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Zodiac #1
The Idol Who Became Her World
Why did he have to say "Hello" when it could only ever end with a "Goodbye"?
Lucinda
Of all the summer dance programs in the world, Lee Minhyuk enrolled in mine. I was in New York; he was from Seoul. I may have only been thirteen, but I'd fallen in love with him from "Hullo".
For three years, we had seen each other at a handful of dance programs or written each other a dozen letters. This was the summer I was going to tell him. Sure, there were usually 7,000 miles between us, but I had a plan…
Minhyuk
My dream was to become a K-Pop idol. I was going to audition with my best friends, join the same agency, and debut together. I'd only gone to New York to get some more dance experience, but I’d met her and I couldn’t help but fall in love.
Then I got accepted into Atlantis Entertainment. With my dream of being an idol in my grasp, the only thing I needed to do was let go of the beautiful American girl I loved. At least it was a sure bet she didn't feel the same way about me…
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2018
95 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 29, 2018
Sweet
This is a sweet new adult story of two teenagers overcoming obstacles to achieve their dreams while maintaining a real on opposite sides of the planet.
It's a little oversimplified in parts but overall I enjoyed it.
This is a sweet new adult story of two teenagers overcoming obstacles to achieve their dreams while maintaining a real on opposite sides of the planet.
It's a little oversimplified in parts but overall I enjoyed it.
February 23, 2021
So I finished this thin book. An omg... I hadn't really high expectations because of it's length. But listen. I absolutely love the story! I fell in love with Kpop a few months ago and searched for a story like this. Like... exactly like this one!
After I've read similar german books I needed more of these stories, that kinda warm your heart and let you yell "oh nooo" at the same time - and all of this with a little big touch of Kpop in it.
(Btw for not native english speakers: it's really really easy to read and understand.)
Can't wait to jump right into Book 2!
After I've read similar german books I needed more of these stories, that kinda warm your heart and let you yell "oh nooo" at the same time - and all of this with a little big touch of Kpop in it.
(Btw for not native english speakers: it's really really easy to read and understand.)
Can't wait to jump right into Book 2!
July 27, 2023
I was not expecting this book to be so short, but it does leave me wanting the next one, so kudos!
August 21, 2021
Lucinda a girl who loves danceing. Minhyunk he dreams of being a idol. When they meet at the age of 13 when they join the same dance academy. 7,000 miles between them. And he has a no dating rule but for Lucinda will that rule stay. This book was a quick read i finished it in 2 days but it is worth it. I got butterflys and you and picture everything the auther writes. This book has one of the prettiest covers in my shelf. Cant wait to order the next book 💕
did-not-finish
March 18, 2021DNF
I am going to keep this short and sweet. By all accounts I should have loved this but even for a novella this had no backing and the development was unrealistic. First they said they liked each other and then suddenly they were confessing their love like 5 seconds later and then suddenly they are full on making out and I think if the sister hadn’t interrupted they probably would have had sex. I would have liked to have had a little more build up before the love confession
Content: one heavy making out scene as far as I got
I am going to keep this short and sweet. By all accounts I should have loved this but even for a novella this had no backing and the development was unrealistic. First they said they liked each other and then suddenly they were confessing their love like 5 seconds later and then suddenly they are full on making out and I think if the sister hadn’t interrupted they probably would have had sex. I would have liked to have had a little more build up before the love confession
Content: one heavy making out scene as far as I got
November 3, 2024
2.5 stars.
I read this novella to fulfill a prompt on my yearly reading challenge. I needed a book about K-pop, and it's a subject I basically know nothing about. I came across this book I could read for free, so I picked it up. While the author does a wonderful job of explaining the basics of K-pop and the Korean language, even providing a glossary at the beginning, I couldn't get past the very juvenile and sometimes toxic-feeling relationship between our two main characters, Luna and Minhyuk, or the large amount of typos and grammatical errors. Luna spends a lot of time waiting around for Minhyuk, willing to endanger her dreams for a few minutes with him. And I just never felt the connection between them. The premise was a good one, but the execution was haphazard.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2024 (prompt #5 - A book about K-pop)
I read this novella to fulfill a prompt on my yearly reading challenge. I needed a book about K-pop, and it's a subject I basically know nothing about. I came across this book I could read for free, so I picked it up. While the author does a wonderful job of explaining the basics of K-pop and the Korean language, even providing a glossary at the beginning, I couldn't get past the very juvenile and sometimes toxic-feeling relationship between our two main characters, Luna and Minhyuk, or the large amount of typos and grammatical errors. Luna spends a lot of time waiting around for Minhyuk, willing to endanger her dreams for a few minutes with him. And I just never felt the connection between them. The premise was a good one, but the execution was haphazard.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2024 (prompt #5 - A book about K-pop)
January 28, 2020
This is book 1 in the Zodiac series. We meet Lucinda who just wants to dance and get into Julliard when she is done with high school. Lee is a struggling teenage boy who is banned from social media and wants to start a band with his 2 best friends. Lee and Lucinda meet a summer camp for dance and the only way that they can communicate with each other is hand written letters. This is a sweet new adult story of two teenagers overcoming obstacles to achieve their dreams while maintaining a real on opposite sides of the planet.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 17, 2021
Short Kpop young adult romance. Lots of typos and editing errors. Mediocre writing. But interesting to me because of my own Kpop addiction. I will definitely finish this series cause I’m a tween in an adult body.
February 11, 2019
Loved this sweet YA take on the kpop world.
May 3, 2024
Honestly this is such a cute short romance. I feel like as I immerse myself more into KPop and kdramas, I've learned a lot about the culture and how netizens can act about idols, even new ones. So this story made sense for me. But for those who may not know, kpop artists have a super strict contract and schedule, in addition they almost always have no dating clauses. I was curious to see how the timeline of this story would work and I was happy that these two met when they were younger. This is a very wholesome and sweet romance, so don't expect anything spicy, unless you read this authors other pen name books J.S Lee. I will be curious to see how the rest of this series goes. And I hope sincerely for a happily ever after because these two are so wholesome and cute. Moon princess and King 4eva! ❤️
April 22, 2023
I know this story continues, and perhaps the message changes, but ugh I had a real problem with Luna giving up a dance competition for an hour with Minhyuk, who has already chosen following through on his childhood dreams over her. Which is somewhat unfair to him, because clearly he still does want something with her- but from my very-much-beyond-my-teens perspective, his trying to have it all is also unfair to her.
Both main characters want to dance. Both have set their dreams on a means to that end which is normal/acceptable in each one’s home country. Minhyuk is sticking to his, even though his way of achieving his dream is what’s threatening his other desire-dating Luna. She’s the one making compromises to see him, be with him. It troubled me increasingly throughout this story.
Both main characters want to dance. Both have set their dreams on a means to that end which is normal/acceptable in each one’s home country. Minhyuk is sticking to his, even though his way of achieving his dream is what’s threatening his other desire-dating Luna. She’s the one making compromises to see him, be with him. It troubled me increasingly throughout this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2022
I was just going to drop this but for some reason I felt compelled to finish it. I just sped read and skimmed, really.
There wasn't nearly enough development. Like I was here for it in the beginning because the concept was cute, but it moved along way too fast.
And that seemed like some real heavy making out for 15 years old.
Just...felt way too deep in the relationship way too fast and idk it just felt cringey to me
I'm all for suspension of disbelief and unrealistic stories, but for some reason it didn't work here for me.
There wasn't nearly enough development. Like I was here for it in the beginning because the concept was cute, but it moved along way too fast.
And that seemed like some real heavy making out for 15 years old.
Just...felt way too deep in the relationship way too fast and idk it just felt cringey to me
I'm all for suspension of disbelief and unrealistic stories, but for some reason it didn't work here for me.
February 16, 2020
This was a nice teenager romance full of love but also full of dreams for the future. I loved the artistic passion and could totally relate to their needs to go on what they feel is their path. They had this nice ambivalence of naive belief that the will can give you whatever you wish for but also the maturity to plans for the long term and their future career. And their interactions were cute without being too cliché or too romantic. Sweet, sweet and so addictive.
May 1, 2020
What's not to love?
Such a cute start! I love the innocence and hope, and the determination of both MC's to work towards their dream, and to find away to make their love work. I am on pins & needles for the next book.
Such a cute start! I love the innocence and hope, and the determination of both MC's to work towards their dream, and to find away to make their love work. I am on pins & needles for the next book.
June 8, 2024
After starting the Onyx series, enjoying it, and finding out there is a multiple series in this world and a suggested chronilogical reading order... I obviously had to start at the top.
This is quick, cute read. Great introduction into the world J.S. Lee has built.
This is quick, cute read. Great introduction into the world J.S. Lee has built.
December 27, 2024
Read for Popsugar Reading Challenge “about K Pop”
I found the writing really awkward and odd and there was no chemistry between the main characters. The information about K-Pop was interesting and it was blessedly short but that’s about it.
I found the writing really awkward and odd and there was no chemistry between the main characters. The information about K-Pop was interesting and it was blessedly short but that’s about it.
April 7, 2019
I think this book was interesting because of all the plot twists and the drama. This book really surprised me with all of the juice going on.😂
January 26, 2020
This was really cute and sweet. At the end, I was worried about their reckless rendezvous because ~scandals~. No doubt more of that is coming up.
February 3, 2020
I discovered Ji Soo Lee in anthology awhile back decided to check out more books, this was well written and great characters I'm off to read book 2!
April 22, 2020
Love the teaser! On to the next one! ❤
June 1, 2021
3.5
this was super quick and cute!! i’m a big fan of kpop so when i saw this in my recommendations i knew i had to read it and i had so much fun!!! i can’t wait to read the next one <33
this was super quick and cute!! i’m a big fan of kpop so when i saw this in my recommendations i knew i had to read it and i had so much fun!!! i can’t wait to read the next one <33
June 15, 2022
Short and sweet! A few eeeeeeeeeeek so cute moments and had me jumping to download the rest of th books for the series.
January 16, 2023
Sweet read, great for relaxing.
April 7, 2024
Part of my Popsugar Reading Challenge picks.
I honestly hoped the story would be better based on all the reviews, but I was sorely disappointed. Another read that just wasn't for me.
I honestly hoped the story would be better based on all the reviews, but I was sorely disappointed. Another read that just wasn't for me.
September 18, 2024
I enjoyed this book. It felt too short so I can't wait to read the next one to see what happens next.
October 21, 2025
Dual 1st person POV. Super cute prologue for the series. All mc’s are minors.
August 29, 2025
Lucinda will nichts mehr als zu tanzen und an den Broadway zu kommen. Dann trifft sie im Tanzsommercamp auf Minhyuk, mit dem sie dann nur noch über Briefe kommuniziert.
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Das Buch ist abwechselnd aus den Perspektiven von Lucinda und Minhyuk geschrieben, so lernt man die zwei doch recht unterschiedlichen Lebensrealitäten von den beiden kennen. Aber was die beiden auf jeden Fall verbindet, ist ihr Ehrgeiz, um jeden Preis ihr Ziel zu erreichen und ihren Traumberuf auszuüben: Lucinda will Tänzerin werden und Minhyuk ein Kpop-Idol. Die Lovestory der beiden wird dadurch natürlich verkompliziert, aber für ihr Alter und die Entfernung, die zwischen ihnen liegt, gehen sie erstaunlich gut damit um. Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich nur um eine Novelle und um eine Vorgeschichte, deshalb kommt die Handlung und die Charakterentwicklung ein wenig zu kurz. Der Schreibstil ist aber ganz nett und man bekommt so Lust auf die Hauptreihe.
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Schöne Vorgeschichte
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Das Buch ist abwechselnd aus den Perspektiven von Lucinda und Minhyuk geschrieben, so lernt man die zwei doch recht unterschiedlichen Lebensrealitäten von den beiden kennen. Aber was die beiden auf jeden Fall verbindet, ist ihr Ehrgeiz, um jeden Preis ihr Ziel zu erreichen und ihren Traumberuf auszuüben: Lucinda will Tänzerin werden und Minhyuk ein Kpop-Idol. Die Lovestory der beiden wird dadurch natürlich verkompliziert, aber für ihr Alter und die Entfernung, die zwischen ihnen liegt, gehen sie erstaunlich gut damit um. Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich nur um eine Novelle und um eine Vorgeschichte, deshalb kommt die Handlung und die Charakterentwicklung ein wenig zu kurz. Der Schreibstil ist aber ganz nett und man bekommt so Lust auf die Hauptreihe.
.
Schöne Vorgeschichte
January 3, 2023
meh
For a first book of the year, I was pretty disappointed. It was pretty boring for me but that could be because it was such a short read so not much could happen in that short time. But what really got to me was the main characters themselves. Like really? Barely 15! And you think you’ve found the love of your life already? They both were ready to put their dreams at risk because of each other after all the years of hard work they’ve put towards their goal? And now she’s dropping everything to go across the world to live in the same city as him knowing that he won’t even have time to really be with her
For a first book of the year, I was pretty disappointed. It was pretty boring for me but that could be because it was such a short read so not much could happen in that short time. But what really got to me was the main characters themselves. Like really? Barely 15! And you think you’ve found the love of your life already? They both were ready to put their dreams at risk because of each other after all the years of hard work they’ve put towards their goal? And now she’s dropping everything to go across the world to live in the same city as him knowing that he won’t even have time to really be with her
December 19, 2022
AAaaah this was such a tiny but cute booook
Read
May 28, 2019The writing wasn't as strong here as it is in the Onyx and H3RO series, and it felt really slow to get anywhere because of where it started. This was a DNF for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews