The Oks Are Not Ok - by Grace K Shim (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Elena Ok (pronounced Oak) has mastered the art of being both a Los Angeles party girl and financially savvy influencer, but her family doesn't see the brilliance behind her carefully curated image. Instead, they endlessly praise her older brother Gavin, whose most impressive achievement is consistently forgetting his homework. All of Elena's hard work and social clout disintegrates when the Oks, founders of the wildly popular (and now bankrupt) fast fashion brand It's Ok! (pronounced "OKAY"), lose their fortune overnight.

With their empire crumbling and an investigation underway, the Oks flee to Blaire, CA--a farming town that's as glamourous as Temu. Mr. Ok, a now disgraced retail mogul, and Mrs. Ok, a now also disgraced fashion-forward matriarch, realize they've spent decades perfecting their public personas at the expense of actually knowing their kids. Meanwhile, Elena and Gavin are stuck in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to distract them from their family's unraveling dynamics--or each other's annoying habits.

But life in Blaire isn't all bad. As the family reconnects with their Korean farming heritage, Elena discovers a hidden gem: the Blaire Fair, the local market brimming with untapped potential. Applying her business savvy, she helps the small-town vendors thrive and sees how they put their profits back into the community. For the first time, Elena begins to question her own definition of success.

The Oks are Not OK offers humor and drama to tell a story about family, self-discovery, and the fine line between building a brand and building a life.

Review Quotes

"Schitt's Creek meets Crazy Rich Asians in Shim's hilarious and heartfelt novel about hitting rock bottom and coming back stronger. This is a must-read for any fan of family-based fiction." --Booklist

"I adore teen fish-out-of-water stories and this is my favorite! The way the Oks stumble through "normal" life is entertaining and you can't help but root for them. Schitt's Creek fans will absolutely fall in love with this story." -- Suzanne Park. Author of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous

About the Author