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Superfan
“Equally DARK AND DAZZLING, like a spotlight flickering on a dim stage. This is a book I’ll be recommending to all my coolest friends.” —LitHub
From National Book Foundation 5 UNDER 35 HONOREE Jenny Tinghui Zhang, a novel about a pop idol and his superfan, whose stories shockingly collide
Freshman Minnie is adrift at college in Austin, Texas, when she discovers a boy band called HOURglass and the online forums that worship them. She especially loves Halo, whose sharp edges feel somehow familiar. After a brief romance goes painfully awry, Minnie pours everything into her new fandom, clinging to each livestream and bonding with other fans online. But when a scandal threatens to expose Halo to harm, Minnie decides that she is the only one who can save him.
Except Halo’s secret is darker than anything the tabloids could imagine. Before he was a superstar heartthrob, he was a high school dropout haunted by a tragic accident. When he is recruited for HOURglass, it feels like a chance to become someone else. And when he is onstage in front of his fans, he can almost forget the horrors of his past--until one of those very fans threatens to destroy everything.
Dazzling, entrancing, and deeply heartfelt, Superfan is about fandom in all its magic and its terror, and the extreme lengths to which we go to rid ourselves of loneliness.
From National Book Foundation 5 UNDER 35 HONOREE Jenny Tinghui Zhang, a novel about a pop idol and his superfan, whose stories shockingly collide
Freshman Minnie is adrift at college in Austin, Texas, when she discovers a boy band called HOURglass and the online forums that worship them. She especially loves Halo, whose sharp edges feel somehow familiar. After a brief romance goes painfully awry, Minnie pours everything into her new fandom, clinging to each livestream and bonding with other fans online. But when a scandal threatens to expose Halo to harm, Minnie decides that she is the only one who can save him.
Except Halo’s secret is darker than anything the tabloids could imagine. Before he was a superstar heartthrob, he was a high school dropout haunted by a tragic accident. When he is recruited for HOURglass, it feels like a chance to become someone else. And when he is onstage in front of his fans, he can almost forget the horrors of his past--until one of those very fans threatens to destroy everything.
Dazzling, entrancing, and deeply heartfelt, Superfan is about fandom in all its magic and its terror, and the extreme lengths to which we go to rid ourselves of loneliness.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2026
86 people are currently reading
9959 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Tinghui Zhang
4 books572 followersJenny Tinghui Zhang is a Texas-based Chinese-American writer and the author of Four Treasures of the Sky (forthcoming from Flatiron Books on April 5, 2022). She is a Kundiman fellow and graduate of the VONA/Voices and Tin House workshops. Her work has appeared in Apogee, Ninth Letter, Passages North, The Rumpus, HuffPost, The Cut, Catapult, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
November 11, 2025
I keep being drawn to novels about fame and fandom, although I’ve never read anything that comes close to The Ghost Network. While fun in parts, Superfan continues that trend. Minnie is a lonely student who hasn’t made any friends at college and is stuck in a messy entanglement with a guy who belittles her. Then she gets obsessively attached to HOURglass, a ‘K-pop-inspired’ boyband, and one member in particular: Halo. Through the fandom, she finally starts to make connections with other people, but is also pulled into a conspiracy rabbit-hole. In a parallel set of chapters, we follow Halo – real name Eason – as he strives to keep his past secret from the media and his fans.
The best parts of the book are about Minnie’s college experience, the character believably failing to find her feet in an environment where everyone else seems to do so effortlessly. If the guys she encounters seem a little too cartoonishly awful, it’s also easy to believe in Minnie as someone who would endure this behaviour for the sake of acceptance. There’s an unevenness, though – both narratives are third person, but Minnie’s digs into her character whereas Eason always remains at a remove. I wanted to know more about Minnie; I was tempted to skip or skim some of Eason’s chapters. The plot’s machinations are simple, and there are some annoying loose ends (I was particularly irritated by the whole thing with Nate’s short story about Minnie, which gets no payoff).
An enjoyable read with an engaging main character in Minnie – but maybe just a bit ‘young’ for me and better suited to readers closer in age to the characters.
I received an advance review copy of Superfan from the publisher through Edelweiss.
The best parts of the book are about Minnie’s college experience, the character believably failing to find her feet in an environment where everyone else seems to do so effortlessly. If the guys she encounters seem a little too cartoonishly awful, it’s also easy to believe in Minnie as someone who would endure this behaviour for the sake of acceptance. There’s an unevenness, though – both narratives are third person, but Minnie’s digs into her character whereas Eason always remains at a remove. I wanted to know more about Minnie; I was tempted to skip or skim some of Eason’s chapters. The plot’s machinations are simple, and there are some annoying loose ends (I was particularly irritated by the whole thing with Nate’s short story about Minnie, which gets no payoff).
An enjoyable read with an engaging main character in Minnie – but maybe just a bit ‘young’ for me and better suited to readers closer in age to the characters.
I received an advance review copy of Superfan from the publisher through Edelweiss.
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July 2, 2025I adore Jenny and will be thinking about this book and its themes of loneliness and connection for a long time 💜
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Superfan is a contemporary literary coming of age story about loneliness, fandom, and the thin line between connection and obsession.
Told through a dual POV format, we follow Minnie (a lonely college student) and Eason (a member of a newly famous kpop inspired boyband) as their paths slowly intertwine. Alongside the main chapters are also forum posts, as well as a genuinely hilarious fanfiction excerpt that made the story feel even more immersive and real.
I loved how the author makes you root for both characters! I really felt for Minnie from the very beginning and found myself just wishing for her happiness the entire time. Her need to be seen, to just belong, felt deeply human and uncomfortably relatable, and I have no doubt many readers will find parts of themselves in her. Having to watch Minnie be repeatedly dismissed and manipulated by the men around her was heartbreaking, and it made her character growth towards the end all the more satisfying!
Eason's POV, in turn, adds an intriguing counter balance, exploring how parasocial relationships feel on both sides. His chapters also added an unsettling mystery aspect, and I enjoyed how the tension around him built slowly until it finally tipped too far.
Overall, this was sharp, sad, and ultimately compassionate towards girls who are trying to find their place in the world. Definitely recommend it to everyone who loves a strong and thoughtful coming of age story!
Told through a dual POV format, we follow Minnie (a lonely college student) and Eason (a member of a newly famous kpop inspired boyband) as their paths slowly intertwine. Alongside the main chapters are also forum posts, as well as a genuinely hilarious fanfiction excerpt that made the story feel even more immersive and real.
I loved how the author makes you root for both characters! I really felt for Minnie from the very beginning and found myself just wishing for her happiness the entire time. Her need to be seen, to just belong, felt deeply human and uncomfortably relatable, and I have no doubt many readers will find parts of themselves in her. Having to watch Minnie be repeatedly dismissed and manipulated by the men around her was heartbreaking, and it made her character growth towards the end all the more satisfying!
Eason's POV, in turn, adds an intriguing counter balance, exploring how parasocial relationships feel on both sides. His chapters also added an unsettling mystery aspect, and I enjoyed how the tension around him built slowly until it finally tipped too far.
Overall, this was sharp, sad, and ultimately compassionate towards girls who are trying to find their place in the world. Definitely recommend it to everyone who loves a strong and thoughtful coming of age story!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC of Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang.
As usual, another awesome performance from Katherine Chin and Eric Yang!
I loved this narrative that exposed the predatory and harmful environment of the music industry, the way that fandom brings people together, but also tears them apart, the importance of representation of music groups with Asians in them, and the struggle of teenage development into college. As someone who was a K-Pop fan, I thought that this approach showed just how dark the industry is, but digestible enough for a broader audience (honestly, some of the stories I’ve heard were FAR worse than what happens in this novel). It was an addictive listen, and I related to Minnie and her quest to find herself by using this boy group as a model for what she wants for herself. I loved the depth of Eason’s character and his very haunting past! I unfortunately recognized the crazed nature that some fans have and also the way that girls who enjoy (literally) anything are scrutinized. It made me feel seen and provided me a perspective on fandom that I’d never considered before. Also, that ending? This book is a hit!
As usual, another awesome performance from Katherine Chin and Eric Yang!
I loved this narrative that exposed the predatory and harmful environment of the music industry, the way that fandom brings people together, but also tears them apart, the importance of representation of music groups with Asians in them, and the struggle of teenage development into college. As someone who was a K-Pop fan, I thought that this approach showed just how dark the industry is, but digestible enough for a broader audience (honestly, some of the stories I’ve heard were FAR worse than what happens in this novel). It was an addictive listen, and I related to Minnie and her quest to find herself by using this boy group as a model for what she wants for herself. I loved the depth of Eason’s character and his very haunting past! I unfortunately recognized the crazed nature that some fans have and also the way that girls who enjoy (literally) anything are scrutinized. It made me feel seen and provided me a perspective on fandom that I’d never considered before. Also, that ending? This book is a hit!
February 9, 2026
Fucking Hell. I have many thoughts.
By virtue of being book people, we've all probably been a fan of something, but have you ever been in one of *those* fandoms? The ones that get a reputation for being way too intense and are full of in-fighting, bullying, stalking, etc? I have, and opening Discord still makes me nervous. (I'm joking, kind of.)
This book gets into a lot of the dark parts of fandom, even when it's talking about the positive bits. A lot of people go to fandom looking for community because the world can be really lonely. In some ways this is a good thing, but it also encourages people to ignore or support dangerous/toxic behavior in their fandom. Particularly if you don't have a lot going for you outside the digital world, or if you become fixated on what you're supporting, I understand how Minnie ended up becoming reliant on the fandom for joy and companionship.
The idea of celebrity and privacy was another thing that jumped out to me as true-to-life. There were some posts in the book along the lines of "If you can't handle the invasion of privacy, you shouldn't be famous" which sounds insane but I saw posts basically word-for-word when Chappell Roan snapped at the paparazzi for being rude to her. We've become accustomed to the idea that celebrities have their privacy invaded, to the extent that it feels contradictory for a celebrity to be a private person.
And I have to talk about the shipping, because I have so many thoughts on shipping (specifically m/m shipping) and I think this book tackles it well on a few different levels. I'm not going to pass judgement on whether it's a good or a bad thing on the whole because to me it's more complicated than that. One thing I think this book did a good job of articulating is how m/m romance gives women a space to consume sexual content in which their bodies are not sexualized. For people like Minnie who have sexual trauma, slash is sexual content that she can enjoy without it being triggering. The book also shows the harm of shipping real people. Notably, the fans lash out at anyone who they believe is threatening this (usually imagined, in this case manufactured) relationship. There are also crumbs of the way safely consuming sexual content quickly can lead to fetishization. The idea of the record label manufacturing Jelly and Halo's relationship is interesting for sure. I do wonder, especially in bands and tv shows where there are slash ships, how much of it is a result of intentional queerbaiting and how much of it is genuinely just misinterpreted (and how much started as genuinely unintentional, but became queerbaiting once people got the memo that a ship was gaining the show traction. I could talk about this all day. I think about it a lot.
