Her first novel, If You Leave Me, was named a best book of 2018 by The Washington Post, ALA Booklist, Literary Hub, Cosmopolitan, and others.
In an interview with The Common, Kim says, "Growing up, I loved hearing about my parents’ and grandparents’ lives in Korea.
[12] Set in Korea during the 1950s and '60s, it was called "a sweeping, poignant story of war, love, and the gifts and bindings of family" by Electric Literature.
"[15] The Rumpus said, "Kim’s generosity of detail so completely transports the reader to Korea (1951–1967), and her commitment to perspective makes for a polyphonically rich and heart wrenching experience.
"[17]In an interview with Naima Coster in Electric Literature, who Kim attended the Columbia MFA program with, she said that, "As a writer, my goal is to delve into the mindset of my characters, not to use them as vehicles to represent some idealized version of the 'perfect Korean.