/5 for me, and I would definitely recommend it to others. Although it is important to note, while this book does follow the life of a man after awaking from a coma and trying to find stability in a modern time during Covid, it is very slice-of-life and doesn't have any direct plot to it. It is just that - following a man through his normal, day-to-day lifestyle. That isn't for everyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this!
March 5, 2025
A wild premise-- you wake up after 2 years in a coma. Your parents are in your life again, despite the fact that you hadn't spoken to them in years. The love of your life has moved on and gotten married, the world lived through a pandemic, your job and car are long gone. You are too shell shocked to be grateful to be alive, although you have no memory of driving into the Hudson river.
JJ is insecure and asks all the wrong questions, but he is endearing as he tries to reintegrate into his family and the rest of society. A Japanese-Korean, his family runs a sushi restaurant using Korean influence. His brother is having another child, and his nephew accidentally helps him go viral after awakening from a coma.
There is a little suspense and romance here, it is billed as second chance, but this is more contemporary LitFic.
Themes
-Meaning of Life
-Moving On
-Identity
-LGBTQ main character
-New York/New Jersey setting
-Changing relationships within family
The end is heartwarming. I really enjoyed JJ's journey.
JJ is insecure and asks all the wrong questions, but he is endearing as he tries to reintegrate into his family and the rest of society. A Japanese-Korean, his family runs a sushi restaurant using Korean influence. His brother is having another child, and his nephew accidentally helps him go viral after awakening from a coma.
There is a little suspense and romance here, it is billed as second chance, but this is more contemporary LitFic.
Themes
-Meaning of Life
-Moving On
-Identity
-LGBTQ main character
-New York/New Jersey setting
-Changing relationships within family
The end is heartwarming. I really enjoyed JJ's journey.
November 3, 2024
ARC gifted by the publisher
I loved everything about this novel. Framed as a second chance—a gay Korean American waking up from a 2-year coma at the end of Covid—we follow a flawed and sometimes overly dramatic yet deeply realistic character getting another chance at life. With it comes chances to rebuild his relationships with his family that he hasn’t talked to in 5 years.
There’s a lot to love about Chong’s sophomore novel. JJ’s journey to healing while he explores various aspects of life—familial responsibility, career opportunities, and romantic relationships—are written with tender prose infused with humor.
Apart from the MC, I also love that every character feels fully-realized and have their own character developments. Chong excels at building a multifaceted cast that not just supports JJ’s story, but also shows the different aspects of a 3-generation Korean household and their struggles with finding themselves.
Compared to Chong’s first novel, FLUX, I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU feels less serious, and I loved every moment with it. It made me sad thinking about time, how much I’ve wasted and how little I have left with aging parents, but it also made me hopeful for how much I can still do. I think this book will hit especially hard for readers who think about forming relationships with their (Asian) immigrant parents while trying to reconcile unanswered questions and unprocessed feelings bottled up as teenagers, which is to say, every reader who doesn’t call their parents by their first names 🤣
There are some dialogues that felt a bit clunky, but it could be due to the ARC version. Regardless, I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU is a beautiful story about time. And there’s always enough for redemption.
I loved everything about this novel. Framed as a second chance—a gay Korean American waking up from a 2-year coma at the end of Covid—we follow a flawed and sometimes overly dramatic yet deeply realistic character getting another chance at life. With it comes chances to rebuild his relationships with his family that he hasn’t talked to in 5 years.
There’s a lot to love about Chong’s sophomore novel. JJ’s journey to healing while he explores various aspects of life—familial responsibility, career opportunities, and romantic relationships—are written with tender prose infused with humor.
Apart from the MC, I also love that every character feels fully-realized and have their own character developments. Chong excels at building a multifaceted cast that not just supports JJ’s story, but also shows the different aspects of a 3-generation Korean household and their struggles with finding themselves.
Compared to Chong’s first novel, FLUX, I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU feels less serious, and I loved every moment with it. It made me sad thinking about time, how much I’ve wasted and how little I have left with aging parents, but it also made me hopeful for how much I can still do. I think this book will hit especially hard for readers who think about forming relationships with their (Asian) immigrant parents while trying to reconcile unanswered questions and unprocessed feelings bottled up as teenagers, which is to say, every reader who doesn’t call their parents by their first names 🤣
There are some dialogues that felt a bit clunky, but it could be due to the ARC version. Regardless, I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU is a beautiful story about time. And there’s always enough for redemption.
March 8, 2025
Sleeping through the refrigerator-truck, no-vaccine-yet stages of the COVID pandemic turns out to be a mixed blessing—if, for example, you sleep through it because you’ve been in a coma after a car accident that nearly killed you. Also, by the time your coma ends you’ve lost your job and your apartment, and your fiancé is (not so) mysteriously absent.
Thus Jack Jr.—always “Jack Jr.,� not just Jack—who awakens to find himself back in the bosom of his semi-estranged family. Jack Sr. owns a superb but failing Korean sushi restaurant; Jack Jr. grew up learning to buy fish, to prepare sushi, and to cook Korean food in general, but bolted for Manhattan under circumstances we don’t find out about in detail till late in the book.
Though to say “No spoilers� is kind of to miss the point. Jack Jr.’s reasons for separating himself from his family do matter; it matters that Ren, his ex-fiancé, so far from being a villain, loved him devotedly; it matters that the van Jack Sr. drives to the fish market is falling apart. That is, all the details matter, because every relationship, every characterization matters. I haven’t read many novels in which a complicated family life is rendered so lightly, with such seeming effortlessness, or in which throwaway touches are so revealing and evocative.
An instance: the moment in which Cuddy—Jack Jr.’s nurse during much of his coma; then his friend; and, not quite yet, his lover—mentions his favorite constellation of moles on Jack Jr.’s body: a part of his body Cuddy the nurse has of course seen, but Cuddy the imminent lover has not. Cuddy’s an endearing character and I was rooting for their relationship throughout, but in that moment one kind of intimacy crosses over into another, uneasily. Cuddy knows so much about Jack Jr. and Jack Jr.’s body: knowledge acquired honorably, but during a time when Jack Jr. couldn’t know anything at all. Matters of intimacy and knowledge are all over this book, and it turns out that some things can never be known.
What else? Well, the setup here could have shot straight into melodrama. It never does, though fair warning that at several points it’s liable to make you cry. On the other hand, “I cried; I laughed!,� because “I Leave It Up to You� is hilarious. Cue more admiration, because heaven knows it’s a rare feat to mix the comic and the poignant gracefully. Most often, you get lurching from one to the other.
I now know much more about Korean food than I did two weeks ago—not that that’s saying much, probably, since I was at a kimchi-gochujang-and-bibimbap level of familiarity. Anyway, the point is I’m hungry.
I have one quibble, to do with the fact that during much of Jack Jr.’s first year in a coma visitors wouldn’t have been allowed into the hospital. It’s a copyeditorial compulsion to mention such things, but honestly it didn’t detract from my pleasure in this wonderful novel. Many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the ARC.
Thus Jack Jr.—always “Jack Jr.,� not just Jack—who awakens to find himself back in the bosom of his semi-estranged family. Jack Sr. owns a superb but failing Korean sushi restaurant; Jack Jr. grew up learning to buy fish, to prepare sushi, and to cook Korean food in general, but bolted for Manhattan under circumstances we don’t find out about in detail till late in the book.
Though to say “No spoilers� is kind of to miss the point. Jack Jr.’s reasons for separating himself from his family do matter; it matters that Ren, his ex-fiancé, so far from being a villain, loved him devotedly; it matters that the van Jack Sr. drives to the fish market is falling apart. That is, all the details matter, because every relationship, every characterization matters. I haven’t read many novels in which a complicated family life is rendered so lightly, with such seeming effortlessness, or in which throwaway touches are so revealing and evocative.
An instance: the moment in which Cuddy—Jack Jr.’s nurse during much of his coma; then his friend; and, not quite yet, his lover—mentions his favorite constellation of moles on Jack Jr.’s body: a part of his body Cuddy the nurse has of course seen, but Cuddy the imminent lover has not. Cuddy’s an endearing character and I was rooting for their relationship throughout, but in that moment one kind of intimacy crosses over into another, uneasily. Cuddy knows so much about Jack Jr. and Jack Jr.’s body: knowledge acquired honorably, but during a time when Jack Jr. couldn’t know anything at all. Matters of intimacy and knowledge are all over this book, and it turns out that some things can never be known.
What else? Well, the setup here could have shot straight into melodrama. It never does, though fair warning that at several points it’s liable to make you cry. On the other hand, “I cried; I laughed!,� because “I Leave It Up to You� is hilarious. Cue more admiration, because heaven knows it’s a rare feat to mix the comic and the poignant gracefully. Most often, you get lurching from one to the other.
I now know much more about Korean food than I did two weeks ago—not that that’s saying much, probably, since I was at a kimchi-gochujang-and-bibimbap level of familiarity. Anyway, the point is I’m hungry.
I have one quibble, to do with the fact that during much of Jack Jr.’s first year in a coma visitors wouldn’t have been allowed into the hospital. It’s a copyeditorial compulsion to mention such things, but honestly it didn’t detract from my pleasure in this wonderful novel. Many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the ARC.
February 10, 2025
2.5
It’s not my cup of tea.
Jack jr is a gay Korean who has fell into a coma for the past two years and as his story unfolds he learns about what happened in the world (covid) and his life while he was intubated. I didn’t think the story would be so emotional and tragic. Take a breath you are doing alright
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
It’s not my cup of tea.
Jack jr is a gay Korean who has fell into a coma for the past two years and as his story unfolds he learns about what happened in the world (covid) and his life while he was intubated. I didn’t think the story would be so emotional and tragic. Take a breath you are doing alright
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
September 8, 2024
This is a fascinating novel about a Japanese-Korean gay man (Jack Jr.) who awakens in the hospital, intubated and not remembering why he's there even though he's been in a coma for almost 2 years. Nurse Emil Cuddy is delighted he's awake but can provide few answers for him as he apparently drove his car into the Hudson River. His boyfriend, Ren has since gotten married and his family owns a sushi restaurant so they take him in as he begins to rehabilitate and work there. But he can't get nurse Cuddy out of his head. And so begins a lovely, often-heartbreaking look at healing and what the human mind and heart can do when supposedly "broken."
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
2025
September 5, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books
March 4, 2025
If you are looking for a fast paced mystery thriller type book, this one is not it. But, if you are looking for a slower paced, slice of life type book about reconnecting with family and getting to know yourself, this one will hit the mark. This is a book that I can see will be adored by many readers but on the flipside, I could see readers not giving it the chance it deserves due to the slower pace and the sense of ambiguity relating to a couple of matters.
Certain scenes reminded me of the tv show "The Bear" with a Korean flair.
I really enjoyed this little novel and even though I'm not a sushi person I can appreciate the art a bit more now.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 3/4/25
Certain scenes reminded me of the tv show "The Bear" with a Korean flair.
I really enjoyed this little novel and even though I'm not a sushi person I can appreciate the art a bit more now.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 3/4/25
May 27, 2025
4.5/5
I'm still waiting for the day when I look back at the time of my life when I read books instead of going to therapy and marvel at my maladaptive capitalizing. Every chance I get to stop and consider my options, though, just adds another volume to the work: an abusive childhood, familial estrangement, covid, the genocide in Gaza, queer, and don't even get me started on cancer. Plus, I have my doubts as to whether I would have fought so hard as a union steward, as a trans person, as a chronic illness, survivor, if I had that good little capitalism keeping me "safe", "sane", and isolated to the tune of an unknown copay per digital session. The closest Jack Jr., the main character of this work, gets to therapy is his regular strength training and MRIs, and he comes out okay. I know, I know, I'm not actually using a fictional character as a reason for my life choices, but all things considered, this book hit me in the write place and kept going, and it'd be a shame to cut short the catharsis by mincing my words.
This isn't a perfect book. From a personal medical standpoint, Jr's trajectory should have been as littered, if not more so, with physical landmines as emotional ones as the result of a two year coma. I could also harp about the (at times) lackluster prose, the (one time) editor mistakes, the (rare) scene flatness, (mildly) overcompensating side characters and (tenatively) loquacious teenagers, however. However. I come at Jack Jr's life and character development through a glass darkly of Korean Netflix shows and a DNR order (mine, not his), my financial independence versus his family, my career versus his inheritance, my security versus his acceptance, far enough away for me to keep reading, close enough to draw heart blood. I still can't stand narratives of dysfunctional families, but Chong has a gift for dialogue that manages to engage without making me roll my eyes, as well as a sense for the hurt that binds while leaving a redemptive rope out over the cliff edge. Filter it through cooking and gay, the two blurbale topics that apart will draw the eye, together will throw out the proverbial red carpet, and you have a reading experience I consigned to a rare daily schedule and refrained from posting an update, just in case such would break the spell of my fourth five star so far awarded this year.
Look, stories whose driving impetus is healthcare and/or education under US capitalism are still the dime a dozen in this rat race hell country of ours that tend to drive me mad. However, this work is the opposite of cheap thrills, proof of which lies in a portrait (side, mind you) of addiction that manages to testify about the full litany of what could be inflicted on a working class Korean family on the east coast while committing to the ride for the sake of the communal history rather than the reader titillation. Long story short, I would happily become a serial killer for a proper media adaptation of this, even though why any corporate shill would do so in the wake of Squid Game and Mr. Beast is beyond me. So, if you get nothing else from this review, know that this is a good, slow, vaguely medically credible inter-generational narrative riffing on the parable of the prodigal son, and if said son seems like a self absorbed twit for most of it, you understand why I resonated so much. I'm not saying you have to be estranged from your family while queer and chronically ill to love this, but it is rather overwhelming to be catered to in that regard for once.
I'm still waiting for the day when I look back at the time of my life when I read books instead of going to therapy and marvel at my maladaptive capitalizing. Every chance I get to stop and consider my options, though, just adds another volume to the work: an abusive childhood, familial estrangement, covid, the genocide in Gaza, queer, and don't even get me started on cancer. Plus, I have my doubts as to whether I would have fought so hard as a union steward, as a trans person, as a chronic illness, survivor, if I had that good little capitalism keeping me "safe", "sane", and isolated to the tune of an unknown copay per digital session. The closest Jack Jr., the main character of this work, gets to therapy is his regular strength training and MRIs, and he comes out okay. I know, I know, I'm not actually using a fictional character as a reason for my life choices, but all things considered, this book hit me in the write place and kept going, and it'd be a shame to cut short the catharsis by mincing my words.
This isn't a perfect book. From a personal medical standpoint, Jr's trajectory should have been as littered, if not more so, with physical landmines as emotional ones as the result of a two year coma. I could also harp about the (at times) lackluster prose, the (one time) editor mistakes, the (rare) scene flatness, (mildly) overcompensating side characters and (tenatively) loquacious teenagers, however. However. I come at Jack Jr's life and character development through a glass darkly of Korean Netflix shows and a DNR order (mine, not his), my financial independence versus his family, my career versus his inheritance, my security versus his acceptance, far enough away for me to keep reading, close enough to draw heart blood. I still can't stand narratives of dysfunctional families, but Chong has a gift for dialogue that manages to engage without making me roll my eyes, as well as a sense for the hurt that binds while leaving a redemptive rope out over the cliff edge. Filter it through cooking and gay, the two blurbale topics that apart will draw the eye, together will throw out the proverbial red carpet, and you have a reading experience I consigned to a rare daily schedule and refrained from posting an update, just in case such would break the spell of my fourth five star so far awarded this year.
