Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

By Jessica Kim

A mistaken identity at comedy camp forces a shy girl to choose between truth and her dreams.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 3,923 ratings

320 pages· 49,427 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Yumi Chung dreams of comedy stardom but is stuck in test-prep classes. When she stumbles into a comedy camp, everyone mistakes her for someone else. As Yumi juggles her double life, she must decide whether to reveal her true identity or risk losing her dreams and disappointing her family. Will she find the courage to stand up for herself, or will her secret unravel everything she's worked for? Discover the twists and turns of Yumi's journey as she navigates the challenges of identity, ambition, and family expectations.

From the publisher

One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian. On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her “Yu-MEAT” because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she’s reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage. Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in a time of hardship at the restaurant. One day after class, Yumi stumbles on an opportunity that will change her life: a comedy camp for kids taught by one of her favorite YouTube stars. The only problem is that the instructor and all the students think she’s a girl named Kay Nakamura–and Yumi doesn’t correct them. As this case of mistaken identity unravels, Yumi must decide to stand up and reveal the truth or risk losing her dreams and disappointing everyone she cares about.

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