There are a few things that I think could have been expanded on a little. I'm not sure I'm entirely clear on the timeline of Eason's backstory, and Julian's eating disorder felt like a bit of an afterthought. We also don't really get any follow up on Julian and the rest of the band members other than Eason which is a bit unsatisfying.
Lots to chew on! Kudos to this book for giving me war flashback to being in a crazy fandom!
By virtue of being book people, we've all probably been a fan of something, but have you ever been in one of *those* fandoms? The ones that get a reputation for being way too intense and are full of in-fighting, bullying, stalking, etc? I have, and opening Discord still makes me nervous. (I'm joking, kind of.)
This book gets into a lot of the dark parts of fandom, even when it's talking about the positive bits. A lot of people go to fandom looking for community because the world can be really lonely. In some ways this is a good thing, but it also encourages people to ignore or support dangerous/toxic behavior in their fandom. Particularly if you don't have a lot going for you outside the digital world, or if you become fixated on what you're supporting, I understand how Minnie ended up becoming reliant on the fandom for joy and companionship.
The idea of celebrity and privacy was another thing that jumped out to me as true-to-life. There were some posts in the book along the lines of "If you can't handle the invasion of privacy, you shouldn't be famous" which sounds insane but I saw posts basically word-for-word when Chappell Roan snapped at the paparazzi for being rude to her. We've become accustomed to the idea that celebrities have their privacy invaded, to the extent that it feels contradictory for a celebrity to be a private person.
And I have to talk about the shipping, because I have so many thoughts on shipping (specifically m/m shipping) and I think this book tackles it well on a few different levels. I'm not going to pass judgement on whether it's a good or a bad thing on the whole because to me it's more complicated than that. One thing I think this book did a good job of articulating is how m/m romance gives women a space to consume sexual content in which their bodies are not sexualized. For people like Minnie who have sexual trauma, slash is sexual content that she can enjoy without it being triggering. The book also shows the harm of shipping real people. Notably, the fans lash out at anyone who they believe is threatening this (usually imagined, in this case manufactured) relationship. There are also crumbs of the way safely consuming sexual content quickly can lead to fetishization. The idea of the record label manufacturing Jelly and Halo's relationship is interesting for sure. I do wonder, especially in bands and tv shows where there are slash ships, how much of it is a result of intentional queerbaiting and how much of it is genuinely just misinterpreted (and how much started as genuinely unintentional, but became queerbaiting once people got the memo that a ship was gaining the show traction. I could talk about this all day. I think about it a lot.
There are a few things that I think could have been expanded on a little. I'm not sure I'm entirely clear on the timeline of Eason's backstory, and Julian's eating disorder felt like a bit of an afterthought. We also don't really get any follow up on Julian and the rest of the band members other than Eason which is a bit unsatisfying.
Lots to chew on! Kudos to this book for giving me war flashback to being in a crazy fandom!
January 29, 2026
As a previous boy band lover myself…I am shook! While I was no where near as hardcore, this book really resonated with me. The intensity of loving a boy band and the sense of community being a part of a fan base can bring. It indeed was extremely well done.
The author did a great job of showing how our FMC was able to get so drawn into this world, rather than just having the FMC be this mega fan right off the bat. Allowing for us as readers to see how easy it can be to fall down the rabbit hole. Especially, when you’re starting out somewhere new and trying to find a sense of belonging.
The dual POV was a great touch as well. We get to see the exact cause and effect relationship of each scene, to show rather than tell. I liked getting to see the band’s rise to fame and how it affects them, not just the fan’s point of view of their experience.
One last thing I would like to touch on, the scene where Minnie talks about men loving sports teams and how that is within the same realm to women’s love for boy bands and artists is spot on! Then leaning into the discussion of how female centered hobbies and trends are constantly ridiculed, simply because men don’t understand it. I was all over it! Glad that was talked about!
I was able to listen to this as an audiobook, which I really enjoyed! I liked the 2 narrators for the dual POV. I think audio would be a great way to go for this book!
All in all, I don’t think this book will be for everyone. It was indeed really good in my opinion. I think it’s worth a try if the synopsis at all piques your interest.
***Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The author did a great job of showing how our FMC was able to get so drawn into this world, rather than just having the FMC be this mega fan right off the bat. Allowing for us as readers to see how easy it can be to fall down the rabbit hole. Especially, when you’re starting out somewhere new and trying to find a sense of belonging.
The dual POV was a great touch as well. We get to see the exact cause and effect relationship of each scene, to show rather than tell. I liked getting to see the band’s rise to fame and how it affects them, not just the fan’s point of view of their experience.
One last thing I would like to touch on, the scene where Minnie talks about men loving sports teams and how that is within the same realm to women’s love for boy bands and artists is spot on! Then leaning into the discussion of how female centered hobbies and trends are constantly ridiculed, simply because men don’t understand it. I was all over it! Glad that was talked about!
I was able to listen to this as an audiobook, which I really enjoyed! I liked the 2 narrators for the dual POV. I think audio would be a great way to go for this book!
All in all, I don’t think this book will be for everyone. It was indeed really good in my opinion. I think it’s worth a try if the synopsis at all piques your interest.
***Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 3, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
Superfan follows Minnie who is a lonely college student who discovers the k-pop inspired boy band, HOURglass. The band gives her an escape from her lonely life and soon she is watching everything they do and hoping her favourite member, Halo will see her in the comments. Halo whose real name is Eason is becoming addicted to the adoration from his fans and escapes into the band to ignore his tragic past. Minnie ends up drawn into a fan community for the band that believes they need to protect the band members from a dark conspiracy. As Minnie gets deeper into the fan community, the line between fandom and obsession blurs and Minnie is desperate to discover Halo and the secrets he is keeping.
This book is a good deep dive into fandom culture and how dark things can get. It was easy to relate to Minnie and how lonely she felt and it was easy to understand how Minnie got involved into the fan community. This book feels like a realistic interpretation of the negative parts of being in a fandom and stan culture. It was also interesting to see Eason’s point of view of being in a band and experiencing the attention from fans. The writing felt a little remote and this just wasn’t the perfect story for me because I do think this was a little too on the nose with the points made. That said I’m giving this 3.5 stars and I would recommend this.
Superfan follows Minnie who is a lonely college student who discovers the k-pop inspired boy band, HOURglass. The band gives her an escape from her lonely life and soon she is watching everything they do and hoping her favourite member, Halo will see her in the comments. Halo whose real name is Eason is becoming addicted to the adoration from his fans and escapes into the band to ignore his tragic past. Minnie ends up drawn into a fan community for the band that believes they need to protect the band members from a dark conspiracy. As Minnie gets deeper into the fan community, the line between fandom and obsession blurs and Minnie is desperate to discover Halo and the secrets he is keeping.
This book is a good deep dive into fandom culture and how dark things can get. It was easy to relate to Minnie and how lonely she felt and it was easy to understand how Minnie got involved into the fan community. This book feels like a realistic interpretation of the negative parts of being in a fandom and stan culture. It was also interesting to see Eason’s point of view of being in a band and experiencing the attention from fans. The writing felt a little remote and this just wasn’t the perfect story for me because I do think this was a little too on the nose with the points made. That said I’m giving this 3.5 stars and I would recommend this.
August 20, 2025
A dizzying and sickening reflection of fame, idols, and how quickly we can lose ourselves. As someone who spent her formative years online and in spaces dedicated to boybands, this novel hit close to home. Similar to Minnie, I sought refuge in fandoms and celebrities that felt larger than life. I saw firsthand the delusions, conspiracies and fears that circulated around these online communities.
There was so much real fear in this story, and choosing to tell it from both inside the band and out was a clever move. I felt the want and need of the fans, and Minnie, but also the desperation in the boys, particularly Easton. I wish there was a bit more development with the other boys, but this was really Easton/Halo’s story.
I loved the slow descent into madness, and the subsequent hope at the end. This was such an exciting book to read, it felt almost like a thriller in parts. Truly a fantastic and important story about parasocial relationships and the damage they cause. If you were once a fangirl, or in online fandoms, I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Superfan #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
There was so much real fear in this story, and choosing to tell it from both inside the band and out was a clever move. I felt the want and need of the fans, and Minnie, but also the desperation in the boys, particularly Easton. I wish there was a bit more development with the other boys, but this was really Easton/Halo’s story.
I loved the slow descent into madness, and the subsequent hope at the end. This was such an exciting book to read, it felt almost like a thriller in parts. Truly a fantastic and important story about parasocial relationships and the damage they cause. If you were once a fangirl, or in online fandoms, I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Superfan #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 29, 2025
This leaned very YA for me, I’m not sure if it’s being shelved as YA or general fiction but it felt YA. I never really got attached to the characters, which led to me not being invested in the story. Think slow burn but…the payoff wasn’t all that great.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Currently reading
April 23, 2025ITS HAPPENING ITS HAPPENING ITS FINALLY HAPPENING
February 4, 2026
Superfan was just an okay read for me. Minnie struggling with the loneliness of the college experience was the most compelling bit of the book, not her obsession with HOURglass or Halo's POV of being mired in scandals and secrets as a member of a Kpop-inspired boyband (which ironically is what Superfan's marketing revolves around). Those bits lack depth and felt more unrealistic.
January 19, 2026
This started out intriguing, I thought Minnie was a compelling character and I was looking forward to her finding her footing and assertiveness throughout the book. The rest was really disjointed and felt way too dramatic for what was actually going on.
Eason’s POV was so bland. The events were made to be this incredibly high stakes thing and it just fell completely flat. If you’re a Gaylor who is super into parasocial relationships then you might like this book.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book.
Eason’s POV was so bland. The events were made to be this incredibly high stakes thing and it just fell completely flat. If you’re a Gaylor who is super into parasocial relationships then you might like this book.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book.
January 24, 2026
This is an interesting look behind the curtain of fame and it’s effects. The story is told through the POV of Minnie, a college student who gets sucked into an obsession over HOURglass, a viral pop group, and Halo, one of its members hiding a big secret.
While listening to the book, I felt there was so much potential left unexplored. I wanted the author to dig deeper into each character and reveal more layers. Both Minnie and Halo felt a bit one dimensional to me.
There’s an underlying message about the cost of fame and how the truth is often distorted. Overall, the book felt skewed to an audience younger than me which may explain why it was an okay read for me, as opposed to a memorable one.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the gifted ALC. All opinions are my own.
While listening to the book, I felt there was so much potential left unexplored. I wanted the author to dig deeper into each character and reveal more layers. Both Minnie and Halo felt a bit one dimensional to me.
