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Scandalized
Fi Legaspi is living the dream working in Seoul as a road manager for one of South Korea's hottest bands, East Genesis Project. Until she isn't.
When she finds herself in the middle of a scandal and a hostile fangirl witch hunt, Fi seeks the comfort of home, and to her surprise, not the person she had been pining for for years. All too suddenly it's no longer her career on the line, but also her heart. Will she walk away from everything that matters to her or fight to keep her dream alive?
When she finds herself in the middle of a scandal and a hostile fangirl witch hunt, Fi seeks the comfort of home, and to her surprise, not the person she had been pining for for years. All too suddenly it's no longer her career on the line, but also her heart. Will she walk away from everything that matters to her or fight to keep her dream alive?
252 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2018
9 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Tara Frejas
17 books57 followersTara Frejas is a cloud-walker who needs caffeine to fuel her travels. By day, she works in project management and events, and she writes down her daydreams at night. She began publishing fiction for public consumption in 2004, posting her pieces on various online channels like fan forums and Blogspot, eventually exploring other avenues like Livejournal, Soomp!, Tumblr, and most recently, Wattpad.
Aside from her obvious love affair with words and persistent muses, Tara is very passionate about being caffeinated, musical theatre, certain genres of music, dancing, dogs, good food, and romancing Norae, her ukelele. She owns a 6-month-old male bunny named Max who sometimes tries to nibble on her writing notes.
Fun fact: She's a Piscean. Go figure.
Aside from her obvious love affair with words and persistent muses, Tara is very passionate about being caffeinated, musical theatre, certain genres of music, dancing, dogs, good food, and romancing Norae, her ukelele. She owns a 6-month-old male bunny named Max who sometimes tries to nibble on her writing notes.
Fun fact: She's a Piscean. Go figure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 31, 2017
4.5 stars
Oh no, I found a new author to be obsessed with. Scandalized was such an unexpectedly fantastic read for me, to be completely honest. As a K-Pop fan it was easy to connect with the story and the characters themselves, but Tara Frejas definitely added some of her unique charm into the story and made me absolutely love it. Tara made some quite interesting and important points in Scandalized and I applaud her for it. Fi is the most lovable character ever and I just wanted to wrap her in a nice blanket and keep her safe from the entire world... except maybe from a certain someone. I loved the boys from East Genesis Project as well, they made really interesting supporting characters, if I can even call them that as they're definitely a big part of this story. Overall, I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading more of Tara's books in 2018!
Oh no, I found a new author to be obsessed with. Scandalized was such an unexpectedly fantastic read for me, to be completely honest. As a K-Pop fan it was easy to connect with the story and the characters themselves, but Tara Frejas definitely added some of her unique charm into the story and made me absolutely love it. Tara made some quite interesting and important points in Scandalized and I applaud her for it. Fi is the most lovable character ever and I just wanted to wrap her in a nice blanket and keep her safe from the entire world... except maybe from a certain someone. I loved the boys from East Genesis Project as well, they made really interesting supporting characters, if I can even call them that as they're definitely a big part of this story. Overall, I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading more of Tara's books in 2018!
January 4, 2017
As for someone who spent her teenage years voraciously consuming Korean dramas and music, Scandalized captured the fanaticism of Hallyu through the lens of international fan.
There’s dedicated fandoms who have so much love and support to their idols though sometimes it can be misguided. There’s toxicity. The fans always expect too much from celebrities. There’s a breach of privacy and objectification. I’m not Korean so I have zero opinion about Frejas’ portrayal of their culture. I can say though is that I love, love this story. Scandalized neatly tackled bullying and its repercussions. I love the family aspect, and the endearing Filipino culture. I’ll never get sick of that.
After reading the short story Frejas wrote for Make My Wish Come True, I can see the interracial relationship was handled well. Both of them are learning from each other’s culture, and it’s respectfully done.
I love the otp as well, I wish there’s more. And the beautiful writing. I wouldn’t mind reading more from this universe. Full review to come.
“You are all I can think of. You’re like... this persistent refrain I can’t get out of my head, and—”
“See that’s the thing. I never wanted to be a refrain in your head.”
“I wanted to be the song.”
There’s dedicated fandoms who have so much love and support to their idols though sometimes it can be misguided. There’s toxicity. The fans always expect too much from celebrities. There’s a breach of privacy and objectification. I’m not Korean so I have zero opinion about Frejas’ portrayal of their culture. I can say though is that I love, love this story. Scandalized neatly tackled bullying and its repercussions. I love the family aspect, and the endearing Filipino culture. I’ll never get sick of that.
