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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A lawyer and a kpop idol. Asian. Canada. Deals with stress of expectations others put on you vs what you actually want. And love, of course
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am not going to finish this book.
I’m 3 hours in, on chapter 18, and all I have learned is that the characters are of Asian decent and live in Canada.
They are learning about each others lives and, as far as I can tell, there is no plot.
It reads like a teenager who is learning how to write a short story.
I’m 3 hours in, on chapter 18, and all I have learned is that the characters are of Asian decent and live in Canada.
They are learning about each others lives and, as far as I can tell, there is no plot.
It reads like a teenager who is learning how to write a short story.
Audible Original
It was a sweet rom com style story read by the amazing Phillips Soo (Hamilton).
I put this into the category of a pallet cleanser. Not to heavy, it kept the story going, and was perfect before getting back into more mentally demanding stories.
It was a sweet rom com style story read by the amazing Phillips Soo (Hamilton).
I put this into the category of a pallet cleanser. Not to heavy, it kept the story going, and was perfect before getting back into more mentally demanding stories.
This one’s a solid 5⭐️ read for me! After thoroughly enjoying The Stand-in and absolutely loving The Comeback, it’s safe to say that I’m a Lily fan! Ari and Jihoon were absolutely adorable and I loved their journey through he book. It’s funny, romantic, sweet and enduring. The slow-burn was not too angsty and the opposites attract trope was very well done. I loved how the author very seamlessly added a sly mention of the characters from her previous book and I can’t wait for Lily’s next release
Could it have had a better ending? Yes, probably. But did I still love the book? Absolutely!
I most definitely would recommend it to everyone
Could it have had a better ending? Yes, probably. But did I still love the book? Absolutely!
I most definitely would recommend it to everyone
I've liked the other books by Lily Chu and have been able to suspend a lot of disbelief for various silly and/or zany plots. Sadly, this one was a slog for me. I cosign this (spoiler filled) review; her suggestions would have elevated this book exponentially!
Further, the ending was a real mess. (Spoilers herein) Ari went from someone (exhaustingly) reluctant and scared to butt hurt that everything Jihoon had told her about fame & her safety was true. I mean, I'm incredibly naive about a lot of pop culture and definitely wouldn't have recognized someone's famous K-pop star cousin at first (though WOW was Ari slow), but I also have a brain in my head and can imagine the kind of pressure the Taylors and Harrys and Drakes of the world deal with. Sorting out a relationship with not only a popular star like that, but one enmeshed in the highly controlled machine of K-pop, would take some extra patience and a willingness and openness to learn, and Ari is just so blindly DUMB about it all.
And absolutely, I'm all for boundaries, and didn't like Jihoon calling her a coward, but on the whole, Jihoon was remarkably emotionally mature and it became increasingly difficult to believe he'd remain devoted to someone like Ari. I did like the "I can be real with her" elements.
With some of the changes suggested by the aforelinked reviewer, this could have been a really fun & slightly more believable romp. Still, if you like Wattpad fan fiction, you might enjoy this just for the 'what if a star fell in love with me and bought me a diamond Cartier watch' fantasy of it all. (Though I sincerely hope you would be less obtuse about it should this scenario occur for you.)
Further, the ending was a real mess. (Spoilers herein) Ari went from someone (exhaustingly) reluctant and scared to butt hurt that everything Jihoon had told her about fame & her safety was true. I mean, I'm incredibly naive about a lot of pop culture and definitely wouldn't have recognized someone's famous K-pop star cousin at first (though WOW was Ari slow), but I also have a brain in my head and can imagine the kind of pressure the Taylors and Harrys and Drakes of the world deal with. Sorting out a relationship with not only a popular star like that, but one enmeshed in the highly controlled machine of K-pop, would take some extra patience and a willingness and openness to learn, and Ari is just so blindly DUMB about it all.
And absolutely, I'm all for boundaries, and didn't like Jihoon calling her a coward, but on the whole, Jihoon was remarkably emotionally mature and it became increasingly difficult to believe he'd remain devoted to someone like Ari. I did like the "I can be real with her" elements.
With some of the changes suggested by the aforelinked reviewer, this could have been a really fun & slightly more believable romp. Still, if you like Wattpad fan fiction, you might enjoy this just for the 'what if a star fell in love with me and bought me a diamond Cartier watch' fantasy of it all. (Though I sincerely hope you would be less obtuse about it should this scenario occur for you.)
It's time for me to congratulate Lily Chu on writing the first "Oops, I fell in love with a K-Pop idol" novel I've actually enjoyed.
There are 2 types of K-Pop Idol novels I've encountered. One where the protagonist falls in love with an idol heavily inspired by that band with the blood-thirsty army; the other where the protagonist becomes a K-Pop idol themselves. I love K-Pop but my group biases lie strongly with girl groups so it's no surprise I like the stories where the MC becomes a K-Pop idol. AND YET Lily Chu wrote a story so fun with a love interest so sweet, I couldn't help but enjoy myself.
I loved the humour in this novel so much. I didn't laugh at all the jokes, but there were more jokes that made me grin and even laugh out loud.
I love Ari, I think she's feisty and smart and oh-so-relatable. I feel like I'm having a crisis in my own life right now because things aren't going according to plan for the first time in my entire life, and breaking that to my POC parents isn't easy. Also the struggles Ari faced being non-white in a predominantly white office was relatable, as I'm also trying to break into a similar situation.
Oh, Jihoon, Jihoon, JIHOON! I was not prepared to swoon as much as I did. I loved Ari and Jihoon's interactions so so much. Watching them fall in love gave me butterflies. I need to study Lily Chu's crafting of Jihoon, because he's a fictional character and yet he gives me butterflies!?
What did I dislike? The whole But it's fiction, so I just had a big laugh and kept reading.
I initially was going to give this book 4 stars, but I enjoyed the romance and humour too much for that.
Also it makes me so so happy Lily Chu is Canadian and that this story was about a Canadian girl. Let me go buy Lily Chu's other book The Stand-In and stop making this review any longer than it already is.
There are 2 types of K-Pop Idol novels I've encountered. One where the protagonist falls in love with an idol heavily inspired by that band with the blood-thirsty army; the other where the protagonist becomes a K-Pop idol themselves. I love K-Pop but my group biases lie strongly with girl groups so it's no surprise I like the stories where the MC becomes a K-Pop idol. AND YET Lily Chu wrote a story so fun with a love interest so sweet, I couldn't help but enjoy myself.
I loved the humour in this novel so much. I didn't laugh at all the jokes
Spoiler
Hoonie Thighs was . . . . interesting but I have to commend the risk takingI love Ari, I think she's feisty and smart and oh-so-relatable. I feel like I'm having a crisis in my own life right now because things aren't going according to plan for the first time in my entire life, and breaking that to my POC parents isn't easy. Also the struggles Ari faced being non-white in a predominantly white office was relatable, as I'm also trying to break into a similar situation.
Oh, Jihoon, Jihoon, JIHOON! I was not prepared to swoon as much as I did. I loved Ari and Jihoon's interactions so so much. Watching them fall in love gave me butterflies. I need to study Lily Chu's crafting of Jihoon, because he's a fictional character and yet he gives me butterflies!?
What did I dislike? The whole
Spoiler
"you're being a coward for not wanting to be with a K-Pop Idol". CHILD. LMAOOO. Absolutely not. The way the fans are rabid and send death threats? Going from a normal life to one where you're constantly scrutinized, villified, being subjected to that impossible to achieve standard of beauty where you need multiple surgeries and still get called ugly cause your nose is 1 degree too turned up? BYE.I initially was going to give this book 4 stars, but I enjoyed the romance and humour too much for that.
Also it makes me so so happy Lily Chu is Canadian and that this story was about a Canadian girl. Let me go buy Lily Chu's other book The Stand-In and stop making this review any longer than it already is.
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
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