The Oks are Not OK

Grace K. Shim

$39.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

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English

Kokila
03 March 2026

Classic fiction (Children's&YA)

A contemporary young adult novel by Grace K. Shim that mixes the humor of Schitt's Creek with the heritage and heart of Minari.

A contemporary young adult novel by Grace K. Shim that mixes the humor of Schitt's Creek with the heritage and heart of Minari.

Seventeen-year-old Elena Ok (pronounced Oak) has mastered the art of being both a Los Angeles party girl and financially savvy influencer, but her family doesn't see the brilliance behind her carefully curated image. Instead, they endlessly praise her older brother Gavin, whose most impressive achievement is consistently forgetting his homework. All of Elena's hard work and social clout disintegrates when the Oks, founders of the wildly popular (and now bankrupt) fast fashion brand It's Ok! (pronounced ""OKAY""), lose their fortune overnight.

With their empire crumbling and an investigation underway, the Oks flee to Blaire, CA-a farming town that's as glamourous as Temu. Mr. Ok, a now disgraced retail mogul, and Mrs. Ok, a now also disgraced fashion-forward matriarch, realize they've spent decades perfecting their public personas at the expense of actually knowing their kids. Meanwhile, Elena and Gavin are stuck in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to distract them from their family's unraveling dynamics-or each other's annoying habits.

But life in Blaire isn't all bad. As the family reconnects with their Korean farming heritage, Elena discovers a hidden gem- the Blaire Fair, the local market brimming with untapped potential. Applying her business savvy, she helps the small-town vendors thrive and sees how they put their profits back into the community. For the first time, Elena begins to question her own definition of success.

The Oks are Not OK offers humor and drama to tell a story about family, self-discovery, and the fine line between building a brand and building a life.

By: Grace K. Shim
Imprint: Kokila
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 447g
ISBN: 9798217001842
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 03 March 2026
Recommended Age: From 12 years
Audience: Young adult , Preschool (0-5)
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Grace K. Shim lives with her husband and three children in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of the young adult novels The Noh Family and Not Your Average Jo. You can find Grace on Twitter @gracemisplaced1 and on Instagram @gkshimwrites.

Reviews for The Oks are Not OK

Praise for The Oks are Not OK by Grace K. Shim: “Schitt’s Creek meets Crazy Rich Asians in Shim’s hilarious and heartfelt novel about hitting rock bottom and coming back stronger. This is a must-read for any fan of family-based fiction.” —Booklist “I adore teen fish-out-of-water stories and this is my favorite! The way the Oks stumble through “normal” life is entertaining and you can’t help but root for them. Schitt’s Creek fans will absolutely fall in love with this story.” — Suzanne Park. Author of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous