Julia Song is Undatable

by Susan Lee

Review

Julia Song Is Undatable is the kind of rom-com that makes you laugh, cringe, and nod along because… yep, been there. Julia is a total powerhouse — the kind of woman who has her professional life down to a science — but when it comes to dating? Let’s just say her love life is running on “error 404: connection not found.” What really hit me was how, despite being absolutely crushing it in her career, her family still only seems to care about when she’s getting married and why she hasn’t yet. The constant commentary from her well-meaning but relentless relatives felt both hilarious and a little too real.

There’s something so painfully relatable about watching Julia bend over backward to make everyone happy — her parents, her coworkers, even herself — only to realize that everyone has a different idea of what happiness actually looks like. It’s chaotic, it’s heartfelt, and it’s exactly what makes this story so entertaining. At times it feels like everyone’s playing emotional musical chairs, but somehow, by the end, the music stops and everyone’s finally sitting in the right seat. And of course, because it’s a romance, we get that sweet, satisfying happily ever after we were rooting for all along.

As Susan Lee’s first adult novel, this one absolutely delivers. The humor and warmth that defined her YA stories are still here, just aged up with a sharper edge and a touch more sass. The banter sparkles, the family drama feels authentic, and Julia herself is a mess in the most lovable way. I’m officially invested in whatever Susan Lee writes next — if this is her adult debut, consider me fully on board for the rom-com renaissance she’s ushering in.