Tag: K Pop

ASAP by. Axie Oh | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: ASAP

Author: Axie Oh

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 2/6/24

Publisher: HarperTeen

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Second Chance Romance, K-Pop, Contemporary

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to HarperTeen for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh’s ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.

Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?

Content Warning:

+ We are back in the XOXO world and I’m loving it. I loved XOXO, so I really needed to read ASAP – asap…haha okay lame joke. But I loved the characters and knowing this was Sori and Nathaniel – I had to have it. I love the insider look into the life of a K-pop idol and it’s even more interesting because Sori is giving up the chance to be an idol, so I liked how she was trying to find a new path in her life. I like that she eventually was brave enough to tell her parents what was important to her. That’s something relatable.

+ The XOXO boys are back but there isn’t too much of Jaewoo and Jenny. Which is only right because this isn’t their story. But I love this cast of characters! I thought it was interesting we got more of Sun though – is it because he’s such a grump that I am totally attracted to this XOXO member and want his story the most? I know there is going to be a good story for him but I guess I have to wait, I feel like his would be the last book in the series. I love how Sori is close to these boys because of their time in training to be an idol – she’s got a level-headedness about her that I like. I like how strong she is.

+ The romance is a second chance romance which isn’t my favorite trope. But I did love that Sori and Nathaniel had a second chance at it. I just felt bummed at the little things that kept them apart – well I thought that the issues were so minimal – but to a K-pop idol or trainee like the characters in this book, it’s BIG problems like dating, scandals (that don’t even seem scandalous), and other issues like that. I hated that the same issues that pulled them apart was threatening their love again. It’s a sweet romance though, Sori and Nathaniel are so comfortable with one another, I thought that was comforting – by the way, I need all of these books in this “series” to be a K-drama. It would be perfect!

~ I’m older so sometimes I find all this perfection in these stories a bit too much. The characters have some troubles here and there, but they are perfect – because they have to be for their idol statuses. They are gorgeous, they are talented, my goodness the pressures they put on themselves! It just goes to show how much sacrifice these trainees and idols have to make for their success.

My Thoughts:

If you like K-pop and you loved XOXO, you will love ASAP. If you like sweet, fluffy romance that makes your heart flutter, you will like this book. I’ll be looking forward to the next book in this series!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

XOXO by. Axie Oh | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by. Axie Oh | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Once Upon a K-Prom by. Kat Cho | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Once Upon a K-Prom

Author: Kat Cho

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 338

Publication Date: 5/17/22

Publisher: Disney

Categories: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance, Coming of Age, K-Pop, Friends to Lovers

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Disney for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school. 

Elena Soo has always felt overshadowed. Whether by her more successful older sisters, her more popular twin brother, or her more outgoing best friend, everyone except Elena seems to know exactly who they are and what they want. But she is certain about one thing – she has no interest in going to prom. While the rest of the school is giddy over corsages and dresses, Elena would rather spend her time working to save the local community center, the one place that’s always made her feel like she belonged. 

So when international K-pop superstar Robbie Choi shows up at her house to ask her to prom, Elena is more confused than ever. Because the one person who always accepted Elena as she is? Her childhood best friend, Robbie Choi. And the one thing she maybe, possibly, secretly wants more than anything? For the two of them to keep the promise they made each other as kids: to go to prom together. But that was seven years ago, and with this new K-pop persona, pink hair, and stylish clothes, Robbie is nothing like the sweet, goofy boy she remembers. The boy she shared all her secrets with. The boy she used to love. 

Besides, prom with a guy who comes with hordes of screaming fans, online haters, and relentless paparazzi is the last thing Elena wants – even if she can’t stop thinking about Robbie’s smile…right?

Content Warning: Bullying

When I first picked this up and read the first chapter, I thought this was going to be a drag to read because I wasn’t in the mood to read a high school prom story at the moment. Few weeks later, I picked it up again and never put it back down!

Elena’s childhood best friend, Robbie Choi is back in town and he’s a big K-Pop star now. He comes around asking her to go to prom because they made a promise as kids but Elena isn’t a kid anymore and prom is the least of her concerns. She’s trying to bring awareness to kids at school that the money they are spending for prom could go to a good cause like the community center she volunteers at. But Robbie is persistent, so when he keeps popping up in her life, they start to renew their bond and this time their relationship is on another level, one that Elena isn’t sure about.

This story is so cute! There is something about these “falling for a K-Pop star” books that is so addictive, even if at first I didn’t think I would be into this one – it got me in the end! I loved seeing Elena and Robbie rekindle their friendship and seeing it turn into something more, despite the drama that comes a long with it. It seriously played out like a K-drama show and I hope someone (Netflix) makes this one into a movie. But it has that recipe or formula that K-drama’s have, a relationship that has it’s problems and funny starts, then the feelings start catching and the betrayal or drama and then a super sweet ending that pulls at your heart strings. This story has all of that.

WDB is the K-pop group that Robbie is a part of and we get to meet the members. They are so sweet, except the leader of the group Jongdae but the only K-pop group I know is BTS so it’s who I compared to in my mind when reading. I am always fascinated when reading these K-pop romance stories when the business side of K-pop groups are revealed. There is a lot of sacrifice that goes into becoming a superstar, sometimes at the expense of who these stars really are inside as people and I think it’s a good reminder to us who just see them as celebrities that it’s not all glitz and glamour. It’s a controlling industry and we get a glimpse into how Robbie’s life is restricted as well as Sooyeon, the girl pop star they are friends with.

As for the characters, Elena isn’t the most likable but I think she is relatable. Sure, she’s the girl who thinks prom is a waste of time, and she’s a planner, a bit controlling and when things don’t go her way, she freaks out or pushes people away. She doesn’t know what she’s good at, or what her passion is (besides the community center) and always feels invisible compared to her siblings. But I think that’s where Robbie balances her out – he is sweet and laid back.

Why you should read it:

  • childhood friends to lovers, sweet love story, falling for a K-pop star
  • if you love K-drama and K-pop, this one is for you
  • loved all the Korean rep plus K-pop industry info

Why you might not want to read it:

  • not into K-pop

My Thoughts:

Honestly these K-pop romance stories have a good formula and it works. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this one and yet in the end it was pulling on my heartstrings and making me wish a K-pop star asked me to prom! I need this one as a movie on Netflix, it would be so cute.

📚 ~ Yolanda