With all the love for K-Pop and romance at my school, this book will be very popular. Although YA romance can veer toward treacle, Oh allows her characters to maintain a few sharp edges, which keeps things interesting. I loved almost everything about this book: the sharp and funny dialogue, the intense drama (recalling the K-dramas that Halmeoni loves), the endless parade of delicious Korean snacks and meals, and the day-to-day street level view of Seoul and its surrounding countryside. Their mutual attraction burns, but must be kept secret, both because of Mom’s general disapproval of distraction and the heady demands of K-Pop stardom. Jenny is admitted to a prestigious music academy that doubles as a training ground for K-Pop idols and miraculously, THE boy, Jaewoo, also attends, in between practices and appearances of his superstar band XOXO. Wish fulfillment time: she and her mom woosh off to Seoul to reunite with her darling, vaguely cancer-sticken halmeoni (grandma). She’s a talented cellist, but recent competition feedback pointing out her lack of “spark” has her re-thinking her all-work and no play approach, prompting her to spend a magical evening with a mysterious boy she meets in a karaoke bar. Jenny Oh is a first generation Korean-American living with her single mom in L.A. What did you like about the book? An utterly adorable teen romance that covers so much ground: K-Pop, forbidden love, boarding school drama, generational clash, and best of all, lots and lots of food. Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5
0 kommentar(er)
