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Anna K #1
Anna K: A Love Story
Every happy teenage girl is the same, while every unhappy teenage girl is miserable in her own special way.
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 a 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.
Dazzlingly opulent and emotionally riveting, Anna K.: A Love Story is a brilliant reimagining of Leo Tolstoy's timeless love story, Anna Karenina―but above all, it is a novel about the dizzying, glorious, heart-stopping experience of first love and first heartbreak.
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 a 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.
Dazzlingly opulent and emotionally riveting, Anna K.: A Love Story is a brilliant reimagining of Leo Tolstoy's timeless love story, Anna Karenina―but above all, it is a novel about the dizzying, glorious, heart-stopping experience of first love and first heartbreak.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
About the author
Jenny Lee
8 books228 followersJenny Lee's first young adult novel, a modern reinvention of Anna Karenina titled Anna K., will be published by Flatiron Books in March 2020.
Jenny previously served as Co-Executive Producer for the BET television adaptation of Boomerang. She was a writer and producer on the ABC Family sitcom Young & Hungry, as well as the Disney Channel's number-one-rated kids' show Shake It Up.
The author of four humor essay books, Jenny is also the author of Elvis and the Underdogs.
Jenny previously served as Co-Executive Producer for the BET television adaptation of Boomerang. She was a writer and producer on the ABC Family sitcom Young & Hungry, as well as the Disney Channel's number-one-rated kids' show Shake It Up.
The author of four humor essay books, Jenny is also the author of Elvis and the Underdogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,139 reviews
May 25, 2020
2 Stars
Being that this is a modern retelling of Anna Karenina, I feel like I should start with this disclaimer: I've never read Anna Karenina. It's been sitting unread on my shelves for years and my lazy ass just hasn't yet gotten around to reading it. And after reading this, I have to tell you...if anything, I feel even less compelled to read it.
I was not a huge fan of this book.
Jenny Lee's writing was amazing. Truly awesome. And very easily digestible.
But the characters? Ughhhhh. Were they well-written? Absolutely. Were they realistic? Probably. Did I like spending time with them? Hard nope.
I actually had to force myself to keep picking this up. In fact, I almost DNF'd it a couple times; but as I've said in previous reviews, I have a harder time DNF-ing physical hardcovers than paperback or ebooks, for whatever reason. So I persevered. Luckily, things picked up for me around page 265 and I actually warmed up to some of the characters...In fact, the ones I found the most irritating at the beginning became the only ones I liked in the end - which, 1) I think was Lee's intent, and 2) Is the only reason I gave this two stars instead of one.
Regardless, I'm happy I read and completed this if only to say that I did. As I said, I did enjoy Lee's writing. I could see myself picking up something else by her in the future and maybe having better luck.
Being that this is a modern retelling of Anna Karenina, I feel like I should start with this disclaimer: I've never read Anna Karenina. It's been sitting unread on my shelves for years and my lazy ass just hasn't yet gotten around to reading it. And after reading this, I have to tell you...if anything, I feel even less compelled to read it.
I was not a huge fan of this book.
Jenny Lee's writing was amazing. Truly awesome. And very easily digestible.
But the characters? Ughhhhh. Were they well-written? Absolutely. Were they realistic? Probably. Did I like spending time with them? Hard nope.
I actually had to force myself to keep picking this up. In fact, I almost DNF'd it a couple times; but as I've said in previous reviews, I have a harder time DNF-ing physical hardcovers than paperback or ebooks, for whatever reason. So I persevered. Luckily, things picked up for me around page 265 and I actually warmed up to some of the characters...In fact, the ones I found the most irritating at the beginning became the only ones I liked in the end - which, 1) I think was Lee's intent, and 2) Is the only reason I gave this two stars instead of one.
Regardless, I'm happy I read and completed this if only to say that I did. As I said, I did enjoy Lee's writing. I could see myself picking up something else by her in the future and maybe having better luck.
March 6, 2020
An Anna Karenina retelling with a Gossip Girl vibe! Glitz, glamour, drama, betrayal, opulence, infidelity, sex, drugs, and romance. Jenny Lee has done a stellar job of taking this Russian classic and giving it a modern and diverse twist. Admittedly I’ve never read the original, but I did take a look at the Spark Notes and Miss Lee really did a remarkable job in the retelling. I was completely sucked into this riveting tale of decadence and betrayal.
As entertaining as the story was there was also some depth and emotion to it. And if you read the original classic you know all does not end happily ever after... in fact I shed some tears. The perspective of the story bounces around between multiple characters, really giving the reader the full story. All the characters were so well developed, I particularly loved Anna and her brother Stephen. The sibling relationship was great and Stephen had the most noticeable character development throughout the story. This book is considered young adult, but I think it will appeal more to a older young adult audience as well as us old people. Keep in mind if you are a parent wondering about this book for your team, that there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of sex and drugs and drinking in this book. I think it was all handled very well and was not glamorized. Such a fun engaging story and I am super excited that there is a sequel! Cannot wait to see what is next in store for these fabulous characters.
This book in emojis 🗽💰🐶🐎🚄🍸📱💔
*** Big thank you to Flatiron Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
As entertaining as the story was there was also some depth and emotion to it. And if you read the original classic you know all does not end happily ever after... in fact I shed some tears. The perspective of the story bounces around between multiple characters, really giving the reader the full story. All the characters were so well developed, I particularly loved Anna and her brother Stephen. The sibling relationship was great and Stephen had the most noticeable character development throughout the story. This book is considered young adult, but I think it will appeal more to a older young adult audience as well as us old people. Keep in mind if you are a parent wondering about this book for your team, that there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of sex and drugs and drinking in this book. I think it was all handled very well and was not glamorized. Such a fun engaging story and I am super excited that there is a sequel! Cannot wait to see what is next in store for these fabulous characters.
This book in emojis 🗽💰🐶🐎🚄🍸📱💔
*** Big thank you to Flatiron Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
March 5, 2020
No one @ me because I didn't know the plot of Anna Karenina, which is what this YA retelling is based on, but wow, am I fucking emo.
It's been months since I've had so much fun with a YA contemporary where it completely absorbed me, entertained me, and kept me wondering what would happen next. This book is jam-packed with an array of characters (this book even has a character list for you to keep track of who's who) whose antics get them into hot water as they try to navigate the ever-changing world of being a rich teen in NYC.
This book explores both the carefree life of being a teen while also showcasing the darker parts of young adulthood like addiction, depression, parents divorcing, carrying the heavyweight of parental expectations and so much more. So, while it is an entertaining read that felt like a YA Crazy Rich Asians in terms of showcasing the opulence of the 1%, there are more serious matters at the heart of the book that will grip you and make you a bit emotional, making it a very well-rounded YA contemporary that isn't just all fluff.
I do have to admit that this book is very much a timely read because it uses a lot of slang and pop culture references that can easily date itself, and, at some points, the slang that the characters used felt awkward and out of place. But, I do have to commend how this book flowed so effortlessly because it's told in 3rd person, so it seamlessly jumps back and forth between this motley crew to see their current situations and how their lives intertwine, over time.
While I did lose interest in two characters as the book progressed (Kimmie + Dustin), I do have to admit that this book gripped me from the beginning and took me on a journey with an ending I didn't see coming, even if it stared me in the face. All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book, the characters in them and how easily they claimed to love another teen without knowing that much about them, which is so very high school and gave me a bit of nostalgia towards the naivety that comes along with being a teen. It was hilarious, engrossing, entertaining, and gave me hope in YA contemporaries, again, after I thought I was growing out of them. Turns out I just needed to find the right one to walk into my life.
AT A GLANCE
- Crazy Rich Asians meets Anna Karenina
- Korean/White MC
- Forbidden love
- A group of privileged teens in NYC navigating the confusing, whirlwind world of being a teen while grappling with addiction, parties, cheating, complicated relationships, parental expectations, and so much more.
It's been months since I've had so much fun with a YA contemporary where it completely absorbed me, entertained me, and kept me wondering what would happen next. This book is jam-packed with an array of characters (this book even has a character list for you to keep track of who's who) whose antics get them into hot water as they try to navigate the ever-changing world of being a rich teen in NYC.
This book explores both the carefree life of being a teen while also showcasing the darker parts of young adulthood like addiction, depression, parents divorcing, carrying the heavyweight of parental expectations and so much more. So, while it is an entertaining read that felt like a YA Crazy Rich Asians in terms of showcasing the opulence of the 1%, there are more serious matters at the heart of the book that will grip you and make you a bit emotional, making it a very well-rounded YA contemporary that isn't just all fluff.
I do have to admit that this book is very much a timely read because it uses a lot of slang and pop culture references that can easily date itself, and, at some points, the slang that the characters used felt awkward and out of place. But, I do have to commend how this book flowed so effortlessly because it's told in 3rd person, so it seamlessly jumps back and forth between this motley crew to see their current situations and how their lives intertwine, over time.
While I did lose interest in two characters as the book progressed (Kimmie + Dustin), I do have to admit that this book gripped me from the beginning and took me on a journey with an ending I didn't see coming, even if it stared me in the face. All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book, the characters in them and how easily they claimed to love another teen without knowing that much about them, which is so very high school and gave me a bit of nostalgia towards the naivety that comes along with being a teen. It was hilarious, engrossing, entertaining, and gave me hope in YA contemporaries, again, after I thought I was growing out of them. Turns out I just needed to find the right one to walk into my life.
AT A GLANCE
- Crazy Rich Asians meets Anna Karenina
- Korean/White MC
- Forbidden love
- A group of privileged teens in NYC navigating the confusing, whirlwind world of being a teen while grappling with addiction, parties, cheating, complicated relationships, parental expectations, and so much more.
July 29, 2021
I think I just experienced every biblical sin and nine circles of hell. But I was kind of into it?
This book was a weird one but I was there for the tea lol
This book was a weird one but I was there for the tea lol
March 5, 2020
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Anna K is depicted as a modern retelling of Anna Karenina, but I think to describe it as such does both books a disservice. The classic in Russian literature encompasses a wide cast, including a look into the social commentary of its time, with a doomed love affair at its heart between Anna, Vronsky and her husband Alexei. It’s well written, full of tension and drama, complex and compelling. Anna K is, unfortunately, not. While treading a similar plot and character names, it’s otherwise incredibly problematic with blasé descriptions of casual sex, drug abuse and repeated cheating between multiple characters that I just didn’t find appealing.
I will say that the modern setting of rich upper New Yorkers was fun, and sits well with the original story as we explore the lives of the rich and beautiful. However, all of the characters are just awful human beings with no redeeming qualities. They’re all selfish, mean and shallow with superficial problems and cliched characteristics. The only character I enjoyed was Murf, and unfortunately he wasn’t utilised enough In the story for me to care about him all that much. I also found some of the conversations the characters (particularly Beatrice) had between each other incredible offensive and insensitive, with racist comments and opinions on abortion just thrown in for shock value. It felt crass, and made me feel uncomfortable. The writing style is also strange, with lots of telling instead of showing with regards to the characters emotions and actions. This means I never developed much of an attachment to any of them, and felt very disconnected from the story.
In terms of the story itself, it’s a slow moving plot that interweaves the lives of the large cast around this doomed love affair between Anna and Vronsky. We go from a ‘love at first sight’ moment at Grand Central Station to Anna questioning her feelings for her boyfriend Alexander while debating whether or not she should risk her relationship for a boy she’s met once. It feels very instalove, without much (if any) build up before Anna and Vronsky’s relationship takes a deeper turn. The small amount of tension that is created by the love triangle is wasted within the space of a few pages, and could have been so interesting if it had been given more space to develop. It’s also feels very illogical, with scenarios set up that just didn’t feel realistic or believable. Also, these characters are supposed to be 16 and 17. Not once did they act their age. In addition, the story feels overly dragged out and long with scenarios shoe horned in over the space of a couple of pages as if the author didn’t really know how to get to the inevitable ending.
Unfortunately I really didn’t enjoy this one. Stick to the original classic if you want to see rich aristocrats cheating on their partners.
Anna K is depicted as a modern retelling of Anna Karenina, but I think to describe it as such does both books a disservice. The classic in Russian literature encompasses a wide cast, including a look into the social commentary of its time, with a doomed love affair at its heart between Anna, Vronsky and her husband Alexei. It’s well written, full of tension and drama, complex and compelling. Anna K is, unfortunately, not. While treading a similar plot and character names, it’s otherwise incredibly problematic with blasé descriptions of casual sex, drug abuse and repeated cheating between multiple characters that I just didn’t find appealing.
I will say that the modern setting of rich upper New Yorkers was fun, and sits well with the original story as we explore the lives of the rich and beautiful. However, all of the characters are just awful human beings with no redeeming qualities. They’re all selfish, mean and shallow with superficial problems and cliched characteristics. The only character I enjoyed was Murf, and unfortunately he wasn’t utilised enough In the story for me to care about him all that much. I also found some of the conversations the characters (particularly Beatrice) had between each other incredible offensive and insensitive, with racist comments and opinions on abortion just thrown in for shock value. It felt crass, and made me feel uncomfortable. The writing style is also strange, with lots of telling instead of showing with regards to the characters emotions and actions. This means I never developed much of an attachment to any of them, and felt very disconnected from the story.
In terms of the story itself, it’s a slow moving plot that interweaves the lives of the large cast around this doomed love affair between Anna and Vronsky. We go from a ‘love at first sight’ moment at Grand Central Station to Anna questioning her feelings for her boyfriend Alexander while debating whether or not she should risk her relationship for a boy she’s met once. It feels very instalove, without much (if any) build up before Anna and Vronsky’s relationship takes a deeper turn. The small amount of tension that is created by the love triangle is wasted within the space of a few pages, and could have been so interesting if it had been given more space to develop. It’s also feels very illogical, with scenarios set up that just didn’t feel realistic or believable. Also, these characters are supposed to be 16 and 17. Not once did they act their age. In addition, the story feels overly dragged out and long with scenarios shoe horned in over the space of a couple of pages as if the author didn’t really know how to get to the inevitable ending.
Unfortunately I really didn’t enjoy this one. Stick to the original classic if you want to see rich aristocrats cheating on their partners.
April 5, 2020
“Life brought tragedy with the same hand that it brought joy.”
representation: half Korean characters (own voices – author is Korean American), black characters, Thai characters, Jewish characters, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, gay and lesbian side characters.
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★.5 (torn between 4 and 5 stars so it’s a 4.5 for now)
oh… my god. When I first started listening to this book (the audiobook is AMAZING btw), I thought that this book was going to get a MAXIMUM of 3.5 stars, due to the overwhelming amount of privileged characters with their rich-people problems filled with cheating and drugs, but I found myself really getting attached to Anna and Vronsky’s love story.
Firstly, I LOVED Anna K as a character. I related to her SO MUCH (apart from her being filthy rich and half Korean). She is SUCH a hufflepuff, she has these 2 gorgeous newfoundland dogs, she reads books during her lunch breaks at school instead of socialising with the other rich kids and she cries when she hears about animals being hurt. I was like…. Is this me???? we love to see it.
While this book was filled with petty, rich-people problems at first, as the story went on, it delved deeper into darker themes that really took me by surprise. I think if you aren’t familiar with the story of Anna Karenina and want to read this book, DON’T LOOK UP THE PLOT OF THE ORIGINAL STORY. I didn’t know anything about the original story, and the ending of this book felt like being punched in the stomach. I just want to cry. I love Anna and Vronksy so much, it hurts.
Like… it hurts… so bad… yet so good. Help.
“It wasn’t about winning some girl’s affections, it was about finding someone who gets you and who you get right back. It wasn’t about lamenting your losses, it was about celebrating the lives of those you lost by living your own life well.”
trigger warnings: cheating, adultery, drug use (like, a looooot of drug use), alcohol, mention of a dog dying, sporting career ending due to an injury, divorced parents, slut and sex shaming, death of a parent (in the past), addiction, mentions of self-harm, talks of dieting and weight, miscarriage (in the past), abortion (in the past), homophobia, racism, depression & being enrolled in a wellness retreat, car accident, horses being hurt and dying during a race, drug overdose, loss of loved ones, revenge porn, forced vomiting (not ED related), descriptions of tripping on drugs, shit parents, being attacked by a dog, suicide ideation.
representation: half Korean characters (own voices – author is Korean American), black characters, Thai characters, Jewish characters, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, gay and lesbian side characters.
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★.5 (torn between 4 and 5 stars so it’s a 4.5 for now)
oh… my god. When I first started listening to this book (the audiobook is AMAZING btw), I thought that this book was going to get a MAXIMUM of 3.5 stars, due to the overwhelming amount of privileged characters with their rich-people problems filled with cheating and drugs, but I found myself really getting attached to Anna and Vronsky’s love story.
Firstly, I LOVED Anna K as a character. I related to her SO MUCH (apart from her being filthy rich and half Korean). She is SUCH a hufflepuff, she has these 2 gorgeous newfoundland dogs, she reads books during her lunch breaks at school instead of socialising with the other rich kids and she cries when she hears about animals being hurt. I was like…. Is this me???? we love to see it.
While this book was filled with petty, rich-people problems at first, as the story went on, it delved deeper into darker themes that really took me by surprise. I think if you aren’t familiar with the story of Anna Karenina and want to read this book, DON’T LOOK UP THE PLOT OF THE ORIGINAL STORY. I didn’t know anything about the original story, and the ending of this book felt like being punched in the stomach. I just want to cry. I love Anna and Vronksy so much, it hurts.
Like… it hurts… so bad… yet so good. Help.
“It wasn’t about winning some girl’s affections, it was about finding someone who gets you and who you get right back. It wasn’t about lamenting your losses, it was about celebrating the lives of those you lost by living your own life well.”
trigger warnings: cheating, adultery, drug use (like, a looooot of drug use), alcohol, mention of a dog dying, sporting career ending due to an injury, divorced parents, slut and sex shaming, death of a parent (in the past), addiction, mentions of self-harm, talks of dieting and weight, miscarriage (in the past), abortion (in the past), homophobia, racism, depression & being enrolled in a wellness retreat, car accident, horses being hurt and dying during a race, drug overdose, loss of loved ones, revenge porn, forced vomiting (not ED related), descriptions of tripping on drugs, shit parents, being attacked by a dog, suicide ideation.
September 24, 2020
This was just okay for me. I think I had higher expectations for this book as I loved the premise and I’ve seen a couple of interviews by the author, and she seems like a really cool person. But I could not get into the story at all. None of the characters seemed like actual people and their lives felt so contrived, so it was difficult to be invested.
I haven’t read Anna Karenina, and before beginning I asked around to see if other people recommend reading that first. Jenny Lee herself has said it’s not necessary, but there’s some Easter eggs and references you might only notice if you’ve read Tolstoy’s work previously. I don’t feel like I missed much of the story by skipping it, but maybe you’ll wanna check out some reviews by people who have read both in order to make up your mind before beginning.
I’m usually a fan of unlikable characters and characters who act impulsively, sometimes even stupidly, because they’re young or inexperienced or traumatized or whatever the reason. But the characters I felt as though we’re supposed to like were almost as insufferable as the ones that we were meant to hate. I did not find Anna K or Vronsky to be endearing as love interests or people. One scene with a homeless man in particular rubbed me the wrong way. Lolly and Steven were annoying and Kimmie’s self-actualization by the end did not ring true. Dustin was one of the only characters I liked, but I still felt a layer or two removed from him. I don’t know, maybe it was the writing style, but this did not feel as immersive to me as I think it could have been.
The other kind of weird thing was the sex scenes written between teenagers. Some of them are young at that and not just their willingness to jump into bed, but also the sexual experiences themselves were bizarre. There’s simultaneous orgasms and perfectly choreographed seductions and other ridiculousness that I challenge anyone who was sexually active as a teenager to confirm as realistic. It’s not. Not even for super rich kids. Since this is a YA novel I feel like there’s an extra responsibility for authors to depict the lives of teenagers in not just a truthful way, but in a way that’s not going to negatively impact the younger readers’ perceptions of themselves and their relationships. You don’t need to sanitize the story and pretend teenagers don’t have sex, but maybe don’t promote the idea that the way to keep your cheating boyfriend interested is to immediately fuck him after you find out?
One of the things I really liked about the story was the depiction of micro-aggressions among people who would likely think of themselves above the concept of racism. I can’t tell you how many people have made jokes or comments similar to the ones in Anna K around me and then gotten defensive once called out. Usually with a response akin to, “Uh my best friend is Asian and she doesn’t get offended when I say that so why do you??” Seeing the inner thoughts of Anna and Steven as they accept these words by people who are supposedly friends and peers of theirs as just part of their day-to-day lives is heartbreaking and an area where I think Lee really succeeds.
There’s some more to this book than “A Love Story” would lead you to believe. Some of the heavy-hitting emotional plot points landed better for me than others. I realize this is a Gossip Girl-esq version of Anna Karenina, but that series and the show had the luxury of several seasons and books to develop it’s characters beyond their vapid exterior. In Anna K, it was hard to see them as anything besides spoiled, privileged teens who repeatedly behave like assholes without consequence. I’m open to reading more from Jenny Lee in the future, but to be honest that’s probably not going to include the sequel.
I haven’t read Anna Karenina, and before beginning I asked around to see if other people recommend reading that first. Jenny Lee herself has said it’s not necessary, but there’s some Easter eggs and references you might only notice if you’ve read Tolstoy’s work previously. I don’t feel like I missed much of the story by skipping it, but maybe you’ll wanna check out some reviews by people who have read both in order to make up your mind before beginning.
I’m usually a fan of unlikable characters and characters who act impulsively, sometimes even stupidly, because they’re young or inexperienced or traumatized or whatever the reason. But the characters I felt as though we’re supposed to like were almost as insufferable as the ones that we were meant to hate. I did not find Anna K or Vronsky to be endearing as love interests or people. One scene with a homeless man in particular rubbed me the wrong way. Lolly and Steven were annoying and Kimmie’s self-actualization by the end did not ring true. Dustin was one of the only characters I liked, but I still felt a layer or two removed from him. I don’t know, maybe it was the writing style, but this did not feel as immersive to me as I think it could have been.
The other kind of weird thing was the sex scenes written between teenagers. Some of them are young at that and not just their willingness to jump into bed, but also the sexual experiences themselves were bizarre. There’s simultaneous orgasms and perfectly choreographed seductions and other ridiculousness that I challenge anyone who was sexually active as a teenager to confirm as realistic. It’s not. Not even for super rich kids. Since this is a YA novel I feel like there’s an extra responsibility for authors to depict the lives of teenagers in not just a truthful way, but in a way that’s not going to negatively impact the younger readers’ perceptions of themselves and their relationships. You don’t need to sanitize the story and pretend teenagers don’t have sex, but maybe don’t promote the idea that the way to keep your cheating boyfriend interested is to immediately fuck him after you find out?
One of the things I really liked about the story was the depiction of micro-aggressions among people who would likely think of themselves above the concept of racism. I can’t tell you how many people have made jokes or comments similar to the ones in Anna K around me and then gotten defensive once called out. Usually with a response akin to, “Uh my best friend is Asian and she doesn’t get offended when I say that so why do you??” Seeing the inner thoughts of Anna and Steven as they accept these words by people who are supposedly friends and peers of theirs as just part of their day-to-day lives is heartbreaking and an area where I think Lee really succeeds.
There’s some more to this book than “A Love Story” would lead you to believe. Some of the heavy-hitting emotional plot points landed better for me than others. I realize this is a Gossip Girl-esq version of Anna Karenina, but that series and the show had the luxury of several seasons and books to develop it’s characters beyond their vapid exterior. In Anna K, it was hard to see them as anything besides spoiled, privileged teens who repeatedly behave like assholes without consequence. I’m open to reading more from Jenny Lee in the future, but to be honest that’s probably not going to include the sequel.
December 26, 2019
I suspect this is going to be a very polarizing book...
This modern YA retelling of Anna Karenina is what I would call The Goldfinch meets Gossip Girl, but with awareness of racism and privilege, not to mention a much more diverse cast of characters. It is smart, darkly tragic, but manages to end on a bittersweet note. This is a book that will make you feel things and leave you thinking, regardless of whether you love it or hate it. Set among super-elite teens of Manhattan, we enter a world filled with lavish lifestyles, over-the-top spending, private tutors, wildly opulent parties with expensive drugs, truly horrible parents, and quite a lot of sex. And if this is a love story, it is mostly a tragic one.
The eponymous Anna K. is a half-white, half-Korean teen with very wealthy parents, a high society boyfriend, a wild but much loved older brother, and two very large Newfoundland Dogs. This book has a large cast of characters and while Anna's story is central to the plot, there are several other significant stories as well, and I really fell in love with some of the side characters. The character development in this book is generally really good. I was especially impressed with how Stephen (Anna's brother) went from being someone I really disliked to one of my favorite characters by the end of the book as he grows and changes. The sibling relationship between him and Anna is also a really fantastic one. Meanwhile, Dustin is one of a couple of characters who lend some much needed balance to all the wealth and privilege. He is Black, Jewish and adopted, with middle-class parents, but has known Stephen for years and is now his tutor and friend. The book does quite a bit to address different types of racism and classism in really pointed and thoughtful ways.
Honestly, I really struggled with the first third of this book. It feels incredibly bleak and has a lot of difficult and even horrifying content in it as we are introduced to the characters, their families, and where they come from. That said, I really enjoyed the last 2/3 of the book (this is where you really start to feel the Gossip Girl vibes) and I appreciated that we get real payoff from the earlier content in impactful ways. If I hadn't been reading this with a friend, I might have DNF'ed it early on, but I am glad I decided to push through because for me, it was ultimately worth it. It is thematically rich and takes a nuanced approach to a number of issues. It also just becomes a lot more (by turns) fun and satisfying later on.
If you are familiar with the plot of Anna Karenina, it should come as no surprise that this book involves several instances of infidelity. While that is always a tricky issue for me in books, I thought the author used this to explore the gendered ways that cheating is typically treated in really interesting ways. The idea that it is somehow more wrong for a woman to use her sexuality this way than it is for a man is actively pulled apart and I appreciated the way that was handled. Similarly, drug use is handled in a nuanced way that manages to be realistic without feeling preachy. And there is a LOT of drug use in the book, so I think that is important. The narrative demonstrates why it can be so appealing to some teens: for fun at parties, for handling nerves, for focus, etc. But we also see how it can go horribly wrong, from poor decision-making to a very bad acid trip on the lighter end, but also including the absolute devastation of becoming a heroine addict who steals from family and overdoses. In all cases, it feels humanized rather than demonized, trusting the reader to draw their own conclusions.
We also see how parents deeply impact the choices that their children make as adolescents through neglect, abuse, and their own behavior both positive and negative. The trauma that some of these parents cause through their action or inaction is truly heart-wrenching. I will admit that being a parent myself, this aspect may have stood out to me more than it would to some other readers, but it is definitely worth noting.
Finally, lets talk about the sex, because there is a lot of it here. Given the explicit (especially for YA) nature of some of the scenes this may be controversial/recommended for older teens. What I appreciate about what it does though is that we get multiple examples of how to approach sex as a teen without putting a value judgement on it. One character wants to wait until she is in love and emotionally ready and when things don't quite go as planned, we get a complex portrayal of what the aftermath is like for her. We see another character lose her virginity in a more impulsive way where the consent is a little fuzzy and she ends up regretting it for specific reasons, but eventually confronts things. We also see passionate, consensual sex in the context of infidelity, queer characters hooking up (off-screen). It is sex-positive in that it prioritizes the value of female pleasure and choice.
However, I didn't love the non-inclusion of safe sex as a conversation, especially given how many characters and different kinds of characters are sleeping together. The only place I saw it was in a side character admitting that she dislikes condoms and has had two abortions. There is no other mention of chemical birth control methods, no depictions of condom use, no discussions between characters of concerns involving unplanned pregnancy or STD's, and in my opinion there really should be. In full disclosure, I read an advance copy of the book and it is possible that the finished copy will rectify this, but I do find it concerning, especially in a book targeting teens that has such a heavy emphasis on sex.
In terms of writing style, I think this book is going to be hit and miss for people. The author has a background in screen-writing and it definitely shows, especially in the earlier portion of the book. That isn't necessarily bad, but it's a quirk that some readers might not get along with. Overall, I was surprised at how much the book resonated with me by the end, despite a difficult beginning. I think a lot of readers are going to eat this up, but others will not be fans. See below for a partial list of content warnings because there are a lot. I received an advance copy of this book for review via Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
CW include teen sex, alcohol use and drug use, drug overdose, death, loss of a loved one, infidelity, catching a parent engaging in infidelity, discussions of young children being exposed to sex, unclear consent, graphic depictions of depression, suicidal ideation.
This modern YA retelling of Anna Karenina is what I would call The Goldfinch meets Gossip Girl, but with awareness of racism and privilege, not to mention a much more diverse cast of characters. It is smart, darkly tragic, but manages to end on a bittersweet note. This is a book that will make you feel things and leave you thinking, regardless of whether you love it or hate it. Set among super-elite teens of Manhattan, we enter a world filled with lavish lifestyles, over-the-top spending, private tutors, wildly opulent parties with expensive drugs, truly horrible parents, and quite a lot of sex. And if this is a love story, it is mostly a tragic one.
The eponymous Anna K. is a half-white, half-Korean teen with very wealthy parents, a high society boyfriend, a wild but much loved older brother, and two very large Newfoundland Dogs. This book has a large cast of characters and while Anna's story is central to the plot, there are several other significant stories as well, and I really fell in love with some of the side characters. The character development in this book is generally really good. I was especially impressed with how Stephen (Anna's brother) went from being someone I really disliked to one of my favorite characters by the end of the book as he grows and changes. The sibling relationship between him and Anna is also a really fantastic one. Meanwhile, Dustin is one of a couple of characters who lend some much needed balance to all the wealth and privilege. He is Black, Jewish and adopted, with middle-class parents, but has known Stephen for years and is now his tutor and friend. The book does quite a bit to address different types of racism and classism in really pointed and thoughtful ways.
Honestly, I really struggled with the first third of this book. It feels incredibly bleak and has a lot of difficult and even horrifying content in it as we are introduced to the characters, their families, and where they come from. That said, I really enjoyed the last 2/3 of the book (this is where you really start to feel the Gossip Girl vibes) and I appreciated that we get real payoff from the earlier content in impactful ways. If I hadn't been reading this with a friend, I might have DNF'ed it early on, but I am glad I decided to push through because for me, it was ultimately worth it. It is thematically rich and takes a nuanced approach to a number of issues. It also just becomes a lot more (by turns) fun and satisfying later on.
If you are familiar with the plot of Anna Karenina, it should come as no surprise that this book involves several instances of infidelity. While that is always a tricky issue for me in books, I thought the author used this to explore the gendered ways that cheating is typically treated in really interesting ways. The idea that it is somehow more wrong for a woman to use her sexuality this way than it is for a man is actively pulled apart and I appreciated the way that was handled. Similarly, drug use is handled in a nuanced way that manages to be realistic without feeling preachy. And there is a LOT of drug use in the book, so I think that is important. The narrative demonstrates why it can be so appealing to some teens: for fun at parties, for handling nerves, for focus, etc. But we also see how it can go horribly wrong, from poor decision-making to a very bad acid trip on the lighter end, but also including the absolute devastation of becoming a heroine addict who steals from family and overdoses. In all cases, it feels humanized rather than demonized, trusting the reader to draw their own conclusions.
We also see how parents deeply impact the choices that their children make as adolescents through neglect, abuse, and their own behavior both positive and negative. The trauma that some of these parents cause through their action or inaction is truly heart-wrenching. I will admit that being a parent myself, this aspect may have stood out to me more than it would to some other readers, but it is definitely worth noting.
Finally, lets talk about the sex, because there is a lot of it here. Given the explicit (especially for YA) nature of some of the scenes this may be controversial/recommended for older teens. What I appreciate about what it does though is that we get multiple examples of how to approach sex as a teen without putting a value judgement on it. One character wants to wait until she is in love and emotionally ready and when things don't quite go as planned, we get a complex portrayal of what the aftermath is like for her. We see another character lose her virginity in a more impulsive way where the consent is a little fuzzy and she ends up regretting it for specific reasons, but eventually confronts things. We also see passionate, consensual sex in the context of infidelity, queer characters hooking up (off-screen). It is sex-positive in that it prioritizes the value of female pleasure and choice.
However, I didn't love the non-inclusion of safe sex as a conversation, especially given how many characters and different kinds of characters are sleeping together. The only place I saw it was in a side character admitting that she dislikes condoms and has had two abortions. There is no other mention of chemical birth control methods, no depictions of condom use, no discussions between characters of concerns involving unplanned pregnancy or STD's, and in my opinion there really should be. In full disclosure, I read an advance copy of the book and it is possible that the finished copy will rectify this, but I do find it concerning, especially in a book targeting teens that has such a heavy emphasis on sex.
In terms of writing style, I think this book is going to be hit and miss for people. The author has a background in screen-writing and it definitely shows, especially in the earlier portion of the book. That isn't necessarily bad, but it's a quirk that some readers might not get along with. Overall, I was surprised at how much the book resonated with me by the end, despite a difficult beginning. I think a lot of readers are going to eat this up, but others will not be fans. See below for a partial list of content warnings because there are a lot. I received an advance copy of this book for review via Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
CW include teen sex, alcohol use and drug use, drug overdose, death, loss of a loved one, infidelity, catching a parent engaging in infidelity, discussions of young children being exposed to sex, unclear consent, graphic depictions of depression, suicidal ideation.
April 9, 2020
3.5 stars.
Anna K is a retelling of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina , set among rich, privileged teenagers of New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut society.
Anna is the beautiful, smart daughter of a powerful South Korean businessman. She mostly prefers the company of her horses and show dogs to the society elite, so she attends a fancy prep school in Connecticut, as opposed to her older brother, Steven, who attends a private school in New York City.
Anna has been dating Alexander since she was 14 and he was a few years older. He now attends Yale and has his future mapped out, including marrying Anna. This is a perfect match society-wise. Anna really does love Alexander and can see spending the rest of her life with him. But sometimes she wonders whether something is missing, something more exciting.
When she meets Alexia Vronsky, she realizes that something has been missing from her relationship with Alexander. From the moment the two set eyes on each other, they are physically and emotionally drawn together. Anna knows that Alexia has a reputation as a womanizer—he’s allegedly called “the Count” because you can’t count how many girls want to be with him—but even though she knows her future is supposed to be with Alexander, she can’t stay away from Vronsky. Does she do what is right, what is expected, or does she follow her heart?
The book follows the pair’s tempestuous relationship along with other romantic duos. There’s scandal, sex, lots of drugs, and outrageous spending, not to mention a great deal of melodrama. There are elements of so many other stories and movies in here, which makes it compelling even though I felt the book moved fairly slowly.
Do you need to have read Anna Karenina ? No, I haven't, and it didn't detract from my being immersed in the story. Jenny Lee shares in her author's notes some general plot points and how they parallel her story.
This is the first YA book I’d say parents should really read first to determine whether it’s right for your kids given all of the drugs, mostly. And if you’re looking for a light read, this isn’t it!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Anna K is a retelling of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina , set among rich, privileged teenagers of New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut society.
Anna is the beautiful, smart daughter of a powerful South Korean businessman. She mostly prefers the company of her horses and show dogs to the society elite, so she attends a fancy prep school in Connecticut, as opposed to her older brother, Steven, who attends a private school in New York City.
Anna has been dating Alexander since she was 14 and he was a few years older. He now attends Yale and has his future mapped out, including marrying Anna. This is a perfect match society-wise. Anna really does love Alexander and can see spending the rest of her life with him. But sometimes she wonders whether something is missing, something more exciting.
When she meets Alexia Vronsky, she realizes that something has been missing from her relationship with Alexander. From the moment the two set eyes on each other, they are physically and emotionally drawn together. Anna knows that Alexia has a reputation as a womanizer—he’s allegedly called “the Count” because you can’t count how many girls want to be with him—but even though she knows her future is supposed to be with Alexander, she can’t stay away from Vronsky. Does she do what is right, what is expected, or does she follow her heart?
The book follows the pair’s tempestuous relationship along with other romantic duos. There’s scandal, sex, lots of drugs, and outrageous spending, not to mention a great deal of melodrama. There are elements of so many other stories and movies in here, which makes it compelling even though I felt the book moved fairly slowly.
Do you need to have read Anna Karenina ? No, I haven't, and it didn't detract from my being immersed in the story. Jenny Lee shares in her author's notes some general plot points and how they parallel her story.
This is the first YA book I’d say parents should really read first to determine whether it’s right for your kids given all of the drugs, mostly. And if you’re looking for a light read, this isn’t it!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
March 26, 2020
3 stars
I feel so conflicted right now. Do you ever finish a book and you genuinely can’t tell if you loved it or hated it? That’s how I feel after finishing Anna K. There was so much I loved about this book, and a few characters I absolutely adored , but there was also a lot of characters I couldn’t stand and some subject matter that just wasn’t for me.
This is an Anna Karenina retelling with a gossip girl flare. It’s not a romance. It’s much more of a tragedy. It’s got angst, a lot of cheating and drug use, and was a real page turner I couldn’t put down. I think this is a polarizing read that won't be for everyone, but those that love it will love it hard!
I feel so conflicted right now. Do you ever finish a book and you genuinely can’t tell if you loved it or hated it? That’s how I feel after finishing Anna K. There was so much I loved about this book, and a few characters I absolutely adored , but there was also a lot of characters I couldn’t stand and some subject matter that just wasn’t for me.
This is an Anna Karenina retelling with a gossip girl flare. It’s not a romance. It’s much more of a tragedy. It’s got angst, a lot of cheating and drug use, and was a real page turner I couldn’t put down. I think this is a polarizing read that won't be for everyone, but those that love it will love it hard!
September 3, 2020
likely closer to 4/5 but reading the author’s note really upped it up. and now i want to read Anna Karenina and am fucking emo ;——;
Read
March 21, 2020hands down one of my fave books of the year. dramatic yet nuanced, Anna K is the story of a large cast of characters discovering love in its many facets. I love this book to bits and will definitely go back to reread it time and again.
December 4, 2020
QUICK TAKE: I know we’ve discussed this before, but I tend to avoid YA. I have trouble connecting with teen characters and find them to be selfish and insecure and remind me of how terrible I was when I was that age. Which just goes to show how amazing this YA adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is in that I have been raving about it since I read it a few weeks ago. Jenny Lee has crafted a funny, emotional and sharply-written story that feels like a mix of Gossip Girl, Crazy Rich Asians, and Clueless. The characters live outrageous lifestyles but Lee manages to ground them and make them relatable and I dare you to read 50 pages and not want to spend more time living in this world of opulence and teenage angst. I need more of these characters in my life, and I’m eagerly anticipating Anna L, M, N, O and P!!
Read
March 27, 2020DNF @ 55 pages
yeahhhh I'm sorry I just can't. This sounded so fun and i GET that the point of it is to be about pretentious, privileged rich kids, but man I couldn't care less about rich people problems - it's the same problem I had with "Crazy Rich Asians." It's just so self centered and obnoxious. so... I'll pass. I guess I can put "about rich people" on my list of things I officially dislike in books.
yeahhhh I'm sorry I just can't. This sounded so fun and i GET that the point of it is to be about pretentious, privileged rich kids, but man I couldn't care less about rich people problems - it's the same problem I had with "Crazy Rich Asians." It's just so self centered and obnoxious. so... I'll pass. I guess I can put "about rich people" on my list of things I officially dislike in books.
April 27, 2021
guys this book stressed me out
okay, the genre of this is literally one of my guilty pleasures: RICH PEOPLE. DRAMA-FILLED. CONTEMPORARY.
so if you enjoyed shows like Gossip Girl, or books like Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters and The Thousandth Floor, I can say with like 2% certainty that you would enjoy this one as well!
one thing that I LOVED about this book was its inclusion of diverse characters! Anna K. in this book is half-Korean amongst the upper echelon, a group of rich families who all hang out with each other, and I honestly do not remember at all if there are any other people of color... probably?
anyways, the GLAMOUR! the OPULENCE! I loved every second of this book, except the parts wherein I really and seriously cringed at the BAD DECISIONS being made, but I'm pretty sure I read this all in one sitting? I really like how it combined archetypes of fiction with a contemporary setting. even though this is about rich people in modern times, it really feels... so powerful overall? and kinda like an old Greek tale? which makes sense! because it's a spin on a classic! but it did that spin... very well in my opinion. (even though I haven't read the original Anna Karenina.)
this also followed other characters besides Anna-- in fact, the starting pov isn't even hers-- and I started to appreciate and love most of these other characters. there's backstabbing & betrayal and also, unfortunately, cheating (on Anna's side) as she feels pressured socially to stay in a relationship with her fiance, even though she feels a magnetic attraction to Vronsky. please read this... you Will be Absorbed by the tragedy of it all...
also I can't believe there's a sequel to this! I'm so excited :')
one negative point though is that I haven't read Anna Karenina... so now I've been spoiled for the ending... 3 (i'm kidding)
-
This is both about 1) rich people, a subject I absolutely adore in young adult novels, and 2) has so many diverse characters!
What kind of sixteen-year-old boy possessed the type of heroic goodwill she'd just witnessed? It was like her pain had become his as well. In that moment she as though his crystal blue eyes had seen her secret self, which was ridiculous because how could such a thing be possible when they had only just met?
okay, the genre of this is literally one of my guilty pleasures: RICH PEOPLE. DRAMA-FILLED. CONTEMPORARY.
so if you enjoyed shows like Gossip Girl, or books like Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters and The Thousandth Floor, I can say with like 2% certainty that you would enjoy this one as well!
one thing that I LOVED about this book was its inclusion of diverse characters! Anna K. in this book is half-Korean amongst the upper echelon, a group of rich families who all hang out with each other, and I honestly do not remember at all if there are any other people of color... probably?
anyways, the GLAMOUR! the OPULENCE! I loved every second of this book, except the parts wherein I really and seriously cringed at the BAD DECISIONS being made, but I'm pretty sure I read this all in one sitting? I really like how it combined archetypes of fiction with a contemporary setting. even though this is about rich people in modern times, it really feels... so powerful overall? and kinda like an old Greek tale? which makes sense! because it's a spin on a classic! but it did that spin... very well in my opinion. (even though I haven't read the original Anna Karenina.)
this also followed other characters besides Anna-- in fact, the starting pov isn't even hers-- and I started to appreciate and love most of these other characters. there's backstabbing & betrayal and also, unfortunately, cheating (on Anna's side) as she feels pressured socially to stay in a relationship with her fiance, even though she feels a magnetic attraction to Vronsky. please read this... you Will be Absorbed by the tragedy of it all...
also I can't believe there's a sequel to this! I'm so excited :')
one negative point though is that I haven't read Anna Karenina... so now I've been spoiled for the ending... 3 (i'm kidding)
-
This is both about 1) rich people, a subject I absolutely adore in young adult novels, and 2) has so many diverse characters!
November 18, 2020
This book is a retelling of the classic Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I haven't read the classic so I had no expectations going into this book. Also I was a bit skeptical going into it after seeing the low goodreads rating. But to my surprise, I ended up absolutely loving this book.
The story starts with ultra rich teenagers Anna K whose brother Steven calls for her help when his girlfriend finds out he is cheating on her. Anna herself is in a devoted relationship with Alexander, but she finds herself being attracted to infamous Count Vronski. I watched the Anna Karenina movie adaptation and I can see how similar it is to the original plot.
This book was so much fun. It was filled with so much teenage angst, drama, forbidden love, wealthy pretentious teenagers... it was perfect entertainment. The characters were so pretentious and flawed, and I loved seeing them make stupid superfluous decisions because it suited them perfectly since everyone was wealthy and spoilt teenagers.
This book isn't like award winning or "books that will change your life", but this book was the perfect light hearted entertainment. So I'd highly recommend this book if you're looking for some fun to read.
The story starts with ultra rich teenagers Anna K whose brother Steven calls for her help when his girlfriend finds out he is cheating on her. Anna herself is in a devoted relationship with Alexander, but she finds herself being attracted to infamous Count Vronski. I watched the Anna Karenina movie adaptation and I can see how similar it is to the original plot.
This book was so much fun. It was filled with so much teenage angst, drama, forbidden love, wealthy pretentious teenagers... it was perfect entertainment. The characters were so pretentious and flawed, and I loved seeing them make stupid superfluous decisions because it suited them perfectly since everyone was wealthy and spoilt teenagers.
This book isn't like award winning or "books that will change your life", but this book was the perfect light hearted entertainment. So I'd highly recommend this book if you're looking for some fun to read.
May 14, 2023
I have not read the original Anna Karenina (or any of the originals of retellings), so I didn't know what to expect. Now that I have finished reading, I think I might want to read the original. This book is very dramatic, highly unrelatable, and unrealistic, but very entertaining.
I really liked how the characters matured and grew. This is probably why I liked this despite it being like a teen drama. Another thing I liked was that it included many social issues like the double standard of affairs and cheating. Women indeed get most of the hate and people say that they are a slut or whore because of it. For men, people will usually say nothing and act like it's normal.
Although I said before that this book is highly unrelatable, there is just one small thing that I can relate to–immigrant parents. Anna's dad is an immigrant parent and he is like any other immigrant parent. They're strict and push you to be perfect because they want you to be successful. They get disappointed when you can't meet their expectations.
There is probably only one thing that I don't like about this book and that is the Romance. No, I am not saying that I prefer A+A or A+V better, this is the romance in general. I don't really know how to describe it, but it seemed (to me) a little too dramatic and sappy. That is the only thing that I disliked.
Thank you very much to Flatiron Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I really liked how the characters matured and grew. This is probably why I liked this despite it being like a teen drama. Another thing I liked was that it included many social issues like the double standard of affairs and cheating. Women indeed get most of the hate and people say that they are a slut or whore because of it. For men, people will usually say nothing and act like it's normal.
Although I said before that this book is highly unrelatable, there is just one small thing that I can relate to–immigrant parents. Anna's dad is an immigrant parent and he is like any other immigrant parent. They're strict and push you to be perfect because they want you to be successful. They get disappointed when you can't meet their expectations.
There is probably only one thing that I don't like about this book and that is the Romance. No, I am not saying that I prefer A+A or A+V better, this is the romance in general. I don't really know how to describe it, but it seemed (to me) a little too dramatic and sappy. That is the only thing that I disliked.
Thank you very much to Flatiron Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I never bothered picking up Anna Karenina – not even when . . . . .
There is absolutely zero shame in my game when it comes to admitting that 1,000 page books are not my jam and also that . . . . .
I’ve also never watched an episode of Gossip Girl which is maybe unfortunate because that probably would have been my idea of a good time and I totally ate up the reality version of it a few years ago when it aired on Bravo . . . .
Ummmmmm, notsamuch. More like I love a good dumpster fire.
Truth be told this was all over the interwebs a while back and I have FOMO to the nth degree and could not resist the urge to pick it up. While obviously not a literary classic like its inspiration, I found this to be kind of a delightful timesuck. 3 Stars for the story, 1 Star for the fugass cover, negative eleventy trillion stars for the "#1" notation meaning this is going to be a series.
I never bothered picking up Anna Karenina – not even when . . . . .
There is absolutely zero shame in my game when it comes to admitting that 1,000 page books are not my jam and also that . . . . .
I’ve also never watched an episode of Gossip Girl which is maybe unfortunate because that probably would have been my idea of a good time and I totally ate up the reality version of it a few years ago when it aired on Bravo . . . .
Ummmmmm, notsamuch. More like I love a good dumpster fire.
Truth be told this was all over the interwebs a while back and I have FOMO to the nth degree and could not resist the urge to pick it up. While obviously not a literary classic like its inspiration, I found this to be kind of a delightful timesuck. 3 Stars for the story, 1 Star for the fugass cover, negative eleventy trillion stars for the "#1" notation meaning this is going to be a series.
October 26, 2020
Ah, okay. So, I'm unsure whether to rate this 2 or 3 stars. I mean, it's most likely a 2.5, but I'll have to update later with a full rating & review.
so, undecided // rtc
---------------------------------------
good thing I got a $50 barnes and noble gift card for Christmas or I'd be in debt with all these new releases
so, undecided // rtc
---------------------------------------
good thing I got a $50 barnes and noble gift card for Christmas or I'd be in debt with all these new releases
September 5, 2020
How can I even begin to describe Anna K: A Love Story?
Once I picked up this book, it was practically impossible to put down. The story immediately immersed me in its opulent wealth, passionate love, and tragic romance. ✨❤️ After finishing the last page, I was literally ~emo~ for a week because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Anna K: A Love Story is a modern retelling of Anna Karenina, the classic love story by Leo Tolstoy. In a very Gossip Girl-esque manner, the story is based around the super-elite teens of Manhattan in a world filled with lavish spending, extravagant parties, expensive alcohol, drugs, and sex. ✨
Anna K, our leading protagonist, is a half-white, half-Korean teen who seemingly lives the perfect life. From her ultra-wealthy parents and high society boyfriend to her esteemed reputation and grandiose amount of pets, her world seems perfect(ly dull) until she catches the eye of Alexi Vronsky.
A major plot point to the book is that Anna K and Alexi’s secretive relationship is based on cheating since Anna is still dating her boyfriend, Alexander, and while I typically cannot stand/support any relationship based around cheating, I mainly powered through because it’s a critical component from the classic. 💓
The story also follows the perspectives of several other side characters, including Steven (Anna’s brother), Lolly (Steven’s girlfriend), Kimmie (Lolly’s sister), and Dustin (Steven’s friend and tutor), all of whom I grew to love and adore as well.
With so many characters, it would’ve been easy to get lost throughout the story, but Jenny Lee’s writing was incredibly easy to follow. 🎬 Her history as a screenwriter adds so much dimension into the book because it truly reads like a movie you can’t stop watching.
Their character development was also *mwah chef’s kiss* wonderful to see progress throughout the story. Characters who I originally found to be annoying and bratty end the story in a truly transformative manner and characters who viewed the world in an idealistic sense gained so much more depth.
In an almost surprising way, this book contains so much insight and depth despite it coming off as mainly fun, money, and parties. ❤️ We explore the double standards of cheating when it’s done by a man versus a woman and how the consequences and judgment is much more severe for women.
Most outstandingly, Jenny Lee’s discussion of drug use was incredibly well-done. We explore how drug use is such a nuanced topic but also how it’s prevalent among our society whether it’s for fun at parties to handle academic stress. We tiptoe the fine line between what is seemingly harmless to how it can devastate a family.
At the same time, while we explore Anna and Steven’s experience as part of 1% elite, we also see the impact of their half-Korean heritage coming into play. Even as part of the uber-elite, they’re not immune to racism and judgment.
Reading this book was like eating dark chocolate—you literally just can’t stop but you love it so much. 🍫 It’s comfortingly sweet and tragically dark, and in the end, you’re left with a hauntingly beautiful yet bittersweet feeling in your chest. (The author’s note high-key made me cry.)
I sincerely hope you decide to give this book a try because I enjoyed it so so much. 🥺❤️
Content/Trigger Warnings:
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Once I picked up this book, it was practically impossible to put down. The story immediately immersed me in its opulent wealth, passionate love, and tragic romance. ✨❤️ After finishing the last page, I was literally ~emo~ for a week because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Anna K: A Love Story is a modern retelling of Anna Karenina, the classic love story by Leo Tolstoy. In a very Gossip Girl-esque manner, the story is based around the super-elite teens of Manhattan in a world filled with lavish spending, extravagant parties, expensive alcohol, drugs, and sex. ✨
Anna K, our leading protagonist, is a half-white, half-Korean teen who seemingly lives the perfect life. From her ultra-wealthy parents and high society boyfriend to her esteemed reputation and grandiose amount of pets, her world seems perfect(ly dull) until she catches the eye of Alexi Vronsky.
A major plot point to the book is that Anna K and Alexi’s secretive relationship is based on cheating since Anna is still dating her boyfriend, Alexander, and while I typically cannot stand/support any relationship based around cheating, I mainly powered through because it’s a critical component from the classic. 💓
The story also follows the perspectives of several other side characters, including Steven (Anna’s brother), Lolly (Steven’s girlfriend), Kimmie (Lolly’s sister), and Dustin (Steven’s friend and tutor), all of whom I grew to love and adore as well.
“The best time to write a love story is when you’re in love.”
With so many characters, it would’ve been easy to get lost throughout the story, but Jenny Lee’s writing was incredibly easy to follow. 🎬 Her history as a screenwriter adds so much dimension into the book because it truly reads like a movie you can’t stop watching.
Their character development was also *mwah chef’s kiss* wonderful to see progress throughout the story. Characters who I originally found to be annoying and bratty end the story in a truly transformative manner and characters who viewed the world in an idealistic sense gained so much more depth.
In an almost surprising way, this book contains so much insight and depth despite it coming off as mainly fun, money, and parties. ❤️ We explore the double standards of cheating when it’s done by a man versus a woman and how the consequences and judgment is much more severe for women.
Most outstandingly, Jenny Lee’s discussion of drug use was incredibly well-done. We explore how drug use is such a nuanced topic but also how it’s prevalent among our society whether it’s for fun at parties to handle academic stress. We tiptoe the fine line between what is seemingly harmless to how it can devastate a family.
“A boy she loved with all her heart had loved her more. And she deserved it.”
At the same time, while we explore Anna and Steven’s experience as part of 1% elite, we also see the impact of their half-Korean heritage coming into play. Even as part of the uber-elite, they’re not immune to racism and judgment.
Reading this book was like eating dark chocolate—you literally just can’t stop but you love it so much. 🍫 It’s comfortingly sweet and tragically dark, and in the end, you’re left with a hauntingly beautiful yet bittersweet feeling in your chest. (The author’s note high-key made me cry.)
I sincerely hope you decide to give this book a try because I enjoyed it so so much. 🥺❤️
“I need to be where you are”
Content/Trigger Warnings:
Blog (Read By Tiffany) | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Bloglovin
May 9, 2020
I could have liked this. A fluffy, rich kid, Anna Karenina retelling.
The only things I really liked were the diversity, pups, and the LGBT reps (although I wish there was more focus on those characters).
The good news for the people who haven’t read Anna Karenina is that you really don’t need to in order to read this book, because it’s not that similar, and the well-known ending is altered.
The whole time though, I was frustrating with being told and not shown everything, and given way too much backstory for every tiny interaction. The same voice is also used for all the characters POV, so it really does feel like the author is going into each character’s head and giving her detached summary of their thoughts and feelings. It felt weird and I couldn’t ever get into the story because it seemed like I was just looking at it from far away. It also makes the characters all feel flat, including our protagonist, who we are constantly told is well liked but seems kind of bland and moralistically questionable without making that part any fun. Wooden dialogue didn’t help.
Also, the meat of the story is supposed to be Anna and Alexia and the struggles of their great love affair. It didn’t seem epic, or especially romantic. Anna cheating on her boyfriend with Alexia (which is honestly the biggest case of instalove I’ve read in a while, lacking the heart that Anna Karenina had) seems so silly. It just comes off as a vapid lusty affair that could have been easily dealt with immediately. Also, for there to be conflict, we should have gotten some sense of the lovable qualities of Alexander, and that is really never attempted. He’s just a robotic caricature and it’s impossible to imagine Anna dating him, or for him to be some young member of society with legend status.
Anyway, this book felt cold for lack of a better word, and it ruined the fact that the plot itself was frothy and should have been entertaining. There was potential but I didn’t think it delivered.
Also LOL that a dog was named Tolstoy, and it wasn’t even one of the more important dogs in the book. Interesting tribute
*special mention for Beatrice, who saved this book from a 2 star rating
The only things I really liked were the diversity, pups, and the LGBT reps (although I wish there was more focus on those characters).
The good news for the people who haven’t read Anna Karenina is that you really don’t need to in order to read this book, because it’s not that similar, and the well-known ending is altered.
The whole time though, I was frustrating with being told and not shown everything, and given way too much backstory for every tiny interaction. The same voice is also used for all the characters POV, so it really does feel like the author is going into each character’s head and giving her detached summary of their thoughts and feelings. It felt weird and I couldn’t ever get into the story because it seemed like I was just looking at it from far away. It also makes the characters all feel flat, including our protagonist, who we are constantly told is well liked but seems kind of bland and moralistically questionable without making that part any fun. Wooden dialogue didn’t help.
Also, the meat of the story is supposed to be Anna and Alexia and the struggles of their great love affair. It didn’t seem epic, or especially romantic. Anna cheating on her boyfriend with Alexia (which is honestly the biggest case of instalove I’ve read in a while, lacking the heart that Anna Karenina had) seems so silly. It just comes off as a vapid lusty affair that could have been easily dealt with immediately. Also, for there to be conflict, we should have gotten some sense of the lovable qualities of Alexander, and that is really never attempted. He’s just a robotic caricature and it’s impossible to imagine Anna dating him, or for him to be some young member of society with legend status.
Anyway, this book felt cold for lack of a better word, and it ruined the fact that the plot itself was frothy and should have been entertaining. There was potential but I didn’t think it delivered.
