Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo

Synopsis

“10 00 p.m.: Lucky is the biggest K-pop star on the scene, and she’s just performed her hit song “Heartbeat” in Hong Kong to thousands of adoring fans. She’s about to debut on The Tonight Show in America, hopefully a breakout performance for her career. But right now? She’s in her fancy hotel, trying to fall asleep but dying for a hamburger.

11 00 p.m.: Jack is sneaking into a fancy hotel, on assignment for his tabloid job that he keeps secret from his parents. On his way out of the hotel, he runs into a girl wearing slippers, a girl who is single-mindedly determined to find a hamburger. She looks kind of familiar. She’s very cute. He’s maybe curious.

12:00 a.m.: Nothing will ever be the same.”

-Synopsis from Goodreads

Review

*spoilers ahead*

The best way to sum up this book is that it is as cute as the cover! It’s a light, fun and funny read, and that was exactly what I needed this week.

What I Liked

Somewhere Only We Know is so charming and cute. I loved that the plot (celebrity on the run meets someone who doesn’t recognize them, allowing them to be themselves for one day…except that other person does recognize them and they just don’t know it yet) was familiar and yet had its own unique spin.

Jack and Lucky meet by happenstance and spend an unforgettable day together seeing the sights of Hong Kong. They have some seriously deep conversations in between doing touristy things and eating lots (and lots) of food. They complement each other so well because while they can open up and be themselves, they also challenge each other to think more deeply about their lives and the choices they’ve made. Their story is told through alternating viewpoints, which I always love, and there are plenty of suspenseful moments.

What I Didn’t Like

This was the first book by Maurene Goo that I have read and her writing style is very unique. I liked it because it added a lot of character to the story and to the characters themselves, but I will admit it was a little hard for me to follow at first. There are a lot of fragmented-on-purpose sentences, but it’s all part of the charm. It wasn’t a dealbreaker by any means, but it was something I kept noticing.

Would I Recommend?

Yes! If you’re looking for something cute, light and fun, this is the book for you. I will definitely be adding Maurene Goo’s other books to my TBR.