After reading the short story Frejas wrote for Make My Wish Come True, I can see the interracial relationship was handled well. Both of them are learning from each other’s culture, and it’s respectfully done.
I love the otp as well, I wish there’s more. And the beautiful writing. I wouldn’t mind reading more from this universe. Full review to come.
“You are all I can think of. You’re like... this persistent refrain I can’t get out of my head, and—”
“See that’s the thing. I never wanted to be a refrain in your head.”
“I wanted to be the song.”
June 23, 2020
“See that’s the thing. I never wanted to be a refrain in your head.” Her voice was laced with conviction as she spoke, but she was blinking away tears. “I wanted to be the song.”
Recommended.*
Trigger/Content warnings:
May 4, 2016
* Also posted on It's Time, Ana
I am not a K-Pop person. I tried, a few years ago, but I just couldn't get into it. It was, essentially the same with all things Korean for me. I watch K-dramas when I get into it, sometimes watch the movies, but I'm not into it as my other friends were. (I suppose that if/when I get to South Korea, this will all change, like how I sort of got into a lot of Japanese stuff after I visited Japan. But that's for another thing.) So even if I did join Tara's 소리질러 (Make Some Noise!) Week for Scandal ized, I still wasn't sure if I would be able to immerse in it. Granted, there was a band, and I love bands in fiction, but the entire K-Pop thing intimidated me in a way.
But really, I shouldn't have worried because reading Scandal ized was a breeze. I loved Tara's other books, so I sort of knew what to expect with her writing, and her newest one didn't disappoint in that area. I loved how real everything felt on the first few pages, and even if I wasn't into the culture, I could clearly imagine Fi and East Genesis Project, and the Amethyst office and Gabriel like they were fully formed characters who decided to settle in my head. There was a certain kind of sincerity in the pages of this book that would capture even a non-K-Pop fan like me.
I loved, loved, loved Fi. Her spirit, her loyalty, and how she handled everything in the novel. And I equally loved Gabriel, too, because he seemed more accessible than the other guy, and because of the peg (Hi, Daniel Henney *swoon*). It was a pleasure reading their scenes together in Manila, and Tara captured the usual touristy stuff that people do when they visit. It took me a while before I got to familiarize myself with the names of the two band members other than Yihwan, but after I got that, I fell in love with Song Minchan. *pinches cheeks* :P I think I must also note that the East Genesis Project website is gold - not just literally! Talk about providing a fuller experience for the readers. :)
Overall, I had a great time reading Scandal ized, despite my non-relation to the K-Pop fandom. There were many nuggets of wisdom in the book that could apply in real life, and the book left me with a lot of good vibes when I was done reading. And since this is a series, I think we can look forward to reading more of Fi, Gabe, and the band - yay! I think this can count as my dose of K-Pop? :)
I am not a K-Pop person. I tried, a few years ago, but I just couldn't get into it. It was, essentially the same with all things Korean for me. I watch K-dramas when I get into it, sometimes watch the movies, but I'm not into it as my other friends were. (I suppose that if/when I get to South Korea, this will all change, like how I sort of got into a lot of Japanese stuff after I visited Japan. But that's for another thing.) So even if I did join Tara's 소리질러 (Make Some Noise!) Week for Scandal ized, I still wasn't sure if I would be able to immerse in it. Granted, there was a band, and I love bands in fiction, but the entire K-Pop thing intimidated me in a way.
But really, I shouldn't have worried because reading Scandal ized was a breeze. I loved Tara's other books, so I sort of knew what to expect with her writing, and her newest one didn't disappoint in that area. I loved how real everything felt on the first few pages, and even if I wasn't into the culture, I could clearly imagine Fi and East Genesis Project, and the Amethyst office and Gabriel like they were fully formed characters who decided to settle in my head. There was a certain kind of sincerity in the pages of this book that would capture even a non-K-Pop fan like me.
I loved, loved, loved Fi. Her spirit, her loyalty, and how she handled everything in the novel. And I equally loved Gabriel, too, because he seemed more accessible than the other guy, and because of the peg (Hi, Daniel Henney *swoon*). It was a pleasure reading their scenes together in Manila, and Tara captured the usual touristy stuff that people do when they visit. It took me a while before I got to familiarize myself with the names of the two band members other than Yihwan, but after I got that, I fell in love with Song Minchan. *pinches cheeks* :P I think I must also note that the East Genesis Project website is gold - not just literally! Talk about providing a fuller experience for the readers. :)
Overall, I had a great time reading Scandal ized, despite my non-relation to the K-Pop fandom. There were many nuggets of wisdom in the book that could apply in real life, and the book left me with a lot of good vibes when I was done reading. And since this is a series, I think we can look forward to reading more of Fi, Gabe, and the band - yay! I think this can count as my dose of K-Pop? :)
You carry a truth in you. Feel free to burden everyone with it.
May 2, 2016
First posted on my blog, RonReads!
I started reading Scandalized with more than a little apprehension. The first few pages didn’t do anything to help me shake off this apprehension, either — everything was happening in much the same way you expect things to happen with a premise like this one.
However, things began to take a turn for the better around 20 pages in. One of the book’s conceits is showing a fictional comments section keeping track of fans’ opinions on the happenings surrounding the boys of East Genesis Project, and I found it especially cute that fans who slash (Does this really need an explanation?) were given a running shoutout. It’s a small thing, but definitely one that is appreciated.
But as i continued reading, it became clear that this conceit was more than just a cute way to break up each chapter. As the events in Fi’s life start to escalate, so do the emotions of the fans in the comments section. It’s a creative and efficient way of building tension and drama, and Tara should definitely get props for using this particular conceit to devastating effect in the latter part of Scandalized,
Tara definitely shows her fandom bonafides with her expert rendition of a sex scandal, KPop-style. Her depiction shows a much clearer understanding of South Korean fan culture than previous books I’ve read, and her criticism of aspects of this sasaeng culture and the undue sway it holds over Korean idols’ lives makes for interesting reading. Once Tara gets into her groove, I couldn’t put the book down.
If there’s anything to nitpick, it’s the fact that this fascinating portrait of South Korean fan culture comes at the expense of the love story at hand. While the kilig was definitely there, I felt like this could have been pushed even further if Tara had the luxury of a higher word count. It was also very clear that certain characters and situations were being set up for future books, and it ended up undercutting the central love story in Scandalized. This is a shame, as apparently one of the characters involved is based on Daniel Henney.
Having said that, those are really minor complaints about a novella that honestly caught me off guard in all the right ways. Be sure to grab a copy once this hits the internet on the 5th of May — I hope you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was once I put it down.
I started reading Scandalized with more than a little apprehension. The first few pages didn’t do anything to help me shake off this apprehension, either — everything was happening in much the same way you expect things to happen with a premise like this one.
However, things began to take a turn for the better around 20 pages in. One of the book’s conceits is showing a fictional comments section keeping track of fans’ opinions on the happenings surrounding the boys of East Genesis Project, and I found it especially cute that fans who slash (Does this really need an explanation?) were given a running shoutout. It’s a small thing, but definitely one that is appreciated.
But as i continued reading, it became clear that this conceit was more than just a cute way to break up each chapter. As the events in Fi’s life start to escalate, so do the emotions of the fans in the comments section. It’s a creative and efficient way of building tension and drama, and Tara should definitely get props for using this particular conceit to devastating effect in the latter part of Scandalized,
Tara definitely shows her fandom bonafides with her expert rendition of a sex scandal, KPop-style. Her depiction shows a much clearer understanding of South Korean fan culture than previous books I’ve read, and her criticism of aspects of this sasaeng culture and the undue sway it holds over Korean idols’ lives makes for interesting reading. Once Tara gets into her groove, I couldn’t put the book down.
If there’s anything to nitpick, it’s the fact that this fascinating portrait of South Korean fan culture comes at the expense of the love story at hand. While the kilig was definitely there, I felt like this could have been pushed even further if Tara had the luxury of a higher word count. It was also very clear that certain characters and situations were being set up for future books, and it ended up undercutting the central love story in Scandalized. This is a shame, as apparently one of the characters involved is based on Daniel Henney.
Having said that, those are really minor complaints about a novella that honestly caught me off guard in all the right ways. Be sure to grab a copy once this hits the internet on the 5th of May — I hope you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was once I put it down.
May 3, 2016
Anyone who’s ever been a fan of Korean idols is likely to nod in quick understanding upon reading the blurb. It’s all very familiar–the pretty, untouchable boys, the crazy saesang fans, the endless stream of Internet vitriol, freeflowing in comment threads once triggered by the vaguest of blind items and the most obscure photographs. Frejas delves into this mad world with equal parts fascination and disgust at the glitz and muck of it all. Obviously, Frejas is a fan too, and she is very curious about what happens behind the scenes. Her passion for the pop culture seeps through her words, and that is what separates this story from raw fanfic scribbles. What makes it such an enjoyable read.
So go ahead and read it for the pretty boys with the pimped out drums and guitars. Read it for the unapologetic wish fulfillment (come on, she’s a Filipina roadie in Korea! She’s surrounded by hot guys who like to walk around shirtless! The magnae calls her noona! Bet your daydreams didn’t get that far). Read it for Daniel Henney, Frejas’ peg for the band’s PR exec Gabriel. Read it for that Styroboat-in-the-flood scene. Yep, even for just that.
So go ahead and read it for the pretty boys with the pimped out drums and guitars. Read it for the unapologetic wish fulfillment (come on, she’s a Filipina roadie in Korea! She’s surrounded by hot guys who like to walk around shirtless! The magnae calls her noona! Bet your daydreams didn’t get that far). Read it for Daniel Henney, Frejas’ peg for the band’s PR exec Gabriel. Read it for that Styroboat-in-the-flood scene. Yep, even for just that.
January 4, 2017
PROTECT FI AT ALL COSTS! Love the message of anti-bullying in this book.
June 15, 2021
Are you into Korean idol groups? If yes, you need to read this.
Are you a fangirl? If yes, you must read this.
Or just looking for a good book to devour in one sitting? Then better check this book out by Tara Frejas, Scandalized. This book is all that and more.
I’m sure you’ve encountered books out there with just by reading the first sentence of their synopsis and you’re thinking that, “Okay, done deal. I’m sold with this one.”, right? Scandalized was like that for me and so I immediately grabbed the opportunity to join this blog tour. “Fi Legaspi is living the dream working in Seoul as a road manager for one of South Korea's hottest bands, East Genesis Project.” totally lured me in. Maybe this is also because of the fact that I’m currently hooked with the K-Pop group, EXO, and I badly needed a reading material that will feed off my Korean entertainment feels. Scandalized was just the perfect read for me. No-brainer, I breezed through it and enjoyed reading something that I have knowledge and feels to.
With 18 chapters, Scandalized was able to touch base on a lot of things concerning the entertainment industry, the artists and the general public. Readers are given a quick and easy to understand run through on how Korean management works when it comes to nurturing their artists since trainee days. Road managers, hardworking PR people and other non-artist personnel were also highlighted. But beware, not everything behind all the glitz and glamour are real pretty. Scandals, manipulations, cover-ups and power-plays are things that sadly exist. Fi Legaspi and Jo Yihwan had a taste of that here in Scandalized.
Dispatch, a well-known website that breaks the biggest dating news and scandals in the Korean industry, makes an appearance in this book and stirs all-kinds of issues towards Jo Yihwan’s ways. In which brought on a chaotic atmosphere in their fandom, Originals, and for the people near Yihwan vulnerable to the eyes of the public. I won’t talk into details about the events that happened in the book but Tara Frejas took such a refreshing spin to this whole fiasco.
We live in the age where everything is most likely at the tip of our fingers. One-click, we get answers to our queries. Send love to our idols? We can do it just by hitting up their social media accounts. Send hate and disappointment? Easy as one, two, three too. Social networking sites made it easier for us, fangirls, to feel like we are closer to our idols. It enabled us to keep tabs on what’s going on with their lives and their future plans through those various platforms that they use. That’s the power of social media, right there. But with the familiarity of its existence, people tend to forget the lines that we must not cross and most especially, respect. Without batting eyelashes, we are now quick to jump to conclusions, judge and drag others down and that’s just because of a published article and our fondness towards these artists going way overboard. We only know what the media feeds us and not the entire (with Fi’s situation; real) story. Yet toxic comments are bound to float around the web. How about some reality check? These artists have their own personal and private lives that we know nothing about and that at the end of the day, we are just mere fans. Hard pill to swallow but that’s just it. Though, I’m not saying that I don’t get my heart broken whenever there are dating news concerning artists that I love and support because I do. Support group anyone? It’s normal to feel that.
So Fi succumbing to the negativity surrounding her and showing her weakness was very realistic. I expected that. People can only take so much and for someone like her who isn’t accustomed to the limelight, being involved in a scandal will surely take a toll on her. She may have experienced a fleeting downfall but what matters is how she used this particular time to evaluate herself, her career and think on how to bounce back on her feet. Similar with East Genesis Project, I’m in awe with how they were able to turn things around. It was very impressive how they used one of the lowest points of their lives/careers as an inspiration to start-up and successfully come up with a campaign to combat the problem that they’ve noticed. Channelling it through their music and using their band’s image to create a ripple effect for change was a pretty clever thing to do. Kudos, EGP and Tara Frejas!
How did the romance aspect of the story fair? As I’ve said, this book is refreshing. I was a bit surprised that the story took a turn there but it was kind of obvious too that Fi and this guy character is perfect for each other. They were confidante from the start and it’s a good foundation for a relationship. He thinks about her, cares for her and acts very sweet towards her and I’m okay with that. They fit.
Scandalized was not that big on the feels but what packed the punch is that this story could make us ponder on how we, you, me, act as a fangirl and the fact that there’s an advocacy at the centre of it. I’m sure the message Tara Frejas wants to impart towards the fans of EGP will not only remain enclosed in this book but it’ll live through with every reader who chooses to read Scandalized.
Go read it, now!
Are you a fangirl? If yes, you must read this.
Or just looking for a good book to devour in one sitting? Then better check this book out by Tara Frejas, Scandalized. This book is all that and more.
I’m sure you’ve encountered books out there with just by reading the first sentence of their synopsis and you’re thinking that, “Okay, done deal. I’m sold with this one.”, right? Scandalized was like that for me and so I immediately grabbed the opportunity to join this blog tour. “Fi Legaspi is living the dream working in Seoul as a road manager for one of South Korea's hottest bands, East Genesis Project.” totally lured me in. Maybe this is also because of the fact that I’m currently hooked with the K-Pop group, EXO, and I badly needed a reading material that will feed off my Korean entertainment feels. Scandalized was just the perfect read for me. No-brainer, I breezed through it and enjoyed reading something that I have knowledge and feels to.
With 18 chapters, Scandalized was able to touch base on a lot of things concerning the entertainment industry, the artists and the general public. Readers are given a quick and easy to understand run through on how Korean management works when it comes to nurturing their artists since trainee days. Road managers, hardworking PR people and other non-artist personnel were also highlighted. But beware, not everything behind all the glitz and glamour are real pretty. Scandals, manipulations, cover-ups and power-plays are things that sadly exist. Fi Legaspi and Jo Yihwan had a taste of that here in Scandalized.
Dispatch, a well-known website that breaks the biggest dating news and scandals in the Korean industry, makes an appearance in this book and stirs all-kinds of issues towards Jo Yihwan’s ways. In which brought on a chaotic atmosphere in their fandom, Originals, and for the people near Yihwan vulnerable to the eyes of the public. I won’t talk into details about the events that happened in the book but Tara Frejas took such a refreshing spin to this whole fiasco.
We live in the age where everything is most likely at the tip of our fingers. One-click, we get answers to our queries. Send love to our idols? We can do it just by hitting up their social media accounts. Send hate and disappointment? Easy as one, two, three too. Social networking sites made it easier for us, fangirls, to feel like we are closer to our idols. It enabled us to keep tabs on what’s going on with their lives and their future plans through those various platforms that they use. That’s the power of social media, right there. But with the familiarity of its existence, people tend to forget the lines that we must not cross and most especially, respect. Without batting eyelashes, we are now quick to jump to conclusions, judge and drag others down and that’s just because of a published article and our fondness towards these artists going way overboard. We only know what the media feeds us and not the entire (with Fi’s situation; real) story. Yet toxic comments are bound to float around the web. How about some reality check? These artists have their own personal and private lives that we know nothing about and that at the end of the day, we are just mere fans. Hard pill to swallow but that’s just it. Though, I’m not saying that I don’t get my heart broken whenever there are dating news concerning artists that I love and support because I do. Support group anyone? It’s normal to feel that.
So Fi succumbing to the negativity surrounding her and showing her weakness was very realistic. I expected that. People can only take so much and for someone like her who isn’t accustomed to the limelight, being involved in a scandal will surely take a toll on her. She may have experienced a fleeting downfall but what matters is how she used this particular time to evaluate herself, her career and think on how to bounce back on her feet. Similar with East Genesis Project, I’m in awe with how they were able to turn things around. It was very impressive how they used one of the lowest points of their lives/careers as an inspiration to start-up and successfully come up with a campaign to combat the problem that they’ve noticed. Channelling it through their music and using their band’s image to create a ripple effect for change was a pretty clever thing to do. Kudos, EGP and Tara Frejas!
How did the romance aspect of the story fair? As I’ve said, this book is refreshing. I was a bit surprised that the story took a turn there but it was kind of obvious too that Fi and this guy character is perfect for each other. They were confidante from the start and it’s a good foundation for a relationship. He thinks about her, cares for her and acts very sweet towards her and I’m okay with that. They fit.
Scandalized was not that big on the feels but what packed the punch is that this story could make us ponder on how we, you, me, act as a fangirl and the fact that there’s an advocacy at the centre of it. I’m sure the message Tara Frejas wants to impart towards the fans of EGP will not only remain enclosed in this book but it’ll live through with every reader who chooses to read Scandalized.
Go read it, now!
July 12, 2019
I dunno why I rated this only 3 stars the first time I read it.
April 1, 2017
What can I say? I have so much feelings for this book!!! Not much progress with my TBR because stuck with this. #happyproblem
I regret not reading this book earlier in my #romanceclass life. I thought that you need to be a K-pop fan in order to appreciate this book but noooo, maybe it adds to the feelings but for me? I'm so deeply in love with Scandalized.
I've said in my tweets that this book should come with a warning. Because really, feelings. You guys gotta prepare yourselves. A happy roller coaster ride with East Genesis, Fi and G ❤
I regret not reading this book earlier in my #romanceclass life. I thought that you need to be a K-pop fan in order to appreciate this book but noooo, maybe it adds to the feelings but for me? I'm so deeply in love with Scandalized.
I've said in my tweets that this book should come with a warning. Because really, feelings. You guys gotta prepare yourselves. A happy roller coaster ride with East Genesis, Fi and G ❤
March 27, 2017
I posted my review of this book on Youtube!
https://youtu.be/gPjHAZEl3OI
https://youtu.be/gPjHAZEl3OI
December 30, 2016
"You're my what if?, and I don't want that question hanging around my head anymore."
Dive into Kpop, and hardcore fans, and what it's like being in a band, or famous in general, and what it's like being associated with someone who's famous. This book takes you through all this and still manages to also tackle bullying in a way that isn't talked about or considered as such.
I loved this book. It was short and cute and entertaining and still managed to have an overall great moral behind the story. I felt like I could relate a lot to the whole crazy kpop mania and the author seems to know a lot about it too. Being a Kpop fan, I can honestly say I've witnessed how awful fans can become once there are dating rumors and it terrifies me the outrageous things that can be said. The comments written by fans in the book the author wrote under each article or video posted were literally so accurate to everything I read in real life. She makes sure to show you both good and bad sides and I LOVED THAT.
The romance wasn't heavy in the book but I was rooting for Gabriel from the beginning. I also appreciate how this didn't turn into a nasty love triangle, and that both Gabriel and Yihwan managed to be mature about the scandal and their feelings for Fi.
Also, I appreciate the little note at the end with the dictionary terms for the korean and filipino terms that were used, it was so much fun <3
April 6, 2017
if u are a kpop fan, and u understand how the korean entertainment works, you'd love this.
November 16, 2024
The novel took me back to my K-drama days and when I was listening on groups like CNBLUE. It brought back that nostalgic excitement, and I loved how the chapters were styled as tracks on an album—it perfectly matched the story’s musical vibe. The portrayal of boy bands and K-pop fandom felt so real, especially now that I’m a big fan of our very own P-pop group, SB19. That connection made it super easy for me to picture everything happening in the story.
I also learned a lot about the world of performing artists, like their concert tours and the challenges of being managed by entertainment companies. The addition of news reports and blind items gave entertainment and a realistic edge, while the Korean phrases and cultural elements made it feel authentic. The raw depiction of scandals, online bashing, and the creative process of songwriting added so much depth and emotion.
What really got to me was how the group treated Fi—not just as their road manager but as part of their family. Their care and support for her added a heartfelt touch to the story. The novel also tackled cyberbullying in a meaningful way. While the romance didn’t stand out as much, I still appreciated the Filipino-style courtship in the story—it added a sweet and relatable vibe. The mix of real-life issues with lighthearted romance created a nice balance, and its message about online harassment hit close to home, especially for public figures in today’s digital world.
I also learned a lot about the world of performing artists, like their concert tours and the challenges of being managed by entertainment companies. The addition of news reports and blind items gave entertainment and a realistic edge, while the Korean phrases and cultural elements made it feel authentic. The raw depiction of scandals, online bashing, and the creative process of songwriting added so much depth and emotion.
What really got to me was how the group treated Fi—not just as their road manager but as part of their family. Their care and support for her added a heartfelt touch to the story. The novel also tackled cyberbullying in a meaningful way. While the romance didn’t stand out as much, I still appreciated the Filipino-style courtship in the story—it added a sweet and relatable vibe. The mix of real-life issues with lighthearted romance created a nice balance, and its message about online harassment hit close to home, especially for public figures in today’s digital world.
January 22, 2022
well, i have to say that went better than anticipated.
