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Superfan
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.
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.
11 pages, Audiobook
First published February 3, 2026
About the author
Jenny Tinghui Zhang
5 books616 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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May 20, 2026
🎤✩⋆｡˚.★💿 𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 ~ 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕥 𝕘𝕚𝕣𝕝 ~ 𝕜𝕒𝕥𝕤𝕖𝕪𝕖 🎤✩⋆｡˚.★💿
this book definitely did not make me bawl my eyes out at 1am
superfan follows minnie, a uni student, and eason, a member of rising kpop-inspired boy band HOURglass. the way minnie parasocially bonds with HOURglass, rabbit holes into their fandom, and makes them her whole personality is something WE CAN ALL RELATE TO. as for eason (aka HALO)—boy oh boy did his big reveal make me CRY LIKE A LITTLE BABY. the writing was perfection, keeping you at a distance yet holding you in suspense in the true spirit of celebrity. was minnie ever going to meet halo? what was eason's deep, dark secret? what a haunting, thrilling, and beautiful portrait of publicity & privacy, secrets & autonomy, loneliness & connection...with a cinematic ending that will leave you SHOCKED.
~ trigger warnings ~
p.s. clark im gonna kill—
𝓭𝓲𝓰𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓭𝓲𝓪𝓻𝔂 🎤✩⋆｡˚.★💿
────୨ৎ────
𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥 #1
the way minnie makes HOURglass her whole personality isnot creepy at all so relatable
𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥 #2
im convinced that HOURglass is a boyband version of KATSEYE
𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥 #3
i bet julian is gay!!
𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥 #4
im sorry minnie 🫶🥹
this book definitely did not make me bawl my eyes out at 1am
superfan follows minnie, a uni student, and eason, a member of rising kpop-inspired boy band HOURglass. the way minnie parasocially bonds with HOURglass, rabbit holes into their fandom, and makes them her whole personality is something WE CAN ALL RELATE TO. as for eason (aka HALO)—boy oh boy did his big reveal make me CRY LIKE A LITTLE BABY. the writing was perfection, keeping you at a distance yet holding you in suspense in the true spirit of celebrity. was minnie ever going to meet halo? what was eason's deep, dark secret? what a haunting, thrilling, and beautiful portrait of publicity & privacy, secrets & autonomy, loneliness & connection...with a cinematic ending that will leave you SHOCKED.
~ trigger warnings ~
p.s. clark im gonna kill—
𝓭𝓲𝓰𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓭𝓲𝓪𝓻𝔂 🎤✩⋆｡˚.★💿
────୨ৎ────
𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥 #1
the way minnie makes HOURglass her whole personality is
𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥 #2
im convinced that HOURglass is a boyband version of KATSEYE
𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥 #3
i bet julian is gay!!
𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥 #4
im sorry minnie 🫶🥹
March 13, 2026
3.5 stars
I appreciated the themes in this novel even if some of the execution didn’t land with me. Superfan follows Minnie, a first-year college student who develops an obsession with the boyband HOURglass, and Eason, a member of the boyband HOURglass with a checkered past. I liked how Jenny Tinghui Zhang pulls back the cover on fandom experiences and discusses real topics such as: parasocial relationships and how toxic they can get, eating disorders and mental health issues among idols, the problematic components of idols pretending to be gay for one another when they’re not actually gay, etc. What I enjoyed most about this book was the characters’ growth, especially Minnie’s, as she learned to trust her own voice as an Asian woman and develop healthy and restorative relationships both in real life and from the fandom.
My main issue with this book was the writing. The prose just felt a bit predictable and underwhelming to me. I totally resonate with the message and themes Zhang put out here, though something on a sentence level prevented me from feeling more invested in the characters. An overall okay to good read that I’d be curious how other readers feel about.
I appreciated the themes in this novel even if some of the execution didn’t land with me. Superfan follows Minnie, a first-year college student who develops an obsession with the boyband HOURglass, and Eason, a member of the boyband HOURglass with a checkered past. I liked how Jenny Tinghui Zhang pulls back the cover on fandom experiences and discusses real topics such as: parasocial relationships and how toxic they can get, eating disorders and mental health issues among idols, the problematic components of idols pretending to be gay for one another when they’re not actually gay, etc. What I enjoyed most about this book was the characters’ growth, especially Minnie’s, as she learned to trust her own voice as an Asian woman and develop healthy and restorative relationships both in real life and from the fandom.
My main issue with this book was the writing. The prose just felt a bit predictable and underwhelming to me. I totally resonate with the message and themes Zhang put out here, though something on a sentence level prevented me from feeling more invested in the characters. An overall okay to good read that I’d be curious how other readers feel about.
April 27, 2026
A searing exploration of fandom, identity and delusion inspired by Jenny Tinghui Zhang’s past fixation on BTS and K-pop. Zhang’s narrative alternates between a fan and her idol. It’s 2014, Minnie a Chinese-American undergrad has recently enrolled at university in Austin, Texas. All her life Minnie’s struggled to fit in. Minnie pinned her hopes on radical reinvention once in Austin. But, so far, things aren’t that different. Then she discovers recently-formed, boy band HOURglass, a carefully manufactured “East meets West” group – three of its four members are Asian-Americans. Tracking HOURglass soon becomes Minnie’s chief outlet, a means of compensating for her isolation. She downloads MVs, pores over song lyrics and later joins an online fan community trading insights into HOURglass, its work, its band members’ personal lives. These interactions fuel Minnie’s fantasies, encouraging an obsession with band member Halo aka Eason. Like the perfect romantic hero, he seems to hold out the possibility of love. A stark contrast to the creeps she encounters on campus.
Zhang shifts between Minnie and Halo in his quest for fame and fortune. His account of life with HOURglass is interwoven with flashbacks to a deeply troubled childhood, his absent father, his mother whose fragile mental health manifested as a belief they were somehow cursed by demons. A high-school dropout, Halo was discovered by chance; meant to satisfy a producer’s hunch that K-pop’s popularity left a gap in the market for a fusion of its techniques with a more mainstream, American sensibility. Just like aspiring K-pop idols, HOURglass live together in a cramped apartment, every waking hour devoted to honing their bodies and their craft. The fierce competition and unrelenting pressure are becoming difficult for HOURglass to handle especially Halo and Jelly aka Julian. But when a scandal leads to their music company forcing Halo and Jelly into queerbaiting as a bid for sympathy, everything starts to unravel. A cluster of ‘shipper’ superfans decide Halo and Jelly’s OTP relationship is threatened by new manager Cecile and push for drastic intervention.
Zhang’s clearly conversant with her territory, adept at charting the ups-and-downs of celebrity and celebrity worship. She’s effective at chronicling the machinations of the music industry and the manipulation of fandom for profit. She’s equally good at establishing how fandom operates to provide a sense of belonging and purpose. But the overall novel’s very uneven, Minnie’s and Halo’s episodes don’t really appear to complement each other – at times they feel as if they’re grounded in entirely different genres. Minnie’s sections read like a mix of campus novel and sensitive, coming-of-age story. They’re frequently fluid and realistic, if slightly stock. Halo’s also undergoing a rite of passage but it’s often cliched and annoyingly melodramatic. Trauma is piled upon trauma, so much so some ‘Halo’ scenes tip towards horror, Day of the Locust meets Misery – although King’s book’s far more disciplined. So, readable but unbalanced and just not entirely convincing.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Penguin for an ARC
Rating: 2.5
Zhang shifts between Minnie and Halo in his quest for fame and fortune. His account of life with HOURglass is interwoven with flashbacks to a deeply troubled childhood, his absent father, his mother whose fragile mental health manifested as a belief they were somehow cursed by demons. A high-school dropout, Halo was discovered by chance; meant to satisfy a producer’s hunch that K-pop’s popularity left a gap in the market for a fusion of its techniques with a more mainstream, American sensibility. Just like aspiring K-pop idols, HOURglass live together in a cramped apartment, every waking hour devoted to honing their bodies and their craft. The fierce competition and unrelenting pressure are becoming difficult for HOURglass to handle especially Halo and Jelly aka Julian. But when a scandal leads to their music company forcing Halo and Jelly into queerbaiting as a bid for sympathy, everything starts to unravel. A cluster of ‘shipper’ superfans decide Halo and Jelly’s OTP relationship is threatened by new manager Cecile and push for drastic intervention.
Zhang’s clearly conversant with her territory, adept at charting the ups-and-downs of celebrity and celebrity worship. She’s effective at chronicling the machinations of the music industry and the manipulation of fandom for profit. She’s equally good at establishing how fandom operates to provide a sense of belonging and purpose. But the overall novel’s very uneven, Minnie’s and Halo’s episodes don’t really appear to complement each other – at times they feel as if they’re grounded in entirely different genres. Minnie’s sections read like a mix of campus novel and sensitive, coming-of-age story. They’re frequently fluid and realistic, if slightly stock. Halo’s also undergoing a rite of passage but it’s often cliched and annoyingly melodramatic. Trauma is piled upon trauma, so much so some ‘Halo’ scenes tip towards horror, Day of the Locust meets Misery – although King’s book’s far more disciplined. So, readable but unbalanced and just not entirely convincing.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Penguin for an ARC
Rating: 2.5
February 17, 2026
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.
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!
Read
July 2, 2025I adore Jenny and will be thinking about this book and its themes of loneliness and connection for a long time 💜
Currently Reading
June 29, 2026For no reason at all, I'm reading this great book about parasocial relationships
February 26, 2026
It stayed way too surface for me. I thought the concept and the ideas were really great, but it didn't go far enough. It might have been the fact that we get a dual narrative, and there are plot points that take up a lot of time to establish certain things, but then we just get told other things, and those were the things I wish had been more fleshed out. I didn't ultimately get the sense of obsession or all-consuming interest fueled by loneliness and ostracization. I also didn't get the sense of the pressures of fame or the particularly demanding facets of k-pop groups. I think this could have been really great, but instead it was a bit of a slog for me, overall.
February 21, 2026
if this had come out during my 1D era it would've altered my brain chemistry
February 25, 2026
I’m so surprised that a book I found randomly on the shelf at the library was just so good. It reminded me of my younger days loving One Direction and put into words many feelings I had about the band and how they saved my life. The main character is likable and I enjoyed the joint perspectives of both the fan and the celebrity. Really great book. Took me on such a journey that was mostly nostalgia for how much I related to loving a band so much. I also really enjoyed this authors style of writing - I usually opt for first person in my books but she made the third person POV work amazingly
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!
April 4, 2026
it could be argued this is not a ‘5 star book’ but I was locked in and I didn’t want to try and guess how the book would end – I just wanted to enjoy it and that’s saying something!
if you, like me, are fascinated by all things fangirl/fandom culture, the inner (and outer) psyche, cult-like behaviour, girlhood, the orchestrations of successful pop stars… this one is for you. chuck in some clever musings on being Asian American, college life and coming-of-age, you’ve got a delicious morsel of literary delight 🤤
this is such a book club kinda read that there’s so many parts to pick apart and analyse; it’s fun to read alone but more fun to read with others, I imagine!
plus this cover was 🤌🏼🤌🏼
if you, like me, are fascinated by all things fangirl/fandom culture, the inner (and outer) psyche, cult-like behaviour, girlhood, the orchestrations of successful pop stars… this one is for you. chuck in some clever musings on being Asian American, college life and coming-of-age, you’ve got a delicious morsel of literary delight 🤤
this is such a book club kinda read that there’s so many parts to pick apart and analyse; it’s fun to read alone but more fun to read with others, I imagine!
plus this cover was 🤌🏼🤌🏼
February 4, 2026
can’t say i was a superfan…
May 27, 2026
3.5 stars
June 6, 2026
4.25 stars
After loving Jenny Tinghui Zhang's debut, Four Treasures of the Sky, I dove into Superfan almost completely blind, and I am so glad I did because honestly, nothing could have properly prepared me for this wild emotional rollercoaster. It digs into fandom, loneliness, community, obsession, identity, and the terrifying ways people try to fill the empty spaces inside themselves in such a messy, painful, and heartfelt way, and it just had me locked in from start to finish.
As someone who is chronically online and safely lurking on the sidelines of intense fandom spaces, I've always been morbidly fascinated by what pushes people from casual enjoyment into full-blown devotion, and I absolutely loved how Superfan explores that mindset through Minnie's perspective with so much empathy. I latched onto her almost immediately, and the way that Zhang weaves topics of racism, toxic love, sexual trauma, and loneliness into her storyline felt so raw and honest and painfully real. Even when I found myself questioning some of her choices, I could never stop rooting for her because I understood exactly where that desperation to belong somewhere, to feel loved, to feel seen, to matter to someone came from. Like, Minnie somehow made me want to shake her by the shoulders and protect her at the same time, which is honestly one of my favourite kinds of protagonists.
She could have carried the entire story for me, but I thought it was a brilliant decision to make Superfan dual POV and show the other side of the story through Halo/Eason's perspective. Minnie really idolizes Halo as this perfect, glamorous figure, but I loved how Eason's chapters reveal so much trauma, guilt and even a mysteriously dark past hidden underneath all that shine. Zhang's exploration of the entertainment industry and the immense pressure that Eason and his bandmates are constantly under is so strong, and it was heartwrenching to see how that pressure slowly chips away at their mental health. There is such a sharp awareness throughout the novel of how exploitative these systems can be and how much fans often never see, and especially the commentary on beauty standards (eating disorders) and M/M shipping really hit home and made me deeply uncomfortable in the best possible way.
One thing that surprised me was that Minnie's and Eason's storylines do not overlap quite as much as I initially expected. Going in, I thought their narratives would collide more directly, but I honestly did not mind that they did not for a long while because both of their individual journeys were more than compelling enough to keep me glued to the page. There were maybe some moments where I felt like we rushed through some important developments or stayed a little too surface level with certain ideas, but ultimately I still really admire and appreciate how Zhang executed this bold and intimately vulnerable story.
I genuinely think it is a crime that Superfan is not getting more love, because I think this is everything you could want from an emotionally-driven contemporary literary novel. It is messy, confronting, emotional, and uncomfortable, and I love it for how it hurts in all the best ways. Jenny Tinghui Zhang is now two for two for me, and I will absolutely be reading whatever she writes next. Consider me a fan.
After loving Jenny Tinghui Zhang's debut, Four Treasures of the Sky, I dove into Superfan almost completely blind, and I am so glad I did because honestly, nothing could have properly prepared me for this wild emotional rollercoaster. It digs into fandom, loneliness, community, obsession, identity, and the terrifying ways people try to fill the empty spaces inside themselves in such a messy, painful, and heartfelt way, and it just had me locked in from start to finish.
As someone who is chronically online and safely lurking on the sidelines of intense fandom spaces, I've always been morbidly fascinated by what pushes people from casual enjoyment into full-blown devotion, and I absolutely loved how Superfan explores that mindset through Minnie's perspective with so much empathy. I latched onto her almost immediately, and the way that Zhang weaves topics of racism, toxic love, sexual trauma, and loneliness into her storyline felt so raw and honest and painfully real. Even when I found myself questioning some of her choices, I could never stop rooting for her because I understood exactly where that desperation to belong somewhere, to feel loved, to feel seen, to matter to someone came from. Like, Minnie somehow made me want to shake her by the shoulders and protect her at the same time, which is honestly one of my favourite kinds of protagonists.
She could have carried the entire story for me, but I thought it was a brilliant decision to make Superfan dual POV and show the other side of the story through Halo/Eason's perspective. Minnie really idolizes Halo as this perfect, glamorous figure, but I loved how Eason's chapters reveal so much trauma, guilt and even a mysteriously dark past hidden underneath all that shine. Zhang's exploration of the entertainment industry and the immense pressure that Eason and his bandmates are constantly under is so strong, and it was heartwrenching to see how that pressure slowly chips away at their mental health. There is such a sharp awareness throughout the novel of how exploitative these systems can be and how much fans often never see, and especially the commentary on beauty standards (eating disorders) and M/M shipping really hit home and made me deeply uncomfortable in the best possible way.
One thing that surprised me was that Minnie's and Eason's storylines do not overlap quite as much as I initially expected. Going in, I thought their narratives would collide more directly, but I honestly did not mind that they did not for a long while because both of their individual journeys were more than compelling enough to keep me glued to the page. There were maybe some moments where I felt like we rushed through some important developments or stayed a little too surface level with certain ideas, but ultimately I still really admire and appreciate how Zhang executed this bold and intimately vulnerable story.
I genuinely think it is a crime that Superfan is not getting more love, because I think this is everything you could want from an emotionally-driven contemporary literary novel. It is messy, confronting, emotional, and uncomfortable, and I love it for how it hurts in all the best ways. Jenny Tinghui Zhang is now two for two for me, and I will absolutely be reading whatever she writes next. Consider me a fan.
April 14, 2026
this novel really nailed the positive and toxic sides of fandom with the main character, minnie. we see what liking the boy group inspires her to do in a positive way, and also the dark and twisted rumors she starts to believe based on invasions of the artists’s lives, and the theories the fans come up with.
i didn’t like halo, the boy group member’s pov. he’s really boring and flat compared to minnie. he’s selfish, and there’s no depth to his character beyond wanting to be loved, and not feel alone. minnie experiences those same feelings, and it’s explored so well in her arc, that halo wasn’t needed. julian would have been a better character to follow: he saw the toxic path and manipulation his band was facing from the start, and begged the other guys to see it. his pov would have been way more interesting.
i didn’t like halo, the boy group member’s pov. he’s really boring and flat compared to minnie. he’s selfish, and there’s no depth to his character beyond wanting to be loved, and not feel alone. minnie experiences those same feelings, and it’s explored so well in her arc, that halo wasn’t needed. julian would have been a better character to follow: he saw the toxic path and manipulation his band was facing from the start, and begged the other guys to see it. his pov would have been way more interesting.
March 5, 2026
“Superfan” is a dual perspective narrative told from alternating close third-person POVs: Minnie, a new college freshman adrift in her loneliness; and Eason, otherwise known as “Halo”, the ~edgy, bad boy~ in a new K-pop esque boy band. The daughter of immigrants, Minnie is accustomed to isolation as the only Asian in her predominantly white town, but after a traumatic experience at a university party, Minnie finds solace in the new boy group, HOURglass, primarily in the member Halo. As Minnie’s chapters show her progressively sinking deeper and deeper into her obsession, Eason’s chapters highlight the darker truth about idol life, and the secrets one can harbor.
At a glance, “Superfan” has everything I’ve been wanting from a K-pop centric novel. Granted, HOURglass is a Western boy group, but is admittedly based upon the foundations of K-pop groups. I appreciated that the novel shared the perspective of an idol, and shed light on certain issues idols face during their career: the extreme dieting, the forced behaviors to create parasocial bonds with fans, the constant expectation of perfection. This is the first K-pop novel I’ve read that has provided a full perspective from an idol. I can also see Minnie’s story being compelling, too. Extreme loneliness being exacerbated by an idol’s deliberate fan service, leading to an extreme parasocial connection—it’s exactly what the K-pop companies want. Obsession boosts profits.
