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Wish upon a K-Star
A spin-off to the New York Times best-selling Once Upon a K-Prom, a K-pop idol and an up-and-coming K-drama star must fake date in this fresh and funny romcom that Korean pop culture fans will absolutely swoon over!
Moon Minseok—or Moonster as this WDB fans know him—wasn’t born to lead. Even as part of the world’s most popular K-Pop group, he found comfort in his role as the jokester, the sidekick, the unserious one (with the cutest smile). But now WDB is drowning in dating scandals, and it’s time for Moonster to take charge of the group's image.
Shin Hyeri has been dealing with some scandals of her own. An up-and-coming K-Drama actress, she’s been labeled a “nepo baby” (with a famous idol as a big brother) and now, a bully (which couldn’t be further from the truth). Desperate to show the world that she’s earned her spot, Hyeri is determined not to let her rising star crash and burn.
When these two childhood enemies get caught up in yet another scandal while co-hosting a K-Pop festival, there’s only one solution that will save both of their appear on one of Korea’s most popular variety shows, Our Celebrity Marriage (where celebrities pretend to get married and compete in ‘newlywed’ challenges).
The plan is simple—pretend to get along, win back the fans, then go their separate ways. But what happens when a fake marriage leads to real feelings? Will Moonster and Hyeri bow to the pressures of their famous realities, or will they decide their love is something worth fighting for?
Moon Minseok—or Moonster as this WDB fans know him—wasn’t born to lead. Even as part of the world’s most popular K-Pop group, he found comfort in his role as the jokester, the sidekick, the unserious one (with the cutest smile). But now WDB is drowning in dating scandals, and it’s time for Moonster to take charge of the group's image.
Shin Hyeri has been dealing with some scandals of her own. An up-and-coming K-Drama actress, she’s been labeled a “nepo baby” (with a famous idol as a big brother) and now, a bully (which couldn’t be further from the truth). Desperate to show the world that she’s earned her spot, Hyeri is determined not to let her rising star crash and burn.
When these two childhood enemies get caught up in yet another scandal while co-hosting a K-Pop festival, there’s only one solution that will save both of their appear on one of Korea’s most popular variety shows, Our Celebrity Marriage (where celebrities pretend to get married and compete in ‘newlywed’ challenges).
The plan is simple—pretend to get along, win back the fans, then go their separate ways. But what happens when a fake marriage leads to real feelings? Will Moonster and Hyeri bow to the pressures of their famous realities, or will they decide their love is something worth fighting for?
Audible Audio
First published April 29, 2025
63 people are currently reading
4255 people want to read
About the author
Kat Cho
6 books2,093 followersKat Cho (she/her) used to hide books under the bathroom sink and then sneak in there to read after bedtime. Her parents pretended not to know. This helped when she decided to write a dinosaur time-travel novel at the tender age of nine. Sadly, that book was not published. She loves to incorporate her Korean heritage in her writing, especially if it involves describing food. She likes anything that encourages nerding out, including reading, K-dramas, K-pop and anime. She currently spends her free time trying to figure out what kind of puppy to adopt. Kat is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the YA contemporary fantasy duology Wicked Fox and Vicious Spirits (Putnam/Penguin). As well as the K-Pop webcomic, Free Hexel, and the YA romcom, Once Upon a K-Prom (Disney).
Find her online at: KatChoWrites.com
To stay up-to-date on my books and author life you can sign up for my newsletter, READICULOUS MUSINGS
***I'm not on Goodreads that much, but if you have any questions you can always reach out to me through my website***
Find her online at: KatChoWrites.com
To stay up-to-date on my books and author life you can sign up for my newsletter, READICULOUS MUSINGS
***I'm not on Goodreads that much, but if you have any questions you can always reach out to me through my website***
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
July 12, 2025
a light, easy-breezy read with some sweet moments and enough k-culture to make any k-pop or k-drama fan happy.
while i didnt love this as much as “once upon a k-prom” (primarily because i found the relationship between minseok and hyeri to be a bit underdeveloped), this is still an enjoyable and fun book. definitely falls under the whole “guilty pleasure” kind of story.
so maybe not the most well-written book, but it definitely has some solid entertainment value! its extremely similar to “ASAP” so, if you enjoyed that, then this is one to pick!
↠ 3.5 stars
while i didnt love this as much as “once upon a k-prom” (primarily because i found the relationship between minseok and hyeri to be a bit underdeveloped), this is still an enjoyable and fun book. definitely falls under the whole “guilty pleasure” kind of story.
so maybe not the most well-written book, but it definitely has some solid entertainment value! its extremely similar to “ASAP” so, if you enjoyed that, then this is one to pick!
↠ 3.5 stars
September 16, 2025
★彡 3.25 stars 彡★
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ I shall wish upon some k-stars of my own, thank you very much (≖⩊≖)
I love how this book was staged with all my favorite tropes to lure me in. Everything. From the cover to the premise? I’m weak for the basic stuff, so sue me! ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
YA romcoms are my comfort-reads, no matter how cringy, predictable, mushy-gushy they may be… they’re familiar and warm, and that’s all I need to actually enjoy. On top of that, it promised me K-Pop and bubblegum goodness so hell yeah, I folded ~
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᏖᏒᎧᎮᏋᏕ ᏗᏖ ᏇᎧᏒᏦ ⋮ ⌗ ┆
─•─ 𖦤 Fake Dating ♪♡
─•─ 𖦤 Frenemies To Lovers . ♬ ݁˖
─•─ 𖦤 She Falls First ♪♡
─•─ 𖦤 Celebrity Couple . ♬ ݁˖
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᎷᎩ ᏖᏂᎧᏬᎶᏂᏖᏕ ⋮ ⌗ ┆
: ̗̀➛ 🅣🅗🅔 🅢🅣🅞🅡🅨 & 🅣🅗🅔 🅕🅔🅔🅛🅢: Everyone thinks Shin Hyeri is THE tabloid queen of scandals. Technically, she is… in the sense that scandals love following her brittle career – a career that she’s only just started patching up, as an aspiring actress. Just when she’s already recovering from the brunt of a fresh scandal, she’s hit in the face withyou guessed right! another. This one bigger, and quite possibly the last nail on her coffin of anxiety. Thankfully, there’s an easy salvageable way. The catch? Oh. She just gotta sorta fake-date the charming k-pop idol she may or may not have had serious history beef with ~
Fake dating? Yes please, where do I sign up for a free trial, myself?
Celebrity couple? Pish posh, my thing.
But… sHe-FaLLs-FiRsT, naur… I’m too sensitive for this brand of romance, you see. And on top, not only does she fall first, she also got REJECTED the first time. Yeah, so that took me by some surprisefreaking bitter shock, I tell you what?! and I think that was one of the few reasons I couldn’t enjoy it as much despite the banter making me lose my shit in a good way, that is.
The plot was predictable, and you know what? I don’t care, I had a jolly good timeminus the whole sHe-FaLLs-FiRsT bombshell because the fake-dating, the grey areas when transitioning from frenemies-to-something-more, were all done splendidly well. Had the time of my life pretending that I too, was fake-dating (but actually real-dating cuz DUH) a stunning K-Pop icon ꒰ᐢ⸝⸝⸝⸝⸝ᐢ꒱⸒⸒
Yes, I’m in that phase of life…
: ̗̀➛ 🅢🅗🅘🅝 🅗🅨🅔🅡🅘: She’s the kind of awkward and dorky, whose awkward and dorky often translate to “cold” and “rude” for the public eye. Sadly, all our FMC ever wanted was to live a quiet, scandal-free, successful life in which she pleased everyone she knows of. Yeah, very attainable there (ᵕ—ᴗ—)
Jokes aside, my heart goes to her. Poor girl kept getting targeted for god-knows-what every five pages, and everyone is so mean and unforgiving to her. I knew that being under the spotlight makes you vulnerable. Gives everyone, especially your supposed fans, the right to judge your every move. But I didn’t realise it was just THIS level of scrutiny. All in all, she’s an endearing soul and I really loved her arc of breaking free. And loving herself to the fullest to give her what made her happy – not her bitchy mom, or her viewers.
: ̗̀➛ 🅜🅞🅞🅝 🅜🅘🅝🅢🅔🅞🅚: Minseok is even more two-faced than I am, and that’s saying a lot because I’m VERY two-faced ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
The thing is, this boy isn’t a red-flag or anythingneither am I ಥ﹏ಥ! He’s just genuinely afraid of talking things out, or showing vulnerability again, IRL BS 𓁹‿𓁹 which… leads him to making bad decisions, like being rude and saying insensitive things to ward people off from getting to pry open his layers. His mechanism is as follows:
As his friend so dotingly mentioned it for us, Minseok is kind of unpredictable. That is to say, one minute he has me blushing and crying from how charming and smooth he is. And the next thing you know, he made me want beat him to a pulp with my slipper, Asian-mom-style ◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜
I loved how protective he was of Hyeri, though. He also appeared very down bad for her throughout the story, so a big plus point there. However, the sad bit is that:
He Needs To Grow The F*ck Up ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
Sorry not sorry, but his stage name SUCKS!
»»——★ fιnαℓ тнσυgнтѕ ★——««
➳ Recommended, if you’re in the mood for some soft and sweet fluff, with a side of hot banter ♡
ﾒ𝟶ﾒ𝟶
｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡
“To us.”
I nod and tap our cartons together. “To no more spilled milk.”
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ I shall wish upon some k-stars of my own, thank you very much (≖⩊≖)
I love how this book was staged with all my favorite tropes to lure me in. Everything. From the cover to the premise? I’m weak for the basic stuff, so sue me! ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
YA romcoms are my comfort-reads, no matter how cringy, predictable, mushy-gushy they may be… they’re familiar and warm, and that’s all I need to actually enjoy. On top of that, it promised me K-Pop and bubblegum goodness so hell yeah, I folded ~
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᏖᏒᎧᎮᏋᏕ ᏗᏖ ᏇᎧᏒᏦ ⋮ ⌗ ┆
─•─ 𖦤 Fake Dating ♪♡
─•─ 𖦤 Frenemies To Lovers . ♬ ݁˖
─•─ 𖦤 She Falls First ♪♡
─•─ 𖦤 Celebrity Couple . ♬ ݁˖
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᎷᎩ ᏖᏂᎧᏬᎶᏂᏖᏕ ⋮ ⌗ ┆
: ̗̀➛ 🅣🅗🅔 🅢🅣🅞🅡🅨 & 🅣🅗🅔 🅕🅔🅔🅛🅢: Everyone thinks Shin Hyeri is THE tabloid queen of scandals. Technically, she is… in the sense that scandals love following her brittle career – a career that she’s only just started patching up, as an aspiring actress. Just when she’s already recovering from the brunt of a fresh scandal, she’s hit in the face with
Fake dating? Yes please, where do I sign up for a free trial, myself?
Celebrity couple? Pish posh, my thing.
But… sHe-FaLLs-FiRsT, naur… I’m too sensitive for this brand of romance, you see. And on top, not only does she fall first, she also got REJECTED the first time. Yeah, so that took me by some surprise
The plot was predictable, and you know what? I don’t care, I had a jolly good time
: ̗̀➛ 🅢🅗🅘🅝 🅗🅨🅔🅡🅘: She’s the kind of awkward and dorky, whose awkward and dorky often translate to “cold” and “rude” for the public eye. Sadly, all our FMC ever wanted was to live a quiet, scandal-free, successful life in which she pleased everyone she knows of. Yeah, very attainable there (ᵕ—ᴗ—)
Jokes aside, my heart goes to her. Poor girl kept getting targeted for god-knows-what every five pages, and everyone is so mean and unforgiving to her. I knew that being under the spotlight makes you vulnerable. Gives everyone, especially your supposed fans, the right to judge your every move. But I didn’t realise it was just THIS level of scrutiny. All in all, she’s an endearing soul and I really loved her arc of breaking free. And loving herself to the fullest to give her what made her happy – not her bitchy mom, or her viewers.
: ̗̀➛ 🅜🅞🅞🅝 🅜🅘🅝🅢🅔🅞🅚: Minseok is even more two-faced than I am, and that’s saying a lot because I’m VERY two-faced ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
The thing is, this boy isn’t a red-flag or anything
“You’re using being hurt as an excuse to be an asshole,” Jongdae says.”
As his friend so dotingly mentioned it for us, Minseok is kind of unpredictable. That is to say, one minute he has me blushing and crying from how charming and smooth he is. And the next thing you know, he made me want beat him to a pulp with my slipper, Asian-mom-style ◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜
I loved how protective he was of Hyeri, though. He also appeared very down bad for her throughout the story, so a big plus point there. However, the sad bit is that:
He Needs To Grow The F*ck Up ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
»»——★ fιnαℓ тнσυgнтѕ ★——««
➳ Recommended, if you’re in the mood for some soft and sweet fluff, with a side of hot banter ♡
ﾒ𝟶ﾒ𝟶
｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡
November 25, 2025
I am extremely disappointed with this. When I initially picked up this book, I was expecting something light-hearted—a fun story with a cute romance. Instead, I encountered a narrative filled with negativity and a male lead character whom I found so unappealing that I would have thrown him in the trash if I could. I did appreciate the plot itself and the way the author highlighted the toxicity often associated with being a celebrity.