Look, stories whose driving impetus is healthcare and/or education under US capitalism are still the dime a dozen in this rat race hell country of ours that tend to drive me mad. However, this work is the opposite of cheap thrills, proof of which lies in a portrait (side, mind you) of addiction that manages to testify about the full litany of what could be inflicted on a working class Korean family on the east coast while committing to the ride for the sake of the communal history rather than the reader titillation. Long story short, I would happily become a serial killer for a proper media adaptation of this, even though why any corporate shill would do so in the wake of Squid Game and Mr. Beast is beyond me. So, if you get nothing else from this review, know that this is a good, slow, vaguely medically credible inter-generational narrative riffing on the parable of the prodigal son, and if said son seems like a self absorbed twit for most of it, you understand why I resonated so much. I'm not saying you have to be estranged from your family while queer and chronically ill to love this, but it is rather overwhelming to be catered to in that regard for once.
"I've been trying something out where I care a little bit less about how I feel and a little more about how other people feel. It's hard. But it feels right."
June 15, 2025
Yeah� no surprise here� I absolutely loved this. It’s incredibly sweet, and I found myself genuinely invested in every single character. Chong effortlessly transcends genres; this one is wildly different from “Flux�, but just as compelling. At this point, I’m all in. Jinwoo Chong is officially an automatic read for me, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
February 7, 2025
I wish I liked this book better than I did. The prose is good. The characterization ranges from fine to great. Unfortunately the narrative frequently lacks tension, resulting in almost unbearable middle sag. There is some conflict, but not enough to sustain the story start to finish.
If I had to point to a single emblematic issue� I would point to a few. First off, I think Chong erred severely in keeping Ren off the page for most of the book. Ren’s presence could have provided a great sense of conflict and continuity, and would be very much in keeping thematically, seeing as it would be conflict between two sympathetic people, neither of whom is completely right or wrong. Perhaps an instance or two of radio silence from Ren, then have JJ persevere and Ren finally give up, putting on an appearance.
Springboarding off of that, I think Chong made a huge mistake in resolving one of the book’s most prominent hanging questions how he did. The readers want to know what happened on the night of JJ’s accident. Finally revealing that is tooth-grindingly unsatisfying and a betrayal of reader expectations.
Lastly, we have JJ’s romance with Emil Cuddy, his nurse when he was in a coma. First of all, every time I heard Cuddy’s last name, I flashed back to an episode of House. It was distracting, and then I had to go angst about being old. But more relevantly, I found the relationship/plotline boring. They were both nice, decent people, building a nice, decent relationship. Almost literally nothing stood in their way, but it was still taking page time and boy was my butt squirming in the seat.
On the other hand, I loved the nuance in JJ’s relationships with his family. His bond with his nephew, Juno, provided something wonderfully positive and fresh, without ever leaning saccharine. His parents were also great, and I appreciate Chong not reaching for the low-hanging angst fruit of ever depicting them as homophobes. There were conflicts and miscommunications between them and JJ, but they were handled with subtlety and grace. I also enjoyed JJ’s fraught relationship with his brother, James. It likewise retained nuance, but also served as one of the best sources of genuinely exciting conflict. Sometimes it felt like James was ready to hoist the book onto his back and carry it to the safe harbor of plot.
Perhaps this is my genre roots showing. But I think even a literary novel can and should have tension even if its stakes are not life and death. And tension is where I Leave It Up To You let me down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.
If I had to point to a single emblematic issue� I would point to a few. First off, I think Chong erred severely in keeping Ren off the page for most of the book. Ren’s presence could have provided a great sense of conflict and continuity, and would be very much in keeping thematically, seeing as it would be conflict between two sympathetic people, neither of whom is completely right or wrong. Perhaps an instance or two of radio silence from Ren, then have JJ persevere and Ren finally give up, putting on an appearance.
Springboarding off of that, I think Chong made a huge mistake in resolving one of the book’s most prominent hanging questions how he did. The readers want to know what happened on the night of JJ’s accident. Finally revealing that is tooth-grindingly unsatisfying and a betrayal of reader expectations.
Lastly, we have JJ’s romance with Emil Cuddy, his nurse when he was in a coma. First of all, every time I heard Cuddy’s last name, I flashed back to an episode of House. It was distracting, and then I had to go angst about being old. But more relevantly, I found the relationship/plotline boring. They were both nice, decent people, building a nice, decent relationship. Almost literally nothing stood in their way, but it was still taking page time and boy was my butt squirming in the seat.
On the other hand, I loved the nuance in JJ’s relationships with his family. His bond with his nephew, Juno, provided something wonderfully positive and fresh, without ever leaning saccharine. His parents were also great, and I appreciate Chong not reaching for the low-hanging angst fruit of ever depicting them as homophobes. There were conflicts and miscommunications between them and JJ, but they were handled with subtlety and grace. I also enjoyed JJ’s fraught relationship with his brother, James. It likewise retained nuance, but also served as one of the best sources of genuinely exciting conflict. Sometimes it felt like James was ready to hoist the book onto his back and carry it to the safe harbor of plot.
Perhaps this is my genre roots showing. But I think even a literary novel can and should have tension even if its stakes are not life and death. And tension is where I Leave It Up To You let me down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.
May 22, 2025
It’s 2021, and 30-year-old Jack Jr. wakes up from his 23-month coma in Fort Lee, NJ. He has unanswered questions: He doesn’t know what Covid is, his partner is absent, he can’t remember the driving accident, and his estranged family become his primary caretakers.
Discharged from the hospital and apparently no longer able to return home to Ren, his biological family folds Jack Jr. back into his old life. He goes back to work at Appa’s Japanese restaurant with Korean ingredients, Joja, alongside James (older brother) and Juno (nephew). Their little restaurant struggled to stay afloat during Covid, but the restrictions slowly lifted, and the family managed to work together and keep the business running.
The family dynamics are strained, awkward, and fragile. Jack Jr. left home a decade ago for the city, not wanting to take over the family business. But the way he leaves—like leaving in the dead of night without any goodbye—further damages the relationships. In search of the real world and different experiences, he and Ren make a home for themselves. They’re engaged when Jack Jr. is hospitalized, and Ren faithfully visits for a year. Eventually, he decides it’s time to move on, and Jack Jr.’s family doesn’t blame him—Jack Jr.’s condition may or may not improve, and Ren’s whole life is still before him. Jack Jr.’s biological family sticks around and rallies around him despite the fraught tensions and unspoken problems of the past. In his physical recovery and process of regaining control of his body, Jack Jr. mends his relationship with his family and develops a new relationship with Emil, his kind nurse.
This was delectable (4.5 stars)! The author shows an acute awareness of where the story is, the emotions he wants to convey, the characters� convoluted personalities, and the themes he wants to highlight. He cooks up themes like family, food (omakase!), health, and love. I had to relinquish more trust than I’m used to because I usually don’t like mystery novels. But I enjoyed how Chong disoriented me as a reader because it would be akin to Jack Jr.’s experience waking up from a coma (and it’s not actually a mystery novel). Although buttery with emotions, Chong’s flavorful humor keeps the tone light. I love thinking about second gen. East Asian American perspectives, and it’s been a minute since I chewed on one so thoughtfully and completely constructed. N.B.: I see “Japanese-Korean� in some reviews� descriptions of Jack Jr.; however, Umma and Appa are ethnically Korean.
My thanks to #NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for my ARC of #ILeaveItUptoYou.
Discharged from the hospital and apparently no longer able to return home to Ren, his biological family folds Jack Jr. back into his old life. He goes back to work at Appa’s Japanese restaurant with Korean ingredients, Joja, alongside James (older brother) and Juno (nephew). Their little restaurant struggled to stay afloat during Covid, but the restrictions slowly lifted, and the family managed to work together and keep the business running.
The family dynamics are strained, awkward, and fragile. Jack Jr. left home a decade ago for the city, not wanting to take over the family business. But the way he leaves—like leaving in the dead of night without any goodbye—further damages the relationships. In search of the real world and different experiences, he and Ren make a home for themselves. They’re engaged when Jack Jr. is hospitalized, and Ren faithfully visits for a year. Eventually, he decides it’s time to move on, and Jack Jr.’s family doesn’t blame him—Jack Jr.’s condition may or may not improve, and Ren’s whole life is still before him. Jack Jr.’s biological family sticks around and rallies around him despite the fraught tensions and unspoken problems of the past. In his physical recovery and process of regaining control of his body, Jack Jr. mends his relationship with his family and develops a new relationship with Emil, his kind nurse.
This was delectable (4.5 stars)! The author shows an acute awareness of where the story is, the emotions he wants to convey, the characters� convoluted personalities, and the themes he wants to highlight. He cooks up themes like family, food (omakase!), health, and love. I had to relinquish more trust than I’m used to because I usually don’t like mystery novels. But I enjoyed how Chong disoriented me as a reader because it would be akin to Jack Jr.’s experience waking up from a coma (and it’s not actually a mystery novel). Although buttery with emotions, Chong’s flavorful humor keeps the tone light. I love thinking about second gen. East Asian American perspectives, and it’s been a minute since I chewed on one so thoughtfully and completely constructed. N.B.: I see “Japanese-Korean� in some reviews� descriptions of Jack Jr.; however, Umma and Appa are ethnically Korean.
My thanks to #NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for my ARC of #ILeaveItUptoYou.
March 20, 2025
Listen, you know it’s a good book when it ends and there’s a GIGANTIC grin on your face. It’s got good food, a cute cover, AND you smile at the end, which means you probably need to read it.
The description alone had me!
Jack Jr. has just woken up from a two-year coma and his life is, to say the least, much changed. His longtime boyfriend has left him, his job and apartment are gone, and he soon realizes he needs to turn back to the family he hasn’t seen in a decade for help. He begins working at the family Korean/Japanese restaurant and falls into a stabilizing routine even as they all tiptoe around some family issues. This book is such a beautiful look at family and considers why we love and why we leave.
Okay, I am in love with this family and I’m a bit sad that I can’t physically eat in their restaurant. I love the way they all work together to run the restaurant in their own little dysfunctional way. I would read a book solely based on them running fish errands.
Y’all, this is a good one. It’s got the right amount of heart, humor, romance, family drama, and food talk. Excuse me while I go read every other book by Jinwoo Chong. Byeeeeee.
The description alone had me!
Jack Jr. has just woken up from a two-year coma and his life is, to say the least, much changed. His longtime boyfriend has left him, his job and apartment are gone, and he soon realizes he needs to turn back to the family he hasn’t seen in a decade for help. He begins working at the family Korean/Japanese restaurant and falls into a stabilizing routine even as they all tiptoe around some family issues. This book is such a beautiful look at family and considers why we love and why we leave.
Okay, I am in love with this family and I’m a bit sad that I can’t physically eat in their restaurant. I love the way they all work together to run the restaurant in their own little dysfunctional way. I would read a book solely based on them running fish errands.
Y’all, this is a good one. It’s got the right amount of heart, humor, romance, family drama, and food talk. Excuse me while I go read every other book by Jinwoo Chong. Byeeeeee.
March 28, 2025
Some books find you exactly when you need to read them
Delectable!
Delectable!
April 4, 2025
Two years into a coma, main character Jack Jr wakes up. His family is relieved and happy, and take him back to his childhood home in New Jersey. No one will tell him what happened, where is his husband, and what happened during the past two years.
Jack Jr. is quickly roped into helping his dad with the family sushi restaurant, Joja, starting with 4AM fish runs, preparing the food, and getting back into the family dynamics. His older brother James, a recovering alcoholic, seems resentful about a lot of things, including things his teenaged son Juno does and says. Juno quickly bonds with Jack Jr., convincing him to post info about the Jack Jr. and the restaurant online, without telling the patriarch, Jack, so they can build interest in the business.
Jack Jr. also begins a tentative relationship with the male nurse who cared for him during his coma.
The family dynamics are a mess, but it's clear, though, that the members all care for each other. Jack Jr. is messy, can't seem to ever ask the right question at the right time, and struggles to find his footing now that his former love won't talk to him, he's back living in his boyhood bedroom, and his body has all these new aches and pains.
I really enjoyed this. There is a lot of character stuff happening, all of which I enjoyed . Jack Jr. and his family have to recalibrate all their relationships with each other, while Jack Jr. stays in New Jersey and decides to help in the restaurant, something he ran away from years earlier. He changes over the course of the novel, becoming more at peace with himself and his family.
His relationship with Juno is great, and Juno's unfiltered questions and comments kept making me laugh out loud, making Juno my favourite character in the book.
The story is heartwarming, and is beautifully written.
Jack Jr. is quickly roped into helping his dad with the family sushi restaurant, Joja, starting with 4AM fish runs, preparing the food, and getting back into the family dynamics. His older brother James, a recovering alcoholic, seems resentful about a lot of things, including things his teenaged son Juno does and says. Juno quickly bonds with Jack Jr., convincing him to post info about the Jack Jr. and the restaurant online, without telling the patriarch, Jack, so they can build interest in the business.
Jack Jr. also begins a tentative relationship with the male nurse who cared for him during his coma.
The family dynamics are a mess, but it's clear, though, that the members all care for each other. Jack Jr. is messy, can't seem to ever ask the right question at the right time, and struggles to find his footing now that his former love won't talk to him, he's back living in his boyhood bedroom, and his body has all these new aches and pains.
I really enjoyed this. There is a lot of character stuff happening, all of which I enjoyed . Jack Jr. and his family have to recalibrate all their relationships with each other, while Jack Jr. stays in New Jersey and decides to help in the restaurant, something he ran away from years earlier. He changes over the course of the novel, becoming more at peace with himself and his family.
His relationship with Juno is great, and Juno's unfiltered questions and comments kept making me laugh out loud, making Juno my favourite character in the book.
The story is heartwarming, and is beautifully written.
September 24, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC.
I loved everything about this book. The characterization, the humor, the writing style, every single different relationship dynamic explored. Jack Jr. felt so real and human and I was so attached to him by the end that I had a hard time letting myself finish this book because I wanted to stay in this world a little longer.
It can be difficult to touch on certain current events and world issues in books/movies/media but this book handled it perfectly, in a way that felt natural and relevant.
Some of this book was deeply sad, heartbreaking even, but it was so realistic at the same time. Jack Jr.'s healing journey was beautiful to go on with him. I adored the ending. Without giving it away, it was hopeful and satisfying without feeling forced. It was more or less exactly what I was crossing my fingers for.
I could go on and on about how much I loved this. I highly, highly recommend it. But be prepared to start craving sushi because this book also made me incredibly hungry. The food descriptions were delicious.
