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The Idol Effect
KATAYI SITALI you know the name, daughter of the biggest record producer in the world— yet she can’t stand the music industry. For her, she’s always looked up. Her channel Konstellations with Kat is an escape into the stars alongside her dreams of studying astronomy. Summers at the beachhouse on Kkum island were always just a family affair, until the day that the enigmatic and captivating Park twins arrived and changed everything.
SAILOR PARK is South Korea’s golden boy, known for his flawless image and mesmerizing voice. But he’s been on hiatus since a tragic scandal. Idol life has left him jaded and weary, though he keeps his struggles hidden behind a practiced smile. A master in the art of performing. But from the moment he meets Katayi, her unfiltered authenticity shatters the mask of the facade he’s built.
Katayi and Sailor have to spend the entirety of the holiday together, but everyone knows that things get uglier up close. Sailor has a secret and Katayi isn't telling the whole truth, and the matter of the fact is that things haven't been the same since that summer. They aren't the same people they used to be. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here, we have to go back to where it began, somewhere off the coast where two worlds collided.
SAILOR PARK is South Korea’s golden boy, known for his flawless image and mesmerizing voice. But he’s been on hiatus since a tragic scandal. Idol life has left him jaded and weary, though he keeps his struggles hidden behind a practiced smile. A master in the art of performing. But from the moment he meets Katayi, her unfiltered authenticity shatters the mask of the facade he’s built.
Katayi and Sailor have to spend the entirety of the holiday together, but everyone knows that things get uglier up close. Sailor has a secret and Katayi isn't telling the whole truth, and the matter of the fact is that things haven't been the same since that summer. They aren't the same people they used to be. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here, we have to go back to where it began, somewhere off the coast where two worlds collided.
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Published December 25, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
May 20, 2025
this was a cute book 💗cliche and a little cringe but if you are looking for that then pick this up!!
December 19, 2024
2.5 ⭐
thank you to the author for giving me a chance to read the arc in exchange for a review!
the idol effect has been one of my most anticipated reads for a while now and i tried SO hard to enjoy this book but I won't even lie... this book almost put me in a slump 🧍♀️ overall, this book has a lot of potential, but I think it was executed poorly.
one thing I enjoyed from the book is the overall layout. physically, the set up is GORGEOUS and the art pieces in the book was such a nice surprise! I also liked how kat, the main character is quite relatable in some aspects, as a teenage girl I definitely understood some of her thoughts and actions. the cast of the characters were fun to read about in the beginning, they had great dynamics and it gave off a lot of the summer I turned pretty vibes. the siblings and friendship relationships were heartwarming to read about. the romance was pretty well written, I loved how sweet they were with their interactions.
my biggest issue with the book is the fact that it's so so so long and it would definitely benefit the author having an editor. I understand that bc it was republished from wattpad, it was most likely updated chapter by chapter so there's a lot of random filler stuff to make the chapters longer and readers to get a bit more crumbs... but it definitely needed to be modified for a book release. Because of how long it was and it was mostly no plot just vibes for the majority, I had trouble getting into it and it felt like a chore trying to finish it on time. another very big thing I noticed was that there were a lot of general errors such as misspelling, incorrect punctuations marks used, and capitalization errors. since this is an arc copy, I'm really hoping it would be fixed for the final release. my last thing—the difference in the povs were very hard to keep up with and disrupted the flow of the book.
to sum, this book would've been a lot better if the author took a bit more time with it to perfect it, this would've been a much more enjoyable read. but of course this is just my personal thoughts so if you think you might like this book, please do give it a shot!
thank you to the author for giving me a chance to read the arc in exchange for a review!
the idol effect has been one of my most anticipated reads for a while now and i tried SO hard to enjoy this book but I won't even lie... this book almost put me in a slump 🧍♀️ overall, this book has a lot of potential, but I think it was executed poorly.
one thing I enjoyed from the book is the overall layout. physically, the set up is GORGEOUS and the art pieces in the book was such a nice surprise! I also liked how kat, the main character is quite relatable in some aspects, as a teenage girl I definitely understood some of her thoughts and actions. the cast of the characters were fun to read about in the beginning, they had great dynamics and it gave off a lot of the summer I turned pretty vibes. the siblings and friendship relationships were heartwarming to read about. the romance was pretty well written, I loved how sweet they were with their interactions.
my biggest issue with the book is the fact that it's so so so long and it would definitely benefit the author having an editor. I understand that bc it was republished from wattpad, it was most likely updated chapter by chapter so there's a lot of random filler stuff to make the chapters longer and readers to get a bit more crumbs... but it definitely needed to be modified for a book release. Because of how long it was and it was mostly no plot just vibes for the majority, I had trouble getting into it and it felt like a chore trying to finish it on time. another very big thing I noticed was that there were a lot of general errors such as misspelling, incorrect punctuations marks used, and capitalization errors. since this is an arc copy, I'm really hoping it would be fixed for the final release. my last thing—the difference in the povs were very hard to keep up with and disrupted the flow of the book.
to sum, this book would've been a lot better if the author took a bit more time with it to perfect it, this would've been a much more enjoyable read. but of course this is just my personal thoughts so if you think you might like this book, please do give it a shot!
February 25, 2025
Tropes & what to expect:
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Shy boy x extrovert girl
- Opposites attract
- Secret/hidden identity
- Youtuber x K-pop Idol
This was so cute! I loved Sailor and Kat's relationship and how they started as friends but became more. <3
This book is YA so don't go into it expecting spice. It didn't need it. ;)
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Shy boy x extrovert girl
- Opposites attract
- Secret/hidden identity
- Youtuber x K-pop Idol
This was so cute! I loved Sailor and Kat's relationship and how they started as friends but became more. <3
This book is YA so don't go into it expecting spice. It didn't need it. ;)
February 18, 2025
THIS WAS ONE OF THE CUTEST YA ROMANCES IVE EVER READ😭💓💓💓💓
For anyone who is in love with Minho from XO kitty, trust me, you are going to love this book.
For anyone who is in love with Minho from XO kitty, trust me, you are going to love this book.
February 14, 2025
First of I all to thank the author M.C. Sakala for sending me this eARC in exchange for a honest review
4 🌟
"The summer I turned eighteen was the summer I finally kissed the sky, the summer I touched the stars and collided with the person that would change everything for me"
I have a couple guilty pleasures and cute romance books are one of them. This was a good of poetic writing and more casual/funny moment. I really thought it was interesting how the author used different perspectives to tell the story. I do however was confused about when this book was taking place.
This was a fast read for me but I do have to say that there were some moments that I had to take a breath because it was getting hard (mentally) to keep reading. If you plan on reading this book please look at content warnings.
"Girls like Khadeeja weren't like girls like me, born with dread in the pits of our stomachs, ghosts of resentment haunted our lives, with shadows behind our witchy eyes"
Katayi is amazing she knows what she likes and she's not fake. When she doesn't like you or thinks you're bothering her she will say it. I love that's she's so passionates about space and that it's not made into a quirky trait. If she was a real person I really would want her to have as my friend
I do however have to say that I was quite annoyed with the way Kat was behaving around music. It was bit too extreme.
"If I were a painting, then I would warn everyone not to stand too close, because they'd see the whisks of pigment"
Sailor or should I say Haru has such a gentle soul. When he loves someone he goes all in. He's definitely the character I relate the most to. I know. I'm not famous but I relate with the way he feels.
"There was only one person she could talk to when her thoughts overwhelmed her, the only person she thought truly saw her"
Usually the side characters are really just on the side. In this book they really felt incorporated into the story line. For example Sora, she's one of my favorite side characters, I wrote this whole rant about her in my notes. Her character development is one of the best.
Overal I really enjoyed this book and I recommend if you like cute romance books.
4 🌟
"The summer I turned eighteen was the summer I finally kissed the sky, the summer I touched the stars and collided with the person that would change everything for me"
I have a couple guilty pleasures and cute romance books are one of them. This was a good of poetic writing and more casual/funny moment. I really thought it was interesting how the author used different perspectives to tell the story. I do however was confused about when this book was taking place.
This was a fast read for me but I do have to say that there were some moments that I had to take a breath because it was getting hard (mentally) to keep reading. If you plan on reading this book please look at content warnings.
"Girls like Khadeeja weren't like girls like me, born with dread in the pits of our stomachs, ghosts of resentment haunted our lives, with shadows behind our witchy eyes"
Katayi is amazing she knows what she likes and she's not fake. When she doesn't like you or thinks you're bothering her she will say it. I love that's she's so passionates about space and that it's not made into a quirky trait. If she was a real person I really would want her to have as my friend
I do however have to say that I was quite annoyed with the way Kat was behaving around music. It was bit too extreme.
"If I were a painting, then I would warn everyone not to stand too close, because they'd see the whisks of pigment"
Sailor or should I say Haru has such a gentle soul. When he loves someone he goes all in. He's definitely the character I relate the most to. I know. I'm not famous but I relate with the way he feels.
"There was only one person she could talk to when her thoughts overwhelmed her, the only person she thought truly saw her"
Usually the side characters are really just on the side. In this book they really felt incorporated into the story line. For example Sora, she's one of my favorite side characters, I wrote this whole rant about her in my notes. Her character development is one of the best.
Overal I really enjoyed this book and I recommend if you like cute romance books.
December 7, 2024
My review of The Idol Effect:
Thank you to the author of The Idol Effect for giving me this ARC of The Idol Effect in return for an in-depth review.
“I once knew a boy who loved the sea so much he wanted to stay there forever, and a girl far too in love with him to realise that they were both drowning.”
The Idol Effect is a summer romance between Katayi and Sailor who meet due to an event that occurs in the story. Katayi is a girl who is fascinated by astronomy—space, the stars, the moon, the galaxy. She is a YouTuber with her own channel where she talks about space and basically everything about the galaxy. She is passionate about everything related to space. Still, she feels sad after her mother’s death when she was younger. On the outside, she looks and seems like she has moved on from it. However, she never has. So, her family has a tradition to go to Kkum Island every summer to spend there. However, this summer, a turn of events and meeting two twins can shake up everything.
My best friend, my other half, knows how much I was practically screaming when I woke up and not even five minutes later, found out that I was chosen to be part of the ARC team. Reading this truly felt like the first time I’ve read a book and thought to myself, I love books! I want to read and discover more. The Idol Effect is one of the books on my infinite star reads. I honestly felt like I will know be doing an hour long talk about how heart-wrenching yet heart-healing this book is.
KATAYI SITALI
Every girl who looked up at the stars and stared at them with zero thought knows that this will be going on for a long time. Although my sky has no stars, I find myself staring at the moon instead, wondering how beautiful it is and how it illuminates the dark, bleak sky, especially during a dark time. Kat was so strong, endearing the death of her mother, especially since she has never moved on from it. The way she is in love with space is when she can just talk about it, without care of being judged. Kat is someone I admire. Strong in situations where it’s okay to not be okay. “We are not quitters.” She said during the book. And me, I’m a quitter sometimes, and this reminded me that being a quitter is sometimes a bad thing. Either way, I loved the way Kat was written. She was written as the girl who doesn’t give up, is hardheaded, passionate, caring, and kind. She was written for every girl who is passionate about something and isn’t scared to talk about it, to share about it. Reading about Katayi made me feel like someone who can share without being judged. And getting over a loved one’s death is something that isn’t easy. So her being completely saddened by it is completely understandable.
SAILOR HARU PARK
He is the ‘Wherever you go, that’s where I’ll follow’ type of guy when in love. “I’m not perfect.” He said once, and I completely agree. No one, and I mean, no one is perfect or flawless. They have their own flaws in their own way. Haru’s character development literally made me cheer and—almost—cry at the same time. The way he’s trying to recover from his eating disorder is really brave of him. In the reader’s view, I perfectly understood Haru’s reason for not telling Kat about his secret. He wanted to escape from his idol life—even if it was just a while. He wanted to live, to breathe, to have a new start that summer. Being an idol is no easy feat. He has to dance, to sing, to pose for designer brands. His role in the group is main visual. So when I read his perspective, I literally almost broke down. Haru is tired, he needs a break. When reading about him, I realised that I deeply related to him. Not the disorder part, but the pressure part. I’m not good under pressure as well. Haru is the type of person who doesn’t like making people upset, and neither do I. I hate having to see their faces grim and become all sad, and it makes me feel terrible. Normally, I’d relate to the female lead in books, but this book? I relate more to Haru, and so I’ll forever love him <3
“You, Katayi Sitali, are my sun, my moon, and all my stars,” Sailor said, holding an umbrella over me. “I know love is real because I’ve had the privilege of knowing you.”
I had found my person, the one who would always look out for me.
“You, Sailor Haru Park, are the love of my life,” I replied. “And I will always, truly, undeniably find my way back to you.”
KATAYI AND SAILOR
Their relationship is the cutest. From strangers to friends to best friends to lovers! The way that they slowly caught feelings for each other was adorable. Haru, being the ‘easy to tease’ friend and Kat being the ‘teaser’ friend. I’m in love with their dynamic and chemistry! The slow build up between them was well written too.
This book is a book about a girl and boy who both drowned, and they gave each other the ability to breathe underwater so they’d meet each other. This book shows about the reality about struggles, over-thought thoughts, and the art about finding love. It shows the insecurities one can have about themselves, one’s mental health and how it can be affected, and about how meeting someone can help change yourself and everything about you. Having insecurities is completely fine, and you shouldn’t be afraid to reach out about it. I was once insecure about being left-handed since no one I knew was left-handed. They were all right-handed. Still, I talked to someone about it, and they said: “Being left-handed isn’t something to be insecure about, it’s something that makes you special.” And no, my insecurity turned out in the end to be a positive one, so for the negative ones, it’s still better to talk to someone about it instead of bottling it all up. Though I bottle things up sometimes, I—in the end—tell my best friend about it and she tells me that it’s okay or it will be fine. So having someone to talk with is truly a blessing and a miracle since finding someone who doesn’t mind listening to you talking for hours is rare. This book is a reminder to me that I’m not alone. No one ever is <3
So once again, thank you to the author for giving me this ARC, and thank you to you, whoever you are, for taking the time to read my review of The Idol Effect. I hope you enjoyed reading this, and I wish you a good morning, afternoon, evening, and night! <3
Thank you to the author of The Idol Effect for giving me this ARC of The Idol Effect in return for an in-depth review.
“I once knew a boy who loved the sea so much he wanted to stay there forever, and a girl far too in love with him to realise that they were both drowning.”
The Idol Effect is a summer romance between Katayi and Sailor who meet due to an event that occurs in the story. Katayi is a girl who is fascinated by astronomy—space, the stars, the moon, the galaxy. She is a YouTuber with her own channel where she talks about space and basically everything about the galaxy. She is passionate about everything related to space. Still, she feels sad after her mother’s death when she was younger. On the outside, she looks and seems like she has moved on from it. However, she never has. So, her family has a tradition to go to Kkum Island every summer to spend there. However, this summer, a turn of events and meeting two twins can shake up everything.
My best friend, my other half, knows how much I was practically screaming when I woke up and not even five minutes later, found out that I was chosen to be part of the ARC team. Reading this truly felt like the first time I’ve read a book and thought to myself, I love books! I want to read and discover more. The Idol Effect is one of the books on my infinite star reads. I honestly felt like I will know be doing an hour long talk about how heart-wrenching yet heart-healing this book is.
KATAYI SITALI
Every girl who looked up at the stars and stared at them with zero thought knows that this will be going on for a long time. Although my sky has no stars, I find myself staring at the moon instead, wondering how beautiful it is and how it illuminates the dark, bleak sky, especially during a dark time. Kat was so strong, endearing the death of her mother, especially since she has never moved on from it. The way she is in love with space is when she can just talk about it, without care of being judged. Kat is someone I admire. Strong in situations where it’s okay to not be okay. “We are not quitters.” She said during the book. And me, I’m a quitter sometimes, and this reminded me that being a quitter is sometimes a bad thing. Either way, I loved the way Kat was written. She was written as the girl who doesn’t give up, is hardheaded, passionate, caring, and kind. She was written for every girl who is passionate about something and isn’t scared to talk about it, to share about it. Reading about Katayi made me feel like someone who can share without being judged. And getting over a loved one’s death is something that isn’t easy. So her being completely saddened by it is completely understandable.
SAILOR HARU PARK
He is the ‘Wherever you go, that’s where I’ll follow’ type of guy when in love. “I’m not perfect.” He said once, and I completely agree. No one, and I mean, no one is perfect or flawless. They have their own flaws in their own way. Haru’s character development literally made me cheer and—almost—cry at the same time. The way he’s trying to recover from his eating disorder is really brave of him. In the reader’s view, I perfectly understood Haru’s reason for not telling Kat about his secret. He wanted to escape from his idol life—even if it was just a while. He wanted to live, to breathe, to have a new start that summer. Being an idol is no easy feat. He has to dance, to sing, to pose for designer brands. His role in the group is main visual. So when I read his perspective, I literally almost broke down. Haru is tired, he needs a break. When reading about him, I realised that I deeply related to him. Not the disorder part, but the pressure part. I’m not good under pressure as well. Haru is the type of person who doesn’t like making people upset, and neither do I. I hate having to see their faces grim and become all sad, and it makes me feel terrible. Normally, I’d relate to the female lead in books, but this book? I relate more to Haru, and so I’ll forever love him <3
“You, Katayi Sitali, are my sun, my moon, and all my stars,” Sailor said, holding an umbrella over me. “I know love is real because I’ve had the privilege of knowing you.”
I had found my person, the one who would always look out for me.
“You, Sailor Haru Park, are the love of my life,” I replied. “And I will always, truly, undeniably find my way back to you.”
KATAYI AND SAILOR
Their relationship is the cutest. From strangers to friends to best friends to lovers! The way that they slowly caught feelings for each other was adorable. Haru, being the ‘easy to tease’ friend and Kat being the ‘teaser’ friend. I’m in love with their dynamic and chemistry! The slow build up between them was well written too.
This book is a book about a girl and boy who both drowned, and they gave each other the ability to breathe underwater so they’d meet each other. This book shows about the reality about struggles, over-thought thoughts, and the art about finding love. It shows the insecurities one can have about themselves, one’s mental health and how it can be affected, and about how meeting someone can help change yourself and everything about you. Having insecurities is completely fine, and you shouldn’t be afraid to reach out about it. I was once insecure about being left-handed since no one I knew was left-handed. They were all right-handed. Still, I talked to someone about it, and they said: “Being left-handed isn’t something to be insecure about, it’s something that makes you special.” And no, my insecurity turned out in the end to be a positive one, so for the negative ones, it’s still better to talk to someone about it instead of bottling it all up. Though I bottle things up sometimes, I—in the end—tell my best friend about it and she tells me that it’s okay or it will be fine. So having someone to talk with is truly a blessing and a miracle since finding someone who doesn’t mind listening to you talking for hours is rare. This book is a reminder to me that I’m not alone. No one ever is <3
So once again, thank you to the author for giving me this ARC, and thank you to you, whoever you are, for taking the time to read my review of The Idol Effect. I hope you enjoyed reading this, and I wish you a good morning, afternoon, evening, and night! <3
August 22, 2025
Thank you to the author for giving me a chance to read the arc in exchange for a review!
I had heard a lot about this book, and I was extremely excited to read The Idol Effect; I feel sorry to say that it did not live up to my expectations. The plot was excellent, but the execution was a major miss. I liked it, but it definitely could have been better.
I liked the plot; there are a lot of books set in the world of K-pop, but the plot of The Idol Effect was something I’ve never seen done before. The main characters, Kat and Sailor, are quite relatable, and their relationship with their families was also something I loved. I consume K-pop music, and I was glad that the author was talking about the dark side of K-pop; many times people romanticise K-pop and forget all the struggles K-pop idols face.
Two major criticisms I have regarding this book are that it is humongous and the book being set in the future doesn’t make sense.
I feel like a lot of the chapters in the book were quite unnecessary and would not make any difference to the story if they were removed from the book. I felt like the story slowed down a bit after I was 50 percent through it and picked up its pace around 75 percent; reading this 25 percent of the book was very hard as I was losing interest, and I couldn’t see any actual contribution of a few chapters to the plot.
When an author sets a book in the future, I expect to see major changes around the world regarding technology, people, fashion, etc., but I see no change in anything; it literally feels like I’m reading about today. I don’t see why this book couldn’t have been set in today’s world; at one point I was just ignoring the years and pretending this is all happening right now.
