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abby_can_read's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
đź“–
I enjoyed this book. It was well written and the characters were fun. I liked the relationships between characters, the plot was lighthearted and a little predictable, and the pacing was good. I'm a developing K-Pop fan -- I have two groups I love and I'm excited to find more.
I enjoyed this book. It was well written and the characters were fun. I liked the relationships between characters, the plot was lighthearted and a little predictable, and the pacing was good. I'm a developing K-Pop fan -- I have two groups I love and I'm excited to find more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, and Medical content
bookishmillennial's review
funny
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? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
“When you’re scared and your heart is closed, the time is never right. When you’re brave and your heart is open, the time is always right.”
Gosh, this was so cute. I listened to the audiobook & really enjoyed the meetcute between Jenny & Jaewoo as they sang karaoke together 🥰 The missed connection afterwards is so fun, as she tries to reach out to him afterward & is essentially ghosted. However, they’re reunited when she and her mom move to Seoul, South Korea to take care of her ailing halmoni & Jenny realizes Jaewoo attends the new elite arts academy that she is accepted to! What a small world!
I loved the k-pop storyline of the XOXO members, and how they could not date anyone. The media and paparazzi play a big part in the XOXO members’ anxieties and motivations, so I recognize asking a girl to be your “secret friend” really sucks, but I do sympathize with the sentiment of trying to protect your friends from the media circus that comes with being a teenage k-pop star. I will never be famous (thank goodness) so I can only imagine the chaos you are thrown into & never knowing who you can wholly trust is probably exhausting!
Anyway, I loved Jenny’s coming-of-age story about choosing the future her mom laid out for her as a classically trained cellist at the Manhattan School of Music, or contemplating if she really could have it all. Axie Oh writes such sweet young adult stories, and I will continue to read them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Classism, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Stalking, and Bullying
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A really sweet coming of age style romance that explores family, friendship and forbidden romance that’s perfect for fans of K-Dramas, K-Pop and the secret/ forbidden romance trope. I really enjoyed this one and loved the dynamics and friendships we see grow.
I loved Jenny, Jaewoo as well as pretty much all of the supporting cast, but Sori and Nathaniel definitely stole my heart —I cannot wait to see more of them in upcoming spinoff, ASAP. Grief and complex family ties to feature so I do advise check TWs beforehand. But, other than that a really lighthearted and heart warming read!
I loved Jenny, Jaewoo as well as pretty much all of the supporting cast, but Sori and Nathaniel definitely stole my heart —I cannot wait to see more of them in upcoming spinoff, ASAP. Grief and complex family ties to feature so I do advise check TWs beforehand. But, other than that a really lighthearted and heart warming read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, and Cancer
Moderate: Grief and Medical content
Minor: Stalking
12dejamoo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just had the best time reading this. It had my favourite thing in a romance book which is a good supporting cast of friends (give your heroes friends!! It’s important!!) and it also had just the right amount of romantic tension and payoff. The characters all felt very real and fleshed out and so believeable as teenagers and the setting was so fun. I know nothing about K-pop but the book didn’t assume any level of knowledge, but also it didn’t feel like I was being dumbed down to. Not every Korean term was translated, but the context was always there for someone like me who has no clue about the language. Overall it just felt like a lot of love went into the writing of this book and the joy just spilled off the pages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Sexual content, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Stalking
danajoy's review against another edition
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Stalking, and Death of parent
minyoonhwi's review
adventurous
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Stalking, and Cancer
zombiezami's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
This was such a sweet book. I really enjoyed how the author gave such a detailed look into Korean culture and society. My one complaint is that Jaewoo didn’t feel that developed as a character compared to others. I felt the main character had more chemistry with Sori, honestly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing and Stalking
Moderate: Cancer, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Cursing
Minor: Car accident and Alcohol
enchantedelfie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, and Stalking
serendipity421's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death of parent, and Stalking
Moderate: Grief, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? No
4.0
This book was cute and I had a good time with it. If you enjoy fluffy YA romance with good found family, and are also interested in K-pop, then this book is probably a good one for you!
The romance was a little predictable and it did feel like a fanfiction at times, but it was still a whole lot of fun. I believe it was written to be in a similar vein to a Kdrama so that's probably why it read like this, though I don't think it made the book bad at all and didn't impact my enjoyment (if anything, it made me want to watch a Kdrama).
The biggest selling point for this book though, in my opinion, is the friendships and the found family throughout the book, that's what really made this book for me.
There was an opportunity for this book to fall into the love triangle trope, too, and I really liked how it didn't end up going in that direction, it was refreshing. I liked that the conflict was centred around the characters within the realtionship and not about others.
Overall, a really light hearted and fun read. I kept thinking about these characters and their relationships for days after finishing it, too, so it definitely left a lasting impression.
The romance was a little predictable and it did feel like a fanfiction at times, but it was still a whole lot of fun. I believe it was written to be in a similar vein to a Kdrama so that's probably why it read like this, though I don't think it made the book bad at all and didn't impact my enjoyment (if anything, it made me want to watch a Kdrama).
The biggest selling point for this book though, in my opinion, is the friendships and the found family throughout the book, that's what really made this book for me.
There was an opportunity for this book to fall into the love triangle trope, too, and I really liked how it didn't end up going in that direction, it was refreshing. I liked that the conflict was centred around the characters within the realtionship and not about others.
Overall, a really light hearted and fun read. I kept thinking about these characters and their relationships for days after finishing it, too, so it definitely left a lasting impression.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Cancer
Moderate: Death of parent and Stalking