The Perfect Escape

The Perfect Escape is a 2020 young adult romantic comedy written by Korean American author Suzanne Park. A former comedian, Park uses a humorous tone to tell the story of Nate, a tech-savvy Korean American teen, and Kate, an aspiring actress, who work together at a zombie-themed escape room. Seeking a better life for themselves and their families, they join forces in a lucrative survivalist competition, which leads to mishaps, revelations, and a deepening connection between them. The story touches on aspects of the Korean American experience, presenting challenges and nuances of cultural identity. The novel also deals with poverty and the shame that Nate associates with his family’s socioeconomic status. As he falls in love for the first time, he learns that misguided aspirations and dreams can sometimes prevent people from recognizing true happiness.

This guide uses the 2020 Sourcebooks print edition of the novel.

Content Warning: The source material features Korean American cultural stereotypes and bigoted language, which this guide describes and discusses.

Plot Summary

The novel alternates between the perspectives of both protagonists, Nate and Kate. The two meet on Kate’s first day of work at the Zombie Laboratory, a zombie-themed escape room of which Nate is the host.