ASAP by Axie Oh

 

SPOILER ALERT. It's not necessary to read the first book in this series, XOXO, but it will greatly enhance your reading pleasure with this one. Previous characters do play a role.

“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?” - taken from Goodreads.

This book centered around Nathaniel from XOXO and Sori, Jenny’s friend. These two try to toe the K-Idol line and ignore their feelings for one another. But when things go awry, Nathaniel and Sori find that the one person they can rely on is each other. A cute and quick romance read. 

Visit Axie Oh’s website.

XOXO by Axie Oh

“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, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. But in a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure…before he disappears without a word.

Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she’s enrolled for the semester. And he’s not just any student. 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.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Jenny is a talented cellist whose dream is to attend a prestigious music school in New York City. Practice comes first and boys aren't in the picture. When a chance encounter with the mysterious Jaewoo in her uncle's karaoke bar turns into a night of adventure, Jenny is a little disappointed when he mysteriously disappears and she never heard from again. Fast forward several months and Jenny is in Seoul meeting her ailing grandmother for the first time. Enrolling in an elite music academy while she is there, Jenny is thrown when Jaewoo suddenly reenters her life. Even more surprising is to find out that he is a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands. And he remembers her.

Just a sweet story to lose oneself in.

Visit Axie Oh’s website.

 

Shine by Jessica Jung (Shine book 1)

 

“What would you give for a chance to live your dreams?

For seventeen-year-old Korean American Rachel Kim, the answer is almost everything. Six years ago, she was recruited by DB Entertainment—one of Seoul’s largest K-pop labels, known for churning out some of the world’s most popular stars. The rules are simple: Train 24/7. Be perfect. Don’t date. Easy right?

Not so much. As the dark scandals of an industry bent on controlling and commodifying beautiful girls begin to bubble up, Rachel wonders if she’s strong enough to be a winner, or if she’ll end up crushed… Especially when she begins to develop feelings for K-pop star and DB golden boy Jason Lee. It’s not just that he’s charming, sexy, and ridiculously talented. He’s also the first person who really understands how badly she wants her star to rise.” - taken from Goodreads.com

First of all, the author Jessica Jung is a K-pop legend and former lead singer of the Girls Generation. To me, this book felt authentic. If what Rachel and the other female trainees at DB Entertainment went through in the book really occurs, the K-Pop industry must really be cutthroat. It did take me a couple of chapters to get into the story, but once I was in, I was hooked. I couldn’t put it down to see where Rachel’s story would go. Pleasantly surprised by the ending, I cannot wait to see where the next book goes.

Book two, Bright, is due out in October of 2021. 

Visit Jessica Jung’s website.