The Romance Rivalry - by Susan Lee (Paperback)

About the Book

"Irene Park loves romance novels--so much so she's made a career of them as an online book reviewer with a massive following. But Irene's real life dating story? Non-existent. So when she starts her freshman year of college, she sets her sights on finding true love using the one thing she really understands ... romance book tropes."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

USA TODAY BEST SELLER!

She's read every romance...except her own.

"Clever and delightful; a standout in the genre." - ⭐KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW

"A must-have flirtation-via-tropes tale with all the swooning and joy readers want in a love story." - ⭐SCHOOL & LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW

"Susan Lee has written an ode to all romance readers. It's the kind of book I've been wanting to read for decades: a love letter to love stories and an instant favorite!"-Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

Irene Park loves romance novels--so much so she's made a career of them as an online book reviewer with a massive following. But Irene's real life dating story? Non-existent.

So when she starts her freshman year of college, she sets her sights on finding true love using the one thing she really understands...romance book tropes.
If only it were that easy.

Enter Aiden Jeon, Irene's online book review rival and biggest nemesis. When Aiden challenges her to see who can find love-by-trope first, he becomes the one person standing in her way to getting everything she wants both professionally and personally, too.

So when the competition takes an unexpected turn, forcing the two of them to have to partner in the ultimate trope, fake dating, Irene is not prepared for everything she believed about romance, and Aiden, to flip on its head.

As Irene tackles the challenges of college life, struggles to figure out what she really wants for herself, all while trying to win the race for love, Irene realizes the answers may not be found in a romance novel. Happily Ever Afters seem so easy on page.

But for Irene to find her ultimate HEA, she'll have to get her nose out of the book and become the main character of her own story.

Perfect for fans of:
📚 Enemies to Lovers
💘 Fake Dating
🏫 College Rom-Coms
💬 Banter for Days
🎥 A+ Pop Culture References
✨ Books about loving books

Review Quotes

Praise for Seoulmates & The Name Drop

"I adore a good opposites attract story, even more when said opposites are in cahoots! Susan Lee crash landed on all my 'must read, ' 'forever favorite, ' 'autobuy' author lists with her debut, Seoulmates, and somehow still managed to write an even more spectacular sophomore effort! No one writes characters on the verge of becoming their real and best selves like she does, no has me gasping and laughing at the comedy in her stories, and no one makes me swoon quite this much. Quite simply, Susan Lee always writes the exact book I want to read!" --Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

"A romantic K-drama in book form--swoony, hilarious, and big-hearted. Drop everything and read this book!" --Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and XOXO

"The Name Drop is the perfect reminder of why contemporary YA has my heart. I loved the depth, drama and sweetness, and couldn't get enough of the gorgeous New York City backdrop." --Jenna Evans Welch, New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato

"It's official, I'll read anything Susan Lee writes, knowing from the first page that it will be a five-star read. The Name Drop is everything I love about YA: fast-paced, voicey, swoony, with beautiful threads of not only romance but also social commentary of bigger issues facing young people today. Lee delivers a completely unique story about two teenagers finding who they are, together and apart, and I couldn't help but root for them every step of the way." --Mazey Eddings, author of Tilly in Technicolor

"An amusing and romantic exploration, grounded by serious themes, of living life for yourself." --Kirkus Reviews

"Brimming with classic K-drama tropes, this humorous and romantic story sparkles brightest when focused on the protagonist's rapid-fire banter and gripping emotional connection." --Publishers Weekly

"The perfect childhood friends-to-lovers story--full stop." --Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners and The Soulmate Equation

"Adorable, heartfelt, and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!" --Gloria Chao, author of American Panda and Rent a Boyfriend

"Daebak! This debut has plenty to offer avid romcom readers." --Suzanne Park, author of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous and The Perfect Escape

"Seoulmates will make you swoon. A smart, funny book not to be missed!" --Emiko Jean, New York Times bestselling author of Tokyo Ever After

"A deliciously swoony romance." --Helen Hoang, New York Times bestselling author of The Heart Principle

"Laugh-out-loud funny with a solid gold heart!" --Elise Bryant, author of Happily Ever Afters and One True Loves

"A pitch-perfect romance with relatable, occasionally messy characters, heartfelt swoons, and so many laugh-out-loud moments." --Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow

"Meaningfully examines issues around Korean American identity, code-switching, objectification of Asian culture and people, family dynamics, and finding inner strength. An honest, fresh, and thoughtful summer romance." --Kirkus Reviews

"Recalling the effusive expression, fast pace, and dramatic moments of a K-drama, Lee celebrates Korean culture, and examines its objectification within the U.S., via a good- humored and tenderly written second chance at love." --Publishers Weekly

An inside view of the world of the machines that are K-pop and K-dramas will attract a wide range of readers. Most teens will see some of their own realities depicted in the main character's story and that's the best part of the book." --SLJ

"A quick and lovely read that touches on themes of identity and internal growth, this novel is perfect for the romantics at heart." --Booklist

"Susan Lee has written an ode to all romance readers! I cannot wait for people to experience it and recommend it to each other...This book is a masterclass in what romance should be! A delightful, introspective, exquisitely meta novel...Basically, it's the kind of book I've been wanting to read for decades: a love letter to love stories and an instant favorite, full of squeal-worthy one-liners, swoony moments, and that beautiful feeling of finding oneself!" - Ali Hazelwood, New York Times Best Selling Author of The Love Hypothesis

"The Romance Rivalry is a true-blue tribute to romance and its fans, chock-full of genre Easter eggs and one of the cleverest meta uses of tropes I've encountered. Susan Lee always writes romance heroines who are infinitely relatable and endlessly endearing and Irene is no exception. Her journey to opening her heart and saving herself had me cheering and clutching my Kindle. Aiden is the perfect hero for her: dashing, protective, kind, and able to pull off winking. I swooned seeing a hero unapologetically championing the romance genre! I'll be shouting about this book from the rooftops for the foreseeable future."--Rosie Danan, bestselling author of The Roommate and Do Your Worst

"I adore Susan Lee and her breezy, fun, vulnerable, and deeply heartfelt books. The Romance Rivalry is Susan at the absolute top of her trope-mastery game, delivering a love letter to the romance genre and all those big, messy feelings of falling in love for the first time. Aiden and Irene are so cute together it almost makes me SICK, but luckily Susan has the cure and it's this beautiful story of two people who think they're opposites attract but have more in common than they know."--Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of The Art of Catching Feelings

"In Susan Lee's latest YA rom-com, two rival book reviewers race to fall in love, using romance tropes as their guide. The story is just as engaging and funny as the premise suggests, and you'll quickly find yourself rooting for both Irene and Aiden in this absolutely charming tale. The Romance Rivalry is a love letter to romance readers and an homage to everything we adore about the genre. What else can I say? I loved it!"--Alexis Daria, bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola

"The Romance Rivalry is laugh-out-loud funny and delightfully charming. Filled with delicious easter eggs to make the romance reader's heart burst, it feels like a cleverly crafted love letter to the genre. A perfect feel-good rom-com!"--Julie Soto, USA Today bestselling author of Not Another Love Song

"Susan Lee does not miss when it comes to writing charming and hilarious YA romances! Fresh, flirty, and fun, The Romance Rivalry perfectly captures the unique joy of reading romance novels while exploring all the deep, complicated, and heart-swishing emotions of being the main character of your own true love story!"--Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Paradise Problem

"An exuberant celebration of the romance genre. Susan Lee's writing bursts with joy and humor--you'll be grinning and kicking your feet as Irene and Aiden stumble their way through the tropes, eventually proving why rivals to lovers is the best of the best. This is the kind of book I wish I could give to my teenage self, and one that I'm so glad I can treasure as an adult. Whether you're a romance reader or a YA reader, The Romance Rivalry is simply unmissable."--Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of Today Tonight Tomorrow

"Clever and delightful; a standout in the genre." - KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW

"Debut author Egbe presents a wonderfully written story about following one's dreams and finding a way despite the hurdles."--School Library Journal