The Beauty of Individual Things by K. Thomas Yoo

Tumble Back in Time: Debut Novel Set in Prohibition-Era Detroit

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN—In her debut novel, The Beauty of Individual Things, author K. Thomas Yoo invites you to take a stroll back in time to Prohibition-era Detroit. After being swept away from high-society living in New York, Margot Andrews escapes betrayal by fleeing to Michigan’s freshwater, navigating romance alongside yacht races, rumrunners, and industrial might.

“The book explores the weight of loneliness and the personal costs of reinvention and love. Its characters, mostly young, are defining who they want to be in a world that is constantly shifting. It also examines the many facets of love—friendship, attraction, commitment, and, at times, the necessity of letting go,” Thomas Yoo explained.

Detroit, the Classics, and Leading Ladies

Thomas Yoo's inspirations include well-known writers such as Ring Lardner, Ernest Hemingway, Edith Wharton, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, particularly works like The Sun Also Rises, The Age of Innocence, and The Great Gatsby.

“I was struck by the complicated, beautiful, and somewhat damaged women characters whose inner lives remain vague, while the emotional journeys of the men who love them take center stage. I wanted to write a story that gives the heroine space to be layered, flawed, and, at times, a bit of a hot mess,” she said.  “It may sound simple, but in the heart of this story, I was trying to reflect the idea that love is the most powerful force we have as humans; be proud of who you are, learn to love yourself, and extend that generosity to others.”

This story is not just a homage to the heroine genre, but also to Detroit, written by someone who was raised in the area.

“Detroit’s postwar decline is well known, but I wanted to highlight the remarkable achievements and creativity of a time when the city was on the rise. That energy isn’t difficult to imagine as Detroit is experiencing a resurgence today, and it’s thrilling to watch. There's so much hope in that,” she said.

Advance Praise

“A beautifully rendered journey into a forgotten chapter of history. Set against the backdrop of the 1920s, The Beauty of Individual Things captures both the danger of the early days of powerboat racing and a young woman’s gradual, deeply human awakening to choice.”

—Cynthia Tennent, author of Come Back to the Ballpark, Maisy Gray

“Ms. Yoo’s debut novel is a lush, immersive journey into another time. Moving between a Detroit suburb and London, it follows Margot as she grows into herself while navigating the social expectations of the era. Beautifully written and deeply absorbing.”

—A. VanOsdol

"Like a modern-day Pride and Prejudice, The Beauty of Individual Things captures the struggles of Margot Andrews as she discovers her voice and identity in the midst of pursuing her ideals during the heyday of Prohibition. Very entertaining!"

—Lan H. Reilly, author and illustrator

The Author

K Thomas Yoo was born and raised in Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received an MBA from Duke University. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found in her garden or on a paddleboard in Lake Michigan. A mother of three grown children, she lives in  the Detroit area with her husband. This is her first novel.

The Book

The Beauty of Individual Things

K. Thomas Yoo

342 pages, 6” x 9”, B/W

Fiction / Historical / 20th Century / Family Life / Multigenerational / Romance 

ISBN: 978-1-968761-41-7, $24.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-968761-42-4, $17.95 (Softcover)

Publication Date: 07/14/2026

Mission Point Press

Copies are available for preorder at Bookshop.org, Amazon, and other online retailers. On its April 10 publication date, it will be available for purchase wherever books are sold. For information or to arrange for signings and events, contact the author at kthomasyooauthor@gmail.com or kthomasyooauthor.com.

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