Summary of 'Heart and Seoul' by Jen Frederick Read by Dr.Soha

🎥 Drama. Romance. Seoul-sational Vibes.
Heart and Seoul is a swoon-worthy romance that hits all the right notes—think K-drama charm meets modern love, with a side of cultural soul-searching. Written by Jen Frederick and published in 2021, this novel delivers heart, humor, and a whole lot of Seoul.
Meet Daniel and Grace —two Korean-Americans navigating love, life, and identity in the dazzling city of Seoul. Daniel’s a free-spirited photographer chasing inspiration (and maybe a sense of belonging), while Grace is a high-achieving PR queen who’s always played by the rules… until now.
Their chemistry? 🔥 Off the charts.
Their banter? Sharp, witty, and full of sparks.
Their journey? Emotional, real, and totally worth the ride.
From late-night street food runs to heart-to-hearts under the neon glow of Hongdae, Daniel and Grace challenge each other to break free from expectations and discover who they really are—and who they want to be together .
But love ain’t easy. Family pressure, career dreams, and that classic long-distance dilemma throw everything into chaos. Cue the drama —misunderstandings, breakups, and one seriously tear-jerking goodbye.
But don’t worry—Frederick delivers a glow-up ending that’ll make your heart do a happy dance. No spoilers, but let’s just say: surprise visits, second chances, and a love that transcends borders.

Read by [Dr.Soha]

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hello, and a very warm welcome to all of you
in Relaxer and I'm your host, dark and coat Sham.
So what are we about to read today? That is
a book and the summary of this book I'm going
to narrate to you. So relax, close your eyes and enjoy.

(00:31):
This is a joyful session, so make the most of it.
Here we go. Heart and See All is a contemporary
romance novel written by Jen Frederick Can published in twenty
twenty one. If we talk about the story, the story

(00:54):
centers on the blossoming relationship between two individuals from different
cultural back grounds, set against the vibrant and modern backdrop
of Seoul and South Korea. With its engaging characters, emotional depths,
and immersive setting, the novel explores themes of love and

(01:20):
identity and culture, cultural understanding, and person growth. So now
let's talk about how the scenes are set in this
plot of this novel. And as we are narrating the

(01:41):
plot summary, so let's get focused on this now setting scene.
Just imagine picture this. The now opens in Seoul, a
city known for its dazzling lights, mustling streets, deep rooted traditions.

(02:04):
The story introduces us to main characters Daniel Park and
Chras Park no relation as such. While both here the
same last name, their lives and personalities could not be
more different. Daniel Park is a Korean American who has
recently returned to Seoul after many years in the United States.

(02:28):
He is charming, laid back, and somewhat aimless man in
his late twenties working as a freelance photographer. He came
to Seoul to reconnect with this Korean roots of his,
explore his heritage, and find inspiration for his big next project. Now,

(02:53):
let's have a look at Grace Park. She is a
very career focused woman who works in public relations. She
is disciplined to organize and has a very strict rocene.
Raised in the traditional surrounding of current household, she has

(03:14):
always lived up to expectations academic excellence, professional success, and
leal pety. Beneath her composed exterioriza tee earning for freedom
and a life that she can choose for herself. Their

(03:38):
pat's grasp when Daniels hired to do a photo shoot
for Grace's company. From the start their personalities slash Grace
is ann eyed by Daniel's caryal latitude and lack of direction,
while Daniel finds Grace's overly series and ridget who despite

(03:59):
the differences, there is an undeniable chemistry between them, and
this develops their relationship. Daniel and Grace spend more time
together first who work than in more personal settings than
in asual friction begins to soften. Daniel introduces Grace to

(04:21):
more spontaneous and carefree side of life, showing her the
beauty of Seoul's hidden spots, fret food, and late night adventures. Meanwhile,
Grace challenges Daniel to take life more seriously, encouraging him
to pursue his dreams with purpose. Through their interactions, both

(04:45):
characters begin to grow. Daniel starts to understand the depth
of his Korean identity and the importance of having directions
in life. Grace, on the other hand, begins to question
the exceptions placed upon her and explore what is there
and what it would mean to live a life true

(05:06):
to herself. Their relationship deep and slowly, marked by tender movements,
playful banda, and emotional wonderability. However, their growing feelings are
complicated by external pressures. Of course, Grace is being pressured
by her family to marry a man chosen by them,

(05:28):
someone who meets all the traditional expectations for her husband. Meanwhile,
Daniel knows that he may not stay in see Old forever,
and the idea of a long distance relationship seems unrealistic.
Our ese is a conflict and the turning point, so

(05:51):
my beloved listeners. The tensions in their relationship comes to
head with Grace and offered a promotion that would require
her to move to New York. This opportunity is everything
she has ever worked for, but and here is a butt,
But it was mean, leaving a family, her culture, and

(06:12):
Daniel behind. Around the same time, Daniel receives the job
offer two in Los Angeles that quote launch his photography career.
Both characters are faced with a choice follow the bath
that society and family expect of them, or take a
risk well life and love and happiness. Their communication breaks

(06:37):
down as they both asume the other will choose career
over love. Oh exciting misunderstanding. The beds led to painful arguments,
and they decided to go their separate ways. Before partying,
Daniel gives Grace the photo back he made during his
time and say oh, it's filled with and did shots

(07:00):
of her, capturing her transformation from a tightly wound professional
to someone more open in alive. The book becomes a
symbol of their connection and the impact they've had on
each other's lives. Now comes the climax. Months past, Grace

(07:25):
moves to New York and excels in her new role,
but she finds herself missing Ceole and Daniel. Of course. Similarly,
Daniel settles in Los Angeles and begins to build a
name for himself in the photography vel, but he feels
something is missing. Eventually, both realize that they can't ignore

(07:45):
the feelings, and then, in a very serene moment, Daniel
surprises Grace in New York, telling her that he is
willing to build a future with her, no matter where
in the world it may be. Graze, in return, admitted

(08:07):
that she never truly felt free until she met him.
Oh Beautifulness is Then the novel ans on a hopeful note,
with the two deciding to give their relationship a real,
short or real chance. They acknowledge that the road ahead

(08:29):
won't be easy. Long distance, cultural differences, and personal emissions
will all pose challenges, but they are committed to facing
them to get how exciting talking about the the man
cultural elements in this book heart and say all this
more than just a romantic novel. While reading it, I

(08:53):
felt as I was diving into several important themes. First
of all, expectations and how we take them and how
they are contrary to our self determination at times not always,
As Grace's storyline highlights the pressure that many second generation

(09:15):
immigrants face to meet family and societal expectation. Her journey
is one of self discovery and empowerment, learning to make
choices that reflect her own desires rather than those of others.
Then what inspired me is the cultural identity both Daniel

(09:36):
and Grace stuggled with their identities as Krean Americans. Dan
feels disconnected from his heritage and Grace feels trapped by it.
So the loops are different, but they're joined. Through their journey,
they learn to embrace both their gore in roads and

(09:57):
their individual identities, which is the case with many of us.
And the other thing which I really got touched by
this list modern love in a globalized world. This novel

(10:18):
reflects on how love can transform you present culture and
geographical boundaries. It shows the challenge of cross cultural relationships,
but also the beauty that comes from understanding and accepting
different sort of people in different perspectives, and the real

(10:40):
beauty lights and how Saoul as a character builds itself
in this story. And I'm talking about the city of Seoul,
which plays a significant role in the story. Chien Fretrick
paints a vivid picture of the city, from its neon
its nightlife to it's quite simples and traditional hanuck wnish.

(11:06):
The setting enhances the emotional tone of the story and
gives readers a sense of place and culture. And naturally,
how can we ignore the character development in the plot
of this story. Daniel Park starts off as a care free,
somewhat directionless man. Through his relationship with Grace, he gains

(11:29):
a deeper repreciation for his score inheritage and learns to
take ownership of his future. His growth is stable but meaningful.
Grace Park whereas a strong independent woman who initially appears
to have everything under control and it literally means everything,

(11:50):
but as the story progresses, we see her vulderability in
her human side, has struggles to break for free from
societal expectations. Are transformation is the emotional core of the novel,
then there are supporting characters beautiful ones. There are several
well developed secondary characters, including Grace's traditional but loving parents,

(12:16):
Daniel's corean American friends who offer comic relief and inside
and Grace's potential suitor who serves as a contrast to
Daniel and highlights Grace's internal conflicts. Not taking a look
about the writing silent tone, Jen Frederick's writing is accessible, warm,

(12:42):
and emotionally resonate. She plans humor and heart breaking seamlessly,
curating a story that feels authentic and very relatable. Her
dialogues are sharp and witty, and she has a talent
for capturing the nuisance of modern relationships. Whereas it's all

(13:06):
of this novel is very romantic but gurrounded. It doesn't
rely on cliches or overly dramatic twists. Instead, it focuses
on the quiet, everyday moments that build a strong foundation
for LoVa. The basing is steady, with enough emotional highs
and loads to keep readers engaged throughout. And guess what.

(13:33):
Cultural sensitivity and representation is remarkable in this novel, and
this is the standout feature one of the standout features
of Heart and sol because the portrayal of this is
very thoughtful how they have portrayed their work Korean culture
and Korean American experience. Jen Fredericks avoids ptereotypes and instead

(14:00):
that offers a very comprehensive view at the complexities of identity, tradition,
and belonging. It's the novel also includes the Korean language
and custom in a respectful and natural way, adding authenticity
without alienating non Korean readers. So My Beloveds, my darlings,

(14:25):
Smile listeners, and I Love you All A Heart and
See All is a beautiful written novel, emotionally satisfying romance
that explores love, identity, and the meaning of home. Jenn
Frederick cross the story that is both culturally rich and

(14:46):
deeply personal, with characters that feel real and relatable as
next door neighbors. Right. Whether you're a fan of romantic novels,
interested in Korean culture, or simply looking for a heart felt,
loving read, Heartens the Old offers a compelling, it memorable experience.

(15:13):
It's a story about finding yourself, embracing change, and daring
to follow your heart, even if it leads you to
place you never expected. The final chapter of Heartens the
Old ramps ups the emotional stakes in a way that
will have readers clutching the chess and maybe even shedding

(15:35):
it to her doom. After there but painful break up,
how you know, both Daniel and Grace try to move
on with their lies. And then Daniel and Los Angeles,
as I've told your build because photography career and Grace
in New York that I have in professionally but emotionally
adrift despite the success. The absence of each other. This

(15:58):
is what is keying them close and unshakable. Then comes
the moment everyone's been a waiting war. Ooh, la la,
out of the bloom. Grace opens her apartment door to
find Daniel standing there, tatlacked and exhausted, but with the
same heart, melt and smile. He didn't take the alley job.

(16:21):
He couldn't because no matter where he went, he kept
seeing her face in every photo he took. She was
his muse, his home, his heart. Ooh what fallows in
a row emotion confession, no grand gestures, no cheesy speeches,

(16:43):
im mamma, just two people finally admitting where they have
been feeling all along. They can't live without each other,
in a moment that's equal parts romantic and hilarious. Daniel
gets down on his wany not to propose, but to
beg her to come back to Seoul with him for

(17:06):
one last adventure before they decide whether they futureize with
each other or not. Chris laughing through tears and saying, yes,
Oh wow, what a mood magical, isn't it. The novelands
with them back in Seale, walking through the same streets

(17:27):
where it all began, hand in hand. They don't have
all the answers, They don't know where life will take
them next and lay perhaps New York, perhaps change the
old perhaps, But for the very first time, they know
that they love each other madly, and they are choosing

(17:49):
each other. And que to sunset, que to the heart
eyes and cue the kind of ending that makes you
want to argue your kindle and sound like you are
part of this key normal, key drama. So do give

(18:12):
it a read if you haven't already. And it's a
good read, and you will find it relaxing and it's
a romantic novel with lots of learning and emotions on
the way. Hopefully you liked this very beautiful novel. Heart

(18:39):
and See All, written by Jean Frederick in twenty twenty one.
You have been listening to relax A podcasts and Army
hosts Duck and Coach. So home until next time, taking
a lot of care of you and all around you,
and don't forget to embrace love in any form you can,

(19:03):
and also reflect love in any form you can, And
don't forget that I love you all so so very much,
and you are never alone. Relaxer and I am or
always by your side. Bye bye, my sweeties.