I write young adult novels
that make you want to burn down a yacht and own one; to dismantle the patriarchy and hug every boy you’ve ever loved; to quit your job and cut off your hair and throw your phone in a pool and do the one thing you’ve always wanted to do but were too scared to try because you might make a mistake.
photo by Shirin Borthwick
Praise for My Flawless Life:
⭐️ STARRED REVIEW FROM KIRKUS
⭐️ STARRED REVIEW FROM PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY
⭐️ STARRED REVIEW FROM THE BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS
🥇 CHOSEN AS A GOLD STANDARD SELECTION BY THE JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD
“Woon (If You, Then Me) crafts a meticulously plotted mystery entrenched in high-society scandal and high school drama and peopled by complex, ever-evolving protagonists. It’s a blistering commentary on privilege and wealth.” - Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
“This gripping mystery is deepened and complicated by explorations of Hana’s trauma and relationships. The slow burn allows room for character development that elevates the novel. Thought-provoking high school drama with dark, serious undertones.” - Kirkus (starred review)
“"Woon's novel is compelling from start to finish, helped along by Hana’s strong narrative voice, magnetic personality, and sharp mind. The mystery is deliciously twisty and unexpected. Themes of interconnectivity and a haunted past, combined with the nuances of each character and the mystery itself, all move this thriller past familiar tropes and will certainly challenge the teen who thinks they can predict the ending a mile away." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
At the most elite private school in Washington DC …
whenever anyone has a problem that they need to go away, they hire Hana Yang Lerner. She’s a fixer—she knows who to call, what to say, and how to make sure secrets stay buried. She can fix anything, except her own life, which was destroyed when her father, senator Skip Lerner, was suddenly arrested for an accident that left one woman nearly dead.
Now Hana’s reputation is ruined and her friends are gone. So when she gets a job from an anonymous client called “Three” to follow her former best friend, Luce Herrera, Hana realizes this might be her way of getting back her old life. But the dangerous thing about digging is that you never know what you’ll unearth. As Hana uncovers a terrible truth about her supposedly flawless classmates, she’s forced to face a secret of her own.
MORE PRAISE FOR YVONNE’S BOOKS
“A romantic mystery bound up with a thrilling peek behind the curtain at the dark workings of the social media and tech world. An electrifying page-turner."
— Maureen Johnson, bestselling author of 13 Little Blue Envelopes and The Truly Devious series
“Yvonne Woon's If You, Then Me is unquestionably one of the very best YA books I've ever read. Xia is a protagonist with a full, realistic, heartbreaking arc, and I loved her and rooted for her every step of the way, even when (and perhaps especially when) she made mistakes. This book gives readers a peek into the fascinating, often impenetrable social landscape of Silicon Valley, and delivers a delicious villain, hilarious dialogue, and a realistic look into why women tear each other down in a white, male-dominated industry. As Xia questions her own ability, self worth and inner strength, the disconnect between what she feels inside verses how others perceive her is mirrored in her ultimate decision: will she choose to lose herself in the traps of an online relationship and a world in which appearances are more valued than honesty, or to be a present and active force in her own life, to let herself love someone she can see and touch, to create what she feels is missing in the world? I wanted this book to go on forever, so I could follow Xia and Wiser on their next adventure.”
— Lindsay Sproul, author of We Were Promised Spotlights
“IF YOU, THEN ME unfolds with an unexpected urgency, immersing readers in the fast-paced, glittering tech scene of Northern California. Yvonne Woon perfectly captures this morally murky world built for the privileged and the male, and shows readers how difficult it can be for a young woman to find her place. Though Xia Chan is a fish-out-of-water in Silicon Valley, her unique mix of sensitivity and grit instantly make her a heroine worth rooting for. The mystery of her secret penpal will keep readers guessing from the start, and the romance is full of quips, tacos, and kisses on sandy beaches. I couldn't put it down!”
— Rachel Carter, author of the So Close To You series