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Emergency Contact
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
From debut author Mark H.K. Choi comes a compulsively readable novel that shows young love in all its awkward gloryperfect for fans of Eleanor & Park and To All the Boys Ive Loved Before. For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesnt actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, its seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she cant wait to leave behind. Sams stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a caf and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when hes a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him. When Sam and Penny cross paths its less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touchvia textand soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.
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StaceGhost
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Really enjoying this one & also absolutely agree

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MallenNC
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

This was my first book by Mary H.K. Choi, though I‘ve seen her books on Bookstagram and other places. I finally picked this one because it is the The Stacks podcast book for August. I enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more of her work.

29 likes2 stack adds
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radesilets
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

I really liked this book. Read on audio book / paperback. It was a cute romance, but also covered a lot of not typical things in romance. Covers some hard topic, family relationships. It felt like a real story, not just a romance for romance‘s sake. Well rounded. Read as one of my #bookspin and #bookspinbingo reads. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
10 likes1 comment
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KimmyM
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

4 🌟I was pulled into Penny‘s story right away. I saw so much of myself in her that I immediately empathized with her. And my heart went out to Sam. Both POVs were strong and I loved Sam and Penny‘s relationship.But there was more going on than that. Several characters intertwined around Sam and Penny‘s relationship and while it did occasionally feel like too much was going on, I loved that there was more to the story than the romance.

phantomx @KimmyM I loved Emergency Contact. I felt like Penny and Sam's relationship went from simple to a deeper level. So many emotions! 3y
KimmyM @phantomx Yes! I loved it so much! I would have read another book about those two! 3y
17 likes2 comments
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Skeeterisme
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

A little angsty to start, but enjoyable by the end

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MidnightBookGirl
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

(This is the last of my July reviews!)
Wow, I hardcore loved this book. And it's hard to explain or sum up. In some ways, not a lot happens, and in other ways, all the things happen. Two lonely people connect when both really need it, and it's lovely and difficult and human.

63 likes3 stack adds
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AileenRR
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Mehso-so

Meh. Took a while before I got into the story, but I like how the hero and heroine‘s relationship developed. Also, June deserved better friends than the 2 of them.

nikirtehsuxlol This is one that I picked up bc I liked the book cover but idk if I‘ll ever get around to actually read it 4y
AileenRR @nikirtehsuxlol I think it might be better on paper than on audio 4y
9 likes2 comments
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phantomx
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
Pickpick

I loved every second of reading this story! I appreciate that the author constructed a slowly building relationship and intimacy of communication and trust between the characters, while also having characters acknowledge their flaws and personal issues.

Love, friendships, and us--personality, emotions, thoughts-- are nice, they are also confusing, messy, awkward, scary, shared or one-sided, and sometimes basic, complex, and deeply felt.

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phantomx
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi

Once I reached the part when Penny and Sam start texting each other, I went full throttle into this story, which filled me with joy, laughter, and it felt like I was watching Penny and Sam's experiences playout...then Mary Choi turns the feel of the story so quickly on its head.

I couldn't stop reading the book, even if I felt like I was going to burst out crying (and I ended up crying at several points).

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phantomx
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi

So I'm halfway through Emergency Contact, and I cannot believe how each character's experiences seems similar to my own experiences. I haven't felt a similarity like that in a long time.

After I'm done with this book, I'm gonna need to devour Mary Choi's other book.

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KristiAhlers
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Mehso-so

I have to say this was so-so for me. It was hard for me to connect with any of the characters and as a result was meh as far as reading goes.

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phantomx
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi

Started Emergency Contact this past Friday, and I am loving every second of it! It's funny, has a sarcastic narrator, a writing style that's easy to follow and pick up, and the cover is so beautiful. I don't usually go for YA romances--or romances in general--but this one reeled me in.

Penny's first time experiences during her first few days at college are awkward funny, and Sam is dealing with his emotional heartbreak through baking for a cafe ❤

9 likes1 stack add
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Mommamanzi
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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July‘s tbr that are still tbr haha. #july2020 #tbr

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babyruth2510
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Mehso-so

Part of me loved this book. I could see myself in Penny so much it scared me some times and I could feel what she was feeling. Part of me also hated this book (mostly due to the texting format). I think having read this in my 30s instead of in my early 20s also changed my perspective. I still am glad I read it though. Loving someone isn‘t always easy but it is worth the risk. 3.5⭐️

WomanistBibliophile I found the texting at times tender and at times amusing! Am also in my 30s *laughter emoji* 4y
17 likes1 comment
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OriginalCyn620
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

Enjoyed this one! Penny and Sam both have serious issues they‘re dealing with, but form a bond and trust each other, each telling the other things they can‘t say to anyone else. Their friendship develops into something more, further complicating their lives. I got some serious Rainbow Rowell vibes while reading!
#doublespin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
Megabooks I liked this too! 4y
57 likes2 comments
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JoyBlue
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Mehso-so

Given that I'm far from the target audience, take my comments with a grain of salt. I didn't connect to any of the characters or the story. I'm perfectly indifferent.

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Ash.on.the.line
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

I know not everyone would like this book, but the vulnerability of the two mc‘s touched me in some odd way. There is not a lot of action to the plot, more character driven, so that could turn some off. Penny & Sam compelled me & a few laughs, had me eager to keep reading this one.
1 part (comment under spoiler tag) felt it came from nowhere but it wasn‘t to bad, but I loved what Choi has Sam say to Penny. She also restated in her acknowledgments.

Ash.on.the.line A brief retelling of a past rape 4y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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beeda
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

Was very pleasantly surprised by this book! It was real and raw, the characters weren‘t perfect or stereotypically beautiful and they were dealing with real problems.

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Brittybuhh
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Brittybuhh
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Brittybuhh Wow very sad I wrote passed instead of past. 😂 4y
6 likes1 comment
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Sarahreadstoomuch
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

This was a great YA romance set in the MC‘s freshman year of college. Both Penny and Sam have some work to do on themselves, but find a bond and trust in each other. Really enjoyed this! #booked2020 #thinkpink for the cover. #bbrc #teenangst #notformiddlegrade more for age of characters than content. I don‘t think that age group would connect with this very much. #readmyowndamnbooks

Cinfhen I‘m always drawn to this cover! I might need to finally pick it up💕 4y
22 likes2 comments
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OriginalCyn620
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Nikki_E This is on my want to read list, mostly because of the cover. 4y
Librarygal08 I loved this book! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty 💛💛 4y
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OriginalCyn620 @Nikki_E that‘s exactly why I picked up a copy! 😁 4y
OriginalCyn620 @Librarygirl88 I haven‘t read it yet but I hope I like it! 🤞🏻 4y
Loretta Good book. I think I read it in a day, which doesn‘t happen for me often! 4y
57 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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c._.castro
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Genre: Romance, Young Adult Fiction

Date started: December 9, 2019

Date completed:

How did I choose this book: The concept of the book intrigued me

Summary:

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cleoh
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

This was such an adorable read. I really love that it takes place in university instead of high school! I can‘t wait to pick up Choi‘s other book! 🤩

66 likes1 stack add
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readordierachel
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

Inflated my heart like a balloon ❤

Perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell. Highly recommend.

Eyelit I really liked this one - even though it got Austin wrong 😂 5y
readordierachel @Eyelit Ha! I've only been to Austin once, for like a day, so I had no idea. 5y
71 likes2 comments
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Megabooks
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

This is the kind of YA romance that I can get behind. Read it if you don‘t like YA. Read it if you don‘t like romance. Because really, it transcends both. It took me right back to making those friendships that last a lifetime. That kind of crazy bonding that doesn‘t happen after 25. Fantastic characters I could really love and root for.

That said, the audio is shit. Definitely read, don‘t listen!

sudi Great review 👍 5y
Megabooks @sudi Thanks!! 😊😊 5y
k.reads.5 Great review, totally agree! The writing was so rich and sharp, loved it. 5y
Megabooks @k.reads.5 it really was! I‘m not a huge YA fan, but I loved it! Thanks 😊 5y
90 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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Megabooks
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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I‘ve been listening to this #audiobook while running around town all day! The audio itself is terrible. Sam‘s narrator sounds like the Marlboro man, not a 21-year-old college student, and I just don‘t like the VO artist doing Penny.

