Anna K Away (Anna K Series #2)

by Jenny Lee

Overview

It’s Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl! Anna K Away follows the fabulous cast of characters from Anna K over the course of the next summer, when new freedoms lead to life-changing adventures, risks, and self-discovery

How the mighty have fallen. Anna K, once the golden girl of Greenwich, CT, and New York City, has been brought low by a scandalous sex tape and the tragic death of her first love, Alexia Vronsky. At the beginning of the summer, her father takes her to the other side of the world, to connect with his family in South Korea and hide her away. Is Anna in exile? Or could this be her chance to figure out who she really is?

Back in the U.S., Lolly has forgiven Steven for cheating on her, and their relationship feels stronger than ever. But when Lolly meets a boy at her beloved theater camp, she has to ask herself how well Steven will ever really know her. Meanwhile, in Manhattan, everything between Kimmie and her new boyfriend, Dustin, is easy—except when it comes to finally having sex. And Bea escapes to LA, running away from her grief at her beloved cousin’s death, until a beautiful stranger steals her heart. Is Bea ready to finally forgive Anna, and let herself truly fall in love for the very first time?

Set over the course of one unforgettable summer, Jenny Lee's Anna K Away is full of the risk, joy, heartbreak, and adventure that mark the three months between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250236470
Publisher:	Flatiron Books
Publication date:	05/31/2022
Series:	Anna K Series , #2
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	283,655
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Jenny Lee is a television writer and producer who has worked on BET’s Boomerang, IFC’s Brockmire, Freeform’s Young & Hungry, and the Disney Channel’s number-one-rated kids’ show, Shake It Up. Jenny has previously published humor essay collections and middle-grade novels, and Anna K was her debut YA. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and 135-pound Newfoundland, Gemma (and yes, it’s a toss-up on who’s walking who every day).

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Anna K

National bestseller
NPR Best Book of the Year
Marie Claire Book Club selection
Book of the Month Club selection
SkimmReads Pick
In development as a TV series with HBO Max

“This innovative retelling illustrates the push and pull of first love.” —Time

“This is a soapy YA book that reads, well, like a Russian novel. Jenny Lee remixes and updates Anna Karenina, this time with a Korean American teenage socialite anchoring the story. Tolstoy fans and novices alike will find Anna K to be a satisfying read.” —NPR

“Something no one tells you about postcollege reading is the fact that you have to relearn how to read for fun—Anna K is the ideal book for the job. The novel scratches the same itch binge-watching comfort TV does and stands as a good reminder that an ‘important’ read can just be a fun one.” —Vanity Fair

“Addictive reading.” —BookPage (starred review)

“A slow-burn epic tale of love in modern-day Manhattan high society.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A fresh and wickedly smart take on a classic story. Anna is even more scandalously fun now, in the age of stilettos and social media, than she was in 19th century Russia. I couldn’t put this one down!” —Katharine McGee, author of American Royals

From the Publisher

2021-03-25
A tale of love and loss that spans the globe.

Instead of having a carefree summer, biracial (Korean/White) Anna is sent away from the familiarity of New York, her friends, the past school year’s scandal—and the memories of her dead boyfriend, Alexia Vronsky. While struggling with grief, her shattered self-image, and an uncertain future, Anna attempts to reclaim her summer in Seoul, where she knows only her father and grandmother. Beatrice, Alexia’s cousin, juggles her clingy girlfriend and falling for a California surfer even as she represses her grief. Meanwhile, Anna’s brother, Steven, plans for an amazing summer party, although Lolly, his girlfriend, is away at theater camp. Steven’s best friend, Dustin, and Kimmie, Lolly’s younger sister, are equally nervous about their first sexual experience together. This sequel to Anna K (2020) contains fewer mentions of luxury brands, and the characters exhibit an increased awareness of the impacts of wealth and socio-economic status. The novel also touches on issues of addiction, sexism, cultural differences, fame, relationships, love, and mental health; in particular, the portrayals of living with grief and redefining the self after a loved one dies shine. Despite some awkward time skips, the humor, pop-culture references, and characters’ distinct voices strengthen the story. Fans of the first novel will enjoy this follow-up, which is also accessible to readers new to Anna and her world. Some major characters are White; Dustin is Black and Jewish, and there is diversity in the supporting cast.

Entertaining. (cast of characters) (Fiction. 15-18)

Kirkus Reviews