K-Pop, K-Drama, K-Tastrophe in NYC: A Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Sweet Romance

by Sherry Aab

When real life feels better than a K-drama!

I spill a green juice on the world’s most famous K-Pop star.

Right down the front of his white designer shirt.

Minutes before a press shoot.

That’s how I meet Min-Jae Lee.

I’m Kylie Sweep.

New York makeup artist.

Fixing wigs. Covering bruises. Cleaning up everyone else’s messes.

While my own dreams wait their turn.

Then Min-Jae Lee looks at me like the spill doesn’t matter.

Instead of firing me, he hires me.

One month to show him the real New York city.

With me, he isn’t a global icon.

He’s thoughtful. Gentle. Funny in the softest way.

And somewhere between shared moments and almost-touches,

our professional arrangement starts to feel like something more.

The spotlight always finds him.

But if it finds us,

this perfect arrangement might disappear.

Dive into this sweet celebrity, slow-burn romance, set in New York City.

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2026

Reviews

[S]

From the start I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a comedy from the image. But it became a slow starting friendship and romance where everything just clicked and then the long distance romance to a marriage. Kylie and Min-Jae become a wonderful couple fulfilling their heartfelt dreams without compromise.


The spoiler alert -

I thought the children are getting to live the best of both worlds and enjoy culture in a way that so many dream of having for their children. Learning cultures and language in a mixed format that really works.

[Mrs K.Bryant]

K-Pop, K-Drama, K-Tastrophe is a very special story about Kylie a Freelance Make-up Artist who goes to do make-up for a photo shoot and she meets Min-Jae a K-pop Star. I love how their friendship grows when she becomes a perfect tour guide showing him a very normal existence in NYC. But what will happen in the end?
Superb story that I had difficulty putting down and enjoyed reading very much and I highly recommend that you read.

[De Smith]

This book was one I just couldn’t put down. I read straight through it in one sitting. And I enjoyed every line of it. It was a really cute story to read. The way the friendship between Kylie and Min-Jae developed and became something more was so endearing. You couldn’t help but want them to find a way to fit in each other’s lives. They have an authentic feeling connection and the ending was just perfect for these two.

[Daniela Ruas]

A K-Idol trying to meet the real New York has a memorable encounter with a woman struggling between playing it safe and going for her dreams. What starts as something to discover the genuine city, also allows them to honestly discover themselves and each other. If you love k-dramas you will definitely love this book.

[Erin]

This was a fun sweet story. I loved seeing how Kylie saw Min-Jae as a person and not the celebrity that he is. Their support for each other was so heartwarming. Kylie is a strong female lead who knows what she wants and won’t settle for less. Min-Jae is thoughtful and romantic. Loved watching this connection develop and love grow.

[Bonnie]

This is a cute story of a K-pop idol and a regular girl falling in love and figuring out how to fit into each other's very different worlds. This is a fun, quick read. I received an advance reader's copy and am leaving an honest review.

[Slugpuppy3]

I know nothing about K-Pop, but I know a lot about books. K-POP, K-DRAMA, K-TASTROPHE IN NYC is unputdownable! It’s a fun, sweet, swoony romantic book, and I absolutely loved Kylie and Min-Jae.
I reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book with no strings attached.

[Jean Hall]

This is a very cute, romantic and sweet story about a regular girl and a K-Pop star, meeting and falling in love while navigating how to fit into each others worlds. Kylie and Min-Jae are great characters and I enjoyed reading about them very much.

[A]

2.5
Way underdeveloped.
Good premise. Too surface level.
Sample more polished than rest of story. The diologue didn't even match between perspectives. Needed a good developmental edit and more substance. It's more like a novella

[Alice]

A somewhat fast-moving love story between people from two different countries. It's entertaining to read with both cultures being played out.