I also felt like some of the interactions between the characters were coming out a bit forced; their conversation didn’t flow as smoothly as it should. I dislike when Harry Potter is mentioned a lot in books; can we please stop talking about books written by a transphobic author, PLEASE 🙏🏼
I feel like the author has a lot of room for improvement, as they are young, and this is their second book. They should definitely consider hiring an editor; it will benefit them immensely in the long run.
I had heard a lot about this book, and I was extremely excited to read The Idol Effect; I feel sorry to say that it did not live up to my expectations. The plot was excellent, but the execution was a major miss. I liked it, but it definitely could have been better.
I liked the plot; there are a lot of books set in the world of K-pop, but the plot of The Idol Effect was something I’ve never seen done before. The main characters, Kat and Sailor, are quite relatable, and their relationship with their families was also something I loved. I consume K-pop music, and I was glad that the author was talking about the dark side of K-pop; many times people romanticise K-pop and forget all the struggles K-pop idols face.
Two major criticisms I have regarding this book are that it is humongous and the book being set in the future doesn’t make sense.
I feel like a lot of the chapters in the book were quite unnecessary and would not make any difference to the story if they were removed from the book. I felt like the story slowed down a bit after I was 50 percent through it and picked up its pace around 75 percent; reading this 25 percent of the book was very hard as I was losing interest, and I couldn’t see any actual contribution of a few chapters to the plot.
When an author sets a book in the future, I expect to see major changes around the world regarding technology, people, fashion, etc., but I see no change in anything; it literally feels like I’m reading about today. I don’t see why this book couldn’t have been set in today’s world; at one point I was just ignoring the years and pretending this is all happening right now.
I also felt like some of the interactions between the characters were coming out a bit forced; their conversation didn’t flow as smoothly as it should. I dislike when Harry Potter is mentioned a lot in books; can we please stop talking about books written by a transphobic author, PLEASE 🙏🏼
I feel like the author has a lot of room for improvement, as they are young, and this is their second book. They should definitely consider hiring an editor; it will benefit them immensely in the long run.
August 22, 2025
i thought and thought and thought and i have come to the conclusion that i like it but i wanted to like it more. the concept, the idea and the plot felt so good to me that the execution fell short of it. i expected a lot from this and it didn't deliver at times.
review: two people with their own ghosts that they are trying to escape fall in love one summer. let's discuss the good first;
what i liked :
ʚɞ like i said earlier, i loved the concept, as someone who regularly consumes kpop music i'm no stranger to the dark side of it, the way it eats the idols from the inside, the media and company pressure, and the lack of conversations around the mental health of the idols is a serious topic.
ʚɞ i liked kat, sailor and sora, they were nicely formed characters, they were well written and their arcs were satisfying to read about.
now what i didn't like :
ʚɞ it needed another round of editing, the book was unnecessarily long and some scenes could've been chopped off, at points i just lost the focus, patience or urge to continue at the moment, and due to this it sometimes lost the initial plot.
ʚɞ the book is set in future, almost by two decades, however, it add nothing to the plot. it felt like the author wanted to set the book in a timeline different from ours but didn't think through the difference two decades can make, the technology, the people, the trends...,
ʚɞ related to the same set in future things, i personally feel it would be harder to ignore the internet and be completely oblivious to the world the around, specially celebrities would be like 100 times harder, specially for a teenager like kat. sailor's popularity and kat's oblivion wasn't going well together. you cant literally be so unaware that your best friend's twin brother is the most popular idol in the world.
anyway, this conceptually was a great book, the execution however felt a little flawed but it's still worth a read, if you like longer romances or books with kpop idols which raise important conversations around their mental health, pick this up
2.75
i have lot of thoughts, let me come back to you in a day
review: two people with their own ghosts that they are trying to escape fall in love one summer. let's discuss the good first;
what i liked :
ʚɞ like i said earlier, i loved the concept, as someone who regularly consumes kpop music i'm no stranger to the dark side of it, the way it eats the idols from the inside, the media and company pressure, and the lack of conversations around the mental health of the idols is a serious topic.
ʚɞ i liked kat, sailor and sora, they were nicely formed characters, they were well written and their arcs were satisfying to read about.
"I once knew a boy who loved the sea so much he wanted to stay there forever, and a girl far too in love with him to realize that they were both drowning."
now what i didn't like :
ʚɞ it needed another round of editing, the book was unnecessarily long and some scenes could've been chopped off, at points i just lost the focus, patience or urge to continue at the moment, and due to this it sometimes lost the initial plot.
ʚɞ the book is set in future, almost by two decades, however, it add nothing to the plot. it felt like the author wanted to set the book in a timeline different from ours but didn't think through the difference two decades can make, the technology, the people, the trends...,
ʚɞ related to the same set in future things, i personally feel it would be harder to ignore the internet and be completely oblivious to the world the around, specially celebrities would be like 100 times harder, specially for a teenager like kat. sailor's popularity and kat's oblivion wasn't going well together. you cant literally be so unaware that your best friend's twin brother is the most popular idol in the world.
anyway, this conceptually was a great book, the execution however felt a little flawed but it's still worth a read, if you like longer romances or books with kpop idols which raise important conversations around their mental health, pick this up
2.75
i have lot of thoughts, let me come back to you in a day
December 19, 2024
This is our story, about how what started off as a summer secret, a cruel deception of sorts, sparked a connection that brok the internet and impacted the world.
First of all! THANK YOU, Munema, for the opportunity to arc read your new baby!!
Second. We need to talk about this book. Like, right now.
It's about a girl who spent her whole life wanting to be a star and a boy who burns like one.
They find their way to each other in the summer and, inevitably, fall deep in love.
Sailor, he really was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen - which spoke volumes beacuse I'd spent most of my time looking up at the stars.
HOWEVER! There's something really special about this book, and it's different from everything I've ever read.
The story is told from Katayi's point of view and is filled with clues here and there about what changed everything for them.
Every little thing had a deeper meaning, and I think that was the reason I loved this book so much.
It's a book about love, but not just that. It's one of those books where the romance serves as a reminder that a person can't be saved by love alone, but showcases the importance of it being there nonetheless, as it is crucial on the way to self-discovery and cure.
"How about I promise you that I'll never take off my rose-coloured glasses when I look at you, and that even when things looks black and white, I'll picture you in screaming colour."
The characters hold a very special place in my heart. I loved Kat with all my heart, as well as Khondwani. But Sailor has such a special place in my heart. He's such a strong and loveable character. He's had his highs and lows, like everybody, but he tries so hard to be the happy one. He's the literal sun, burning bright and fast. I LOVE HIM!!!
Overall, it was an amazing book with an amazing message. I can't stress enough how happy I am to have been able to read this book before its release and to talk about it with Munema herself.
Thank you for letting me be part of this special little family you've built with this book!!🫶🏻
December 26, 2024
First of all thank you to the author for giving me the arc of The Idol Effect for an honest review.
"I once knew a boy who loved the sea so much he wanted to stay there forever, and a girl far too in love with him to realize that they were both drowning."
The Idol Effect is all about "the story of the golden boy and the girl frozen in time."
The book is about a girl and boy who were both drowning but then they met and gave each other the ability to breathe. The book talks about real struggles, the thoughts that never leave your mind and the art of finding love. The book is about insecurities, issues, self doubt, mental health and how sometimes meeting that one person can change you so much.
KATAYI SITALI
"I realised that I had always lived in fear. Fear of showing my true feelings and emotions, fear of truly letting even the people who care about me in, fear of them knowing the real Katayi. The girl who just…missed her mom."
Katayi character was something I think I needed to read because Kat was so strong, hardheaded and real. The way she was never able to move on from the death of her mother and was endearing all the pain inside without letting anything out. Kat was and admirable character even though I sometimes found her hate for music a bit too much still her character felt very true. I Loved how Kat was written passionate, caring and kind. She was written for all the girls out there who are able to talk about things they are passionate about and she was also written for the girls who don't find the courage to speak...she was written for them to learn.
"I had become far too acclimatised to being alone, that I'd forgotten what it meant to have company, to make a new friend."
SAILOR HARU PARK
"If I were a painting, then I would warn everyone not to stand too close, because they'd see the whisks of the pigment."
At first when you read Haru you think he is the mysterious character with the sweetest smiles, the purest soul and the most beautiful character but then slowly you reach towards his pov and your heart breaks. Throughout the book there was one thing he always kept saying that he was not perfect and at every point I wanted to just let him know that it's fine it's completely ok if he is not perfect. I wanted to tell him that having flaws is perfect in it's own ways. I actually understood when Haru didn't tell Kat about him secret...I understand his urge to escape from the idol life, he wanted to live a different life that summer. Reading his perspective was so heart breaking...I was sad for hours after reading the book just by thinking about his pov. I always have found myself relating to the female characters but when I read his pov I related to him so much that now he owns a special place in my heart.
"I believe that I was born with a fatal flaw, the one thing about me that bleeds into all the others, tainting them, infiltrating all aspects of my being."
SAILOR & KATAYI
"The summer I turned eighteen was the summer I finally kissed the sky, the summer I touched the stars and collided with the person that would change everything for me. If I was the earth, then he was the moon, orbiting on my axis."
The dynamics of Sailor and Kat's relationship was something which can only be explained by one word "Soulmates". They really showed me what "made for each other" feels like. The way they were together in each other's ups and downs was so wholesome to read. Their relationship was so cute...from strangers to friends to best friends to lovers. As I always rant the book to my best friend so I did this too and I literally told her how it felt sometimes like Kat was the man in the relationship. The way she always teased Haru and the way Haru would always blush and hide his face was just so adorable.
"You, Katayi Sitali, are my sun, my moon and all my stars." Sailor said holding an umbrella over me. "I know love is real cause I've had the privilege of knowing you."
I had found my person, the one who would always look out for me.
"You, Sailor Haru Park, are the love of my life." I replied. "And I will always, truly, undeniably find my way back to you."
"There was only one person she could talk to when her thoughts overwhelmed her,the only person she thought truly saw her."
The side characters in this book didn't feel like side characters at all. They held their own importance in the story. Sora, was my favourite side character, her character development, how she came over her attachment issues and how she realised that letting go is a true form of love made my heart swell. The bond khondwani and Sora shared felt very special to me. The way they bonded over their elder siblings traits felt so real.
"Fear stops life, not death," she said. "I don't let the fear of what could happen make nothing happen you know?"
