Julia Song Is Undateable
by Susan Lee
Laugh-out-loud banter, meddlesome ajummas and halmeonis, and enough spice to fog your glasses.
ARC Review
Publisher: Canary Street Press / HarperCollins
Pub Date: October 28, 2025
Format: ARC (Pre-publication)
Julia Song is at the top of her game as CEO of a high-end skincare brand, but to her Korean American family, there’s one glaring flaw: she’s thirty, single, and “undateable.” When her beloved halmeoni says her dying wish is to see Julia married, Julia reluctantly agrees to let the family’s network of well-meaning ajummas and halmeonis set her up on three dates.
Enter Tae Kim, her across-the-street neighbor, the kid she grew up with, and the guy who always shows up when someone in the community needs help. He’s between jobs and wrestling with his own sense of failure, but when Julia asks him to be her dating coach, he can’t say no. The dates? Total disasters. The chemistry between Julia and Tae? I blushed.
This was exactly the light, funny escape I needed after a run of heavier reads. The dialogue is sharp, the meddling relatives are hilarious without feeling cartoonish, and once the romance turns up the spice, it delivers. There’s even a BTS scene that had me grinning from ear to ear (lowkey ARMY here) and I loved that Susan Lee didn’t shy away from naming one of her leads Taehyung Kim. Wasn’t lost on me.
Julia is unapologetically herself, confident, capable, and unwilling to pretend otherwise. Tae is the quietly good guy who doesn’t realize just how much he brings to the table. Watching them circle each other through the fake-coach setup, the awful ajumma-approved dates, and their own insecurities was pure fun.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. For rom-com readers who like their stories smart, spicy, and full of personality, this one’s a serotonin boost for sure. Also perfect as a “palette cleanser” when you want something joyful but still grounded in real emotions.
Thank you to Canary Street Press / HarperCollins for the ARC.
Available for Preorder:
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Set the Mood for Julia Song Is Undateable
K-Drama-Inspired Mug — because Tae would totally approve of coffee breaks
BT21 Facemasks — ARMY Skincare
Satin Pajamas — CEO-level comfort for binge-reading
Aesthetic Book Annotation Set — for keeping track of everything
grass + Jasmine — to match the warm but bright energy of the story
If You Liked This, You Might Like:
Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee - another fun, spicy romance featuring Korean American leads, sizzling chemistry, and meddling family moments.
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