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H3RO #1
Idol Thoughts
I was supposed to manage them. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with them.
Six months ago, I discovered I was the illegitimate heir to one of the K-Pop industry’s biggest entertainment companies. I didn’t want anything to do with the empire I had the chance to inherit.
Then I discovered how my jerk of a half-brother was currently running things. I might not want the job, but I damn well deserve it just as much as him. All I need to do is prove my worth by managing a failing boy band, H3RO, back to stardom.
Easy, right?
Tae, Dante, Minhyuk, Nate, Kyun, and Jun are as talented as they are good looking. Abandoned by their company, they’ve lost faith in everything and themselves. It’s down to me to save their careers – and their dreams – by delivering a number one single.
And yet, somehow, the bigger miracle will be not falling in love with all of them…
** IDOL THOUGHTS is a full-length, slow-burn Reverse Harem novel. There are steamy scenes, super hot Korean idols, and there may or may not be a cliff-hanger. **
221 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2018
204 people are currently reading
1100 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Lee
20 books129 followersJi Soo Lee is the Korean name of this Texan Korean-American author. She spends most of her days lost in a K-Pop haze, which inspired her to start writing stories about her idols at Atlantis Entertainment.
Under the name Ji Soo Lee, you will find YA contemporary romances, with romance levels like a K-Drama.
Under J. S. Lee, Ji Soo writes steamier stories, mainly of Reverse Harems.
Under the name Ji Soo Lee, you will find YA contemporary romances, with romance levels like a K-Drama.
Under J. S. Lee, Ji Soo writes steamier stories, mainly of Reverse Harems.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 10, 2023
this book is like a gum, good in the beginning but then It just loses the flavour and you just want to put It in the trash
Ok OK, I understand the attraction to all the boys, If I was the manager of BTS I will be the same but Oh my god girl you have to decide what you want. The book is basically she is kissing one of the boys and then she ignores the situation, so she kisses another one and ignores him too and I was like AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
The wort part is that the members of the band don´t know what she is doing, if they knew It would have been okay because is their life and they do what they want with their bodies, but they don´t know anything so they keep proclaiming they love while the girl is kissing another guy
The only part I enjoy was the preparation to the comeback, the rest is simply bad.
Ok OK, I understand the attraction to all the boys, If I was the manager of BTS I will be the same but Oh my god girl you have to decide what you want. The book is basically she is kissing one of the boys and then she ignores the situation, so she kisses another one and ignores him too and I was like AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
The wort part is that the members of the band don´t know what she is doing, if they knew It would have been okay because is their life and they do what they want with their bodies, but they don´t know anything so they keep proclaiming they love while the girl is kissing another guy
The only part I enjoy was the preparation to the comeback, the rest is simply bad.
January 31, 2019
Mini-Review:
I shouldn't be surprised that there are K-Pop romances but I am. As an Asian Drama fan, I had to check it out. The author definitely managed to get some of the light & emotion laden scenes right but the sex scenes are a bit abruptly placed. Holly is great. She definitely comes across the page as an Asian-American in the story. I'm curious to see how the group dynamic will work out.
Light & fun. There's potential here.
I shouldn't be surprised that there are K-Pop romances but I am. As an Asian Drama fan, I had to check it out. The author definitely managed to get some of the light & emotion laden scenes right but the sex scenes are a bit abruptly placed. Holly is great. She definitely comes across the page as an Asian-American in the story. I'm curious to see how the group dynamic will work out.
Light & fun. There's potential here.
February 26, 2019
A reverse harem that features K-Pop? SOLD! I don’t think I ever added a book to my kindle fast enough. I don’t really talk about my love of reverse harem as much (because of judgmental assholes), but this book rekindled my love for the genre.
Holly finds out that her father who’s she never known, lives in Korea and owns of the biggest K-Pop agencies. Along with that, he wants her to work there. Some issues happen and now she’s the manager to a six guy group name H3RO. Oh yeah, she’s also supposed to get them ready for a comeback with no experience. Simple right?
It was so easy to dive into this story and not come up for air. I adored Holly straight from the beginning. She came off likable and very genuine. She really stole my heart at how much she came to care for these and work her ass off to make their dreams come true.
The guys of H3RO all had different personalities and I think that the author did a great job at bringing those out on the page. Once you started to pick up on everyone’s characteristics its way too hard to not to fall for them. I honestly feel for Holly, because who can choose between them? Let’s hope she doesn’t have to!
There are some steamy scenes here and we also get a feel for some of the characters backgrounds. Some of these guys definitely have some baggage and secrets.
Overall, this was a good first book in a new RH series and I can’t wait to see what will happen next!
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Holly finds out that her father who’s she never known, lives in Korea and owns of the biggest K-Pop agencies. Along with that, he wants her to work there. Some issues happen and now she’s the manager to a six guy group name H3RO. Oh yeah, she’s also supposed to get them ready for a comeback with no experience. Simple right?
It was so easy to dive into this story and not come up for air. I adored Holly straight from the beginning. She came off likable and very genuine. She really stole my heart at how much she came to care for these and work her ass off to make their dreams come true.
The guys of H3RO all had different personalities and I think that the author did a great job at bringing those out on the page. Once you started to pick up on everyone’s characteristics its way too hard to not to fall for them. I honestly feel for Holly, because who can choose between them? Let’s hope she doesn’t have to!
There are some steamy scenes here and we also get a feel for some of the characters backgrounds. Some of these guys definitely have some baggage and secrets.
Overall, this was a good first book in a new RH series and I can’t wait to see what will happen next!
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
January 15, 2019
I was super intrigued by the premise of this: girl takes over managing boy band, girl falls in love with all of them! Drama ensues! Reverse harem things can be super fun--Fruits Basket, anyone? And boy bands! And KPOP! Unfortunately, this didn't really deliver.
The first book is definitely the best in writing quality and editing of the three (I read them all, thank you Kindle Unlimited). However...
It's a reverse harem romance if all the characters are aware of what's going on and are consenting with it--aka, they are okay that one person is dating all of them. That is not the case here. While I really wanted to like Holly, the fact that she kept up with fooling around with multiple members of HERO when she knew it was wrong on multiple levels (both the fidelity thing, which she justifies by saying, "Well, we never said we were exclusive..." which is such a fuckboy response, and the abuse of power aspect in which she is supposed to be SAVING THEIR CAREERS so yeah, there's a real weird dynamic there) really kept me from investing in her. I mainly kept reading after this one to see what would happen when they found out and the shit hit the fan.
Two stars for premise and the individual band members more than the actual execution or the heroine.
The first book is definitely the best in writing quality and editing of the three (I read them all, thank you Kindle Unlimited). However...
It's a reverse harem romance if all the characters are aware of what's going on and are consenting with it--aka, they are okay that one person is dating all of them. That is not the case here. While I really wanted to like Holly, the fact that she kept up with fooling around with multiple members of HERO when she knew it was wrong on multiple levels (both the fidelity thing, which she justifies by saying, "Well, we never said we were exclusive..." which is such a fuckboy response, and the abuse of power aspect in which she is supposed to be SAVING THEIR CAREERS so yeah, there's a real weird dynamic there) really kept me from investing in her. I mainly kept reading after this one to see what would happen when they found out and the shit hit the fan.
Two stars for premise and the individual band members more than the actual execution or the heroine.
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November 25, 2020
Tbh, I enjoyed Idol Thoughts because of the comeback scenes and that entire process. The writing was engrossing and super easy to follow, but some of the narrative choices were a bit... weird. I also wasn't a big fan of how the romance and how that developed. I'm good to stop here and won't be reading the rest of the series.
April 8, 2023
K-pop fanfic draped over the bones of a K-drama and I ate it up like candy in one sitting.
February 16, 2023
I was really curious, to read a book about K-Pop and Reverse Harem.
I read the whole series about H3RO. I liked that the author gave some inside to the korean culture. I don't know much about Korean, Chinese or Japanes culture, so I enjoyed all the inside knowledge. The series was okay, I saw some of my friends left good reviews. I genuinely hope the Mrs. Lee will be successful with her books and I know there are more.
The books entertained me okay, but they did not really catch me. Some things were pretty unbelievable for me, like Holly becoming a good manager in a few day without much help. I think maybe the topic is not for me. Also how things went down was not for me. I will give all books a 3 stars rating.
I read the whole series about H3RO. I liked that the author gave some inside to the korean culture. I don't know much about Korean, Chinese or Japanes culture, so I enjoyed all the inside knowledge. The series was okay, I saw some of my friends left good reviews. I genuinely hope the Mrs. Lee will be successful with her books and I know there are more.
The books entertained me okay, but they did not really catch me. Some things were pretty unbelievable for me, like Holly becoming a good manager in a few day without much help. I think maybe the topic is not for me. Also how things went down was not for me. I will give all books a 3 stars rating.
January 6, 2019
H3RO Trilogy Review
I really enjoyed reading this trilogy. I know almost nothing about K-Pop and Korean culture, so it was really interesting for me to learn about. I also very much enjoyed getting to know each of the characters, and seeing how their relationship with the main character, Holly, formed. Dante, Nate, and Jun were probably my favorites of the six. Throughout the series, I enjoyed seeing Holly form more of a relationship with her father, and I am okay with the outcome of the issues with her brother Anyway, I think that spreading this story out over three books (which I binge-read in a day) worked very well. It was especially an advantage for forming the relationships between Holly and the members of H3RO, because it allowed the characters and relationships to actually be fleshed out. Oh, and I really loved the unconventionality of the plot: having the main characters be Korean idols was incredibly fun and entertaining, and I am definitely going to read more in the Atlantis Universe. J.S. Lee is a gifted writer. 5 stars!
I really enjoyed reading this trilogy. I know almost nothing about K-Pop and Korean culture, so it was really interesting for me to learn about. I also very much enjoyed getting to know each of the characters, and seeing how their relationship with the main character, Holly, formed. Dante, Nate, and Jun were probably my favorites of the six. Throughout the series, I enjoyed seeing Holly form more of a relationship with her father, and I am okay with the outcome of the issues with her brother Anyway, I think that spreading this story out over three books (which I binge-read in a day) worked very well. It was especially an advantage for forming the relationships between Holly and the members of H3RO, because it allowed the characters and relationships to actually be fleshed out. Oh, and I really loved the unconventionality of the plot: having the main characters be Korean idols was incredibly fun and entertaining, and I am definitely going to read more in the Atlantis Universe. J.S. Lee is a gifted writer. 5 stars!
January 26, 2024
I'm stood at this desk establishing that the score for this book is bad, do.
January 3, 2019
AMAZING
January 26, 2019
This was a lot of fun, I’m thoroughly enjoying myself 😈 Touching and amusing in turns, I’m really liking these boys.
September 12, 2019
I had just found K-Pop, then I stumbled upon this beauty! I loved it! Holly has no idea what's she getting involved in, and it's a great story to watch unfold. I loved it all!
April 19, 2022
Okay but I love that she’s a manager not an idol. Like all kpop books I’ve read have the same kind of storyline : talented girl gets scouted, sibling convinces them to audition, they get in, one of their group members hates them, they fall in love with another idol and then they debut. I love that this was so different to the other books of this genre.
December 3, 2018
I utterly devoured this book - right from the start I was enthralled and I had to keep reading until the last page. SO GOOD! If you like k-drama (which I do) and you like steamy reverse harem tales (which I also do) you'll love this book. And if you don't, read it anyway and you'll likely become a fan.
Our story is told by Holly, a Korean-American who finds herself managing a group of gorgeous idols through the release of their next album. Immediately, there is attraction and flirtation, but the more she gets to know these guys the more she truly loves them and wants them to succeed. Meanwhile, no one knows she is the illegitimate child of the record label's owner, and her half-brother who runs the company would much rather see her return to Chicago than succeed. How long can she withstand the pressures - to succeed, to keep her secrets, and to control her hormones?
The entire story is told from a first person perspective, and there's even a helpful guide to Koren culture and K-pop terms to help explain the terminology and help the reader understand customs that differ from those in the USA. Whenever Korean words appear in the text, there's always a translation or explanation, which draws the reader in instead of alienating those who feel they aren't privy to "inside information". The text is very well written, with descriptive language that makes you feel like you're really there. In my mind, I was watching the plot unfold as I read the words on the page. The characters are well thought out and fully developed, with a relatable protagonist, a hateable villain, and a group of adorable guys we get to fall in love with as Holly does. The best part about this trilogy is that it takes place within an imaginary company that holds many other stories, and the author plans to tell them! Characters in other bands are mentioned, and I can't wait to read sequel serials that follow their lives as well. BRAVO!!!
I volunteered to review an ARC of this novel.
Our story is told by Holly, a Korean-American who finds herself managing a group of gorgeous idols through the release of their next album. Immediately, there is attraction and flirtation, but the more she gets to know these guys the more she truly loves them and wants them to succeed. Meanwhile, no one knows she is the illegitimate child of the record label's owner, and her half-brother who runs the company would much rather see her return to Chicago than succeed. How long can she withstand the pressures - to succeed, to keep her secrets, and to control her hormones?
The entire story is told from a first person perspective, and there's even a helpful guide to Koren culture and K-pop terms to help explain the terminology and help the reader understand customs that differ from those in the USA. Whenever Korean words appear in the text, there's always a translation or explanation, which draws the reader in instead of alienating those who feel they aren't privy to "inside information". The text is very well written, with descriptive language that makes you feel like you're really there. In my mind, I was watching the plot unfold as I read the words on the page. The characters are well thought out and fully developed, with a relatable protagonist, a hateable villain, and a group of adorable guys we get to fall in love with as Holly does. The best part about this trilogy is that it takes place within an imaginary company that holds many other stories, and the author plans to tell them! Characters in other bands are mentioned, and I can't wait to read sequel serials that follow their lives as well. BRAVO!!!
I volunteered to review an ARC of this novel.
December 4, 2018
I watched a lot of Korean telenovela and let me just say, I really, truly loved and enjoyed watching those. Now, finding a Korean RH book? Freaking genius! Holidays came early for this girl!
What I loved about this is that the FMC is not a pushover. She knows what she wants and works hard for it, even when she is being thwarted by her half brother every chance he got. The story and world building is well written in that it is something you’ll find in any well off families. I enjoyed every minute of it and her relationship with H3RO boys. The author wrote up explanations on some Korean terms which I find very helpful especially for those who weren’t familiar with it. I’m hoping that on the next book we will get to know more of the boys’ background and how Holly’s blooming relationship will affect the boys’ career. I can’t wait for the next one!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange of honest review.
What I loved about this is that the FMC is not a pushover. She knows what she wants and works hard for it, even when she is being thwarted by her half brother every chance he got. The story and world building is well written in that it is something you’ll find in any well off families. I enjoyed every minute of it and her relationship with H3RO boys. The author wrote up explanations on some Korean terms which I find very helpful especially for those who weren’t familiar with it. I’m hoping that on the next book we will get to know more of the boys’ background and how Holly’s blooming relationship will affect the boys’ career. I can’t wait for the next one!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange of honest review.
November 15, 2019
Who knew there were K-pop romances? As a fairly new ARMY (only the last year or so) I am only slowly learning about the huge impact of K-pop on the world, and of course it would be found in romance novels too! I can't believe I never figured this out before!!!
This book is really excellent for any OT7-er, because the heroine, Holly, doesn't have to choose between the six members of H3RO, but is loved by all of them! (That is what a Reverse Harem story means, I have now learned, and I am into it.)
The writing is great, the boys of H3RO are hot, and the way Holly is suddenly thrown into their world and has to help them with their careers really made me happy.
The whole book made me happy! I'm starting on the sequel right now!!!
This book is really excellent for any OT7-er, because the heroine, Holly, doesn't have to choose between the six members of H3RO, but is loved by all of them! (That is what a Reverse Harem story means, I have now learned, and I am into it.)
The writing is great, the boys of H3RO are hot, and the way Holly is suddenly thrown into their world and has to help them with their careers really made me happy.
The whole book made me happy! I'm starting on the sequel right now!!!
September 12, 2018
Arc For Honest Review
Rating 4/5
I’ve NEVER read a KPop book that actually felt ‘Adult’ and not Teen Fiction, and this one was what I was looking for.
The way this book is written, I swear to you this could be a KDrama Mini Series like EXO Next Door.
In This Book you get to know the characters and get a good feel of them, plus some well written heated scenes (not a lot, but I don’t mind)
Drama? Yep, but not over the top drama mainly realistic sabotaging, that we all know would occur in the music industry.
The book ends in a cliffy, but I’m stoked to read the next book ASAP :)
I read this book in 1 Day, look forward to reading more from this author.
Rating 4/5
I’ve NEVER read a KPop book that actually felt ‘Adult’ and not Teen Fiction, and this one was what I was looking for.
The way this book is written, I swear to you this could be a KDrama Mini Series like EXO Next Door.
In This Book you get to know the characters and get a good feel of them, plus some well written heated scenes (not a lot, but I don’t mind)
Drama? Yep, but not over the top drama mainly realistic sabotaging, that we all know would occur in the music industry.
The book ends in a cliffy, but I’m stoked to read the next book ASAP :)
I read this book in 1 Day, look forward to reading more from this author.
December 7, 2018
Stunning!
I LOVE K-Pop and was so excited to read this book! It’s beautifully written with unique and realistic characters. Holly isn’t some stunning beauty queen with amazing super powers. She’s a normal person who makes the best of her situation and is loyal through and through. The men of H3RO are vulnerable and lovable. I really like how the men depend on the woman in this series. You don’t see that often and it’s refreshing. The author stayed true to Korean culture as well which is a major bonus in my opinion. I can’t wait for the next one!!
I LOVE K-Pop and was so excited to read this book! It’s beautifully written with unique and realistic characters. Holly isn’t some stunning beauty queen with amazing super powers. She’s a normal person who makes the best of her situation and is loyal through and through. The men of H3RO are vulnerable and lovable. I really like how the men depend on the woman in this series. You don’t see that often and it’s refreshing. The author stayed true to Korean culture as well which is a major bonus in my opinion. I can’t wait for the next one!!
January 19, 2019
K-drama in print!!
I'm a fan of kdrama's, I used to avoid them since they are typically longer compared to the much shorter Japanese dramas...but once I stated them, I fell in love. It's through that, that I eventually saw Kpop and variety shows and so on. I'm so happy to see someone write about it and that too for reverse harem! One of my favorite genres ever now!! And the best part was how fast all three books released, over the course of a month. Now, it's time to binge it :)
I'm a fan of kdrama's, I used to avoid them since they are typically longer compared to the much shorter Japanese dramas...but once I stated them, I fell in love. It's through that, that I eventually saw Kpop and variety shows and so on. I'm so happy to see someone write about it and that too for reverse harem! One of my favorite genres ever now!! And the best part was how fast all three books released, over the course of a month. Now, it's time to binge it :)
January 22, 2019
Reads just like a KDrama!
This was such a fun read! I've watch KDrama before and loved it but I wasn't sure how this would translate into book form. It was great. This reads exactly like a KDrama with an emphasis on doing things and going places as opposed to character development. If this was a conventional story it might not work. But lack of character development is a hallmark in KDramas. The action here centers around getting a comeback for the guys. I loved every but of this and I've already downloaded the next one. If you like KDrama then this is a winner.
This was such a fun read! I've watch KDrama before and loved it but I wasn't sure how this would translate into book form. It was great. This reads exactly like a KDrama with an emphasis on doing things and going places as opposed to character development. If this was a conventional story it might not work. But lack of character development is a hallmark in KDramas. The action here centers around getting a comeback for the guys. I loved every but of this and I've already downloaded the next one. If you like KDrama then this is a winner.
September 24, 2019
i love this book so much!!! i had to join gr just to talk about how much i love it, i have never written a review of anything before but k-pop is my life and this book is my obsession. i read it three times in one day and want to read it again. next i will read the sequels when i can buy them, so exciting, i didn't even know there was k-pop romance in the world and now i am happier than hobi and want to read them all. I STAN BTS AND I STAN THIS BOOK SO HARD.
"reverse harem" is a thing i didn't know about either. thanks j.s. lee for my new addiction.
"reverse harem" is a thing i didn't know about either. thanks j.s. lee for my new addiction.
December 1, 2018
As a fan of both RH books and K-Pop music, this book was perfect. J. S. Lee did a great job of grabbing me as a reader and leaving me wanting more. Holly was a good female character lead and wasn't overly annoying. The guys in H3RO all have different personalities but you start to see how each of them interact with Holly and start to build their relationship with her. This was a great read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
December 19, 2018
Idol Thoughts was somewhat predictable, but the characters were so engaging and the storyline interesting, that I didn't care about the tropes and lack of depth-- simply put, it was a fun read, and I enjoyed the light-hearted relationship between the group. The descriptions at the beginning of the story (explaining Korean cultural and language used in the book) was worth reading and referring back to to enrich the reading.
January 1, 2024
Okay, so I am addicted to this series! I have already purchased book 2 and 3. I love the chemistry between the main heroine Holly and the 6 (yes 6!) K-Pop stars in H3RO: Tae, Dante, Minhyuk, Nate, Kyun, and Jun. I don't even know if I can pick a favorite among them. I can't wait to see how their relationships grow in the next books and see H3RO grow in popularity with Holly managing them for success!
December 3, 2018
Wow!
This is a whole new culture for me to absorb and I am absolutely loving it. Lee has written a fantastic story set in the massive Korean Music Industry but in such a way that this Anglo Saxon woman could feel at home with it. I learned lots and enjoyed it immensely. I can't wait to see what happens next!
This is a whole new culture for me to absorb and I am absolutely loving it. Lee has written a fantastic story set in the massive Korean Music Industry but in such a way that this Anglo Saxon woman could feel at home with it. I learned lots and enjoyed it immensely. I can't wait to see what happens next!
December 4, 2018
Fresh air
I usually don't read contemporary romance but as soon as I read that this was a K-Pop RH, I insta reordered.
The author did the Korean culture justice imo. She tried to keep it as realistic as possible while making sense to people outside of it.
Loved the storyline. I can't wait for the next installment.
#fighting!
I usually don't read contemporary romance but as soon as I read that this was a K-Pop RH, I insta reordered.
The author did the Korean culture justice imo. She tried to keep it as realistic as possible while making sense to people outside of it.
Loved the storyline. I can't wait for the next installment.
#fighting!
February 8, 2020
Absolutely amazing!!!! Finally someone had the sense and sheer amazingness to have Kpop stars in a book! And an RH at that!!! I'm in love with the characters and there unique personalities. I'm super jealous of Holly and I can't wait for her to have some Dante action...... Well all of them actually!!!! I can't wait for book 2 and I know I will love it just as much as this one!!!!
December 24, 2018
The book I didn't know I needed!
I can't say enough fabulous things about this book! I never would have thought of reverse harem and K-Pop in the same book, but J.S. Lee put it together in such a way that I couldn't put it down! I read it in one sitting and can't wait to dive into the next book in this series!
I can't say enough fabulous things about this book! I never would have thought of reverse harem and K-Pop in the same book, but J.S. Lee put it together in such a way that I couldn't put it down! I read it in one sitting and can't wait to dive into the next book in this series!
January 6, 2019
Loved
What a great change of the reverse harem genre. Finally!! I'm getting bored with all the paranormal types so this was great. It's been a while since we've seen something along this line. This writer has talent. Never were there parts that bored me with overly detailed page fillers. It was all actual parts that mattered to the story!
What a great change of the reverse harem genre. Finally!! I'm getting bored with all the paranormal types so this was great. It's been a while since we've seen something along this line. This writer has talent. Never were there parts that bored me with overly detailed page fillers. It was all actual parts that mattered to the story!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews