This was an interesting book, and I enjoyed getting a peek into Africa's life. The story itself is captivating, but unfortunately it didn't flow very well. It moved in fits and starts, but the writing is otherwise well done. My heart really went out to her when she discussed her troubled relationship with food. Having struggled with food issues most of my life, I could really relate, and I found her journey inspiring in ways. A great memoir overall.

Rating 3.5

“Never let yourself feel hopeless. Find something worth doing and work on it while you’re going through the worst time of your life. Find the voice of someone out there who lifts you high when you can’t.”

Africa Yoon née Engo was about to turn 30. She was a celebrated activist working in Manhattan and around the world, when she found she had gained 120 pounds and was now obese. She realized she needed a life beyond her work and began to dream about having a husband and children. To get her dream, she had to work on herself.

One afternoon, at Asian grocery store H-Mart, a Korean grandmother called her fat! After the initial embarrassment of the public moment, the two began an unusual friendship that led her to eating kimchi—and that moment changed everything.

Africa Yoon’s memoir is not written in the style you would expect. For one, it is much shorter and highlights key events from her life: particularly those connecting her to Korean culture. The pace of her writing is fairly crisp that you seem to be jogging along instead of taking a stroll. It makes her sound more candid, almost as if you’re sitting and chatting with a friend.

I enjoyed reading about how she discovered and learnt Korean food and began to understand the nuances of their culture. Her story as an African woman, living in America, discovering an almost spiritual bond with an Asian culture is both curious and inspiring,

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Black Yoonicorn Press.

I really tried to get into the story, the introduction of the book seemed really great talking about food and their importance in the author childhood, but when she entered in the real book that became only second to the narrative, i was really driven away, and I have been since trying to finish reading to no success, I don’t really like giving up, but I wont be leaving a review on goodreads because I feel this book wasn't for me and it isn't fair to the writer…

Africa Byongchan Yoon tells in this book a part of her personal story. The book starts when she was struggling in some aspects of her life: relationships, food, weight...
Then one blessed day, while at an asian market she was trying to buy some delicious food one “Ahjumma” called her fat and obliged her not to buy the things she wanted to, but to buy vegetables and other healthy korean food to eat properly. It starts a cute, nice journey between Africa and this ahjumma in Korean cuisine and culture.
Then the story goes on with the famous run from New York to Chicago to raise AIDS awareness and meet Oprah Winfrey on her birthday; when she met her husband; when she had her kids…
I have to say that it took me a while to get into her way of “expressing”, I think that her being a “chatty” person also transmits into the way she writes: I felt back at home, my mother was african.
There are some parts when I just nodded: her love for the Kimchi, her gratitude for her husband (he is korean…) etc.
In this book she also highlighted a really important issue for black people: racism. When she was on her run from New York to Chicago she encountered a couple of situations where people were not afraid to tell her they were racist, she just changed her plan; or when she felt really bad she had to literally “scream” to get doctors and nurses to listen to her, to really listen to her.
Last but not least she wrote about how people in Busan welcomed her and her kids and she said that she wanted to tell about this because she would like that the fact she was welcomed, so welcomed, will be not just an exception but the new norm.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for having given me the opportunity to read this book!

Africa Yoon is the daughter of a late United Nations ambassador from Cameroon. Initially, this memoir was about how the writer changed her diet and lifestyle after she was told that she was fat by a 'halmoni' in H Mart. Already sensing the void of not having a husband and children, Africa delves into Korean ingredients and cooking and finds a sense of healing. She also starts to run as a form of exercise and then one day she decides to run from New York to Chicago for charity. Long story short, she does her run and gets to go on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Having always had a deep interest in Korean food and culture, the second half of the memoir is how Africa meets, 'The Korean' - her soul mate. She gets to go to South Korea to meet her future in-laws and bonds with them. Africa and 'The Korean' get married and have three children.
I did have issues about why her husband wasn't referred to by his name and was referred to as, 'The Korean' throughout. By doing so, her writing made him lack in personality.

Looked forward to reading this book as I’d seen lots of hype about it on social media- mainly from the author.
I enjoyed parts of it as I’m interested in learning about Korean food and culture. However, I struggled with huge portions of it. I felt at times that she contradicted herself when talking about certain events in her life. Maybe it’s just me and I’ve misinterpreted some stuff.
I finished the book even though at times I wanted to put it down but I never like to give up on a book unless it’s really dire.

3.5 African American woman finds her way through life’s bumps with the help of A Korean connection.
Africa is a well traveled woman, since an early age with her diplomate father. Born in Africa, raised around the world. As a young woman she is feeling a bit lost, overweight, unhealthy, unhappy. A chance happening awakens a new path for her one that will change her life. She meet an older Korean woman who tells her “you too fat-uh” it sounds harsh but this elder took her to the store, shopped with her, revived her spirit with food, healthy food. She begins, she challenges herself, goes far and moves the world towards better days.
I loved the first half of this story. I connected with her and her story. The meeting of the Korean elder was wonderful. I wanted more on her. Africa really is a force, she fought and crushed her goals and dreams. I didn’t love the second half as much. It was little things, she called someone she loved “The Korean” this really got old and bothered me on some deep level. She explains it, and it makes sense but still it was there often. This was a very interesting and eye opening story. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.
I received a copy of this from the publisher for an honest review.

I would like to first and foremost thank Netgalley for giving me an opportunity to review this book! It did take me a few chapters for the novel to pick up. Other than that, it was a fun read! I really enjoyed the writing style, and loved how descriptive some parts were. Overall I enjoyed this read!

.Thank you so much netgalley providing an arc!
I really like the worldbuilding, and how the author can create a world that has the capability of making us vicariously live through it. I feel like the introduction was a bit too slow-paced for me. The characters are fairly interesting.
Henceforth, it was quite a good read.