However, like any job, there are positive aspects too, and unfortunately, the author never depicted any of those. I had hoped for a more balanced portrayal.
Hyeri’s character was a complete trainwreck. As someone who also struggles with anxiety, I understand how overwhelming it can be—constantly imagining worst-case scenarios and feeling exhausted. But even I found Hyeri exhausting; she never seemed to have a single moment of genuine happiness or peace by herself. Her persistent crush on Minseok was genuinely cringeworthy and embarrassing to read. I couldn’t understand how she still liked him despite his terrible personality and behavior. At some point in the story, it seemed that all she cared about was Minseok. Moreover, she constantly failed to stand up for herself, with others having to do it on her behalf.
Minseok was the type of male lead who only does the bare minimum. He was an inconsiderate jerk. He clearly needed therapy to address his anger issues before considering entering into any relationship.
He could have been so charming if only he hadn't opened his mouth every time.
Plus he was a terrible friend.
Their relationship lacked any real fun or depth. Although they did have chemistry. Minseok’s treatment of Hyeri consistently gave me the ick; his inability to control his anger and his tendency to take out his frustrations on her were constantly off-putting. Just because things aren’t going well in his life, he seems to think it’s okay to take his frustrations out on others, and he did this repeatedly. Hyeri’s constant admiration of his looks was baffling—her continued belief that he was handsome despite his bad personality was hard to understand.
Additionally, numerous issues were either ignored or never addressed at all, which only increased my frustration with the story. Overall, this book was a disappointing read. It had so much potential to be a good story, but it fell short in multiple ways, leaving me dissatisfied and wishing it had been executed better.
However, like any job, there are positive aspects too, and unfortunately, the author never depicted any of those. I had hoped for a more balanced portrayal.
Hyeri’s character was a complete trainwreck. As someone who also struggles with anxiety, I understand how overwhelming it can be—constantly imagining worst-case scenarios and feeling exhausted. But even I found Hyeri exhausting; she never seemed to have a single moment of genuine happiness or peace by herself. Her persistent crush on Minseok was genuinely cringeworthy and embarrassing to read. I couldn’t understand how she still liked him despite his terrible personality and behavior. At some point in the story, it seemed that all she cared about was Minseok. Moreover, she constantly failed to stand up for herself, with others having to do it on her behalf.
Minseok was the type of male lead who only does the bare minimum. He was an inconsiderate jerk. He clearly needed therapy to address his anger issues before considering entering into any relationship.
He could have been so charming if only he hadn't opened his mouth every time.
Plus he was a terrible friend.
Their relationship lacked any real fun or depth. Although they did have chemistry. Minseok’s treatment of Hyeri consistently gave me the ick; his inability to control his anger and his tendency to take out his frustrations on her were constantly off-putting. Just because things aren’t going well in his life, he seems to think it’s okay to take his frustrations out on others, and he did this repeatedly. Hyeri’s constant admiration of his looks was baffling—her continued belief that he was handsome despite his bad personality was hard to understand.
Additionally, numerous issues were either ignored or never addressed at all, which only increased my frustration with the story. Overall, this book was a disappointing read. It had so much potential to be a good story, but it fell short in multiple ways, leaving me dissatisfied and wishing it had been executed better.
May 3, 2025
kinda ate this up ngl. like was it the most jaw dropping book?
no. was it kinda funny?
yes. does the cover make me want to have it on my shelf? yes? was it a tad cringe? yes. 🤭
did I shamelessly listen to a kpop playlist while reading so I could envision myself in the plot? also...yes.
anyways, never becoming a kpop idol beacuse that sounds like hell to be in, not that I ever had a chance 😂😭
no. was it kinda funny?
yes. does the cover make me want to have it on my shelf? yes? was it a tad cringe? yes. 🤭
did I shamelessly listen to a kpop playlist while reading so I could envision myself in the plot? also...yes.
anyways, never becoming a kpop idol beacuse that sounds like hell to be in, not that I ever had a chance 😂😭
Want to read
March 10, 2025saw the male lead is inspired on yunho so of course i have to read
June 6, 2025
⇢ Reading Challenge - Heritage Reads - Asian and Pacific Islander - May 1-June 30
3.5*** stars
Note to self: NEVER become a K-Star (pop idol, actor, what ever), this shit is crazy, and beware of the overly obsessive fans. Damn!
Otherwise this was a part intriguing, part annoying Young Adult Romance that was overall enjoyable to listen to.
*************
Once Upon a K-Prom
Wish Upon a K-Star - 3.5 stars
3.5*** stars
As celebrities we belonged to our fans. Nothing we have is just ours anymore. Not even our own hearts.
Note to self: NEVER become a K-Star (pop idol, actor, what ever), this shit is crazy, and beware of the overly obsessive fans. Damn!
Otherwise this was a part intriguing, part annoying Young Adult Romance that was overall enjoyable to listen to.
*************
Once Upon a K-Prom
Wish Upon a K-Star - 3.5 stars
May 21, 2025
Yeah, so it was cutesy. I should also probably say that I'm not the main demographic for this book as I'm not a K-Pop fan so a lot of this book went right over my head. But if I take anything away from this book it's that I would never want to be a K-Idol.
This book follows ex K-Pop star Shin Hyeri as she tries to navigate life after being in a girl group and making the transaction to acting. However, her transition is marred by scathing gossip that has her just wanting to hide in her apartment. Her company decides they need to fix her image fast and the best way to do that is to put her on a variety show with a popular K-pop heartthrob, Moon Minseok - who Hyeri has known since her training days (and used to have a huge crush on).
Guys, this variety show. Again, I don't watch K-shows. Do variety shows like this exist? I could not wrap my head around what was happening. The two of them pretended to get married and were filmed on dates? I thought they would be participating in challenges or something, but either we never saw those or I just misunderstood what happened. But I think I spent more time just trying to understand this show that it kind of took me out of the story.
I also felt like Hyeri should not be an Idol. She didn't seem to enjoy it - any aspect, even when she was popular. You could tell that a majority of it was to please her mother (who was horrible) but I never really got the sense that she loved what she did. She didn't seem excited about prospects of work and didn't ever talk about where she wanted to go career wise. I honestly think having her quit the business would have been a better story arc.
But I did like how supportive Minseok was of Hyeri in all of her anxious states. Even if she couldn't read between the lines, I could and you could tell he cared for her right from the beginning.
Overall, cutesy. K-Pop fans will probably love it and definitely understand the terms and lingo a lot better than me.
