REVIEW: Anna K, by Jenny Lee

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee
Published by Flatiron Books on March 3, 2020
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 480
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Amazon||The Book Depository
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Meet Anna K. At seventeen, she is at the top of Manhattan and Greenwich society (even if she prefers the company of her horses and Newfoundland dogs); she has the perfect (if perfectly boring) boyfriend, Alexander W.; and she has always made her Korean-American father proud (even if he can be a little controlling). Meanwhile, Anna's brother, Steven, and his girlfriend, Lolly, are trying to weather an sexting scandal; Lolly’s little sister, Kimmie, is struggling to recalibrate to normal life after an injury derails her ice dancing career; and Steven’s best friend, Dustin, is madly (and one-sidedly) in love with Kimmie.

As her friends struggle with the pitfalls of ordinary teenage life, Anna always seems to be able to sail gracefully above it all. That is…until the night she meets Alexia “Count” Vronsky at Grand Central. A notorious playboy who has bounced around boarding schools and who lives for his own pleasure, Alexia is everything Anna is not. But he has never been in love until he meets Anna, and maybe she hasn’t, either. As Alexia and Anna are pulled irresistibly together, she has to decide how much of her life she is willing to let go for the chance to be with him. And when a shocking revelation threatens to shatter their relationship, she is forced to question if she has ever known herself at all.

Anna K is so good, it convinced me to start reading the classic 982 paged classic it was based on — Anna Karenina.

if i’m being honest, there’s nothing super special about this novel. the writing is alright; pacing is okay; the plot is a little wack; and relationships are problematic. BUT! i can’t help but being so emotionally attached to it!!!! there’s that special something that made me binge the book in a few days and left me feeling (very very) emotionally drained by the end. i truly didn’t want to function for a few days after i finished. 

first, i really liked the setting. i’m a sucker for Gossip Girl-esque and the über rich lifestyle — especially if it’s set in new york. i love it so much. it makes you want that lifestyle, but Anna K also shows how messed up it is. every family and relationship is dysfunctional and problematic. there are multiple racist and insensitive comments. and i’m sure it’s intentional because it shows how messed up it is — almost in a Parasite way. and the ending!!!! i didn’t read the original Anna Karenina and didn’t expect it. needless to say, it’s an emotional rollercoaster. 

Every happy teenage girl is the same, while every unhappy teenage girl is miserable in her own special way.

then, we have the characters. there’s a pretty big cast and i love them so much!!! even though it’s so problematic!!!! there’s a lot of cheating (and i definitely don’t approve of it), but you feel for all sides of the story. there are also a couple of side characters/romances that i grew to love as well. they’re all so great.

Anna K is messy and problematic. but i also think that’s part of why i enjoyed it so much. you take people whose lives are so far removed from the average person’s and you reveal that they’re all messed up (like you!). anyway, i loved it. go read Anna K and Anna Karenina.

P.S. we’re reading it this month for subtle asian book club!! i hope you’re able to join~~~

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