I loved everything about this book. The characterization, the humor, the writing style, every single different relationship dynamic explored. Jack Jr. felt so real and human and I was so attached to him by the end that I had a hard time letting myself finish this book because I wanted to stay in this world a little longer.
It can be difficult to touch on certain current events and world issues in books/movies/media but this book handled it perfectly, in a way that felt natural and relevant.
Some of this book was deeply sad, heartbreaking even, but it was so realistic at the same time. Jack Jr.'s healing journey was beautiful to go on with him. I adored the ending. Without giving it away, it was hopeful and satisfying without feeling forced. It was more or less exactly what I was crossing my fingers for.
I could go on and on about how much I loved this. I highly, highly recommend it. But be prepared to start craving sushi because this book also made me incredibly hungry. The food descriptions were delicious.
Read
May 23, 20253.5 ⭐️
Very bittersweet. At first I wasn’t sure if I would like the writing style but it grew on me. This book tugged at my heartstrings and I really enjoyed the family dynamics and how accepting they were of his sexuality.
Very bittersweet. At first I wasn’t sure if I would like the writing style but it grew on me. This book tugged at my heartstrings and I really enjoyed the family dynamics and how accepting they were of his sexuality.
June 14, 2025
Don't go into this expecting a rom-com, it's mostly a family drama with a slight subplot of romance. I have no idea why it's being marketed the way it is 😭
January 14, 2025
Why do we run from those we love, and why do we still love those who run from us?
Jack Jr (JJ) a Japanese-Korean gay man, woke up in a hospital after nearly two years in a coma, with no memory of how he got there. the only detail shared with him is that he drove his car into a river—an act he can't remember or explain. as he grapples with his fragmented past and uncertain future, he discovers that his boyfriend, Ren, has moved on during his absence and is now married to someone else. (that made me jaw drop BTW)
despite the emotional blow and breakup he had no idea happened, Ren's family, who owns a beloved sushi restaurant, opens their doors to Jack, offering him a place to stay as he begins his journey of physical rehabilitation and emotional recovery. but during his therapy sessions, Jack finds himself drawn to Nurse Emil Cuddy (daddy CUDDY), whose compassion and care played a huge role in his healing and recovery. as JJ keeps working to rebuild his life and uncover the truth about the events that led to his accident, he also confronts the scars of his past relationships and begins to explore the possibilities of new love. his story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring strength of the human spirit, set against the backdrop of a vibrant cultural community and the intimate world of a family-run restaurant. speaking of restaurant, it's a SUSHI one. yes. was i hungry? double yes.
this novel is perfect for fans of quiet, introspective storytelling. its slower pace and touches of ambiguity might not appeal to everyone, but its emotional depth and poignant themes of healing make it a rewarding and heartfelt slice-of-life read. i loved it.
thank you again Random House Publishing Group!!! 4.5!!
Jack Jr (JJ) a Japanese-Korean gay man, woke up in a hospital after nearly two years in a coma, with no memory of how he got there. the only detail shared with him is that he drove his car into a river—an act he can't remember or explain. as he grapples with his fragmented past and uncertain future, he discovers that his boyfriend, Ren, has moved on during his absence and is now married to someone else. (that made me jaw drop BTW)
despite the emotional blow and breakup he had no idea happened, Ren's family, who owns a beloved sushi restaurant, opens their doors to Jack, offering him a place to stay as he begins his journey of physical rehabilitation and emotional recovery. but during his therapy sessions, Jack finds himself drawn to Nurse Emil Cuddy (daddy CUDDY), whose compassion and care played a huge role in his healing and recovery. as JJ keeps working to rebuild his life and uncover the truth about the events that led to his accident, he also confronts the scars of his past relationships and begins to explore the possibilities of new love. his story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring strength of the human spirit, set against the backdrop of a vibrant cultural community and the intimate world of a family-run restaurant. speaking of restaurant, it's a SUSHI one. yes. was i hungry? double yes.
this novel is perfect for fans of quiet, introspective storytelling. its slower pace and touches of ambiguity might not appeal to everyone, but its emotional depth and poignant themes of healing make it a rewarding and heartfelt slice-of-life read. i loved it.
thank you again Random House Publishing Group!!! 4.5!!
March 17, 2025
In Jinwoo Chong's sophomore novel, "I Leave It Up to You," waking up from a two-year coma is just the beginning of Jack Jr.'s problems. Disoriented and displaced, Jack finds himself thrust back into the life he once fled—his family's struggling Korean-Japanese sushi restaurant in Fort Lee, New Jersey. With his Manhattan advertising career and apartment gone, and his fiancé moved on without him, Jack must navigate the delicate terrain of family expectations, new romance, and his own uncertain future.
Following his acclaimed debut novel "Flux," Chong delivers a poignant exploration of second chances that resonates with both heartbreak and humor. The story masterfully weaves together themes of family obligation, queer identity, and the immigrant experience through the intimate lens of a Korean-American family's struggling sushi restaurant.
Waking Up to a World That Moved On
Jack Jr.'s journey begins with disorientation—both literal and metaphorical. Chong brilliantly captures that fish-out-of-water feeling as Jack awakens to find himself intubated in a hospital bed, his body weakened and his memory fragmented. The opening scene, where Jack mistakes his male nurse for his husband Ren, establishes both the novel's wry humor and its emotional foundation.
What makes this story distinctive is how Chong treats the coma not just as a plot device but as a metaphor for life's unexpected resets. Jack must reckon with the brutal reality that while he remained frozen in time, everyone else continued living:
"It had been twenty-three months."
"It was twenty-three months. Two years."
This temporal displacement creates a compelling narrative tension—Jack is simultaneously reconnecting with his past while inhabiting a present where he feels like an intruder. The story's emotional core emerges from this tension: what happens when you're given a second chance you never asked for?
A Family Feast of Complex Relationships
The heart of "I Leave It Up to You" lies in its richly drawn family dynamics. Jack's relationship with his father (Appa) stands as the novel's emotional centerpiece—a complex mixture of love, disappointment, and cultural expectations around the family business. Their interactions around the sushi bar, especially during the early morning fish runs, provide some of the book's most tender moments.
Chong excels at creating multidimensional characters who defy easy categorization:
- Appa: A proud restaurateur with failing health who desperately wants his son to take over the family business
- Umma: Jack's pragmatic mother who maintains ties to both her ex-husband and a mysterious new boyfriend
- James: Jack's recovering alcoholic brother who manages the restaurant's finances while harboring resentment
- Juno: Jack's teenage nephew who idolizes him while trying to chart his own future
- Zeno: A determined teenage employee who sleeps in the restaurant to escape her home life
Through these relationships, Chong examines the complexity of family obligation in immigrant communities—the weight of expectations, the guilt of abandonment, and the delicate balance between honoring one's heritage and forging an independent path.
Romance on the Rebound
The romantic elements in "I Leave It Up to You" provide both healing and complication for Jack. His developing relationship with Emil Cuddy, the nurse who cared for him during his coma, offers a tender counterpoint to the grief of losing Ren, the fiancé who eventually moved on while Jack slept.
Chong handles this romantic subplot with admirable restraint. Rather than rushing into a rebound relationship, Jack's connection with Emil develops gradually and organically. Their conversations about Emil's secret playwriting aspirations and Jack's family struggles add depth to their bond. The tentative nature of their romance reflects Jack's broader hesitation about committing to this new chapter of his life.
One particularly moving scene takes place at a bathhouse, where Emil reveals his struggles with insomnia due to memories of COVID patients he couldn't save:
"I don't sleep well…because for a while, when I'd fall asleep, I'd dream about all the patients I lost."
These moments of vulnerability make their relationship feel earned rather than convenient, grounding the romance in shared trauma and healing.
Cultural Identity and Culinary Arts
Food—specifically, the art of preparing sushi—serves as both literal livelihood and rich metaphor throughout the novel. Chong's detailed descriptions of fish selection, knife technique, and customer interactions at the sushi bar demonstrate impressive research and lend authenticity to the setting.
The restaurant scenes offer more than just culinary detail—they provide insight into the immigrant experience and the tensions between assimilation and cultural preservation. Jack's conflicted relationship with the family business mirrors his complicated feelings about his Korean-American identity. His expertise in preparing fish contrasts with his fumbling attempts to speak Korean with his mother, highlighting how cultural knowledge can be simultaneously inherited and lost across generations.
Particularly effective is Chong's use of food preparation as a window into character:
"To slice fish, one must see with the fingers, feel with the tips of the pads the tender flesh, capturing the lean meat at its ripest..."
These passages reflect not just culinary skill but also how tradition becomes embodied knowledge, passed down through generations despite resistance.
Strengths That Shine
"I Leave It Up to You" showcases numerous strengths that make it a compelling read:
1. Authentic dialogue that captures generational and cultural differences without resorting to stereotypes
2. Structural innovation through the inclusion of a flashback chapter written in third person that reveals crucial backstory
3. Humor that never undermines emotional depth, particularly in Jack's observations about hospital life and family peculiarities
4. Careful attention to setting, with Fort Lee, NJ emerging as a vivid Korean-American enclave
5. Realistic portrayal of recovery from both physical trauma and emotional wounds
The novel particularly excels in its examination of queer identity within the context of Korean-American family dynamics. Jack's sexuality isn't treated as a narrative problem to be solved but as one facet of his complex identity. This nuanced approach allows the story to explore queer experience without reducing characters to their sexual orientation.
Room for Improvement
Despite its many strengths, "I Leave It Up to You" occasionally stumbles:
- Pacing issues in the middle section where conflicts are introduced and resolved too quickly
- Underdeveloped secondary characters, particularly Umma, whose mysterious boyfriend remains largely unexplored
- Occasional over-reliance on convenient coincidences to advance the plot
- Uneven handling of the TikTok subplot involving Juno's videos of Jack at the restaurant
- Some repetitive introspection that sometimes slows narrative momentum
The novel's ambitious scope sometimes leads to thematic overreach. While the exploration of family dynamics and second chances feels fully realized, certain elements—like the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on small businesses—receive more superficial treatment that leaves readers wanting deeper engagement with these issues.
Final Verdict: A Resonant Exploration of Starting Over
"I Leave It Up to You" ultimately succeeds as both an intimate family drama and a broader meditation on what it means to reclaim one's life after profound disruption. Chong has created a story that feels simultaneously specific in its cultural details and universal in its emotional truths.
The novel's greatest achievement lies in its refusal to provide easy answers. By the conclusion, Jack has neither fully embraced nor rejected his family's expectations. Instead, he occupies a more complex middle ground—honoring his heritage while still maintaining autonomy over his future. This nuanced resolution feels both emotionally satisfying and true to life's messiness.
Following his acclaimed debut novel "Flux," Chong delivers a poignant exploration of second chances that resonates with both heartbreak and humor. The story masterfully weaves together themes of family obligation, queer identity, and the immigrant experience through the intimate lens of a Korean-American family's struggling sushi restaurant.
Waking Up to a World That Moved On
Jack Jr.'s journey begins with disorientation—both literal and metaphorical. Chong brilliantly captures that fish-out-of-water feeling as Jack awakens to find himself intubated in a hospital bed, his body weakened and his memory fragmented. The opening scene, where Jack mistakes his male nurse for his husband Ren, establishes both the novel's wry humor and its emotional foundation.
What makes this story distinctive is how Chong treats the coma not just as a plot device but as a metaphor for life's unexpected resets. Jack must reckon with the brutal reality that while he remained frozen in time, everyone else continued living:
"It had been twenty-three months."
"It was twenty-three months. Two years."
This temporal displacement creates a compelling narrative tension—Jack is simultaneously reconnecting with his past while inhabiting a present where he feels like an intruder. The story's emotional core emerges from this tension: what happens when you're given a second chance you never asked for?
A Family Feast of Complex Relationships
The heart of "I Leave It Up to You" lies in its richly drawn family dynamics. Jack's relationship with his father (Appa) stands as the novel's emotional centerpiece—a complex mixture of love, disappointment, and cultural expectations around the family business. Their interactions around the sushi bar, especially during the early morning fish runs, provide some of the book's most tender moments.
Chong excels at creating multidimensional characters who defy easy categorization:
- Appa: A proud restaurateur with failing health who desperately wants his son to take over the family business
- Umma: Jack's pragmatic mother who maintains ties to both her ex-husband and a mysterious new boyfriend
- James: Jack's recovering alcoholic brother who manages the restaurant's finances while harboring resentment
- Juno: Jack's teenage nephew who idolizes him while trying to chart his own future
- Zeno: A determined teenage employee who sleeps in the restaurant to escape her home life
Through these relationships, Chong examines the complexity of family obligation in immigrant communities—the weight of expectations, the guilt of abandonment, and the delicate balance between honoring one's heritage and forging an independent path.
Romance on the Rebound
The romantic elements in "I Leave It Up to You" provide both healing and complication for Jack. His developing relationship with Emil Cuddy, the nurse who cared for him during his coma, offers a tender counterpoint to the grief of losing Ren, the fiancé who eventually moved on while Jack slept.
Chong handles this romantic subplot with admirable restraint. Rather than rushing into a rebound relationship, Jack's connection with Emil develops gradually and organically. Their conversations about Emil's secret playwriting aspirations and Jack's family struggles add depth to their bond. The tentative nature of their romance reflects Jack's broader hesitation about committing to this new chapter of his life.
One particularly moving scene takes place at a bathhouse, where Emil reveals his struggles with insomnia due to memories of COVID patients he couldn't save:
"I don't sleep well…because for a while, when I'd fall asleep, I'd dream about all the patients I lost."
These moments of vulnerability make their relationship feel earned rather than convenient, grounding the romance in shared trauma and healing.
Cultural Identity and Culinary Arts
Food—specifically, the art of preparing sushi—serves as both literal livelihood and rich metaphor throughout the novel. Chong's detailed descriptions of fish selection, knife technique, and customer interactions at the sushi bar demonstrate impressive research and lend authenticity to the setting.
The restaurant scenes offer more than just culinary detail—they provide insight into the immigrant experience and the tensions between assimilation and cultural preservation. Jack's conflicted relationship with the family business mirrors his complicated feelings about his Korean-American identity. His expertise in preparing fish contrasts with his fumbling attempts to speak Korean with his mother, highlighting how cultural knowledge can be simultaneously inherited and lost across generations.
Particularly effective is Chong's use of food preparation as a window into character:
"To slice fish, one must see with the fingers, feel with the tips of the pads the tender flesh, capturing the lean meat at its ripest..."
These passages reflect not just culinary skill but also how tradition becomes embodied knowledge, passed down through generations despite resistance.
Strengths That Shine
"I Leave It Up to You" showcases numerous strengths that make it a compelling read:
1. Authentic dialogue that captures generational and cultural differences without resorting to stereotypes
2. Structural innovation through the inclusion of a flashback chapter written in third person that reveals crucial backstory
3. Humor that never undermines emotional depth, particularly in Jack's observations about hospital life and family peculiarities
4. Careful attention to setting, with Fort Lee, NJ emerging as a vivid Korean-American enclave
5. Realistic portrayal of recovery from both physical trauma and emotional wounds
The novel particularly excels in its examination of queer identity within the context of Korean-American family dynamics. Jack's sexuality isn't treated as a narrative problem to be solved but as one facet of his complex identity. This nuanced approach allows the story to explore queer experience without reducing characters to their sexual orientation.
Room for Improvement
Despite its many strengths, "I Leave It Up to You" occasionally stumbles:
- Pacing issues in the middle section where conflicts are introduced and resolved too quickly
- Underdeveloped secondary characters, particularly Umma, whose mysterious boyfriend remains largely unexplored
- Occasional over-reliance on convenient coincidences to advance the plot
- Uneven handling of the TikTok subplot involving Juno's videos of Jack at the restaurant
- Some repetitive introspection that sometimes slows narrative momentum
The novel's ambitious scope sometimes leads to thematic overreach. While the exploration of family dynamics and second chances feels fully realized, certain elements—like the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on small businesses—receive more superficial treatment that leaves readers wanting deeper engagement with these issues.
Final Verdict: A Resonant Exploration of Starting Over
"I Leave It Up to You" ultimately succeeds as both an intimate family drama and a broader meditation on what it means to reclaim one's life after profound disruption. Chong has created a story that feels simultaneously specific in its cultural details and universal in its emotional truths.
The novel's greatest achievement lies in its refusal to provide easy answers. By the conclusion, Jack has neither fully embraced nor rejected his family's expectations. Instead, he occupies a more complex middle ground—honoring his heritage while still maintaining autonomy over his future. This nuanced resolution feels both emotionally satisfying and true to life's messiness.
January 26, 2025
[ 4.5/5 stars ]
After Covid - Jack Jr. just woke up from a two-year coma. But his life - career, relationships - is not the same anymore.
I could feel from the first page that this story would satisfy our souls - Chong delivers a portrait of introspection that, unlike the common quietness, provides unfathomable entertainment. With refined prose that boosts one's confidence, the slice-of-life narrative can feel over dramatic at times, but most importantly, it feels real. The main character ventures through fragility, trying to understand new fears and hopes while also focusing on what matters the most.
In this journey of redefining the life, Chong exposes career, filial piety, grief and familial responsibility through the main character whose storyline is supported by nuanced side characters. The delicate emotions between (Asian immigrant) parents-child and the MC's interactions with his nephew spoke to my heart - the candid conversations can feel uncomfortable and deeply resonate with one. The plot is anchored by messy and humorous moments, showing layers of struggles of the Korean diaspora. Lastly, foodie might delight in the art of sushi.
FLUX feels more inventive and challenging, while I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU is more approachable and raw. This sophomore novel is about time, second chances and ultimately, mending relationships. Equally impressive, I enjoyed this book even more and I leave it up to you to experience its tenderness.
[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Random House / Ballantine books . All opinions are my own ]
After Covid - Jack Jr. just woke up from a two-year coma. But his life - career, relationships - is not the same anymore.
I could feel from the first page that this story would satisfy our souls - Chong delivers a portrait of introspection that, unlike the common quietness, provides unfathomable entertainment. With refined prose that boosts one's confidence, the slice-of-life narrative can feel over dramatic at times, but most importantly, it feels real. The main character ventures through fragility, trying to understand new fears and hopes while also focusing on what matters the most.
In this journey of redefining the life, Chong exposes career, filial piety, grief and familial responsibility through the main character whose storyline is supported by nuanced side characters. The delicate emotions between (Asian immigrant) parents-child and the MC's interactions with his nephew spoke to my heart - the candid conversations can feel uncomfortable and deeply resonate with one. The plot is anchored by messy and humorous moments, showing layers of struggles of the Korean diaspora. Lastly, foodie might delight in the art of sushi.
FLUX feels more inventive and challenging, while I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU is more approachable and raw. This sophomore novel is about time, second chances and ultimately, mending relationships. Equally impressive, I enjoyed this book even more and I leave it up to you to experience its tenderness.
[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Random House / Ballantine books . All opinions are my own ]
January 3, 2025
I expected one thing going into this story and came out of it with something completely different but in a surprisingly good way. I Leave It Up To You opens with the protagonist, 30-year-old Jack Jr., waking up from a two-year medically-induced coma in a hospital in New Jersey with no memory of how he got there. Upon waking up to a brand new world with no knowledge of covid either, Jack Jr. is drawn to his very awkward but kind male nurse.
Confronted with grisly details about things like catheter removal, I was steeling myself for a very grim and depressing story about a gay Korean sushi chef turned New York advertising copywriter, about to get married to his longtime lover, who drives his car into the Hudson River and almost dies. A lot of it was heavy, but it was far from grim.
Instead I got a queer While You Were Sleeping, the kind of story where it is not just a romance between two love interests but you're falling in love with the protagonist's colorful and charming family, as well.
Jack Jr.'s calling had been working as a sushi chef, a vocation he loved and had done all his life. He expected to inherit the restaurant from his father, until family secrets come out and he storms out on his family and never comes back.
Until the coma happens, the medical miracle happens, and he gets a do-over. The love of his life is now married to someone else, and the life he thought he wanted made him miserable. He returns to the family sushi restaurant and his dysfunctional yet loving family accepts him like he never left.
The romance is more of a subplot than the focus of the book but I found the love story between Jack Jr. and his aspiring playwright nurse to be charming.
This is a very cozy, entertaining story about second chances, family, redemption and of all unlikely things, Korean-Japanese fusion food. The colorful descriptions of sushi and cooking made my mouth water.
This was a heartwarming, well-written book with absolutely beautiful writing that also had deep things to say about human nature, family, lost chances and what it means to age well. I thought this book was utterly delightful.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Confronted with grisly details about things like catheter removal, I was steeling myself for a very grim and depressing story about a gay Korean sushi chef turned New York advertising copywriter, about to get married to his longtime lover, who drives his car into the Hudson River and almost dies. A lot of it was heavy, but it was far from grim.
Instead I got a queer While You Were Sleeping, the kind of story where it is not just a romance between two love interests but you're falling in love with the protagonist's colorful and charming family, as well.
Jack Jr.'s calling had been working as a sushi chef, a vocation he loved and had done all his life. He expected to inherit the restaurant from his father, until family secrets come out and he storms out on his family and never comes back.
Until the coma happens, the medical miracle happens, and he gets a do-over. The love of his life is now married to someone else, and the life he thought he wanted made him miserable. He returns to the family sushi restaurant and his dysfunctional yet loving family accepts him like he never left.
The romance is more of a subplot than the focus of the book but I found the love story between Jack Jr. and his aspiring playwright nurse to be charming.
This is a very cozy, entertaining story about second chances, family, redemption and of all unlikely things, Korean-Japanese fusion food. The colorful descriptions of sushi and cooking made my mouth water.
This was a heartwarming, well-written book with absolutely beautiful writing that also had deep things to say about human nature, family, lost chances and what it means to age well. I thought this book was utterly delightful.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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November 2, 2024i wanted to like this and i almost convinced myself to.
*dnf'ed at 60% :(
the plot felt like a background aspect of this book, and for good reason. there wasn't much going on and it was instead about the complicated relationships of jack jr. and his family, partners, etc. but if that's the device you're employing, your characters better be dynamic, huge, and very human. for me, this didn't happen at all. the characters fell flat and the dialogue became monotonous and boring.
that being said, i love love loved the character of juno and thought his scenes with jack jr. were some of the funniest dialogue i've read in a long time. sadly, that comedy wasn't consistent and instead was too sparse to be the saving-grace of this book. i also loved emil as a character, but we just simply don't hear enough about him. like ughhhh. it was frustrating as a reader to not get to hear as much as i wanted from the best characters of the entire book.
a very strong premise that definitely drew me in when i started, the momentum just didn't keep up as it rolled along.
many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review of the book!
