What do you think?
Rate this book
The Most Beautiful Moment in Life #1
花樣年華 HYYH The Notes 1
The memory pieces of the feelings being lost, absence, suffering and insecurity, of the boys facing their fate.
Would I be able to straighten out the errors and mistakes and save all of us? I didn't grasp the depth and weight of this question. It was true that I desperately wanted to save all of us. No one deserves to die, to despair, to be suppressed, and be despised. On top of that, they were my friends. We might've had our flaws and scars and have been twisted up and distorted. We might've been nobodies. But we were alive. We had days to live, plans to follow, and dreams to fulfill.
At first, I didn't think much of it. I thought it'd all depend on how much effort I put in after I figured out who I needed to save and from what. That was what I'd thought. I believed I could solve it all by persuading them and changing things. I was that simple and naïve. But it was no more than an attempt to save my own skin. After a series of trials and errors, I had a realization. It wasn't so simple to save the others.
SeokJin 2 May Year 22
Would I be able to straighten out the errors and mistakes and save all of us? I didn't grasp the depth and weight of this question. It was true that I desperately wanted to save all of us. No one deserves to die, to despair, to be suppressed, and be despised. On top of that, they were my friends. We might've had our flaws and scars and have been twisted up and distorted. We might've been nobodies. But we were alive. We had days to live, plans to follow, and dreams to fulfill.
At first, I didn't think much of it. I thought it'd all depend on how much effort I put in after I figured out who I needed to save and from what. That was what I'd thought. I believed I could solve it all by persuading them and changing things. I was that simple and naïve. But it was no more than an attempt to save my own skin. After a series of trials and errors, I had a realization. It wasn't so simple to save the others.
SeokJin 2 May Year 22
230 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2019
346 people are currently reading
5413 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews
November 26, 2020
0.) Save Me - BTS Webtoon ★★★★★
"Those days were gone and would never come again."
A little over a year ago I fell completely in love with BTS. I love their music that they pour everything into, their dedication to never give up and always strive for greatness, and their hearts that they choose to show to their fans constantly in everything they do. Stanning BTS was one of the easiest choices I’ve ever made and falling in love with each of these seven humans was nothing short of magic.
Not only are they the biggest band in the whole world (who recently got their first Billboard Hot 100 #1 spot) they also give so much content to their fans! Obviously we get all their music and videos, but we also get so much behind the scenes things, along with their own shows and filmed vacations, to them just interacting with us on twitter and on weverse, to them having their own cartoon characters, and to them having their whole alternative universe!
It is really powerful and really beautiful being able to watch all of these music videos and see these pages truly come to life. They really do also incorporate so many hints and nods at the BU in all of their things, and it’s really impressive. So many times while reading these pages, I could just perfectly visualize what was happening because of all of the mvs!
But basically this is a story about the seven BTS members in an alternative universe where they are not BTS. They all went to school together and met while cleaning for punishment, but they all became close very quickly. That is, until they were all forced to separate for very different reasons, but the timelines can get very dark. Yet, one member has the power to restart, and retry, and relive events to try to save them all, and allow them all to experience safety and friendship and happiness.
➽ Seokjin (석진) - Jin truly has an extra heartbreaking storyline, because not only is he dealing with his friend getting taken in the past, he also lost his mother, and is trying to live his life for (and pleasing) his father who sent him away to the US.
➽ Namjoon (남준) - Joon has to work odd jobs (one being at the gas station) to try to pay his dad’s hospital bills. He is from a small village, and likes to pretend everything is okay when it is not. He also has a train container that he seeks solace in and keeps the light on for the boys always.
➽ Yoongi (윤기) - A fire burned down his home, and now he is very self-destructive. He finds comfort in the piano, but is still haunted by a piano key. But music for him will always be hope.
➽ Hoseok (호석) - his mom left him at an amusement park, so he lives in and out of places but mostly the hospital. He finds love in dance, and even though he hurts his ankle, he runs away and travels for a little bit with dancers. Yet, he really is the glue and hope of this friend group, truly.
➽ Jimin (지민) - he has seizures and is hospitalized. Yet, you soon find out that the seizures aren’t the only reason he is being forced to live at the hospital, but because his family wants to hide him away. Jimin loves dancing, and he can’t stop thinking about Green Flower Arboretum.
➽ Taehyung (태형) - Tae is getting abused by his father who is an alcoholic. He for sure has the darkest thoughts about his father and about himself, but we soon realize that Tae also has a power of his own, and that is too see parts of things yet to happen.
➽ Jungkook (정국) - JK’s father abandoned him and his mom, and how he just gets into fights and gets beat up to feel something. Jungkook is so very angry, and himself and at the world, and his chapters were favorite even though I cried every time.
"You must survive […] I must survive"
![MV] BTS(방탄소년단) _ Run GIF | Gfycat](https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1599165377ra/30057866.gif)
All of these boys are dealing (and trying to live with) with so much anger and hurt and abandonment. We get to see them find outlets and healing through the power of dance, and music, and art, and writing. And they are constantly reminding each other that they are good people, and that they are worth more than the horrible circumstances that are placed on them. The power of friendship and the power of finding your soulmates is something I don’t even have words for. Yet, I truly believe BTS would have found each other in any universe and in all the timelines.
Overall, I love this story and I can’t wait to see where it goes. BTS just give us so much, and I’m so happy I was able to reread this before The Notes, Vol. 2 gets shipped out this fall! I was screaming every time Smeraldo was mentioned. I was grinning like an idiot every time we saw white birds, umbrellas, trains, and fireworks. Hell, I even feel for Yoonkookers while reading this. So many dots, and they all just make you think about how BTS really connect everything together. Forever so thankful I live in this world with BTS and all their serotonin-inducing content.
Trigger and Content Warnings: abandonment, abuse, blood, alcoholism, loss of a loved one, self-harm, seizures, talk of suicide, hospitalization, depression depiction, mention of throwing up, and just overall very serious and sad situations that may be hard to picture BTS in. Please use caution while reading!
Blog | Instagram | Youtube | Ko-fi | Spotify | Twitch
Buddy read with Maëlys, Lea, & Amy! ❤
Want to read
January 21, 2019The Notes 1 is the sequel to The Notes 0 which is available as a webtoon entitled Save Me. Read here for free: https://m.webtoons.com/en/drama/bts-s... (Tw: suicide)
BTS have created an intricate fictional universe through their discography beginning 2013 up to present known as the Bangtan Universe. Their music videos, lyrics, etc. contain stories which make up the plot of The Most Beautiful Moment in Life. This series isn't really based on Bangtan Universe rather this IS the Bangtan Universe itself so even if you're not a fan of BTS but if you're a fan of dark stories, strong friendship, time travel and hella lots of plot twists, I strongly recommend this series to you.
You don't have to watch their music videos to understand the story as those of us who've watched all the mvs and know the lyrics of their songs still don't know what happened to the characters, where the story is going or whatever is happening, for that matter. All we have are pieces of a puzzle that none of us can complete. That said, we are also hoping that this series will finally shed light to the Bangtan Universe. If you loved the story, you are very welcome to join us. We have lots of theorists and we LOVE to discuss the Bangtan Universe.
BTS have created an intricate fictional universe through their discography beginning 2013 up to present known as the Bangtan Universe. Their music videos, lyrics, etc. contain stories which make up the plot of The Most Beautiful Moment in Life. This series isn't really based on Bangtan Universe rather this IS the Bangtan Universe itself so even if you're not a fan of BTS but if you're a fan of dark stories, strong friendship, time travel and hella lots of plot twists, I strongly recommend this series to you.
You don't have to watch their music videos to understand the story as those of us who've watched all the mvs and know the lyrics of their songs still don't know what happened to the characters, where the story is going or whatever is happening, for that matter. All we have are pieces of a puzzle that none of us can complete. That said, we are also hoping that this series will finally shed light to the Bangtan Universe. If you loved the story, you are very welcome to join us. We have lots of theorists and we LOVE to discuss the Bangtan Universe.
Want to read
May 12, 2019in case none of y'all realised, i would DIE for bts. especially kim namjoon
March 26, 2019
I’m conflicted about this. Do I rate it solely as a novel devoid of any of my feelings about BTS? Or do I rate it as someone who has watched all the music videos, short films, and highlight reels and read the webtoon that create this whole Bangtan Universe?
Standing on its own as a novel I’d probably only give this 2 stars. At times the writing isn’t that strong and can get very repetitive. The story jumps around in time and from character to character, which can be confusing to follow. There isn’t much differentiation in between the voices of the seven main characters. I don’t think this is something that could be enjoyable for someone who isn’t already familiar with BTS. So much about the characters isn’t explained, you’re just expected to already know who they are. But considering that this was only available on BigHit’s shop it most likely will only be fans reading it.
Rating this as an ARMY I’d give it 4 stars. It really fleshes out a lot of things that are only hinted towards in the previous installments of the Bangtan Universe. I appreciated how dark this got at times. It definitely didn’t shy away from talking about topics such as suicide and abuse. I’m impressed with this whole alternate universe that they’ve created. The narrative spans years and multiple media formats.
I wish this did flow more like a novel, rather than a series of notes and vignettes that were just bound together. I was also hoping for a bit more content that we already hadn’t seen. Even though I have a lot of criticisms, I did really enjoy reading this. If they do publish more of these I’ll definitely read them.
Standing on its own as a novel I’d probably only give this 2 stars. At times the writing isn’t that strong and can get very repetitive. The story jumps around in time and from character to character, which can be confusing to follow. There isn’t much differentiation in between the voices of the seven main characters. I don’t think this is something that could be enjoyable for someone who isn’t already familiar with BTS. So much about the characters isn’t explained, you’re just expected to already know who they are. But considering that this was only available on BigHit’s shop it most likely will only be fans reading it.
Rating this as an ARMY I’d give it 4 stars. It really fleshes out a lot of things that are only hinted towards in the previous installments of the Bangtan Universe. I appreciated how dark this got at times. It definitely didn’t shy away from talking about topics such as suicide and abuse. I’m impressed with this whole alternate universe that they’ve created. The narrative spans years and multiple media formats.
I wish this did flow more like a novel, rather than a series of notes and vignettes that were just bound together. I was also hoping for a bit more content that we already hadn’t seen. Even though I have a lot of criticisms, I did really enjoy reading this. If they do publish more of these I’ll definitely read them.
March 13, 2019
If you're reading this book, then you're ARMY and you likely know the basics of what is covered here. The book goes into more depth, provides some details that might not be fleshed out, but we've still got a ways to go for a conclusion.
It's a sad and hard read. Especially when you consider that the characters, while not real, still SEEM real because they are the true names of all the members of BTS and we've seen the videos with many of the scenes described. The fire, the arboretum, the hospital, the beach, the container... it's all there. Even the Smeraldo.
I'm desperately wishing for a happy ending... Map of the Soul: Persona?
It's a sad and hard read. Especially when you consider that the characters, while not real, still SEEM real because they are the true names of all the members of BTS and we've seen the videos with many of the scenes described. The fire, the arboretum, the hospital, the beach, the container... it's all there. Even the Smeraldo.
I'm desperately wishing for a happy ending... Map of the Soul: Persona?
September 18, 2023
hyyh!YoonGi and hyyh!JungKook are gay and in love,
In this essay i will ...
they live rent free in my head
In this essay i will ...
they live rent free in my head
Want to read
March 5, 2019I'm extremely bitter that this book costs close to $50 after shipping and therefore my broke self will never get to read it. WHY can't Big Hit release stuff all over the world now? I think BTS is plenty popular enough now that they definitely could.
#InternationalARMYstruggles
#InternationalARMYstruggles
August 25, 2020
Save Me Webtoon (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life #0): 4 / 5
☆ 4 / 5 ☆
I think it would be a very hard thing to write an objective review on this book. Needless to say I loved it because I love BTS and the Bangtan Universe introduced in their MVs, the Save Me Webcomic and The Notes. I also love theorycrafting and trying to piece together this story from the tiniest and most delusional hints so it was high time for me to actually read this, especially with Part 2 coming out.
I enjoyed the first part of this book better as the storylines were more cohesive, and it felt like some of them were dragging on a little in the second half. This story does not shy away from trauma and angst, and will these boys ever end up happy? It makes me emotional thinking about it. The book is also interesting in its portrayal of friendship and how it can ebb and flow. But in the end they find each other again, and is that not the most important thing?
The writing can be a little denser at times since this is a translated work, but there are a lot of moments where it fits the gravity of the story perfectly and feels reminiscent of BTS’s lyrics.
At the end of the day this is something that will be enjoyed by fans and if you’re interested in the BU storyline it fits in a lot of important events.
Oh, and Adam Parrish really wishes he was gas station HYYH Kim Namjoon.
Youtube ☆ Twitter
Buddy read with Melanie ♡
☆ 4 / 5 ☆
I think it would be a very hard thing to write an objective review on this book. Needless to say I loved it because I love BTS and the Bangtan Universe introduced in their MVs, the Save Me Webcomic and The Notes. I also love theorycrafting and trying to piece together this story from the tiniest and most delusional hints so it was high time for me to actually read this, especially with Part 2 coming out.
I enjoyed the first part of this book better as the storylines were more cohesive, and it felt like some of them were dragging on a little in the second half. This story does not shy away from trauma and angst, and will these boys ever end up happy? It makes me emotional thinking about it. The book is also interesting in its portrayal of friendship and how it can ebb and flow. But in the end they find each other again, and is that not the most important thing?
