David Yoon’s debut novel Frankly in Love is hitting shelves in LESS THAN TWO MONTHS! September 10th, 2019 is bringing us the contemporary of the year and we need to talk about it. Also, mark those TBRs asap.
This is the book that left a bunch of us penguins in happy tears and itching to re-read it. We. Are. OBSESSED.
And we are here to tell you the top 9 things you need to know about Frankly in Love.
1. The ENTIRE first printing has SPRAYED EDGES!!!
And they’re THE PRETTIEST BLUE. So, if you haven’t pre-ordered, what are you waiting for?!
2. The inside is just as amazing as the outside
For those of you who are new here, it goes a little something like this:
High school senior Frank Li is a Limbo–his term for Korean-American kids who find themselves caught between their parents’ traditional expectations and their own Southern California upbringing. His parents have one rule when it comes to romance–“Date Korean”–which proves complicated when Frank falls for Brit Means, who is smart, beautiful–and white. Fellow Limbo Joy Song is in a similar predicament, and so they make a pact: they’ll pretend to date each other in order to gain their freedom. Frank thinks it’s the perfect plan, but in the end, Frank and Joy’s fake-dating maneuver leaves him wondering if he ever really understood love–or himself–at all.
Basically, prepare yourself for the stunning, diverse cast of characters you are going to fall head-over-heels IN LOVE with in a story about fake dating and real issues.
3. The hype is REAL and if you don’t believe us, hop on over to Goodreads
Because the excitement goes on,
and on,
and on.
(Laurie Halse Anderson also agrees)
4. There’s a B&N Exclusive edition!
This edition will include an exclusive interview with David and Nicola Yoon! That brings us to our next point…
5. David and Nicola Yoon are the writing power couple of your dreams
Two astonishingly good writers?? Not even sure how it’s legal for this much talent to be in one couple???
6. The book trailer is coming TONIGHT!
It may be our fav book trailer ever. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED.
7. Penguin Teen went to the trailer shoot!
And Joy from Penguin Teen made sure to share it with you! Here’s the rundown:
It started out normal, as most days do when you’ve sneaked your way onto a film set.
There was a lot of fancy film equipment and other things Joy was reminded not to break while creeping around the filmset.
Speaking of the filmset, we’re not allowed to show that part yet…but the cast was AWESOME!
And it turns out the cast loves the book too!
Of course, then we all met the cast, including Frank and, um…Joy is a fan.
(And had to be reminded she cannot “call dibs” on neither an actor nor a fictional character.)
Basically, it was an awesome day to create an even more awesome TRAILER!
8. Did you hear about the awesome pre-order offer?!
Make sure to get in on the special early pre-order offer! Until 8/9, if you upload your pre-order receipt, you’ll receive the Frankly in Love with Books enamel pin AND be automatically entered for the chance to win an exclusive Frankly in Love tote! For entry and rules, click here!
9. Here’s a sneak peek excerpt from Frankly in Love!
The minivan is the same as Q’s mom’s, so I know it has sliding doors on both sides. I guide Brit to the minivan’s shadow, quell her sputtering giggles by squashing her cheeks with both hands, and then try the handle with practiced familiarity.
Click, whoosh.
Inside the van are toddler seats and stuffed animals and spilled puffed crackers and so on. I guide her in and can feel every sinew of the small of her back with my open hand. And together, we slowly slide the door shut behind us. The silence is absolute and ringing. I can hear her every breath. I can hear the brush of her fingertips on my shorts.
“It smells kinda good in here,” she says.
And it does, because here we are, crushing toasted Os beneath our knees. Releasing their stale aroma. The space we are in is small and new and secret, and no one else in the world knows about it because no one else in the world is here but us two.
Brit is waiting. Brit is nervous. As nervous as me.
I find our mutual nervousness strangely comforting. It makes something in my heart loosen its grip and let go.
I pull her in and our mouths fit perfectly.
This is really happening to me. I am kissing Brit Means. And, I realize, this is really happening to Brit Means, too. Has she been planning this? How long has she liked me? To think, we’ve been friends all through high school, and this—this kiss—has been waiting in plain sight the whole time.
“Hi,” I say, breathing.
“Hi,” she says.
Her gray eyes are dilated wide to see in the night. We kiss deeper this time, and I don’t care that she can now taste the garlic pita in my mouth because I can now taste it in hers, too. The silence focuses in. Every shift in our bodies crushing another piece of toasted cereal. The fierce breathing through nostrils flared wide. It takes me forever to realize the dome light has come on.
The light is on inside the van.
Someone has clicked a key fob remote. Someone close by, getting closer by the second.
We spring apart and duck.
“Oh shit,” says Brit. Her eyes have tightened.
I’m still gasping for air. “Okay. Uh. I think we should probably go.”
In the far distance, voices.
“I think you’re probably right,” she says, and snorts.
Brit Means snorts!
I pull the door handle and slowly slide it open. We slink out into the street. As quietly as I can, I slide the door shut, but it needs one good shove to latch closed. Usually I can get Q’s mom’s van to shut with barely a sound. But I guess it must be my heart dropping beats or the fact that my arms feel like they’re in zero-g, because the best I can manage is a crisp, clearly audible chunk.
“Ei,” says a voice. “Inch dzhokhk yek anum?”
“Go go go,” I hiss.
“Sorry, can’t understand you,” yells Brit.
We sprint into the darkness, leaving a trail of giggles behind us.
Just bad enough.
But so good.
Haven’t gotten Frankly in Love yet? Click here to pre-order!
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