This book follows ex K-Pop star Shin Hyeri as she tries to navigate life after being in a girl group and making the transaction to acting. However, her transition is marred by scathing gossip that has her just wanting to hide in her apartment. Her company decides they need to fix her image fast and the best way to do that is to put her on a variety show with a popular K-pop heartthrob, Moon Minseok - who Hyeri has known since her training days (and used to have a huge crush on).
Guys, this variety show. Again, I don't watch K-shows. Do variety shows like this exist? I could not wrap my head around what was happening. The two of them pretended to get married and were filmed on dates? I thought they would be participating in challenges or something, but either we never saw those or I just misunderstood what happened. But I think I spent more time just trying to understand this show that it kind of took me out of the story.
I also felt like Hyeri should not be an Idol. She didn't seem to enjoy it - any aspect, even when she was popular. You could tell that a majority of it was to please her mother (who was horrible) but I never really got the sense that she loved what she did. She didn't seem excited about prospects of work and didn't ever talk about where she wanted to go career wise. I honestly think having her quit the business would have been a better story arc.
But I did like how supportive Minseok was of Hyeri in all of her anxious states. Even if she couldn't read between the lines, I could and you could tell he cared for her right from the beginning.
Overall, cutesy. K-Pop fans will probably love it and definitely understand the terms and lingo a lot better than me.
August 2, 2025
Wish Upon a K-Star is the cotton candy equivalent of a k-pop inspired novel. It's fluffy light and fun, but lacks any ounce of depth or nuance. If you want a deeper and memorable k-pop experience I recommend K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee or I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee.
January 16, 2025
This spin-off to “Once Upon a K-Prom” brings all the drama! If you like K-pop, K-dramas, and friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, then just you wait! You are in for a treat, reader friends! 🫰 Thanks again to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for feedback.
We get to see some familiar faces in this spin-off, with characters from the popular K-pop idol group (WDB), along with some other friends that you might recognize from the first book. K-pop idol, Moonster (Moon Minseok) and newcomer K-drama star (and former idol), Shin Hyeri, are forced to work alongside together for a variety show. In doing so, it will try to help mend some drama that has affected both of them in some way. On the show, they pretend to get married and do various activities together. I liked the fact that we got to see how their beginnings as idols brought them together as teens and then get to understand why they aren’t too fond of each other when the story originally started out. There’s a LOT of drama that pops up for Hyeri throughout the story, but we get to see some soft sides of Minseok that help her realize that there’s more to her ex-crush/friend than what she originally thought. Will they mend bridges between the two of them or will working together only tear them further apart? 🧐
It was nice to revisit this world that Cho created with the first book, so I’m excited to have had the chance to read it. I look forward to adding it to my forever collection 💞
We get to see some familiar faces in this spin-off, with characters from the popular K-pop idol group (WDB), along with some other friends that you might recognize from the first book. K-pop idol, Moonster (Moon Minseok) and newcomer K-drama star (and former idol), Shin Hyeri, are forced to work alongside together for a variety show. In doing so, it will try to help mend some drama that has affected both of them in some way. On the show, they pretend to get married and do various activities together. I liked the fact that we got to see how their beginnings as idols brought them together as teens and then get to understand why they aren’t too fond of each other when the story originally started out. There’s a LOT of drama that pops up for Hyeri throughout the story, but we get to see some soft sides of Minseok that help her realize that there’s more to her ex-crush/friend than what she originally thought. Will they mend bridges between the two of them or will working together only tear them further apart? 🧐
It was nice to revisit this world that Cho created with the first book, so I’m excited to have had the chance to read it. I look forward to adding it to my forever collection 💞
May 14, 2025
Я починала цю книжку з чітким наміром шукати недоліки та неправдоподібності, бо я вже занадто довго в цьому болоті, щоб вірити в усі ці казочки про прекрасне життя айдолів. І перші кілька розділів мене прям харило усе, пізніше стало трошки краще, почали розвиватися стосунки, за якими було цікаво та приємно спостерігати, і я подумала, що нарешті от-от стане добре... не стало. Проте, незважаючи на свої особисті замашки щодо книжок про кпоп, не можу не визнати, що авторка пише добре
December 14, 2024
Besties. 10 outta 10.
I cried tears of joy when I was notified that I got approved for an ARC.
gwenchana gwenchana
I can't say too much because it's so far out from publication and #nospoilers and whatnot. But I loved it so much. Turns out, I feel very protective over K-Pop Idols (both real and fictional) and get upset when people won't let them... well, be people too, I guess.
It took a while for Minseok to grow on me, but he did eventually. This was everything I like about K-Pop and K-Dramas smashed together, and the fact that I'm so far deep into hyperfixating over another K-Pop Group myself made the reading experience even more fun.
ALSO! Since I was reading it on my tablet, I wasn't paying too much attention to the cover at first. But I had the cover pulled up by itself for something and saw that the tagline is "she's so sick of this fake love" and that just made everything even better in my opinion.
Much thanks to Disney Hyperion for the ARC!
I cried tears of joy when I was notified that I got approved for an ARC.
gwenchana gwenchana
I can't say too much because it's so far out from publication and #nospoilers and whatnot. But I loved it so much. Turns out, I feel very protective over K-Pop Idols (both real and fictional) and get upset when people won't let them... well, be people too, I guess.
It took a while for Minseok to grow on me, but he did eventually. This was everything I like about K-Pop and K-Dramas smashed together, and the fact that I'm so far deep into hyperfixating over another K-Pop Group myself made the reading experience even more fun.
ALSO! Since I was reading it on my tablet, I wasn't paying too much attention to the cover at first. But I had the cover pulled up by itself for something and saw that the tagline is "she's so sick of this fake love" and that just made everything even better in my opinion.
Much thanks to Disney Hyperion for the ARC!
June 17, 2025
first half of this book bangs. the second half.....there certainly are words on those pages. its kind of like their whole personalities shifted once they decided they mutually liked each other (which i don't actually believe). i just have to remember that they are in fact 19-20 year olds and none of them have any sense.
November 2, 2025
3.5/5 ☆
A quick, light-hearted friends to frenemies to lovers rom com type read with obligatory some cliche and cringe moments throughout.
A quick, light-hearted friends to frenemies to lovers rom com type read with obligatory some cliche and cringe moments throughout.
March 13, 2025
This was one of the most adorable, emotional, and HEART WRENCHING ya romances I've ever read. It was like watching your favorite K-Drama about your favorite K-Pop stars. I might even dare to say it was better than book 1... and I LOVED book 1.
