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bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
“I’m saying, people do strange things to protect their hearts. But when you’re afraid, your heart is closed, and it’s never the right time, but when your heart is open, and you’re willing to be brave enough to take a chance, the time is always right.”
➽ I'm not a K-pop fan, but this book was still so much fun!! I know lots of people love K-pop, but I don't know much more about it than I see online. XOXO definitely isn't only for K-pop fans though! It follows Jenny, who's a talented cellist and flies to Korea in order to support her sick grandmother. After a harsh criticism in her latest rehearsal, she's worried about her musical, career but has the unique opportunity to attend her dream school abroad! I loved the family dynamics, as Jenny connects with her grandmother and also sees the difficult relationship her mom and grandma have.
➽ Jenny has a fun night in Los Angeles with a boy called Jaewoo before her flight ... only to find out that he's an idol in Korea! He's attending her new school, but as a member of a famous K-pop group, he's not allowed to date anyone. Jenny and Jaewoo still feel drawn to each other though and grow closer despite their romance being forbidden!
Minor: Bullying, Medical content, and Classism
agateg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Cello prodigy Jenny has one goal: to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious, handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar. In a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure. Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that he’s a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world—and he’s strictly forbidden from dating. When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.
I fell head over heels in love with the story the moment I opened the book. This story is every kpop and kdrama fan's dream come true. I loved the fast pacing of the story and how instantly drawn to the characters I was. Jenny was an adorable main character and I saw so much of myself in her. Jaewoo was to die for, the biggest sweetheart of all sweethearts. I loved the found family aspect of the book, seeing Jenny make friends and truly discover to love life. I do wish to see more of Nathan and Sori because my heart breaks for them and their love. Truly a book that reminds me why I love ya so much!
Graphic: Bullying and Cancer
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Stalking
piperclover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Medical content
hannaemilia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Bullying and Medical content
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Author: Axie Oh
Genre: YA Romance
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: July 13, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Oversimplified • Cliché • Cultural
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Jenny, a Korean American teen and classically trained cellist with aspirations of pursuing it professionally, experiences a disastrous performance that shatters her confidence. At her uncle's Karaoke bar she meets a mystery boy, one with the potential to upend all her plans. Sparks fly, he drags her out of her comfort zone for one incredible night, and then he simply disappears.
Fast forward three months, when Jenny travels to Korea with her mother who intends to care for her own ailing mother. She soon discovers Jaewoo is enrolled at the same elite arts school as her, and that he is one of the biggest K-pop stars in the world.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I picked up XOXO to fill the letter X for my A-Z Reading Challenge. This isn't something I would normally read, and it's very obvious this is YA, coming across as a story that's been done a million times before.
It was cute, the writing was pretty basic, and there's a lot of teen angst. I didn't necessarily feel any connection (or liking) for any of the characters. Everything just felt too easy and convenient. It touches on a lot (stalking, cancer, bullying, etc.) but doesn't flush any one of those things out fully.
I appreciated that it didn't focus solely on the romance, rather it was Jenny's friendship with her roommate Sori, the familial dynamics, and learning about Korean culture that I liked most.
With all the said, this just wasn't the book for me. I like a little more depth in my reading, but it's pretty much what you'd expect it to be, if that's your thing you'd probably enjoy it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• K-pop or K-drama fans
• YA romance readers
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Because the people who live for tomorrow don't take risks. They're afraid of the consequences. While the people who live for today have nothing to lose, so they fight tooth and nail."
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Medical content
ghostingfanboyriot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, Stalking, and Death of parent
blackveilbeccy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Stalking
Minor: Cursing, Eating disorder, and Abandonment
Family dysfunctionimstephtacular's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Minor: Bullying, Medical content, and Death of parent
yvonne_cl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
elenamarmiroli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Medical content