IA lot can change in a relatively short space of time, and for Jack Jr, waking up from a 2 year coma, he's about to discover It's not just HIS world that's changed, it's THE world...

A beautifully written, and superbly narrated story of rebuilding and redemption, of love, loss and family, while rediscovering the joy of living.

A really interesting book, but for some reason it just...fell flat for me. maybe its because i was in a slump and wasnt feeling upto something lyrical but im afraid i will not be purchasing this novel/audiobook

A Korean man wakes up from a 2-year coma after the Covid 19 pandemic is winding down. He doesn’t know where his husband is, and his estranged family have reappeared. His hot nurse is shocked senseless to see him awake.
Jack Jr’s story was something different and unique, touching on so many themes in engaging ways. I really enjoyed hearing Jack Jr’s inner monologue throughout, which contained a lot of the funniest lines, as well as revealing his many flaws and uncertainties which make his character feel so real.
The narrator was excellent and really helped the humour sing throughout the story!
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for sending me an ARC of this as an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Book Title: I Leave It Up to You

Author: Jinwoo Chong

Narrator: Daniel K. Isaac

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Publication Date: September 17, 2024

Rating: ★★★★☆

Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook copy from Bolinda Audio and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Introduction

✨ What would it be like to wake up from a coma and find that the entire world has changed, not just because of a major personal tragedy, but because you slept through a global pandemic? This is the fascinating premise of Jinwoo Chong's new novel, I Leave It Up to You. What I found captivating about this story was that while a lot of pandemic-era fiction can feel heavy or tired, Chong turns this unique setup into a compelling and often humorous exploration of grief, family, and second chances.


Source: NetGalley
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)

📖 Jack Junior, a successful New York ad man, wakes from a two-year coma to a world that feels both familiar and entirely alien. The first face he sees is a man in a hazmat suit. He's learned that not only has he missed the entire COVID pandemic, but his fiancé is gone, his old life has vanished, and he's been thrust back into the home of the family he'd long since distanced himself from. Now, he's faced with the daunting task of re-entering his life and his family's struggling sushi restaurant, all while navigating a post-pandemic world he barely recognizes.

Narration and Performance

🎧 Daniel K. Isaac’s narration is a standout performance that truly brings this audiobook to life. His comic timing is impeccable, breathing genuine humor into Jack's often pathetic but endearing dialogue. Isaac masterfully handles the aural distinction between characters, giving each a unique and memorable voice—from Jack's brother to his outspoken nephew, Juno, who becomes an unexpected source of both laughs and wisdom. The raw emotion and vulnerability Isaac brings to Jack's character through the audio narration is exceptional and makes the journey of rediscovery all the more compelling.

Overall Thoughts

📖 I Leave It Up to You is a beautiful and introspective "slice of life" story. Instead of relying on high-stakes drama, the novel finds its tension in the quiet moments of daily life: reconnecting with a family you've avoided for a decade, learning to navigate new technology, and facing the ghosts of a life you can never get back. The family dynamics, particularly between Jack and his parents, brother, and nephew, feel deeply realistic and are portrayed with a refreshing level of authenticity. Given the background of a queer, Korean-American protagonist, Jack’s story feels both specific and universally relatable, especially in its portrayal of family expectations and unconditional love.

🤔 The most challenging aspect of the book for me was the central romantic relationship between Jack and his former nurse, Emil Cuddy. The power imbalance and ethical implications of this dynamic can be a significant stumbling block, as it feels at odds with the otherwise careful and nuanced emotional landscape of the story. While the book acknowledges this to some extent, it never fully addresses the uncomfortable aspects, which may be difficult to overlook.

✨ Despite this, the novel is a heartfelt and poignant exploration of identity, grief, and the unexpected ways we heal. The narrative is both a weird hug and a wild ride, with moments of profound tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor.

