When We Fell Apart A Novel
When We Fell Apart A Novel by Soon Wiley is published by Penguin on April 26, 2022, and spans 368 pages in English. This novel presents a deeply moving and suspenseful narrative that explores the intricate connections within families, particularly through the lens of a young Korean American man, Min. Following the shocking news of his girlfriend Yu-jin’s alleged suicide, Min embarks on a quest for answers that leads him to confront his own bi-cultural identity and the complexities of his relationship with Yu-jin.
Readers will find a compelling exploration of selfhood, family expectations, and the search for belonging as Min delves into the hidden aspects of Yu-jin’s life. The story intertwines themes of cultural identity and the impact of secrets, revealing the layers of Yu-jin’s existence that Min was unaware of. As he navigates the aftermath of her death, the narrative raises urgent questions about understanding and connection, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in literary fiction and Asian American experiences.
Official synopsis Publisher
ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022: Harper’s Bazaar • Vogue • Good Housekeeping • CrimeReads • BookBub • Veranda • Shondaland • Debutiful • PureWow • and more!
A profoundly moving and suspenseful drama that untangles the complicated ties that bind families together—or break them apart—as a young Korean American man’s search for answers about his girlfriend’s mysterious death becomes a soul-searching journey into his own bi-cultural identity
When the Seoul police inform Min that his girlfriend Yu-jin has committed suicide, he’s sure it can’t be true. She was successful, ambitious, happy, just on the cusp of graduating from university and claiming the future she’d always dreamed of.
Min, on the other hand, born to an American father and Korean mother, has never felt quite the same certainty as Yu-jin about his life’s path. After growing up in California, where he always felt “too Korean” to fit in, he’s moved to Seoul in the hope that exploring his Korean heritage will help him find a sense of purpose. And when he meets Yu-jin, little does he know that their carefree relationship will set off a chain of events with tragic consequences for them both.
Devastated by Yu-jin’s death, Min throws himself into finding out why she could have secretly wanted to die. Or did she? With a controlling and powerful government official father, and a fraught friendship with her alluring and destructive roommate So-ra, Yu-jin’s life was much more complex than she chose to reveal to Min. And the more he learns about her, the more he begins to doubt he ever really knew her at all.
As Yu-jin’s story—a fraught exploration of selfhood, coming-of-age, and family expectations—collides with Min’s, the result is an engrossing page-turner that poses powerful, urgent questions about cultural identity, family bonds, secrets, and what it truly means to belong.
“Transportive and poignant.” —Susie Yang
“Spellbinding.” —Jamie Ford
“A young writer to watch.” —Jess Walter
“Unforgettable.” —Abi Daré
“The most compelling debut novel I’ve read in years.” —Alexander Chee
“Heart-stopping and exquisitely plotted.” —Patricia Engel
“Will stay with me for a long time.”—Angie Kim
“Gorgeous.” —Julia Phillips
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