Book Review: Under the Oak Tree Volume 3

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Worlds, Penguin Random House, and Inklore for this ARC. From the very beginning of this series, it has been clear that Maxi and Riftan are not simply lovers separated by circumstance—they are two broken souls who desperately need to come true with each other. In Volume 3, that emotional truth deepens in ways that lingered long after I turned the final page.

This volume does not rush healing. Instead, it lingers in misunderstandings, pride, fear, and longing. Maxi continues her steady, hard-earned growth—learning her own strength, her own voice, and her own worth. Riftan, equally wounded in his own way, loves fiercely. Watching them struggle toward one another—rather than simply fall together—feels painfully real. Their love is not soft fantasy; it is complicated, bruised, and deeply human.

What struck me most in this volume is the emotional tension. Every conversation feels weighted. Every silence feels loud. There is so much unsaid between them, and yet so much feeling beneath the surface.

The world-building continues to expand, adding layers of danger and political tension, but the heart of the story remains the fragile, stubborn bond between Maxi and Riftan. Their relationship is not built on grand declarations alone—it is built on vulnerability, missteps, and the terrifying act of letting someone truly see you.

I don’t know what these two will face next, and that uncertainty makes my heart ache. The path ahead will not be easy—I am certain of that—but I hope with everything in me that they find their way through it together.

Suji Kim has an extraordinary talent. She does not simply write romance—she writes emotion in its rawest form. Her storytelling allows the reader to truly feel: the hope, the anger, the devotion, the quiet resilience. Few authors can make you inhabit a character’s heart so completely. This series has become more than a story; it is an emotional experience.

Without question, Under the Oak Tree, Volume 3 will be my favorite book of the year.

Image from NetGalley.com

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