Book giveaway: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
by javabeans
This is a little out of the ordinary for us here at Dramabeans, but we thought we’d offer it up to you guys anyway: We have three copies to give away of a young adult novel, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, written by Korean-American author (and drama fan) Jenny Han, which features a Korean-American heroine and is centered around a contract romance.
This is not a book about K-dramas, but it sounded kinda right up our alley so girlfriday and I gave it a read and both really enjoyed it. I found it sweet and clever (I love young adult novels, I love romance, and I love dramas—the book hit my sweet spots), and we’re happy to have free copies to send your way for three interested Dramabeans readers.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before features a half-Korean high school student as the protagonist, Lara Jean; she’s the middle sister of three, and together they call themselves the “Song girls” after their mother’s surname. The plot gets going when Lara Jean’s love letters—the ones she writes to boys she’s been in love with, never intending for them to be sent—get mailed accidentally (horrors!), and what ensues is a really cute, funny story of contract dating, love triangles, bickering couples, sisterly bonding, and growing up.
Aside from the cute romance and touching family moments, I have to say I was really happy to read about a Korean heroine in a novel where her Koreanness is a clear presence without the novel being all about her being Korean, if that makes sense. And despite not having anything explicitly to do with Korean dramas, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t picturing a few dramaland actors in the roles, thinking this would make a cute TV series.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
Leave a comment below, sharing your favorite K-drama that includes contract dating. (Author Jenny names My Name is Kim Sam Soon as hers. I might have to pick Dal Ja’s Spring for mine, even though it only barely qualifies for contract dating.)
Be sure to leave a valid email address, since that’s how we’ll get in touch with winners.
Deadline: Thursday, April 17, at midnight PST. We’ll announce winners shortly thereafter.
If you’d like to buy the book instead, it was just released by Simon & Schuster today so it’s now available.
(This post is not sponsored and we weren’t given anything to do it; we just liked the book and were offered the chance to give it away to our readers. And who could complain about free books?)
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1 fushunlyn
April 15, 2014 at 8:10 AM
full house :)
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2 elsiepin
April 15, 2014 at 8:11 AM
F
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elsiepin
April 15, 2014 at 8:14 AM
Sorry! phone when crazy and decided to post when I was barely starting to type...
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Peeps
April 15, 2014 at 8:27 AM
HAHAHHAHAHAHA!!! I thought you were gonna curse!
Of all letters...
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3 Pluto
April 15, 2014 at 8:11 AM
Wow a Korean American writer.Story sounds interesting.
My favorite one is Dal Ja's Spring too.I really loved that drama and the lead actors >w<.I want Lee min Ki back in Drama land.
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owl 🦉 🫰
April 15, 2014 at 10:57 AM
I just watched An Ordinary Couple last night with Lee Min ki (gooddrama dot net has it subbed). He actually seemed younger in this movie than he did in Dal Ja's Spring (except for the last 10 minutes when it was a couple years later). Let me know what you think if you watch it. I'll comment on Friday's OT>
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4 nozomi
April 15, 2014 at 8:11 AM
Not to court javabeans's favor but one of my all time K-dramas that included contract dating is Dal Ja's Spring.
This drama is what brought me to this site, so many years ago...
Note:
I feel so old... hahaha
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Fashoru
April 15, 2014 at 11:30 AM
I never saw that one. Is it really good?
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sartorius
April 15, 2014 at 1:47 PM
IT. WAS. AWESOME.!!!!
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nozomi
April 15, 2014 at 10:58 PM
it's really good. i really liked it. it's not a perfect drama but there is a certain appeal to it that i really love.
:)
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coby
April 16, 2014 at 4:56 AM
its awesome even the OST! I still play it!
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Fashoru
April 16, 2014 at 12:55 PM
Im going to have to watch it now!!! Lee min ki is so handsomee
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5 p1nky
April 15, 2014 at 8:11 AM
Full House!! First ever K-drama I've watched and it lasts deep impression to me. Hopefully I'll win! ^^v!
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6 froyo123
April 15, 2014 at 8:11 AM
The book sounds right up my alley! :)
I would love to give it a read!
My favorite contract marriage drama would have to be an old classic, Full House. The two characters seemed like an unlikely pair but somehow made it work at the end. It saddened me when the girl fell for the guy first and the guy was stupid but when the reverse happened, haha! It was an enjoyable drama overall back in the days when the Hallyu wave was in its infancy.
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7 kanz
April 15, 2014 at 8:11 AM
Is Full House can be considered contract dating? Or contract dating and contract marriage are the same?
Then, my favorite will be Full House.
I have fond memories about it. It was one the first kdramas that I watch. It makes me Rain and Song Hye Kyo fan and I even ship them in RL back then.
I love their silly and cute bickering and eventually their falling in love.
Although the show is full of cliches and the conflict is manufactured I will still watch it whenever it aired on my TV network.
Their chemistry is cute and adorable and I still remember Rain sang Three Bears song. So adorable!
Oh, and I still listen to the OST.
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8 elsiepin
April 15, 2014 at 8:12 AM
For me its two, Goong and Full House :)
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9 faith
April 15, 2014 at 8:14 AM
It would definitely have to be My Name is Kim Sam Soon for me. One of my firsts n all-time favourite k-drama that started me on the 'un-returnable' path to k-drama addiction. Haha.
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10 fab
April 15, 2014 at 8:15 AM
Mine is Goong! Fake marriage with a hot royal... that didn't last long. Good memories. Coffee Prince comes in second!
Give me the book!
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11 may20
April 15, 2014 at 8:15 AM
Secret Garden :)
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Peeps
April 15, 2014 at 8:30 AM
Heh? There was a contract marriage in there?
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12 Brasslefrat
April 15, 2014 at 8:15 AM
I have to say Coffee Prince!
Funny thing is, my sister talked about this book last week and how she would love to give it a read. I didn't know it was about a Korean girl till now!
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13 Amiaw
April 15, 2014 at 8:15 AM
The 1st shop of Coffee Prince. It's my all-time favourite!
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14 may20
April 15, 2014 at 8:16 AM
Secret Garden. <3
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15 Lily Jones
April 15, 2014 at 8:16 AM
Okay, pick me, pick me. My high school students approached me years ago and we have a Hallyu Wave club on campus. My students would love reading this book! I'll donate it to the library so all the students can enjoy. My fav contract dating show is Kim Sam Soon as well. Why not buy a house with the earnings? I liked the lead character until he slapped his ex-girlfriend. *deep sigh* That scene never sat well with me. I really don't enjoy seeing characters being slapped on screen. But, as for dating contracts, Kim Sam Soon had a good one.
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16 My N.
April 15, 2014 at 8:19 AM
My favorite contract marriage/dating drama is Creating Destiny with Eugene. I found it an enjoyable and funny with not too much melo going on. ^ ^
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17 Rowena
April 15, 2014 at 8:19 AM
My favorite K-drama that includes contract dating would also be My Name is Kim Sam Soon. It was my first K-drama and what got me hooked on them in the first place. Thanks for the opportunity!
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18 Zo
April 15, 2014 at 8:19 AM
Hi javabeans. I`m from Mongolia! I really love to read your posts! Thank you for all your hard work. My favorite contract dating korean drama is The accidental couple with Kim ah joong and Hwang jung min. At first i just thought it was one of cliche korean contract marriage drama, also i didn`t know the main actor at all! Then i just checked out first episode and fell in love with it. I loved the main guy`s sincere love for the woman. Furthermore loved the sister/ brother dynamics. I`d be really appreciated if you could give me the book. :)
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miszmuja
April 15, 2014 at 11:00 PM
second to that!! i was sobbing loudly at the thought of good man like Hwang Jung Min character is exist. (psst, i'm from Malaysia..)
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19 Katie
April 15, 2014 at 8:19 AM
Is Personal Taste acceptable? lol...I like cheesy dramas.
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20 Rowena
April 15, 2014 at 8:22 AM
My favorite K-drama that includes contract dating would also be My Name Is Kim Sam Soon. It was my first one and launched me into total K-drama love. Thanks for the opportunity!
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21 Anna
April 15, 2014 at 8:22 AM
"My Name is Kim Sam Soon" - first drama I ever watched. Got hooked immediately. :)
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22 Nina Simone
April 15, 2014 at 8:22 AM
Mine has to be secret garden!!
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23 FSGirl
April 15, 2014 at 8:22 AM
Lie to Me
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24 Nodame
April 15, 2014 at 8:22 AM
I loved "My Name is Kim Sam Soon" I did enjoy Oh DalJa's spring thanks to Dramabeans. But Kim Sam Soon singlehandedly watched 6 times . No other K drama have I watched that many times up until now!
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25 Reinanaa
April 15, 2014 at 8:23 AM
My name is kim sam soon is probably also my favorite contract dating/marriage drama. Although, if 쾌걸춘향 (sassy girl choon hyang? I forget the english title exactly) counts, I'd say that one was also memorable, but my opinion of that drama has definitely fell, as rewatching dramas definitely makes me think twice about how I rank them. I think I may have to rewatch my name is kim sam soon sometime this summer lol
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26 bluemouse
April 15, 2014 at 8:24 AM
Not sure if it counts as a contract marriage, but I would say my favorite would be Sassy Girl Chunhyang!
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Chandler
April 15, 2014 at 11:57 PM
I think that counts a lot more than some of the others mentioned.
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27 aicaramba
April 15, 2014 at 8:24 AM
Mine's pretty recent... The Prime Minister and I. Talk about an official contract! Who knew a prime minister could be so cute?! <3
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28 nifemi
April 15, 2014 at 8:24 AM
For me it's Dal Ja's spring, it's what started my love of noona romances, the guy was sooooo cute. Oh personal taste too even though a kitten has more sense than the main girl
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29 Aly
April 15, 2014 at 8:26 AM
I'd have to say "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho". Their 100 day contract was so sweet!
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30 shinayame
April 15, 2014 at 8:26 AM
Bride of the Century!
It has a contract and there's dating within the contract...does it count if the guy doesn't know he's part of the contract dating?
I haven't seen Full House or Kim Sam Soon but they sound good...they're on my list, my very long, long list...
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shinayame
April 15, 2014 at 8:28 AM
I completely forgot about Prime Minister and I and Gumiho...they were both so adorable!
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31 Zo
April 15, 2014 at 8:26 AM
Hi i`m your reader from Mongolia. Thank you for all your hard work. My favorite korean contract dating/marriage drama would be Accidental couple with Kim ah joong and Hwang jung min. At first i thought it was just cliche contract marriage k drama but after the first 2 episodes i fell in love with it. It was my first time seeing Hwang jung min in drama. He won me over with his acting. His character`s earnest and sincere love for the woman, always protecting and watching her silently, doing everything for her was just great. Also sister/brother dynamics were lovely. Story about ordinary postman winning over top actress through accidental contract marriage. :). I`d be appreciated if you could give me the book. I`m really interested in it. Thank you.
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32 Goo
April 15, 2014 at 8:27 AM
Hi! I'd have to say Full House. It's my first Korean drama and I've been hooked on contract dating/marriage drama since.
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33 karisaaltar
April 15, 2014 at 8:28 AM
Like the author, I'm going to have to go with "My Name is Kim Sam Soon." It was my first "official" K-drama, the one I credit to making me a drama fan/addict.
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34 sassiestsnowqueen
April 15, 2014 at 8:29 AM
Hi Dramabeans! Thanks once again for giving all your fans another chance to win this giveaway! I've actually read the other books written by Jenny Han. She has this whole trilogy series that I absolutely adore.^^ Anyways, as for the favorite contract romance drama I have, for me, it would have to be The Prime Minister and I/The Prime Minister is Dating. It was a flawed drama, definitely. And I know that many would not agree with my choice. But I was simply so sunken into the storyline, I couldn't pull myself out. It had been a while since the last drama that really compelled me to watch it. The King 2 Hearts, City Hunter and Innocent Man really were the top dramas that I would really be able to engross myself in. And I found that The Prime Minister and I was just the cup of tea I needed for 2014. I watched the drama a bit later than it had started. I started right about when episode 10 started and woah, I was just googly-eyed the whole time I watched it. It really pulled me in. All the funny antics with the krazy-glue hand prank by Na-Ra. It was such a heartwarming and cute drama. Yes, the storyline sort of spiraled a bit for me towards the finale week, but all in all, it was the rom-com I had been waiting for. :) Thanks once again!
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jjang!
April 15, 2014 at 5:32 PM
Thanks for the heads up. I just started reading her other books :)
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35 hazuki airin
April 15, 2014 at 8:29 AM
For me its COFFEE PRINCE!!!
It's my best romcom drama FOREVER!
i love Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo chemistry, love the story, love the cast, love the interaction family on coffee shop, love the ending! I love the story without antagonist character!
i really want this couple reunite again on other drama..