There’s an underlying message about the cost of fame and how the truth is often distorted. Overall, the book felt skewed to an audience younger than me which may explain why it was an okay read for me, as opposed to a memorable one.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the gifted ALC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
2.5⭐
February 11, 2026
2.75
This was a book that I finished pretty quickly, but not because it was the most compelling read. It honestly left me in kind of a funk (that I am still in a bit after finishing the book). On paper (get the joke), it covers plenty of topics that I would find interesting such as fandom, parasocial relationships, the concept of celebrity itself, and media scrutiny. On paper though (yes, read this in a different tone so I can force the double entendre), it fell flat simply because of the immense number of topics that were covered. There wasn't much depth when exploring each topic, so this book ends up feeling like a primer on fandom rather than a deep exploration of fan and artist relationships.
Minnie is an interesting character, but my main gripe with her is that her development is relegated to a four-year time skip. You can see bits of her starting to find herself as the book goes on, but any major change is left to the unseen forces of time. She is super relatable though, and as a former lonely teenager who was also in tons of derided fandoms, I can see myself in her to an extent. You really see fandom become the core of her essence and become her whole personality, which can be accurate in extreme cases, but also makes her character a bit dull.
Eason's POV was a bit of a weird outlier to me. His personal tragedies are necessary to carry the plot along, but feel somewhat oddly placed. You get so much build-up about how he did such a terrible thing, but you can piece together what happens pretty early on. All of the struggles he faces do contrast with his celebrity persona quite well, but the extent of the tragedy seems quite dramatic in scope. The best way I can describe it is that it's dramatic for the sake of being dramatic, not because the level drama felt natural. You see some gripes about celebrity life, but that part is overshadowed by the focus on Eason's trauma. The ending also seems a bit like a cheap shock value ending that doesn't go with the rest of the book. I would have enjoyed seeing Eason and Minnie go through more character development rather than the explosion of a shock ending.
Eason and Julian's relationship is also a bit of an odd point to me. It's no secret that "shipping" culture is alive and well, but bringing up the staging of a fake relationship multiple times and only briefly discussing why it was marketable ignored a lot of potential conversations about misogyny and why shipping even happens. I did like that the deterioration of Eason and Julian's relationship was chronicled; anyone old enough to know what Larry Stylinson means knows how damaging these situations can be.
All in all, this was a pretty surface-level look at fandom that was enjoyable at parts, but lacked the depth that would have taken this to the next level. Great cover though!
This was a book that I finished pretty quickly, but not because it was the most compelling read. It honestly left me in kind of a funk (that I am still in a bit after finishing the book). On paper (get the joke), it covers plenty of topics that I would find interesting such as fandom, parasocial relationships, the concept of celebrity itself, and media scrutiny. On paper though (yes, read this in a different tone so I can force the double entendre), it fell flat simply because of the immense number of topics that were covered. There wasn't much depth when exploring each topic, so this book ends up feeling like a primer on fandom rather than a deep exploration of fan and artist relationships.
Minnie is an interesting character, but my main gripe with her is that her development is relegated to a four-year time skip. You can see bits of her starting to find herself as the book goes on, but any major change is left to the unseen forces of time. She is super relatable though, and as a former lonely teenager who was also in tons of derided fandoms, I can see myself in her to an extent. You really see fandom become the core of her essence and become her whole personality, which can be accurate in extreme cases, but also makes her character a bit dull.
Eason's POV was a bit of a weird outlier to me. His personal tragedies are necessary to carry the plot along, but feel somewhat oddly placed. You get so much build-up about how he did such a terrible thing, but you can piece together what happens pretty early on. All of the struggles he faces do contrast with his celebrity persona quite well, but the extent of the tragedy seems quite dramatic in scope. The best way I can describe it is that it's dramatic for the sake of being dramatic, not because the level drama felt natural. You see some gripes about celebrity life, but that part is overshadowed by the focus on Eason's trauma. The ending also seems a bit like a cheap shock value ending that doesn't go with the rest of the book. I would have enjoyed seeing Eason and Minnie go through more character development rather than the explosion of a shock ending.
Eason and Julian's relationship is also a bit of an odd point to me. It's no secret that "shipping" culture is alive and well, but bringing up the staging of a fake relationship multiple times and only briefly discussing why it was marketable ignored a lot of potential conversations about misogyny and why shipping even happens. I did like that the deterioration of Eason and Julian's relationship was chronicled; anyone old enough to know what Larry Stylinson means knows how damaging these situations can be.
All in all, this was a pretty surface-level look at fandom that was enjoyable at parts, but lacked the depth that would have taken this to the next level. Great cover though!
February 8, 2026
Celebrity obsession from both sides. Affecting and worrying.
This was very good indeed. From the first moments of connection/crush and feeling that boyband knows you personally, to the music and enjoyment, to the online group chats and intimate knowledge of band members, to the physical following and photographing... we see all this through the eyes and heart of first year college student Minnie. Floundering at making friends, at choosing good boyfriends, at writing for the campus 'zine, boyband HOURglass are always there for her, with soothing lyrics and a constant online presence. Joining groups of superfans, Minnie doesn't need to be embarrased by her love for them online, not when so many other people go to even greater lengths to love and even protect the young men.
Conversely, Halo, one of the band members shows us daily life on the treadmill of the pop machine, the hours of training and dancing, the dieting and image-fostering, the narratives and protection.
We see the two groups interacting and it's quite shocking really, knowing both perspectives and seeing the parasitic nature of the relationship, the danger to both of obsession and desire, desires of various sorts.
I loved this. Everyone can understand obsession in one form or another, and watching Minnie examine her own and other people's while trying to navigate the confusing world of college was very well done.
