If you are having difficulty navigating this website please contact us at member.services@bookofthemonth.com or 1-877-236-8540.

Get your first book for just $5 with code SPOOKY at checkout.

Join today.
Anna K Away by Jenny Lee
Young adult

Anna K Away

by Jenny Lee

Quick take

This exhilarating sequel finds a scandal-plagued Anna K hiding from the limelight and rediscovering herself in Korea.

Good to know

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Teen

    Teens

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Snarky

    Snarky

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_BasedOnAClassic

    Based on a classic

  • Illustrated icon, Icons_2ndSeries

    Second in series

Synopsis

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.

Read less

Why I love it

As an author, I always find it harder to write a sequel than the first of a series, though this seems illogical: the characters are old friends by now; they shouldn’t still cause trouble! As a reader, of course, I love sequels for this exact reason. Reading a follow-up novel is comforting in the best way, the book equivalent of a gooey chocolate chip cookie.

If you’ve read Anna K, a modern twist on Anna Karenina, then you won’t be surprised that its sequel has all the opulent detail, trenchant social commentary, and tangled drama of the first. And as in all good sequels, the stakes are higher than ever for all the characters. Beatrice, who’s always guarded her heart behind careless party-girl ways, discovers what a terrifying and thrilling rush it is to finally give your heart away. Lolly wrestles with feelings for someone new and wonders if it’s possible to love two people at once. And then, of course, there’s Anna K herself, trying to put the shattered pieces of her life back together after an unimaginable loss.

Anna K Away spans more territory than its predecessor—literally, from the pulsing world of K-Pop, to the beaches of Mexico, to the gossip-soaked bubble of competitive theater camp—and also emotionally. If Anna K was a book about the intoxicating rush of first love, Anna K Away deals with the aftermath of that love, and with heartache and grief. In the end, Anna discovers the truth we all eventually learn about growing up (which were all reminded of, over the past year)—that it’s okay if you don’t always know what comes next.

Read less

Member ratings (1,133)

  • MaryBeth M.

    Columbus, OH

    Fun sequel! Anna’s global travels are engrossing and I loved the silly teen romances and squabbles. Seoul, Cali, Michigan, Orient Express, Mexico - this book took me everywhere! Easy, breezy escapism

  • Emmylou M.

    Framingham, MA

    A strong second novel. Loved the focus on grief & loss which is perfect for the ongoing pandemic world. A fun romp including Kpop in Seoul & an epic party in the Hampons. Loved the pansexual rep too!

  • Chelsey N.

    Vineland, NJ

    A very good sequel to the first book. A beautiful journey where all characters really explored what they actually wanted. Good character growth on all sides. I curious to see if there will be more.

  • Allisa O.

    Milwaukee, WI

    Didn’t give me all the same feels as the first book, but thought it was a solid sequel. Quick and easy and would make a great beach read. I want more Anna K, crossing my fingers for a book 3!

  • Jacquelyn F.

    Crestwood, IL

    I was so happy to continue reading the stories of the characters after what happened with the first book and see how it impacted them. I’ve really enjoyed how each of them developed over time.