The writing can be a little denser at times since this is a translated work, but there are a lot of moments where it fits the gravity of the story perfectly and feels reminiscent of BTS’s lyrics.
At the end of the day this is something that will be enjoyed by fans and if you’re interested in the BU storyline it fits in a lot of important events.
Oh, and Adam Parrish really wishes he was gas station HYYH Kim Namjoon.
Youtube ☆ Twitter
Buddy read with Melanie ♡
August 16, 2020
My one year as Army is literally in.. 40 minutes and I finally read The Notes.
Buddy read with Melanie ♥
Instagram | Blog | Booktube Channel | Twitter
Buddy read with Melanie ♥
Instagram | Blog | Booktube Channel | Twitter
May 15, 2021
3.5/5 Stars
Before reading this book I would recommend reading the webtoon Save Me, so that everything makes a little more sense. I really enjoyed reading this story in book format and also discovering all the cross references to the BU content we have already seen in the music and videos.
I'm definitely going to read The Notes 2 soon!
Before reading this book I would recommend reading the webtoon Save Me, so that everything makes a little more sense. I really enjoyed reading this story in book format and also discovering all the cross references to the BU content we have already seen in the music and videos.
I'm definitely going to read The Notes 2 soon!
February 20, 2020
Hello, my name is Katie and I love BTS a lot! 💜
One of the things that really got me into BTS at first was the BTS Universe, aka BU. Before going in to this book there are several other things to watch/read first!
BTS Full Story: All MVs and highlight reels that are relevant to the story line. Here they are compiled into one video or in a playlist.
Save Me - BTS Webtoon
The Notes Part 1 are a compilation of The Notes that come with every album (I believe these are just the ones from the Love Yourself album series), translated into English. To understand what's going on, you definitely need to have watched all the MVs and read the webtoon first. The Notes gives some more background into our character's story lines, and then picks up where the Webtoon has left off.
Here is the thing with BU - it is huge, spiraling, confusing, and a lot of the times I am confused but having so much fun trying to figure it out. There is a huge time travel element, and the story plays with the Butterfly Effect quite well. A lot of the time the dates don't make sense and there are definitely multiple time lines happening at once. That being said, after reading this series of The Notes, I was able to place where certain MVs and highlight reels take place in relation to the story line as a whole.
A fair warning before diving in to the BU as a whole - it is dark. There are triggers for suicide, self harm, murder, and substance abuse (this is just what I am remembered off the top of my head). Please keep this in mind before jumping in to the story as a whole! I remember being so shocked when I first started watching and reading because I was NOT expecting it from BTS, but I am a sucker for super dark stories so I was instantly hooked.
I love BTS forever and I absolutely adore that they are able to tell a story across several platforms and make it as dark and twisting as this. I look forward to even more installations and will patiently wait for the English translations. And I hear that there are rumors of a Most Beautiful Moment in Life kdrama? SIGN ME UP!!!!
One of the things that really got me into BTS at first was the BTS Universe, aka BU. Before going in to this book there are several other things to watch/read first!
BTS Full Story: All MVs and highlight reels that are relevant to the story line. Here they are compiled into one video or in a playlist.
Save Me - BTS Webtoon
The Notes Part 1 are a compilation of The Notes that come with every album (I believe these are just the ones from the Love Yourself album series), translated into English. To understand what's going on, you definitely need to have watched all the MVs and read the webtoon first. The Notes gives some more background into our character's story lines, and then picks up where the Webtoon has left off.
Here is the thing with BU - it is huge, spiraling, confusing, and a lot of the times I am confused but having so much fun trying to figure it out. There is a huge time travel element, and the story plays with the Butterfly Effect quite well. A lot of the time the dates don't make sense and there are definitely multiple time lines happening at once. That being said, after reading this series of The Notes, I was able to place where certain MVs and highlight reels take place in relation to the story line as a whole.
A fair warning before diving in to the BU as a whole - it is dark. There are triggers for suicide, self harm, murder, and substance abuse (this is just what I am remembered off the top of my head). Please keep this in mind before jumping in to the story as a whole! I remember being so shocked when I first started watching and reading because I was NOT expecting it from BTS, but I am a sucker for super dark stories so I was instantly hooked.
I love BTS forever and I absolutely adore that they are able to tell a story across several platforms and make it as dark and twisting as this. I look forward to even more installations and will patiently wait for the English translations. And I hear that there are rumors of a Most Beautiful Moment in Life kdrama? SIGN ME UP!!!!
March 6, 2021
***SPOILERS***
This book is not only for Bts fans but for anyone who craves a soulful story full of mystery and heartache. This book is translated from Korean, which might cause some confusion for others but otherwise it is readable. So moving on, the plot is amazing! It is about seven friends that go through some crazy things. One of them is making sure that he can save all of his friends. Things happen to each and every one of these friends where they end up dying. All seven of the friends are going through great depression and they all need each others help. It goes to show that in the real world everyone has their own problems. Everyone goes through tough times, some people have help and others do not. Those that do not get help ends up in worst situations. This book touches the topics of abuse, depression, bullying, death, and mental abuse. I believe this is a great book for anyone who wants to immerse themselves into a world of where one would go to great lengths to save ones friendship.
This book is not only for Bts fans but for anyone who craves a soulful story full of mystery and heartache. This book is translated from Korean, which might cause some confusion for others but otherwise it is readable. So moving on, the plot is amazing! It is about seven friends that go through some crazy things. One of them is making sure that he can save all of his friends. Things happen to each and every one of these friends where they end up dying. All seven of the friends are going through great depression and they all need each others help. It goes to show that in the real world everyone has their own problems. Everyone goes through tough times, some people have help and others do not. Those that do not get help ends up in worst situations. This book touches the topics of abuse, depression, bullying, death, and mental abuse. I believe this is a great book for anyone who wants to immerse themselves into a world of where one would go to great lengths to save ones friendship.
March 12, 2019
The Notes is the much anticipated (by BTS fans) book form of the story that the band has been telling for the past 4ish years through their music videos and other content. This book is a compilation of "notes" that came with each physical copy of the last three BTS albums, along with some extended and new content. For those of us who have been theorizing over this story for the last few years, or for those who like stories filled with angst, coming-of-age, and , then this book will be right up your ally.
The story is presented in the form of what are basically diary entries, written by the seven young men that the story revolves around. Seokjin, Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook each tell snatches of their stories, all of which involve heavy subjects like suicide, loneliness, poverty, abandonment, childhood trauma, and murder. The seven meet in high school during detention and grow extremely close until eventually, their own personal demons drive them apart. At the center of everything is Seokjin, the eldest of the group, who has a mysterious past and an even more enigmatic relationship with his father. As the story progressively gets worse for each character, Seokjin's behavior becomes more mysterious, with his notes hinting Concluding with an open ending (please, we want a second book) and a wonderfully jarring little epilogue, this book is a quick study in self-reflection and friendship.
Putting aside my bias as part of the BTS ARMY, after reading the book I think they did quite a good job. I did knock one star off of my review, mostly for a few pacing moments in the book that were a bit clunky (though I think this is due mostly to the translation). If I could, I would give this 4.75 stars. I loved the book, both as a fan of the band and a reader. I do think that the plot could be slightly murky for those who have never delved into BTS's vast library of content (not to say that those of us who have aren't confused), but I would still recommend it. Overall, I think this book is a great start, and I am absolutely in love with the expansion of BTS content into the book world. To those who want more similar content, BigHit (BTS's label) also recently released a webtoon, "Save Me - BTS Webtoon," that deals with the same characters and most of the same story (it is clearer in some respects, but this book does a deeper dive inside the minds of the characters).
For anyone who might be interested, here is the link to "I Need U," which is one of the MV's that deals directly with some of the events in this book: https://youtu.be/jjskoRh8GTE
The story is presented in the form of what are basically diary entries, written by the seven young men that the story revolves around. Seokjin, Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook each tell snatches of their stories, all of which involve heavy subjects like suicide, loneliness, poverty, abandonment, childhood trauma, and murder. The seven meet in high school during detention and grow extremely close until eventually, their own personal demons drive them apart. At the center of everything is Seokjin, the eldest of the group, who has a mysterious past and an even more enigmatic relationship with his father. As the story progressively gets worse for each character, Seokjin's behavior becomes more mysterious, with his notes hinting Concluding with an open ending (please, we want a second book) and a wonderfully jarring little epilogue, this book is a quick study in self-reflection and friendship.
Putting aside my bias as part of the BTS ARMY, after reading the book I think they did quite a good job. I did knock one star off of my review, mostly for a few pacing moments in the book that were a bit clunky (though I think this is due mostly to the translation). If I could, I would give this 4.75 stars. I loved the book, both as a fan of the band and a reader. I do think that the plot could be slightly murky for those who have never delved into BTS's vast library of content (not to say that those of us who have aren't confused), but I would still recommend it. Overall, I think this book is a great start, and I am absolutely in love with the expansion of BTS content into the book world. To those who want more similar content, BigHit (BTS's label) also recently released a webtoon, "Save Me - BTS Webtoon," that deals with the same characters and most of the same story (it is clearer in some respects, but this book does a deeper dive inside the minds of the characters).
For anyone who might be interested, here is the link to "I Need U," which is one of the MV's that deals directly with some of the events in this book: https://youtu.be/jjskoRh8GTE
July 12, 2019
*softly but with a lot of feeling* what the fuuuuck
trigger warnings: domestic violence, suicide, mental illnesses
i can't believe i'm supposed to wait who knows HOW long until the next hint that pieces this story together. but i truly believe that this BigHit Universe is rounding out to be one of the most exceptional and huge pieces of story-telling of our century, as it already features music videos, a comic, and now this novel.
it also coincidentally features some of my favourite tropes in the entire world (friendships, time travel), but i advise people to get into this cautiously as it features a ton of heavy themes. but i still loved it, it made my heart ache and although it answered some of my questions, it also brought new ones. and hey, i am, after all, entirely biased in how attached i am to this story line.
i can still remember finding about the existence of HYYH's plot, over a year ago, and obsessively trying to piece it together. but it's an on going puzzle, so i'll patiently wait for more content.
and to those who have no idea what i'm talking about: just get into BTS. i promise you won't regret it, hahaha.
trigger warnings: domestic violence, suicide, mental illnesses
i can't believe i'm supposed to wait who knows HOW long until the next hint that pieces this story together. but i truly believe that this BigHit Universe is rounding out to be one of the most exceptional and huge pieces of story-telling of our century, as it already features music videos, a comic, and now this novel.
it also coincidentally features some of my favourite tropes in the entire world (friendships, time travel), but i advise people to get into this cautiously as it features a ton of heavy themes. but i still loved it, it made my heart ache and although it answered some of my questions, it also brought new ones. and hey, i am, after all, entirely biased in how attached i am to this story line.
i can still remember finding about the existence of HYYH's plot, over a year ago, and obsessively trying to piece it together. but it's an on going puzzle, so i'll patiently wait for more content.
and to those who have no idea what i'm talking about: just get into BTS. i promise you won't regret it, hahaha.
March 14, 2019
I’m very glad I indulged myself.
Even though the writing style isn’t amazing, it’s not what you’re really here for if you’re reading these notes. The smeraldo book features lots of new entries, a whole new timeline while also shading light on some others.
I wasn’t expecting so much new content, et clearly wasn’t ready for the ending. I’m curious to see if it’s going to tie with the new album.
Even though the writing style isn’t amazing, it’s not what you’re really here for if you’re reading these notes. The smeraldo book features lots of new entries, a whole new timeline while also shading light on some others.
I wasn’t expecting so much new content, et clearly wasn’t ready for the ending. I’m curious to see if it’s going to tie with the new album.
June 9, 2019
the book's description i—
goodbye my sanity 👋
btw, i'm really excited for this book!
[edited:22.05.19] gonna give the review later!
[edited:09.06.19]
here are some of my thoughts and a few tips about this book:
1) this book cleared the confusion i had. most of my assumptions are correct, so i should kinda know how the plot progresses. but while reading, it turned out i wasn't really prepared for this kind of story. screw me. bighit i'm sueing.
2) sad. sad. sad. super sad. can you imagine reading a super angsty story? now multiply it seven times. that's it. my advice: prepare some tissues.
3) because of the format of writing, this book is like a diary—or, more precisely, notes, just like the book's tittle—reading this feels like watching a scene that comes out of a movie. that means: a good reading experience!
4) some of them, i recall, contain the same story as the notes that scattered in the albums.
5) it's much more easier to read than the notes on the albums because the book was written in chronological order. that means: no more confusing timeline ehe!
6) must read: a webtoon series called HYYH Pt.0 SAVE ME. watch all their music videos that have been credited as BU content: I NEED U (original ver, normal ver, japan ver); RUN (korean ver, japan ver); EPILOGUE : Young Forever; Blood Sweat & Tears (korean ver, japan ver); FAKE LOVE (teaser 1, normal ver, extended ver); and Epiphany. Don't forget all the short films—of course it has been credited as BU content too *wink-wonk*: HYYH on stage : prologue; WINGS Short Film (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7); Highlight Reel ('起', '承', '轉', '起承轉結'); and Euphoria .
The whole to-watch-and-read-list is for the sake of SMOOTH READING EXPERIENCE . a.k.a know what they're talking and referencing about hhhhh.
7) Aaand that's all! Happy crying and dwelling in sadness, fellas!
Cheers~ *clink-clonk*
goodbye my sanity 👋
btw, i'm really excited for this book!
[edited:22.05.19] gonna give the review later!
[edited:09.06.19]
here are some of my thoughts and a few tips about this book:
1) this book cleared the confusion i had. most of my assumptions are correct, so i should kinda know how the plot progresses. but while reading, it turned out i wasn't really prepared for this kind of story. screw me. bighit i'm sueing.
2) sad. sad. sad. super sad. can you imagine reading a super angsty story? now multiply it seven times. that's it. my advice: prepare some tissues.
3) because of the format of writing, this book is like a diary—or, more precisely, notes, just like the book's tittle—reading this feels like watching a scene that comes out of a movie. that means: a good reading experience!
4) some of them, i recall, contain the same story as the notes that scattered in the albums.
5) it's much more easier to read than the notes on the albums because the book was written in chronological order. that means: no more confusing timeline ehe!
6) must read: a webtoon series called HYYH Pt.0 SAVE ME. watch all their music videos that have been credited as BU content: I NEED U (original ver, normal ver, japan ver); RUN (korean ver, japan ver); EPILOGUE : Young Forever; Blood Sweat & Tears (korean ver, japan ver); FAKE LOVE (teaser 1, normal ver, extended ver); and Epiphany. Don't forget all the short films—of course it has been credited as BU content too *wink-wonk*: HYYH on stage : prologue; WINGS Short Film (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7); Highlight Reel ('起', '承', '轉', '起承轉結'); and Euphoria .
The whole to-watch-and-read-list is for the sake of SMOOTH READING EXPERIENCE . a.k.a know what they're talking and referencing about hhhhh.
7) Aaand that's all! Happy crying and dwelling in sadness, fellas!
Cheers~ *clink-clonk*
Read
June 7, 2025I had read little bits of this here and there and then one day decided to buckle down to finish the entire thing. The current emotions I have associated with this story, this era, and these fellas are far too complex to describe. Perhaps it is a type of nostalgia for something you wish you had experienced earlier or even experienced at all.
I love the HYYH short films, theories, and other short stories associated with it. This era has some of my favorite songs of all time, and I'll never get sick of its coming-of-age experience. The best way to summarize this review is to share some of my favorite translated quotes and moments I marked:
- "Yoongi said it was OK to have no dream" (pg 32).
- "'Don't ever try to have a dream...Because it's tough having one'" (pg 34).
- "It sometimes hurt so much that I was close to tears. But it also helped me feel awake again" (pg 35).
- "Each of us cried out a story that would never reach any destination...Before I knew it, I was screaming out onto the sea. Amidst the thundering drilling sound, I couldn't even hear what my dream was" (pg 37).
- "Something about Yoongi and the piano didn't seem to match, but the two were actually inextricable" (pg 45).
- "It was Yoongi who saved Jungkook. The two had the same look in their eyes" (pg 92) *sobs*
- "My piano was beside me at every happy moment. These happy memories always ended up being shattered to pieces, but they couldn't be denied.
What would it mean to complete this piece? I still couldn't find the answer. But there was something that preceded this question and answer. I wanted to capture all this before it scattered into the air. It wasn't to please anyone or to prove something. It wasn't even for myself. I just wanted to capture this emotion, pain, and fear, which were about to explode in my head and heart, with music. It didn't have to signal the beginning of something. It didn't have to mean anything. I just wanted to complete this music" (pg 197).
- "Height is important. But so is depth. You have to hit your bottom. You have to go down until you can't go lower, until you feel as if you'll suffocate from your despair. Then, you have to escape from it. What is crucial is to discover your driving force. In other words, you have to find what makes you stand firm again. Once you find it, don't ever let go. It can be a person or a desire. It can be evil and disgusting. But stick to it" (pg 213).
- "Love is not primarily a relationship to a specific person; it is an attitude, which determines the relatedness of a person to the world as a whole. If I truly love one person, I love all persons, I love the world, I love life. If I can say to somebody else, 'I love you,' I must be able to say, 'I love you in everybody, I love you through the world, I love you in also myself' -From The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm (pg 219).
I love the HYYH short films, theories, and other short stories associated with it. This era has some of my favorite songs of all time, and I'll never get sick of its coming-of-age experience. The best way to summarize this review is to share some of my favorite translated quotes and moments I marked:
- "Yoongi said it was OK to have no dream" (pg 32).
- "'Don't ever try to have a dream...Because it's tough having one'" (pg 34).
- "It sometimes hurt so much that I was close to tears. But it also helped me feel awake again" (pg 35).
- "Each of us cried out a story that would never reach any destination...Before I knew it, I was screaming out onto the sea. Amidst the thundering drilling sound, I couldn't even hear what my dream was" (pg 37).
- "Something about Yoongi and the piano didn't seem to match, but the two were actually inextricable" (pg 45).
- "It was Yoongi who saved Jungkook. The two had the same look in their eyes" (pg 92) *sobs*
- "My piano was beside me at every happy moment. These happy memories always ended up being shattered to pieces, but they couldn't be denied.
What would it mean to complete this piece? I still couldn't find the answer. But there was something that preceded this question and answer. I wanted to capture all this before it scattered into the air. It wasn't to please anyone or to prove something. It wasn't even for myself. I just wanted to capture this emotion, pain, and fear, which were about to explode in my head and heart, with music. It didn't have to signal the beginning of something. It didn't have to mean anything. I just wanted to complete this music" (pg 197).
- "Height is important. But so is depth. You have to hit your bottom. You have to go down until you can't go lower, until you feel as if you'll suffocate from your despair. Then, you have to escape from it. What is crucial is to discover your driving force. In other words, you have to find what makes you stand firm again. Once you find it, don't ever let go. It can be a person or a desire. It can be evil and disgusting. But stick to it" (pg 213).
- "Love is not primarily a relationship to a specific person; it is an attitude, which determines the relatedness of a person to the world as a whole. If I truly love one person, I love all persons, I love the world, I love life. If I can say to somebody else, 'I love you,' I must be able to say, 'I love you in everybody, I love you through the world, I love you in also myself' -From The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm (pg 219).
May 28, 2023
4,5
Este libro es increíblemente desgarrador.
No suelo escribir reseñas muy largas, pero siento que con este libro es inevitable no extenderme. Cada página está colmada de tristeza y melancolía. Las historias de vida de cada uno son tan deprimentes. Ver por todo lo que han tenido que pasar y ver cómo aún así intentan salir adelante es muy duro.
Hubo escenas que fueron muy crudas de leer. Como cuando el compañero de trabajo de Namjoon tiene un accidente. Wow. Leer todo lo que él pensaba fue demasiado. ("Después de que decidí vivir como mí padre quería, después de decidirme a no perseguir mí felicidad, había mordido más de lo que podía masticar." Esto lo dice él y me hace muy mal) O leer cualquier capítulo de Jimin y Taehyung me hizo mal al corazón.
"Me sentía exhausto. Siempre me sentía exhausto cuando recobrava la conciencia" Hobi dice esto, y no puedo no sentirme identificada.
La verdad que es un libro dificil de digerir, tiene muchas frases y está narrado de una forma muy preciosa.
Sigue la historia de BTS Universe, que es la razón por la que se hizo este libro, pero yo siento que va más allá. Siento que transmite mucho más. Y es una pena que mucha gente se esté perdiendo de leer esta obra de arte por pensar eso.
La historia de Yoongi simplemente me partió el corazón. Leer todo lo que él sufrió, y lo más doloroso fue leer sus pensamientos. Él genuinamente pensaba en cosas muy peligrosas. No sabía como afrontar las situaciones que se le presentaban y no lo vi a él, me vi a mí. Y eso termino por romperme.
La historia de Jin, de Jungkook. Todas llegan de alguna manera a tocarte. Y todas te hacen sentir triste. Porque esa es la verdad. Ves la desesperación de ellos buscando la felicidad, buscando estar bien, y lo único que yo pensaba era que todos estábamos igual.
No es porque sea ARMY, pero realmente que buen libro.
quotes:
Los dos caminamos bajo la luz del sol, pero un viento helado pareció cortar mí corazón. No podía imaginarme cómo debía estar sintiéndose cuando sentía ese frío por dentro. Su corazón debe haberse sentido roto o desgarrado, o, ¿le quedaba un corazón? ¿cuánta angustia había soportado?
¿No será que, en realidad, estamos condenados a ser infelices?
Este libro es increíblemente desgarrador.
No suelo escribir reseñas muy largas, pero siento que con este libro es inevitable no extenderme. Cada página está colmada de tristeza y melancolía. Las historias de vida de cada uno son tan deprimentes. Ver por todo lo que han tenido que pasar y ver cómo aún así intentan salir adelante es muy duro.
Hubo escenas que fueron muy crudas de leer. Como cuando el compañero de trabajo de Namjoon tiene un accidente. Wow. Leer todo lo que él pensaba fue demasiado. ("Después de que decidí vivir como mí padre quería, después de decidirme a no perseguir mí felicidad, había mordido más de lo que podía masticar." Esto lo dice él y me hace muy mal) O leer cualquier capítulo de Jimin y Taehyung me hizo mal al corazón.
"Me sentía exhausto. Siempre me sentía exhausto cuando recobrava la conciencia" Hobi dice esto, y no puedo no sentirme identificada.
La verdad que es un libro dificil de digerir, tiene muchas frases y está narrado de una forma muy preciosa.
Sigue la historia de BTS Universe, que es la razón por la que se hizo este libro, pero yo siento que va más allá. Siento que transmite mucho más. Y es una pena que mucha gente se esté perdiendo de leer esta obra de arte por pensar eso.
La historia de Yoongi simplemente me partió el corazón. Leer todo lo que él sufrió, y lo más doloroso fue leer sus pensamientos. Él genuinamente pensaba en cosas muy peligrosas. No sabía como afrontar las situaciones que se le presentaban y no lo vi a él, me vi a mí. Y eso termino por romperme.
La historia de Jin, de Jungkook. Todas llegan de alguna manera a tocarte. Y todas te hacen sentir triste. Porque esa es la verdad. Ves la desesperación de ellos buscando la felicidad, buscando estar bien, y lo único que yo pensaba era que todos estábamos igual.
No es porque sea ARMY, pero realmente que buen libro.
quotes:
Los dos caminamos bajo la luz del sol, pero un viento helado pareció cortar mí corazón. No podía imaginarme cómo debía estar sintiéndose cuando sentía ese frío por dentro. Su corazón debe haberse sentido roto o desgarrado, o, ¿le quedaba un corazón? ¿cuánta angustia había soportado?
¿No será que, en realidad, estamos condenados a ser infelices?
March 24, 2019
11 April Year 22. Unless Seokjin can save himself and his friends, he is eternally stuck in a time loop which takes him back to this date each time. Fantastic, sad, and beautiful this fictional story is the premise behind the majority of BTS’ music videos and a theme that is woven through their music.
So for newer ARMYs, you maybe wondering: what are the Notes 1? These are little dated journal entries written by the characters in the fictional BTS Universe. Various Notes have been included in BTS albums over the years, but this is the first time all of the Notes have been compiled into one book and placed in chronological order. I’m so thankful to finally have an official English translation of the Notes. 🙏🏼 Of course, I’m eternally grateful to fan translators, but after reading this version of the Notes, the BTS Universe makes so much more sense. Plus, the Notes are just so poetically written... honestly, I get a lot of Demian vibes from this.
While the journal entries themselves tell a beautiful story, the book assumes you have a background understanding of the BTS Universe. For instance, I don’t think the book once explicitly states that Seokjin is caught traveling through time. Thus, you should have some background knowledge of the storyline before delving into the Notes. I highly suggest reading the Save Me WEBTOON and watching the BTS music videos before reading the Notes.
For the most part, the Notes 1 gives us background knowledge on all of the characters prior to April 11 and then appears to cover events that happen in just one possible timeline of Seokjin’s time traveling endeavors. These events mainly occur in the videos from: Wings short film series; Blood, Sweat, and Tears music video (both Korean and Japanese versions); Love Yourself Highlight Reels; Euphoria music video. There are also Notes that touch on events that occur in I NEED U, Butterfly: on stage: prologue, and Run videos. I would highly recommend watching all of these videos before and after reading the Notes. While you will find not all events that happen in these videos occur in the Notes, it will really help you overall to make sense of the Universe!
So for newer ARMYs, you maybe wondering: what are the Notes 1? These are little dated journal entries written by the characters in the fictional BTS Universe. Various Notes have been included in BTS albums over the years, but this is the first time all of the Notes have been compiled into one book and placed in chronological order. I’m so thankful to finally have an official English translation of the Notes. 🙏🏼 Of course, I’m eternally grateful to fan translators, but after reading this version of the Notes, the BTS Universe makes so much more sense. Plus, the Notes are just so poetically written... honestly, I get a lot of Demian vibes from this.
While the journal entries themselves tell a beautiful story, the book assumes you have a background understanding of the BTS Universe. For instance, I don’t think the book once explicitly states that Seokjin is caught traveling through time. Thus, you should have some background knowledge of the storyline before delving into the Notes. I highly suggest reading the Save Me WEBTOON and watching the BTS music videos before reading the Notes.
For the most part, the Notes 1 gives us background knowledge on all of the characters prior to April 11 and then appears to cover events that happen in just one possible timeline of Seokjin’s time traveling endeavors. These events mainly occur in the videos from: Wings short film series; Blood, Sweat, and Tears music video (both Korean and Japanese versions); Love Yourself Highlight Reels; Euphoria music video. There are also Notes that touch on events that occur in I NEED U, Butterfly: on stage: prologue, and Run videos. I would highly recommend watching all of these videos before and after reading the Notes. While you will find not all events that happen in these videos occur in the Notes, it will really help you overall to make sense of the Universe!
