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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Mini Audiobook Review: Okay this was SUPER cute!!!! A plus size FMC who is on a singing/dancing competition?! Yes please!
I absolutely loved Skye's attitude throughout this whole book! She is such a force to be reckon with and I am so glad she stood up to not only her mom but to the judges & critics who were criticizing a teenager. She knew what she was good at and knew what goals she wanted to achieve. I only know a smidge about the K-Pop world so it was nice seeing the behind the scenes of it. I already know being a daughter of a mother can be difficult but WHEW Skye's mom was no joke. Even my husband who could hear the book when I would listen would make comments about how mean her mom was being. I am fortunate as a plus size teen that I wasn't put under that kind of microscope but I can imagine in a lot of households it could be like that. I am glad she had her dad in her corner.
I thought the audio went by super fast and the narrator Greta Jung was great as all the characters. I do recommend via audio. Also how fab is this cover & the model even did some K-Pop dances to teach readers.
I absolutely loved Skye's attitude throughout this whole book! She is such a force to be reckon with and I am so glad she stood up to not only her mom but to the judges & critics who were criticizing a teenager. She knew what she was good at and knew what goals she wanted to achieve. I only know a smidge about the K-Pop world so it was nice seeing the behind the scenes of it. I already know being a daughter of a mother can be difficult but WHEW Skye's mom was no joke. Even my husband who could hear the book when I would listen would make comments about how mean her mom was being. I am fortunate as a plus size teen that I wasn't put under that kind of microscope but I can imagine in a lot of households it could be like that. I am glad she had her dad in her corner.
I thought the audio went by super fast and the narrator Greta Jung was great as all the characters. I do recommend via audio. Also how fab is this cover & the model even did some K-Pop dances to teach readers.
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I remember really enjoying this book before I got into k-pop, and so I wanted to reread it now that I'm more familiar with the industry. It was still super cute and enjoyable- a very light-hearted summer read!
3.5 stars
This was adorable and has a bunch of amazing messages and discusses awesome topics. If you love kpop you are going to love the references. That being said this lacked a bit for me. I feel like everything that could go perfectly for this character does. I've seen a few reviews talk about how the characters don't have any flaws and that's very true. Everything just works out and wraps up so perfectly. Still a very sweet read.
This was adorable and has a bunch of amazing messages and discusses awesome topics. If you love kpop you are going to love the references. That being said this lacked a bit for me. I feel like everything that could go perfectly for this character does. I've seen a few reviews talk about how the characters don't have any flaws and that's very true. Everything just works out and wraps up so perfectly. Still a very sweet read.
A solid four stars read.
It felt effortless to read especially cause I listen to k-pop and know how many of these entities function. The book did not hold back on issues related to fatphobia, homophobia, racism, etc. And I am glad it did not. That's the reality of the world we live in and it should not be ignored.
I would recommend it to people looking for a queer YA book that is serious yet lighthearted.
Also, I was really surprised by how easy it was to read. I haven't read a YA book in some time, and had forgotten how short they feel
It felt effortless to read especially cause I listen to k-pop and know how many of these entities function. The book did not hold back on issues related to fatphobia, homophobia, racism, etc. And I am glad it did not. That's the reality of the world we live in and it should not be ignored.
I would recommend it to people looking for a queer YA book that is serious yet lighthearted.
Also, I was really surprised by how easy it was to read. I haven't read a YA book in some time, and had forgotten how short they feel
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just want to, y'know... unhinge my jaw and scream from the rooftops about how much I frickin love this book. I lovingly describe it as "K Pop and Hairspray's body positive bisexual lovechild." Skye is such a fun MC, definitely someone who would have been in my circle of friends in high school. Seeing her move through a world determined to bring her down while unapologetically being herself (even with a few human stumbles) is so wonderful. I also love that queerness is openly discussed in the book.
Someone please, take all my money and make this a movie, I beg you!
Someone please, take all my money and make this a movie, I beg you!
[from 2023] After reading 'Flip the Script' I was quite excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. Since it's a debut novel the writing could've been better, but there's only improvement from here, and I personally didn't really feel the chemistry between Skye and Henry in the beginning but it got better towards the end. I was also a bit taken aback by the amount of fatshaming taken place but I guess it really might be like that in Korea and korean media, I definitely wouldn't know. In the end I think this is a book with a very important story and I definitely recommend reading it.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very wonderful read, you can tell it was written with teens in mind. Some of the people mentioned in the book will date it and people in 10 years may not understand some of the references as well. Was an uplifting story though.
This was uhh... yeah I gotta stop reading "body positivity" books because they just aren't doing it for me. I don't know why ~body positivity~ is just let's all shit on the fat character and spend the entire time calling her fat and disgusting, mentioning all the time how different she is as she has to be BRAVE and that's the story like ??? Stop ???
I'll Be the One is about Korean-American Skye who is entering a kpop dancing and singing competition. Skye has been plus sized her entire life and is fine with it- except her disapproving mother who just wants her to lose weight. When she makes it on the show, she has to prove every step of the way that just because she's fat, doesn't mean she can't dance and be a kpop star.
I read another "body positivity" book recently (ironically also about a reality show???) and it did the exact same shit. A mix of constant shitting on the fat MC mixed with being overly preachy. Body positivity to me is having a fat character, and then not treating her like a fucking alien that is brave for falling in love or acting like a normal person. I can't keep doing this shit!!!
Skye is such a sweet and talented character and I did like her a lot- she was just a cutie and I supported her! But it just got SO tiring to always deal with the same shit like pls...
The romance was actually pretty cute too, even though I lowkey hate famous person / normal person romances. Plus they were both bisexual so that was nice.
While I absolutely hate kpop (sorry lol), this book and the competition was okay. It wasn't as dramatic and backstabbing as the summary would lead you to believe? It was actually pretty quiet and it seemed like everyone was nice and having fun the entire time.
Otherwise this is a miss for me because I'm just tired. I want more chonk characters without their entire personality being that they are chonk but alas.
I'll Be the One is about Korean-American Skye who is entering a kpop dancing and singing competition. Skye has been plus sized her entire life and is fine with it- except her disapproving mother who just wants her to lose weight. When she makes it on the show, she has to prove every step of the way that just because she's fat, doesn't mean she can't dance and be a kpop star.
I read another "body positivity" book recently (ironically also about a reality show???) and it did the exact same shit. A mix of constant shitting on the fat MC mixed with being overly preachy. Body positivity to me is having a fat character, and then not treating her like a fucking alien that is brave for falling in love or acting like a normal person. I can't keep doing this shit!!!
Skye is such a sweet and talented character and I did like her a lot- she was just a cutie and I supported her! But it just got SO tiring to always deal with the same shit like pls...
The romance was actually pretty cute too, even though I lowkey hate famous person / normal person romances. Plus they were both bisexual so that was nice.
While I absolutely hate kpop (sorry lol), this book and the competition was okay. It wasn't as dramatic and backstabbing as the summary would lead you to believe? It was actually pretty quiet and it seemed like everyone was nice and having fun the entire time.
Otherwise this is a miss for me because I'm just tired. I want more chonk characters without their entire personality being that they are chonk but alas.