Conclusion & Final Rating

✅ I Leave It Up to You is a compelling and thought-provoking audiobook that will appeal to anyone looking for a quiet, character-driven story. While the central romance may be a point of contention, the book's genuine humor and powerful exploration of family dynamics make it a worthwhile listen. Daniel K. Isaac's narration is top-notch, elevating the material and making a quiet story feel deeply alive.

Audience

This audiobook is a perfect fit for fans of introspective fiction and stories centred on food and family.

✨ Final Rating: ★★★★☆

📖 Book Tropes:

Waking from a Coma: The protagonist wakes up after a significant period of time, missing major world events.
Fish Out of Water: The main character must navigate a world that has moved on without them.
Found Family: The protagonist re-establishes a strong bond with the family they had previously distanced themselves from.
Slice of Life: The story focuses on the mundane, day-to-day experiences of the characters rather than a fast-paced plot.
Grief and Healing: The protagonist deals with the loss of their old life and relationships.
Queer Romance: A romantic subplot involving a gay main character.



Full review and many more audio(book) reviews are available on my Substack: https://cristinaciteste.substack.com

Thank you to Bolinda Audio, the author and NetGalley for a LRC in return for a honest review

During the Lockdowns of 2020–2021, I found myself wondering how surreal it would be to wake from a coma and learn you'd missed an entire global pandemic...turns out Jinwoo Chong had the same idea!

The story starts quite sluggishly but I like the way this mirrors Jack Jnr's re-entry into the world after awakening from a 2 year coma. On the whole, I liked the premise and the execution of this book, but I did have a problem with one aspect though - that being the relationship between Jack Jnr and Emil Cuddy. Considering Cuddy was Jack's Nurse whilst he was in a coma, I found the whole relationship somewhat controversial, so that presented me with quite a big stumbling block to get over. I'm sure I won't be alone in expressing this opinion. While the bond between Jack and Cuddy offers moments of connection and healing, the power imbalance and blurred ethical boundaries make the relationship feel inappropriate, especially in contrast to the otherwise nuanced emotional landscape Chong so carefully crafts. That aside, this is a tender, compelling exploration of grief, identity, and rediscovery and one that lingers long after it ends.

The audiobook narrator, Daniel K. Isaac, has great comic timing and gives a heartfelt performance, bringing pathos to the story.

#ILeaveItUptoYou #NetGalley

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bolinda Audio, and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

James Junior just woke up, and all he sees is a large, bearded man in a hazmat suit with a mask and a plastic shield looking at him like, 'WTAF?'. He doesn't know where he is, but it looks like he is in a hospital room with all kinds of wires and tubes connected and going in and out of him. All he knows is he wants his fiancé, Wren! Where is he, and why is nobody telling him anything?

So apparently he woke up from a 2-year coma at the tail end of a global pandemic, and now he is back with family, whom he had slowly cut out of his life, and a failing family sushi business. It's going to be fun, he thinks.

This book was both a weird hug and a wild ride. We cannot help but root for James yet wonder and question his actions. As an Asian who is used to family interfering in anything and everything - especially life-changing decisions—the family dynamic hit close to home. In many ways the representation was solid, and I appreciate it on many different levels, like the parents speaking English comfortably (we always see the broken English—not that there is anything wrong with it, but it's nice to have another group represented). Parents and family that are not only supportive but encouraging of their gay son? That was so heartwarming to read about. The struggle that James faces with grieving his lost time, relationships, and opportunities while wanting a redo, doing things differently as a 30-year-old, was very endearing to read, especially the romance part!

The narrator was very on point with the accents and the different characters which made this book even better.

3.5/5 stars

I Leave It Up to You is a slow, rather introspective read about Jack Jr., who wakes up from a coma two years into the COVID pandemic and has to rebuild his life (which has significantly changed in the meantime) from scratch.

Jinwoo Chong’s writing is thoughtful, especially when exploring family dynamics and food culture. Jack Jr. however is a charcter who can feel a bit distant or hard to connect with, at least for me. The romance subplot is tender but occasionally one-sided, with Jack often emotionally checked out.

The story focuses less on big plot twists and more on day-to-day life—reconnecting with family, figuring out what (and who) still matters, and dealing with the fallout of time lost, not only during his coma. It’s not a fast-paced or tightly plotted novel, but if you’re into quiet, character-driven stories with some emotional depth, it’s worth your time. Just go in knowing it’s more about mood and moments than action or answers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for providing me this audiobook!

first let me review the actual audio production. i really enjoyed this narrator! i especially loved the voices used for both juno and appa, it really captured their ages and personalities well. i will admit cuddy’s voice did feel goofy at times because it was just the narrator doing a really low voice, and at times it would throw me out of the story for a bit, but it wasn’t a glaring issue imo. the debility of jack jr and juno’s lines were also done super well imo and breathed a lot of life into them. i don’t think i would’ve been as attached to jack jr’s story if daniel k. isaac didn’t do such a good job reading for him.
now, let me get out one big “grievance” i had with the story. the really big thing that threw me with this book is cuddy and jack jr’s relationship. the power dynamic felt so fucking icky. you’re telling me cuddy was his nurse for TWO YEARS and only a couple months out of his coma they fucking date????????? EXCUSE ME????? holy air ball that’s Not Good., nonononononoono. and this is kind of an issue i have with their relationship in general, which sucks because it is kinda a central part of this book! i mean this point does come up, but i don’t like that it feels like jack jr is only giving, and cuddy is only taking. it makes their romantic relationship feel like…. cuddy is caring for jack jr…. like he did for two years. Erm. yeah no i fuckjng hate that. the relationship dynamics are So Bad!!!!!! and i don’t care the role of jack jr in the relationship is addressed, because cuddy lowkey being predatory with a (VERY RECENTLY) ex-patient is IGNORED!!!!! im sorry there’s no way you can explain this away from me. and yes ok jack jr is a hot mess ex-coma and the book is about him being a hot mess. but the book almost paints this relationship as good minus jack jr’s faults which is???? categorically not true???? idk if ur gonna address jack jr being a shitty person at times, lets also address cuddy dating an ex-patient. and it’s not even a patient he was caring for for like a week. HE WAS JACK JRS OVERNIGHT NURSE FOR TWO. FUCKING. YEARS. Huh?????
if you hate slightly concerning relationship dynamics… this is not the book for you. but if you like our messy king jack jr please read this. as much as i just bitched about the book, that is One Part that is questionable. i literally was in love with everything else about this book.
the dynamic of jack jr’s family was so fascinating and felt so realistic. nothing ever felt forced, and lowkey by the end of the book i felt like i knew all these people. all the dialogue and decisions made by the characters really felt like decisions real people would make (yes, including cuddy and jack jr’s relationship as well…. sadly). nothing felt cheap or that it conveniently happened only for the plot. the story itself was really easy to connect with, and usually i find it hard to pick up books that don’t have insane stakes or tension like in fantasy. but i was entranced consuming this. rarely do i find myself trying to do certain tasks that i know i can also listen to an audiobook with e.g. cleaning, running errands, etc. but this book managed to do so! i also loved how all the subplots connected and it didn’t feel lazy or cheap, they all just naturally were resolved. also, this book is FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!! jack jr is lowkey kinda pathetic for a bit of the book, but in an endearing way, and then he practically becomes a stand-up comedian with how funny his dialogue is. like there’s too many good quotes from him. and juno…. i mean, i defo think the audiobook form made juno 10x funnier, which made this book 10x more fun for me. man i already miss juno (i do kinda miss jack jr but goddamn juno has no filter it’s so fucking funny).
tldr; if you love messy intergenerational families where everyone is a hot mess but also fucking funny as hell and also there’s sushi and gay men and realistic stories about family and figuring out what you want in life, please please add this to ur tbr. i had a ball, and best believe <i>flux</i> has been bumped up on my tbr.

I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong

Jack Junior wakes after spending 23 months in a coma to discover that the world is just coming out of COVID lockdowns, and his fiancée is now married to someone else. Before his accident, Jack Jr hadn't seen most of his family for 5 years, but once he's well enough to leave the hospital, he moves back into his childhood bedroom (having not been home for 12 years) and re-forms bonds with people he has had complicated relationships with in the past, like his older brother and his father.

Jack Jr. is thrust back into working at his family's Japanese-Korean sushi and omakase restaurant at first, accompanying his father, Jack Senior, and his nephew Juno on early morning fish runs, and then at the omakase bar at the restaurant, alongside his father. The men in the family: Jack Jr, his father, his brother, and to a lesser extent, Juno, all have difficulty communicating with each other. The older men have almost no ability to understand each other's perspectives.

As Jack Jr's relationships start to improve, Juno begins a social media site featuring his uncle, called 'Fish Daddy,' following some media attention after his coma. Fish Daddy soon goes viral, bringing extra attention to Jack Jr and the restaurant, and Jack Senior and James begin to send random texts from H Mart asking if Jack Jr needs anything (a detail I loved).

Jack Jr. begins a relationship with Emil, his attending nurse during his time in a coma, and he discovers how weird it is to start a relationship with someone his family has interacted with while he was both 'in the room' but also absent. I'd have liked to have heard more about Zeno and Juno, the teens, both of whom seemed to be navigating difficult times and had interesting perspectives.

I enjoyed the narration of this audiobook; the narrator's voice was warm and kept me engaged. I think you'll like this audiobook if you're looking for a gentle 'slice of life' book, similar to Sunbathing by Isobel Beech, or books centred around food and family dynamics, such as Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner or Chinese Parents Don't Say I Love You by Candice Chung.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for this audiobook ARC.

Thumbs up.

Body Count = 0

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'I Leave it up to You' is a book about a man who wakes up after being in a coma for years, and he has to rebuild his life as well as rediscover his priorities.

The novel, first of all, has an interesting story and I rather enjoyed the family drama and how the main character, Jack Jr, came to understand his brother, father, and mother, and how he bonded with his nephew. I also liked his sister in law a lot, and the nurse was a pretty sweet character.

However, and even though it was an emotional ride, I think that the execution didn't do the story justice. It really lived up to the title, as Jack Jr seemed to just let himself go with the flow and didn't really seem to be passionate about anything. Moreover, the romance, despite it being sweet at first, was rather rushed, and it was like a car crash about to happen, with all the obvious red flags being, well, too obvious. In addition, the humor was not my cup of tea.

Finally, the narration and production of the audiobook were enjoyable.

This book is about Jack Jr waking up form a 2 year coma and moving back home to his parents that he left years early and never looked back. The rest of the book is just about the family trying to find a way to mend relationships. It was just a read about the day to day of the family.

I enjoy these types of books but usually it is a mid review because nothing "exciting" happens.

Leaving a temporary review here for the minute, mainly as a reminder to myself.

I was really enjoying this title until the audio checked out at 82% I will return to review if it’s rectified,

Coma-waken man finding new priorities in a post-COVID world.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Not that COVID plays a huge part in most of this story, it's a minor detail in two character's storylines, which happened near the end. I thought this would play more on the fact that our protagonist slept through the whole pandemic year.

But this opens with Korean advertising man Jack Jr waking unexpectedly from a 2-year-long coma, healed from a car accident but confused as to where his Manhattan-based husband is, what's happened in his absence, and finding he has to go home to his dad's Japanese restaurant to get himself back on his feet.

This is really a story about family and looking again at your life, acceptance and moving on. Jack Jr hasn't seen his family for a decade, he never introduced his husband to them before his accident. And now they won't tell him where his husband is now, and he's having to work at the family business while he works out what to do.

The story is quite gentle, there's a sweet love story running throughout, a feisty teenage nephew giving off 'Jon Favreau Chef social media' vibes. It's a slow route through Jack Jr coming to an understanding of why he nearly died, accepting what has changed for good, and deciding how to live the rest of his life.

I quite enjoyed the audiobook, the narrator was easy to listen to, the characters disarming and likeable. This didn't feel revelatory or anything new, though the context of the family culture was a little different, and the coma key to the story.

It was enjoyable and celebratory of families, family loyalty and staying in touch.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.

3.5 stars

I Leave It Up to You is a tender story about starting over, forging your own path and accepting love when it presents itself. I wasn't a fan of Jinwoo's writing in Flux and that was a lot better this time around so I was pleasantly surprised.

Jack Jr wakes up from a coma, and in the two years he has missed he has lost his job, apartment, partner and his life as he knows it. He finds himself back living with his family after a decade of disconnect and working in the family restaurant. He also finds an unlikely new (kind of) companion in the shape of a nurse who cared for him during his coma. Jack Jr is perpetually torn between clawing his old life back in anyway he can and taking the opportunity to start fresh with everything he has learned, and the overall message of this book is uplifting.

Jack Jr as a protagonist is very likeable! This book gave me so many laughs and I think the author did a fantastic job of balancing dysfunctional family antics with serious points of conflict. Each family member is fleshed-out and you know enough about their motivations and personalities. I am not Korean, but I feel like this book demonstrated the unique dynamics in Korean families in an interesting way. It was also void of the Asian parents archetypes that are often present. It was refreshing to see a gay man being embraced by his family unit without it feeling like a hallmark movie.

This book would've rated a lot higher if it weren't for the absolutely inappropriate relationship at its core (nurse dating a patient who JUST woke up from a coma, hello???) and the fact the characters never discuss the issues with their dynamic. There are even jokes about how he used to wash Jack Jr's intimate areas (again, WHILE IN A COMA) that are totally brushed off. I also am not a fan of Covid storylines in fiction for many reasons - mainly that I don't want to imagine that again - so this book also lost points for that.

If you're looking for slice-of-life comtemporary fiction with queer romance, and you aren't cringing at the romance dynamic mentioned, then I would recommend. I just couldn't really get past that.

i also got the physical copy of this from the publisher— thank you so much! this was such an entertaining and engaging book. deeply heartfelt and real.

This was a janky file and was missing chapters 1, 10, and 11 so about 20% of the story. A pretty critical part (it jumped from 79% to 91%!) by the sounds of the ending

I was enjoying the story. The premise was so unique! I enjoyed spending time with JJ and his people that orbited him as he recovered. I liked the exploration of complex family dynamics and loved the role food played in the story. The relationship between JJ and Juno was so great and I enjoyed spending time with them. The JJ/Cuddy dynamic was a bit uncomfortable because of their carer/patient dynamic but I’ll refrain from being too harsh because I know I’m missing context!

The narrator was decent with a good range of distinct character voices.

I closed the book with a lot of questions, but again, will chalk that up to the missing bits. I contacted the publisher about the missing chapters and will update this if I get access to the full version.

A solid 3.5 from what I was able to access!

Jinwoo Chong has written a multi-dimensional character so lovable and relatable and yet so dynamically + intrinsically confusing. As Jack Jr figures himself out we do too. I really enjoyed I Leave It Up To You not because I loved the story but because I loved that as a reader it was all out of my hands with very low stakes (the worst has already happened before we arrived in the story!) “I’m not the only person allowed to be important” really hit me.

It’s difficult to read stories with direct mentions of Covid and US politics. I Leave It Up To You deals with this by making the interpersonal issues with Jack Jr’s family the centerpoint of the conflicts.

I enjoyed Daniel K. Isaac’s narration and appreciate a queer Korean-American actor was chosen to represent a queer Korean-American character. This lent a lot of authenticity to the characters pronunciation and emotion. The family dynamics as well as the internalized distinctions between both Japanese and Koreans & Koreans and Korean-Americans were all well represented.

Thank you for the opportunity to read. I look forward to seeing more from Jinwoo Chong and Daniel K. Isaac.