Stunning … The novel is interested in something most others aren’t: the aftermath. It focuses both on what comes after war—as a new country struggles to develop its identity—and what follows Haemi’s fateful decision, as the ramifications of her choice ripple out to affect everyone around her.” — Washington Post
“It is a privilege to read Crystal Hana Kim’s fiction, which both edifies and enlightens. Her novel, If You Leave Me, is a beautiful and moving chronicle of individuals caught in the trials of history.” — Min Jin Lee, New York Times bestselling author of Pachinko
“Attention Hollywood: Adapt Crystal Hana Kim’s cinematic, decades-spanning romance If You Leave Me ASAP, please and thank you.” — Cosmopolitan
“Heartrending . . . details the anguish of star-crossed love and familial duty . . . a stunning feat of lyricism, an enthralling, tragic novel brimming with angst and remorse.” — USA Today (four stars)
“Both a forbidden love story and a portrait of war and refugee life, If You Leave Me will tear at your heartstrings. A breathtaking can’t-put-down read.” — MarieClaire.com
“A grand, sweeping story that proves that an epic can yield strong, individualized characters while still developing a nuanced perspective that refuses to essentialize war, women, or national identity.” — The Millions
“As beautifully layered as it is devastating . . . the riches of If You Leave Me will leave you contemplating the passage of time and its impact on the ties that we keep.” — Elle.com
“Mark our words: If You Leave Me is the book everyone (and their mothers in book club) will be talking about this summer . . . devastating and beautiful. With arresting prose, Kim writes of a woman caught in time and in history.” — Refinery29.com
“A remarkably absorbing novel of people enduring the unendurables of war with grace, toughness, and undying love. If You Leave Me marks the debut of a born storyteller.” — Chang-rae Lee, author of Native Speaker
“A gripping, heartrending tale of the birth of modern Korea filtered through the prism of an intimate love story. In fresh, often astonishing prose, Kim brings her characters to life: complicated, flawed, and hard not to fall in love with. A strikingly original work.” — Jessica Shattuck, New York Times bestselling author of The Women in the Castle
“Combines vivid depictions of traditional Korean culture with an immersive, heartbreaking story about war, passion, and the road not taken.” — People
“Kim’s heartrending saga—told from the perspectives of five characters—examines how difficult choices can test even our closest relationships.” — Real Simple
“A family struggles to balance tradition and change in Kim’s marvelous debut. . . . [this] lyrical intergenerational saga resonates deeply and will appeal to readers who enjoyed The Orphan Master’s Son .” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Crystal Hana Kim’s debut novel, If You Leave Me , is the saga of Haemi and Kyunghwan, childhood friends turned forbidden lovers, who are separated by civil war in Korea and brought together years later, when Haemi must choose between love and loyalty.” — Popsugar, 30 of the Newest, Hottest Books to Pick Up This Summer
“Kim renders her multivoiced, multilayered ancestral and cultural history into stupendous testimony and indelible storytelling.” — Booklist (starred review)
“A love story and family saga melded into one, If You Leave Me is an unforgettable summer release about two young adults finding their way in the world.” — Parade, The Top 26 Hottest Books of Summer 2018
“Crystal Hana Kim possesses a pleasingly clear and fluid style of writing . . . deftly intertwining personal and political conflicts.” — Wall Street Journal
A gripping, heartrending tale of the birth of modern Korea filtered through the prism of an intimate love story. In fresh, often astonishing prose, Kim brings her characters to life: complicated, flawed, and hard not to fall in love with. A strikingly original work.
As beautifully layered as it is devastating . . . the riches of If You Leave Me will leave you contemplating the passage of time and its impact on the ties that we keep.
Combines vivid depictions of traditional Korean culture with an immersive, heartbreaking story about war, passion, and the road not taken.
A grand, sweeping story that proves that an epic can yield strong, individualized characters while still developing a nuanced perspective that refuses to essentialize war, women, or national identity.
Both a forbidden love story and a portrait of war and refugee life, If You Leave Me will tear at your heartstrings. A breathtaking can’t-put-down read.
Heartrending . . . details the anguish of star-crossed love and familial duty . . . a stunning feat of lyricism, an enthralling, tragic novel brimming with angst and remorse.”
A love story and family saga melded into one, If You Leave Me is an unforgettable summer release about two young adults finding their way in the world.
The Top 26 Hottest Books of Summer 2018 Parade
Kim’s heartrending saga—told from the perspectives of five characters—examines how difficult choices can test even our closest relationships.
Crystal Hana Kim’s debut novel, If You Leave Me , is the saga of Haemi and Kyunghwan, childhood friends turned forbidden lovers, who are separated by civil war in Korea and brought together years later, when Haemi must choose between love and loyalty.
30 of the Newest Popsugar
Crystal Hana Kim possesses a pleasingly clear and fluid style of writing . . . deftly intertwining personal and political conflicts.
Attention Hollywood: Adapt Crystal Hana Kim’s cinematic, decades-spanning romance If You Leave Me ASAP, please and thank you.