I think the overall message of the story was to let the teenagers out there know that even if they are feeling lost at the moment, even if they think they are never going to be enough and even if they think they are going to be alone forever... just wait...hang in a little bit more maybe the questions to all your answers is just waiting around the summer holidays. This book is for the people who feel insecure About themselves, the book is for the people who feel that no one is ever going to stay with them ever. I found myself relating to both Kat and Haru but more to Haru. I myself have been an insecure person...I have always been that way and I never had anyone to talk about it or someone to tell me the other way but now I have someone. I have a best friend who never makes me feel like I am unworthy and I have no words to explain how thankful I am of her. Having someone to talk to is really a blessing and I have never had someone but now I do and talking to her makes everything so easier. At one point in my life I went through eating disorders, sleeping disorders and what not and Reading Haru's experience made my heart cry. The book is heartbreaking and heart healing and it's going to make you feel so many emotions all at once.
"So they built a boat for themselves from scratch, from sand and salt, maybe even coral reef. They taught themselves to swim and used their hearts as a compass to guide them over high tides and see them through scorching summer days. They fought to live, to stay."
"I once knew a boy who loved the sea so much he wanted to stay there forever, and a girl far too in love with him to realize that they were both drowning."
The Idol Effect is all about "the story of the golden boy and the girl frozen in time."
The book is about a girl and boy who were both drowning but then they met and gave each other the ability to breathe. The book talks about real struggles, the thoughts that never leave your mind and the art of finding love. The book is about insecurities, issues, self doubt, mental health and how sometimes meeting that one person can change you so much.
KATAYI SITALI
"I realised that I had always lived in fear. Fear of showing my true feelings and emotions, fear of truly letting even the people who care about me in, fear of them knowing the real Katayi. The girl who just…missed her mom."
Katayi character was something I think I needed to read because Kat was so strong, hardheaded and real. The way she was never able to move on from the death of her mother and was endearing all the pain inside without letting anything out. Kat was and admirable character even though I sometimes found her hate for music a bit too much still her character felt very true. I Loved how Kat was written passionate, caring and kind. She was written for all the girls out there who are able to talk about things they are passionate about and she was also written for the girls who don't find the courage to speak...she was written for them to learn.
"I had become far too acclimatised to being alone, that I'd forgotten what it meant to have company, to make a new friend."
SAILOR HARU PARK
"If I were a painting, then I would warn everyone not to stand too close, because they'd see the whisks of the pigment."
At first when you read Haru you think he is the mysterious character with the sweetest smiles, the purest soul and the most beautiful character but then slowly you reach towards his pov and your heart breaks. Throughout the book there was one thing he always kept saying that he was not perfect and at every point I wanted to just let him know that it's fine it's completely ok if he is not perfect. I wanted to tell him that having flaws is perfect in it's own ways. I actually understood when Haru didn't tell Kat about him secret...I understand his urge to escape from the idol life, he wanted to live a different life that summer. Reading his perspective was so heart breaking...I was sad for hours after reading the book just by thinking about his pov. I always have found myself relating to the female characters but when I read his pov I related to him so much that now he owns a special place in my heart.
"I believe that I was born with a fatal flaw, the one thing about me that bleeds into all the others, tainting them, infiltrating all aspects of my being."
SAILOR & KATAYI
"The summer I turned eighteen was the summer I finally kissed the sky, the summer I touched the stars and collided with the person that would change everything for me. If I was the earth, then he was the moon, orbiting on my axis."
The dynamics of Sailor and Kat's relationship was something which can only be explained by one word "Soulmates". They really showed me what "made for each other" feels like. The way they were together in each other's ups and downs was so wholesome to read. Their relationship was so cute...from strangers to friends to best friends to lovers. As I always rant the book to my best friend so I did this too and I literally told her how it felt sometimes like Kat was the man in the relationship. The way she always teased Haru and the way Haru would always blush and hide his face was just so adorable.
"You, Katayi Sitali, are my sun, my moon and all my stars." Sailor said holding an umbrella over me. "I know love is real cause I've had the privilege of knowing you."
I had found my person, the one who would always look out for me.
"You, Sailor Haru Park, are the love of my life." I replied. "And I will always, truly, undeniably find my way back to you."
"There was only one person she could talk to when her thoughts overwhelmed her,the only person she thought truly saw her."
The side characters in this book didn't feel like side characters at all. They held their own importance in the story. Sora, was my favourite side character, her character development, how she came over her attachment issues and how she realised that letting go is a true form of love made my heart swell. The bond khondwani and Sora shared felt very special to me. The way they bonded over their elder siblings traits felt so real.
"Fear stops life, not death," she said. "I don't let the fear of what could happen make nothing happen you know?"
I think the overall message of the story was to let the teenagers out there know that even if they are feeling lost at the moment, even if they think they are never going to be enough and even if they think they are going to be alone forever... just wait...hang in a little bit more maybe the questions to all your answers is just waiting around the summer holidays. This book is for the people who feel insecure About themselves, the book is for the people who feel that no one is ever going to stay with them ever. I found myself relating to both Kat and Haru but more to Haru. I myself have been an insecure person...I have always been that way and I never had anyone to talk about it or someone to tell me the other way but now I have someone. I have a best friend who never makes me feel like I am unworthy and I have no words to explain how thankful I am of her. Having someone to talk to is really a blessing and I have never had someone but now I do and talking to her makes everything so easier. At one point in my life I went through eating disorders, sleeping disorders and what not and Reading Haru's experience made my heart cry. The book is heartbreaking and heart healing and it's going to make you feel so many emotions all at once.
"So they built a boat for themselves from scratch, from sand and salt, maybe even coral reef. They taught themselves to swim and used their hearts as a compass to guide them over high tides and see them through scorching summer days. They fought to live, to stay."
December 19, 2024
ARC REVIEW 🩷
First and foremost, thank you for this opportunity of choosing and allowing me to be a ARC reader for The Idol Effect! 🌘 I was one of my favorite books of this year first and foremost. This book taught me how to be myself and to not be judged nor not allowing my emotions to be held in so much. When reading The Idol Effect it took me through a whirlwind of representation, acceptance, love, and acceptance!,
KATAYI SITALI: 🌓
She is the main female character of the book, she’s in love with anything space and astrology related, and in the story learning more about who her character shows that she’s a person that who takes care of herself and who is some sense, carries the weight of the world, and I resonate with her character so much as well as the emotion she went through with her grief over a loved ones death and navigating that trauma and emotional strain and her healing process. Her character is for every girl in the world who was passionate about what they want and what they want to achieve, as well as not, just getting it handed kind of like her process of wanting her YouTube to progress in her own way and not being popularized just by her father, but by her own hard work and dedication. Without spoiling more when talking about her character, I will say that her character is definitely a good representation of a person, finding comfort within herself and also having someone who can reciprocate that back.
SAILOR HARU PARK:🎤
He is the main character of the book, he is also the love interest Katayi, he’s also a K-pop idol and a person who lives in the moment, as well as captured the moment through the lenses of his camera. 📸 when reading Sailors character perspective in this book, it definitely has me broken into tears and just wanting to give him a hug and tell him that he is doing a good job him being an idol specifically, a K-pop idol being overworked and always being the main visual having so many work of events to do without always having time to himself and doing things that he loves so seeing how he navigates through that as as well as staying true to him being in touch with his humanity side aside being an “idol” and having Katayi as support is so beautiful Sailor’s characters also he is someone who doesn’t want to see anyone else hurt in , sometimes holding his emotions in some sorts to be caring for others (and that is so particular to my personal traits that I have a real life, especially since when I see other people hurt I always consult the other person first and make sure that they are okay because seeing others hurt makes me hurt 🥺)
Katayi and Sailor relationship 🤍is so heartwarming. These characters finding and connecting with each other and their love story allowed them to build such a strong bond & relationship to also have each other as a comfort person and a person to be fully vulnerable with as well.💕 Their relationship is one for the books and thank you to the wonderful author M.C Sakala for this well written and well expressed book that takes us through some amazing relationship, dynamics, and emotions that would hit the heart so close to home and also give us advice and scenarios to look back and dwell on for future comfort. 🌑
Thank you so much, to the lovely and kindest author of this book for sharing with me an ARC copy of this book! 📖 I hope to everyone who gets to read this book and has access to this book that you find comfort, and also find helpful resources from story to help get you through any real life issues that you were/are going through.☺️ Remember that you are enough and that you are loved and I hope that this book also teaches you that even if you are lost or unsure where you stand this world, and if you are waiting to find your person for your life story , just know that your time will happen and just hang on and stay tuned for your future✨
First and foremost, thank you for this opportunity of choosing and allowing me to be a ARC reader for The Idol Effect! 🌘 I was one of my favorite books of this year first and foremost. This book taught me how to be myself and to not be judged nor not allowing my emotions to be held in so much. When reading The Idol Effect it took me through a whirlwind of representation, acceptance, love, and acceptance!,
KATAYI SITALI: 🌓
She is the main female character of the book, she’s in love with anything space and astrology related, and in the story learning more about who her character shows that she’s a person that who takes care of herself and who is some sense, carries the weight of the world, and I resonate with her character so much as well as the emotion she went through with her grief over a loved ones death and navigating that trauma and emotional strain and her healing process. Her character is for every girl in the world who was passionate about what they want and what they want to achieve, as well as not, just getting it handed kind of like her process of wanting her YouTube to progress in her own way and not being popularized just by her father, but by her own hard work and dedication. Without spoiling more when talking about her character, I will say that her character is definitely a good representation of a person, finding comfort within herself and also having someone who can reciprocate that back.
SAILOR HARU PARK:🎤
He is the main character of the book, he is also the love interest Katayi, he’s also a K-pop idol and a person who lives in the moment, as well as captured the moment through the lenses of his camera. 📸 when reading Sailors character perspective in this book, it definitely has me broken into tears and just wanting to give him a hug and tell him that he is doing a good job him being an idol specifically, a K-pop idol being overworked and always being the main visual having so many work of events to do without always having time to himself and doing things that he loves so seeing how he navigates through that as as well as staying true to him being in touch with his humanity side aside being an “idol” and having Katayi as support is so beautiful Sailor’s characters also he is someone who doesn’t want to see anyone else hurt in , sometimes holding his emotions in some sorts to be caring for others (and that is so particular to my personal traits that I have a real life, especially since when I see other people hurt I always consult the other person first and make sure that they are okay because seeing others hurt makes me hurt 🥺)
Katayi and Sailor relationship 🤍is so heartwarming. These characters finding and connecting with each other and their love story allowed them to build such a strong bond & relationship to also have each other as a comfort person and a person to be fully vulnerable with as well.💕 Their relationship is one for the books and thank you to the wonderful author M.C Sakala for this well written and well expressed book that takes us through some amazing relationship, dynamics, and emotions that would hit the heart so close to home and also give us advice and scenarios to look back and dwell on for future comfort. 🌑
Thank you so much, to the lovely and kindest author of this book for sharing with me an ARC copy of this book! 📖 I hope to everyone who gets to read this book and has access to this book that you find comfort, and also find helpful resources from story to help get you through any real life issues that you were/are going through.☺️ Remember that you are enough and that you are loved and I hope that this book also teaches you that even if you are lost or unsure where you stand this world, and if you are waiting to find your person for your life story , just know that your time will happen and just hang on and stay tuned for your future✨
December 18, 2024
REVEIW:
Book: The Idol Effect
Release date: December 25 2024
First and foremost, I’d like to thank the author who gifted me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I had so much fun reading this, and it’s my very first ARC!! Yapping to the author was so much fun. She was so engaged in the conversation too, she didn’t act like she was to cool to talk to her readers, so that was really cool🥹.
NOW TO THE REVIEW!!!
“Also, did you know that butterflies can’t see their wings? So they don’t actually know how captivating and beautiful they are. You’re like that too, sometimes I feel like you don’t know that you’re so… um… you’re everything to me. Meeting you was a butterfly effect that changed my life, I’ll always be grateful to you for that.”
This book was genuinely SO. GOOD. It was a longer one, but it needed to be long. The character development in this book was INSANE. I could relate and love each and every character that was introduced.
Sailor and Kat’s relationship was so raw, They were so emotional with each other. (You could tell that both their love languages were physical touch. But it’s completely YA. There was no swearing, or smut scenes, no fade to black only kissing) but their relationship started as friends and I think the were ALMOST completely open with each other. They talked about what was on their mind usually. You could tell it was like a “new” relationship, because the were almost always on top of eachother. Constantly checking in, making sure they were comfortable with everything. But by the end of the book, they could just do things in silence, and I really liked that aspect of the story. Nema also made the book realistic with them, and made it known that love isn’t a thing that fixes all, but it helps when you have the person you love to talk about it with.
I really enjoyed reading them, and Sailor was HILARIOUS… thinking he was hilarious…Him and his jokes..I think I could marry him.
ANYWAYS.
Kat has always wanted to be an astronaut. She’s obsessed with the galaxy, and dreams to be the first Zambian women in space.
I feel like in the beginning of the book, she was struggling. She was dealing with the loss of her mom, and everyone had moved on from it, but she still hadn’t. And Sailor had some issues too, that I can’t say due to spoilers. But by the end, they were completely different people. They had grown, and matured with eachother so much, it’s crazy. They’re teenagers, and Nema really did a great job of capturing that. They made her two MCs human. They weren’t perfect, but they were trying.
The message that the story gave off was a really important one I think. I think to me was more about accepting yourself, and learning to accept yourself and confide in the ones you love, but also learning to be open about a things. Like Kat, at the beginning, she was struggling with the loss of her mom (as I’ve said), even though it was such a long time ago, but it still really hurt, and her brother had moved on but she still hadn’t. Then, later on she met Sailor, and confided in him to talk to and slowly but surely she became more accepting to her loss and let her mom go finally. And the same goes with Sailor. He had lots going on, he really struggled with self image I think, but he’s getting better. Hes talking to Kat, and she’s hearing him. I think after meeting eachother, they both felt heard, and seen.
(Here’s an honourable mention to Seven, because he’s so blunt and hilarious and I love him so much. I’m kind of sad I didn’t get to see more of him.)
There is SO much more I’d love to share about this book, but it would have spoilers, and I’m not allowed to do that. This was such a great experience and I loved reading this one. I hope you love it as much as I do. This book made me laugh, and made me cry. It was honestly so well done. Thank you for reading this, and I hope you’ll consider buying this book!!! Until next time!!
Book: The Idol Effect
Release date: December 25 2024
First and foremost, I’d like to thank the author who gifted me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I had so much fun reading this, and it’s my very first ARC!! Yapping to the author was so much fun. She was so engaged in the conversation too, she didn’t act like she was to cool to talk to her readers, so that was really cool🥹.
NOW TO THE REVIEW!!!
“Also, did you know that butterflies can’t see their wings? So they don’t actually know how captivating and beautiful they are. You’re like that too, sometimes I feel like you don’t know that you’re so… um… you’re everything to me. Meeting you was a butterfly effect that changed my life, I’ll always be grateful to you for that.”
This book was genuinely SO. GOOD. It was a longer one, but it needed to be long. The character development in this book was INSANE. I could relate and love each and every character that was introduced.
Sailor and Kat’s relationship was so raw, They were so emotional with each other. (You could tell that both their love languages were physical touch. But it’s completely YA. There was no swearing, or smut scenes, no fade to black only kissing) but their relationship started as friends and I think the were ALMOST completely open with each other. They talked about what was on their mind usually. You could tell it was like a “new” relationship, because the were almost always on top of eachother. Constantly checking in, making sure they were comfortable with everything. But by the end of the book, they could just do things in silence, and I really liked that aspect of the story. Nema also made the book realistic with them, and made it known that love isn’t a thing that fixes all, but it helps when you have the person you love to talk about it with.
I really enjoyed reading them, and Sailor was HILARIOUS… thinking he was hilarious…Him and his jokes..I think I could marry him.
ANYWAYS.
Kat has always wanted to be an astronaut. She’s obsessed with the galaxy, and dreams to be the first Zambian women in space.
I feel like in the beginning of the book, she was struggling. She was dealing with the loss of her mom, and everyone had moved on from it, but she still hadn’t. And Sailor had some issues too, that I can’t say due to spoilers. But by the end, they were completely different people. They had grown, and matured with eachother so much, it’s crazy. They’re teenagers, and Nema really did a great job of capturing that. They made her two MCs human. They weren’t perfect, but they were trying.
The message that the story gave off was a really important one I think. I think to me was more about accepting yourself, and learning to accept yourself and confide in the ones you love, but also learning to be open about a things. Like Kat, at the beginning, she was struggling with the loss of her mom (as I’ve said), even though it was such a long time ago, but it still really hurt, and her brother had moved on but she still hadn’t. Then, later on she met Sailor, and confided in him to talk to and slowly but surely she became more accepting to her loss and let her mom go finally. And the same goes with Sailor. He had lots going on, he really struggled with self image I think, but he’s getting better. Hes talking to Kat, and she’s hearing him. I think after meeting eachother, they both felt heard, and seen.
(Here’s an honourable mention to Seven, because he’s so blunt and hilarious and I love him so much. I’m kind of sad I didn’t get to see more of him.)
There is SO much more I’d love to share about this book, but it would have spoilers, and I’m not allowed to do that. This was such a great experience and I loved reading this one. I hope you love it as much as I do. This book made me laugh, and made me cry. It was honestly so well done. Thank you for reading this, and I hope you’ll consider buying this book!!! Until next time!!
May 21, 2025
I had borrowed this book to read but now I definitely think I have to buy it someday, like own it, keep it with me
And I never buy books I have already read but this one's gonna be an exception for sure.
It was such a cute one and being a stay myself, the dedication itself stole my heart
"STRAY KIDS EVERYWHERE ALL AROUND THE WORLD"
Kat and sailor, khondwani and sora and all the side characters have my heart!
I also love orion... need to have a real k-pop idol group names orion with exact descriptions from the book. I would be a predebut stan Obv.
The only problem was this book was wayyy too long, like Ik there were every aspect covered and maybe it was perfect from other perspectives but It felt long to me but did I still read it all because it held my heart? YES
As a person who is a k-pop stan since years and has a mild eating disorder, this book is gonna be the one for me for years.
And I never buy books I have already read but this one's gonna be an exception for sure.
It was such a cute one and being a stay myself, the dedication itself stole my heart
"STRAY KIDS EVERYWHERE ALL AROUND THE WORLD"
Kat and sailor, khondwani and sora and all the side characters have my heart!
I also love orion... need to have a real k-pop idol group names orion with exact descriptions from the book. I would be a predebut stan Obv.
The only problem was this book was wayyy too long, like Ik there were every aspect covered and maybe it was perfect from other perspectives but It felt long to me but did I still read it all because it held my heart? YES
As a person who is a k-pop stan since years and has a mild eating disorder, this book is gonna be the one for me for years.
December 11, 2024
4 ⭐️s
tropes:
- bad boy x good girl
-golden retriever x black cat
-found family
-mental health rep
-he falls first
this book was an absolutely adorable and emotional upper ya romance read! ✨
thank you so much to the author m.c. sakala for being kind enough to trust me with an advanced review copy! 🫶🏻
I absolutely loved reading kat and sailor’s story! found family is one of my favorite tropes, and this had some of the best written found family I’ve read in a while! I also really enjoyed how worldly this story was, representing different cultures and locations around the globe 🌎
one thing I have to say I was surprised by was how incredibly emotional this was at times so I would definitely check trigger warnings as it does discuss a few topics that could be triggering to some 🥹
overall, it was a perfect read for anyone who loves ya romance!!!
tropes:
- bad boy x good girl
-golden retriever x black cat
-found family
-mental health rep
-he falls first
this book was an absolutely adorable and emotional upper ya romance read! ✨
thank you so much to the author m.c. sakala for being kind enough to trust me with an advanced review copy! 🫶🏻
I absolutely loved reading kat and sailor’s story! found family is one of my favorite tropes, and this had some of the best written found family I’ve read in a while! I also really enjoyed how worldly this story was, representing different cultures and locations around the globe 🌎
one thing I have to say I was surprised by was how incredibly emotional this was at times so I would definitely check trigger warnings as it does discuss a few topics that could be triggering to some 🥹
overall, it was a perfect read for anyone who loves ya romance!!!
February 8, 2025
TOTAL FIVE STAR HELLO. Personally I’m a lesbian so my focus was on the mc I love her so so much. Katayi is brilliant, she's like if Brian Cox started a YouTube channel but was also a teenager. She’s more interested in space than celebrity gossip, which makes her a legend in my book. Her inner monologues are genuinely funny, and her reactions to the whole "idol world" are priceless. Like, who needs a red carpet when you've got the cosmos, am I right? Haru was adorable his character arc was beautiful and I think this is a book that deserves SO much more hype.
