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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451 ava
April 15, 2014 at 10:16 PM
Full House! :)
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452 bd2
April 15, 2014 at 10:22 PM
So - are any of the "love letters" addressed to an Asian or half-Asian guy?
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453 ladc
April 15, 2014 at 10:24 PM
My pick would be "My Girl'. I loved how it began as a family member to falling in love and being involve in a intertwined contract relationship. It was a well-made and heart aching drama that left a great impression for many years. Thank you for this opportunity! :)
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454 JustMe
April 15, 2014 at 10:26 PM
I love Full House to the fullest :) hilarious but also romantic.plus you can see gorgeous Song Hye Kyo and Rain.their chemistry...love it!
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455 moonlead
April 15, 2014 at 10:26 PM
Full House! <3
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456 RAC
April 15, 2014 at 10:27 PM
Full House!! :)
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457 ebee
April 15, 2014 at 10:28 PM
Dalja is an old fav!
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458 E
April 15, 2014 at 10:37 PM
Couple or Trouble. It's not exactly contract dating (but close enough!).
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459 Frannie T
April 15, 2014 at 10:48 PM
My favorite contract dating drama is Prime Minister and I. It was so cute hahaha but I like a lot of contract dating dramas because I always want to know how the writers pull the characters through it keke
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460 Jennifer Yoo
April 15, 2014 at 10:48 PM
Mine would have to be Goong. It was my first ever K-drama. ^_^ Thank you for hosting the giveaway~
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461 Eliza Bennet
April 15, 2014 at 11:01 PM
Full House
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462 Jat
April 15, 2014 at 11:02 PM
Wow now this is hard. I have many dramas in my list from full house, sassy girl, MNKSS, wonderful life. But I'm gonna pick the recent one, Prime minister and I. I am not annoyed by any of the main characters and their bickerings coz that happen a lot no matter how hot that gus is. Plus that PM sews!
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463 jliann
April 15, 2014 at 11:04 PM
Yay giveaway!
My favourite contract-dating drama would be City Hunter... even if you kinda have to squint. But they DID have that one sequence where Kim Na Na named all the different body parts Yoon Sung could touch...for a fee.
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464 Sarah
April 15, 2014 at 11:10 PM
Although I've loved many of the contract relationship k-dramas (full house, sweet 18 etc.), my two favs would have to be My Name is Kim Sam Soon and Goong (although goong is a contract marriage not, dating haha). MNIKSS had such a fun otp, and even though the second female lead was quite annoying, she was played really nicely by Jung Ryeo Won, and Daniel Henney was quite good too. Obviously Kim Sun Ah and Hyun Bin are always fabulous in everything :P I think what I liked best though, was the fact that it felt so relatable. The cinematography, dialogue and acting felt really natural for the most part. I mean who can't love a drama with a lead actress that can't commit to a diet haha.
And Goong will always be dear to me as one of my first k-dramas and one of the biggest reasons I kept watching k-dramas in general :)
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465 sura
April 15, 2014 at 11:14 PM
I love Jenny Hans books! The summer I turned pretty qseries is one of my favorite trilogies!!! My kdrama contract favorite has to be The Prime Minister and I it's so cute and witty just like Jenny's writing :)
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466 sillysunshine
April 15, 2014 at 11:16 PM
I love my name is Kim Sam Soon. I have to check the book out on amazon. I've done a lot less watching k drama because I've been reading YAs to NAs.
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467 Yi-Cheng
April 15, 2014 at 11:18 PM
My favourite contract dating drama is My Girlfriend is a Gumiho! Love the Gumiho and love Lee Seung Gi!
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468 yellow
April 15, 2014 at 11:19 PM
send it my way!
Dancing queen did it for me (Dalja's phone ringtone) and of course Chae Rim I am A DalJa myself that's why i can so relate with Dalja's Spring, Not only was she a fashionista in that drama but she made lee min ki fall in love with her ekekekke!
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469 Pepper
April 15, 2014 at 11:20 PM
I am a fan of your site (though I've never commented before). It is not the most popular of dramas but my favorite show involving contractual dating/marriage is 1% of Anything. I like it for its simplicity and pureness. But most importantly, that particular drama unveiled for me the expectations of a woman who marries into a traditional Korean family. You see, I'm Chinese and my Korean mother-law is definitely set in her old ways. I had no idea you had to buy furniture and a ring when you marry into the family! NO IDEA! If I had just watched 1% of Anything before marriage, I would have been a much happier newlywed. :P
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470 Olivia
April 15, 2014 at 11:21 PM
Mine is Wonderful Life (원더풀 라이프). Kim Jae Won and Eugene as contract marriage couple and the cute Jung Da Bin as their daughter Han Shin Bi. Really like that drama.
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471 cjc
April 15, 2014 at 11:27 PM
Right now, it's Queen In Hyun's Man. I just love the story. And the drama has Kim Bung-do ... enough said.
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472 Jessica
April 15, 2014 at 11:32 PM
Favourite K-Movie featuring Contract Dating: 100 Days with Mr Arrogant
Favourite K-Drama featuring Contract Dating: My Name is Kim Sam Soon
Thanks for the giveaway!
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473 Josie
April 15, 2014 at 11:36 PM
Full House <3
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474 pastmidnite
April 15, 2014 at 11:41 PM
I loved Dal Ja's character in Dal Ja's Spring, and I laughed so hard and really enjoyed watching Full House Take 2 (I know, probably a minority here, but what can I do, it's No Min Woo), but for my fave dating contract drama I have to pick My Name is Kim Sam Soon. It's my first kdrama, THE drama that made my love how koreans speak (oh, ok, the first time I watched it, it was dubbed, didn't have the same impression with when I watched it raw the second time). And it's not only about contract dating, it also featured noona romance! Yummy! :D Now, my only hope is that DB wouldn't mind sending the book aalll the way across the pacific ocean...
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475 eleanor
April 15, 2014 at 11:47 PM
Contract marriages & dating!!! My favourite K-drama trope ever!!! And now I don't know how to pick one...I would also have to say My Name is Kim Samsoon, but I have started watching My Delightful Girl Choon-hyang and I think it might end up coming in second or so.
Thank you so much for doing a giveaway like this! ❤
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476 Bonnie
April 15, 2014 at 11:49 PM
Full House! =)
One of the first k-dramas I watched!
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477 black_coffee
April 15, 2014 at 11:57 PM
If we're talking about contracts in all its glory.. FULL HOUSE baby! Hands and feet down!! hehehe
Aside from the physical existence of a contract, the bittersweet romance brought by the do's and don'ts they wrote in the contract made Bi and Song Hye Kyo's love story a top hit and a cause of envy for many young girls who were pretty much tired of seeing nice, pretty guys. (Sweet jacka**es are a thing now, I think. Although at times, I pretty much want to strangle Bi and his honorable ways). There were some dragging moments but the sweet bickering really gets to you heart and soul. Really love the part where Bi bought flowers for Hye Kyo and the three bear song - I memorized it, actions and all. hehehe
Note: I suggest you also watch the Thai Version. They stuck with the plot but made changes that I think were appropriate and CUTE! Aside from that, the leads - Aom and Mike - were adorable in playing their roles individually and together.
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478 JH
April 16, 2014 at 12:02 AM
I'd have to say Attic Cat. Not the typical contract relationship, but so fun to watch unfold!
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479 Chandler
April 16, 2014 at 12:02 AM
I actually think mine is My Girlfriend is a Gumiho :) I just loved that couple and the premise that led them to beginning their contract relationship. Dal Ja and Choon Hyang are VERY VERY close though! (funny how all the ones I picked have the female lead's name in the title, even MGIAG because technically Gu Mi Ho was SMA's name haha)
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480 Esther Chung
April 16, 2014 at 12:09 AM
I would have to say Full house but my personal favorite is Creating Destiny since i find it adorable that the two go together >,<
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481 sikas
April 16, 2014 at 12:24 AM
Full House, definitely and absolutely ^_^...it's heartwarming
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482 Hanna
April 16, 2014 at 12:53 AM
My Name Is Kim Sam Soon, definitely.
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483 Angua
April 16, 2014 at 12:53 AM
Since there was some contract dating involved in Coffee Prince and that drama is my all-time favorite in ANY way, I'd probably put that first. ^__^ Otherwise it would probably Goong.
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484 ML
April 16, 2014 at 12:56 AM
One of the kdramas with contract relationship that I really love is My Name is Kim Sam Soon. I remembered when I first watched it, my eyes were dazzled by Hyun Bin's masculine beauty (he still looks handsome but he looks the best then) and then second time charmed by Daniel Henney. I think that was one of the earliest Kdramas for me with an anti-heroine central character which was very endearing. It made the progression from contract to actual love relationship even more satisfying as I was rooting for her all the way. The chemistry btw Kim Sun Ah and Hyun Bin was amazing and I remember the kisses were pretty hot too.
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485 febriedethan
April 16, 2014 at 1:09 AM
Hi, I'm your reader from Indonesia.
My #1 is Full House and #2 is Prime Minister and I
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black_coffee
April 16, 2014 at 2:03 AM
you should also watch the thai version.. the leads were adorably cute! all episodes are on youtube with subtitles and in HD..
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486 Rin Sayed
April 16, 2014 at 1:24 AM
Coffee Prince (no doubt!)
My most watched drama - up to my fourth watching currently.
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487 Moviebookfan
April 16, 2014 at 1:33 AM
I really liked Full House when I first watched it in high school. About ten years later, I watched up it again (this past winter) and still like it very much! Love Rain and Song Hye Kyo's chemistry.
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488 Frannycesca
April 16, 2014 at 1:38 AM
Coffee prince! Starts out as a gay dating contract based off incorrect assumptions but evolves into a genuine love story with great chemistry between actors! And reading a book that could potentially be a drama, what else could I ask for?! :)
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489 krissy
April 16, 2014 at 1:43 AM
I'm not sure if it qualifies but all i can think of is the childish contract in delighful girl chunyhang.
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490 Yuaekito
April 16, 2014 at 1:43 AM
I don't really like contract dramas. Coincidentally my first Asian drama was Fullhouse and I couldn't like it because Rain was so immature and there was so much cleaning involved with the drama that I felt like it could be renamed as a sadist OCD cleaning drama with sideplot.
My favorite marriage contract drama is My name is Kim Sam Soon because of the odd pairing and the guy fell for her anyways despite her being the opposite of a typical Korean heroine. And she was a real strong and brave girl who knew what she wanted.
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491 krissy
April 16, 2014 at 1:46 AM
And that fake dating that led to marriage drama, Prime Minister and I.
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492 dae_bak
April 16, 2014 at 1:57 AM
HAHAHAHAH so many people finding loopholes...
Wowowow, I love Jenny Han...she wrote The Summer I Turned Pretty, which also sort of (kind of, not really?) reads like a kdrama. AND I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT THE REPRESENTATIONAL THING. WOW.
I could write a whole essay on contract dating dramas, and I probably will. Hee.
Full House and Goong were probably the two dramas that utilized the trope to its full use. The plot would not exist without contract relationships, and I actually really liked how both dramas used them to its full rom-com effect.
But quality-wise...My Name is Kim Sam Soon was great. I mean, that drama's not really easy to downgrade, but I like the seamlessness of the trope into the plot, even though it wasn't 100% necessary. Those two would never have dated if it hadn't been for that device. Or maybe they would have; I mean Sam-Soon was pretty damn charming.
But then Coffee Prince just kind of takes all of the prizes, even if the contract dating was just in the first two (three?) episodes. I love that drama to bits, I really do. I guess it wins for originality, where the two are "dating" because they need to prove Han-kyul is gay and therefore ineligible for matsun, and not to ease the minds of parents or the press or anything.
BUT. It still technically wasn't a huge factor for the plot, even if it was part of the meet cute, so I'll go with My Name is Kim Sam Soon. That drama was great for other reasons besides the trope, but the trope did make it fun.
Yeah. Wow. Okay, I wrote an essay!
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493 Marigold
April 16, 2014 at 1:58 AM
I know this isn't one of the best drama out there, but it was my first of Jang Geun Suk's and turned me in his fan - it is Marry Me Mary. It was crazy funny and I loved the OST. Plus it had Kim Jae-Wook as a really amazing bonus.
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494 PinkSushi
April 16, 2014 at 2:00 AM
Dream High!. It was the first one i ever watched and will always have a special place in my <3
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495 trublu
April 16, 2014 at 2:04 AM
I loved Goong. It was one of my first dramas.
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496 Ariel
April 16, 2014 at 2:07 AM
Full House watched that drama a 100 times, all time favorite plus the house is sooo drool worthy. I also love the house in Architecture 101 and Il Mare, okay I'm a house freak. I just love the setting of this romance so much plus the leads are so beautiful.
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497 ultramarineblue
April 16, 2014 at 2:14 AM
Hi! Thanks so much for doing a giveaway!!! I really enjoyed Coffee Prince with its misleading contract relationship! It was a heartwarming drama and filled with adorable hijinks.
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498 Sherry C.
April 16, 2014 at 2:14 AM
Well, I think... The Heirs. ^_^
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499 melissa
April 16, 2014 at 2:17 AM
definitely full house! :)
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500 Sherry C.
April 16, 2014 at 2:17 AM
How do I know if my comment was published? This is my second time entering because I think my entry was not sent. So mine is, The Heirs ^_^
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