By Guest Blogger Sonny Cumming
“White people can describe themselves with just American. Only when pressed do they go into their ethnic heritage. Doesn’t seem fair that I have to forever explain my origin story with that silent hyphen, whereas white people don’t. It’s complicated. But simple. Simplicated.”
― David Yoon, Frankly in Love
Frankly in Love by David Yoon is a lighthearted contemporary story of Frank Li, a Korean teen living in California navigating high school relationships, future plans, and family conflicts. His (generally) smooth life as a self-proclaimed nerd is disrupted when Frank becomes infatuated with a white girl, whom his parents are disproving. To solve his dilemma, Frank acquires the assistance of Joy Song, a friend of the family and a fellow Korean who coincidentally has a problem similar to Frank’s. As they embark on their fake-dating scheme, they confront struggling romantic relationships, family conflicts, and the looming prospect of college.
Overall, I really enjoyed Frankly in Love. As a senior in high school, I found many of the obstacles that Frank faced relatable and amusing, but I can understand how older readers could be uninterested in the plot. Furthermore, Yoon touches on insightful themes such as racism, familial struggles, and finding your identity both as an adolescent and an Asian American. Specifically, exploring the perception of identiy from the perspective of a young Asian raised in America was exeptionally enlightening. In this sense, Frank’s story surprised me with it’s juxtaposition of emotional depth and light-hearted comedy, something I really enjoyed. Additionally, I thought that both Frank’s relationships and problems were painted pretty realistically, yet in a manner that was both entertaining and emotionally touching.
I would recommend Frankly in Love to anyone looking for a feel-good coming of age story. It’s a comedic quick read, certainly not the stuff of classics, but surprisingly profound in its themes. I think it would resonate well with high school students especially, as Frank is a lovable, nerdy, and relatable protagonist.
-Sonny Cumming