Both a forbidden love story and a portrait of war and refugee life, If You Leave Me will tear at your heartstrings. A breathtaking can’t-put-down read.
Kim writes so tenderly you can’t help but feel compassion for her three main characters. These complicated, muddy creatures lurch into adulthood clinging to flimsy expectations of duty and family.
Kim’s prose is most potent and visceral in its depictions of literal hunger. She allows hunger to seep into conversations about other subjects, giving it its rightful omnipresent quality.
If you love lush, historical love triangles where history plays a shadowy, villainous role, read If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim.
The Millions interview with Lillian Li
A beautiful love story revolving around families forced to flee their homes during the Korean War.
This compelling, gorgeous debut novel takes place in wartime Korea… One of the most beautiful and moving love stories you’ll read this year, set as it is against the backdrop of finding a way through a callous world, of finding a way to preserve love in a time of war.
A gracefully crafted tale of war, family, refugee life, and two ill-fated lovers during the birth of modern Korea.
If You Leave Me is a historical novel that manages to feel current and captivating, a family saga, and a portrait of a woman—a mother—who will mesmerize, shock, and surprise. Lovingly told, lyrical, and smart.
A love story and family saga melded into one, If You Leave Me is an unforgettable summer release about two young adults finding their way in the world.
Top 25 Hottest Books of Summer Parade
If You Leave Me is exhilarating... Crystal Hana Kim has written a novel that teaches us and guides us, one that captures majestically, perfectly, not only our histories but our present and our future.
If You Leave Me is a thrilling debut, a lyrical and lovely novel that beautifully showcases Crystal Hana Kim’s emotional intelligence and empathy for her characters.
An engrossing story of love, family, and war on the Korean peninsula. Timely and timeless—a beautiful debut.
“If You Leave Me is graced with truly wonderful writing; great poise, lyricism, intelligence, and an utterly engrossing portrayal of life.
If You Leave Me marks the debut of a striking new voice. An unforgettable story of family, love, and war set against the violent emergence of modern Korea, Crystal Hana Kim has a gift for the lasting image. Moment by moment, her characters come alive.
War, family and doomed love are all center stage in this debut novel about the Korean civil war, the years that follow and the choices people are forced to make. Haunting.
War, family and doomed love are all center stage in this debut novel about the Korean civil war, the years that follow and the choices people are forced to make. Haunting.
The 20 Best Reads for Your Summer Break NYPost.com
If you love lush, historical love triangles where history plays a shadowy, villainous role, read If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim.
★ 05/21/2018
A remarkably absorbing novel of people enduring the unendurables of war with grace, toughness, and undying love. If You Leave Me marks the debut of a born storyteller.
Mark our words: If You Leave Me is the book everyone (and their mothers in book club) will be talking about this summer . . . devastating and beautiful. With arresting prose, Kim writes of a woman caught in time and in history.
Stunning … The novel is interested in something most others aren’t: the aftermath. It focuses both on what comes after war—as a new country struggles to develop its identity—and what follows Haemi’s fateful decision, as the ramifications of her choice ripple out to affect everyone around her.
Attention Hollywood: Adapt Crystal Hana Kim’s cinematic, decades-spanning romance If You Leave Me ASAP, please and thank you.
Crystal Hana Kim possesses a pleasingly clear and fluid style of writing . . . deftly intertwining personal and political conflicts.
Kim renders her multivoiced, multilayered ancestral and cultural history into stupendous testimony and indelible storytelling.
Booklist (starred review)
Stunning … The novel is interested in something most others aren’t: the aftermath. It focuses both on what comes after war—as a new country struggles to develop its identity—and what follows Haemi’s fateful decision, as the ramifications of her choice ripple out to affect everyone around her.
A truly beautiful, thoughtful book that will sit with me for some time.
Listeners consider the central question at the heart of this historical novel about the Korean civil war: Does marrying to protect your family mean you are virtuous or mercenary? Narrators Greta Jung and Keong Sim tell the story of the difficult choices facing Haemi and Jisoo as they grow up in turbulent times. The story alternates between their perspectives on the aftermath of the war for both soldiers and civilians. The one thing Jisoo once wanted the most in the entire world, to be part of a glittering high society with the beautiful Haemi at his side, is lost to him because of his war injuries. Meanwhile, Haemi grapples with lifelong regret over her decision to choose filial duty over her love of Kyunghwan. Listeners will be drawn into this family drama. M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
SEPTEMBER 2018 - AudioFile
Listeners consider the central question at the heart of this historical novel about the Korean civil war: Does marrying to protect your family mean you are virtuous or mercenary? Narrators Greta Jung and Keong Sim tell the story of the difficult choices facing Haemi and Jisoo as they grow up in turbulent times. The story alternates between their perspectives on the aftermath of the war for both soldiers and civilians. The one thing Jisoo once wanted the most in the entire world, to be part of a glittering high society with the beautiful Haemi at his side, is lost to him because of his war injuries. Meanwhile, Haemi grapples with lifelong regret over her decision to choose filial duty over her love of Kyunghwan. Listeners will be drawn into this family drama. M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
SEPTEMBER 2018 - AudioFile
2018-05-15
