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XOXO #1
XOXO
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.
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.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,490 reviews
February 21, 2023
if youve ever had a daydream fantasy when you were a teenager about having a meet-cute with a member of a boyband, this book was written for you.
this story is the perfect balance of cuteness, fun and growth. i love the setting - so much so that i started look at flights to seoul - and the music school in a big city is perfect for this kind of story. the whole “i didnt know youre famous” trope makes this so much sweeter, too, by just seeing how an average girl and a boy who wants to be normal work through their own teenage worries together. and honestly, all of the characters are amazing. i dont think ive read so many side characters who are just as awesome as the main ones.
overall, im really impressed with this story and its definitely made me want to automatically read whatever book AO writes next.
↠ 4 stars
this story is the perfect balance of cuteness, fun and growth. i love the setting - so much so that i started look at flights to seoul - and the music school in a big city is perfect for this kind of story. the whole “i didnt know youre famous” trope makes this so much sweeter, too, by just seeing how an average girl and a boy who wants to be normal work through their own teenage worries together. and honestly, all of the characters are amazing. i dont think ive read so many side characters who are just as awesome as the main ones.
overall, im really impressed with this story and its definitely made me want to automatically read whatever book AO writes next.
↠ 4 stars
July 29, 2021
ahhhh i totally forgot how much i love the forbidden love trope. and this book delivered exactly that. i really enjoyed reading about south korean customs, cultures, and ideals. this was such a feel good novel. literally jenny out here living my dream
Want to read
December 18, 2020*cries in netgalley rejection*
April 25, 2023
i'm such a delulu for these books and i'm gonna imagine that's my bias from nct and ateez 🕴🏻
my blog review
my blog review
January 26, 2024
XOXO is for all the girlies who've ever dreamed of a meet-cute with their kpop idols 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 Full disclosure: the whole time I was imagining Jaewoo as Namjoon from BTS 🤭🤭
❤️🩹 JENNY
There's literally nothing to dislike about Jenny. She's affable and compromising. She's unflinchingly loyal and will go the extra mile for her friends. She's quick to forgive without being quick to anger. Her view of the world is optimistic and pure, and she sees the best in everyone. All these traits really shine through in her narration, and her sunny personality made me enjoy seeing the world from her point of view. She's like a little ball of sunshine, whom you never want any harm to come to 🥰🥰🥰
❤️🩹 JAEWOO
Jaewoo struck me as down-to-earth, filial, cautious and responsible. I'd say he was like Jenny's anchor, except I felt like she was his anchor at times too. He especially reminded me of Namjoon because of how much responsibility he shouldered even though he isn't the oldest member of the group! He always looked out for his fellow members and made sure they were healthy and happy. Once he falls for Jenny and they become official, he goes out of his way to take care of her too, which really made me fall in love with him.
❤️🩹 SORI
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IN THE ENTIRE BOOK! Sori's like a pineapple, prickly with a soft interior. Although she wasn't the main character, I loved her even more than Jenny and Jaewoo. She’s strong and independent and cold, but her aloof facade hides a tender heart; she’s terrified of disappointing the people she loves and holds herself to impossibly high standards. I just love her so much 💗
How can you not love this girl?!
Jenny and Sori’s friendship only blossomed in the second half of the book, but my love for Sori is a testament to how strong of a character she is. I wish Axie Oh had given their friendship more page time. You can bet I’m marking my calendar to read Sori’s book when it comes out next month!
❤️🩹 THE ROMANCE
Jenny and Jaewoo’s relationship was a dreamy combination of tension and romance. I lived vicariously through them because it was so much like a k-drama 🥹🥹 There really isn’t any other word to describe them other than ADORABLE! From the meet-cute to the build-up to the trials and tribulations, every moment was perfect and swoon-worthy and left me giggling.
THE WAY I WAS BLUSHING IMAGINING NAMJOON CONFESSING TO ME 🫣
❤️🩹 THE CULTURE
One last thing I loved about XOXO was all the little references to Korean culture and the Korean words that Jenny would use to refer to things! As a Korean aficionado, reading this book gave me fond memories of my experiences in Korea. When Jenny mentioned that A Twosome Place was a popular Korean coffee chain, I was SQUEALING because I absolutely love their drinks and haven’t found anything close to it in my home country! And I found it remarkable that Axie managed to explore the intense pressure that idols face, and how they always feel indebted to their fans even though their personal relationships are supposed to be personal.
The only gripe I had was Jenny’s relationship with her mother, and her mother’s relationship with her grandmother – I felt like Axie should have explored it more rather than have it be resolved so quickly. The same thing goes for their “conflict” at the end – I feel like Jaewoo forgave Jenny too fast.
Reading this book was like biting into a perfect cinnamon roll, warm and fluffy and with a sweet aftertaste. It’s my first Axie Oh book, and it definitely won’t be my last. Looking forward to reading more of her books in the future (starting with Sori’s story)!
"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.”
❤️🩹 JENNY
There's literally nothing to dislike about Jenny. She's affable and compromising. She's unflinchingly loyal and will go the extra mile for her friends. She's quick to forgive without being quick to anger. Her view of the world is optimistic and pure, and she sees the best in everyone. All these traits really shine through in her narration, and her sunny personality made me enjoy seeing the world from her point of view. She's like a little ball of sunshine, whom you never want any harm to come to 🥰🥰🥰
❤️🩹 JAEWOO
Jaewoo struck me as down-to-earth, filial, cautious and responsible. I'd say he was like Jenny's anchor, except I felt like she was his anchor at times too. He especially reminded me of Namjoon because of how much responsibility he shouldered even though he isn't the oldest member of the group! He always looked out for his fellow members and made sure they were healthy and happy. Once he falls for Jenny and they become official, he goes out of his way to take care of her too, which really made me fall in love with him.
❤️🩹 SORI
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IN THE ENTIRE BOOK! Sori's like a pineapple, prickly with a soft interior. Although she wasn't the main character, I loved her even more than Jenny and Jaewoo. She’s strong and independent and cold, but her aloof facade hides a tender heart; she’s terrified of disappointing the people she loves and holds herself to impossibly high standards. I just love her so much 💗
"Yes, be sure to take care of his soul,” she says, then adds, “and his body.”
"Oh my God!” I throw my pillow at her. She sprints to her bed and grabs a stuffed animal. She has like a hundred. After we “became friends,” they all started appearing out of seemingly nowhere. I think she’d hidden them beneath her bed.
How can you not love this girl?!
Jenny and Sori’s friendship only blossomed in the second half of the book, but my love for Sori is a testament to how strong of a character she is. I wish Axie Oh had given their friendship more page time. You can bet I’m marking my calendar to read Sori’s book when it comes out next month!
"If cellists have fan clubs, Jenny, I want to join yours."
❤️🩹 THE ROMANCE
“I like you, Jenny,” he confesses. “More than I’ve ever liked anyone before. It hit me that day at the clinic how much. And I did what I always do when I feel overwhelmed. I ran.”
“And now?” I ask.
“I’m not running anymore.”
With the hand that isn’t holding my seat, he lifts my face to his and kisses me.
Jenny and Jaewoo’s relationship was a dreamy combination of tension and romance. I lived vicariously through them because it was so much like a k-drama 🥹🥹 There really isn’t any other word to describe them other than ADORABLE! From the meet-cute to the build-up to the trials and tribulations, every moment was perfect and swoon-worthy and left me giggling.
I know we spoke just last night, and I know that whatever I tell you in this postcard you’ll have known for however long it takes for you to receive this, but I still wanted to write down the words, that I’ll say to you in person, this summer. 사랑해.
THE WAY I WAS BLUSHING IMAGINING NAMJOON CONFESSING TO ME 🫣
❤️🩹 THE CULTURE
One last thing I loved about XOXO was all the little references to Korean culture and the Korean words that Jenny would use to refer to things! As a Korean aficionado, reading this book gave me fond memories of my experiences in Korea. When Jenny mentioned that A Twosome Place was a popular Korean coffee chain, I was SQUEALING because I absolutely love their drinks and haven’t found anything close to it in my home country! And I found it remarkable that Axie managed to explore the intense pressure that idols face, and how they always feel indebted to their fans even though their personal relationships are supposed to be personal.
”Like you have a person who is more important than all those other things, a part of your life you’re not sharing, when, as an idol, you agreed to share your whole life with your fans, so that they can love you without fear that you’ll disappoint or hurt them."
The only gripe I had was Jenny’s relationship with her mother, and her mother’s relationship with her grandmother – I felt like Axie should have explored it more rather than have it be resolved so quickly. The same thing goes for their “conflict” at the end – I feel like Jaewoo forgave Jenny too fast.
Reading this book was like biting into a perfect cinnamon roll, warm and fluffy and with a sweet aftertaste. It’s my first Axie Oh book, and it definitely won’t be my last. Looking forward to reading more of her books in the future (starting with Sori’s story)!
March 11, 2024
this was so cute! (sorinathaniel my loves)
rtc ☆
--
buddy reading this with bff irha <3 this looks like such an adorable romcom, and if it's anything like this time it's real, i will adore it 💌
rtc ☆
--
buddy reading this with bff irha <3 this looks like such an adorable romcom, and if it's anything like this time it's real, i will adore it 💌
March 18, 2022
4.5 stars
I wasn’t expecting to adore this YA book as hard as I did, but omg it’s adorable and I can definitely see myself rereading this one in the future. It just put a smile on my face the whole time I read it. Here are some quick thoughts I jotted down after finishing it:
•This shit was soooo cute
•One if my favorite YA books I’ve read in a long time
•My only critique is that the ending conflict felt a little cliche and unnecessary, but otherwise I loved this so much
•I love that this main character Jenny gets a chance to explore South Korea and visit family she hasn’t met before
•The love interest is a K-pop star named Jaewoo, and he’s so SOFT and adorable
•I also really love and adore the way he would take care of his family 💕
•I love the forbidden nature of their relationship because he’s not allowed to date because his life is so public
•I love that it starts with karaoke in her Uncles bar, their first scenes together were soo cute 🥺
•I’m also obsessed with this book cover, it’s gorgeous!!
•The audiobook was great!
I wasn’t expecting to adore this YA book as hard as I did, but omg it’s adorable and I can definitely see myself rereading this one in the future. It just put a smile on my face the whole time I read it. Here are some quick thoughts I jotted down after finishing it:
•This shit was soooo cute
•One if my favorite YA books I’ve read in a long time
•My only critique is that the ending conflict felt a little cliche and unnecessary, but otherwise I loved this so much
•I love that this main character Jenny gets a chance to explore South Korea and visit family she hasn’t met before
•The love interest is a K-pop star named Jaewoo, and he’s so SOFT and adorable
•I also really love and adore the way he would take care of his family 💕
•I love the forbidden nature of their relationship because he’s not allowed to date because his life is so public
•I love that it starts with karaoke in her Uncles bar, their first scenes together were soo cute 🥺
•I’m also obsessed with this book cover, it’s gorgeous!!
•The audiobook was great!
February 9, 2022
This was so cringe it made my spine hurt, I’m sorry 😭
February 16, 2023
this is truly the highest of three star ratings, and i really recommend this to anyone who is into kpop especially. the romance was sweet and had me kicking my feet, with a smile on my face, during multiple chapters. i really appreciated this book talking about idol culture and the scarier sides like paparazzi/news press and "fans" stalking artists during their off-schedule events. and how some kids start training to become idols at such young ages, on top of how hard this industry is, where they also are now forced to carry the weight of bettering their families lives and becoming the main breadwinner, regardless if it was their dream. and the expectations of them not being able to date and share their love and happiness with anyone "new" while they are under contract (and doing so can jeopardize your blood family and the family you made with your group's lives)! it is so so easy to glamorize idol culture, but it can be really heartbreaking too.
also this book kind of touches on how society can treat single mothers living in SK and how stigmatized that is, and even how stigmatized talking about mental health (and grief in particular) can be in asia and in asian cultures. and even how... people can treat you when you talk about liking kpop (or making content about kpop... which... layers and always rooted in racism but), when kpop artists are so immensely talented, hard working, and just doing so many things that western artists could never dream of doing. but i am very biased... hehe!
i didnt mean to write so much above, but truly this book is a sweet romance and very much a feel good, happy book, but the author did a lot that i really appreciated and loved even more than that sweet romance.
tw/cw: loss of a parent, hospital depictions (past + present), cancer mentions, cancer treatment depiction, bullying, brief mention of dieting, unwanted pictures being taken/paparazzi, stalking by the press/"fans", misogynistic comments/names, grief depictions.
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Blog | Spotify | Twitch
also this book kind of touches on how society can treat single mothers living in SK and how stigmatized that is, and even how stigmatized talking about mental health (and grief in particular) can be in asia and in asian cultures. and even how... people can treat you when you talk about liking kpop (or making content about kpop... which... layers and always rooted in racism but), when kpop artists are so immensely talented, hard working, and just doing so many things that western artists could never dream of doing. but i am very biased... hehe!
i didnt mean to write so much above, but truly this book is a sweet romance and very much a feel good, happy book, but the author did a lot that i really appreciated and loved even more than that sweet romance.
tw/cw: loss of a parent, hospital depictions (past + present), cancer mentions, cancer treatment depiction, bullying, brief mention of dieting, unwanted pictures being taken/paparazzi, stalking by the press/"fans", misogynistic comments/names, grief depictions.
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Blog | Spotify | Twitch
August 19, 2022
I’m on BookTube! =)
”A silky shirt clings to his shoulders, and his long legs are clad in smooth black pants. His left arm is in a cast, but a Rolex glints from his right wrist – and are those sleeve tattoos?”
If you’re BTS ARMY and didn’t immediately think of Jungkook when you read this description of Jaewoo then I really dunno. *lol* It was my first thought and from then on out I always pictured JK when I read about him. Don’t judge me, I needed to live vicariously through Jenny’s POV. ;-P I mean which k-pop fan doesn’t dream of meeting their idol and actually being together with them? XD Okay, so this out of the way we can finally talk about the actual book.
”If you need help, you only have to ask.”
There’s a short pause, then he says softly. “If I asked you to save me, would you?”
My heart breaks a little. “I can try.”
I absolutely loved how Jenny and Jaewoo met. I mean a karaoke bar is so fitting for a k-pop idol and those two spent quite a nice night together. Their meet-cute was extremely sweet and I can’t believe Jenny didn’t know who he was. She found out soon enough though and to say the revelation kinda threw her would be an understatement. Jenny was such a great character though and I really liked the way she thought about life and idols in general. Her stance on how fans should respect their idols and their wishes was amazing and I really wish the hard-core fans in the fandom would see it like that too.
”I mean... not exactly that. More like, you need to be strong for yourself first, be healthy and happy for yourself first, before you can be strong and give happiness to others. The healthier and happier you are, the more you can give to your fans, right? They should want that for you.”
I think the majority of k-pop stans (and when I say majority I mean about 90%) want their idols to be happy no matter what they do or who they end up with. I’m no exception to that rule because honestly if any member of BTS would find their significant other I’d be super happy for them. They deserve it! They did so much for ARMY and all I want for them is to be happy and healthy. <3 Unfortunately not everyone in the fandom is like me though and there are the ugly sides of being an idol as well. Stalker fans (saesangs) and people in the fandom that criticize everything their idols do. People that think they can dictate what their idol wears, who they date or even what haircut they should get. (Let alone all those people that constantly give idols hell for getting tattoos or piercings. They are adults and grown women/men and it is their body! They can do whatever they want! You either love them as they are, because tattoos and piercings are an expression of themselves as well or you just don’t stan them. Period!)
I look up to see Jaewoo walk into the cafeteria ... with Sori.
I’ve never seen a more striking pair. They look like they stepped out of a catalogue.
“Is it weird if I take a picture?” Angela asks. “Like as a souvenir for myself. I’ve never seen such great visuals.”
So yeah, sorry about that but everyone who is familiar with k-pop knows that there is a darker side to the fandoms as well. It’s not all bad though and there is an even bigger and lovely side to the fandoms as well. As I said before, about 90% of their fans will support their idols no matter what and will always have their back. ;-) I think the book portrayed the good and the bad sides of the fandoms so well and really captured the essence of being a k-pop fan. Alone the quote above with the visuals was so damn relatable.*lol* And don’t even get me started on the shipping. Haha!
”You’re my boyfriend. Don’t think for a second I haven’t seen all your videos, even the fan-made ones that point out all the evidence that you and Nathaniel are a couple.”
“That’s embarrassing,” Jaewoo says. “And here I thought we were being careful.”
I mean that quote!!! It’s every k-pop group that has a fandom! There will always be ships no matter if it’s among the members in the group or with members of other groups. XD And speaking of the k-pop bands themselves. The representation of XOXO as a k-pop group was more than just accurate too! The way the band members cared about and supported each other was so heart-warming and relatable. Everyone who’s a fan of a k-pop group will know that the members are basically family and that they spend a lot of time together. Most of the times even their youth because they become trainees when they are still very young and the other band members kind of compensate for their real family. So by the end of their trainee days and when they have their debut they are actually already a found family that gives each other strength. =)
”He means so much to a lot of people,” Sun continues, “not just to his family, of course, but to everyone here at Joah. He started training at the company when he was twelve years old. It’s been difficult for him, away from his family for all those years. But he kept on working hard. He’d spend hours in the studio training his body and voice.”
And here’s the moment when I have to admit that I loved XOXO and that I’d definitely become a fan if they’d be a real k-pop band! *lol* All the four members were amazing and no matter if it was Jaewoo, Nathaniel, Sun or Youngmin all of them totally gave me family vibes. =) The description of their roles in the group was typical k-pop too and I had a really soft spot for Youngmin (the maknae) and Sun (their leader and rapper). Of course Nathaniel and Jaewoo were amazing as well and they all complemented one another and made their group unique.
”I have to go make apologies on behalf of the group. Of course that’s my job as the leader, to protect our members. I’ll always protect them, even from themselves.”
This all out of the way, I guess it’s finally time to speak about the elephant in the room: The love story between Jenny and Jaewoo! Those two were super adorable and I really can’t blame Jenny for dating Jaewoo in secret. I suppose for k-pop idols that’s the only way because as I said not everyone in the fandom will be happy about their idol dating. Not that it’s a lot different in Western countries, but I think it’s become more normal for stars to date people and even though there is always a huge fuss about who is dating who they usually don’t get death threats or shit storms for it anymore. K-pop idols don’t have love interests though (at least not according to their label and in public) and therefore would have to hide their relationships from their fans.
I hook my arms around his neck. “What are we stealing?” I can feel Jaewoo’s grin against my lips.
“Time?” he suggests. He must mean it as a joke, but it’s actually the very thing we’re trying to steal. Moments like this are so few and far between.
I think that’s actually the only negative thing I can say about “XOXO”, it was too realistic! *lol* Jenny and Jaewoo sneaking around and kissing secretly in a broom closet always trying to make room to see each other and to make their relationship work. It was too damn realistic! I wanted to see more of their relationship and what I got was reality smack right in the face. XD They had different schedules and other responsibilities and their little moments were few and far between. So exactly the way it would have been if a real idol would have dated a cello prodigy. On the one hand I really appreciated this realistic approach but on the other hand it kinda dampened my enjoyment of the book a little because I was always left wanting for more. This ultimately resulted in the fact that I got the feeling their relationship developed way too fast for the couple of little moments they actually spent together. Maybe there happened a lot of things off-page but those moments on page were the things I actually wanted to read about and I think because of that imbalance I didn’t ship them as much as I ship other bookish couples.
”You have a schedule too. We need to practice or we won’t be ready for the showcase. I thought you said you needed something unique to stand out in your portfolio. Are you really going to blow your chances of a future, a long-term one, for a guy who can never, I mean never, put you first?”
Don’t get me wrong, they were super cute, but their relationship didn’t really sweep me off my feet and I didn’t get all those gushy sweet romantic feels I usually get when I ship a couple. *lol* You know all those “Awww” or “AKDFASDFLJASLDFAJSDFKS!” moments. XD Speaking of relationships: I really appreciated Jenny’s and Sori’s friendship as well but I didn’t really understand where Sori was coming from when it came to Nathaniel.
Conclusion:
“XOXO” was a really great book and a very realistic one at that. I loved all the Korean phrases, food and k-pop knowledge that went into the story and I lived and breathed for the glimpses of Seoul life! The fact that the book didn’t just address the positive but also the negative sides of the k-pop industry was amazing and I really liked all of the characters and their different personalities! If you’re a k-pop fan (or a music trope fan in general) this book is definitely for you and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as well! Happy reading! =)
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This was super cute but not as cute as I expected it to be? *lol*
I know I make no sense but I'll try to find the right words in my review. For now all you have to know is that I enjoyed reading "XOXO". ;-P
Full RTC soon! Stay tuned!
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It might have taken me a good year to actually get to this book, but here I am and I'm so damn ready to jump into this, you have no idea!!! I'm going to live all my k-pop dreams while I read this. *lol* And now excuse me while I melt! <3
______________________
OMG! Are you kidding me?
Things can't get better than the plot of this book:
- Music as a trope , CHECK!
- A meet-cute, CHECK!
- A boy who's a member of a k-pop band, CHECK!
- The I-didn't-know-he-was-famous trope, CHECK!
- Forbidden love trope, CHECK!
Okay, where can I buy this??!!
*heads to Amazon*
”A silky shirt clings to his shoulders, and his long legs are clad in smooth black pants. His left arm is in a cast, but a Rolex glints from his right wrist – and are those sleeve tattoos?”
If you’re BTS ARMY and didn’t immediately think of Jungkook when you read this description of Jaewoo then I really dunno. *lol* It was my first thought and from then on out I always pictured JK when I read about him. Don’t judge me, I needed to live vicariously through Jenny’s POV. ;-P I mean which k-pop fan doesn’t dream of meeting their idol and actually being together with them? XD Okay, so this out of the way we can finally talk about the actual book.
”If you need help, you only have to ask.”
There’s a short pause, then he says softly. “If I asked you to save me, would you?”
My heart breaks a little. “I can try.”
I absolutely loved how Jenny and Jaewoo met. I mean a karaoke bar is so fitting for a k-pop idol and those two spent quite a nice night together. Their meet-cute was extremely sweet and I can’t believe Jenny didn’t know who he was. She found out soon enough though and to say the revelation kinda threw her would be an understatement. Jenny was such a great character though and I really liked the way she thought about life and idols in general. Her stance on how fans should respect their idols and their wishes was amazing and I really wish the hard-core fans in the fandom would see it like that too.
”I mean... not exactly that. More like, you need to be strong for yourself first, be healthy and happy for yourself first, before you can be strong and give happiness to others. The healthier and happier you are, the more you can give to your fans, right? They should want that for you.”
I think the majority of k-pop stans (and when I say majority I mean about 90%) want their idols to be happy no matter what they do or who they end up with. I’m no exception to that rule because honestly if any member of BTS would find their significant other I’d be super happy for them. They deserve it! They did so much for ARMY and all I want for them is to be happy and healthy. <3 Unfortunately not everyone in the fandom is like me though and there are the ugly sides of being an idol as well. Stalker fans (saesangs) and people in the fandom that criticize everything their idols do. People that think they can dictate what their idol wears, who they date or even what haircut they should get. (Let alone all those people that constantly give idols hell for getting tattoos or piercings. They are adults and grown women/men and it is their body! They can do whatever they want! You either love them as they are, because tattoos and piercings are an expression of themselves as well or you just don’t stan them. Period!)
I look up to see Jaewoo walk into the cafeteria ... with Sori.
I’ve never seen a more striking pair. They look like they stepped out of a catalogue.
“Is it weird if I take a picture?” Angela asks. “Like as a souvenir for myself. I’ve never seen such great visuals.”
So yeah, sorry about that but everyone who is familiar with k-pop knows that there is a darker side to the fandoms as well. It’s not all bad though and there is an even bigger and lovely side to the fandoms as well. As I said before, about 90% of their fans will support their idols no matter what and will always have their back. ;-) I think the book portrayed the good and the bad sides of the fandoms so well and really captured the essence of being a k-pop fan. Alone the quote above with the visuals was so damn relatable.*lol* And don’t even get me started on the shipping. Haha!
”You’re my boyfriend. Don’t think for a second I haven’t seen all your videos, even the fan-made ones that point out all the evidence that you and Nathaniel are a couple.”
“That’s embarrassing,” Jaewoo says. “And here I thought we were being careful.”
I mean that quote!!! It’s every k-pop group that has a fandom! There will always be ships no matter if it’s among the members in the group or with members of other groups. XD And speaking of the k-pop bands themselves. The representation of XOXO as a k-pop group was more than just accurate too! The way the band members cared about and supported each other was so heart-warming and relatable. Everyone who’s a fan of a k-pop group will know that the members are basically family and that they spend a lot of time together. Most of the times even their youth because they become trainees when they are still very young and the other band members kind of compensate for their real family. So by the end of their trainee days and when they have their debut they are actually already a found family that gives each other strength. =)
”He means so much to a lot of people,” Sun continues, “not just to his family, of course, but to everyone here at Joah. He started training at the company when he was twelve years old. It’s been difficult for him, away from his family for all those years. But he kept on working hard. He’d spend hours in the studio training his body and voice.”
And here’s the moment when I have to admit that I loved XOXO and that I’d definitely become a fan if they’d be a real k-pop band! *lol* All the four members were amazing and no matter if it was Jaewoo, Nathaniel, Sun or Youngmin all of them totally gave me family vibes. =) The description of their roles in the group was typical k-pop too and I had a really soft spot for Youngmin (the maknae) and Sun (their leader and rapper). Of course Nathaniel and Jaewoo were amazing as well and they all complemented one another and made their group unique.
”I have to go make apologies on behalf of the group. Of course that’s my job as the leader, to protect our members. I’ll always protect them, even from themselves.”
This all out of the way, I guess it’s finally time to speak about the elephant in the room: The love story between Jenny and Jaewoo! Those two were super adorable and I really can’t blame Jenny for dating Jaewoo in secret. I suppose for k-pop idols that’s the only way because as I said not everyone in the fandom will be happy about their idol dating. Not that it’s a lot different in Western countries, but I think it’s become more normal for stars to date people and even though there is always a huge fuss about who is dating who they usually don’t get death threats or shit storms for it anymore. K-pop idols don’t have love interests though (at least not according to their label and in public) and therefore would have to hide their relationships from their fans.
I hook my arms around his neck. “What are we stealing?” I can feel Jaewoo’s grin against my lips.
“Time?” he suggests. He must mean it as a joke, but it’s actually the very thing we’re trying to steal. Moments like this are so few and far between.
I think that’s actually the only negative thing I can say about “XOXO”, it was too realistic! *lol* Jenny and Jaewoo sneaking around and kissing secretly in a broom closet always trying to make room to see each other and to make their relationship work. It was too damn realistic! I wanted to see more of their relationship and what I got was reality smack right in the face. XD They had different schedules and other responsibilities and their little moments were few and far between. So exactly the way it would have been if a real idol would have dated a cello prodigy. On the one hand I really appreciated this realistic approach but on the other hand it kinda dampened my enjoyment of the book a little because I was always left wanting for more. This ultimately resulted in the fact that I got the feeling their relationship developed way too fast for the couple of little moments they actually spent together. Maybe there happened a lot of things off-page but those moments on page were the things I actually wanted to read about and I think because of that imbalance I didn’t ship them as much as I ship other bookish couples.
”You have a schedule too. We need to practice or we won’t be ready for the showcase. I thought you said you needed something unique to stand out in your portfolio. Are you really going to blow your chances of a future, a long-term one, for a guy who can never, I mean never, put you first?”
Don’t get me wrong, they were super cute, but their relationship didn’t really sweep me off my feet and I didn’t get all those gushy sweet romantic feels I usually get when I ship a couple. *lol* You know all those “Awww” or “AKDFASDFLJASLDFAJSDFKS!” moments. XD Speaking of relationships: I really appreciated Jenny’s and Sori’s friendship as well but I didn’t really understand where Sori was coming from when it came to Nathaniel.
Conclusion:
“XOXO” was a really great book and a very realistic one at that. I loved all the Korean phrases, food and k-pop knowledge that went into the story and I lived and breathed for the glimpses of Seoul life! The fact that the book didn’t just address the positive but also the negative sides of the k-pop industry was amazing and I really liked all of the characters and their different personalities! If you’re a k-pop fan (or a music trope fan in general) this book is definitely for you and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as well! Happy reading! =)
____________________________
This was super cute but not as cute as I expected it to be? *lol*
I know I make no sense but I'll try to find the right words in my review. For now all you have to know is that I enjoyed reading "XOXO". ;-P
Full RTC soon! Stay tuned!
_____________________________
It might have taken me a good year to actually get to this book, but here I am and I'm so damn ready to jump into this, you have no idea!!! I'm going to live all my k-pop dreams while I read this. *lol* And now excuse me while I melt! <3
______________________
OMG! Are you kidding me?
Things can't get better than the plot of this book:
- Music as a trope , CHECK!
- A meet-cute, CHECK!
- A boy who's a member of a k-pop band, CHECK!
- The I-didn't-know-he-was-famous trope, CHECK!
- Forbidden love trope, CHECK!
Okay, where can I buy this??!!
*heads to Amazon*
March 22, 2024
Well, I should have listened to adira so I have nobody to blame but myself.
But first, can we just appreciate that Axie Oh titled a book XOXO which feels like wordplay on her own name. Class move, I love that.
XOXO is adorable and sweet and as fluffy as…picture the biggest, fluffiest cinematically perfect cloud above a prairie on a sweetly warm summer’s day. Do not edit that first image, and that’s about as fluffy as this was. Cotton candy fluffy, the kind that sort of makes your teeth hurt when you bite it. Saccharine as shit. Having seen the movie Nope I should have known to not trust a cloud that big and fluffy but here we are (I also should have know to trust adira and also mitra). ANYWAYS, XOXO plunges us into the world of K-Pop idols and boarding schools for some romantic fun that has its charms and some really interesting cultural context but reads rather flat and flimsy with a plot seemingly in search of itself.
‘I promise you can get the life you want now, if you just live in it.’
An aspect that really worked for me here was the immersion in South Korean culture, particularly the lifestyles of K-Pop idols and the trainees who hope to one day become them. Which, it turns out, is full of restrictions that make you more or less property of your label. ‘As an idol, you agreed to share your whole life with your fans, so that they can love you without fear that you'll disappoint or hurt them,’ we learn, which sends the budding romance between Jenny and Jaewoo into a secret relationship trope as Jaewoo is not allowed to date. I’ve seen claims this began as BTS fan fiction (they do get a namedrop) so Jaewoo may have some inspiration in global hearthrob Jungkook, so that is pretty fun. But I can’t mention BTS without a shoutout to their memoir translator, Anton Hur, and how you should most definitely read any book they translate.
‘even after the scandal, even after the accusations and the heartbreak and the pain. he was my first love. I wouldn't give that up for the world.’
The catch is, Jenny and Jaewoo are pretty flavorless as characters. Its all cutesy and they clearly are very into each other but the plot meanders through episodes that you assume will add up to something but just sort of don’t until finally you want to ask “do either of you have any convictions or just statements about them?” And sure there’s scandals but none that would last more than a mid-afternoon on twitter and then suddenly everyone makes up and yay. Also, its meant as endearing that they toss anything to the side in order to spend as much time together as possible but it gets red flag-y even to friends: ‘you're not his beck and call girl, you know? you don't have to drop everything just because he comes around,’ and Jaewoo’s contract restrictions sometimes just felt like carte blanche to be a dick. Sori was the character that actually shines in this story and she’s always sort of elbowed out to the peripheries (thankfully I hear the sequel, ASAP, is about her and Nathaniel).
‘People who live for tomorrow should fear the people who live for today. 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.’
There are some positive messages, with ideas about following your dreams and doing it for you not others such as ‘you can’t be there for other people if you’re not first there for yourself,’ but overall the story was mostly just the fluffy romance. It doesn't help that the writing was really bland. Which surprised me as I quite enjoyed The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and though that had some good gripping writing and plot, but here it so hyper focused on the main characters in a way that just talks at you instead of shows you. Even the mother and grandmother relationships felt undercooked and there wasn’t much of an actual story to support the romance so it just kind of all mushed together on the floor in a mass of sweetness and fluff. Like the ground at a carnival.
2.5/5
‘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.’
But first, can we just appreciate that Axie Oh titled a book XOXO which feels like wordplay on her own name. Class move, I love that.
XOXO is adorable and sweet and as fluffy as…picture the biggest, fluffiest cinematically perfect cloud above a prairie on a sweetly warm summer’s day. Do not edit that first image, and that’s about as fluffy as this was. Cotton candy fluffy, the kind that sort of makes your teeth hurt when you bite it. Saccharine as shit. Having seen the movie Nope I should have known to not trust a cloud that big and fluffy but here we are (I also should have know to trust adira and also mitra). ANYWAYS, XOXO plunges us into the world of K-Pop idols and boarding schools for some romantic fun that has its charms and some really interesting cultural context but reads rather flat and flimsy with a plot seemingly in search of itself.
‘I promise you can get the life you want now, if you just live in it.’
An aspect that really worked for me here was the immersion in South Korean culture, particularly the lifestyles of K-Pop idols and the trainees who hope to one day become them. Which, it turns out, is full of restrictions that make you more or less property of your label. ‘As an idol, you agreed to share your whole life with your fans, so that they can love you without fear that you'll disappoint or hurt them,’ we learn, which sends the budding romance between Jenny and Jaewoo into a secret relationship trope as Jaewoo is not allowed to date. I’ve seen claims this began as BTS fan fiction (they do get a namedrop) so Jaewoo may have some inspiration in global hearthrob Jungkook, so that is pretty fun. But I can’t mention BTS without a shoutout to their memoir translator, Anton Hur, and how you should most definitely read any book they translate.
‘even after the scandal, even after the accusations and the heartbreak and the pain. he was my first love. I wouldn't give that up for the world.’
The catch is, Jenny and Jaewoo are pretty flavorless as characters. Its all cutesy and they clearly are very into each other but the plot meanders through episodes that you assume will add up to something but just sort of don’t until finally you want to ask “do either of you have any convictions or just statements about them?” And sure there’s scandals but none that would last more than a mid-afternoon on twitter and then suddenly everyone makes up and yay. Also, its meant as endearing that they toss anything to the side in order to spend as much time together as possible but it gets red flag-y even to friends: ‘you're not his beck and call girl, you know? you don't have to drop everything just because he comes around,’ and Jaewoo’s contract restrictions sometimes just felt like carte blanche to be a dick. Sori was the character that actually shines in this story and she’s always sort of elbowed out to the peripheries (thankfully I hear the sequel, ASAP, is about her and Nathaniel).
‘People who live for tomorrow should fear the people who live for today. 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.’
There are some positive messages, with ideas about following your dreams and doing it for you not others such as ‘you can’t be there for other people if you’re not first there for yourself,’ but overall the story was mostly just the fluffy romance. It doesn't help that the writing was really bland. Which surprised me as I quite enjoyed The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and though that had some good gripping writing and plot, but here it so hyper focused on the main characters in a way that just talks at you instead of shows you. Even the mother and grandmother relationships felt undercooked and there wasn’t much of an actual story to support the romance so it just kind of all mushed together on the floor in a mass of sweetness and fluff. Like the ground at a carnival.
2.5/5
‘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.’
April 5, 2024
→3.5✰
~minor spoliers! ♥
°˖➴even after the scandal, even after the accusations and the heartbreak and the pain. he was my first love. I wouldn't give that up for the world.
⤷i needed to start the review with a quote from sori bc she's the most iconic+this is my fav quote in the entire book
my thoughts 🧸
not gonna lie i don't have much to say abt this book. not saying it hated it, not saying i'm obsessed or anything, but it's perfect if ur looking for a cute, quick read !! BUT THE FRIENDSHIPS?? they saved the book for me. i see people talking abt how jenny, her mom, and halmeoni should have sat down together or at least had some kind of talk concerning what happened between their torn relationship. i 10000% agree bc we got nothing 😭
jenny and jaewoo 🎧
-putting aside some of the cringe-worthy parts between them, they were okay
- jenny gave up her much needed practice time to be with jaewoo. i get it, every moment is precious, but she blew off my sweet girl sori 😔 like cmon
°˖➴you're stubborn and loyal and good, and when you love, you love with your whole heart
sori and nathaniel 💋
-I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM!! we literally got minuscule crumbs when they were together, but i still ate them up 😋 i already now that asap is gonna be so good! the countdown to february 6th starts now
°˖➴"if cellists have fan clubs, jenny, i want to join yours"
⤷i need a sori in my life
♥thank u to my lovely rina for all of ur amazing book recs (including this one) ilu !!
♥another thank u to my girls cheska and ju for reading this at the same time as me! it wasn't an official br but i still had sm fun 💌 ilu guys!
˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖
°˖➴"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.
°˖➴"you're not his beck and call girl, you know? you don't have to drop everything just because he comes around"
°˖➴it's amazing how being able to communicate has done wonders for our relationship.
⤷who would have thought?? 😃some book couples need to take notes
˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖
pre-review:
i loved this !!
i am now the biggest sori+nathaniel enthusiast out there 💘
rtc <3
pre-read review:
so excited!! 💌
rina is such a trend setter 😽
~minor spoliers! ♥
°˖➴even after the scandal, even after the accusations and the heartbreak and the pain. he was my first love. I wouldn't give that up for the world.
⤷i needed to start the review with a quote from sori bc she's the most iconic+this is my fav quote in the entire book
my thoughts 🧸
not gonna lie i don't have much to say abt this book. not saying it hated it, not saying i'm obsessed or anything, but it's perfect if ur looking for a cute, quick read !! BUT THE FRIENDSHIPS?? they saved the book for me. i see people talking abt how jenny, her mom, and halmeoni should have sat down together or at least had some kind of talk concerning what happened between their torn relationship. i 10000% agree bc we got nothing 😭
jenny and jaewoo 🎧
-putting aside some of the cringe-worthy parts between them, they were okay
- jenny gave up her much needed practice time to be with jaewoo. i get it, every moment is precious, but she blew off my sweet girl sori 😔 like cmon
°˖➴you're stubborn and loyal and good, and when you love, you love with your whole heart
sori and nathaniel 💋
-I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM!! we literally got minuscule crumbs when they were together, but i still ate them up 😋 i already now that asap is gonna be so good! the countdown to february 6th starts now
°˖➴"if cellists have fan clubs, jenny, i want to join yours"
⤷i need a sori in my life
♥thank u to my lovely rina for all of ur amazing book recs (including this one) ilu !!
♥another thank u to my girls cheska and ju for reading this at the same time as me! it wasn't an official br but i still had sm fun 💌 ilu guys!
˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖
°˖➴"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.
°˖➴"you're not his beck and call girl, you know? you don't have to drop everything just because he comes around"
°˖➴it's amazing how being able to communicate has done wonders for our relationship.
⤷who would have thought?? 😃
˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖
pre-review:
i loved this !!
i am now the biggest sori+nathaniel enthusiast out there 💘
rtc <3
pre-read review:
so excited!! 💌
rina is such a trend setter 😽
Want to read
January 9, 2022Jan 9, 2022 update: I started the audiobook but the narration is not it, I'm sorry. I'll retry reading this when my ebook loan comes in :'(
-----
ATTENTION FELLOW EAST ASIAN STRINGS MUSICIANS AND KPOPPIES
it’s about a cellist and a k-pop member falling in love 🥺🥺 I need this piece of serotonin in my life. The violinist in me demands it.
-----
ATTENTION FELLOW EAST ASIAN STRINGS MUSICIANS AND KPOPPIES
it’s about a cellist and a k-pop member falling in love 🥺🥺 I need this piece of serotonin in my life. The violinist in me demands it.
February 13, 2024
"if cellists have fan clubs, jenny, i want to join yours." jennyjaewoo sorinathaniel sorijenny <3
pre-read ⊹ to that time when i opened this website and all i saw were oomfs reading this book... this is for u 🤲💓
pre-read ⊹ to that time when i opened this website and all i saw were oomfs reading this book... this is for u 🤲💓
February 13, 2024
➵ 2.5 ✰ 🎧
- will contain spoilers! 💌
- for rina who was basically the reason why i read this book in the first place ily
- for ju & lila who read this at the same time so it was basically an unofficial br ily my girls
- for my bf who helped format my reviews + thank you for listening to me rant about this book ilyy
i have a love and hate relationship with this book. i think that this book has a lot of redeeming qualities but i also had a lot of issues that made the book less enjoyable. the main thing being the romance :( that was probably the one very big pillar that i struggled with because it was so unbelievably unrealistic with so many plot conveniences but i think that was the main purpose of this book anyway. it's one of those books that are just turn-off-your-brain-and-read. i still enjoyed it because i read this within 3 days and if you know me then you'd know that it takes at least 4-5 business days for me to finish a book 😭 also this book gave me major nostalgia because of the y/n format like i would read these exact same books 5 years ago.
⤿ this story follows jenny, a cello prodigy, who works part-time at her uncle's karaoke shop. one night during one of her shifts, she meets jaewoo - who claims to have run away from his responsibilities - and after a nighttime escapade, jenny finds out that jaewoo needs to return to south korea. coincidentally, jenny's mom is to return to south korea to take care of jenny's haelmoni and with some convincing jenny convinced her mom to let her transfer to a performing arts school in seoul, south korea. during this time, she finds out that jaewoo is on of her classmates and also part of an idol boy group called xoxo.
ok so as previously mentioned i have a few issues with this book so i"ll just list them here;
1. instalove
this is more of a personal preference because i AM a slow-burn girly. so the fact that they kissed within the 50% mark gave me whiplash. i wanted tension. i wanted angst + longing. i got none of that :( they were both in love in the first three interactions and kissed in the fifth.
2. generational trauma storyline
I. WAS. ROBBED. i was hoping that halmeoni, jenny's mom, and jenny would all talk because the generational trauma storyline was so important for jenny's character development but they didn't? instead, jenny just overheard her mom and halmeoni talking about what went wrong with their relationship and that was it 😭? i needed more of it because i felt like it was such a big reason as to why jenny lost her "spark" in the first place. ALSO when jenny's mom said that they'll talk when she goes back to america but they didn't? like where was that conversation i need it so bad.
3. the spark
OK SPEAKING OF THE SPARK U'RE TELLING ME THAT SHE GAINS IT BACK BECAUSE OF JAEWOO *eyetwitch. i wish this was explored more and wasn't just sort of "wow miracle she has her spark back".
4. it felt more like jaewoo's story than jenny's
this story talks more about the toxic and very conservative culture around idol life because jaewoo is a kpop idol so it makes sense for them to talk about these topics. BUT I JUST WISH THEY FOCUSED MORE ON THE EFFECTS OF TOXIC IDOL LIFE TO THE NON-CELEB PEOPLE AROUND THE IDOL. for ex. the struggles that jenny will undergo simply because she's together with jaewoo. but everything was resolved within 1-2 chapters and it wasn't angsty enough for me ughhhh.
⤿ characters
➶ jenny + jaewoo. cuties omg. their whole relationship was so wholesome but i feel like they're way too much like each other. still so cute and i love how they both want to succeed in their respective passions.
- jenny is so y/n-coded. cute men constantly wanting to be near her was so iconic actually. the relationships that she's built was so AAAAA. her not wanting to leave korea and everything. i'm just glad she got her happy ending because she deserves it. she has worked so so hard.
- jaewoo was so cute but him getting jealous?? 🤭🤭. got me giggling tbh. i deserved more jealous jaewoo scenes tbh. needed him to realize that he needs alice and he should've worked harder to get her fr.
➶ sori + nathaniel. they really stole the show for me and i need. their. book. now. i'm not going to say much about them because this book isn't really focused on their story but AAAAAAHHHHH THE ANGST THE TENSION. I NEED THE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE WITH EXTREME ANGST. this quote alone is just *chefs kiss
➶ angela + gitaek. my cuties. i'm glad that jenny met them that day at the convenience store because the dynamic was so special to me. wish there were more scenes of them and axie oh cuts out ian the creep entirely.
⤿ overall. ok so overall it was cute and served its purpose. some parts were def cringe and a little bit eh but it wasn't too bad. so excited for nathaniel and sori tho like the angst is what i'm here for. honestly was just here for imagining jaewoo as soobin and nathaniel as yeonjun. both sori and jenny are obviously me 🤭 came for the romance and stayed for the found family aspect. sori and jenny are so special to me.
# all reviews are opinions of my own and you should experience a book before giving your own. happy reading! 💌
₊˚ ────── ୨ pre-review ୧ ────── ˚₊
I NEED NATHANIEL AND SORI'S BOOK RN. 😭😭🙏🙏
ok but this was so nostalgic for me because it reminds me of the y/n kpop fanfics that i would read 5 years ago and i ate it up. such a quick and fun read BUT I NEED SORI & NATHANIEL BOOK RN.
full rtc! 💌
₊˚ ────── ୨ pre-read ୧ ────── ˚₊
NVM NVM IM DROPPING EVERYTHING AND READING THIS RN FOR MY LOVELY LOVELY RINA ( rina ) ily thank u for the recs mwaa
i heard there's kpop elements so i will imagine that the mc is soobin
- will contain spoilers! 💌
- for rina who was basically the reason why i read this book in the first place ily
- for ju & lila who read this at the same time so it was basically an unofficial br ily my girls
- for my bf who helped format my reviews + thank you for listening to me rant about this book ilyy
🧷 ₊⊹ # “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 have a love and hate relationship with this book. i think that this book has a lot of redeeming qualities but i also had a lot of issues that made the book less enjoyable. the main thing being the romance :( that was probably the one very big pillar that i struggled with because it was so unbelievably unrealistic with so many plot conveniences but i think that was the main purpose of this book anyway. it's one of those books that are just turn-off-your-brain-and-read. i still enjoyed it because i read this within 3 days and if you know me then you'd know that it takes at least 4-5 business days for me to finish a book 😭 also this book gave me major nostalgia because of the y/n format like i would read these exact same books 5 years ago.
⤿ this story follows jenny, a cello prodigy, who works part-time at her uncle's karaoke shop. one night during one of her shifts, she meets jaewoo - who claims to have run away from his responsibilities - and after a nighttime escapade, jenny finds out that jaewoo needs to return to south korea. coincidentally, jenny's mom is to return to south korea to take care of jenny's haelmoni and with some convincing jenny convinced her mom to let her transfer to a performing arts school in seoul, south korea. during this time, she finds out that jaewoo is on of her classmates and also part of an idol boy group called xoxo.
ok so as previously mentioned i have a few issues with this book so i"ll just list them here;
1. instalove
this is more of a personal preference because i AM a slow-burn girly. so the fact that they kissed within the 50% mark gave me whiplash. i wanted tension. i wanted angst + longing. i got none of that :( they were both in love in the first three interactions and kissed in the fifth.
2. generational trauma storyline
I. WAS. ROBBED. i was hoping that halmeoni, jenny's mom, and jenny would all talk because the generational trauma storyline was so important for jenny's character development but they didn't? instead, jenny just overheard her mom and halmeoni talking about what went wrong with their relationship and that was it 😭? i needed more of it because i felt like it was such a big reason as to why jenny lost her "spark" in the first place. ALSO when jenny's mom said that they'll talk when she goes back to america but they didn't? like where was that conversation i need it so bad.
3. the spark
OK SPEAKING OF THE SPARK U'RE TELLING ME THAT SHE GAINS IT BACK BECAUSE OF JAEWOO *eyetwitch. i wish this was explored more and wasn't just sort of "wow miracle she has her spark back".
4. it felt more like jaewoo's story than jenny's
this story talks more about the toxic and very conservative culture around idol life because jaewoo is a kpop idol so it makes sense for them to talk about these topics. BUT I JUST WISH THEY FOCUSED MORE ON THE EFFECTS OF TOXIC IDOL LIFE TO THE NON-CELEB PEOPLE AROUND THE IDOL. for ex. the struggles that jenny will undergo simply because she's together with jaewoo. but everything was resolved within 1-2 chapters and it wasn't angsty enough for me ughhhh.
⤿ characters
➶ jenny + jaewoo. cuties omg. their whole relationship was so wholesome but i feel like they're way too much like each other. still so cute and i love how they both want to succeed in their respective passions.
⊹ “you're stubborn and loyal and good, and when you love, you love with your whole heart.”
- jenny is so y/n-coded. cute men constantly wanting to be near her was so iconic actually. the relationships that she's built was so AAAAA. her not wanting to leave korea and everything. i'm just glad she got her happy ending because she deserves it. she has worked so so hard.
⊹ “if I’d broken my right arm, you’d have to feed me.”
- jaewoo was so cute but him getting jealous?? 🤭🤭. got me giggling tbh. i deserved more jealous jaewoo scenes tbh. needed him to realize that he needs alice and he should've worked harder to get her fr.
➶ sori + nathaniel. they really stole the show for me and i need. their. book. now. i'm not going to say much about them because this book isn't really focused on their story but AAAAAAHHHHH THE ANGST THE TENSION. I NEED THE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE WITH EXTREME ANGST. this quote alone is just *chefs kiss
⊹ in a heartbeat. even after the scandal, even after the accusations and the heartbreak, and the pain. he was my first love. i wouldn't give that up for the world.
➶ angela + gitaek. my cuties. i'm glad that jenny met them that day at the convenience store because the dynamic was so special to me. wish there were more scenes of them and axie oh cuts out ian the creep entirely.
⤿ overall. ok so overall it was cute and served its purpose. some parts were def cringe and a little bit eh but it wasn't too bad. so excited for nathaniel and sori tho like the angst is what i'm here for. honestly was just here for imagining jaewoo as soobin and nathaniel as yeonjun. both sori and jenny are obviously me 🤭 came for the romance and stayed for the found family aspect. sori and jenny are so special to me.
# all reviews are opinions of my own and you should experience a book before giving your own. happy reading! 💌
₊˚ ────── ୨ pre-review ୧ ────── ˚₊
I NEED NATHANIEL AND SORI'S BOOK RN. 😭😭🙏🙏
ok but this was so nostalgic for me because it reminds me of the y/n kpop fanfics that i would read 5 years ago and i ate it up. such a quick and fun read BUT I NEED SORI & NATHANIEL BOOK RN.
full rtc! 💌
₊˚ ────── ୨ pre-read ୧ ────── ˚₊
NVM NVM IM DROPPING EVERYTHING AND READING THIS RN FOR MY LOVELY LOVELY RINA ( rina ) ily thank u for the recs mwaa
i heard there's kpop elements so i will imagine that the mc is soobin
April 17, 2024
꒰ ⊹ ࣪ ˖“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.” ੈ‧₊˚ ꒱
the problem here is that I found this book
her relationship with jaewoo was questionable, all that being secretive, hiding and pretending to not know each other because he's a kpop star wasn't really something I enjoyed, maybe it's me, I'm the problem.
Jaewoo is described as a very attractive guy, the constant reminder that he was hot followed me every three chapters, like that would've changed how I felt, just because you say he's hot doesn't mean I'm gonna drink to that and agree, ms Jenny. What makes a fictional character hot are their actions, not the appearance🙁‼️
there were also moments where I wished they could have talked it out and solved problems that were frustrating to bear, wouldn't say there was any major miscommunication but I felt they didn't communicate enough, almost like they were in a long-distance relationship.
and tbh I was more invested in the side characters and jensori's friendship rather than the romance here😭
꒰ ⊹ ࣪ ˖“If cellists have fan clubs, Jenny, I want to join yours.” ੈ‧₊˚꒱
꒰ 📀 ꒱ؘ playlist ꕤ*.ﾟᯓ★
⚘ fever by enhypen
⚘ psycho by red velvet
⚘ blood sweat and tears by bts
⚘ shoot by itzy
꒰ pre-read: ꒱
I saw this book so many times on my gr feed💫
and the mmc is a kpop idol? Let's see what the hype is about
October 29, 2022
Quick YA meet cute- k-pop book. 😉🤓.
March 14, 2024
･:*:･ﾟ⁀➷ 4/5 ★
Stoppp this was such a fun read! 🥹🥹 considering i love kpop AND romance, this seemed perfect for me- and it was exactly the fluffy, bingeable romcom i needed 💝💝
“If cellists have fan clubs, Jenny, I want to join yours.”
Tropes:
🎀 Kpop romance
🎀 One of them is famous
🎀 Boarding school setting
🎀 Friends to lovers
I've been wanting to read this for ages and i'm honestly so mad for myself for not picking it up sooner! it was sm fun 🫶🫶
Ya romances can definitely be a bit unenjoyable at times and the romance unrealistic, but this book really reminded me why I love them. this book embodied everything so all encompassing about young love and the joys of falling in love for the first time 🥹🥹 I loved the setting of the boarding school in Seoul and the kpop industry provided the perfect backdrop for the romance. the way it was so written was so cute and wholesome, while still having depth, and axie oh's writing was soo easy to binge- I couldn't put this down! 🤭🤭
As for the characters, I really liked them!✨️
➵ Jenny: she was a pretty good fmc! 🥰 i really enjoyed her journey of self-discovery throughout the book & she was super easy to root for. honestly, jenny was just living out my dream- when is it my turn to have a kpop idol obsessed with me?! 😫😫✋️
➵ Jaewoo: i really liked him hehe 👀🤭 he definitely had his hot moments, but he was also suchhh a sweet character. the way he supported and cared for jenny was so cute omg!! 🥹🥹🫂🫂 side note: I kept imagining him as hyunjin from stray kids and... 👀👀
“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.”
As for the romance, it was soo cute 🤭🤭 it wasn't anything super crazy, but i definitely felt the chemistry between jenny & jaewoo and they had some really sweet moments 🥹🫶 I honestly enjoyed the side friendships just as much as the romance. especially jenny and somi's friendship!! they were so wholesome 🎀
“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.”
Overall, the perfect cutesy ya romance 🥹💝 I would highly recommend this if you're looking for:
✔️ Kpop✨️
✔️ Cute romance
✔️ Wholesome friendships
✔️ Bingeable!
This has seriously fuelled my kpop addiction 🤭🤭
《 2024 Challenge: Book 37 of 115 》
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
This was literally sm fun! 🤭🤭 I think kpop romances are my new fav thing bc this was soo cute 🥹🥹💝💝
Rtc 🎀
Stoppp this was such a fun read! 🥹🥹 considering i love kpop AND romance, this seemed perfect for me- and it was exactly the fluffy, bingeable romcom i needed 💝💝
“If cellists have fan clubs, Jenny, I want to join yours.”
Tropes:
🎀 Kpop romance
🎀 One of them is famous
🎀 Boarding school setting
🎀 Friends to lovers
I've been wanting to read this for ages and i'm honestly so mad for myself for not picking it up sooner! it was sm fun 🫶🫶
Ya romances can definitely be a bit unenjoyable at times and the romance unrealistic, but this book really reminded me why I love them. this book embodied everything so all encompassing about young love and the joys of falling in love for the first time 🥹🥹 I loved the setting of the boarding school in Seoul and the kpop industry provided the perfect backdrop for the romance. the way it was so written was so cute and wholesome, while still having depth, and axie oh's writing was soo easy to binge- I couldn't put this down! 🤭🤭
As for the characters, I really liked them!✨️
➵ Jenny: she was a pretty good fmc! 🥰 i really enjoyed her journey of self-discovery throughout the book & she was super easy to root for. honestly, jenny was just living out my dream- when is it my turn to have a kpop idol obsessed with me?! 😫😫✋️
➵ Jaewoo: i really liked him hehe 👀🤭 he definitely had his hot moments, but he was also suchhh a sweet character. the way he supported and cared for jenny was so cute omg!! 🥹🥹🫂🫂 side note: I kept imagining him as hyunjin from stray kids and... 👀👀
“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.”
As for the romance, it was soo cute 🤭🤭 it wasn't anything super crazy, but i definitely felt the chemistry between jenny & jaewoo and they had some really sweet moments 🥹🫶 I honestly enjoyed the side friendships just as much as the romance. especially jenny and somi's friendship!! they were so wholesome 🎀
“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.”
Overall, the perfect cutesy ya romance 🥹💝 I would highly recommend this if you're looking for:
✔️ Kpop✨️
✔️ Cute romance
✔️ Wholesome friendships
✔️ Bingeable!
This has seriously fuelled my kpop addiction 🤭🤭
《 2024 Challenge: Book 37 of 115 》
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
This was literally sm fun! 🤭🤭 I think kpop romances are my new fav thing bc this was soo cute 🥹🥹💝💝
Rtc 🎀
August 19, 2021
★½
Because tonight, the world is ours.
The hits keep coming, friends. I'm absolutely exhausted. This is me screaming out for help, and also begging YA editors to have a firmer hand with their authors.
For anyone who doesn't know, I'm a huge k-pop fan (girl groups, specifically). And yet, not a single book about k-pop that I've picked up has satisfied me. They have all been so undeniably and unbearably cheesy. Sadly, this one is the worst of the bunch.
Prior to this, I've picked up I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee, and Shine by Jessica Jung('s ghostwriter). What garnered those a slightly better rating was, well, the fact that they were far more readable.
My central gripe with this book branches out to every other issue I have with it. Namely, it is so, so poorly written. I've never read anything on Wattpad, but I'm certain that the writing quality here is on par with what you'd get there. It commits the biggest "tell and no show" sins I've encountered in quite some time. There is barely any description (aside from the occasional location description, and some effort into what the male idols are wearing) and tons of repetitive syntax, making it near impossible to sink into the world.
Even worse, the characters are so poorly drawn. I know nothing about the main character, Jenny, really. I know she's apparently a good enough cellist to be attending college for it, despite the fact that she doesn't seem to practice nearly enough. I know that she has a mother and a grandmother. I know that she likes an even less interesting character named Jaewoo. And that's about it.
The side characters are no better; they are, in fact, interchangeable in my mind. They are given no backgrounds and speak in the same manner and tone, completely cut and paste onto one another. I'm meant to invest in their relationships and conflicts when I have no investment in them as people. It's completely bizarre.
The plot construction is equally egregious. Conflicts are either solved in an instant — ergo, Jenny becoming best friends with her incredibly hostile roommate Sori after one conversation — or just forgotten about entirely. A bully somehow stops being a bully because Jenny befriends the person she was bullying? A rookie idol's relationship — which would be a huge scandal in real life — is completely accepted by his company and his fans with absolutely no repercussions? The last act of the novel is absolutely stuffed with Issues™️ to make up for the fact that the first three quarters are completely meandering and plotless, leaving untied threads or hastily created conclusions. Why didn't an editor take a red pen to all of this, I beg.
This barely escapes the lowest rating I dole out because two of Jaewoo's groupmates were pretty adorable. Despite their lacking in the personality department, they got a smile or two out of me. I wish we had gotten more of their group dynamics and their experiences as idols rather than...whatever this was.
Because tonight, the world is ours.
The hits keep coming, friends. I'm absolutely exhausted. This is me screaming out for help, and also begging YA editors to have a firmer hand with their authors.
For anyone who doesn't know, I'm a huge k-pop fan (girl groups, specifically). And yet, not a single book about k-pop that I've picked up has satisfied me. They have all been so undeniably and unbearably cheesy. Sadly, this one is the worst of the bunch.
Prior to this, I've picked up I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee, and Shine by Jessica Jung('s ghostwriter). What garnered those a slightly better rating was, well, the fact that they were far more readable.
My central gripe with this book branches out to every other issue I have with it. Namely, it is so, so poorly written. I've never read anything on Wattpad, but I'm certain that the writing quality here is on par with what you'd get there. It commits the biggest "tell and no show" sins I've encountered in quite some time. There is barely any description (aside from the occasional location description, and some effort into what the male idols are wearing) and tons of repetitive syntax, making it near impossible to sink into the world.
Even worse, the characters are so poorly drawn. I know nothing about the main character, Jenny, really. I know she's apparently a good enough cellist to be attending college for it, despite the fact that she doesn't seem to practice nearly enough. I know that she has a mother and a grandmother. I know that she likes an even less interesting character named Jaewoo. And that's about it.
The side characters are no better; they are, in fact, interchangeable in my mind. They are given no backgrounds and speak in the same manner and tone, completely cut and paste onto one another. I'm meant to invest in their relationships and conflicts when I have no investment in them as people. It's completely bizarre.
The plot construction is equally egregious. Conflicts are either solved in an instant — ergo, Jenny becoming best friends with her incredibly hostile roommate Sori after one conversation — or just forgotten about entirely. A bully somehow stops being a bully because Jenny befriends the person she was bullying? A rookie idol's relationship — which would be a huge scandal in real life — is completely accepted by his company and his fans with absolutely no repercussions? The last act of the novel is absolutely stuffed with Issues™️ to make up for the fact that the first three quarters are completely meandering and plotless, leaving untied threads or hastily created conclusions. Why didn't an editor take a red pen to all of this, I beg.
This barely escapes the lowest rating I dole out because two of Jaewoo's groupmates were pretty adorable. Despite their lacking in the personality department, they got a smile or two out of me. I wish we had gotten more of their group dynamics and their experiences as idols rather than...whatever this was.
March 15, 2024
3.4 stars💋
♥*♡∞:｡.｡
in honor of our imaginary seoul trip, sydnee & aksh
♥*♡∞:｡.｡
BULLETIN'S BIGGEST HEADLINE
As of today, it has been confirmed that XOXO is one of the best up and coming ya romances in our time. Following the perspective of the rising star Jaewoo's scandal girl, this book is sweet, simple, and relaxing. With appearances from Sori (see: Nathaniel's secret scandal p.6 or Joah Entertainment p.9), Gi Taek, and Angela (all students at SAA), found family is established and memories are made. I'm looking at you, Kiss and Hug club girlies- want an idol boyfriend? Take some tips from Jenny, our talented and lovestruck main character of XOXO!
-xo
Rachael
♥*♡∞:｡.｡
on a separate note...
is it just me or was Sori the smartest, especially towards the end. Jaewoo was honestly such a waste of time for Jenny, like he kept changing up his mind and apparently his "care for others" fixed the fact that he was pretty absent but still sort-of needed Jenny to drop everything for him?? he wanted a secret friendship?? like ick. UGH Jenny annoyed me towards the end, the way she ran to Jaewoo instead of sticking with Sori. Sisters before misters, girl, get it together pls <33 BESIDES ALL THAT, I thought this book was really comforting, easy, and fun and I read it sososo fast! This wasn't the best book ever but definitely a good one for people who need to get out of a slump or just want a quick read for a car ride! Can't wait to read more about my babies sorinathaniel <33
💞xoxo forever and always 💞
♥*♡∞:｡.｡
in honor of our imaginary seoul trip, sydnee & aksh
♥*♡∞:｡.｡
BULLETIN'S BIGGEST HEADLINE
As of today, it has been confirmed that XOXO is one of the best up and coming ya romances in our time. Following the perspective of the rising star Jaewoo's scandal girl, this book is sweet, simple, and relaxing. With appearances from Sori (see: Nathaniel's secret scandal p.6 or Joah Entertainment p.9), Gi Taek, and Angela (all students at SAA), found family is established and memories are made. I'm looking at you, Kiss and Hug club girlies- want an idol boyfriend? Take some tips from Jenny, our talented and lovestruck main character of XOXO!
-xo
Rachael
♥*♡∞:｡.｡
on a separate note...
is it just me or was Sori the smartest, especially towards the end. Jaewoo was honestly such a waste of time for Jenny, like he kept changing up his mind and apparently his "care for others" fixed the fact that he was pretty absent but still sort-of needed Jenny to drop everything for him?? he wanted a secret friendship?? like ick. UGH Jenny annoyed me towards the end, the way she ran to Jaewoo instead of sticking with Sori. Sisters before misters, girl, get it together pls <33 BESIDES ALL THAT, I thought this book was really comforting, easy, and fun and I read it sososo fast! This wasn't the best book ever but definitely a good one for people who need to get out of a slump or just want a quick read for a car ride! Can't wait to read more about my babies sorinathaniel <33
💞xoxo forever and always 💞
July 19, 2021
4.5 stars
This was SO CUTE and I loved this romance! First, it's a forbidden romance and there was so much riding on both of them if it got out that they were seeing each other. Jaewoo isn't allowed to date as a member of a very famous K-Pop group, especially after another member already dated someone and got into huge trouble. I really enjoyed how Jenny and Jaewoo were trying not to give in to their feelings for each other until they found it impossible and decided to risk everything for each other. I loved how they spent more time together as they went to the same school in Seoul and how they got to meet each other's families and really open up to each other. I will say, Jenny was frustrating when she would blow off her friends and school for Jaewoo, especially since she was supposed to be an elite cello player. She wasn't practicing a whole lot and it was hard to believe she played on that level without showing her practicing for hours a day. I did love her relationship with the friends she made at school, especially with the other member in Jaewoo's group. Her relationship with her roommate was also really cute and I loved how all of those relationships developed throughout the book. The whole atmosphere of this book was just so fun and I would definitely recommend it as a cute forbidden YA romance!
This was SO CUTE and I loved this romance! First, it's a forbidden romance and there was so much riding on both of them if it got out that they were seeing each other. Jaewoo isn't allowed to date as a member of a very famous K-Pop group, especially after another member already dated someone and got into huge trouble. I really enjoyed how Jenny and Jaewoo were trying not to give in to their feelings for each other until they found it impossible and decided to risk everything for each other. I loved how they spent more time together as they went to the same school in Seoul and how they got to meet each other's families and really open up to each other. I will say, Jenny was frustrating when she would blow off her friends and school for Jaewoo, especially since she was supposed to be an elite cello player. She wasn't practicing a whole lot and it was hard to believe she played on that level without showing her practicing for hours a day. I did love her relationship with the friends she made at school, especially with the other member in Jaewoo's group. Her relationship with her roommate was also really cute and I loved how all of those relationships developed throughout the book. The whole atmosphere of this book was just so fun and I would definitely recommend it as a cute forbidden YA romance!
November 3, 2021
OKAAYY AAAAAHHHH!! THIS WAS LIKE A KDRAMA TURNED INTO A BOOK AKXNSJJAJBS 😭❤️
I AM HEAD OVER HEELS RN AND I'VE OFFICIALLY JOINED THE XOXO FANDOM! (my bias is nathaniel hihi)
i know the whole concept thingy or tropes here aren't original and u can see them everywhere, but i mean, who cares??!! im such a sucker for anything kpop related in books and yes, this is literally me fangirling😌
plus that BEAUTIFUL GORGEOUS STUNNING COVER, ohmygod!! i swear this book didn't disappoint
사랑해 재우! 사랑해요 나타니엘! 사랑해 xoxo! <3
-✧-
11/03: rating this five stars now because this book is the reason i am back obsessing to kpop ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I AM HEAD OVER HEELS RN AND I'VE OFFICIALLY JOINED THE XOXO FANDOM! (my bias is nathaniel hihi)
i know the whole concept thingy or tropes here aren't original and u can see them everywhere, but i mean, who cares??!! im such a sucker for anything kpop related in books and yes, this is literally me fangirling😌
plus that BEAUTIFUL GORGEOUS STUNNING COVER, ohmygod!! i swear this book didn't disappoint
사랑해 재우! 사랑해요 나타니엘! 사랑해 xoxo! <3
-✧-
11/03: rating this five stars now because this book is the reason i am back obsessing to kpop ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
March 11, 2024
i love sharing anecdotes, so here’s one— i was 13, and my dad pulled me out of school. that entire year, i was just feeling super exhausted for a variety of reasons, and i told him i wanted to get out of school early.
what did he do? he came up with a fake appointment, drove me out of school, and promptly took me to dunkin’ so i could have some hashbrowns. we talked about ai for 2 hours.
that’s a moment of connection. i LOVE connections, especially in books! if there’s a good bond between two characters, idc how stupid the book itself is. chances are, i’ll rate it 3 stars+.
but this book…this book didn’t do anything. no connections, no visible signs of a strong plot, and a huge dosage of main character syndrome. (side characters were cute though)
axie’s prose is like looking through the glass of a fogged up window. i can make out distinct shapes and probably telling you what’s going on, but i really have to put in the work in order to get a grip of the whole situation. this could be another reason why i felt detached from the plot.
besides, you know…the characters, i think that this book reads like a hallmark movie script in the works. it needs developing, and a shit ton of editing! there were so many chapters completely irrelevant to the tangible story, and axie's conclusion to a lot of pages of really slow buildup was predictably disappointing.
jenny - [noun] definition: miscommunication trope personified.
do you want me to use that in a sentence? sorry, nope. but what i can tell you about jenny is that she has no personality and somehow manages to take 28292292 years to make a simple decision. jenny doesn’t know what she wants. she takes her life for granted. and never bothers to appreciate the actual amount of pure luck she’s garnered in five days!
jaewoo - yeah, sorry. i can tell why this was originally might be bts fanfic. he would probably be more bearable if i had a really hot person to replace as his entire being, but this is a book and my visualization skills are shitty! my music tastes also stray away from kpop/korean music, so that didn't help either. and jaewoo ALSO didn’t know what he wanted. like at all. him and jenny are perfect together, i guess. it's that classic "they may suck, but they suck less together (not really)"
the only excuse i could manage to muster up in my heartless body for jaewoo's shitty character is that his label seemed very strict, and i liked how axie tied that in to this character. it explained a lot of why jaewoo did what he did, but ultimately i’m unsure of him as a person. i also have no energy to use psychological means to justify his actions, so you get what you put in.
i shouldn’t have to try this hard to like the main characters, or this book in general. so, i’m not. i don’t like this book. but what i do like are the side characters. i mean, maybe my love for nate is questionable, but sori can just steal all my belongings and i'd thank her because of what this book put her- and me, through.
naturally i’m going to read the sequel, however, i very much hope that axie was more thoughtful in her writing. this is a little impossible- but it's not the hope that kills you, right? (now it's time for everybody laugh at my "ted lasso" reference.)
2/5.
——————
re-read #1:
hot girls hate jaewoo.
review to come!
i recently read somewhere that this started out as fanfiction. that’s convinced me to read this again (books with wattpad origin stories intrigue me)
what did he do? he came up with a fake appointment, drove me out of school, and promptly took me to dunkin’ so i could have some hashbrowns. we talked about ai for 2 hours.
that’s a moment of connection. i LOVE connections, especially in books! if there’s a good bond between two characters, idc how stupid the book itself is. chances are, i’ll rate it 3 stars+.
but this book…this book didn’t do anything. no connections, no visible signs of a strong plot, and a huge dosage of main character syndrome. (side characters were cute though)
axie’s prose is like looking through the glass of a fogged up window. i can make out distinct shapes and probably telling you what’s going on, but i really have to put in the work in order to get a grip of the whole situation. this could be another reason why i felt detached from the plot.
besides, you know…the characters, i think that this book reads like a hallmark movie script in the works. it needs developing, and a shit ton of editing! there were so many chapters completely irrelevant to the tangible story, and axie's conclusion to a lot of pages of really slow buildup was predictably disappointing.
jenny - [noun] definition: miscommunication trope personified.
do you want me to use that in a sentence? sorry, nope. but what i can tell you about jenny is that she has no personality and somehow manages to take 28292292 years to make a simple decision. jenny doesn’t know what she wants. she takes her life for granted. and never bothers to appreciate the actual amount of pure luck she’s garnered in five days!
jaewoo - yeah, sorry. i can tell why this was originally might be bts fanfic. he would probably be more bearable if i had a really hot person to replace as his entire being, but this is a book and my visualization skills are shitty! my music tastes also stray away from kpop/korean music, so that didn't help either. and jaewoo ALSO didn’t know what he wanted. like at all. him and jenny are perfect together, i guess. it's that classic "they may suck, but they suck less together (not really)"
the only excuse i could manage to muster up in my heartless body for jaewoo's shitty character is that his label seemed very strict, and i liked how axie tied that in to this character. it explained a lot of why jaewoo did what he did, but ultimately i’m unsure of him as a person. i also have no energy to use psychological means to justify his actions, so you get what you put in.
i shouldn’t have to try this hard to like the main characters, or this book in general. so, i’m not. i don’t like this book. but what i do like are the side characters. i mean, maybe my love for nate is questionable, but sori can just steal all my belongings and i'd thank her because of what this book put her- and me, through.
naturally i’m going to read the sequel, however, i very much hope that axie was more thoughtful in her writing. this is a little impossible- but it's not the hope that kills you, right? (now it's time for everybody laugh at my "ted lasso" reference.)
2/5.
——————
re-read #1:
hot girls hate jaewoo.
review to come!
i recently read somewhere that this started out as fanfiction. that’s convinced me to read this again (books with wattpad origin stories intrigue me)
April 24, 2024
XOXO
is like watching those cute, lighthearted Korean dramas I stay tuned every night. I want more YA contemporaries similar to this book. 😭❤️ It's one of the books that you will surely fly through and just enjoy the story.
Jenny and Jaewoo are adorable! The romance between these two talented musicians began in Los Angeles at Jenny's Uncle's Karaoke bar. Their first encounter is fun and carefree and Jenny is completely unaware that Jaewoo is part of a famous K-Pop group. Away from pressure and fame, Jaewoo indeed enjoyed that night but he needs to return to Korea.
When Jenny heard her grandmother is terminally ill, she and her mom flew to South Korea and for the meantime, she's an international transfer student in an elite arts academy. Stars aligned, she and Jaewoo crossed paths and learned that he's a superstar. However, he's forbidden to date.
The first Korean drama that came into my mind when I was reading this was Heartstrings. It's one of my favorites starring Park Shin-Hye and Jung Yong-hwa (CN Blue) and I just can't help feeling the similarity. Our protagonists have different music genre. Jenny is into classical music while Jaewoo is into modern pop. The supporting characters in this novel are also great and each of them stood out without taking away the spotlight from Jenny and Jaewoo. Nathaniel and Sori are my favorites, I'd love to see these two in the future and have a second chance romance.
Since Jenny grew up in U.S., I love her learning about the Korean culture and embrace her roots. She also made very good friends and it's obvious she enjoyed her stay. Jaewoo is obedient and hardworking guy. His years of training surely paid off and the dedication he puts in is all for his family. I admire him for living a life a little and stand his ground.
I wish the musical events these characters participated are more elaborated and atmospheric. Overall, this is a feel-good YA contemporary and I recommend it. Props to Greta Jung for narrating the story. She nailed each character's personality.
Jenny and Jaewoo are adorable! The romance between these two talented musicians began in Los Angeles at Jenny's Uncle's Karaoke bar. Their first encounter is fun and carefree and Jenny is completely unaware that Jaewoo is part of a famous K-Pop group. Away from pressure and fame, Jaewoo indeed enjoyed that night but he needs to return to Korea.
When Jenny heard her grandmother is terminally ill, she and her mom flew to South Korea and for the meantime, she's an international transfer student in an elite arts academy. Stars aligned, she and Jaewoo crossed paths and learned that he's a superstar. However, he's forbidden to date.
The first Korean drama that came into my mind when I was reading this was Heartstrings. It's one of my favorites starring Park Shin-Hye and Jung Yong-hwa (CN Blue) and I just can't help feeling the similarity. Our protagonists have different music genre. Jenny is into classical music while Jaewoo is into modern pop. The supporting characters in this novel are also great and each of them stood out without taking away the spotlight from Jenny and Jaewoo. Nathaniel and Sori are my favorites, I'd love to see these two in the future and have a second chance romance.
Since Jenny grew up in U.S., I love her learning about the Korean culture and embrace her roots. She also made very good friends and it's obvious she enjoyed her stay. Jaewoo is obedient and hardworking guy. His years of training surely paid off and the dedication he puts in is all for his family. I admire him for living a life a little and stand his ground.
I wish the musical events these characters participated are more elaborated and atmospheric. Overall, this is a feel-good YA contemporary and I recommend it. Props to Greta Jung for narrating the story. She nailed each character's personality.
Shelved as 'jail'
May 26, 2024 dnf @ 27%
we did not ball. wrongo.
mags and i had scheduled times to read this book because the only way we could make it through was if we both left stupid commentary on the book at the time while ripping our hairs out and crying through messages. that sums up our experience, and we made it all the way to chapter 12 !!
the nicest thing i can say is that this book just was not for Me. i can’t comment how true or false (or stereotypical) this was of korean culture, but i will say that this reads like a koreaboo’s fantasy and gives the vibes of the netflix show xo, kitty (funny that the names are so similar and so was my suffering through both).
no rating because i didn’t finish it, but i rest assured (through multiple moots ratings & reviews) that it does not get better. will magsren brave book 2 for sori and nathaniel?? stay tuned !! :3
1 ☆
꒰ pre read┊br with mags ꒱.ೃ࿔*
mags was teww embarrassed to read a self insert kpop fanfic publicly for further supplement for their delusions, so like the very good friend i am, i offered to read this with them so they can live out their jongseob dreams < 3
(we are ignoring multiple friends who screamed at us not to do this. but we ball!! righto :3)
we did not ball. wrongo.
mags and i had scheduled times to read this book because the only way we could make it through was if we both left stupid commentary on the book at the time while ripping our hairs out and crying through messages. that sums up our experience, and we made it all the way to chapter 12 !!
the nicest thing i can say is that this book just was not for Me. i can’t comment how true or false (or stereotypical) this was of korean culture, but i will say that this reads like a koreaboo’s fantasy and gives the vibes of the netflix show xo, kitty (funny that the names are so similar and so was my suffering through both).
no rating because i didn’t finish it, but i rest assured (through multiple moots ratings & reviews) that it does not get better. will magsren brave book 2 for sori and nathaniel?? stay tuned !! :3
1 ☆
꒰ pre read┊br with mags ꒱.ೃ࿔*
mags was teww embarrassed to read a self insert kpop fanfic publicly for further supplement for their delusions, so like the very good friend i am, i offered to read this with them so they can live out their jongseob dreams < 3
(we are ignoring multiple friends who screamed at us not to do this. but we ball!! righto :3)
August 6, 2021
the first half was fantastic, then the plot got a bit murky. the plot SEEMS like it would be cringy, but it’s SO not. this is the perfect YA beach read
March 13, 2024
pt 298461 of me saying rtc then completely forgetting about it. anyways rtc before i start ASAP !!
⤷ pretending this was me and hyunjin from stray kids 🤭
⤷ pretending this was me and hyunjin from stray kids 🤭
July 18, 2022
Cute 💕
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
July 19, 2022
*Finally I finished reading sorry I didn't update* This started out PRETTY good, but then ended up being lamer than I expected which was really sad. If you want a solid K-pop book, read Bias!
⭐⭐⭐
Content Ratings:
Explicit: 5/10 It doesn't really DESCRIBE exactly what happens but basically they do describe taking off each other's clothes in a FREAKING KARAOKE BAR (How unromantic is that? It's worse than under-the-table-at-a-party) and being there for a whole half hour doing... something. The Korean aspect of this was SOOO inaccurate I'll explain why below:
Language: 3/10 It didn't have much language at all, and only milder swearwords.
Violence: Uhm nothing it's a romance novel...
⭐⭐⭐
Plot Ratings:
Chemistry: 6/10 The chemistry they had just sort of sputtered out in the middle of the book and it wasn't really clear WHY they were attracted to each other. There was really no reason to what made her special out of anyone else and that annoyed me.
Korean Culture: WHOPPING 4/10 SO DISSAPOINTED IN YOU LADY, HAVE YOU EVER EVEN BEEN TO KOREA?? You all... it took me a while to get over the beginning, where she walks in on 3 aunts watching a K-drama, right at the kiss scene, two of them *collapse into sighs* and one of them *throws their sandals at the tv*. I'm sorry, is this your idea of how Korean culture is? We watch tv shows like NORMAL human beings! It felt like every time she was trying to write in the culture, she would grossly overexaggerate like a 12-year-old sitting in Texas writing a BTS fanfiction and trying to be "culturally authentic."
READY FOR A RANT? As for the romance: Okay obviously this lady is VERY AMERICAN Korean- apparently all the idols once a year go to this retreat thing where they are barely supervised. (Haha, this is already so horribly inaccurate *please shoot me*) Her 100% Korean friend keeps dropping comments and indicating that Jenny should *do it* with Jaewoo. Uhm... okay? First of all, "hookups" like this are super uncommon- one of the biggest values we place in society is the first "I love you" not jumping straight to this. I found it distasteful and sort of trashy that they would have a low-key relationship and then just be talking like this. It is not common to live with your partner before marriage, and neither is it encouraged to lose your virginity. The average age that unmarried women in Korea lose their virginity is 21.3, whereas in America it's a solid 17.0 if that doesn't tell you anything. I found this extremely culturally inaccurate, and SURE you'll find exceptions everywhere, but that's called a "prostitute" honey. :))
Filler scenes: 10/10 Okay so I pretty much loved these, the average, normal scenes of the school and them just doing fun things that is filler for the book. They were so much fun to experience, especially since there was a lot of people and relationships to make it interesting, which leads us to...
Relationships: 6/10 So here's the thing- the actual interaction with characters was AMAZING. They each seemed to have their own lives and personalities and it was one of the best yet. There were complications between who seemed to be flirting with who, who is angry with who... But then she DOESN'T TIE IN ANY OF THE LOOSE ends! We never find out why Sori seemed to rush over to Jaewoo everytime he came in the room, except for the fact that it was helpful to the writer to put tension in between her and Jenny. But LEGIT: GIVE ME A REASON.
Climax: 6/10 A very typical and overdone climax. Girl lies about not liking boy for his own good, they split, she changes her mind, comes back and explains, happily ever after. Horray. But a bit stale, especially since it was just like: "Oh, you changed your mind? Cool let's make out" and there was really no particular leading reason to WHY they needed to be apart... It looked like Axie Oh just had to have a climax so she tossed one in.
My initial reaction was still "⭐❤️ANOTHER K-POP BOOK YESSSSSSSSS. ❤️⭐" and I am still grateful it exists. However, it does get 3 stars because there was SOO much better books out there that had more realistic reasons and well-thought-out plotlines. Try some down below:
For a dream come true and realistic fan-meets-idol scenario in snowy Seoul (with MOUTH-WATERING food descriptions)
For a fun, 'escape for the night and run away with me' novel that is full of humorous situations
For a K-drama episode like feel, where every chapter is like a new wattpad chapter.
⭐⭐⭐
Content Ratings:
Explicit: 5/10 It doesn't really DESCRIBE exactly what happens but basically they do describe taking off each other's clothes in a FREAKING KARAOKE BAR (How unromantic is that? It's worse than under-the-table-at-a-party) and being there for a whole half hour doing... something. The Korean aspect of this was SOOO inaccurate I'll explain why below:
Language: 3/10 It didn't have much language at all, and only milder swearwords.
Violence: Uhm nothing it's a romance novel...
⭐⭐⭐
Plot Ratings:
Chemistry: 6/10 The chemistry they had just sort of sputtered out in the middle of the book and it wasn't really clear WHY they were attracted to each other. There was really no reason to what made her special out of anyone else and that annoyed me.
Korean Culture: WHOPPING 4/10 SO DISSAPOINTED IN YOU LADY, HAVE YOU EVER EVEN BEEN TO KOREA?? You all... it took me a while to get over the beginning, where she walks in on 3 aunts watching a K-drama, right at the kiss scene, two of them *collapse into sighs* and one of them *throws their sandals at the tv*. I'm sorry, is this your idea of how Korean culture is? We watch tv shows like NORMAL human beings! It felt like every time she was trying to write in the culture, she would grossly overexaggerate like a 12-year-old sitting in Texas writing a BTS fanfiction and trying to be "culturally authentic."
READY FOR A RANT? As for the romance: Okay obviously this lady is VERY AMERICAN Korean- apparently all the idols once a year go to this retreat thing where they are barely supervised. (Haha, this is already so horribly inaccurate *please shoot me*) Her 100% Korean friend keeps dropping comments and indicating that Jenny should *do it* with Jaewoo. Uhm... okay? First of all, "hookups" like this are super uncommon- one of the biggest values we place in society is the first "I love you" not jumping straight to this. I found it distasteful and sort of trashy that they would have a low-key relationship and then just be talking like this. It is not common to live with your partner before marriage, and neither is it encouraged to lose your virginity. The average age that unmarried women in Korea lose their virginity is 21.3, whereas in America it's a solid 17.0 if that doesn't tell you anything. I found this extremely culturally inaccurate, and SURE you'll find exceptions everywhere, but that's called a "prostitute" honey. :))
Filler scenes: 10/10 Okay so I pretty much loved these, the average, normal scenes of the school and them just doing fun things that is filler for the book. They were so much fun to experience, especially since there was a lot of people and relationships to make it interesting, which leads us to...
Relationships: 6/10 So here's the thing- the actual interaction with characters was AMAZING. They each seemed to have their own lives and personalities and it was one of the best yet. There were complications between who seemed to be flirting with who, who is angry with who... But then she DOESN'T TIE IN ANY OF THE LOOSE ends! We never find out why Sori seemed to rush over to Jaewoo everytime he came in the room, except for the fact that it was helpful to the writer to put tension in between her and Jenny. But LEGIT: GIVE ME A REASON.
Climax: 6/10 A very typical and overdone climax. Girl lies about not liking boy for his own good, they split, she changes her mind, comes back and explains, happily ever after. Horray. But a bit stale, especially since it was just like: "Oh, you changed your mind? Cool let's make out" and there was really no particular leading reason to WHY they needed to be apart... It looked like Axie Oh just had to have a climax so she tossed one in.
My initial reaction was still "⭐❤️ANOTHER K-POP BOOK YESSSSSSSSS. ❤️⭐" and I am still grateful it exists. However, it does get 3 stars because there was SOO much better books out there that had more realistic reasons and well-thought-out plotlines. Try some down below:
For a dream come true and realistic fan-meets-idol scenario in snowy Seoul (with MOUTH-WATERING food descriptions)
For a fun, 'escape for the night and run away with me' novel that is full of humorous situations
For a K-drama episode like feel, where every chapter is like a new wattpad chapter.
May 15, 2024
You know you're a millennial when your brain adds "gossip girl" every time XOXO is said in this book.
I thought this book was super cute, in a lot of ways it reminded me of the Netflix series XOXO Kitty (I believe this book came out first, not sure). But also as a millennial woman in my 30's I am not the target demographic and it wasn't for me, nor was it meant for me! I mostly read it to complete my A-Z title reading challenge for a title with the letter "X".
A sweet romance between a music student and a K-Pop star. I had fun reading along as the main character moved from the USA to Korea and all of the stories of her making new friends and getting to know her grandmother better. The cast of characters is what made this book strong for me. But reading this book helped me realize (even more than I already have) that I think my reading tastes are evolving away from YA.
I thought this book was super cute, in a lot of ways it reminded me of the Netflix series XOXO Kitty (I believe this book came out first, not sure). But also as a millennial woman in my 30's I am not the target demographic and it wasn't for me, nor was it meant for me! I mostly read it to complete my A-Z title reading challenge for a title with the letter "X".
A sweet romance between a music student and a K-Pop star. I had fun reading along as the main character moved from the USA to Korea and all of the stories of her making new friends and getting to know her grandmother better. The cast of characters is what made this book strong for me. But reading this book helped me realize (even more than I already have) that I think my reading tastes are evolving away from YA.
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