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This outrageously charming and infuriatingly adorable enemies-to-lovers coffee shop romance is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Better Than the Movies. Meet River Langston-Lee. In the past 24 hours, he’s dumped his girlfriend, walked out of his SATs, and quit his job at his parents’ cafe in spectacularly disastrous fashion—even for him. Somehow, he manages to talk his way into a gig at a failing Korean cafe, Bingsu for Two, which is his lucky break until he meets short, grumpy, and goth: Sarang Cho. She’s his new no-BS co-worker who’s as determined to make River’s life hell as she is to save her family’s cafe. After River accidentally uploads a video of his chaotic co-workers to his popular fandom account, they strike viral fame. The kicker? Their new fans ship River and Sarang big-time. In order to keep the Internet’s attention—and the cafe’s new paying customers—River and Sarang must pretend that the tension between them is definitely of the romantic variety, not the considering the best way to kill you and hide your body variety. But when Bingsu for Two’s newfound success catches the attention of River’s ex and his parents’ cafe around the corner, he faces a choice: keep letting others control his life or stand up for the place that’s become home. And a green-haired girl who’s not as heartless as he originally thought . . .
Publication Year: 2025
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02025 reads: 4/300
2025 tbr: 3/111
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
after dumping his girlfriend, walking out of his SAT, and making a scene at—then quitting—his job at his parents’ café, river is a bit…lost. in need of a job, he applies at the café his best friend works at, a failing korean café called bingsu for two. when he realizes his new coworker is sarang, the girl who embarrassed him at his parents’ café, he’s unsure if he’ll be able to continue working there without losing his mind. when river accidentally uploads a video of his coworkers that becomes viral overnight, business at bingsu for two skyrockets. river makes it his mission to continue makign videos to promote bingsu for two. the problem? everyone seems to think he and sarang are dating.
i saw this on instagram a LOT, so i finally requested it from netgalley, and luckily got an advanced copy! i was expecting to like it, but i honestly didn’t expect to LOVE it as much as i did! this book had just about everything, from dislike to lovers, to fake dating, to found family, to heavier topics, and so on. i frequently found myself laughing at the humor in this book, and this is rare for me, as not many authors share my sense of humor. however, there were also more serious moments, such as a side character having to provide for herself and her younger sister, sarang and her older sister coping with the loss of their mother and their father’s sickness, etc. all of these aspects were well-handled and balanced.
overall, this was a wonderful YA rom-com. i can’t wait to read whatever’s next from sujin witherspoon!
0This story had its charming moments. I enjoyed the witty humor, cozy cafe atmosphere, the sense of found family, and fun fandom references. However, I struggled to connect with the characters, especially River. His personal struggles felt shallow, lacking the emotional depth and backstory needed to truly engage me. The subplot involving an employee quitting to join a competitor and lying about wage fraud for her sister's sake felt unnecessarily messy and hard to sympathize with. Moreover, the chemistry between River and Sarang was underwhelming, leaving their relationship feeling flat and unconvincing. While the premise had potential, more emotional depth could have made this a standout. It had enjoyable moments, but ultimately, it left me wanting more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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