zombiezami's review
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
beatriks's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Cute YA romance, meet cute, secret love, forbidden romance, and on the nor-love side:
A story about friendship, family, finding your voice, parental expectations, and a snapshot of K-pop, Korean traditions and cuisine.
I enjoyed reading this book a lot and liked the writing style.
It wasn’t overly realistic but I don’t mind.
A story about friendship, family, finding your voice, parental expectations, and a snapshot of K-pop, Korean traditions and cuisine.
I enjoyed reading this book a lot and liked the writing style.
It wasn’t overly realistic but I don’t mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Bullying
Moderate: Grief and Misogyny
enchantedelfie's review
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
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Medical content
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical content, Bullying, and Classism
looseleafellie's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
This book follows cello player Jenny, who meets K-Pop star Jaewoo in her home city of Los Angeles and spends a wonderful day with him before he’s whisked away never to be seen again. But when she heads to Seoul to visit her sick grandmother, she finds that Jaewoo and his band are now her classmates at her new elite arts academy! Jaewoo’s management company forbids him from dating, but with their romance blossoming, will love find a way?
This was an adorable rom-com that made me feel sixteen again! The writing is also very smooth and the chapters simply flew by.
Amid the challenges and drama the characters face, friendship and romance shine through. While I love a celebrity romance — and Jaewoo and Jenny were certainly very cute — I also loved how Jenny became friends with the initially-frosty Sori. I really felt how hard it was going to be for Jenny to return to the US after having such a great time with her new classmates in Seoul.
I know nothing about the K-Pop industry, and don’t listen to K-Pop much, but the story made me feel the hype nonetheless! The conflicts between the stars and the management companies were super interesting and made me kind of angry for the poor kids. I don’t know how accurate it was to real life, but I felt super invested in the characters’ quest for fame and the risks they had to take to navigate the system.
Overall, if you’re looking for a light fun romance with a decent dose of angst, this one is for you! Just pack a snack because the descriptions of Korean food made me HUNGRY.
CWs: cancer, bullying, dieting mention.
This was an adorable rom-com that made me feel sixteen again! The writing is also very smooth and the chapters simply flew by.
Amid the challenges and drama the characters face, friendship and romance shine through. While I love a celebrity romance — and Jaewoo and Jenny were certainly very cute — I also loved how Jenny became friends with the initially-frosty Sori. I really felt how hard it was going to be for Jenny to return to the US after having such a great time with her new classmates in Seoul.
I know nothing about the K-Pop industry, and don’t listen to K-Pop much, but the story made me feel the hype nonetheless! The conflicts between the stars and the management companies were super interesting and made me kind of angry for the poor kids. I don’t know how accurate it was to real life, but I felt super invested in the characters’ quest for fame and the risks they had to take to navigate the system.
Overall, if you’re looking for a light fun romance with a decent dose of angst, this one is for you! Just pack a snack because the descriptions of Korean food made me HUNGRY.
CWs: cancer, bullying, dieting mention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Cancer
agateg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.75
“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.”
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Bullying
Moderate: Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
samcanuel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I really liked the premise of this book! There were many cute characters and lots of fun details. My biggest issue with this book is that I didn’t like the main character, Jenny, all that much. Also, she and her love interest had no chemistry. I wasn’t really rooting for either of them. The ending, also, felt rushed and a little random. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this book, but I wouldn’t try to steer anyone away from it either.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Grief, and Terminal illness
stardustandrockets's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Stalking
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent