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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I wanted to like this book more. I love thatbit has representation: fat character,s lgbt+ characters, and black/bipoc characters. However, this book continued to just "state" these things over and over again which made the characters fall flat and like they had no personality or quality aside from being that.
The writing and dialogue also felt a bit unnatural and clunky. Im starting to wonder if I'm just too old for these kinds of books now
The writing and dialogue also felt a bit unnatural and clunky. Im starting to wonder if I'm just too old for these kinds of books now
Everything and more than I ever thought I’d want in a YA rom-com—”I’ll Be the One” by Lyla Lee made me laugh, swoon, and brought a few tears to my eyes as I read. “I’ll Be the One” is unapologetic fun featuring Skye Shin, a 16-year old singer and dancer who’s trying to make her dreams come true.
Skye wants to be part of the K-Pop world, and she’s tackling an audition for an internationally-televised TV show that’s searching for the next K-Pop star.
Skye has faced challenges her entire life. She’s considered fat by society’s standards, and her mother never misses a chance to ridicule for her weight. Skye is also bi, something she feels she can’t reveal to her Korean parents. Stepping onto the stage to audition not only as a vocalist, but as a dancer is huge. She’s always been told fat girls shouldn’t dance, but she’s got the talent AND she’s not going to let anyone fat-shame her into abandoning her dreams.
I wish I had “I’ll Be the One” to read when I was a young teenager. Having struggled with weight and body image since I was a child, so much of Skye’s experiences spoke to me. Loudly. I found Skye’s determination to stay true to herself inspiring, and I loved cheering her on. I also wanted to give her a hug every time her mom made an unnecessary comment/observation about Skye’s size.
The book is a rom-com, and the friendship + something more that develops between Skye and Henry is cute. It’s not overdone, and I thought they were sweet together. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I’m hoping author Lyla Lee has a sequel coming so we can see what happens post-competition.
Skye wants to be part of the K-Pop world, and she’s tackling an audition for an internationally-televised TV show that’s searching for the next K-Pop star.
Skye has faced challenges her entire life. She’s considered fat by society’s standards, and her mother never misses a chance to ridicule for her weight. Skye is also bi, something she feels she can’t reveal to her Korean parents. Stepping onto the stage to audition not only as a vocalist, but as a dancer is huge. She’s always been told fat girls shouldn’t dance, but she’s got the talent AND she’s not going to let anyone fat-shame her into abandoning her dreams.
I wish I had “I’ll Be the One” to read when I was a young teenager. Having struggled with weight and body image since I was a child, so much of Skye’s experiences spoke to me. Loudly. I found Skye’s determination to stay true to herself inspiring, and I loved cheering her on. I also wanted to give her a hug every time her mom made an unnecessary comment/observation about Skye’s size.
The book is a rom-com, and the friendship + something more that develops between Skye and Henry is cute. It’s not overdone, and I thought they were sweet together. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I’m hoping author Lyla Lee has a sequel coming so we can see what happens post-competition.
It's a YES for me!
I. LOVE. this. book! I cannot wait to buy it once it's out and read it over again!
Skye Shin is not your average Korean-American girl. She sings and dances like a star. But after years of scrutiny from her mother and the world about her weight, and about how fat girls shouldn't dance, Skye decides to join You're My Shining Star, a brand-new Korean competition show that gives international hopefuls the chance to join the K-Pop world as trainees for the first time. Entering as both a vocalist and a dancer, Skye finds herself taking on elimination rounds, making new friends, struggling through her relationship with her mother, and proving to herself, the judges, and the world that it's okay to be fat, to dance and sing, and to love the body you have.
This book is EVERYTHING. Though Lyla Lee is a debut author, she does a fantastic job writing and provides us with a phenomenal voice from Skye Shin. You feel her pain, her nerves (seriously, every new elimination round had me sweating!), her joy, and her butterflies as - no surprise - love also awaits Skye in the midst of this competition!
Fans of K-Pop and those who admire Korean culture will love this; Lee name-drops countless artists, choreographies, and songs from across K-Pop's history, making the entire experience more enjoyable. I also love the competition setting and the way its described. It feels pretty accurate and does a good job of showing how reality turns into storylines alongside providing a good, introductory view into what it takes to be an idol.
This story is also queer as HECK, which I adored! Skye is bi and - spoiler alert - so is Henry Cho, a model whose Instagram fame is so overpowering that Skye (or you, reader!) don't expect the soft boy underneath. Yeah, Henry's hot, but he's also a soft cutie with an adorable dog, and we STAN. Their romance is seriously wonderful, and it's so natural that you can't help but root for them the whole time. We also get more queer representation with Tiffany and Lana, two other contestant hopefuls. Generally speaking, the entire book is super diverse and I'm so proud to see stories and characters like this finding a platform and getting published!
While a lot of this book is fluffy fun, just as much of it deals with the strain in Skye's mother-daughter relationship and her struggle to keep loving herself despite being hit with fatphobic backlash on the home front and in the competition. Lee does a wonderful job of balancing this heart and seriousness in the story, ultimately weaving a tale that's about more than a K-Pop star in the making. It's a powerful ode to self-love, no matter how you are or how the world sees you. And we could all use more of that.
This e-ARC was provided to me by Edelweiss+ and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.
I. LOVE. this. book! I cannot wait to buy it once it's out and read it over again!
Skye Shin is not your average Korean-American girl. She sings and dances like a star. But after years of scrutiny from her mother and the world about her weight, and about how fat girls shouldn't dance, Skye decides to join You're My Shining Star, a brand-new Korean competition show that gives international hopefuls the chance to join the K-Pop world as trainees for the first time. Entering as both a vocalist and a dancer, Skye finds herself taking on elimination rounds, making new friends, struggling through her relationship with her mother, and proving to herself, the judges, and the world that it's okay to be fat, to dance and sing, and to love the body you have.
This book is EVERYTHING. Though Lyla Lee is a debut author, she does a fantastic job writing and provides us with a phenomenal voice from Skye Shin. You feel her pain, her nerves (seriously, every new elimination round had me sweating!), her joy, and her butterflies as - no surprise - love also awaits Skye in the midst of this competition!
Fans of K-Pop and those who admire Korean culture will love this; Lee name-drops countless artists, choreographies, and songs from across K-Pop's history, making the entire experience more enjoyable. I also love the competition setting and the way its described. It feels pretty accurate and does a good job of showing how reality turns into storylines alongside providing a good, introductory view into what it takes to be an idol.
This story is also queer as HECK, which I adored! Skye is bi and - spoiler alert - so is Henry Cho, a model whose Instagram fame is so overpowering that Skye (or you, reader!) don't expect the soft boy underneath. Yeah, Henry's hot, but he's also a soft cutie with an adorable dog, and we STAN. Their romance is seriously wonderful, and it's so natural that you can't help but root for them the whole time. We also get more queer representation with Tiffany and Lana, two other contestant hopefuls. Generally speaking, the entire book is super diverse and I'm so proud to see stories and characters like this finding a platform and getting published!
While a lot of this book is fluffy fun, just as much of it deals with the strain in Skye's mother-daughter relationship and her struggle to keep loving herself despite being hit with fatphobic backlash on the home front and in the competition. Lee does a wonderful job of balancing this heart and seriousness in the story, ultimately weaving a tale that's about more than a K-Pop star in the making. It's a powerful ode to self-love, no matter how you are or how the world sees you. And we could all use more of that.
This e-ARC was provided to me by Edelweiss+ and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! This book was so much fun! I found myself stopping to listen to almost every song that was referenced. I even looked up the dance choreography to Idol by BTS at one point!
This was such an important story about loving and accepting your body that I wish I’d had when I was a teen. Maybe I would’ve grown to love my rolls and curves earlier if I’d this book back then. I’m really glad that teens have this book now.
Lyla Lee has just made it onto my list of instant read authors!
This was such an important story about loving and accepting your body that I wish I’d had when I was a teen. Maybe I would’ve grown to love my rolls and curves earlier if I’d this book back then. I’m really glad that teens have this book now.
Lyla Lee has just made it onto my list of instant read authors!
I’ve been thinking about what I want to say about this novel and I’m coming up empty. It’s a cute novel. Skye is an excellent protagonist. I got a nice little glimpse into the world of KPOP, which is admittedly something I know very little about. It’s body positive and super queer. The secondary characters are utilized well. I don’t have many complaints except for the fact that it didn’t hit me on an emotional level, so I’m having very tepid feelings about it.
A note on queer rep:
- Skye is proudly bi.
- The romance here is FM.
- There is a prominent sapphic couple
- Anything else I reveal is a bit of a spoiler.
A note on queer rep:
- Skye is proudly bi.
- The romance here is FM.
- There is a prominent sapphic couple
- Anything else I reveal is a bit of a spoiler.
Overall this was a fun book, but it feels rushed at times and a little too neat/perfect.
AMAZING
I will protect Skye with my life, but honestly don't think she needs my protection. Omgosh, I love this book so much! all of the K-pop and BTS references just gave me life <3. To see Skye basically say "Yeah I'm fat. What of it?" gosh I love her and then Imani, as a black girl who loves K-pop, the words she said....OMGOSH, just speaking FACTS <333
Lana and Tiffany <333 I love these girls. I love this book!
I will protect Skye with my life, but honestly don't think she needs my protection. Omgosh, I love this book so much! all of the K-pop and BTS references just gave me life <3. To see Skye basically say "Yeah I'm fat. What of it?" gosh I love her and then Imani, as a black girl who loves K-pop, the words she said....OMGOSH, just speaking FACTS <333
Lana and Tiffany <333 I love these girls. I love this book!