Unfortunately, I found the novel as a whole to be very surface level. Despite touching upon concepts I’ve been hoping for from idol novels, it was just the tip of the iceberg. In my review of “Holy Boy” by Lee Heejoo, I mentioned how:
“I…think it’s noteworthy that, in the ~K-Pop x obsession~ books I’ve read so far, it’s always a crazed female fan (or fans) obsessing over a male idol. I think it could be worth exploring why these types of narratives use ~crazy~ women and girls as vessels for their commentary on idolization. I feel like this ties back to the generalization that more women inhabit “fan” spaces and overall are more likely to let their emotions control their actions. I can’t help but feel like there’s a twinge of misogyny there, and none of the books I’ve read have delved into that aspect yet.”
So imagine how excited I was when Minnie, while working on an article for a zine about her love for HOURglass, touches upon that EXACT topic.
Minnie writes: “[They] just couldn’t understand why the boys were so popular. They chalked it up to girls being obsessed with them because of their good looks… [T]here’s no denying that [the fanbase] is 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?”
Sadly, that’s about all we get on that topic before it’s dropped. Talk about the first delicious bites of a meal that turns out to be a nothing burger.
I also found that, for a book titled “Superfan”, Minnie really didn’t get as obsessive or crazy as characters I’ve read in other novels. Granted, yes, there are definitely superfans on the periphery of the book, and there is a bit of exploration into the concept of them, but there really wasn’t as much as I was expecting or hoping for. I wanted Minnie to become crazy, overly possessive, but that didn’t really happen. And then (spoiler alert), Minnie made like three friends and suddenly was over her hyperfixation with the boys. I think the same can be said for Eason’s chapters as well. With this being the first of the K-pop novels I’ve read sharing the idol’s perspective, I was really hoping to dive into the hardships and struggles of the career. We got glimpses of things, but nothing of major substance. For example, one of Eason’s fellow members struggled with an eating disorder. This was weaponized by Eason to hurt the member during arguments, and then by the company to silence that member. Ultimately, there’s no exploration or nuance to the difficult subject matter and its inclusion served to do nothing but leave a bad taste in my mouth.
I think that the alternating perspectives detracted from the depth in which both Minnie and Eason could have been explored. I appreciated that it allowed a glimpse into both characters’ experiences, but it was little more than a glimpse. It was very quick and easy to read, which allowed me to get through it pretty quickly. I saw a couple other reviewers saying this felt a bit juvenile, almost YA, in its execution, and I can’t disagree. This wasn’t a bad book by any means, I just wanted more…which still leaves me on my quest to find a K-pop novel I truly love.
At a glance, “Superfan” has everything I’ve been wanting from a K-pop centric novel. Granted, HOURglass is a Western boy group, but is admittedly based upon the foundations of K-pop groups. I appreciated that the novel shared the perspective of an idol, and shed light on certain issues idols face during their career: the extreme dieting, the forced behaviors to create parasocial bonds with fans, the constant expectation of perfection. This is the first K-pop novel I’ve read that has provided a full perspective from an idol. I can also see Minnie’s story being compelling, too. Extreme loneliness being exacerbated by an idol’s deliberate fan service, leading to an extreme parasocial connection—it’s exactly what the K-pop companies want. Obsession boosts profits.
Unfortunately, I found the novel as a whole to be very surface level. Despite touching upon concepts I’ve been hoping for from idol novels, it was just the tip of the iceberg. In my review of “Holy Boy” by Lee Heejoo, I mentioned how:
“I…think it’s noteworthy that, in the ~K-Pop x obsession~ books I’ve read so far, it’s always a crazed female fan (or fans) obsessing over a male idol. I think it could be worth exploring why these types of narratives use ~crazy~ women and girls as vessels for their commentary on idolization. I feel like this ties back to the generalization that more women inhabit “fan” spaces and overall are more likely to let their emotions control their actions. I can’t help but feel like there’s a twinge of misogyny there, and none of the books I’ve read have delved into that aspect yet.”
So imagine how excited I was when Minnie, while working on an article for a zine about her love for HOURglass, touches upon that EXACT topic.
Minnie writes: “[They] just couldn’t understand why the boys were so popular. They chalked it up to girls being obsessed with them because of their good looks… [T]here’s no denying that [the fanbase] is 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?”
Sadly, that’s about all we get on that topic before it’s dropped. Talk about the first delicious bites of a meal that turns out to be a nothing burger.
I also found that, for a book titled “Superfan”, Minnie really didn’t get as obsessive or crazy as characters I’ve read in other novels. Granted, yes, there are definitely superfans on the periphery of the book, and there is a bit of exploration into the concept of them, but there really wasn’t as much as I was expecting or hoping for. I wanted Minnie to become crazy, overly possessive, but that didn’t really happen. And then (spoiler alert), Minnie made like three friends and suddenly was over her hyperfixation with the boys. I think the same can be said for Eason’s chapters as well. With this being the first of the K-pop novels I’ve read sharing the idol’s perspective, I was really hoping to dive into the hardships and struggles of the career. We got glimpses of things, but nothing of major substance. For example, one of Eason’s fellow members struggled with an eating disorder. This was weaponized by Eason to hurt the member during arguments, and then by the company to silence that member. Ultimately, there’s no exploration or nuance to the difficult subject matter and its inclusion served to do nothing but leave a bad taste in my mouth.
I think that the alternating perspectives detracted from the depth in which both Minnie and Eason could have been explored. I appreciated that it allowed a glimpse into both characters’ experiences, but it was little more than a glimpse. It was very quick and easy to read, which allowed me to get through it pretty quickly. I saw a couple other reviewers saying this felt a bit juvenile, almost YA, in its execution, and I can’t disagree. This wasn’t a bad book by any means, I just wanted more…which still leaves me on my quest to find a K-pop novel I truly love.
March 31, 2026
I didn’t expect to enjoy this one as much as I did, but it completely surprised me. I flew through it in a single day, it’s such an easy, bingeable read.
What really stood out to me were the deeper themes woven throughout the story. It explores both the beautiful and the darker sides of fandom. How it can create real human connection in such an isolated world, but also how it can become consuming and even isolating in its own way if taken too far.
There’s honestly so much to unpack here: fandom culture, power dynamics, mental health, childhood trauma, loneliness, toxic online spaces, celebrity privacy, it touches on all of it. I could easily write an entire essay on the commentary alone.
Overall, this was such a strong, thought provoking read that caught me off guard. Definitely worth picking up.
What really stood out to me were the deeper themes woven throughout the story. It explores both the beautiful and the darker sides of fandom. How it can create real human connection in such an isolated world, but also how it can become consuming and even isolating in its own way if taken too far.
There’s honestly so much to unpack here: fandom culture, power dynamics, mental health, childhood trauma, loneliness, toxic online spaces, celebrity privacy, it touches on all of it. I could easily write an entire essay on the commentary alone.
Overall, this was such a strong, thought provoking read that caught me off guard. Definitely worth picking up.
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!
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.
March 30, 2026
Well, this was a disappointment. Had high hopes for Jenny since her last book had me weeping. I get the whole fandom, social media, and appreciated the perspective on race, but I felt it lacked depth and prose. Carry on.
June 23, 2026
4.5 stars
i'm really glad jenny tinghui zhang took a more realistic approach with superfan given how the "celebrity x fan" dynamic usually plays out in books/media. i enjoyed even more that it's from the pov of someone who's not quite a sasaeng—an extremely parasocial and obsessive fan who invades a celebrity's privacy and comes close to committing crimes to gain a celeb's attention. when readers meet her, she lacks self-confidence, is meek, and enjoys the safety that her favorite kpop group provides her. the fmc is vulnerable enough to become a sasaeng because she's so young and experiences a lot of firsts—horrific and otherwise—as she begins college. the mmc provides the pov of how vicious, evil, and exploitative the kpop industry is, whether or not it's from a fan or staffers. katharine chin and eric yang did a fantastic job narrating. i thoroughly enjoyed this and i recommend it to anyone who's been a part of a fandom, especially music-related. it might ground a lot of readers who need it 👀
tw:
graphic - sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic abuse (emotional), misogyny, racism, homophobia
moderate - child abuse, grief, death, car accident, stalking
minor - eating disorder (implied), pregnancy
thank you so much to macmillan audio for the arc!
is there a difference between the way she loves the boys and the way a sports enthusiast loves their team? did those fans not scream, and shake, and cry in the face of their god?
i'm really glad jenny tinghui zhang took a more realistic approach with superfan given how the "celebrity x fan" dynamic usually plays out in books/media. i enjoyed even more that it's from the pov of someone who's not quite a sasaeng—an extremely parasocial and obsessive fan who invades a celebrity's privacy and comes close to committing crimes to gain a celeb's attention. when readers meet her, she lacks self-confidence, is meek, and enjoys the safety that her favorite kpop group provides her. the fmc is vulnerable enough to become a sasaeng because she's so young and experiences a lot of firsts—horrific and otherwise—as she begins college. the mmc provides the pov of how vicious, evil, and exploitative the kpop industry is, whether or not it's from a fan or staffers. katharine chin and eric yang did a fantastic job narrating. i thoroughly enjoyed this and i recommend it to anyone who's been a part of a fandom, especially music-related. it might ground a lot of readers who need it 👀
tw:
graphic - sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic abuse (emotional), misogyny, racism, homophobia
moderate - child abuse, grief, death, car accident, stalking
minor - eating disorder (implied), pregnancy
thank you so much to macmillan audio for the arc!
March 26, 2026
"A middle-aged woman emerges, having shoved her way forward. I’m obsessed with you, she cries, waving a gelatinous-looking object in Eason’s face. Will you sign my vibrator?"
At some point in our lives we've been obsessed with something, be it celebrities, sports, or something out of the ordinary. It consumes our lives and takes over. That specific thing is all we can think about and sometimes it haunts our dreams. People who are obsessive over boybands are some of the wildest people that I've ever met. Never offend a boyband lover because you'll be at the bottom of the ocean afterwards.
I love stories about unhinged people doing some crazy things. Parts of this were like that and it was a trip. This jumped between two characters and there were times where you had to decide who was crazier. At one point you felt as if this was a match made in the loony bin. It was all unreal.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this. It was pure insanity, a little heartfelt, and off the wall. The downside was that this was heavily repetitive. That really takes away from a book when it was already a short read. Minnie and Eason definitely made this an entertaining read. Nate can go suck an egg though. What a douche.
'Superfan' was an interesting read with a lot of wicked twists. While repetitive, it was still entertaining and worth the read. Definitely a book that I'm keeing for my collection.
At some point in our lives we've been obsessed with something, be it celebrities, sports, or something out of the ordinary. It consumes our lives and takes over. That specific thing is all we can think about and sometimes it haunts our dreams. People who are obsessive over boybands are some of the wildest people that I've ever met. Never offend a boyband lover because you'll be at the bottom of the ocean afterwards.
I love stories about unhinged people doing some crazy things. Parts of this were like that and it was a trip. This jumped between two characters and there were times where you had to decide who was crazier. At one point you felt as if this was a match made in the loony bin. It was all unreal.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this. It was pure insanity, a little heartfelt, and off the wall. The downside was that this was heavily repetitive. That really takes away from a book when it was already a short read. Minnie and Eason definitely made this an entertaining read. Nate can go suck an egg though. What a douche.
'Superfan' was an interesting read with a lot of wicked twists. While repetitive, it was still entertaining and worth the read. Definitely a book that I'm keeing for my collection.
April 15, 2026
This felt like it was taking FOREVER to read. It was honestly very boring for the most part.
As I read through some other reviews here, I think there is a common theme of “the idea was great, but the execution was poor”, and I agree. Parasocial obsession is a complex and often polarizing topic, as well as the deep ties to kpop groups taking this to another level, and feeding on that perfect image which comes with a hefty price to pay (your entire life). I was excited to read about this - it’s not one I’ve read in any fiction yet.
Unfortunately, I think the author got hung up on too many other divergences of themes in the book, which a) caused a lot of subplots to be unfinished and b) did not allow for the main topic of parasocial obsession to be explored deep enough, which was supposed to be the main draw of the story. There were themes of PTSD, physical and emotional abuse, relationship abuse/grooming, sexual assault, bullying, racism, eating disorders, child neglect, suicidal ideation, etc. which in some parts is great to add to the “why” of these characters. Minnie completely closes herself off to the world after she gets SA’d, and finds solace only within the fandom of the boy band she’s discovered. Eason is running from his past, and had the chance of a lifetime to leave it all behind for fame. Which is all fine and cool and dandy to show “why they are this way”, but we focus SO. MUCH. On those stories and not enough on closing the loops on the stories that mattered to the main topic. Why did we never hear about what Nate’s story became to be and how Minnie responded to it (besides being despondent and accepting that it happened, we get no further detail). Why don’t we get a reaction of Nate finding out about what Clark did and if they continued to be friends? Why wasn’t there more closure with Julian and Eason? The hospital scene just fades out, and I wish I had more from them. We only saw them fall apart. Why didn’t we get to know who LadyMcBeth truly was? Those questions were the parts of the book that we spent so long questioning, yet never got answers for. It left me feeling the book was unfinished. I wanted to see more about Minnie’s inner thoughts on the extremists online, and the two sides of the same coin where fans are simply admirers vs true all out obsession.
I also have a bone to pick with dual perspectives and the choice to still leave perspectives in third person. I think it is naturally more difficult for readers (at least myself) to connect with characters that are written this way, and naturally more difficult for writers to truly hit home with third person (though it can be done well). I wish it was instead written in first person with dual perspectives, as I think it would’ve made the surface level characters more appealing and complex.
As I read through some other reviews here, I think there is a common theme of “the idea was great, but the execution was poor”, and I agree. Parasocial obsession is a complex and often polarizing topic, as well as the deep ties to kpop groups taking this to another level, and feeding on that perfect image which comes with a hefty price to pay (your entire life). I was excited to read about this - it’s not one I’ve read in any fiction yet.
Unfortunately, I think the author got hung up on too many other divergences of themes in the book, which a) caused a lot of subplots to be unfinished and b) did not allow for the main topic of parasocial obsession to be explored deep enough, which was supposed to be the main draw of the story. There were themes of PTSD, physical and emotional abuse, relationship abuse/grooming, sexual assault, bullying, racism, eating disorders, child neglect, suicidal ideation, etc. which in some parts is great to add to the “why” of these characters. Minnie completely closes herself off to the world after she gets SA’d, and finds solace only within the fandom of the boy band she’s discovered. Eason is running from his past, and had the chance of a lifetime to leave it all behind for fame. Which is all fine and cool and dandy to show “why they are this way”, but we focus SO. MUCH. On those stories and not enough on closing the loops on the stories that mattered to the main topic. Why did we never hear about what Nate’s story became to be and how Minnie responded to it (besides being despondent and accepting that it happened, we get no further detail). Why don’t we get a reaction of Nate finding out about what Clark did and if they continued to be friends? Why wasn’t there more closure with Julian and Eason? The hospital scene just fades out, and I wish I had more from them. We only saw them fall apart. Why didn’t we get to know who LadyMcBeth truly was? Those questions were the parts of the book that we spent so long questioning, yet never got answers for. It left me feeling the book was unfinished. I wanted to see more about Minnie’s inner thoughts on the extremists online, and the two sides of the same coin where fans are simply admirers vs true all out obsession.
I also have a bone to pick with dual perspectives and the choice to still leave perspectives in third person. I think it is naturally more difficult for readers (at least myself) to connect with characters that are written this way, and naturally more difficult for writers to truly hit home with third person (though it can be done well). I wish it was instead written in first person with dual perspectives, as I think it would’ve made the surface level characters more appealing and complex.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2026
woah, phew. superfan gave me an existential crisis as someone who has been deep in the fandom trenches for nearly all my life. it captures the complexity of fandom, and fandom's toxic obsession with the subjects of its "love" soo well. jenny tinghui zhang offers a very nuanced look at how some fandoms can become so deeply toxic, and if you're into k-pop you can clearly see where she's drawn inspiration from. the writing was simply marvellous, and i, for one, can't wait to read more of what she writes!!!
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
April 9, 2026
Father forgive me for my sins ( I was a former Larry Stylinson shipper). This reminds me of my transgressions and I am CRINGING.
I did not expect the format to be that way but it was very interesting. I’ve read books with similar concepts of fan girls/idols/etc. But this was the first to tell from the prescriptive of the idol. Had my butt cheeks clenching wanting to hear what happened next
I did not expect the format to be that way but it was very interesting. I’ve read books with similar concepts of fan girls/idols/etc. But this was the first to tell from the prescriptive of the idol. Had my butt cheeks clenching wanting to hear what happened next
March 11, 2026
I really loved this. It was at times painfully relatable and sometimes just painful, but it was also full of such care. It's really impressive how this book manages to both address the parasocial, toxic behavior that can happen in fandom spaces while also showing the good that can come from loving something so much. It's the sort of book that can only come from someone who has been here. I also really loved the way Eason's past was revealed over the course of the book, and in fact just how his whole storyline was handled. Minnie's as well. I underlined so many quotes while I was reading, and I'm sure I will underline even more next time.
March 4, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up
This book was soooooooo good and very easy to relate to. This is a must read for people like me who spend their time daydreaming about boy groups. Even right now, I'm typing and deleting a lot of my thoughts because I don't want to be seen as the "crazy" fangirl. I dont think i'll ever understand why people make it seem like being a fangirl is a bad thing. The author does a really good job at showcasing the different types of fans. Like don't get me wrong i love my kpop idols but im not waiting outside their hotels for glimpses of them. I think fangirls get a bad rep because there are people who do take it to the extreme and don't see the line between fantasy and reality.
I like daydreaming and coming up with little scenarios, but I know that they'll never actually be true. idk if im wording any of my thoughts right, but just go read this book if youve ever been a major fan of something or someone
This book was soooooooo good and very easy to relate to. This is a must read for people like me who spend their time daydreaming about boy groups. Even right now, I'm typing and deleting a lot of my thoughts because I don't want to be seen as the "crazy" fangirl. I dont think i'll ever understand why people make it seem like being a fangirl is a bad thing. The author does a really good job at showcasing the different types of fans. Like don't get me wrong i love my kpop idols but im not waiting outside their hotels for glimpses of them. I think fangirls get a bad rep because there are people who do take it to the extreme and don't see the line between fantasy and reality.
I like daydreaming and coming up with little scenarios, but I know that they'll never actually be true. idk if im wording any of my thoughts right, but just go read this book if youve ever been a major fan of something or someone
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!
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