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36 ticklings
April 15, 2014 at 8:30 AM
Goong/Princess Hours, I loved everything about it!! Madcap heroine, handsome princes, and hijinks abound in the palace... ♡.♡
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37 somewhereweknow
April 15, 2014 at 8:31 AM
My Name is Kim Sam-soon for sure! What's there to dislike? Kim Sun-ah, Hyunbin and Jung Ryeo-Won in a single drama!!!!
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38 danickzta
April 15, 2014 at 8:32 AM
Delightful Girl Chun-hyang~ :3
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39 Ruici Lee
April 15, 2014 at 8:33 AM
Mine's Goong. I just love how silly the drama was. The OMG LMAO moments like when Chae-Kyung couldn't bear the weight of her headdress during her wedding and wasn't able to lift her head after she bowed! Watching Chae-Kyung having the guy she likes to like her back, I used to fantasize finding my other half someday. My encouragement to myself was, if Chae-Kyung did it, so can you! Haha, such were the fantasies kdramas give me. The book sounds kinda similar to Goong, the hijinks and all. I definitely want to get my hands on one! And perhaps relive that fantasy of mine again ;)
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40 MacKenzie
April 15, 2014 at 8:34 AM
Can I say the first 60% of Prime Minister and I or is that cheating? (I try to pretend the ending just didn't happen :-) But MNIKSS is pretty awesome as well.
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41 Nghi Trieu
April 15, 2014 at 8:34 AM
My most favorite K-drama involving contract dating is Full House. It's the first one that came to my mind after reading the post. I absolutely love the drama! It's a classic and I don't mind watching it over and over again. I got to see Rain act for the first time and Song Hye Kyo is now one of my most favorite Korean actresses. Also, Full House is the first K-drama I watched and it got me into other dramas. My other favorites include Coffee Prince and Secret Garden.
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42 jaclyn
April 15, 2014 at 8:34 AM
Kim sam soon..
I love korean drama.. thats why i would like to try the book..
Is there korean manga?
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43 Requiem
April 15, 2014 at 8:35 AM
I actually don't want the book, so you can pick someone better.
And just to be different, my favorite drama with contract dating is Ojakgyo Brothers.
I do have a question, though.
What exactly do you mean by this statement?
"I have to say I was really happy to read about a Korean heroine in a novel where her Koreanness is a clear presence without the novel being all about her being Korean."
Do you mean that the main heroine is just like a regular heroine with touches of Korean culture thrown in here and there as background?
Thanks
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44 karecity
April 15, 2014 at 8:35 AM
QUE SERA SERA.
that show was different in that the contract marriage was between the male lead Tae-joo (Eric!!!) and the second female lead, and i eventually really enjoyed the 2 of them together despite them not being the OTP. they would have made a fine couple, if not for male lead being hopelessly obsessed with Eun-soo (Jung Yumi).
love this severely underrated gem of a show which hit the right notes of acting, writing and directing.
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45 Haeny
April 15, 2014 at 8:39 AM
For me, Full house is the best marriage contract drama i love most.when im in colleague, i remember buying the dvd because i want to watch the drama faster than in local television.i spend few night to watched it until the end.and watched over and over again .....,and even now i watch it again if i miss the drama.love it very much........^.^
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46 Cindersarah
April 15, 2014 at 8:40 AM
Master's Sun... It started off as a contract and turned into dating, so totally counts right? :P
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Bili Bala Pabo Bara
April 15, 2014 at 4:17 PM
If that counts, then my favourite would be My Girl by Lee Dong Wook & Lee Da Hae. Started off with contract, ends with dating=> contract dating!:D:D
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47 chara
April 15, 2014 at 8:40 AM
My name is kim sam soon!! It inspired me to chase my dreans, go to Le Cordon Bleu in paris, and be the patissiere I am today. Plus, a good looking hyun bin never hurts. :p
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48 Ssie
April 15, 2014 at 8:40 AM
Waah How come there's no mention here of Chun-Yang? So I'm gonna go ahead and say that my favourite is My Sassy Girl Chun-Yang. It holds a very, very tender spot in my heart. XD (Though Full House is what made me a romcom addict in the first place)
And may I say that I love this giveaway? I love you ladies! XD
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49 Jenny
April 15, 2014 at 8:41 AM
My favorite contract dating drama has got to be Full House. It was the first korean drama I watched way back when. It is simply a classic and so cute!
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50 Giegie
April 15, 2014 at 8:42 AM
Lover's In Paris. ^^
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