This was dark, very well planned out, with Minnie an empathetic protagonist, and the chapters following HOURglass particularly angering and compelling. Loved their backstories and could almost picture them on stage.
A disturbing read in many ways, as we self-examine our own behaviours. And the manufactured nature of our idols.
One for older teens and adults, powerful stuff.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
This was very good indeed. From the first moments of connection/crush and feeling that boyband knows you personally, to the music and enjoyment, to the online group chats and intimate knowledge of band members, to the physical following and photographing... we see all this through the eyes and heart of first year college student Minnie. Floundering at making friends, at choosing good boyfriends, at writing for the campus 'zine, boyband HOURglass are always there for her, with soothing lyrics and a constant online presence. Joining groups of superfans, Minnie doesn't need to be embarrased by her love for them online, not when so many other people go to even greater lengths to love and even protect the young men.
Conversely, Halo, one of the band members shows us daily life on the treadmill of the pop machine, the hours of training and dancing, the dieting and image-fostering, the narratives and protection.
We see the two groups interacting and it's quite shocking really, knowing both perspectives and seeing the parasitic nature of the relationship, the danger to both of obsession and desire, desires of various sorts.
I loved this. Everyone can understand obsession in one form or another, and watching Minnie examine her own and other people's while trying to navigate the confusing world of college was very well done.
This was dark, very well planned out, with Minnie an empathetic protagonist, and the chapters following HOURglass particularly angering and compelling. Loved their backstories and could almost picture them on stage.
A disturbing read in many ways, as we self-examine our own behaviours. And the manufactured nature of our idols.
One for older teens and adults, powerful stuff.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A really interesting coming of age story around themes of fandom and pop-culture.
This was a modern twist on coming of age novels we grew up reading. We follow Minnie, a college student struggling with loneliness as she tries to fit in, and Easton, a young boy with a dark past who shoots to stardom overnight. The two's stories couldn't be more different but are interconnected and both lead up to an explosive meeting that changes the course of their lives and forces them to face what they've been hiding.
This book explores the dark side of stardom perfectly in my opinion. Minnie is forced to realise that she cannot rely on strangers for affection and love, but must face the real world in front of her, whilst Easton realises you cannot escape your past and grief, no matter how hard you may try to change. The book explores themes of parasocial relationships and the role the media can play in corrupting younger minds and leading them astray.
I was SO stressed for the last 30% of this book. Waiting for that meeting between Minnie and Easton was like dragging nails on a chalkboard and really was a pivotal moment in the book as the reader like it was for Minnie. I felt a lot of sympathy to Minnie in this book which surprised me as I feel as though the decisions she made wouldn't have been so relatable to me as a reader. Hats off to the author for making such a genuine, easily relatable character.
The book deals with dark themes including racism and SA so please do check the triggers before reading if needed.
A really easy read and a great audiobook if you're wanting a non-romance, tense coming-of-age novel!
This was a modern twist on coming of age novels we grew up reading. We follow Minnie, a college student struggling with loneliness as she tries to fit in, and Easton, a young boy with a dark past who shoots to stardom overnight. The two's stories couldn't be more different but are interconnected and both lead up to an explosive meeting that changes the course of their lives and forces them to face what they've been hiding.
This book explores the dark side of stardom perfectly in my opinion. Minnie is forced to realise that she cannot rely on strangers for affection and love, but must face the real world in front of her, whilst Easton realises you cannot escape your past and grief, no matter how hard you may try to change. The book explores themes of parasocial relationships and the role the media can play in corrupting younger minds and leading them astray.
I was SO stressed for the last 30% of this book. Waiting for that meeting between Minnie and Easton was like dragging nails on a chalkboard and really was a pivotal moment in the book as the reader like it was for Minnie. I felt a lot of sympathy to Minnie in this book which surprised me as I feel as though the decisions she made wouldn't have been so relatable to me as a reader. Hats off to the author for making such a genuine, easily relatable character.
The book deals with dark themes including racism and SA so please do check the triggers before reading if needed.
A really easy read and a great audiobook if you're wanting a non-romance, tense coming-of-age novel!
February 10, 2026
I’m not usually a fan of dual POVs, but it worked for me here because both characters were genuinely interesting. We get the perspective of Minnie, an obsessed fan, alongside the POV of Halo, one of the members of the boy band. Despite their very different lives, they mirror each other in meaningful ways. Both are kind, lonely, and grappling with trauma.
Minnie’s isolation and trauma fuels her obsession with the band, while Halo’s grief and loneliness make him desperate for love and validation from fans. In that sense, this feels like a quiet coming-of-age story as we watch Minnie navigate college life and Halo adjust to the disorienting reality of newfound fame.
None of this is entirely new territory, but the characters have depth and the story clearly has something to say. The tension ramps up toward the climax and I found myself reading with bated breath just to see how it would all end. Overall, this was a gripping read with surprisingly relatable characters.
Minnie’s isolation and trauma fuels her obsession with the band, while Halo’s grief and loneliness make him desperate for love and validation from fans. In that sense, this feels like a quiet coming-of-age story as we watch Minnie navigate college life and Halo adjust to the disorienting reality of newfound fame.
None of this is entirely new territory, but the characters have depth and the story clearly has something to say. The tension ramps up toward the climax and I found myself reading with bated breath just to see how it would all end. Overall, this was a gripping read with surprisingly relatable characters.
February 6, 2026
4.5, rounded up. this was beautiful, I adored minnie’s character development and loved the dichotomy between the “halo” she knew and the truth of eason. STUNNING read for anyone who has ever loved anything
January 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Minnie is a freshman in college and is struggling to find her footing until she joins an online forum devoted to her favorite boy band, HOURglass. When a scandal threatens to ruin band member Halo’s image, Minnie decides she’s the only one who can save him (and goes to great lengths to do so).
It was very interesting to dive into this world of fandom and the associated parasocial relationships fans can develop. I felt for Minnie as her loneliness and longing to fit in with her peers led her down the path she takes.
The first half of the book dragged a little bit for me as the stage was set, though I was definitely invested as things started moving a bit faster. The dual narration and narrators (Minnie and “Halo” aka Eason) offered great perspective on both sides of things, as did the interjected forum chatter throughout. While touted as new adult, it read a bit more YA to me so keep that in mind if this isn’t your genre!
Minnie is a freshman in college and is struggling to find her footing until she joins an online forum devoted to her favorite boy band, HOURglass. When a scandal threatens to ruin band member Halo’s image, Minnie decides she’s the only one who can save him (and goes to great lengths to do so).
It was very interesting to dive into this world of fandom and the associated parasocial relationships fans can develop. I felt for Minnie as her loneliness and longing to fit in with her peers led her down the path she takes.
The first half of the book dragged a little bit for me as the stage was set, though I was definitely invested as things started moving a bit faster. The dual narration and narrators (Minnie and “Halo” aka Eason) offered great perspective on both sides of things, as did the interjected forum chatter throughout. While touted as new adult, it read a bit more YA to me so keep that in mind if this isn’t your genre!
December 10, 2025
3.75 stars
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a ride! I enjoyed the dive into parasocial relationships that can go way too far.
What I liked:
*I wasn't expecting to get the boy band member, Eason's point of view in this book. It was a cool concept to be able to see what the life behind the celebrity is like.
*Minnie as a character was enjoyable. I really felt for her at times during this story.
*I really enjoyed the found family that Minnie gets(not really a spoiler but won't be specific just in case!)
*The commentary on parasocial relationships and how fan culture can create narratives that can be ultimately life destroying out of signs that aren't there was really interesting to read about.
What was challenging:
*There were a lot of sub plots that I don't feel got to have enough depth but were taken as crucial parts of the story. I think the story could have eliminated a few and really dove deep and it would have fleshed the characters' stories out.
*I was a bit confused by Eason's background at times.
*The relationship between the members didn't feel like it got enough attention so even if the intention was that they were sort of strangers to one another no matter what, it still didn't necessarily feel "right".
*The pacing was slow in the beginning. I feel like it went from 0 to 100 on how deep Minnie got in with the obsession and there could have been clearer buildup.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I would recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a ride! I enjoyed the dive into parasocial relationships that can go way too far.
What I liked:
*I wasn't expecting to get the boy band member, Eason's point of view in this book. It was a cool concept to be able to see what the life behind the celebrity is like.
*Minnie as a character was enjoyable. I really felt for her at times during this story.
*I really enjoyed the found family that Minnie gets(not really a spoiler but won't be specific just in case!)
*The commentary on parasocial relationships and how fan culture can create narratives that can be ultimately life destroying out of signs that aren't there was really interesting to read about.
What was challenging:
*There were a lot of sub plots that I don't feel got to have enough depth but were taken as crucial parts of the story. I think the story could have eliminated a few and really dove deep and it would have fleshed the characters' stories out.
*I was a bit confused by Eason's background at times.
*The relationship between the members didn't feel like it got enough attention so even if the intention was that they were sort of strangers to one another no matter what, it still didn't necessarily feel "right".
*The pacing was slow in the beginning. I feel like it went from 0 to 100 on how deep Minnie got in with the obsession and there could have been clearer buildup.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I would recommend!
February 15, 2026
Thank you so much to MacMillan Audio for the complimentary ALC! #MacAudio26
This book is out now!
I was really excited about this when I read the premise earlier this year. But sadly this did not hit the way I wanted it to hit. I liked each POV separately but I felt like they were very disjointed. I actually thought Minnie could have been even more of a superfan. I think what would have been a better plot is if this was a thriller and she would have stalked and posed as a threat to Eason. I was just very confused about what was happening as things were happening. For Minnie, there was a lot about her coming of age while in college and dealing with some heavy stuff and I didn't get the sense that the boy band played such a huge role. Perhaps in the backend that is what she used as therapy, throwing herself into the fandom but I felt like it wasn't much?
Minnie did say a few notable things that I felt too my core! Growing up I definitely was slightly teased by my love of boybands as a tween. And my love of boybands continued into adulthood so I am one that truly never grew out of it.
People ask me, why Hourglass? why this boyband?
I'm almost 19 and a freshman in college isn't it time I grow out of these things?
I understand their confusion, its true the idea of loving a boyband feels like a childhood obsession that's meant for preteens. But if you were to ask me what I remember as a preteen I would show you all my magazines, all the movies and shows I watched, the music I listened to, the cds I had, I would point out who my favorite actors and musicians were. I stared at their faces and memorized the shape of their eyes, i knew their eyes better than i knew my own. When I looked in the mirror I didn't see those eyes.
********
I think people just like to hate on things that girls love. The Hourglass fanbase is diverse but there is no denying that mostly girls and women. But why should this be a bad thing? Why are people so quick to dismiss something just because young women love it? Does it truly lack substance or do we just not want girls to be happy? Does it scare us that much to see a girl happy?
I listened to this via audio and there were two narrators for the two different point of views - Eric Yang and Katharine Chin. I have listened to books from each of them previously and enjoyed them! I thought they both read their point of view really well. Eric's voice to me is melt worthy.
I really was into Eason/Halo's point of view the most as I'm always fascinated how authors write a member of a boyband and what their experience is. THOUGH I think there is also the space for a single point of view from the fan. In today's culture the whole parasocial relationship is very very apparent on the internet. I see it and I know I've done my share of partaking in it. And that whole aspect of fandom is interesting.
This book did not entirely work for me but maybe it will work for you! I do wonder if I had the physical text while I listened or just read it with my eyes, if I could follow a lot better? It very well could have been a me thing.
This book is out now!
I was really excited about this when I read the premise earlier this year. But sadly this did not hit the way I wanted it to hit. I liked each POV separately but I felt like they were very disjointed. I actually thought Minnie could have been even more of a superfan. I think what would have been a better plot is if this was a thriller and she would have stalked and posed as a threat to Eason. I was just very confused about what was happening as things were happening. For Minnie, there was a lot about her coming of age while in college and dealing with some heavy stuff and I didn't get the sense that the boy band played such a huge role. Perhaps in the backend that is what she used as therapy, throwing herself into the fandom but I felt like it wasn't much?
Minnie did say a few notable things that I felt too my core! Growing up I definitely was slightly teased by my love of boybands as a tween. And my love of boybands continued into adulthood so I am one that truly never grew out of it.
People ask me, why Hourglass? why this boyband?
I'm almost 19 and a freshman in college isn't it time I grow out of these things?
I understand their confusion, its true the idea of loving a boyband feels like a childhood obsession that's meant for preteens. But if you were to ask me what I remember as a preteen I would show you all my magazines, all the movies and shows I watched, the music I listened to, the cds I had, I would point out who my favorite actors and musicians were. I stared at their faces and memorized the shape of their eyes, i knew their eyes better than i knew my own. When I looked in the mirror I didn't see those eyes.
********
I think people just like to hate on things that girls love. The Hourglass fanbase is diverse but there is no denying that mostly girls and women. But why should this be a bad thing? Why are people so quick to dismiss something just because young women love it? Does it truly lack substance or do we just not want girls to be happy? Does it scare us that much to see a girl happy?
I listened to this via audio and there were two narrators for the two different point of views - Eric Yang and Katharine Chin. I have listened to books from each of them previously and enjoyed them! I thought they both read their point of view really well. Eric's voice to me is melt worthy.
I really was into Eason/Halo's point of view the most as I'm always fascinated how authors write a member of a boyband and what their experience is. THOUGH I think there is also the space for a single point of view from the fan. In today's culture the whole parasocial relationship is very very apparent on the internet. I see it and I know I've done my share of partaking in it. And that whole aspect of fandom is interesting.
This book did not entirely work for me but maybe it will work for you! I do wonder if I had the physical text while I listened or just read it with my eyes, if I could follow a lot better? It very well could have been a me thing.
February 13, 2026
I am going to say something so crazy. There is a Venn diagram out there for The Secret History, Charli xcx's House, and Superfan... and at the center of it... is beauty for the sake of beauty. Does it have to be anything else to have value? What if it's beautiful in spite of its ugly and suffering origins? What if it's beautiful BECAUSE of its ugly and suffering origins? And if its only fanatical young women who find it beautiful, is it really? I would say "BIG THOUGHTS for a book about stans," but I'm just proving my own point. (am i still a young woman HAHA)
Aside from the Big Thoughts, this was such a bittersweet and earnest and hilariously accurate portrayal of boyband psychosis and how you live in the real world when living for the unseen is so much more fun and feels so much more real. Ok boyband mystics!!
And for any people who haven't stanned before and read this book thinking "that's so crazy, this is an exaggerated version" IT'S NOT. I KNOW THE CRAZIES PERSONALLY. THIS IS REAL
Aside from the Big Thoughts, this was such a bittersweet and earnest and hilariously accurate portrayal of boyband psychosis and how you live in the real world when living for the unseen is so much more fun and feels so much more real. Ok boyband mystics!!
And for any people who haven't stanned before and read this book thinking "that's so crazy, this is an exaggerated version" IT'S NOT. I KNOW THE CRAZIES PERSONALLY. THIS IS REAL
February 16, 2026
I loved this one!! This is one of those books where I want to read more of what the author has to say. It had me zooming through the pages, seeing how the story would unfold. It also gave me a perspective into the life of a boy band member—the details she wrote about made me think about how awful it must have been (and still is, tho boy bands are kind of a thing of the past (well—American/British ones)) for what these groups had to go through. I also think about the whole Larry thing in One Direction—fan shipping Louis and Harry together. And the whole color thing they gave to them. I also loved how you saw Minnie’s progression to her level of fandom; how she had no friends at college and found them behind a screen. How it’s so easy to trust people that you’ve never met online but tell everything to because they seem so great. I love how she had Annie and the zine and how those friends helped to ground her. I loved how great this whole book was. 10/10 loved it.
February 15, 2026
Wasn’t expecting this one to be as dark as it was in terms of major overarching themes. Yes it hit on the problematic parasocial nature of fandom culture but it also was a coming of age from both the perspective of the Superfan in question and one of the band members. Really insightful and the writing was great
February 5, 2026
This book was good. Really good.
February 7, 2026
Deceptively deep considering it’s about a fan obsessed with a boy band. This is about finding and living as ourselves, while also building our community.
February 12, 2026
4.5✨ I’m a Jenny Tinghui Zhang superfan!!
February 13, 2026
Really interesting book. I really enjoyed it.
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