*dnf'ed at 60% :(
the plot felt like a background aspect of this book, and for good reason. there wasn't much going on and it was instead about the complicated relationships of jack jr. and his family, partners, etc. but if that's the device you're employing, your characters better be dynamic, huge, and very human. for me, this didn't happen at all. the characters fell flat and the dialogue became monotonous and boring.
that being said, i love love loved the character of juno and thought his scenes with jack jr. were some of the funniest dialogue i've read in a long time. sadly, that comedy wasn't consistent and instead was too sparse to be the saving-grace of this book. i also loved emil as a character, but we just simply don't hear enough about him. like ughhhh. it was frustrating as a reader to not get to hear as much as i wanted from the best characters of the entire book.
a very strong premise that definitely drew me in when i started, the momentum just didn't keep up as it rolled along.
many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review of the book!
May 16, 2025
A book about a man who loses two years of his life in a coma. Waking up and realizing life is completely different than before. We then follow him and how he tries to put his life back together following the tragic
Jack jrs. father owns a sushi restaurant that he was supposed to take over when he turned 18. He decided to leave that life with no warning to go live a life in the city. Less and less he would talk to his family until he stopped communication all together. When he woke up from his coma he was forced to go back and live with his father. He had to start his whole life over working in a place he never thought he would want to be a part of. As the story unfolds we go about his day to day life he slowly realizes that this is the life he was meant to live all along.
Beautiful story. Beautifully written. Also a great story to read for anyone who may feel lost in life.
Jack jrs. father owns a sushi restaurant that he was supposed to take over when he turned 18. He decided to leave that life with no warning to go live a life in the city. Less and less he would talk to his family until he stopped communication all together. When he woke up from his coma he was forced to go back and live with his father. He had to start his whole life over working in a place he never thought he would want to be a part of. As the story unfolds we go about his day to day life he slowly realizes that this is the life he was meant to live all along.
Beautiful story. Beautifully written. Also a great story to read for anyone who may feel lost in life.
May 10, 2025
This book is about9 love, so much love.
Heartwarming. There is no villain, no haters, just love of humankind.
Heartwarming. There is no villain, no haters, just love of humankind.
March 4, 2025
If there was a book that had me up late at night going manic over food cravings, it was this book. If there was a book that had me up late at night contemplating my life choices, it was this book. If there was a book that had me up late at night ravenous and sentimental—crying because I’m hungry but also sad from missing my parents who live less than an hour away and my little brother who hasn’t been little in forever, and all I see is time passing, our faces lining with wrinkles, hair graying only to realize how limited our time together really is—it was this book.
When Jack Jr. wakes up from his two-year coma, his world has turned upside down. His job, apartment, and boyfriend are no longer in the picture, and much to his dismay, he moves back to his hometown in Fort Lee, New Jersey. There, he navigates his new old life with the past he thought he buried, only to discover the painful memories had remained in tact, ready for him to turn over in his hands and mend.
I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU is Jinwoo Chong’s follow-up novel from his debut, FLUX (one that I absolutely loved). And while this book is very different from FLUX, it still has all the elements of Chong’s writing that I adore—messy but real characters, nuanced portrayal of Korean immigrant family dynamics, and the intricate balance between humor and grief. It was slow but the good kind, the kind that makes you stop and call your mom or dad or brother, the kind that makes you decide to treat yourself out to sushi today, them kind that makes you decide to explore that lost love of cooking, reading, making music, painting, singing, or whatever else you did that made you feel alive.
I really enjoyed this one, and a big part of that was because I had the best buddy readers.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
P.S. This book made me so hungry, so I ordered sushi obviously. But it also talks about Korean food and kimchi jigae, specifically, so of course I had to eat my mom’s. I truly think my mom makes the best kimchi jigae. I wish everyone could taste it.
When Jack Jr. wakes up from his two-year coma, his world has turned upside down. His job, apartment, and boyfriend are no longer in the picture, and much to his dismay, he moves back to his hometown in Fort Lee, New Jersey. There, he navigates his new old life with the past he thought he buried, only to discover the painful memories had remained in tact, ready for him to turn over in his hands and mend.
I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU is Jinwoo Chong’s follow-up novel from his debut, FLUX (one that I absolutely loved). And while this book is very different from FLUX, it still has all the elements of Chong’s writing that I adore—messy but real characters, nuanced portrayal of Korean immigrant family dynamics, and the intricate balance between humor and grief. It was slow but the good kind, the kind that makes you stop and call your mom or dad or brother, the kind that makes you decide to treat yourself out to sushi today, them kind that makes you decide to explore that lost love of cooking, reading, making music, painting, singing, or whatever else you did that made you feel alive.
I really enjoyed this one, and a big part of that was because I had the best buddy readers.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
P.S. This book made me so hungry, so I ordered sushi obviously. But it also talks about Korean food and kimchi jigae, specifically, so of course I had to eat my mom’s. I truly think my mom makes the best kimchi jigae. I wish everyone could taste it.
January 31, 2025
Jinwoo Chong’s I Leave It Up to You is a deeply introspective and emotionally resonant story that explores the complexities of identity, family, and self-understanding. What stood out most to me was the way Chong deftly portrays the main character’s evolving perspective on family, particularly before and after a life-changing accident. The subtle yet powerful shifts in his relationships are heart-wrenching and poignant, reflecting how trauma can reshape not just one's physical reality but also the emotional landscape we inhabit.
Chong’s writing navigates the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, especially through the lens of cultural identity. One of my favorite elements was the inclusion of Korean-Japanese fusion food as a symbol of the blending of cultures—it's both a literal and metaphorical exploration of hybridity and belonging. The food not only serves as a backdrop to key moments in the narrative but also enriches the emotional core of the stories.
Overall, I Leave It Up to You is a beautifully layered collection that invites readers to reflect on how personal experiences, culture, and family intertwine to shape who we become. It’s a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the last page.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Chong’s writing navigates the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, especially through the lens of cultural identity. One of my favorite elements was the inclusion of Korean-Japanese fusion food as a symbol of the blending of cultures—it's both a literal and metaphorical exploration of hybridity and belonging. The food not only serves as a backdrop to key moments in the narrative but also enriches the emotional core of the stories.
Overall, I Leave It Up to You is a beautifully layered collection that invites readers to reflect on how personal experiences, culture, and family intertwine to shape who we become. It’s a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the last page.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2025
What an incredible novel. Imagine one day you feel like you have your life together, then in the blink of an eye, everything changes. You wake up 2 years later wanting to resume life as it was and realizing it will never be the same again. Everything that you had left behind at 18 is now all you have at 30. What I loved about this book is how true to life it was. We experience things that affect us so deeply, yet we never get definite closure. Questions that are left unanswered for a lifetime. We rarely get the answers we desire, but as time goes on, we realize how those hardships lead us to a greater purpose. Towards the end, I was thinking “this felt incomplete”…of course it did, because his life continues. It would not maintain the message if it just ended with your usual happy ending. Overall, the book was beautiful. Life is not easy, it’s hard to know if you’re doing the right thing. You really end up where you’re meant to. I wish I knew more about these characters. Each of them had such an interesting story and I was hoping to connect with them most. At times, it felt like there was a lack of dialogue which made it a bit difficult to get through some chapters. Regardless, the writing was great. I’ll definitely be reading more from Jinwoo Chong!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the ARC. All thoughts are my own
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the ARC. All thoughts are my own
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