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“Late bloomer” Irene Park had an uneventful social life in high school, but things are different online…She’s even eyeing an impressive, potentially life-changing brand sponsorship from a South Korean dating app, which might help her stand out in her family as more than just the “the awkward middle child.”.. Irene decides she needs to fall in love and experience real romance, using her favorite tropes to help her plan come to fruition…Clever and delightful; a standout in the genre.”

—Kirkus Reviews

The Romance Rivalry

Written by Susan Lee
Published by HarperCollins

Irene Park loves romance novels—so much so she’s made a career of them as an online book reviewer with a massive following. But Irene’s real life dating story? Non-existent.

So when she starts her freshman year of college, she sets her sights on finding true love using the one thing she really understands…romance book tropes. If only it were that easy.

Enter Aiden Jeon, Irene’s online book review rival and biggest nemesis. When Aiden challenges her to see who can find love-by-trope first, he becomes the one person standing in her way to getting everything she wants both professionally and personally, too.

So when the competition takes an unexpected turn, forcing the two of them to have to partner in the ultimate trope, fake dating, Irene is not prepared for everything she believed about romance, and Aiden, to flip on its head.

As Irene tackles the challenges of college life, struggles to figure out what she really wants for herself, all while trying to win the race for love, Irene realizes the answers may not be found in a romance novel. Happily Ever Afters seem so easy on page.

But for Irene to find her ultimate HEA, she’ll have to get her nose out of the book and become the main character of her own story.

Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: May 2025
Available As: Paperback, eBook
Young Adult, Age 13 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (California)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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