December 9, 2024
The Idol Effect is a cute loveable story with growth, grief, and characters that really listen and respect each other. Kat is cute and funny and I just like how diverse the book is in language, locations, and the character profiles. Sailor is great, even though I cannot for the life of me imagine a Scottish accent while I'm reading.
Cute,passionate, and creative read
Cute,passionate, and creative read
December 1, 2025
One word to describe this book "Masterpiece". This book has all you want, you name it,
- BLACK CAT × GOLDEN RETRIEVER?
- DOMINANT FMC?
- HE FALLS FIRST, HE FALLS HARDER EVERY SECOND ?
- LINGERING MYSTERY ?
- STRANGERS TO FRIENDS TO LOVERS ?
- CHEMISTRY BETWEEN SIDE CHARACTERS ?
- KPOP IDOL X YOUTUBER?
- REVERSE GRUMPY X SUNSHINE?
- SLOWBURN FRIENDS TO LOVERS?
🌟SUGGESTIVE / NO SPICE! (The Best Part!!)🌟
- MENTAL HEALTH REP?
- RICH KIDS SUMMER ROMANCE?
- FOUND FAMILY?
Yes it has all and more....I loved the way character development was depicted throughout the book. The constant suspense of what was the secret he was hiding kept me hooked throughout!! How their complex behaviours were portrayed so naturally. The vocabulary was totally endearing... I learned so many new & cool words.
Fav line/quote: "If I was the earth, then he was the moon, orbiting on my axis.
The moon stabilises Earth's climate by reducing our home planet's wobble as it spins. I was falling, but he held me steady."
Punchlines: "He never told me to get my head out of the clouds; he built a ladder and floated right up there with me."
"Sometimes what you love the most just might be the thing that... Ruins you."
My fav character: SORA...ALL THE WAY!!! she's so carefree, confident and emotional at the same time
Her line: "Fear stops life, not death," "I don't let the fear of what could happen make nothing happen you know?" ♡♡
Also I love the brother-sister bond between Katayi-Khondwani (The 'K' siblings) & Sora-Haru. They understand each other so well and wholeheartedly love each other ✨
If I have to talk about Sokka and Merlea, yeah I know they are excessive sometimes but chillll they are just extroverts who are actually 'the life of the party'!!!!
Katayi's father 🤌 overprotective yet caring and affectionate father we all girls deserve!!!
Duly Appreciate the author "M.C. Shakala (Munema)" for this creative writing!! ♡♡
- BLACK CAT × GOLDEN RETRIEVER?
- DOMINANT FMC?
- HE FALLS FIRST, HE FALLS HARDER EVERY SECOND ?
- LINGERING MYSTERY ?
- STRANGERS TO FRIENDS TO LOVERS ?
- CHEMISTRY BETWEEN SIDE CHARACTERS ?
- KPOP IDOL X YOUTUBER?
- REVERSE GRUMPY X SUNSHINE?
- SLOWBURN FRIENDS TO LOVERS?
🌟SUGGESTIVE / NO SPICE! (The Best Part!!)🌟
- MENTAL HEALTH REP?
- RICH KIDS SUMMER ROMANCE?
- FOUND FAMILY?
Yes it has all and more....I loved the way character development was depicted throughout the book. The constant suspense of what was the secret he was hiding kept me hooked throughout!! How their complex behaviours were portrayed so naturally. The vocabulary was totally endearing... I learned so many new & cool words.
Fav line/quote: "If I was the earth, then he was the moon, orbiting on my axis.
The moon stabilises Earth's climate by reducing our home planet's wobble as it spins. I was falling, but he held me steady."
Punchlines: "He never told me to get my head out of the clouds; he built a ladder and floated right up there with me."
"Sometimes what you love the most just might be the thing that... Ruins you."
My fav character: SORA...ALL THE WAY!!! she's so carefree, confident and emotional at the same time
Her line: "Fear stops life, not death," "I don't let the fear of what could happen make nothing happen you know?" ♡♡
Also I love the brother-sister bond between Katayi-Khondwani (The 'K' siblings) & Sora-Haru. They understand each other so well and wholeheartedly love each other ✨
If I have to talk about Sokka and Merlea, yeah I know they are excessive sometimes but chillll they are just extroverts who are actually 'the life of the party'!!!!
Katayi's father 🤌 overprotective yet caring and affectionate father we all girls deserve!!!
Duly Appreciate the author "M.C. Shakala (Munema)" for this creative writing!! ♡♡
December 19, 2024
Firstly I want to thank the author of the book M.C.Sakala for choosing me to be an ARC reader. I have heard about the Idol Effect o Instagram and read it immediately while it was still on wattpad. So I can say I’ve been following Kat and Sailors journey for a long time and I feel really honored that I’ve been able to read the “updated“ version of the Idol Effect
So without further to do here's my review of the book:
This book is one of the best ya books i've ever read. It captures the struggles and life of teenagers going on adults in the perfect way. I love how the book portraits the family as a really important support system while growing up and generally in life. The fear of letting others in is something I think a lot of young adults who have been through rough situations in their childhood suffer from. I think it should be talked about more often and that is also one of the reasons I love this book. The characters in this book will really make you think about life and how some people go through a lot of bad things in life and no one knows about it. It shows the other side of childhood and growing up. Also it shows how family can be found in friends and also in people who you tought you could never get along with just if you get to know them. I love how it shows that you should not judge a book by its cover because a lot of people can hide their emotions and what they're going through really well. The characters in the book are relatable and will make you see all sides of life. All the secrets, confessions and connections are what makes this book stand out and drag you to read it until you've read it and uncovered all its contents. This is something that makes it 100 times better. Also i have read this book on wattpad before it came out and i can say that I love it much more now then i already had because it has a lot more details. If you want to change your life in some way and gain confidence in yourself i highly recommend reading this book. If you love summer romances, friends to lovers tropes and a whole lot of secrets and secret meanings you have to uncover than this book is the prefect choice. While reading it i was literally swallowing the book and its sentences, i couldn't stop reading it when i began because it was so addicting. I read it in 12 days because i had school and some things i had to get done but i read it relatively fast. This book has its own unique side and its like a maze that you have to get through. Because of all of this i recommend everyone to read this book and every person will surely find themselves in there. I hope everyone who reads this book loves Sailor and Kats journey because their story deserves all the love in the world.
Till next book,
Djuka♥
So without further to do here's my review of the book:
This book is one of the best ya books i've ever read. It captures the struggles and life of teenagers going on adults in the perfect way. I love how the book portraits the family as a really important support system while growing up and generally in life. The fear of letting others in is something I think a lot of young adults who have been through rough situations in their childhood suffer from. I think it should be talked about more often and that is also one of the reasons I love this book. The characters in this book will really make you think about life and how some people go through a lot of bad things in life and no one knows about it. It shows the other side of childhood and growing up. Also it shows how family can be found in friends and also in people who you tought you could never get along with just if you get to know them. I love how it shows that you should not judge a book by its cover because a lot of people can hide their emotions and what they're going through really well. The characters in the book are relatable and will make you see all sides of life. All the secrets, confessions and connections are what makes this book stand out and drag you to read it until you've read it and uncovered all its contents. This is something that makes it 100 times better. Also i have read this book on wattpad before it came out and i can say that I love it much more now then i already had because it has a lot more details. If you want to change your life in some way and gain confidence in yourself i highly recommend reading this book. If you love summer romances, friends to lovers tropes and a whole lot of secrets and secret meanings you have to uncover than this book is the prefect choice. While reading it i was literally swallowing the book and its sentences, i couldn't stop reading it when i began because it was so addicting. I read it in 12 days because i had school and some things i had to get done but i read it relatively fast. This book has its own unique side and its like a maze that you have to get through. Because of all of this i recommend everyone to read this book and every person will surely find themselves in there. I hope everyone who reads this book loves Sailor and Kats journey because their story deserves all the love in the world.
Till next book,
Djuka♥
December 25, 2024
5 ✨
SailorKat made me so obsessed. This book is genuinely SO. GOOD. Like I don’t know what was put in this romance to make me feel this type of way about it, but I was literally so mesmerized by how big of an effect this story had on me. It’s a summer romance between Katayi and Sailor and one with so much depth, representation, respect and that kind of soulmate love.
The way this book is built, makes you feel so many emotions and it’s the perfect read for someone who loves a good tear jerker of a romance. You wouldn’t believe how emotional this book is from just seeing the book but the journey it takes you through is a whole whirlwind and you’re left feeling a little lighter. Sailor and Kat’s story might explore some heavy topics than you expect but it’s done in a way that’s filled with so much acceptance and respect and in the process of reading it you feel closer to its characters and they feel like family to bd honest.
Katayi Sitali has her head up in the stars and she’s about to pursue studying astronomy. It’s her last summer at the summer house before everything changes and it’s also where she meets none other than Sailor Park. He’s South Korean’s golden boy but he’s feeling lost as of late. As the summer approaches, he and his twin sister joins Katayi and her family at their summer house and he finally gets a chance to breathe properly and find himself again. It’s a story of loss, silent suffering and honesty. But it’s almost a story of first love, emotional dependency and about finding your person in the most unexpected of places.
It’d one of the most beautiful love stories I have read this year and one that will surely stay with me for a looooong time. Once you read it you will understand what I mean about not being able to let go of it and this couple.
Thank you M.C. Sakala for this ARC. I love you!
🪐 What to except:
— k-pop idol x astronomy youtuber
— friends to lovers
— good boy x bad girl
— k-drama vibes
— he's a twin, fmc is bffs with his twin sister
— black cat x golden retriever
— mental health representation
— a love story that hits like your favorite song
— takes place in korea & japan
— he falls first and hardest
— golden boy with tragic backstory
— found family
— fierce unapologetic main characters
— they're each others FIRST everything
SailorKat made me so obsessed. This book is genuinely SO. GOOD. Like I don’t know what was put in this romance to make me feel this type of way about it, but I was literally so mesmerized by how big of an effect this story had on me. It’s a summer romance between Katayi and Sailor and one with so much depth, representation, respect and that kind of soulmate love.
The way this book is built, makes you feel so many emotions and it’s the perfect read for someone who loves a good tear jerker of a romance. You wouldn’t believe how emotional this book is from just seeing the book but the journey it takes you through is a whole whirlwind and you’re left feeling a little lighter. Sailor and Kat’s story might explore some heavy topics than you expect but it’s done in a way that’s filled with so much acceptance and respect and in the process of reading it you feel closer to its characters and they feel like family to bd honest.
Katayi Sitali has her head up in the stars and she’s about to pursue studying astronomy. It’s her last summer at the summer house before everything changes and it’s also where she meets none other than Sailor Park. He’s South Korean’s golden boy but he’s feeling lost as of late. As the summer approaches, he and his twin sister joins Katayi and her family at their summer house and he finally gets a chance to breathe properly and find himself again. It’s a story of loss, silent suffering and honesty. But it’s almost a story of first love, emotional dependency and about finding your person in the most unexpected of places.
It’d one of the most beautiful love stories I have read this year and one that will surely stay with me for a looooong time. Once you read it you will understand what I mean about not being able to let go of it and this couple.
Thank you M.C. Sakala for this ARC. I love you!
🪐 What to except:
— k-pop idol x astronomy youtuber
— friends to lovers
— good boy x bad girl
— k-drama vibes
— he's a twin, fmc is bffs with his twin sister
— black cat x golden retriever
— mental health representation
— a love story that hits like your favorite song
— takes place in korea & japan
— he falls first and hardest
— golden boy with tragic backstory
— found family
— fierce unapologetic main characters
— they're each others FIRST everything
December 25, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I once knew a boy who loved the sea so much he wanted to stay there and a girl who loved him so much she didn’t even realize they were both drowning. “
I want to thank M.C sakala for giving me this ARC I’m am so very grateful for the opportunity in exchange for an in depth review.
This book for me was a roller coaster but in a good way I would be smiling and giggling at one point then on the verge of tears on another. Through the first half she hinted to something that would come in the future something that scared me to moved forward yet willed me to turn the page. I was petrified of what was going to happen because just by the second chapter I grew a familiarity with the characters and by the middle I was apart of there family. There were many things in this book that I resonated with, and just the family dynamics made me happy.
Now for her writing it was gorgeous it was so poetic and the way she was able to use words gripped my heart and made me think. Poetry is my favorite form of writing and if someone is good at it they can make the most minuscule thing so beautiful that you can’t help but appreciate it and it forces you to see what they see threw there eyes something that I love. Though sometimes it felt a little blocky one point it would flow so well and then it would stop and the flow would change. At some points I loved the flow and I floated down the river but at some points it did get rocky. But nevertheless I commend her for making a piece of art that inspired me and made me believe that maybe my ideas are worth sharing that some people may get it and some may not but that’s the beauty of it.
Now back to the family dynamics I absolutely loved it! Not only Kats family but her found family too, I loved sora but I don’t think anyone could hate her and I love Khondwani he was as well one of my favorite characters. I love haru too though sometimes I did grow irritated with him yet he’s the type of character that you can’t stay mad at forever. Now Kat I liked her yes she had her own struggles and I loved to see her growth.
I want to say please read the content warning yes this might be a ya but it dives into deep topics that’s why I would suggest 14+ because at some point I had to take breaks and gather my thoughts and feelings. This book will break you yes but it will also heal that deep part of your heart of your very being that you didn’t know needed healed.
~Quotes~
“He held me like water in the hands of a desperate man in the desert”
“You're my favourite person in the galaxy.”
“I wish to know what it feels like to be a star, to burn brightly and combust all at once.”
“I look forward to making you less of a stranger, Kat." He spoke with such conviction it moved mountains within me. We were certainly not strangers then, and we would never be ever again.
(I don’t want to give away to much because everyone needs to experience the heartbreak in which the idol effect is! Thank you again M.C sakala!!!)
“I once knew a boy who loved the sea so much he wanted to stay there and a girl who loved him so much she didn’t even realize they were both drowning. “
I want to thank M.C sakala for giving me this ARC I’m am so very grateful for the opportunity in exchange for an in depth review.
This book for me was a roller coaster but in a good way I would be smiling and giggling at one point then on the verge of tears on another. Through the first half she hinted to something that would come in the future something that scared me to moved forward yet willed me to turn the page. I was petrified of what was going to happen because just by the second chapter I grew a familiarity with the characters and by the middle I was apart of there family. There were many things in this book that I resonated with, and just the family dynamics made me happy.
Now for her writing it was gorgeous it was so poetic and the way she was able to use words gripped my heart and made me think. Poetry is my favorite form of writing and if someone is good at it they can make the most minuscule thing so beautiful that you can’t help but appreciate it and it forces you to see what they see threw there eyes something that I love. Though sometimes it felt a little blocky one point it would flow so well and then it would stop and the flow would change. At some points I loved the flow and I floated down the river but at some points it did get rocky. But nevertheless I commend her for making a piece of art that inspired me and made me believe that maybe my ideas are worth sharing that some people may get it and some may not but that’s the beauty of it.
Now back to the family dynamics I absolutely loved it! Not only Kats family but her found family too, I loved sora but I don’t think anyone could hate her and I love Khondwani he was as well one of my favorite characters. I love haru too though sometimes I did grow irritated with him yet he’s the type of character that you can’t stay mad at forever. Now Kat I liked her yes she had her own struggles and I loved to see her growth.
I want to say please read the content warning yes this might be a ya but it dives into deep topics that’s why I would suggest 14+ because at some point I had to take breaks and gather my thoughts and feelings. This book will break you yes but it will also heal that deep part of your heart of your very being that you didn’t know needed healed.
~Quotes~
“He held me like water in the hands of a desperate man in the desert”
“You're my favourite person in the galaxy.”
“I wish to know what it feels like to be a star, to burn brightly and combust all at once.”
“I look forward to making you less of a stranger, Kat." He spoke with such conviction it moved mountains within me. We were certainly not strangers then, and we would never be ever again.
(I don’t want to give away to much because everyone needs to experience the heartbreak in which the idol effect is! Thank you again M.C sakala!!!)
December 29, 2024
This book is really not for the weak of heart😭
I read it first when it was on wattpad, and I can recall how it was my comfort book. The story of Sailor and Katayi was more than just words to me, it was a book that made me feel seen, and seeing it now as a published book makes me so happy.
Sailorkat's story is one that will forever live with me, and M.C. Sakala has a way of building up her characters that will make them more than just pages of books, but literal voices in your head.
I loved the character development of each of them, especially Sora, and dare I say she is my favourite character because of how much I could relate to living your whole life for the sake of someone else.
Haru is for the kpop fans, or artist's fans in general, his story is like a deep insight into what artists go through, just be the best version of themselves the fans would like to see.
And Katayi is for the dreamers. The ones who love with passion, and the ones who suffer from grief.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I really cannot wait for more works from this author🤭😭
I read it first when it was on wattpad, and I can recall how it was my comfort book. The story of Sailor and Katayi was more than just words to me, it was a book that made me feel seen, and seeing it now as a published book makes me so happy.
Sailorkat's story is one that will forever live with me, and M.C. Sakala has a way of building up her characters that will make them more than just pages of books, but literal voices in your head.
I loved the character development of each of them, especially Sora, and dare I say she is my favourite character because of how much I could relate to living your whole life for the sake of someone else.
Haru is for the kpop fans, or artist's fans in general, his story is like a deep insight into what artists go through, just be the best version of themselves the fans would like to see.
And Katayi is for the dreamers. The ones who love with passion, and the ones who suffer from grief.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I really cannot wait for more works from this author🤭😭
February 8, 2025
FORGET EVERY OTHER REVIEW LEMME TELL YALL THE TRUTH OKAY. ITS 4AM RN IM LOSING IT.
Okay, so like, where do I even begin with The Idol Effect This book is seriously a whole vibe I went into it thinking it might just be another cheesy romance, but it turned out to be a total mind-trip in the best way possible. M.C. Sakala really did *that* with this one.
* Relatable Main Character First off, Katayi is *literally* me. She's a space nerd with a YouTube channel who doesn't care about the K-pop scene, which is ironic given her dad's a big music producer. The whole "not like other girls" thing? Yeah, she *is* that, but it's not in an annoying way. It's more like, she's just trying to be herself in a world obsessed with idols.
* Unexpected Plot Twists: The way the story unfolds is *wild*. You're following Kat's life, her YouTube channel, her family, then BAM, enter Haru, who's like, *the* most famous idol ever. The slow-burn romance? I'm obsessed. But it's not just about the feels, it’s also got layers. Like, it dives into the dark side of the whole idol thing. It ain't all glitz and glam. The parasocial relationship stuff gets real.
* Genuine Characters: Haru is so much more than just a pretty face. He's got this whole internal struggle going on. His chapters legit made me wanna give him a hug, the poor guy. And the side characters? Thandiwe is that bestie who's always there for you, and Khondwani is the chaotic brother you can't live without. They all feel so real, y'know?
* Thought-Provoking Themes: I'm not gonna lie, this book got me thinking about some serious stuff. Like, what does it even mean to be an "idol"? How do we treat celebs? It's all very meta and makes you question your own stan behavior. Also, the way it touched on finding yourself and believing in your dreams, even if they're a bit out there, was really inspiring.
* Emotional Rollercoaster Get ready to cry, laugh, and maybe even throw your book across the room. This story will take you through all the feels. It's a true emotional rollercoaster. It's got the cute moments, the angsty drama, and the "oh my god, did that just happen?!" twists.
Honestly, The Idol Effect is a book that stays with you long after you've finished reading. It’s way more than just a romance; it's a story about identity, love, and finding your place in the universe, whether that's on YouTube, in a K-pop group, or just looking up at the stars. **10/10 would recommend.** If you're looking for your next hyperfixation, this is it. Go read it now!
Okay, so like, where do I even begin with The Idol Effect This book is seriously a whole vibe I went into it thinking it might just be another cheesy romance, but it turned out to be a total mind-trip in the best way possible. M.C. Sakala really did *that* with this one.
* Relatable Main Character First off, Katayi is *literally* me. She's a space nerd with a YouTube channel who doesn't care about the K-pop scene, which is ironic given her dad's a big music producer. The whole "not like other girls" thing? Yeah, she *is* that, but it's not in an annoying way. It's more like, she's just trying to be herself in a world obsessed with idols.
* Unexpected Plot Twists: The way the story unfolds is *wild*. You're following Kat's life, her YouTube channel, her family, then BAM, enter Haru, who's like, *the* most famous idol ever. The slow-burn romance? I'm obsessed. But it's not just about the feels, it’s also got layers. Like, it dives into the dark side of the whole idol thing. It ain't all glitz and glam. The parasocial relationship stuff gets real.
* Genuine Characters: Haru is so much more than just a pretty face. He's got this whole internal struggle going on. His chapters legit made me wanna give him a hug, the poor guy. And the side characters? Thandiwe is that bestie who's always there for you, and Khondwani is the chaotic brother you can't live without. They all feel so real, y'know?
* Thought-Provoking Themes: I'm not gonna lie, this book got me thinking about some serious stuff. Like, what does it even mean to be an "idol"? How do we treat celebs? It's all very meta and makes you question your own stan behavior. Also, the way it touched on finding yourself and believing in your dreams, even if they're a bit out there, was really inspiring.
* Emotional Rollercoaster Get ready to cry, laugh, and maybe even throw your book across the room. This story will take you through all the feels. It's a true emotional rollercoaster. It's got the cute moments, the angsty drama, and the "oh my god, did that just happen?!" twists.
Honestly, The Idol Effect is a book that stays with you long after you've finished reading. It’s way more than just a romance; it's a story about identity, love, and finding your place in the universe, whether that's on YouTube, in a K-pop group, or just looking up at the stars. **10/10 would recommend.** If you're looking for your next hyperfixation, this is it. Go read it now!
January 7, 2025
Firstly, I'd like to thank Munema for allowing me to read this incredible piece of African Literature.
I remember reading the original version on Wattpad long before I found out she had decided to publish it, and I remember being incredibly excited.
Seeing an African woman write a cutesy teenage romance story about a Zambian girl and a Korean/Japanese artist was very special, especially as an African woman who adores romance.
It was so refreshing to see these two grow throughout this book. To see two characters who seemed to have such mature minds, be immature teenagers, make mistakes, and love with everything they had. Furthermore, it was so healing to watch Katayi heal and Haru recover, they both helped each other often without realizing it.
Now I haven't forgotten about my favorite side characters; Sora and Khondwani. I loved watching them grow (and I hope to see more of them someday) from the sibling who was a protector and guide to our leads to finding themselves and getting a better understanding of themselves.
Nema has done an incredible job of writing a piece of raw, real romance. Showing Katayi's spiraling thoughts about Space to her fears and concerns helped me connect to her, likewise for Haru, Sora, Khondwan, I, etc... I loved how none of them were perfect, nor became perfect but just grew instead.
Every character is real and I adore it for that reason.
However, even when I read the Wattpad version I never saw Katayi as a bad girl. I don't know if it's just me <3
Congratulations Nema, you will go so so so far. Thank you for being an African creative
I remember reading the original version on Wattpad long before I found out she had decided to publish it, and I remember being incredibly excited.
Seeing an African woman write a cutesy teenage romance story about a Zambian girl and a Korean/Japanese artist was very special, especially as an African woman who adores romance.
It was so refreshing to see these two grow throughout this book. To see two characters who seemed to have such mature minds, be immature teenagers, make mistakes, and love with everything they had. Furthermore, it was so healing to watch Katayi heal and Haru recover, they both helped each other often without realizing it.
Now I haven't forgotten about my favorite side characters; Sora and Khondwani. I loved watching them grow (and I hope to see more of them someday) from the sibling who was a protector and guide to our leads to finding themselves and getting a better understanding of themselves.
Nema has done an incredible job of writing a piece of raw, real romance. Showing Katayi's spiraling thoughts about Space to her fears and concerns helped me connect to her, likewise for Haru, Sora, Khondwan, I, etc... I loved how none of them were perfect, nor became perfect but just grew instead.
Every character is real and I adore it for that reason.
However, even when I read the Wattpad version I never saw Katayi as a bad girl. I don't know if it's just me <3
Congratulations Nema, you will go so so so far. Thank you for being an African creative
April 26, 2025
DNF at 37%
I must give credit where credit is due: this is an ambitious debut work with an incredibly attractive premise. I really, REALLY wanted to enjoy this novel. However, this debut work reads like one. While I think Sakala is really finding her style and flow, a diamond in the rough is still ROUGH. This lacks polish, editing, and spell checks. This is what ultimately kept me distracted and had me skimming to avoid looking at the irksome errors…but then I realized that skimming a work isn’t doing anyone any justice.
I will be reading more of Sakala’s works, but hopefully the more recent additions to her catalog are more palatable.
I must give credit where credit is due: this is an ambitious debut work with an incredibly attractive premise. I really, REALLY wanted to enjoy this novel. However, this debut work reads like one. While I think Sakala is really finding her style and flow, a diamond in the rough is still ROUGH. This lacks polish, editing, and spell checks. This is what ultimately kept me distracted and had me skimming to avoid looking at the irksome errors…but then I realized that skimming a work isn’t doing anyone any justice.
I will be reading more of Sakala’s works, but hopefully the more recent additions to her catalog are more palatable.
December 26, 2024
this book was amazing it focus on a lot of the topics as well especially mental health as someone who struggle with that and disordered eating there were moments where I could relate tooo and there were funny moments where u can have a good laugh and one of my favorite lines were the little poem “a star girl here on earth. A rose with thorns and I know won’t hurt” then “pierce me, tear me, make me bleed, you taught me what It meant to need.” and one word kpop but overall love itttt
December 27, 2024
SailorKat, you will always be loved.
M.C. Sakala has the supernatural talent of making her characters feel like parts of your soul.
Every single one of them exists in my mind & my heart.
This book is for everyone who yearns to be heard, seen & accepted for who they truly are.
If you needed a sign to buy this book, HERE IT IS.
M.C. Sakala has the supernatural talent of making her characters feel like parts of your soul.
Every single one of them exists in my mind & my heart.
This book is for everyone who yearns to be heard, seen & accepted for who they truly are.
If you needed a sign to buy this book, HERE IT IS.
February 1, 2025
I loved this book so much it was a fun read and it made me happy the author was so nice and even sent me a voice message of how to pronounce the names the book makes me want a love like Kat and Sailor. I love how the co dependency was written and this book got me out of my reading slump
December 13, 2024
i am very disappointed to say that i didn't really enjoy this book. I had expectations as it explores a world, a community that i'm very interested in k-pop and as an avid fan since years ago i was very excited to read it. However, it didn't leave up to my expectations.
First and foremost, what i didn't like about it was how long it was. I found that 592 pages were way too many for such a plot that could have unraveled in way fewer pages. I found that some scenes were totally unnecessary or were way too extensively elaborated. That did tire me a lot and it made the book feel like it was dragging on.
Secondly, as regarding the plot i couldn't really come to terms with the fact that Kat never suspected Sailor's true identity. In my opinion, you need to be way too oblivious and naive not to even think of it. And also despite the author evidently trying to present the relatable reality of our lives, the kids never even exchanged social media or phone numbers? And Kat never thought to look up Sailor in any social media? It was truly crystal clear at times what he was hiding but she took so long to figure out- only by the 60-70% mark did she realise. And after that everything happened too quickly. The story was rushed where it should have been slow and gradual and was too slow where it should have been sped up.
However, there was a nice representation of sibling relationships and dynamics, the negative aspects of idol life, the religious beliefs and also praise the authors poetic writing. It might have been unnecessary at many parts but it was good. Had it been toned down at some parts, it would have been perfect for the reading experience.
Regardless of my rating, I'm very thankful to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion! She's also been the sweetest with me, interacting and chatting about the book
First and foremost, what i didn't like about it was how long it was. I found that 592 pages were way too many for such a plot that could have unraveled in way fewer pages. I found that some scenes were totally unnecessary or were way too extensively elaborated. That did tire me a lot and it made the book feel like it was dragging on.
Secondly, as regarding the plot i couldn't really come to terms with the fact that Kat never suspected Sailor's true identity. In my opinion, you need to be way too oblivious and naive not to even think of it. And also despite the author evidently trying to present the relatable reality of our lives, the kids never even exchanged social media or phone numbers? And Kat never thought to look up Sailor in any social media? It was truly crystal clear at times what he was hiding but she took so long to figure out- only by the 60-70% mark did she realise. And after that everything happened too quickly. The story was rushed where it should have been slow and gradual and was too slow where it should have been sped up.
However, there was a nice representation of sibling relationships and dynamics, the negative aspects of idol life, the religious beliefs and also praise the authors poetic writing. It might have been unnecessary at many parts but it was good. Had it been toned down at some parts, it would have been perfect for the reading experience.
Regardless of my rating, I'm very thankful to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion! She's also been the sweetest with me, interacting and chatting about the book
February 23, 2025
Oh. My. God. This book was so incredibly kind in showing us a beautiful, INTELLIGENT black girl being loved out loud. The banter and flirting in this had me kicking my feet at 2&3 in the morning😭I wish I could read this for the first time again. Sailor and Kat have my heart and my brian for the rest of eternity🤍
December 16, 2024
the idol effect || 🌌🎶💜🎧🎤
Guys, when I say you HAVE to read this book, I mean you NEED TO. Now, I love myself a good enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance. However, I find that some of my favorite love stories actually start with a friendship. This is exactly the kind of narrative explored in "The Idol Effect."
The novel beautifully captures the development of althr unexpected friendship between Salior, a world famous K-Pop star and Kat, the wealthy daughter of a record producer. Kat and Salior’s friendship began in an unexpected place, born from a chance encounter that neither of them anticipated.
Initially brought together by a shared interest, they found comfort in each other’s company, discovering commonalities that sparked countless conversations and laughter. They grew to understand each other’s hopes and dreams, fears and vulnerabilities, creating a connection that felt both fragile and unbreakable.
Overall 5 ⭐
Guys, when I say you HAVE to read this book, I mean you NEED TO. Now, I love myself a good enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance. However, I find that some of my favorite love stories actually start with a friendship. This is exactly the kind of narrative explored in "The Idol Effect."
The novel beautifully captures the development of althr unexpected friendship between Salior, a world famous K-Pop star and Kat, the wealthy daughter of a record producer. Kat and Salior’s friendship began in an unexpected place, born from a chance encounter that neither of them anticipated.
Initially brought together by a shared interest, they found comfort in each other’s company, discovering commonalities that sparked countless conversations and laughter. They grew to understand each other’s hopes and dreams, fears and vulnerabilities, creating a connection that felt both fragile and unbreakable.
Overall 5 ⭐
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