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The Strings Between Love & Race
--- Harmonies of the Heart – A Love Song Across Continents ---
Immerse yourself in "The Strings Between Love & Race," where Mina’s ordinary life leaps into the extraordinary realms of love and K-pop glamour in South Korea. Mina, a Nigerian British girl, pirouettes from an ordinary fangirl straight into an exhilarating internship with her stan, the famous K-pop group N.O.
Amidst her journey to Seoul’s vibrant rhythms, Mina's heartstrings tug back ten years to the past, reminiscing about her estranged first love, Joon, and the strings of hardship they encountered going from enemies to lovers that eventually led to their separation. Arriving at Seoul, a tapestry of tender moments and a harrowing near-tragedy – weaves through Mina’s journey as she confronts cultural clashes and the harsh spotlight of fame.
In this whirlwind, Mina is torn as she rediscovers love in an unexpected twist of Faced with the challenges of her new reality, along with the difficulties of interracial romance, unfamiliar societal norms and her own deepest fears.
"The Strings Between Love & Race" is your ticket to a world where love’s melody battles against the odds, all set to the electrifying backdrop of K-pop. This novel isn’t just a story; it’s an emotional crescendo, promising to resonate long after the final page.
Immerse yourself in "The Strings Between Love & Race," where Mina’s ordinary life leaps into the extraordinary realms of love and K-pop glamour in South Korea. Mina, a Nigerian British girl, pirouettes from an ordinary fangirl straight into an exhilarating internship with her stan, the famous K-pop group N.O.
Amidst her journey to Seoul’s vibrant rhythms, Mina's heartstrings tug back ten years to the past, reminiscing about her estranged first love, Joon, and the strings of hardship they encountered going from enemies to lovers that eventually led to their separation. Arriving at Seoul, a tapestry of tender moments and a harrowing near-tragedy – weaves through Mina’s journey as she confronts cultural clashes and the harsh spotlight of fame.
In this whirlwind, Mina is torn as she rediscovers love in an unexpected twist of Faced with the challenges of her new reality, along with the difficulties of interracial romance, unfamiliar societal norms and her own deepest fears.
"The Strings Between Love & Race" is your ticket to a world where love’s melody battles against the odds, all set to the electrifying backdrop of K-pop. This novel isn’t just a story; it’s an emotional crescendo, promising to resonate long after the final page.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2024
12 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 14, 2024
The Strings Between Love & Race by Fatima Alabi is a novel that blends romance, cultural exploration, and the world of K-pop. The eye-catching cover immediately draws you in and sets the tone for this engaging story.
The book follows Mina, a Nigerian-British girl whose life takes an exciting turn when she lands an internship with her favorite K-pop group, N.O., in South Korea. Amidst the excitement of Seoul, Mina is also forced to confront memories of her first love, Joon, and the challenges they faced in an interracial relationship. The story explores the tension between love and race with sensitivity, offering a fresh take on the complexities of identity and belonging.
One of the novel’s strengths is how well it portrays both the highs of romance and the real struggles Mina faces, including cultural differences and the spotlight of fame. The characters, especially Mina and Joon, are relatable and authentic, making it easy for readers to become invested in their journey.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book
The book follows Mina, a Nigerian-British girl whose life takes an exciting turn when she lands an internship with her favorite K-pop group, N.O., in South Korea. Amidst the excitement of Seoul, Mina is also forced to confront memories of her first love, Joon, and the challenges they faced in an interracial relationship. The story explores the tension between love and race with sensitivity, offering a fresh take on the complexities of identity and belonging.
One of the novel’s strengths is how well it portrays both the highs of romance and the real struggles Mina faces, including cultural differences and the spotlight of fame. The characters, especially Mina and Joon, are relatable and authentic, making it easy for readers to become invested in their journey.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book
February 14, 2024
Must Read
This book has to be one of my favorites!! I absolutely love how the author used such descriptive words and was detailed in describing the characters. I was about to paint vivid mental images of each scene. I also love how she incorporated both Nigerian culture and Korean culture. I'm familiar with the Korean culture so I appreciate the different gestures used in respect of the culture. Highly recommended and would read it a million times over!!
This book has to be one of my favorites!! I absolutely love how the author used such descriptive words and was detailed in describing the characters. I was about to paint vivid mental images of each scene. I also love how she incorporated both Nigerian culture and Korean culture. I'm familiar with the Korean culture so I appreciate the different gestures used in respect of the culture. Highly recommended and would read it a million times over!!
January 28, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next as it left on a bit of a cliffhanger. The main story is about Mina and Joon but I find myself cheering on for a secondary character Dong Min. Hope we hear more of his story in the other books. K-pop,K-Rock, K drama has a lot of Black and Brown fans that would like this story
January 2, 2024
It was a pleasant read and certainly delivered on the romance and k-pop world as promised. There is an air of fantasy, an almost alternate world which was delivered that very well. I really got into the whole K-entertainment world drama very fast and enjoyed it! Somewhere out there, there is a girl of colour who dreams of meeting a Kpop idol and falling in love with him and this is the exact kind of book they need.
January 4, 2024
I’m not really a k pop/ drama lover, but the book was really nice. I think it’s a new trope that I now enjoy💕
January 3, 2025
my first read of 2025 and it was cute
February 6, 2024
A fan girls dream brought to life.
A really cute enemies to lovers take that tugs at the heart strings of any kpop/kdrama fan. Spanning 2 different time lines the connection between Mina and Joon insists on bringing them back together even when time, distance and other external forces seek to keep them apart.
A really sweet debut novel.
A really cute enemies to lovers take that tugs at the heart strings of any kpop/kdrama fan. Spanning 2 different time lines the connection between Mina and Joon insists on bringing them back together even when time, distance and other external forces seek to keep them apart.
A really sweet debut novel.
February 12, 2024
worth the wait
Fatima!!I have been soo excited for this book to be released and I was NOT disappointed.The characters are soo relatable regardless of ethnicity or gender.I can’t wait to read the next part of Mina and joons story.
Fatima!!I have been soo excited for this book to be released and I was NOT disappointed.The characters are soo relatable regardless of ethnicity or gender.I can’t wait to read the next part of Mina and joons story.
March 28, 2024
Wonderful book!!
This has been a great storyline. I couldn't put it down! I cannot wait to start reading the next book!!
This has been a great storyline. I couldn't put it down! I cannot wait to start reading the next book!!
June 29, 2024
The Strings Between Love & Race is the beginning of a trilogy that has already cemented itself as a unique and captivating story in the romance genre, and I believe it can only get better from here. What begins with two friends wanting to go to a concert becomes a powerful tale of family and falling in love that will tug at the strings of your heart. Romance is of course at the forefront - and is done incredibly well here - but it is not all this book has to offer. There is so much heart poured into every character, every relationship, every dynamic, every setting, and every word you will find on these pages. And that alone makes the book as captivating as it is culturally relevant. This book does not shy away from racial and cultural issues that come up with a biracial couple as the story progresses, but it does handle them eloquently and with care and grace.
I will say there were some editing mistakes here and there, but at least for me personally they did not detract from the story. Once I was hooked (and that did not take long) they were irrelevant. The only other incredibly minor issue I had was a certain twist in the latter half of the book I found predictable and I was occasionally slightly frustrated that it was less obvious to the characters, BUT that would have changed how the story progressed and I wouldn't want to change that as it progressed very naturally and organically for the characters. And again did not detract from my enjoyment. It actually added some fun tension of wondering how/when it would come to light. But beyond that it allowed for growth in other aspects of the story without taking away from the core narrative, so I appreciate it in that regard.
And it was the characters that hooked me! Each one is so unique and fleshed out and stand out from one another and it's easy to form a connection with all of them and see where they're coming from, even when you're not intended to sympathize with some of them. Mina is wonderful as our protagonist, and her dynamics with everyone were a joy to read. I loved them all! And I eagerly await the next entry in the Strings Trilogy to continue their stories as this book definitely ends with a cliffhanger!
I will say there were some editing mistakes here and there, but at least for me personally they did not detract from the story. Once I was hooked (and that did not take long) they were irrelevant. The only other incredibly minor issue I had was a certain twist in the latter half of the book I found predictable and I was occasionally slightly frustrated that it was less obvious to the characters, BUT that would have changed how the story progressed and I wouldn't want to change that as it progressed very naturally and organically for the characters. And again did not detract from my enjoyment. It actually added some fun tension of wondering how/when it would come to light. But beyond that it allowed for growth in other aspects of the story without taking away from the core narrative, so I appreciate it in that regard.
And it was the characters that hooked me! Each one is so unique and fleshed out and stand out from one another and it's easy to form a connection with all of them and see where they're coming from, even when you're not intended to sympathize with some of them. Mina is wonderful as our protagonist, and her dynamics with everyone were a joy to read. I loved them all! And I eagerly await the next entry in the Strings Trilogy to continue their stories as this book definitely ends with a cliffhanger!
February 11, 2025
"Immerse yourself in "The Strings Between Love & Race," where Mina’s ordinary life leaps into the extraordinary realms of love and K-pop glamour in South Korea. Mina, a Nigerian British girl, pirouettes from an ordinary fangirl straight into an exhilarating internship with her stan, the famous K-pop group N.O. Amidst her journey to Seoul’s vibrant rhythms, Mina's heartstrings tug back ten years to the past, reminiscing about her estranged first love, Joon, and the strings of hardship they encountered going from enemies to lovers that eventually led to their separation. Arriving at Seoul, a tapestry of tender moments and a harrowing near-tragedy – weaves through Mina’s journey as she confronts cultural clashes and the harsh spotlight of fame.
In this whirlwind, Mina is torn as she rediscovers love in an unexpected twist of fate: Faced with the challenges of her new reality, along with the difficulties of interracial romance, unfamiliar societal norms and her own deepest fears.
"The Strings Between Love & Race" is your ticket to a world where love’s melody battles against the odds, all set to the electrifying backdrop of K-pop. This novel isn’t just a story; it’s an emotional crescendo, promising to resonate long after the final page."
Absolutely loved this story, lots of ups and downs in the story, the story was engaging, characters were great, kept my attention from beginning to end, first time reading this author, would love to read more from this author. I give this book 4 stars.
In this whirlwind, Mina is torn as she rediscovers love in an unexpected twist of fate: Faced with the challenges of her new reality, along with the difficulties of interracial romance, unfamiliar societal norms and her own deepest fears.
"The Strings Between Love & Race" is your ticket to a world where love’s melody battles against the odds, all set to the electrifying backdrop of K-pop. This novel isn’t just a story; it’s an emotional crescendo, promising to resonate long after the final page."
Absolutely loved this story, lots of ups and downs in the story, the story was engaging, characters were great, kept my attention from beginning to end, first time reading this author, would love to read more from this author. I give this book 4 stars.
March 17, 2024
✨яєνιєw✨
"𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔" 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅, 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆. "𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕"
"The Strings of Love and Race" kicks off The Strings trilogy with a bang, dragging you through a rollercoaster of emotions alongside Mina, the main character. From reliving her school days to navigating her life post-her-sister's-wedding, you can't help but root for her every step of the way.What really got me hooked was how the book doesn't shy away from tackling the issues faced by biracial couples. It adds this extra layer of drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see how Mina's love life will play out. And let's talk about the cultural mashup! The blend of Nigeria and South Korean vibes adds so much flavor to the story. If you're into K-Dramas like I am, you'll be living for every scene. Sure, there were a few editing slip-ups and some words seemed to pop up a bit too often, but honestly, who cares when the story has you hooked from the get-go? Once I hit the halfway mark, there was no way I was putting it down.
If you're a fellow K-Drama addict, do yourself a favor and dive into "The Strings of Love and Race." Like me, you'll be counting down the days until the sequel drops!
"𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔" 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅, 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆. "𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕"
"The Strings of Love and Race" kicks off The Strings trilogy with a bang, dragging you through a rollercoaster of emotions alongside Mina, the main character. From reliving her school days to navigating her life post-her-sister's-wedding, you can't help but root for her every step of the way.What really got me hooked was how the book doesn't shy away from tackling the issues faced by biracial couples. It adds this extra layer of drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see how Mina's love life will play out. And let's talk about the cultural mashup! The blend of Nigeria and South Korean vibes adds so much flavor to the story. If you're into K-Dramas like I am, you'll be living for every scene. Sure, there were a few editing slip-ups and some words seemed to pop up a bit too often, but honestly, who cares when the story has you hooked from the get-go? Once I hit the halfway mark, there was no way I was putting it down.
If you're a fellow K-Drama addict, do yourself a favor and dive into "The Strings of Love and Race." Like me, you'll be counting down the days until the sequel drops!
June 20, 2025
The String Between Love and Race is a cute, unrequited love story that takes place over many years and countries. The chapter changes are a bit choppy, but the storyline is great, so it’s easy to keep reading.
The main characters, Mina and Joon, live near each other and attend the same school in London. Mina is best friends with Joon’s sister. Mina’s family is struggling through the loss of an important family member which caused a huge misunderstanding between her and her sister. While working through that, Mina escapes through the music of her favorite K-Pop band.
Family drama and high school emotions cause stress and discomfort, making Mina and Joon to hide their true feelings for each other. A decade later, their paths cross again thousands of miles away from London. Are they able to rekindle their high school feelings? You will have to read to find out!
The main characters, Mina and Joon, live near each other and attend the same school in London. Mina is best friends with Joon’s sister. Mina’s family is struggling through the loss of an important family member which caused a huge misunderstanding between her and her sister. While working through that, Mina escapes through the music of her favorite K-Pop band.
Family drama and high school emotions cause stress and discomfort, making Mina and Joon to hide their true feelings for each other. A decade later, their paths cross again thousands of miles away from London. Are they able to rekindle their high school feelings? You will have to read to find out!
May 16, 2025
As a fan of K-pop I knew I definitely wanted to read this book. The book put me through a whirlwind of emotions and at times I had to put it aside because of the emotional content. What struck me the most about this book is that it introduced me to different cultures and opened my eyes to the complexities of interracial dating. The prejudice Mina and Joon encountered because of their budding relationship was intense and I realized that I never knew how difficult this was. What I didn’t like about this book was that parts of it dragged on too long and there was no clear ending instead ending with a promotion for the next two books in the series. Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of Korean pop music and I would read more by this author.
February 5, 2024
The synopsis on its own gets you intrigued. Good work, author
March 29, 2024
I haven't read it buh am in love with it already
Read
March 19, 2025Wow! I am so glad that I didn't pay for this book. The style of storytelling is not for me. It's too immature for me. This is more for kids than adults.
December 10, 2024
4 it took me a while to get into it and it leaves us on a cliff hanger
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews