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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151 Quynh
April 15, 2014 at 10:50 AM
My fav is full house .song hye kyo and rain was hilarious!
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152 annakas
April 15, 2014 at 10:51 AM
Definitely "Coffee Prince".
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153 mintiefresh
April 15, 2014 at 10:51 AM
I'm not sure if this counts, but I am going to choose Goong. I know it's not exactly contract, but it was an arranged marriage and there were also rules attached to it.
Goong was the first Korean drama I watched- when I read the summary of the drama, I was really curious. Present day +monarchy and imperial family still existing +arranged marriage= me clicking the link to the first episode and ending up with a 24 episode marathon weekend.
YEH and JJH had so much chemistry whether it be cute scenes, confrontational scenes and well...kissing scenes, lol. I really liked the AU aspect to it and just the environment caught my eyes and pulled me in.
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154 bubbbless
April 15, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Hello, from Moscow, Russia!
For me it`s King2Hearts, and My little bride ( if we can choose movie)
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155 Z
April 15, 2014 at 10:53 AM
Coffee Prince! Though I think that just barely counts as well. So also 1% of Anything.
Also, I think I heard an NPR interview with this author about her newest book and it sounded very interesting. It's a Silas Marner type story of a grouchy bookshop owner who adopts a little girl abandoned in his store. I can't remember the name. Can anyone verify if this is the same author so i can google it?
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156 kitkat
April 15, 2014 at 10:56 AM
My favorite contract drama would have to be the classic Full House. It's what got me started getting hooked on kdramas :)
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157 Tiff&Co
April 15, 2014 at 10:57 AM
Prime Minister and I!!
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158 Karyn Amado
April 15, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Can I say My Girl... Contract cousin that eventually lead to dating. I love that drama.
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159 Treasure
April 15, 2014 at 11:01 AM
Count me in please. And just case you can;t wait Amazon does have the book and in kindle format
http://www.amazon.com/All-Boys-Ive-Loved-Before-ebook/dp/B00DA9PX0A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1397584788&sr=1-1&keywords=to+all+the+boys+i%27ve+loved+before
And my favorite contract dating is also My Lovely Sam Soon. Hits all my buttons
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160 Tasha
April 15, 2014 at 11:02 AM
Dal Ja spring and personal taste and omg there are soo many, my favis masters sun <3 <3 <3, not sure if it count as a contract dating since it was a contract of a radar and a ghost seeing
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161 Carinne
April 15, 2014 at 11:06 AM
My all time favorite K-drama contract dating gotta be Coffee Prince. Hey, it counts right? A date costs $XXX, a kiss is extra, etc. LOL~ I loved the idea at the time, two guys dating (and in Korea) all in the open, LOL, it was genius during its time. Then it being a twist, one of the guy is really a girl. The world gets to return to normal again. D'aw, happy ending. Haha!
That book is calling out to moi... READ ME! ROFL~
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162 dani
April 15, 2014 at 11:12 AM
My two favorite dating/marriage contract dramas are Delightful Girl Chun Hyang and Coffee Prince. But I guess Delightful Girl will always have an extra special place in my kdrama heart coz that show is responsible for starting this whole long bittersweet obsessive relationship I have with the kdrama universe ^^
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163 mud
April 15, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Dal Ja's Spring is my favourite contract dating kdrama AND just plain ol' favourite drama of all time. So unbelievably awesome.
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164 JoyBells
April 15, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Delightful girl Chunhyang!
My first korean drama that made me a fan of Hong sister and korean dramas forever. <3
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165 Anigerla
April 15, 2014 at 11:14 AM
That Fool with awesome Hwang Jung Min and adorable Kim Ah Joong!
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166 Trisha P.
April 15, 2014 at 11:15 AM
Lie to Me.
It may not be contract dating,but i hope contract marriage still counts. :)
They probably begin their love story with a lie but in the end those lies bring them closer together and make them fall for each other. And who may not forget the famous ColaKiss of Kenneth Hyun and Angela Gong ( their characyer names here in the Philippines) ( ˘ ³˘)♥
This the reason why I begin to have an interest for Kang Ji Hwan and this drama makes ne love more Yoon Eun Hye. Oh,I am also a slient shipper of this two,the HwanHye couple. <3. (♡˙︶˙♡)
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167 Cheryl Lowery
April 15, 2014 at 11:18 AM
Lie to Me
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168 Samantha
April 15, 2014 at 11:20 AM
The Prime Minister and I ... Although I wish the ending scene wasn't so open-ended.
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169 Gork
April 15, 2014 at 11:21 AM
Of course it's gotta be Delightful Girl Choon Hyang! Probably the first contract marriage drama I watched and it was the best and such a fresh and funny idea at the time. Also the first Hong Sisters drama too!
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170 Kimiejim
April 15, 2014 at 11:22 AM
COFFEE PRINCE~ *boom boom*! Haha I don't know if that's considered seeing as it only lasted a few eps... But I loved loved loved it. If not, then I would have to say creating destiny.
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171 DJMuenchen
April 15, 2014 at 11:22 AM
Coffee Prince ftw!, though History of a Salaryman had the illusion of contract marriage if that counts :)
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172 Maryam Jameelah
April 15, 2014 at 11:22 AM
Contrac girlfriend ermmm. To many to chose from bit for me its Lovers in Paris
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173 SD
April 15, 2014 at 11:23 AM
"Rules of Love"
Well all the more famous ones have been mentioned by all so went for a less famous one, may not be very good but it was one of my initial dramas so I have a soft spot :)
Honorable mentions:
1) My girlfriend is a Gumiho (human-gumiho-bead-thingy-make everyone act selfish then selfless-contract)
2) Rooftop cat (old school I know-and not necessarily contract contract)
3) MY GIRL came to mind first the I realized it was contract sibling (shudders just got the hibby jibbies)
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174 Amy
April 15, 2014 at 11:25 AM
My favorite is most definitely full house. :)
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175 picurzsu
April 15, 2014 at 11:26 AM
My favourite contract dating/marriage pair is from The Princess' Man. The marriage between Hong Soo-Hyun and Lee Min-Woo was so sweet (and sad too).
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176 skachko
April 15, 2014 at 11:26 AM
Master's Sun, ahhh....such a good drama. Their chemistry was crackling!
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177 Clara
April 15, 2014 at 11:28 AM
Delightful Girl Choon-hyang!
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178 Carolina
April 15, 2014 at 11:30 AM
One of the my first dramas Lie to Me. Omg they had an awesome soda kiss!!!
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179 Angela
April 15, 2014 at 11:31 AM
This book seems to be a drama waiting to be made. And I hope someone realizes that does it!
My favorite drama with a marriage contract is Full House. I know it was a big part of the Hallyu wave when it came out but I had no idea about all that at the time I watched it. I guess I have the Hallyu wave to thank for it being on youtube with english subtitles.
I enjoy contract marriages in dramas but I don't think they are done well most of the time. And Full House is probably a good example of a flawed marriage contract drama. But fortunately for me, this drama is close to my heart because it was my first. I didn't know any of the actors in the drama so I was able to just be there in the presence of the characters and the storyline. I love bickering, dislike turning into like, and cohabiters turning in to more and that's exactly what's in this drama.
It really hit a sweet spot for me when their general dislike for each other turned into concern. I love the scenes when one of them is waiting for the other to come home and stays up until they hear them coming up the driveway. It's sweet, innocent, and shows the simplest form of love. It's always the little things that get me.
I'll never turn into a viewer who hates seeing this drama trope over and over again. Keep the marriage contract dramas coming, dramaland! You have a faithful viewer in me!
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180 indek
April 15, 2014 at 11:31 AM
Dal Ja’s Spring is probably my favorite contract romance drama. I love Lee Min Ki, and he is pretty adorable in that drama.
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181 anglvue
April 15, 2014 at 11:32 AM
Flower Boy Ramyun Shop
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182 MWHK
April 15, 2014 at 11:33 AM
Full House! one of my very first dramas, like several people have said before me, and one of my favorite :)
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183 Kyriee
April 15, 2014 at 11:39 AM
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho!!!!! I laughed and cried and cursed and yelled- what a clever use of a contract, weaved into the story through mythology. And really, as each day passed in the Gumiho-dramaland, nearing closer and closer to the hundred-day mark, my heart was unlawfully ridden with all this dread, anticipation, and suspense.
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184 Thu
April 15, 2014 at 11:42 AM
My favourite would have to be Wonderful Life. It was also my first Korean drama. And since then I've been hooked! It's one of those dramas I can always rewatch ^^.
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185 Emily
April 15, 2014 at 11:44 AM
Mine is definitely the Prime Minister & I!
Never have been a fan of cheesy flicks like that but I love it when there is the most adorable child actor who brings the two mains together! I am also really into political ceremonial crap so it was definitely high in my books!
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186 Mia
April 15, 2014 at 11:44 AM
Definitely Goong <3
One of the first dramas I watched it was super duper cute :D
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187 canadianroyalty
April 15, 2014 at 11:44 AM
delightful girl choon-hyang <3 an oldie, but I could watch it over and over again (:
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188 Nini
April 15, 2014 at 11:46 AM
1% of Anything. Kang Dong Won needs to return to dramaland
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189 Chaz
April 15, 2014 at 11:46 AM
Prime Minister and I
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190 Vera
April 15, 2014 at 11:47 AM
I really liked Prime Minister and I ^^
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191 Sue Odoom
April 15, 2014 at 11:54 AM
Really love Kim Sam Soon but I'll definitely have to go with My little bride (first kmovie i ever owned - birthday gift from the bestie in 2006) and My Wonderful life (the drama that inducted me into the world of kdramas back in 2006). These two are so near and dear to my heart due to the above reasons. My wonderful life may not be an outright contract drama but it delves into the territory I'd say. Thanks for this giveaway. I really hope I win! Haha.
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192 laura
April 15, 2014 at 11:55 AM
My favorite is Full House! Still one of my top fav kdramas!
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193 Hannah
April 15, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Well, despite watching a ton of dramas, I would have to go with the generic My Name is Kim Sam Soon because that drama was utter win and I actually remember it lol. The book sounds interesting, primarily because I'm Korean and reading about a Korean American protagonist sounds interesting lol. Thank you to to both javabeans and girlfriday for always working so hard!
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194 Cynthia B.
April 15, 2014 at 11:57 AM
My favorite drama of all times... all kiddings aside
My name is Kim Sam Soon!
I bought this drama over 3 times on dvd. My made my family and friends watch it.
My friend gave me the Miss Piggy doll for my birthday a couple years ago.
Speaking of birthdays...My birthday is April 16th! This book would be a perfect belated birthday gift!
Thank you for all your time
P.S. I love your website! I go on it everyday!
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195 termas
April 15, 2014 at 12:05 PM
Gosh, it seems like there are so many dramas that somehow incorporate contract dating... I think I have to go with My Name is Kim Sam Soon.
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196 Kimberly
April 15, 2014 at 12:07 PM
If I went for the long shot, I would go for City Hunter with all of its small subplot contracts. But otherwise, I have to say My Name is Kim Sam Soon--I will always have a soft spot for it.
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197 Moonmoon
April 15, 2014 at 12:08 PM
I am torn between "The Accidental Couple" and "Goong". I liked the first one mainly because it has the awesome Hwang Jung Min and that despite having what I find were lackluster performances from Kim Ah Joong ang Joo Sang Wook, I could not stop watching it because I want to see more of the adorable Dongbaek.
But, "Goong" will still be number one in my heart just because it is my first Korean drama love and it has all the elements a drama needs to get all those teens and teens at hearts hooked. Years have passed but I would still daydream about Shin and Chaekyung...and alfred. :)
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198 KDrama Addict
April 15, 2014 at 12:08 PM
Creating Destiny with Eugene and Ki Tae Young. It's extra sweet since they ended up getting married in real life ?
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199 Kim
April 15, 2014 at 12:09 PM
My favorite was Lie to Me. It was the second drama I watched and I fell in love with the female lead's spunky goofyness. And who can forget the Coke scene! I'm actually an aspiring writer and I'd love to see how the author incororporates kdrama troupes into an American setting. Sounds like a great read! Please pick me!!!❤
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200 sephora
April 15, 2014 at 12:12 PM
For me it has to be Creating Destiny, I watched this drama at the beginning of my journey into the dramaland (and I hope that this is one of those journeys that never ends, it's great here, but you probably know that :)) anyway as I was new to, well pretty much everything, it was really difficult at first reading subs and watching what happens on the screen. But as the story was progressing so was my skill.
I know I went off the course so let me get back to why I liked this drama. To be honest I started to watch it because of Ki Tae Young, but then the story got me too. Including almost all of the characters, some of then were really unlikable.
And the scene where he went to Australia to get Sang Eun back was perfect, I for sure would want someone to fly all those miles just to get me *already fantasizing* as was the end, really sweet, it was one of those dramas I was really satisfied how it ended
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