Susan Lee’s “The Romance Rivalry” is a clever, self-aware exploration of what happens when someone who knows everything about fictional romance finally experiences the real thing. As a lifelong romance reader who’s constantly defending the genre against those who dismiss it as “smut” or “chick porn,” I found myself nodding along with protagonist Irene Park’s frustrations and cheering for her journey from romance expert to romance participant.
The novel introduces us to Irene, a Korean American college freshman with over a million followers for her romance book reviews online. Despite her expertise in fictional love stories, Irene has never experienced romance firsthand. When comments questioning her credibility start affecting her chance at a major brand deal with Korean dating app SKCupid, Irene hatches a plan: use romance novel tropes to find a boyfriend and prove she understands love.
What she doesn’t expect is running into her online nemesis, fellow Korean American romance reviewer Aiden Jeon, at her college. Their rivalry transforms into a competition when Aiden challenges Irene to see who can fall in love first using romance tropes. The result is a meta, trope-filled adventure that both celebrates and gently pokes fun at the romance genre.
Strengths: A Love Letter to Romance Readers
Lee’s greatest achievement is creating a story that functions on multiple levels. For romance enthusiasts, “The Romance Rivalry” feels like being seen and understood:
- Genre appreciation: The book expertly weaves in discussions about romance tropes, complete with chapter titles named after different tropes and epigraphs featuring Irene and Aiden’s contrasting review styles.
- Authentic community representation: The book accurately captures the online book community dynamics, from follower counts to brand deals to the sometimes toxic comment sections.
- Self-awareness without mockery: While Lee playfully acknowledges romance clichés, she never makes fun of the genre or its readers.
The structure is particularly clever, with each chapter labeled after a different romance trope that Irene and Aiden attempt to experience in their quest. This framework creates a satisfying rhythm as we watch the characters try (and often hilariously fail) to force real life into fictional patterns.
Character Development: From Reviewer to Protagonist
Irene’s journey from observer to participant forms the emotional core of the story. Her character arc includes several compelling elements:
- Impostor syndrome: As a middle child between a model sister and golf prodigy brother, Irene struggles with feeling unremarkable and unworthy of attention.
- People-pleasing tendencies: She attends her father’s alma mater and studies to become an editor to please her parents, even though neither path truly excites her.
- Fear of vulnerability: Despite her deep understanding of fictional romance, Irene initially flinches from real intimacy.
Irene’s growth throughout the novel feels earned as she learns to take ownership of her choices, speak her truth, and recognize her own value. Her relationship with her family—especially the heart-to-heart with her mother during Thanksgiving break—provides some of the book’s most touching moments.
Aiden serves as an excellent foil and eventual love interest. His confidence masks vulnerabilities of his own, particularly his estrangement from his doctor parents who disapprove of his writing aspirations. His character adds depth to the narrative and creates tension beyond the romantic plot.
Cultural Representation: Authentic and Nuanced
As a Korean American author, Lee infuses the story with cultural specificity that never feels like tokenism:
- Irene’s people-pleasing tendencies connect to cultural expectations
- The fight over restaurant checks is presented as typically Korean
- References to K-dramas and K-pop feel organic rather than forced
These elements add texture without making the characters’ Korean identity their defining trait. The novel balances cultural specificity with universal themes of finding independence and authentic connection.
Where the Story Occasionally Stumbles
While “The Romance Rivalry” is largely successful, a few elements didn’t quite hit the mark:
- Pacing issues: The first half moves more slowly than the second, with the trope competition taking time to gain momentum.
- Secondary character development: While Jeannette (Irene’s roommate) and Charles (Aiden’s friend) are likable, their relationship feels underdeveloped compared to the main romance.
- Stakes inconsistency: The SKCupid brand deal that initially motivates Irene fades in importance as the story progresses, making her original motivation feel less urgent.
- Limited academic focus: For a book set in college, relatively little attention is paid to classes outside of Irene’s literature course.
These minor issues don’t significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story, but they do prevent it from achieving the seamless perfection of the best romance novels.
Reading Experience: Comfort with a Side of Insight
Reading “The Romance Rivalry” feels like curling up with a warm blanket while discussing books with your best friend. Lee strikes a balance between comfort and insight, delivering clever observations about the romance genre alongside heartwarming scenes.
The dual perspectives in the epilogue and final chapter add meaningful context, particularly the revelation that Aiden had been watching Irene’s videos long before they met in person. This “time travel” element (appropriately labeled as its own trope) provides satisfying closure to their story.
Who Will Love This Book
“The Romance Rivalry” will especially appeal to:
- Romance readers: Those who know their tropes will appreciate the meta-commentary
- Book community participants: Anyone who posts book reviews online will relate to the social media elements
- College-aged readers: The freshman year setting captures the disorientation and freedom of early college life
- Those seeking Asian American representation: The Korean American protagonists add welcome diversity to the romance genre
Fans of Emily Henry’s “Book Lovers,” Christina Lauren’s college-set romances, or Helen Hoang’s “The Kiss Quotient” will find much to enjoy in Lee’s novel.
Comparison to Lee’s Previous Work
“The Romance Rivalry” builds on themes present in Lee’s YA novels “Seoulmates” and “The Name Drop,” particularly her interest in Korean American identity and characters who find themselves through unexpected relationships. However, this novel feels more mature in its approach, tackling complex family dynamics and the search for authentic identity with increased nuance.
Final Verdict: A Worthy Addition to Your Romance TBR
With its insightful commentary on the romance genre, authentic character development, and satisfying love story, “The Romance Rivalry” is a good read. Susan Lee has crafted a novel that both celebrates romance tropes and acknowledges their limitations, resulting in a story that feels both familiar and fresh.
For romance readers tired of defending their reading choices, this novel offers validation. For those new to the genre, it provides an accessible introduction to romance conventions. And for everyone, it delivers a heartwarming reminder that life rarely follows a perfect narrative—but sometimes, that makes the story even better.
The novel’s most insightful moment comes when Irene realizes she’s been so focused on finding a storybook romance that she’s missed the unique love story unfolding in her own life. It’s a lesson worth remembering whether you’re a romance expert like Irene or simply someone hoping for your own happily ever after.
Key Takeaways
- A meta-romance that lovingly explores and subverts genre tropes
- Strong character development for both protagonists
- Authentic representation of Korean American experiences
- Insightful commentary on online book communities
- Perfect for readers who want romance with a side of self-awareness
Whether you’re team Irene or team Aiden in their romance rivalry, Susan Lee ensures that readers end up the true winners with this charming, thoughtful novel about finding love both on and off the page.
