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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51 t.j
April 15, 2014 at 8:44 AM
I guess I have a soft spot for full house, which happens to be my first Korean drama.
I loved how the contract was initially made to draw clear boundaries between them but it somehow became a way to mark each other as their property (think tigers, without the peeing)
Plus, how adorable was that little chicken that rain drew on the sticky notes?
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52 uncolorings
April 15, 2014 at 8:44 AM
I really liked Coffee Prince, especially since it didn't follow the traditional contract relationship. My Name is Kim Sam Soon has been on my to-watch list for a few years now though, so I really need to go check it out. Thank you for this giveaway! ^^
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53 alishba
April 15, 2014 at 8:47 AM
Mine delightful girl choon hyang goong n full house full house take two
The novel sounds interesting i love to read
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54 Hol87
April 15, 2014 at 8:50 AM
Coffee Prince! There wasn't EXACTLY a contract, but an arrangement was made. I think it still counts. One of my all-time favorites! Thanks for the opportunity for the book! I might just have to pick it up even without the free copy ;)
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55 tinklinglass
April 15, 2014 at 8:50 AM
mine's goong, still hoping I somehow get embroiled in a contract like that ehehehe
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tinklinglass
April 15, 2014 at 8:52 AM
sorry for the double post if ya can please delete it >< it's hard posting on tiny devices with fat fingers
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56 shaynanigans
April 15, 2014 at 8:50 AM
For a contract dating drama, I loved Full House.
Another one I really liked (and I may be the only one who did) was Mary Stayed Out all Night. The contract dating and the fake marriage, plus the the shared dating between the two male leads were a lot of fun.
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57 Ben
April 15, 2014 at 8:52 AM
My Name is Kim Sam Soon
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58 modest-goddess
April 15, 2014 at 8:55 AM
DalJa's Spring
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59 longleggedmozzies
April 15, 2014 at 8:55 AM
The Accidental Couple.. Hwang jung min's 1st drama.. oso know as the fool love or something.. love it.. he wasn't handsome.. but he was so enamored and so in awe of the star from the get go. It was a interesting contract dating or marriage with a bonus sibling intervention from both side ..
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60 Sushi
April 15, 2014 at 8:55 AM
Delightful girl chunhyang - all the way
My all time favourite kdrama of all time, it was actually the first one I watched and the one that got me into the whole asian drama craze. My cousin had it dubbed in Chinese on CDs at the time, gosh, that was such a long time ago. The hijinks were hilarous but heartwarming, and although my love for the show calmed slightly towards the end (ugh angst), overall I still adored the show. Getting married because everyone thought you *spoiler* slept with each other sounds ridiculous now that I look back on it, but at the time I was literally rolling around on the floor laughing.
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61 Lenny
April 15, 2014 at 8:57 AM
Favorite contract dating? My mind went directly to Full House!!
I've never watched Dal Ja's Spring, and seeing that many beannies here love it, I guess I'll give it a try!
I hope someone in the K-drama industries saw this giveaway post, and decided to make a K-drama out of the book. From what I read in your synopsis above, it sounds so K-drama already.
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62 ginni
April 15, 2014 at 8:57 AM
Hello! There are many k-dramas which involve contract dating /marriages like full house, goong , full house take2, etc etc but my favourite is recently watched prime minister & i, not only because of cute leads but its overall plot & premise! I loved that show. Though they should hv done some kind of fan service in the final episodes :P
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63 Jin Y
April 15, 2014 at 8:57 AM
Secret Garden!!
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64 aramint
April 15, 2014 at 8:57 AM
My favourite will always be My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. The leads are so adorable together, with all the right amount of magic, laughter and angst for me.
And I know that you're asking for our favourite drama, but if anyone is looking for a contract dating/marriage movie, I'd recommend My Little Bride. It was sweet and funny. ^_^
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65 Gift
April 15, 2014 at 8:59 AM
My name is Kim saloon♥♡
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66 divyrus
April 15, 2014 at 9:00 AM
Full house without a doubt ! :D
Totally fell in love with kdramas!
But my favorite ever contract would be, city hunter's no touch contract!
Ah...their chemistry and their heart, totally trumps all other contract *starts giggling like a fool* :P
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67 hk
April 15, 2014 at 9:01 AM
My Delightful Girl Chun-Hyang
<3
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68 DramaDevourer
April 15, 2014 at 9:03 AM
While contract marriage is more my trope, My Name is Kim Samsoon is my favorite contract dating k-drama. And now I feel the need to watch it again, despite the lack of rewatching time available to me before finals. Agh!
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69 Gift
April 15, 2014 at 9:03 AM
I would say My name is Kim samsoon ♥♡
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70 Annie
April 15, 2014 at 9:05 AM
I'm always a sucker for contract relationships even though they're so far from realistic. My favorite contract marriage is Delightful girl Choon Hyang. That drama really sucked me into the amazing world of Korean dramas and I've been a lost soul since. Where does a girl have to look to find herself an Lee Myong Ryong? Heck, I'll settle for a Byun Hak Do, so long as he loses his possessive tendencies...
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71 Brenna
April 15, 2014 at 9:06 AM
My favorite would have to be goong or my name is Kim San soon .
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72 Mana
April 15, 2014 at 9:06 AM
When I think about contract marriages first thing that pops my mind it That Fool with Hwang Jeong Min and Kim Ah joong.
Although I haven't watched korean peninsula I really enjoyed HJM's performance as an innocent but loving postman and it was my first drama with Joo Sang Wook ^^
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73 lennah-chan
April 15, 2014 at 9:08 AM
It's somewhat a contract dating kdrama. I don't know if this qualifies but mine is My Girlfriend is a Gumiho!
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74 Diah Tricesaria
April 15, 2014 at 9:08 AM
I really really really really like Sweet 18. It was my first korean drama that i watched when i was 12 years old and still have equally huge crush on both lead actors (Han Ji-hye and Lee Dong-gun). This drama cost me lots of lots of nagging from my mother because it aired almost midnights and i kept on watching it when they played it again in local or national tv for a couple of times (on different ages, watch the second time when i was in senior highschool, watch it again the third time when i was in college. Sort of my kdrama pandora box). Love it!
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75 trishha collins
April 15, 2014 at 9:09 AM
Dear dramabeans..why isn't anybody deconstructing angel eyes..i have some exams and cant afford to watch the entire drama..and then i would be stuck in those scenes for days..please do the recap..thank you?
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76 Julia the Berkshire Beanie
April 15, 2014 at 9:10 AM
Lie to Me, if for no other reason than a coke kiss. I still have that on my wish list for things to do before I die.
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77 Florece Ann Quiles
April 15, 2014 at 9:13 AM
My favorite is Goong. This is my first loved k-dramas to watch... its like if I compared it to my real life love Goong is my first love k-drama and just like first love I watched and still think of it many times. Even I watched it many times I still have the laughter that I had when I watched it first time. So cute OTP and its super lovely.. with the costumes and the customs shown.. it so colorful that is why i love to watch it again and again.
I would love to have the book since after two years of not buying any book or novel this would be my first time to have again a book or novel and I'd love to have it from Korea. My first attempt to have a korean book was failed since it wasn't available, I'd love to have this as my first love korean book-novel.
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78 Sara Aziz
April 15, 2014 at 9:16 AM
Full House
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79 Janice
April 15, 2014 at 9:18 AM
I can't decide between Full House or My Name is Kim Sam Soon. The first introduced me to k-dramas and the latter cemented my love for it!
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80 Christina
April 15, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Full House was my first Korean drama, haha contract marriage!!! :D
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81 KimLuvv
April 15, 2014 at 9:18 AM
When you say contract dating, can it also be contract marriage?... because mines is a contract marriage one..
Anyways, my favorite contract marriage/dating drama is 1% of Anything (2003). Most people don't know this drama because it was not really popular and its a bit old but I have to admit that this drama is really good. I mean who can resist Kang Dong Won's smile!? And also you had your typical bickering couple. The best part was that this drama tied up all the ends perfectly - they got married and had kids :) One thing I love about contract marriages/dating is when the couples learn from each other and thus grow into better people. In this drama, all the characters grew up to be amazing people. If I don't win this, I'm totally buying this book because it sounds really good!! Good luck to all and thanks javabeans for telling us about this great opportunity! :)
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82 kitkat
April 15, 2014 at 9:20 AM
I'd say 'my name is kim sam soon' and 'coffee prince'. could 'master's sun' and 'lie to me' count as well? :o) the way you described the book is the same as with recaps - I wanna watch this, I wanna read this! :o) BIG hug
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83 Gabrielle
April 15, 2014 at 9:21 AM
This book sounds really interesting! My favorite contract dating drama is creating destiny with eugene
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84 redfox
April 15, 2014 at 9:21 AM
hasn´t anyone named Flower Boy Ramyun Shop? There was not exactly a contract, but Chwa did pretend to be her boyfriend. But then, she also had a husband, a dongseng and a student living with her... and all the contracts were drawn in pink crayon. although some might say Jung Il Woo is always overacting, I want to see JUST THAT in a rom-com. an over the top hilarious and a bit embarrassing, and just so ..pheeff! HOT.
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redfox
April 15, 2014 at 9:23 AM
oh, wait, there WAS an actual contract. dammit, I need to watch it again to triple-check
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85 Rowanmdm
April 15, 2014 at 9:21 AM
So hard to choose! I think I have to go with Creating Destiny. It was one of the first shows I watched with contract dating, but I also really love the way they handle things without being too over-top melo.
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86 Mj
April 15, 2014 at 9:22 AM
Prime minister and I ! A nice surprise story - involved such cute families from both side
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87 smileychedder
April 15, 2014 at 9:22 AM
my favorite is creating destiny by far! the characters had such great chemistry (and they're even married in real life) and it was just overall very cute :D
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88 Sooshi
April 15, 2014 at 9:22 AM
Interesting story plot. Always have a feel for Korean-American novels. Anyways my favorite drama that included contract dating is the recently finished, Bride of the Century!
Good luck to everyone.
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89 Alex
April 15, 2014 at 9:23 AM
Dal Ja's Spring, which was the first kdrama I ever watched, and was more than addictive enough to grab me and drag me under. ;-) I have always loved the romance trope "marriage of convenience turns into real love", and for me, the "contract dating turns to love" in this drama pushed many of the same buttons.
Kim Sam Soon was actually the drama I watched right after, and I loved that one too - but when it comes to the actual contract relationship, Dal Ja's Spring is still my number one.
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90 Denden
April 15, 2014 at 9:25 AM
Definitely my all-time favorite, My Name is Kim Sam Soon!
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91 Minah
April 15, 2014 at 9:25 AM
My Sister-in-Law is 19 (She is Nineteen)
Such a funny and cute drama. Yoo Min gets in an engagement contract with Min Jae, but we all know that the one she truly loves is Seung Jae. ;)
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92 wtlbtnotl
April 15, 2014 at 9:25 AM
Goong/Princess Hours ?
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93 dramabliss
April 15, 2014 at 9:26 AM
COFFEE PRINCE!
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94 Chhavi
April 15, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Well I would definitely say Lie To Me - as the most sweetest chemistry was shown between the leads....which I totally admire until now.The drama totally sucked me in it despite not being that great and showed a little punch of romance+comedy+emotional elements along with the sweetness and other good traits.I would definitely vote for it.
Other than that I also like Mary Stayed Out All Night and Prime Minister & I...
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95 nazz
April 15, 2014 at 9:29 AM
My Name is Kim Sam Soon; though people tends to compare them with Bridget Jones Diary but Sam Soon has special space in my heart. One of my fav scene is "a piano scene" when he hugs her and said "see, i still can hug you". That makes me think one thing "how loves in the first sight works?" .. her/his appearance? ambiance? hearts? ... but Sam Soon taught me one thing, just be yourself and you'll be loved. for real ^^
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96 Onlyne
April 15, 2014 at 9:30 AM
PM & I (with the ending I made up in my head!) bcox thats the only contract thing I watched I think!
now send me a copy please? Pretty please?
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97 Millie
April 15, 2014 at 9:31 AM
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho! Cutest K-drama and couple EVER!
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98 Robin
April 15, 2014 at 9:37 AM
Master's Sun! Both started off the relationship because they needed something from the other person didn't they? This totally counts! :)
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99 aMarga
April 15, 2014 at 9:40 AM
Family's honour. That is my one raving fave contract dating drama; for it had everything in a nutshell...giving quite defined brush strokes of *Koreana (if I may be liberal in the use of what *americana embodies) and it had drop your knickers sweet romance.
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100 zainab
April 15, 2014 at 9:43 AM
This sounds book sounds right up my alley! Hehe! Would love to read it.
My all time fave k drama on contract marriages I'd have to say is prime minister and I. Thought it was a unique take on contract marriage as not seen a k drama before on a contact marriage with the prime minister. :-P
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