A review by sunshine_librarian
I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee

5.0

I had such a good time reading this book! I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but Lyla Lee created a story that made me want to DANCE and SING.

Skye Shin has always been plus-sized, and her mother has always given her a hard time about it. Skye has heard it all: fat girls shouldn't dance or wear bright colors or stand out in any way. But Sky dreams of being a K-pop star, so she challenges all the rules that society has placed on plus-sized girls by auditioning for an internationally televised competition to find the next K-pop star.

Skye enters the world of reality tv and all the drama that goes along with it. She has to defend her "right" to be there to a fat-phobic judge and challenges the beauty standards of Korean pop stars. Skye has to balance intense rehearsals, clashes with fellow competitors, her mother's disapproval, her rising social media presence, and her feelings for another competitor, Henry Cho, all while staying true to herself.

Lee does a fantastic job describing the joy Skye feels when she is performing. The author also finds a way for Skye to explore her feelings about her own sexuality, being an inspiration to others, standing up for herself, body positivity, friendships, and facing her mother once and for all.

I 100% recommend this book and will be adding it to my school's library asap.