I'm Not Here to Make Friends

Terrace House meets Loveboat, Taipei in this fun, frothy, incisive YA debut, following two teens and their unforgettable summer on a reality show.

When Sabine Zhang is picked for Hotel California, a teen reality show with an all-Asian cast, she jumps at the opportunity. As one of few Asians at her high school in the Midwest, she’s always felt as if she was playing a side character in someone else’s story. But on this show, she’ll finally have a chance to step into the spotlight.

All Yoona Bae wants is to get away. The girls at church think she’s mean, her mom thinks she’s a troublemaker, and she’s tired of fighting against her unearned bad reputation. So when she’s invited to appear on Hotel California, Yoona sees it as an opportunity to chill out, make some friends, maybe even get a tan.

But life on the show isn’t all sunshine and self-actualization. The producers want drama at all costs, even if it means pitting Sabine and Yoona against each other. With the season finale looming, can the girls figure out a peaceful way forward, before they lose control of their own narratives?
Enemies to Friends: Sabine wants the spotlight; Yoona wants an escape. When the producers decide they make better rivals than friends, they’re forced to choose between playing the game and writing their own story.Dual POV: Get both sides of the story in this must-read YA romance. See the rivalry—and the budding friendship—unfold from two completely different perspectives.Behind the Scenes of Reality TV: From manufactured drama and producer manipulation to unexpected challenges and on-camera romance, get a juicy look at what really happens when the cameras are rolling.Asian-American Representation: A celebrated all-Asian cast navigates the complexities of identity, friendship, and finding your voice in a story that feels both timely and timeless.