What was great about this story was that you don't even have to read book 1 (although I would recommend it). This story stands entirely on its own. I loved Hyeri with everything in me. The reasons she spent a lot of her time alone were so sad but also relatable. I felt sooo much for her. My heart actually hurt, which was a bizarre feeling, but at the same time it was nice. I was glad the book was dual POV because something would happen and I would NEED to know what was going on in Minseok's head. Thank goodness the author gave that to me. I needed it! But I also liked that it wasn't split 50/50 on the dual POV. Making Hyeri the main POV was fantastic.
Basically, if you like K-Pop-you should read this. If you like K-Dramas-you should read this. If you like pining-you should read this. If you like situations where they kind of have to fake date-you should read this. If you like cute romances- you should read this. Sooo... I think everyone should be reading this now. Enjoy!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an earc in exchange for my honest review.
What was great about this story was that you don't even have to read book 1 (although I would recommend it). This story stands entirely on its own. I loved Hyeri with everything in me. The reasons she spent a lot of her time alone were so sad but also relatable. I felt sooo much for her. My heart actually hurt, which was a bizarre feeling, but at the same time it was nice. I was glad the book was dual POV because something would happen and I would NEED to know what was going on in Minseok's head. Thank goodness the author gave that to me. I needed it! But I also liked that it wasn't split 50/50 on the dual POV. Making Hyeri the main POV was fantastic.
Basically, if you like K-Pop-you should read this. If you like K-Dramas-you should read this. If you like pining-you should read this. If you like situations where they kind of have to fake date-you should read this. If you like cute romances- you should read this. Sooo... I think everyone should be reading this now. Enjoy!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an earc in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2025
Many thanks once again to the publisher/author via Dr. Arter for the free copy.
I one-more-chaptered my way through this bad boi way more quickly than I intended to, but I couldn’t help it. I was simply enthralled. I love the world of the story, the idol drama, the discourse about toxic fandom. Those things and more of what this story has are things I love to emulate in my own boy band narratives, so this was a perfect read for me. Though this book sappy as frick and had me giggling and screaming over and over, it was never predictable. Oh man was I shocked many a time, jaw on the floor type stuff.
Another thing I loved was that there were so many girlhood things that are magnified by Hyeri’s stardom that were so relatable. They made my heart hurt and healed me because I could just bury them in this fluffy k-pop romance that still never failed to acknowledge their reality.
It didn’t need it, but I could have read hundreds of pages more of this book. I’m in love.
(PG rating)
Grades 7-12
I one-more-chaptered my way through this bad boi way more quickly than I intended to, but I couldn’t help it. I was simply enthralled. I love the world of the story, the idol drama, the discourse about toxic fandom. Those things and more of what this story has are things I love to emulate in my own boy band narratives, so this was a perfect read for me. Though this book sappy as frick and had me giggling and screaming over and over, it was never predictable. Oh man was I shocked many a time, jaw on the floor type stuff.
Another thing I loved was that there were so many girlhood things that are magnified by Hyeri’s stardom that were so relatable. They made my heart hurt and healed me because I could just bury them in this fluffy k-pop romance that still never failed to acknowledge their reality.
It didn’t need it, but I could have read hundreds of pages more of this book. I’m in love.
(PG rating)
Grades 7-12
May 12, 2025
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I loved how Cho is able to balance a story about the pressures and expectations of the idol lifestyle with a swoony childhood crush story. Wish Upon a K-Star is a book I finished in a few days because I was so obsessed. There's these conversations about control over our own life. The business which controls our future and success has these ideas about what we should want. What is good for us. That doesn't even include our own family which might push us in ways we don't want. But what is worth fighting for? Sometimes we need someone to remind us our opinion matters.
I loved how Cho is able to balance a story about the pressures and expectations of the idol lifestyle with a swoony childhood crush story. Wish Upon a K-Star is a book I finished in a few days because I was so obsessed. There's these conversations about control over our own life. The business which controls our future and success has these ideas about what we should want. What is good for us. That doesn't even include our own family which might push us in ways we don't want. But what is worth fighting for? Sometimes we need someone to remind us our opinion matters.
May 1, 2025
I had such a great time reading this book, loved seeing these characters again and I really enjoyed their story!
May 9, 2025
this healed my soul and no i will not be taking any comments at this time
July 16, 2025
Such a good book 😫 I wish I could read it all over again for the first time. I loved everything about it. The ending was soooo satisfying.
September 1, 2025
This was adorable and full of drama. Loved it although some of the plot was predictable. 4/5.
September 19, 2025
⋆｡°✩ 4.5/5 Stars ✩°｡⋆
Wish Upon a K-Star is one of the cutest books I’ve read in a long while, with Once Upon a K-Prom being the last. I would call this a true YA fiction!
I picked this up in July simply because it was Kat Cho and decided my drive to and from Colorado was the perfect time to read it. For a bulk of the book, it was a read I didn’t want to put down unless it was my turn to drive! There’s a perfect balance of suspenseful drama and romance that helps immerse the reader. Despite having aphantasia (an inability to form mental images) I found this read to be one I could envision as if I was watching it unfold onscreen. Netflix or Amazon Prime could pick this book up a la Jenny Han and make something addictingly adorable, I fear. Hyeri as a main character was very relatable and this book did very well to touch upon mental health, complicated family relationships, and the fear of failure without seeming stilted. The friends-to-lovers and fake marriage tropes worked so well with this and brought everything I love in a K-Drama to the page.
To go deeper into some of the themes addressed in this book, bullying/cyberbullying, stalking, extreme pressure to be perfect, parental neglect, almost crippling anxiety, and grappling with feelings of inadequacy as they relate to love are all addressed in ways that aid the plot. In our modern world, bullying and cyberbullying are major issues that we somehow both talk about and ignore. Kat Cho’s depiction of this behavior and the harm it can cause to the victim and others in orbit was astounding. The elements of stalking and anxiety tie right into this theme, so I would say it’s a pretty major one here. You’ll find as the drama of it all unfolds that your feelings about the characters develop as the book goes on and learn not to judge a book by its cover, so to speak.
Korean language is also included in the book in a way that feels completely natural and teaches the reader without needing a dictionary included in the end pages!
Artwork: Absolutely gorgeous cover art by Velinxi. I’m unsure if this artist also did the art on the inside of the dust jacket (I suspect so) but it was equally gorgeous! I’m not a huge fan of posters and framing book or video game covers, but this one has me rethinking that position.
Dual POV: I’m not the biggest fan, and unless I’m really enticed by marketing or reader response, I tend to stray from these. For this book, though, I really did enjoy it! You get Hyeri’s POV in first person, and then flashes of Minseok’s POV in third person which I found really helpful for context and filling in the gaps of what Hyeri could narrate as a character.
Format: My favorite part was the creative formatting used in conjunction with the dual POV. The “Idol Profiles” and news reports added a lot to the immersive nature.
Spice: Virtually nonexistent. There are sweet romantic moments – and maybe a few where one would say “ooh la la”, but then stay very PG. This is something you’d find in a school library, but to me that made it perfect. It is a middle grade romance published by Disney so don’t let the lack of spice deter you! YA and New Adult are two different genres despite what BookTok and Bookstagram might lead you to believe.
Ultimately, it did feel like something was missing. Most of the time I will rate out at a full 5 Stars when I enjoy a book or can agree it was a great fit for its genre because I don’t have a specific criteria like many readers with English degrees/heavy critique experience. But this can feel unfair when I really enjoyed a book but wouldn’t rank it alongside some of the other’s I’ve given a high rating to. On the other hand, to give this a 4 Star seems too low so I would give this a 9/10 or 4.5/5 in this instance. This book is part of Kat Cho’s “K-Verse” series, so it doesn’t pick up where K-Prom left off and I suspect any future books in this world won’t pick up where K-Star left off. The short Epilogue sets you up to want a continuation of Hyeri’s story in a time where people are divided on wanting prequels/sequels and wanting standalone media. There was a fair bit of character development but because of the storytelling, we’re left on an ending where it feels like we’re just hitting the crest of something more. I do think that the length and flow may be under constraints of what Disney typically publishes, so on that note I do think it was phenomenal despite that Give-Me-Part-2 feeling.
With as much love as I had for this book, I cannot wait to read Gods & Comics when it releases on my birthday next year!
Wish Upon a K-Star is one of the cutest books I’ve read in a long while, with Once Upon a K-Prom being the last. I would call this a true YA fiction!
I picked this up in July simply because it was Kat Cho and decided my drive to and from Colorado was the perfect time to read it. For a bulk of the book, it was a read I didn’t want to put down unless it was my turn to drive! There’s a perfect balance of suspenseful drama and romance that helps immerse the reader. Despite having aphantasia (an inability to form mental images) I found this read to be one I could envision as if I was watching it unfold onscreen. Netflix or Amazon Prime could pick this book up a la Jenny Han and make something addictingly adorable, I fear. Hyeri as a main character was very relatable and this book did very well to touch upon mental health, complicated family relationships, and the fear of failure without seeming stilted. The friends-to-lovers and fake marriage tropes worked so well with this and brought everything I love in a K-Drama to the page.
To go deeper into some of the themes addressed in this book, bullying/cyberbullying, stalking, extreme pressure to be perfect, parental neglect, almost crippling anxiety, and grappling with feelings of inadequacy as they relate to love are all addressed in ways that aid the plot. In our modern world, bullying and cyberbullying are major issues that we somehow both talk about and ignore. Kat Cho’s depiction of this behavior and the harm it can cause to the victim and others in orbit was astounding. The elements of stalking and anxiety tie right into this theme, so I would say it’s a pretty major one here. You’ll find as the drama of it all unfolds that your feelings about the characters develop as the book goes on and learn not to judge a book by its cover, so to speak.
Korean language is also included in the book in a way that feels completely natural and teaches the reader without needing a dictionary included in the end pages!
Artwork: Absolutely gorgeous cover art by Velinxi. I’m unsure if this artist also did the art on the inside of the dust jacket (I suspect so) but it was equally gorgeous! I’m not a huge fan of posters and framing book or video game covers, but this one has me rethinking that position.
Dual POV: I’m not the biggest fan, and unless I’m really enticed by marketing or reader response, I tend to stray from these. For this book, though, I really did enjoy it! You get Hyeri’s POV in first person, and then flashes of Minseok’s POV in third person which I found really helpful for context and filling in the gaps of what Hyeri could narrate as a character.
Format: My favorite part was the creative formatting used in conjunction with the dual POV. The “Idol Profiles” and news reports added a lot to the immersive nature.
Spice: Virtually nonexistent. There are sweet romantic moments – and maybe a few where one would say “ooh la la”, but then stay very PG. This is something you’d find in a school library, but to me that made it perfect. It is a middle grade romance published by Disney so don’t let the lack of spice deter you! YA and New Adult are two different genres despite what BookTok and Bookstagram might lead you to believe.
Ultimately, it did feel like something was missing. Most of the time I will rate out at a full 5 Stars when I enjoy a book or can agree it was a great fit for its genre because I don’t have a specific criteria like many readers with English degrees/heavy critique experience. But this can feel unfair when I really enjoyed a book but wouldn’t rank it alongside some of the other’s I’ve given a high rating to. On the other hand, to give this a 4 Star seems too low so I would give this a 9/10 or 4.5/5 in this instance. This book is part of Kat Cho’s “K-Verse” series, so it doesn’t pick up where K-Prom left off and I suspect any future books in this world won’t pick up where K-Star left off. The short Epilogue sets you up to want a continuation of Hyeri’s story in a time where people are divided on wanting prequels/sequels and wanting standalone media. There was a fair bit of character development but because of the storytelling, we’re left on an ending where it feels like we’re just hitting the crest of something more. I do think that the length and flow may be under constraints of what Disney typically publishes, so on that note I do think it was phenomenal despite that Give-Me-Part-2 feeling.
With as much love as I had for this book, I cannot wait to read Gods & Comics when it releases on my birthday next year!
July 7, 2025
Who would’ve thought the soundtrack for my current downward spiral would have so much K-Pop in it?
Anyway.
I really liked this book—even MORE than I enjoyed the first book in this series.
Don’t get me wrong—I liked Robbie and Elena. But, Hyeri and Minseok are so OTP-coded. At least, to me.
Though their relationship leans in hard to some notable romance tropes—enemies to lovers, reunited childhood friends, fake relationship, etc.—it also develops in such an earnest way.
Hyeri is such a relatable FMC.
Watching her grapple with her anxiety from being in the crosshairs of the public eye, manage the pressure her mother has put on her to succeed, and try to work through her hurt from how Minseok ended their friendship years ago made her so sympathetic. (Even if Minseok’s reasons were well-intended, his actions still came across a bit harsh—which, the story also addressed.)
More, I appreciate how this story really focuses on Hyeri and Minseok developing more open communication between each other and emphasizes that reconciliation is a two-way street. This pair has a LOT of history and emotional baggage to work through—and this story doesn’t shy away from that.
I think it’s SO important to show young readers that relationships take work and that disagreements are natural but should not be left unaddressed.
Further, I like how this story put more emphasis on addressing the negative and exploitative aspects of idol culture and the entertainment industry.
It’s far more direct in calling out these issues than in the prior book. Readers would come away from this story better understanding how pervasive these issues can be in the lives of these entertainers and the long shadows this type of abuse can cast.
Anyway.
I liked this story a lot—WAY more than I expected.
I thought the central relationship was really cute and sweet—but, that’s the actual story was also unexpectedly thoughtful.
Definitely my favorite book so far from this author. Here’s hoping we get some more stories in this world~
Anyway.
I really liked this book—even MORE than I enjoyed the first book in this series.
Don’t get me wrong—I liked Robbie and Elena. But, Hyeri and Minseok are so OTP-coded. At least, to me.
Though their relationship leans in hard to some notable romance tropes—enemies to lovers, reunited childhood friends, fake relationship, etc.—it also develops in such an earnest way.
Hyeri is such a relatable FMC.
Watching her grapple with her anxiety from being in the crosshairs of the public eye, manage the pressure her mother has put on her to succeed, and try to work through her hurt from how Minseok ended their friendship years ago made her so sympathetic. (Even if Minseok’s reasons were well-intended, his actions still came across a bit harsh—which, the story also addressed.)
More, I appreciate how this story really focuses on Hyeri and Minseok developing more open communication between each other and emphasizes that reconciliation is a two-way street. This pair has a LOT of history and emotional baggage to work through—and this story doesn’t shy away from that.
I think it’s SO important to show young readers that relationships take work and that disagreements are natural but should not be left unaddressed.
Further, I like how this story put more emphasis on addressing the negative and exploitative aspects of idol culture and the entertainment industry.
It’s far more direct in calling out these issues than in the prior book. Readers would come away from this story better understanding how pervasive these issues can be in the lives of these entertainers and the long shadows this type of abuse can cast.
Anyway.
I liked this story a lot—WAY more than I expected.
I thought the central relationship was really cute and sweet—but, that’s the actual story was also unexpectedly thoughtful.
Definitely my favorite book so far from this author. Here’s hoping we get some more stories in this world~
June 16, 2025
I fear I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve read too many k-drama/k-pop inspired books that they have all melded together in my head. I also fear that it’s been so long since I read the first book that I was trying to put together all of these pieces that I could not remember for the life of me. ✋💀
Was lowkey messy and I kept getting so mad at the drama these two were creating for themselves. Also the POVs felt all over the place? But!! It was fun, as per usual. You can always count me in for the messiest of messy 🙂↕️
Was lowkey messy and I kept getting so mad at the drama these two were creating for themselves. Also the POVs felt all over the place? But!! It was fun, as per usual. You can always count me in for the messiest of messy 🙂↕️
August 8, 2025
yay i finished it 😃
it wad oretty good, i didnt love how it was writen sometimes tho 💔💔
yeah
uh
it shoukd have been s little more spread out but instead we literally got 80% of the girl pov😭😭
pretty good romance overall
luv yall
-charlotte
it wad oretty good, i didnt love how it was writen sometimes tho 💔💔
yeah
uh
it shoukd have been s little more spread out but instead we literally got 80% of the girl pov😭😭
pretty good romance overall
luv yall
-charlotte
November 4, 2025
I love a guilty pleasure especially about kpop but this was as flat as a plain
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2025
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating is more of a 3.5 star.
Trigger warning:
Eating restriction-I feel like I should mention that there is some eating disorder triggers in this book when it comes to limiting food consumption, particular 'bad food' and though it isn't right up in your face, it is there because in reality it is a huge worry for female k-pop artists in particular. Super skinny is a must for an idol in the real world.
That said, on to the review!
Do you like K-pop, like the behind the scenes action, the romance of a force proximity/fake dating trope with an ex (therefore a second chance love story if you will)? Then this book is for you!!!!
As someone who casually listens to k-pop and watched a handful of documentaries on a few different groups (out of curiosity), I can only speak with this limited general knowledge that I have to say, this book seems to hit the nail on the head when it comes to depicting the life of some k-pop idols. It does try to dull down the stark reality that food is strictly controlled, artists can be run off their feet with rehearsals, tv appearances and such, and image is everything to the giant powerhouses that employ a lot of k-pop stars. You better do what you are told and appeal to the fans or chances are good they will just boot you and replace you. It has to be exhausting in reality. anyhow...
The book handles other things, like the fickle nature of k-pop fandoms. And I'll be honest, I was more into the background info of life as a K-pop star then I was in their actual romance (sorry, not sorry, but I am not a fan of 2nd chance love stories where one person crushed the other in the past).
But if you are here for the actual people what you need to know is this:
Shin Hyeri was a k-pop idol who turned into an actress and seems to constantly be steeped in some sort of scandal. In order to get her reputation back up where the company thinks it should be, she's told she has to participate on a tv show where celebrities' fake marry and participate in newlywed challenges...with Moon Minseok, a male k-pop star who broke her heart years before. But this is what she has to do to save her career, so she does.
Shin Hyeri is a bit of a prickly girl, so if that isn't your jam, please be aware of this. And these two kind of suck at communicating. Book-wise, just be aware, if you don't know anything about k-pop, you might be to look some stuff up to figure out what some things mean. As a surface level k-pop fan, I did have to refresh my memory once or twice. Also, Hyeri has a lot more page time than Moon does. I kinda wanted a little more from his side of things.
True to Korean standards of being proper, there is nothing questionable that happens in this book between Moon and Shin. It's just a cute, clean romance...if you like second chances.
All in all, it was a good book that took me a little longer to read because it wasn't quite to my taste. I know a lot of teenagers who would absolutely devour his book, given the chance though!
Actual rating is more of a 3.5 star.
Trigger warning:
Eating restriction-I feel like I should mention that there is some eating disorder triggers in this book when it comes to limiting food consumption, particular 'bad food' and though it isn't right up in your face, it is there because in reality it is a huge worry for female k-pop artists in particular. Super skinny is a must for an idol in the real world.
That said, on to the review!
Do you like K-pop, like the behind the scenes action, the romance of a force proximity/fake dating trope with an ex (therefore a second chance love story if you will)? Then this book is for you!!!!
As someone who casually listens to k-pop and watched a handful of documentaries on a few different groups (out of curiosity), I can only speak with this limited general knowledge that I have to say, this book seems to hit the nail on the head when it comes to depicting the life of some k-pop idols. It does try to dull down the stark reality that food is strictly controlled, artists can be run off their feet with rehearsals, tv appearances and such, and image is everything to the giant powerhouses that employ a lot of k-pop stars. You better do what you are told and appeal to the fans or chances are good they will just boot you and replace you. It has to be exhausting in reality. anyhow...
The book handles other things, like the fickle nature of k-pop fandoms. And I'll be honest, I was more into the background info of life as a K-pop star then I was in their actual romance (sorry, not sorry, but I am not a fan of 2nd chance love stories where one person crushed the other in the past).
But if you are here for the actual people what you need to know is this:
Shin Hyeri was a k-pop idol who turned into an actress and seems to constantly be steeped in some sort of scandal. In order to get her reputation back up where the company thinks it should be, she's told she has to participate on a tv show where celebrities' fake marry and participate in newlywed challenges...with Moon Minseok, a male k-pop star who broke her heart years before. But this is what she has to do to save her career, so she does.
Shin Hyeri is a bit of a prickly girl, so if that isn't your jam, please be aware of this. And these two kind of suck at communicating. Book-wise, just be aware, if you don't know anything about k-pop, you might be to look some stuff up to figure out what some things mean. As a surface level k-pop fan, I did have to refresh my memory once or twice. Also, Hyeri has a lot more page time than Moon does. I kinda wanted a little more from his side of things.
True to Korean standards of being proper, there is nothing questionable that happens in this book between Moon and Shin. It's just a cute, clean romance...if you like second chances.
All in all, it was a good book that took me a little longer to read because it wasn't quite to my taste. I know a lot of teenagers who would absolutely devour his book, given the chance though!
May 13, 2025
3.75 stars
Idol turned actress Hyeri is the scandal princess and can't afford anymore hits to her name. Moonster is doing solo activities while trying to regain the adoration of the K-pop world after a slew of dating scandals amongst his group. So of course the two end up on a compromising viral video while they were hosting a festival. The solution? Go on show similar to real world We Got Married.
While on they show, they start reliving their trainee memories and conflicting feelings rise and they become the darling couple of the show, regaining their popularity and boosting their images. It was fine but I think I would've liked more Moonster chapters. In comparison to the first book, there were hardly any and I really couldn't connect with his character.
Overall, it was still a good time and I liked re-visting the members of WDB and the glitz and glam (and dark sides) of k-pop and the hallyu wave. I hope we continue to see more stories from the other members as well.
Oh and I absolutely ADORE the cover art and dust jacket (just like the previous book)
Idol turned actress Hyeri is the scandal princess and can't afford anymore hits to her name. Moonster is doing solo activities while trying to regain the adoration of the K-pop world after a slew of dating scandals amongst his group. So of course the two end up on a compromising viral video while they were hosting a festival. The solution? Go on show similar to real world We Got Married.
While on they show, they start reliving their trainee memories and conflicting feelings rise and they become the darling couple of the show, regaining their popularity and boosting their images. It was fine but I think I would've liked more Moonster chapters. In comparison to the first book, there were hardly any and I really couldn't connect with his character.
Overall, it was still a good time and I liked re-visting the members of WDB and the glitz and glam (and dark sides) of k-pop and the hallyu wave. I hope we continue to see more stories from the other members as well.
Oh and I absolutely ADORE the cover art and dust jacket (just like the previous book)
December 15, 2025
PreRead Thoughts
I fully expect this book to be sickeningly adorable and utterly unrealistic and I am so here for it.
Post Read Thoughts
Well that was... not what I was expecting.
This story is mired in all the toxicity and awfulness of the kpop industry with none of the fun parts. It's a valid storytelling choice, but not an enjoyable or balanced one - and the book reads like it's written by a stan and not by someone who knows anything about the industry firsthand.
As a byproduct of dwelling so heavily on rumors and hate, the story makes everything about Hyeri's career sound horrible. Her anxiety and overthinking is realistic, albeit nonstop about everything that's part of her role. There aren't enough moments that show why she's even pursuing being an actress, what she likes about it, where she finds passion and fulfillment. When asked about her goals, she doesn't answer "I love acting" or "I love performing" - she says she wants to stick it to the haters.
Major trigger warning for EDs - the strict calorie counting and diet culture rampant in the industry is presented on page as an expected part of the role and gets no pushback for its unhealthiness. Hyeri repeatedly experiences misogyny and double standards and even harassment by a member of staff, all with no repercussions or changes. It's all treated with a handwave of "sucks, but that's just how things are! oh well!" while Hyeri brushes it off and never thinks of it again.
Am I supposed to believe Hyeri got a happy ending?! I'm not at all satisfied with her resolution with a love interest who lacks emotional regulation and repeatedly spouts cruel invectives just because he's overwhelmed. Don't even get me started on the way Hyeri gaslights herself about her mother's abusive behavior or her brother's selfish carelessness and deliberate neglect.
Perhaps my expectations were to blame? In my defense, the hook does promise a "fresh and funny romcom" and this book is not that. I don't think I smiled once.
And it's extra disappointing because I wanted so badly to love Kat Cho's writing! Rating one star feels so harsh, but I genuinely did not enjoy this.
I fully expect this book to be sickeningly adorable and utterly unrealistic and I am so here for it.
Post Read Thoughts
Well that was... not what I was expecting.
This story is mired in all the toxicity and awfulness of the kpop industry with none of the fun parts. It's a valid storytelling choice, but not an enjoyable or balanced one - and the book reads like it's written by a stan and not by someone who knows anything about the industry firsthand.
As a byproduct of dwelling so heavily on rumors and hate, the story makes everything about Hyeri's career sound horrible. Her anxiety and overthinking is realistic, albeit nonstop about everything that's part of her role. There aren't enough moments that show why she's even pursuing being an actress, what she likes about it, where she finds passion and fulfillment. When asked about her goals, she doesn't answer "I love acting" or "I love performing" - she says she wants to stick it to the haters.
Major trigger warning for EDs - the strict calorie counting and diet culture rampant in the industry is presented on page as an expected part of the role and gets no pushback for its unhealthiness. Hyeri repeatedly experiences misogyny and double standards and even harassment by a member of staff, all with no repercussions or changes. It's all treated with a handwave of "sucks, but that's just how things are! oh well!" while Hyeri brushes it off and never thinks of it again.
Am I supposed to believe Hyeri got a happy ending?! I'm not at all satisfied with her resolution with a love interest who lacks emotional regulation and repeatedly spouts cruel invectives just because he's overwhelmed. Don't even get me started on the way Hyeri gaslights herself about her mother's abusive behavior or her brother's selfish carelessness and deliberate neglect.
Perhaps my expectations were to blame? In my defense, the hook does promise a "fresh and funny romcom" and this book is not that. I don't think I smiled once.
And it's extra disappointing because I wanted so badly to love Kat Cho's writing! Rating one star feels so harsh, but I genuinely did not enjoy this.
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