Love in Focus

In this cute if somewhat forgettable sapphic second-chance romance from Lee (Flip the Script), college exes are reunited to pull together a Valentine’s Day feature for a San Francisco magazine. “Modern Love in Focus” will spotlight diverse couples across three generations, with Gemma Cho, a romance advice columnist, conducting the interviews and her ex Celeste Min, a freelancer, brought on to photograph the couples. Unfortunately, Gemma, usually a romantic, has never felt more jaded about love, having recently been dumped by her boyfriend of seven years. Spending time with the woman who abandoned her to return to her home country of South Korea with no explanation eight years prior isn’t on the top of her to-do list. But as they complete the assignment, old feelings resurface. Meaningful inclusions of Korean culture and the touching relationship between Gemma and her supportive friend group make for enjoyable reading. Unfortunately, the couples’ interviews are littered with clichés (“Love is being there for each other, no matter what”), and Gemma and Celeste’s chemistry feels underdeveloped, with the plot relying heavily on their history to convince readers of their compatibility rather than building a present connection. More successful are the personal growth arcs of both protagonists as they heal their past wounds. Those who appreciate imperfect but endearing heroines will be happy to pick this up. (May)