By Jenny Lee
When given the opportunity to read and review the sequel to one of your favorite books – you JUMP at the chance.
Goodreads Description:
How the mighty have fallen. Anna K, once the golden girl of Greenwich, CT, and New York City, has been brought low by a scandalous sex tape and the tragic death of her first love, Alexia Vronsky. At the beginning of the summer, her father takes her to the other side of the world, to connect with his family in South Korea and hide her away. Is Anna in exile? Or could this be her chance to figure out who she really is?
Back in the U.S., Lolly has forgiven Steven for cheating on her, and their relationship feels stronger than ever. But when Lolly meets a boy at her beloved theater camp, she has to ask herself how well Steven will ever really know her. Meanwhile, in Manhattan, everything between Kimmie and her new boyfriend, Dustin, is easy–except when it comes to finally having sex. And Bea escapes to LA, running away from her grief at her beloved cousin’s death, until a beautiful stranger steals her heart. Is Bea ready to finally forgive Anna, and let herself truly fall in love for the very first time?
Set over the course of one unforgettable summer, Jenny Lee’s Anna K Away is full of the risk, joy, heartbreak, and adventure that mark the three months between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.
Last year I read Anna K: A Love Story and absolutely fell in love with this cast of teenage Manhattan socialites. This sequel did not disappoint.
We once again follow the lives of Anna K, her brother Steven and his girlfriend Lolly, Dustin and Kimmie, and last (but never least) Bea. As much as I thought this cast of Manhattan’s elite worked so well all being together in The Big Apple in Book 1, I loved that our author took us outside of the city and gave each character their own story and path.
This book wasn’t just about Anna K – it’s about each character getting a chance at the spotlight and I found myself falling more in love with some of them (*ehem* Bea).
Over the course of the summer, we watch Anna K grieving in the world of social media and pop culture – and learning how to love again. And Bea – oh my sweet Bea – who has such a hard shell. We see Bea learn how to love, deal with grief, and bring more balance into her life. There’s also Lolly, Stephen, Dustin, and Kimmie – all learning how to navigate young romance, first true loves, and simply growing up.
While I didn’t absolutely love the ending of this ARC Galley, I appreciated Author Jenny Lee giving me a fair warning that the ending is different in the finished book.
If you loved Anna K: A Love Story, I cannot recommend this sequel enough.
A million thanks to Jenny Lee and Flatiron Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy.
This book is set to land April 27, 2021.
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