HOWEVER, the story is fantastic!! It‘s so good, it is overcoming the audio limitations!

readordierachel I'm reading this in print now and it is just delightful 5y
Megabooks @readordierachel It really is!! 5y
OnlyYoo Lol Malboro man. I swear I already smell the cigarette smoke 😂 5y
Megabooks @OnlyYoo Maybe not him exactly but definitely a smoker than is waaaayyy older than 21. It‘s just totally not believable. 5y
98 likes4 comments
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That-Bookish-Hiker
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Met Mary H.K. Choi today at Powell‘s. Laini Taylor was the moderator and the conversation was truly wonderful. She was funny and amazing of course.

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erinreads
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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I wish I was liking this book more, I just don‘t feel connected to the characters at all. The text exchanges between Penny and Sam are fun, though, and it‘s a pretty quick read, so I plan on finishing this morning at least. And then I really should go do some yard work before it gets too hot. Or I could just stay in and start a new book? 💁🏼‍♀️

ReadosaurusText This is on my TBR list, so this is good to know. It is a very cool cover! 5y
Kaylamburson I struggled with this one a lot. 5y
62 likes1 stack add2 comments
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hes7
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Mehso-so

This was cute, but I‘m mostly feeling “meh” about it right now. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Book 11 of #SummersEndReadathon ✔️
Time: 49h3m

#bfcr3 #smallsteppers

Clwojick 49h! Way to go! 💪🏻🌟 5y
82 likes1 comment
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xoKatie
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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*swoon* this book is incredibly cute. That is all.

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xoKatie
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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*swoon* this book is incredibly cute. That is all.

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AlisonM
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

I‘m a sucker for a cute cover, alternating narrators, and young love. This book checked all those things. A quick, easy read, with an ending that left me wanting way more! #Book22of2019

4 likes1 stack add
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BookNightOwl
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

This book alternates between two main characters Penny and Sam. Penny is just starting College when she meets her roommates 'Uncle' Sam. Penny runs into Sam again when he is on the street having a panic attack. That is when texting back and forth begin.

BookNightOwl I found this book to be an easy read. After reading some reviews I realized your either going to like it or hate it. I liked the characters and there slow burn friendship. There are trigger warnings for rape, panic attack and racism. I'm glad I read this now because the second book should be coming out here soon. The first one did leaving you wanting more from these two. 4⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds interesting! 5y
74 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Readergrrl
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

Choi‘s writing is delightful! The dialogue wasn‘t contrived or cliché. Not once did I feel, as a ?? of a more *ahem* refined age, I couldn‘t relate to Penny&Sam. I was quickly involved and invested in their relationship and I LOVED that BOTH narrators were complex with interesting subplots. Lots going on: mother/child/friends/college/writing and filmmaking/alcoholism/toxic relationships... something for everyone! I just wish the end was longer!

Lovesbooks87 I wished the end was longer too! 5y
LiteraryinLawrence Thanks for that review! I assumed I wasn‘t the target audience for this one, but I‘m going to stack it! 5y
Readergrrl @LiteraryinLititz Absolutely! I almost passed it up, but then picked up a hard copy because the cover was so attractive. I‘d already seen it here on Litsy so much that I was intrigued. So glad I went with my gut and put it in my shopping basket! 5y
85 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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That-Bookish-Hiker
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

Even though this took me over week to finish this book I truly enjoyed it.

This truly was an adorable story with some heavy subjects that didn‘t weigh down the story. I enjoyed Penny and Sam‘s back and forth through text, so cute.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

54 likes2 stack adds
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802Librarian
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

A not overly complicated YA about two people who find each other and help one another to understand life and figure themselves out.

Bonus shot of my desk 🤓

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marss
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Penny thought of this Korean saying for when you really, really liked something. You‘d say it “fit your heart exactly.”

6 likes1 stack add
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Texreader
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Thank you @Mem_ugh for the gifts! This book reminds me of Eleanor and Park so I‘m hoping it‘s as good! And I‘m hoping to get more organized with the cool to-do notepad and I ❤️ the picnic blanket. It will get put to good use! #summerreadingswap @rather_be_reading

Lovesbooks87 I loved this book and it did remind me a lot of Eleanor & Park! Enjoy! 5y
crazyspine Love the notepad 5y
ephemeralwaltz How lovely! 5y
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rather_be_reading love it! 🌞 5y
Mem_ugh I loved Eleanor & Park and Emergency Contact is definitely one of my recent favorites, I hope you like it as much as I did! Happy summer reading! 🌞🌞 5y
Texreader @Mem_ugh Oh I‘m so thrilled it comes with your recommendation! That‘s a very sweet personal touch. Thank you!! 5y
61 likes6 comments
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ness
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

Finished this on my drive home yesterday! I liked it, but there was a lot of ableism. Still, it‘s a lovely romance about family, mother-daughter relationships, anxiety, and female friendships. Big tw for rape (it doesn‘t occur on the page but one character describes what happened to another), panic attacks.

As for #BFC, this week + next are #ALAAC19 weeks, so I‘m taking a break from running. Still did my yoga! #BookFitnessChallenge

14 likes1 stack add
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mrozzz
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

Ahhhhh I felt butterflies I felt joy I had several public laughing fits- this book was all that & a bag of chips. It made me feel as good as To All the Boys I've Loved BeforeAND Fangirl both did. Penny who, let's be clear is wholly unique & likely written with some of Choi's own weird/awesome shine, had a bit of Cath's personality and Lara Jean's confidence + a combination of their humors and awkwardness- she and the book were just... excellent.

MarriedtoMrT This book has been on my radar for some time but your reference to Cath might just have shoved it higher on my TBR! 5y
Nebklvr Love this review! 5y
76 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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RealLifeReading
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Second YA book I‘ve read by a Korean-American author that mentions trypophobia! The first was in Maurene Goo‘s The Way You Make Me Feel.
The funny thing is I‘ve always had this thing about seeing little holes. It doesn‘t freak me out but little holes clustered together always gives me goosebumps. And so when I read it for the first time, it was like, oh hey there‘s actually a term for this!

Moray_Reads Trypophobia gets me too. It's not just holes though, for me it's also uneven textures and things like cracked mud 5y
JamieArc Oh wow! When I was younger, I always had these nightmares and they were the worst, but I never knew how to describe them because they were about textures, shapes, and sounds maybe. 5y
Chocomeiske @Moray_Reads I didn't even know there was a name for this. 5y
UwannaPublishme I almost thought that was “typophobia.” I‘m definitely allergic to typos! 🤣 5y
tywritenow Pomegranates. Do they count? My sister is always eating them & I told her they look like the devil‘s fruit. Fine as a flavor but I can‘t stand looking at them. 5y
76 likes5 comments
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RealLifeReading
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Had an outpatient procedure this morning which has left me tired and still a bit jittery. All of my books seemed too heavy so I downloaded some YA to keep me company on this surprising rainy day.

Kalalalatja Hope everything went well and that you have a speedy recovery! 🤞 5y
quietlycuriouskate Be well! 💐 5y
wanderinglynn Hope you feel better soon. 💚 5y
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MallenNC Feel better soon! I hope you can enjoy some reading. 5y
Crazeedi Sending get well wishes! 5y
Notafraidofwords Loved this book. Feel better! 5y
SW-T Hope you feel better soon! 💐 5y
AmyG Feel better! 5y
BookNAround Feel better soon! 5y
Skyrimir I hope you have a speedy recovery! 5y
batsy Take care and hope you feel better soon 🌻 5y
89 likes12 comments
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karthaly
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

I read a lot of dark lit, and that can get heavy after awhile. During times like these, I like to turn to "Slice of Life" YA books like Emergency Contact as a palate cleanser. This book definitely did the trick (while it covers it's fair share of heavy subjects), and I enjoyed the characters and the pacing.

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Holliesplaining
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

Adorable YA I found at the library. It made me feel feelings. (Also - really excellent cover art!)

RaimeyGallant Love the cover. And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🌺 5y
4 likes1 stack add2 comments
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thelizflynn
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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I‘m almost done with this one, and I‘m enjoying it so far. Not my super favorite, but it‘s entertaining! #audiobook #litsyAtoZ

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chlolovesbooks
Emergency Contact | Mary H. K. Choi
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5