Spotlights and Shadows

by Mila Lewis

Hana Rhee has built her life on solid ground—running a prestigious adoption foundation, surrounded by family money and quiet privilege. Then a chance encounter at a Seoul nightclub changes everything. A duet with Lee Yoo-jin, Korea's biggest star, ignites a connection that neither wealth nor wisdom can protect.

What begins as an intoxicating romance soon reveals the brutal cost of loving someone who belongs to the public. As obsessive fans turn violent and Hana's carefully constructed world crumbles, she must choose between the safety of her old life and a love that threatens to destroy everything she's built.

Meanwhile, Ian Weston—her devoted stepcousin and closest ally—watches the woman he's loved in silence sacrifice herself for a relationship that may be doomed from its first note. When tragedy strikes, he faces an impossible choice: let her go, or become the villain in someone else's love story.

Set against the glittering backdrop of Seoul's entertainment industry, Spotlights and Shadows is a devastating exploration of obsession, sacrifice, and the price we pay for choosing love over safety. With surgical precision and unflinching honesty, it examines how fame corrupts everything it touches—and asks whether some kinds of love are worth the cost of everything else.

A story about the difference between being chosen and being claimed, and the courage it takes to walk away from someone you can't live without.

554 pages, Paperback

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Anusha Hansaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a devastating tale of love and loss. The story is so well-written that it feels like watching a movie - every scene, every emotion being felt by the characters feels like it is being experienced by us as well. You can't help falling in love with the characters and feeling the raw emotions that they go through. It is a very well-written, emotional read 📚

[Givii .. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt real. Not a story born out of fiction. The dark side of loving someone who is loved by million others. I've been in this world as a fan since 9 years now, it's bright yes, but the darkness it holds cannot be defined in words. Celebrities are forced to take so many bad decisions just because of the hate they are getting. Fans like to hold their idols accountable for everything they do or even they didn't do and it's so much worse here in the korean industry than any other country.
One of the strongest aspects for me was how accurately it portrayed the pressure celebrities live under. They’re forced into impossible choices just to survive the constant scrutiny and hate.
This book portrayed that perfectly. I felt genuinely connected with yoo-jin because I've seen what can the consequences be if you so much as look at a person from opposite gender. The backlash the celebrity gets is no doubt awful but what the other person suffers is just atrocious.
I wasn't expecting that Ian twist. That was totally unexpected, totally uncalled for if you ask me but I get Hana's mindset. She chose stability after all the things that happened with her.
This book is not a comfy read, rather an intense one. I love stories where love isn’t just soft and romantic but comes with real consequences.
It held upto it's name, Spotlights and Shadows, both the aspects were shown perfectly and to point.

[Piyal Bhattacharyya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so much more than just a romance — it’s a beautiful exploration of identity, vulnerability, and the contrast between public image and private reality. What makes it unique is how it shows the emotional weight behind the “spotlight” and the unseen struggles hiding in the shadows.
Mila Lewis’s writing style is smooth, expressive, and emotionally rich. She lets the characters breathe, grow, and feel real — nothing feels rushed or forced. Every moment feels intimate and meaningful.
The concept itself is powerful: fame, expectations, love, and the need to be truly seen for who you are.

Why you should read it?
Because it reminds you that behind every shining exterior, there’s a human heart longing for understanding. If you love emotional, character-driven stories with depth, this one is worth picking up.
⭐ 4/5

[Deepali Bakshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spotlight and Shadows is a gentle yet haunting reminder that fame does not come without its own kind of loss. Behind admiration and success, the story shows how celebrities often struggle to live life on their own terms, especially when it comes to love and personal choices.

There were moments in the book that quietly stayed with me, especially when the narrative reflects on how being loved by the world can still mean being alone in real life. That line of thought runs through the novel, the idea that public validation can never replace private happiness.

What I liked most was the emotional realism. There is no excessive drama, only honest inner conflict, loneliness behind applause, and the weight of decisions made for the sake of image and career.