Also LOL that a dog was named Tolstoy, and it wasn’t even one of the more important dogs in the book. Interesting tribute
*special mention for Beatrice, who saved this book from a 2 star rating
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2020
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.25/5 Stars
Full review HERE
This was so much fun to read! I didn't know how much I needed a YA retelling of Anna Karenina until I read this one. I believe the perfect way to describe this book is to tell you to imagine a mix amongst Gossip Girl, Crazy Rich Asians and Anna Karenina. That's pretty much it and I mean this in the best way possible.
I think the author was a true master in capturing the essence of the original novel and bringing it into life into this book that's set in the 21st century. Some things were definitely over the top, but most of the time it didn't feel forced at all.
The characters were very diverse which was such a nice thing to see in a retelling of such a classic. Also, I loved the fact that the author decided to use multiple perspectives, it worked so well with the novel and it definitely kept the narration flowing.
I didn't enjoy some of Anna's family dynamics, mainly the one regarding her parents and their deep involvement in their children's lives. I won't spoil the ending, but I must say I expected a little more from it.
If you've never read Anna Karenina, you can totally read this one without feeling lost at all. You'll only miss the references, but other than that you'll be fine.
4.25/5 Stars
Full review HERE
This was so much fun to read! I didn't know how much I needed a YA retelling of Anna Karenina until I read this one. I believe the perfect way to describe this book is to tell you to imagine a mix amongst Gossip Girl, Crazy Rich Asians and Anna Karenina. That's pretty much it and I mean this in the best way possible.
I think the author was a true master in capturing the essence of the original novel and bringing it into life into this book that's set in the 21st century. Some things were definitely over the top, but most of the time it didn't feel forced at all.
The characters were very diverse which was such a nice thing to see in a retelling of such a classic. Also, I loved the fact that the author decided to use multiple perspectives, it worked so well with the novel and it definitely kept the narration flowing.
I didn't enjoy some of Anna's family dynamics, mainly the one regarding her parents and their deep involvement in their children's lives. I won't spoil the ending, but I must say I expected a little more from it.
If you've never read Anna Karenina, you can totally read this one without feeling lost at all. You'll only miss the references, but other than that you'll be fine.
May 23, 2021
Anna K was ok. A story about a group of New York high school students, with Anna K at the center, dealing with teenage drama like crushes, school, and social pressure, while also being from wealthy families, therefore shopping at Cartier for their significant others, having epic parties, traveling by private jet, and being alone often while their parents are away for business.
The story was entertaining but I didn’t love it after hearing so much hype about the book. I grew weary of the drama and the ending felt... extra dramatic? I haven’t read Anna Karenina so I’m unable to make comparisons.
I probably would’ve liked this more as a young adult, which I know is the core intended audience, though some of the behavior felt like a reach, even for kids in high school from affluent families.
The story was entertaining but I didn’t love it after hearing so much hype about the book. I grew weary of the drama and the ending felt... extra dramatic? I haven’t read Anna Karenina so I’m unable to make comparisons.
I probably would’ve liked this more as a young adult, which I know is the core intended audience, though some of the behavior felt like a reach, even for kids in high school from affluent families.
May 29, 2020
This book reminded me so much of gossip girl. I just wasn't a fan of any of the characters. They all felt a little too whining for me. They acted so immature but dealt with older teen issues. Just wasnt for me. 🤷♀️
Read
February 7, 2020DNF @ 30%
Trashy and messy are two things that I thrive on because it's my life but this was more like a dumpster fire that I needed to back away from.
I went into this with an open mind because it was compared to things that I’ve never read or watched before. So I tried to stay positive but shortly after I started reading this I had an epiphany. It came crystal clear why I never read or watched those things. It’s because I don’t do the rich acting like asshats and cheating. This was full of it and that was a hard no from me.
I get that rich teenagers will act like spoiled little monsters with loads of booze and drugs but I just couldn’t handle all the cheating. They all knew it was wrong and mentioned so but did it anyway. I can’t roll my eyes hard enough.
Anna K was full of diverse characters and that was amazing but the story was just awful and boring. I would think twice about reading this even though the cover is amazing.
Trashy and messy are two things that I thrive on because it's my life but this was more like a dumpster fire that I needed to back away from.
I went into this with an open mind because it was compared to things that I’ve never read or watched before. So I tried to stay positive but shortly after I started reading this I had an epiphany. It came crystal clear why I never read or watched those things. It’s because I don’t do the rich acting like asshats and cheating. This was full of it and that was a hard no from me.
I get that rich teenagers will act like spoiled little monsters with loads of booze and drugs but I just couldn’t handle all the cheating. They all knew it was wrong and mentioned so but did it anyway. I can’t roll my eyes hard enough.
Anna K was full of diverse characters and that was amazing but the story was just awful and boring. I would think twice about reading this even though the cover is amazing.
January 11, 2022
Maybe a 3.5 stars?
This book is basically Gossip Girl & Anna Karenina mixed together. I read this one immediately after finishing Anna Karenina and I think that added to a lot of my enjoyment of this book - seeing how Jenny Lee modernized the story but stayed so true to the original. There is a LOT of really casual drug use by these high school students, which was jarring and slightly off putting at times but I am also a pretty straight edged person 😅
And no spoilers, but the ending of the book was really surprising and I'm definitely intrigued enough to pick up the sequel to see what the author does with the rest of the story.
Watch me discuss this more in my December wrap up: https://youtu.be/xQg8xt0Or3Q
This book is basically Gossip Girl & Anna Karenina mixed together. I read this one immediately after finishing Anna Karenina and I think that added to a lot of my enjoyment of this book - seeing how Jenny Lee modernized the story but stayed so true to the original. There is a LOT of really casual drug use by these high school students, which was jarring and slightly off putting at times but I am also a pretty straight edged person 😅
And no spoilers, but the ending of the book was really surprising and I'm definitely intrigued enough to pick up the sequel to see what the author does with the rest of the story.
Watch me discuss this more in my December wrap up: https://youtu.be/xQg8xt0Or3Q
November 29, 2019
I won this via goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own.
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Pure escapism fun:) Sometimes you just want to turn off your brain and go with it.
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Pure escapism fun:) Sometimes you just want to turn off your brain and go with it.
April 3, 2020
2.5 stars
This book could have been good, great even, if it weren't for the ending. Not because of what happened, but because of how it happened.
This book was described to me as a mixture of "Gossip Girl" and "Crazy Rich Asians" and started off very promising. It was entertaining and I enjoyed reading and learning about the characters. It was slow going at times but still mostly managed to keep me wanting more.
But then the ending happened and while I appreciate that a retelling has to stick to some kind of script for most of its major plot points, it should have been done so much better. Something I already noticed throughout the book was that while this was set in the late 2010s, the characters often showed a flair for the dramatic and a kind of pathos that was more reminiscent of the late 19th century setting of the original. That juxtaposition wasn't always glaringly obvious, but by the end couldn't be overlooked anymore. Characters go from being calm and agreeable to yelling and hitting the person they had just told they love in order to bring about a certain plot point. It was often clumsily done and rang very false.
Overall, this book felt confused to me. Like it couldn't quite get the story from the past into the present. And the end of the day I was just kind of disappointed.
(edited to add: there was also a weirdly huge amount of bad grammar, missing prepositions and bad comma placement in this book. I think Jenny Lee needs a better editor)
This book could have been good, great even, if it weren't for the ending. Not because of what happened, but because of how it happened.
This book was described to me as a mixture of "Gossip Girl" and "Crazy Rich Asians" and started off very promising. It was entertaining and I enjoyed reading and learning about the characters. It was slow going at times but still mostly managed to keep me wanting more.
But then the ending happened and while I appreciate that a retelling has to stick to some kind of script for most of its major plot points, it should have been done so much better. Something I already noticed throughout the book was that while this was set in the late 2010s, the characters often showed a flair for the dramatic and a kind of pathos that was more reminiscent of the late 19th century setting of the original. That juxtaposition wasn't always glaringly obvious, but by the end couldn't be overlooked anymore. Characters go from being calm and agreeable to yelling and hitting the person they had just told they love in order to bring about a certain plot point. It was often clumsily done and rang very false.
Overall, this book felt confused to me. Like it couldn't quite get the story from the past into the present. And the end of the day I was just kind of disappointed.
(edited to add: there was also a weirdly huge amount of bad grammar, missing prepositions and bad comma placement in this book. I think Jenny Lee needs a better editor)
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