Books › Frankly in love
Frankly in love
616 pages
A sun-drenched California coming-of-age story where a fake-dating scheme opens the door to real questions about identity, family, and first love.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into the bright, sun-drenched halls of a Southern California high school, where the thrill of first love collides with the heavy weight of family expectations. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, propelled by the classic, irresistible tension of a fake-dating scheme. Yet beneath the playful romantic maneuvering lies a deeply earnest and conflicted exploration of cultural identity and prejudice. The prose is accessible and warm, perfectly capturing the authentic voice of a teenager caught between his parents' traditional rules and his own American upbringing. It is a tender, relatable journey that shifts from lighthearted rebellion to profound self-discovery, delighting readers who crave YA contemporaries that balance romance with thoughtful family dynamics.
- Mood
- sun-drenched
- hopeful
- tender
- angsty
- Tone
- earnest
- relatable
- conflicted
- warm
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- cultural identity · family expectations · first love · fake dating · navigating prejudice · coming of age
- The writing
- Accessible and engaging, capturing the authentic, conflicted voice of a teenager navigating two distinct cultural worlds.
- The arc
- Moves from the thrill of a clever romantic ruse to a deeper, more complicated understanding of identity, family, and true affection.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love heartfelt YA contemporaries that balance classic romance tropes with thoughtful explorations of family dynamics and cultural identity.
Content notes
- prejudice
- family conflict
About the book
"High school senior Frank Li takes a risk to go after a girl his parents would never approve of, but his plans will leave him wondering if he ever really understood love--or himself--at all"--
High school senior Frank Li is caught between his parents' traditional expectations and his own Southern California upbringing. His parents have one rule when it comes to romance: 'Date Korean. But Frank falls for Brit Means, who is smart, beautiful-- and white. Joy Song is in a similar predicament, and they make a pact: they'll pretend to date each other in order to gain their freedom. It seems like the perfect plan, until their fake-dating maneuver leaves Frank wondering if he ever really understood love- or himself- at all. -- adapted from jacket
Description from Open Library.
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