Spotlight and Shadows doesn’t try to glorify fame. Instead, it humanizes it, reminding us that behind every celebrated face is a person who wants to choose freely, love honestly, and be seen beyond the spotlight.

A thoughtful, emotionally resonant read for those who enjoy reflective stories that linger quietly in the mind.

[taebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

spotlights and shadows by mila lewis is more than a celebrity romance, it's a quiet, emotionally layered meditation on fame, identity, and the cost of being seen 🫣
it reads like a k-drama reimagined through a softer, more introspective lens, peeling back the glamour to reveal the pressure, loneliness, and unspoken rules of life in the spotlight 🫠🥹
what really stands out is how restrained and grounded the story feels
this ISN'T a typical romance that relies on big moments or dramatic declarations
instead of chasing spectacle, it leans into emotional honesty, slow-burn connections, and the tension between being admired from afar and truly known up close. the romance unfolds through timing, choice, and vulnerability rather than grand gestures and that makes it hit even harder 💔
perfect for readers who love k-dramas but crave something more thoughtful and literary, this book explores high-stakes secrets, personal boundaries, and the struggle to stay true to yourself in a world that constantly wants to consume you.
and if you enjoy character-driven stories, quiet longing, and romances that linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page, this one is absolutely worth picking up 😭❤️✨

[hana_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spotlights and Shadows surprised me in the best way. I expected a dramatic celebrity romance, but what I found was a much more layered story about identity, pressure, and the cost of being seen by the whole world. The emotional tension feels real, especially the constant fear of public scrutiny. The relationship develops in a quiet and believable way, which made it easier to connect with the characters. They are flawed, vulnerable, and very human. It is not a fast paced or flashy book. It is reflective and character driven. If you enjoy romance with emotional depth and realistic struggles, this is definitely worth reading.

[Briony Viele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning debut!

What an absolutely heartbreaking, beautiful story. This had me from the first moment until the last. An exploration into the reality faced when two worlds collide, and the devastating consequences faced when two souls fall in love across those worlds. I was struck by the emotional honesty that I found on the page, written with care and conviction.

The consequences of love across a divide feeling painfully real. This is the kind of book that will stick with you, not because it tells you what to feel, but because it makes you feel everything.

[Lisa Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thoughtful, emotionally layered engaging read!!! Exploring identity and connection- parts of us that we like to keep hidden. An authentic and relatable compelling story that lingers fa after the last and final page….so good!!!

[Sophie Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal read, not just an average romance but an important commentary on the effects of parasocial behavior on real people. Well written and gripping.
Highly recommend!

[Mila Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is from a reader from So. Africa: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/spo...
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Hana Rhee is a lawyer who is forever calling sponsors for donations, compiling reports, and calculating what's needed to educate and feed children through her parents' foundation. Yoo-Jin Lee is a famous actor whose life is made up of red carpets, flashing lights, being what he's not for the pleasure of others, and hoards of fans that think he exists for them. When their worlds collide over a chance musical encounter, they are unprepared for the tango they have to dance to hold on to one another.

Spotlights and Shadows by Mila Lewis tells the story of Hana Rhee and Yoo-Jin Lee from their different perspectives and divides their journey into parts, per the stage the characters' are at in finding themselves and their relationship. Lewis demonstrated great skill in her ability to seamlessly switch from the perspective of one character to that of another. For a story of two people moving toward and around each other, the way Lewis navigated the change in perspective created an excellent atmosphere for what was taking place. It was beautiful to experience that.

Another thing that Lewis did well is to write dialogue in a natural-sounding manner, with a lot of banter and wit that had my non-Romance reader self cheering on what Hana and Yoo-Jin had going. It was only when it came to their internal monologues that Lewis dropped the ball.

Although multiperspective third-person narration allows authors to avoid the narrative demands of first-person narration without losing the connection readers develop with characters through it, characters' thoughts must be in their voices, not the narrator's. And I think Lewis fumbled when it came to that. Hana and Yoo-jin's internal voices were the same and that threw me off a lot. That was the only flaw and for many people that will not matter. I still loved the story, so if you are a fan of Romance, this might be the book for you.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spotlights and shadows is not just a romance,it is a sharp, emotionaly resonant examination of what happens when real people collide with public fantasy.
At its heart is a beautifully restrained love story between Yoo-jin, a K-drama star who has been carefully curated into a national ideal, and Hana, a private, intelligent woman forced to live in the margins of his life to protect that image. What begins as a quiet, deeply human connection slowly reveals the darker machinery behind celebrity culture..parasocial obsession, entitlement disguised as devotion and an industry that values illusion over safety.
What makes this book stand out is its honesty. The author doesn’t romanticize fame or fandom. Instead, the story shows,often uncomfortably,how admiration can curdle into control, and how quickly online cruelty can spill into real-world harm. Hana’s journey is especially compeling; she is never passive, yet she is relentlessly erased, scrutinized and endangered in ways that feel frighteningly real.
The writing is elegant and immersive, with emotional depth that lingers long after the final page. The tension builds steadily, not through melodrama, but through consequences that feel inevitable and devastating. By the end, the central question isnt whether love is worth the cost,but who society demands to pay it.
Gripping, thoughtful, and unflinchingly honest, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in celebrity culture, parasocial relationships, or love stories that dare to confront uncomfortable truths!

[TUYEN TEASDALE · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tackles the dark side of fame with an intense, timely premise: what happens when love collides with fan obsession. Mila Lewis paints Lee Yoo-jin as the untouchable K-drama idol and Hana Weston-Rhee as the private, grounded person caught in the machinery of celebrity. The tension between personal desire and public image drives the story, and the depiction of online harassment escalating into real-world danger is unflinchingly vivid.

The book succeeds in showing how parasocial relationships can become toxic, and it asks uncomfortable questions about responsibility, fandom, and morality in the age of social media. That said, some moments feel heavy-handed or melodramatic, and the pacing occasionally lags under the weight of exposition about fandom culture. Character development is stronger for Hana than Yoo-jin, whose internal conflicts sometimes feel secondary to plot-driven drama.

Overall, it’s a compelling read for anyone interested in K-drama culture, celebrity obsession, and the ethical dilemmas that arise when private lives are treated as public property. Not perfect, but it leaves a lasting impression.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spotlight and Shadows by Mila Lewis was such a great read—I absolutely loved it! The prose style drew me in right away, and the character development kept me hooked throughout. I also appreciated how much I learned about Korea along the way, which added a wonderful layer of depth and atmosphere to the story.

This isn’t your typical romance novel. At first it feels like one, but then—wow—it takes a turn that completely surprised me (in the best way). It’s refreshing to find a book that balances romance with something unexpected and powerful.

This was my first time reading Mila Lewis, and I really hope they’re working on another book—because I’ll be first in line to read it!

[Pampy Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story lingers long after the final page. The author does a commendable job of exploring the contrast between public personas and private realities, weaving together ambition, vulnerability, and the emotional cost of living under constant scrutiny. That said, the pacing slows slightly in the middle, and a few subplots could have been tightened for greater impact. Overall, it is a thoughtful and engaging novel that balances glamour with grit.

[KV Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spotlights and Shadows is a well-written debut with a strong story and a clear sense of what it wants to explore. I was fully engaged for most of the book, though there was a section where the pace dipped and I felt my attention wander slightly. That aside, the writing is controlled and thoughtful, and the overall experience stayed with me. A solid, confident first novel. Well worth a read.

[Annina R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.
Compelling story, well-written.
Not gonna lie, I had tears in my eyes at the end.
The characters are human, self-aware, and caught in a machinery they can't control.
Recommend.