The Christmas Clash

by Suzanne Park Narrated by Jay Lai, Jennifer Sun Bell

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Sworn enemies from rival families, Chloe Kwon and Peter Li have always hated each other. But when their local mall is put up for auction right before Christmas, they band together to help save it, along with their families’ food court restaurants. This fun read will leave you nostalgic for that magical feeling of the mall at Christmastime.

Chloe Kwon can't stand Peter Li. It's always been that way. Their families don't get along either: their parents operate rival restaurants in the Riverwood Mall food court-Korean food for the Kwons and Chinese food for the Lis. Now it's the holiday season and Chloe's the photographer at the mall's Santa's Village, and Peter works at the virtual reality North Pole experience right across the atrium. It's all Chloe can do to avoid Peter's smug, incredibly photogenic face. But it turns out the mall is about to be sold to a developer and demolished for condos. Eviction notices are being handed out right before Christmas. Their parents don't know what to do, and soon Chloe and Peter realize that the two of them need to join efforts to try to save the mall. Just when it seems like they can put aside their differences and work closely (very closely) together, they discover that the Kwon-Li feud goes far deeper than either of them realize...

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Take me to Riverwood Mall! In this rival families, enemies-to-sweethearts story, Peter and Chloe are the sparkling lights on a Christmas tree. It’s the perfect book to read for the holidays, chock full of humor, banter, food, mall shenanigans, and a side mission that brings these two opposites together." — Tif Marcelo, USA Today bestselling author of The Holiday Switch

"Suzanne Park is a master of the enemies-to-lovers rom-com, and THE CHRISTMAS CLASH is a snowflake-dusted classic of the genre! Think of the perfect, coziest Hallmark movie but with way more edge, wit, and authentic representation. The ideal stocking-stuffer for anyone who loves the holidays, ridiculously adorable romance, delicious Asian food, and malls!" — Stephan Lee, author of K-Pop Confidential

"The Christmas Clash is a delicious romp of a rom-com. It left me craving spicy pork and sesame balls and nostalgic for the feeling of the mall at Christmastime. Chloe and Peter are characters you’ll root for, believe in, and miss when you close the back cover." — Tiffany Schmidt, author of I'm Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas

"The Christmas Clash is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet but with spicy pork and shrimp takeout instead of tragedy. I loved it! Suzanne Park delivers a wonderful mix of wit and sensitivity as Chloe Kwon and Peter Li navigate family feuds, racism, and first love in this coming-of-age story. It has everything you want in a holiday rom-com and more." — Jenny Bayliss, author of The Twelve Dates of Christmas and A Season for Second Chances

"A fun rivalry-to-romance romp" — Kirkus Reviews

"This will engage avid romance fans" — Youth Services Book Review

"Keep the holiday spirit alive in this Romeo and Juliet flavored rom-com" — Publishers Weekly

Kirkus Reviews

2022-07-27
Two teens from competing families team up to thwart the destruction of their local mall.

As long as they can remember, high school juniors Chloe Kwon and Peter Li have been told to stay far away from one another. For more than a decade, their families have been sworn enemies in a feud of mysterious origin. Running in different social circles—self-effacing Chloe is in the artsy crowd and genial Peter is an athlete—their interaction in school is minimal, outside of some occasional banter. However, with working competing holiday jobs plus pitching in at their families’ restaurants—all at the local mall—their crossing paths is inevitable. And when Chloe and Peter discover a plan for the impending sale and demolition of the mall, they might just need a Christmas miracle. The pair team up in an attempt to save their parents’ businesses and change the landlord’s mind. Late-night forbidden food swaps, friendly favors, and research into tenant rights find their tentative truce transforming into a budding romance. Dual narration affords a candid look at the two protagonists as they deal with familial miscommunication, racism (Chloe is Korean American; Peter is Chinese American), community organizing—and falling for one another. Chloe’s narrative feels dominant as she balances another life-changing event: A subplot about a national youth photography competition sees her discovering her artistic voice. Peter’s character development and personal stakes feel less even.

A fun rivalry-to-romance romp. (Romance. 13-18)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175282604
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	10/04/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged

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