On a fundamental level, as a child immigrant, this book deeply resonated with me and I very much connected with Soyoung/Rose. The author described the split identity and struggle of belonging to two places very well, in this case, imagined as speculative fiction where a person can create an instance of themselves. I loved all the Korean references, thank you BTS for teaching me about Arirang. Sublimation shines a light on the spirit of Arirang, the elements and timeless significance are woven into this story creatively. Additionally, in our current political climate, I found the immigration policies and diaspora very relatable and insightful.

The audiobook production was fantastic, the overlay of voices created interest and a bit of suspense. I binged majority of the book in one day! Narrated by Michelle H. Lee and Major Curda, I liked the back and forth of their chapters and the emotion they brought to Soyoung and Yujin.

It’s a mix of genres and truly an interesting book that questions your choices, and whether you would do anything differently given the chance.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook copy.

Pub date: June 2, 2026

Title: Sublimation
Author: Isabel J. Kim
Genre: Science Fiction, Speculative
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️