The Perfect Escape

THE PERFECT ESCAPE is a witty rom-com, with a unique, zombie-filled twist! Nate and Kate meet at the zombie-themed escape room where they both work. On the surface, a love of zombies might appear to be the only thing they have in common. At home, Nate feels the pressures of earning money for college, of making his family proud, and buying his loving parents new things. Kate, on the other hand, lives in a ritzy smart home (like a very, very smart home), decked to the nines with all the amenities a person could want… But fancy things can't make up for everything. Kate deeply grieves the death of her mom. Her dad is emotionally MIA and almost never home, though he keeps tabs on her through his electronics. While Nate and Kate don't have much in common in their school and home lives, they are kindred spirits. Both lovable and hilarious, this pair longs to follow their dreams, feel the acceptance of their families…and maybe even embark on a fun and flirty romance!When they team up to enter a zombie escape competition that comes with a huge cash prize, both imagine how their lives could forever change.This book made my heart squeeze at the same time that I was laughing out loud. Suzanne Park breathes life into characters who are easy to root for. She also balances fun, fast-paced storytelling with meaningful messages about relationships. All the tech and money in the world can't replace real human connection.

As the title says, this book was a perfect escape for a few hours. While I found one of the side characters to be a little too caricature evil tech dude, it didn’t ruin the book. Lots of fun.

RATING 3.5 out of 5STORY | When it comes to dreams, Nate Kim has big plans, the crux of which is to make lots of money. Poor all his life, the only way Nate has been able to attend a ritzy private school is with a scholarship.At work, Nate befriends Kate Anderson, and immediately he feels a connection to his co-worker, but what he doesn’t know is, Kate’s about to leave behind her life for the bright lights and freedom of New York. This means she may even take advantage of a new friendship to do this!The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park | Book ReviewREVIEW | Prior to seeing this on a list and then pre-ordering it, I didn’t know of this book’s existence. One of the 2020 debuts, it’s a cute little story that also has the allure being a new author to discover, plus get lost in a kind of “adventure.” This is precisely what The Perfect Escape is; just like its title, it’s this ideal little romantic-comedy that will inspire a smile.The thing about the book that makes it cute is the reality competition our lovebirds compete in is a zombie “survivalist” experience. Zombies aren’t my thing, but this novel makes everything seem all kinds of fun. The characters, of course, help as well. Nate is a really “cute” hero who I like, but also hope he learns something by the end of his story. He becomes consumed with “winning” because in his mind the result from the win is the only way he can live the “right” sort of life. Then there’s Kate who’s hiding something from Nate, which makes us sad because we want good things for them.What’s also interesting about this novel is that it reads almost as an in-between the popular subgenres of young and new adult. There is some typical “high school” drama, but the entire story doesn’t revolve around school, so this gives the plot some dimension, plus Kate is an older heroine. In the end, The Perfect Escape is fun. It’s not “perfect” (personal preferences), but I enjoyed it quite well, and did want to keep reading despite my reservations. The end is cute if not somewhat open-ended. If you’re looking for a little reader escapism, this is your ticket to summer fun.

The Perfect Escape is a fast-paced, imaginative story of two kids (Nate, from the wrong side of the tracks, and Kate, from so far on the other side their worlds should never have collided) who meet where they both work: at a zombie-themed escape room. If that doesn't get your attention, nothing will. The escape room is not only a physical place, it's also a metaphor for the lives from which both Nate and Kate fight to free themselves.Along the way there's an exploration of high-school privilege and bullying, a look at parental overprotectiveness that comes without emotional investment, and a high-stakes physical escape competition. Oh, and lots of comparison between the ultra-smart and the average. The lesson author Suzanne Park tells in this story, though, is that there is no clear dividing line between the haves and have-nots, or the intelligentsia and the so-so. Everyone is just right at some things, and all wrong at others...and that's life, and it's okay.The burgeoning romantic relationship between Nate and Kate (and yes, they make all the rhyme jokes) is deftly handled with a sweet, light touch, and the ending is satisfactory on all levels. Best of all, Park's sense of humor pervades every scene. If you love well-written YA, you'll love this book

I really enjoyed reading this rom com with a dystopian twist! It was definitely the crossover I didn't know I needed, as other reviewers have suggested. There were some spots where the plot dragged just a little, but it really did pick up toward the end. I also loved Kate's character and the bravery she exhibited. I would recommend this book to friends for sure!

This book is hilarious! Nate and Kate are such likable characters as they get to know each other (and themselves) while prepping for a zombie survivalist competition. Nate’s relationship with his family and adorable little sister is heartwarming and realistic. It’s a perfect contrast to Kate’s broken relationship with her father and his over-the-top, but understandable, concerns for her safety. Suzanne Park did an amazing job of getting me to root for each character, while keeping me laughing from start to finish.If you want to crack up while watching two characters fall in love, this is the book for you! A must-read of 2020!

Cute, fluffy, interesting book. Enjoyable plotline that was sorta different to what I’ve read about before, I loved the characters too.

My full review is on Goodreads, but important to note that this book is a really cute and adorable YA romance!