May 25, 2021
Triggerwarning für mental health, self harm, suizid, abuse…
Dieses kleine, aber sehr feine Büchlein lässt sich wunderbar schnell lesen, die Kapitel aus den Sichten der sieben Jungs sind kurz aber haben es emotional in sich.
Das Buch hatte einen Dauerzustand von Melancholie und es gab kein Kapitel in dem mir nicht die tränen kamen. Selten hab ich mir mehr gewünscht, dass die Figuren einfach nur endlich glücklich werden! Die Schicksale der Jungs gingen mir so nahe und ich hab mir auch etliche Zitate markiert, da sie mich tief und nachhaltig berührt haben.
Der Schreibstil ist eher einfach gehalten, was dem Buch aber umso mehr Charme verleiht, manchem aber vielleicht als zu plump erscheinen mag. Ob das an der Übersetzung ins englische liegt oder am Autor, das vermag ich nicht zu sagen.
Für mich ganz klar eine Empfehlung für alle die sich mit der BU Story auseinandersetzen und sich dafür interessieren. Als Zusatz, als Ergänzung, als einfach weil man die Geschichte liebt.
Wer keine Ahnung von der BTS Universe Story hat, der sollte sich auf jeden Fall erst darüber informieren und einlesen, da das Buch ansonsten ehr wirr und unverständlich sein könnte.
Ich mache auf jeden Fall gleich mal mit the Notes 2 weiter!
Dieses kleine, aber sehr feine Büchlein lässt sich wunderbar schnell lesen, die Kapitel aus den Sichten der sieben Jungs sind kurz aber haben es emotional in sich.
Das Buch hatte einen Dauerzustand von Melancholie und es gab kein Kapitel in dem mir nicht die tränen kamen. Selten hab ich mir mehr gewünscht, dass die Figuren einfach nur endlich glücklich werden! Die Schicksale der Jungs gingen mir so nahe und ich hab mir auch etliche Zitate markiert, da sie mich tief und nachhaltig berührt haben.
Der Schreibstil ist eher einfach gehalten, was dem Buch aber umso mehr Charme verleiht, manchem aber vielleicht als zu plump erscheinen mag. Ob das an der Übersetzung ins englische liegt oder am Autor, das vermag ich nicht zu sagen.
Für mich ganz klar eine Empfehlung für alle die sich mit der BU Story auseinandersetzen und sich dafür interessieren. Als Zusatz, als Ergänzung, als einfach weil man die Geschichte liebt.
Wer keine Ahnung von der BTS Universe Story hat, der sollte sich auf jeden Fall erst darüber informieren und einlesen, da das Buch ansonsten ehr wirr und unverständlich sein könnte.
Ich mache auf jeden Fall gleich mal mit the Notes 2 weiter!
April 11, 2019
i'm giving it a 5 star rating against my better judgement.
i think this reads as a above average fanfiction in terms of quality but it was so far above and beyond what i had expected, i ended up being impressed with it. i think it does a really good job setting up a timeline for these events and tidying up the storyline, especially right after the mess that is the save me webtoon. it seems to take place in a timeline where everything went just right . i loved how they portrayed the characters and their relationships (mainly jihope, vmon and yoonkook) but i still have my reservations about how much the storylines seem to try to take from the boys' personalities or experiences in real life. i hope they make that more subtle if (or when) they continue on with these series as i believe it's important to draw a line between fact and fiction and not let the fandom cross it. (some theories and how people relate their own songs to the events in the hyyh universe has been distasteful in my opinion.) other than that, i really enjoyed it and finished it in under 3 hours, craving more.
gave it 5 stars solely because i can't believe this is a novel that sprung from music videos of a music group. 2 years ago, i had watched the dope music video and liked it, but not enough to check bts further; only to stumble upon blood sweat & tears mv and being completely captivated by it. after i learned both these mvs were of the same group, i had asked people who they were. so many people had told me that they were bts and that their music videos were connected, telling a story. i was so interested in that idea that i decided to check them out. before i knew it, i was a fan of them. became a fan of a celebrity/public figure for the first time since i was a fifth grader. 2 years passed, i still think it's so impressive that they are telling a story like this through their music videos... hope they continue to do so. it's not only impressive but it's also very inspiring!!
i think this reads as a above average fanfiction in terms of quality but it was so far above and beyond what i had expected, i ended up being impressed with it. i think it does a really good job setting up a timeline for these events and tidying up the storyline, especially right after the mess that is the save me webtoon. it seems to take place in a timeline where everything went just right . i loved how they portrayed the characters and their relationships (mainly jihope, vmon and yoonkook) but i still have my reservations about how much the storylines seem to try to take from the boys' personalities or experiences in real life. i hope they make that more subtle if (or when) they continue on with these series as i believe it's important to draw a line between fact and fiction and not let the fandom cross it. (some theories and how people relate their own songs to the events in the hyyh universe has been distasteful in my opinion.) other than that, i really enjoyed it and finished it in under 3 hours, craving more.
gave it 5 stars solely because i can't believe this is a novel that sprung from music videos of a music group. 2 years ago, i had watched the dope music video and liked it, but not enough to check bts further; only to stumble upon blood sweat & tears mv and being completely captivated by it. after i learned both these mvs were of the same group, i had asked people who they were. so many people had told me that they were bts and that their music videos were connected, telling a story. i was so interested in that idea that i decided to check them out. before i knew it, i was a fan of them. became a fan of a celebrity/public figure for the first time since i was a fifth grader. 2 years passed, i still think it's so impressive that they are telling a story like this through their music videos... hope they continue to do so. it's not only impressive but it's also very inspiring!!
March 16, 2019
** Books 25 - 2019 **
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2019
3,4 of 5 stars!
When i knew BigHit Entertainment Finally released this books i'm super excited! Why not? I am one of fellow ARMY that super lazy to analyse what happen in BTS Universe world.. Starting analyze what happen from MV I Need U that released in 2015 until the next two album released i still can't reveal what happen actually with these seven people? Finally in end of 2018 they released Save Me - BTS Webtoon and this books to answer our curiousity.. I have read the webtoon until the last chapter (Chapter 10) but you can say i'm more pond of to the literature and novels so this books is one of must have items for me to understand BTS Universe world!
What I love from this books is it is explain each other person's perspective from each chapters (Hoseok, TaeHyung, Jimin, Namjoon, Seokjin, Yoongi and Jungkook) I can see the correlation between these seven people by their dates and months timeline, i love how dark-angst the story is for each other members.. Somehow reading this books is frustating me but i just love it! Yeah i am an hardcore fans of Dark-angst and tragedy story.. if the storyline is getting darker i just love it! Now i'm really curious for Seokjin how he will save the other members? I'm also curious about TaeHyung's story since STIGMA is my most favorite songs in Wings Album (2017). Yoongi's story is also kinda complicated than the others.
When will they release THE NOTES 2? I really can't wait!
Give me your thought, fellow ARMY! XD
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2019
3,4 of 5 stars!
When i knew BigHit Entertainment Finally released this books i'm super excited! Why not? I am one of fellow ARMY that super lazy to analyse what happen in BTS Universe world.. Starting analyze what happen from MV I Need U that released in 2015 until the next two album released i still can't reveal what happen actually with these seven people? Finally in end of 2018 they released Save Me - BTS Webtoon and this books to answer our curiousity.. I have read the webtoon until the last chapter (Chapter 10) but you can say i'm more pond of to the literature and novels so this books is one of must have items for me to understand BTS Universe world!
What I love from this books is it is explain each other person's perspective from each chapters (Hoseok, TaeHyung, Jimin, Namjoon, Seokjin, Yoongi and Jungkook) I can see the correlation between these seven people by their dates and months timeline, i love how dark-angst the story is for each other members.. Somehow reading this books is frustating me but i just love it! Yeah i am an hardcore fans of Dark-angst and tragedy story.. if the storyline is getting darker i just love it! Now i'm really curious for Seokjin how he will save the other members? I'm also curious about TaeHyung's story since STIGMA is my most favorite songs in Wings Album (2017). Yoongi's story is also kinda complicated than the others.
When will they release THE NOTES 2? I really can't wait!
Give me your thought, fellow ARMY! XD
August 7, 2022
”The classroom door closed behind us. I suddenly realised—those days were gone, and they would never return.”
…
“As I ran into those flames, the only words I could manage to spit out were, “We promised to go to the beach together.”
…
“I knew there was no one in the world who didn’t have wounds. But why did anyone need such deep ones? Why were they necessary? Why did things like this happen?”
…
“As the mirror broke, the curtain opened and I felt like I was pushed into the cold wind.
And when I opened my eyes, it was April 11th.”
…
AND WHAT IF I CRIED?!
…
“As I ran into those flames, the only words I could manage to spit out were, “We promised to go to the beach together.”
…
“I knew there was no one in the world who didn’t have wounds. But why did anyone need such deep ones? Why were they necessary? Why did things like this happen?”
…
“As the mirror broke, the curtain opened and I felt like I was pushed into the cold wind.
And when I opened my eyes, it was April 11th.”
…
AND WHAT IF I CRIED?!
July 26, 2022
therapy or anything like it isn't anywhere near enough for these kids... and there's still a book left... okay
September 12, 2023
nothing can compare to the soul shattering feeling that experiencing hyyh yoonkook in real time was for me. i will always keep them in a little locket under my rib cage
July 5, 2020
3.5*
"Human beings are so absurdly strong, or so absurdly weak, and we were the proof."
I'm not exactly sure how to rate this book since I'm anything but unbiased when it comes to the Bangtan Boys. What I can say though is that this is a tough read (in more than one way). First of all it's pretty hard to follow most of the time because it requires the reader to be familiar with the concept of the Bangtan Universe. It's also hard to stomach at times since it deals with topics such as abuse, mental health, suicide and more. It's definitely not a happy-go-lucky story for it ends on a rather depressing note. Yet I find the concept of the HYYH series absolutely intriguing and am still fascinated by the complexity of this fictional universe and the narrative! BigHit did a really great job with this franchise! I'd say this book is a must-read for every die-hard BTS fan who wants to dive deep into the BU and explore the individual storylines a little further.
As a sidenote: I would definitely recommend to read the SAVE ME Webtoon in addition to the notes as there are quite a few references.
"Human beings are so absurdly strong, or so absurdly weak, and we were the proof."
I'm not exactly sure how to rate this book since I'm anything but unbiased when it comes to the Bangtan Boys. What I can say though is that this is a tough read (in more than one way). First of all it's pretty hard to follow most of the time because it requires the reader to be familiar with the concept of the Bangtan Universe. It's also hard to stomach at times since it deals with topics such as abuse, mental health, suicide and more. It's definitely not a happy-go-lucky story for it ends on a rather depressing note. Yet I find the concept of the HYYH series absolutely intriguing and am still fascinated by the complexity of this fictional universe and the narrative! BigHit did a really great job with this franchise! I'd say this book is a must-read for every die-hard BTS fan who wants to dive deep into the BU and explore the individual storylines a little further.
As a sidenote: I would definitely recommend to read the SAVE ME Webtoon in addition to the notes as there are quite a few references.
March 11, 2019
There are so many things about the BU that finally makes sense, and a whole lot of new questions that I need answered
March 21, 2019
Assuming one is a fan of BTS, has seen the MVs, and read the other notes (and maybe even the Webtoon), this pieces together parts of the story pretty well while also raising some other questions.
May 29, 2022
“That’s weird. How can something that you want to achieve most in your life and something that is unlikely to come true both be called a dream?”
It was the HYYH: Young Forever album that got me into BTS back in 2016 and it remains to be my fave era of theirs. While the Youth trilogy was such a pain to watch and listen to, HYYH Notes adds more depth to the whole story and each of the characters. And uhhhh adds even more pain lmao. 😩
The writing is simplistic and the journal entries seem like they’re all written by one person. But that’s Reader Pam talking. As ARMY Pam, I really loved this! Knowing how some loops start and end, Notes 1 still hits really hard since there is added context and details that you can’t simply see just by watching the MVs and reels. If you’re a HYYH hoe like me or just started getting into BTS, I highly recommend watching the MVs and reels first in the Bangtan Universe (BU) then read the Save Me webtoon as a prelude to reading HYYH Notes 1 and 2.
Additionally, there are a lot of trigger and content warnings for this book as each character go through tough stuff and mental health issues. Tread lightly.
Trigger/Content Warnings: suicide, abandonment, physical and mental abuse, death, death of a family member, depression, anxiety, Munchausen’s Syndrome, forced institutionalization
It was the HYYH: Young Forever album that got me into BTS back in 2016 and it remains to be my fave era of theirs. While the Youth trilogy was such a pain to watch and listen to, HYYH Notes adds more depth to the whole story and each of the characters. And uhhhh adds even more pain lmao. 😩
The writing is simplistic and the journal entries seem like they’re all written by one person. But that’s Reader Pam talking. As ARMY Pam, I really loved this! Knowing how some loops start and end, Notes 1 still hits really hard since there is added context and details that you can’t simply see just by watching the MVs and reels. If you’re a HYYH hoe like me or just started getting into BTS, I highly recommend watching the MVs and reels first in the Bangtan Universe (BU) then read the Save Me webtoon as a prelude to reading HYYH Notes 1 and 2.
Additionally, there are a lot of trigger and content warnings for this book as each character go through tough stuff and mental health issues. Tread lightly.
Trigger/Content Warnings: suicide, abandonment, physical and mental abuse, death, death of a family member, depression, anxiety, Munchausen’s Syndrome, forced institutionalization
Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews