Picture a Korean-American storyteller who turned the trials of young love and cultural identity into a literary sensation—meet David Yoon! Bursting onto the scene with his debut novel Frankly in Love, Yoon crafts tales that blend humor, heart, and the messy beauty of growing up. His stories resonate with readers navigating the tightrope of family expectations and personal dreams, making him a fresh voice in young adult fiction.
The Making of David Yoon
Born and raised in Orange County, California, David Yoon grew up in a Korean-American household, steeped in the vibrant contrasts of Southern California’s cultural mosaic. His parents, immigrants from Korea, instilled a strong sense of heritage, but their traditional expectations often clashed with Yoon’s American upbringing. This tension became the heartbeat of his writing. Before becoming a novelist, Yoon honed his creative skills illustrating his wife Nicola Yoon’s #1 New York Times bestseller Everything, Everything, a gig that sparked his own storytelling ambitions. A lifelong writer with a knack for screenplays and short stories, Yoon’s big break came when he poured his personal experiences into Frankly in Love, igniting a publishing frenzy.
David Yoon’s Unforgettable Stories
Yoon’s novels are a masterclass in blending wit, romance, and raw honesty. His debut, Frankly in Love, follows Frank Li, a Korean-American teen caught between his parents’ rule to date only Korean girls and his love for a white classmate. The novel’s fake-dating scheme and poignant family dynamics earned it a William C. Morris Award nomination and an Asian/Pacific American Award honor. Super Fake Love Song, Yoon’s YA follow-up, dives into nerdy Sunny’s hilarious attempt to pose as a rockstar to impress a girl, showcasing Yoon’s knack for quirky characters. For adult readers, Version Zero delivers a tech-thriller punch, exposing the dark side of Silicon Valley through a data whiz’s quest for revenge. City of Orange, another adult novel, explores survival and identity in an apocalyptic wasteland, proving Yoon’s versatility. His style—funny, heartfelt, and unflinchingly real—tackles themes of belonging, cultural identity, and the courage to defy expectations.
Why David Yoon Matters
David Yoon’s impact lies in his ability to give voice to the nuanced experiences of Asian-American youth, a perspective often underrepresented in YA literature. Through his work with Joy Revolution, a Random House imprint co-founded with Nicola Yoon, he champions love stories starring people of color, reshaping the publishing landscape. His novels don’t just entertain—they spark conversations about identity, family, and the universal quest to belong. With a film adaptation of Frankly in Love in the works and a first-look deal with Anonymous Content for Yooniverse Media, Yoon is poised to influence both page and screen for years to come.
About David Yoon
- Born: Orange County, California
- Key Works: Frankly in Love, Super Fake Love Song, Version Zero, City of Orange
- Awards: William C. Morris Award finalist, Asian/Pacific American Award honor
- Fun Fact: He’s married to bestselling author Nicola Yoon, forming a literary power couple!
Ready to dive into a world of humor and heart? Grab Frankly in Love and discover why David Yoon’s stories are stealing hearts everywhere!