** MILD SPOILERS AHEAD! please be wary! **
it felt silly at first, especially now being so far removed from my k-pop days (k-pop peaked in 2013-2016 and that's all i'll say) but over the course of the book it became an interesting take on the netizen culture of k-pop and south korea (from an outsider's perspective). sure, it was a tad ridiculous at times, but it does touch on the root of the problem, which is the weird and sometimes harmful parasocial bully culture that transcends from fans to idols when fans aren't being pandered to.
interestingly, they touched on the fact that such scandals hurt women, regardless of status (e.g. idol vs. regular person), much more than men, but the conversation was never extended to female idols, who infamously receive the worst of internet vitriol (rip sulli and goo hara, i miss you both every day). again, not necessarily detrimental, but it stuck out to me.
did not care for the romance at all, and i'm still trying to figure out how i feel about a drummer singing. in the spheres i've been in, drummers are specifically not allowed mics for a reason. no, this is not something that should bother me as much as it is, but it does lmao
** MILD SPOILERS AHEAD! please be wary! **
it felt silly at first, especially now being so far removed from my k-pop days (k-pop peaked in 2013-2016 and that's all i'll say) but over the course of the book it became an interesting take on the netizen culture of k-pop and south korea (from an outsider's perspective). sure, it was a tad ridiculous at times, but it does touch on the root of the problem, which is the weird and sometimes harmful parasocial bully culture that transcends from fans to idols when fans aren't being pandered to.
interestingly, they touched on the fact that such scandals hurt women, regardless of status (e.g. idol vs. regular person), much more than men, but the conversation was never extended to female idols, who infamously receive the worst of internet vitriol (rip sulli and goo hara, i miss you both every day). again, not necessarily detrimental, but it stuck out to me.
did not care for the romance at all, and i'm still trying to figure out how i feel about a drummer singing. in the spheres i've been in, drummers are specifically not allowed mics for a reason. no, this is not something that should bother me as much as it is, but it does lmao
September 26, 2024
Scandalized by Tara Frejas — ★ ★ ★ ★
“You are a force all by yourself and I’m not going to just sit and watch the world break you. You’re not on your own. Not now. Not ever.” — Gabe
🎧ྀི First off, let’s take a moment to appreciate the cover—it’s so gorgeous! The girl on it even looks like Minji from New Jeans! 🫶🏻
🎸This book is such a fun read for K-pop fans. I wouldn’t say I’m a hardcore fan, but I do enjoy their music every now and then. I could easily follow the story since I’ve read about the Korean entertainment industry before and watched some videos. If we're being honest, the industry is known for its cancel culture and dating scandals—so if those aspects interest you, you'll really enjoy this book!
💞I also loved how the book touched on bullying and how the band members (the characters) started a movement around it, which feels so relevant—not just in Korea, but all over the world.
💌 I had such a great time reading this, and kilig was real! I knew exactly who I was rooting for with Fi, and I was totally right! Now, I can’t wait to pick up the next book, especially with that cliffhanger!! 🤧💞
“You are a force all by yourself and I’m not going to just sit and watch the world break you. You’re not on your own. Not now. Not ever.” — Gabe
🎧ྀི First off, let’s take a moment to appreciate the cover—it’s so gorgeous! The girl on it even looks like Minji from New Jeans! 🫶🏻
🎸This book is such a fun read for K-pop fans. I wouldn’t say I’m a hardcore fan, but I do enjoy their music every now and then. I could easily follow the story since I’ve read about the Korean entertainment industry before and watched some videos. If we're being honest, the industry is known for its cancel culture and dating scandals—so if those aspects interest you, you'll really enjoy this book!
💞I also loved how the book touched on bullying and how the band members (the characters) started a movement around it, which feels so relevant—not just in Korea, but all over the world.
💌 I had such a great time reading this, and kilig was real! I knew exactly who I was rooting for with Fi, and I was totally right! Now, I can’t wait to pick up the next book, especially with that cliffhanger!! 🤧💞
April 19, 2017
I wish I could give this a ten.
I received an ARC for Scandalized last year from the author herself, and for some reason I found it again only now. Finished it during my work shift because I couldn't put it down. I just couldn't. I loved how Tara Frejas perfectly captured a world familiar to us K-Pop fangirls / enthusiasts. As someone who had been following a number of idols for a while, each plot twist / chapter tugged at my heartstrings and reminded me of scandals and stuff that my biases had encountered in the past years, and I couldn't help but wish that the real world worked out the way it did in Tara's masterpiece of a book. I felt for Fi, rooted for her, cried with her. And in that scene in the end when she came back for EG Project, I howled in my office cubicle of happiness. I was just so happy that these people who adored, respected, and loved to work with one another were finally reunited after the entire fiasco. It wasn't just kilig, it spoke to me on an entirely different level, and I probably haven't connected to characters the way I did in this. I STAN FI NOONA!!!
10/10!!!
PS - Don't have a copy of this book yet? Buy it. Now na.
I received an ARC for Scandalized last year from the author herself, and for some reason I found it again only now. Finished it during my work shift because I couldn't put it down. I just couldn't. I loved how Tara Frejas perfectly captured a world familiar to us K-Pop fangirls / enthusiasts. As someone who had been following a number of idols for a while, each plot twist / chapter tugged at my heartstrings and reminded me of scandals and stuff that my biases had encountered in the past years, and I couldn't help but wish that the real world worked out the way it did in Tara's masterpiece of a book. I felt for Fi, rooted for her, cried with her. And in that scene in the end when she came back for EG Project, I howled in my office cubicle of happiness. I was just so happy that these people who adored, respected, and loved to work with one another were finally reunited after the entire fiasco. It wasn't just kilig, it spoke to me on an entirely different level, and I probably haven't connected to characters the way I did in this. I STAN FI NOONA!!!
10/10!!!
PS - Don't have a copy of this book yet? Buy it. Now na.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2017
I gotta be honest, I wasn't exactly SUPER excited about reading this book as I am with other Tara's books. Nothing about the blurb really captured my attention and I particularly don't really like "band dramas". But it's a Tara Frejas book so I have to read it!
And it was really cool!
I liked getting to know all this characters and was really funny when the band guys acted like children. Fi is the sweetest! Honestly, I wouldn't be so calm as her with all those things going on, lol. I know myself, I would have started yelling at everyone.
I liked that these social issues are brought up, especially cyber-bullying and the consequences it can have. It's a really important topic.
I would have liked to see more romantic stuff though! I feel this book is more about things that are happening instead of feelings, and that's not a bad thing but I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm still hungover from all the cuteness that was Settle the Score/Hustle Play, but I still did like this book!
And it was really cool!
I liked getting to know all this characters and was really funny when the band guys acted like children. Fi is the sweetest! Honestly, I wouldn't be so calm as her with all those things going on, lol. I know myself, I would have started yelling at everyone.
I liked that these social issues are brought up, especially cyber-bullying and the consequences it can have. It's a really important topic.
I would have liked to see more romantic stuff though! I feel this book is more about things that are happening instead of feelings, and that's not a bad thing but I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm still hungover from all the cuteness that was Settle the Score/Hustle Play, but I still did like this book!
July 20, 2025
Cute in places but nothing ever felt urgent and absolutely nothing in terms of the relationships was resolved at the end. Feels like I held a sneeze in - unsatisfying and slightly painful
August 28, 2025
An absolute page turner with all the kilig I needed. The sadder parts made the story even more interesting. So much love for this book!
March 10, 2017
A Story Every Fan Girl Wants
One of the dream jobs a kpop fan girl would want is to be her oppas road manager. Here we meet, Fi, East Genesis Project's road manager and her complicated life.
As a kpop fan girl, I have dreamt of being a cordi-noona or a road manager or whatever as long as I am close to them. In this story, I was able to live that dream. The kpop fandom situation was accurately depicted - Dispatch, dating scandals and of course, crazy fans.
The anti-bullying campaign in the story also got me. We need campaigns like this now, especially netizens are using the platforms they are in to terrorize people, regardless of they know them or not.
The story was really well written and was entertaining. Though I actually have problems in the end with determining who ends up with who. Hahaha Anyway, maybe I missed some parts or maybe that was written that way, will edit this if I'll have time to reread it.
Overall, it was an experience I'll never forget.
One of the dream jobs a kpop fan girl would want is to be her oppas road manager. Here we meet, Fi, East Genesis Project's road manager and her complicated life.
As a kpop fan girl, I have dreamt of being a cordi-noona or a road manager or whatever as long as I am close to them. In this story, I was able to live that dream. The kpop fandom situation was accurately depicted - Dispatch, dating scandals and of course, crazy fans.
The anti-bullying campaign in the story also got me. We need campaigns like this now, especially netizens are using the platforms they are in to terrorize people, regardless of they know them or not.
The story was really well written and was entertaining. Though I actually have problems in the end with determining who ends up with who. Hahaha Anyway, maybe I missed some parts or maybe that was written that way, will edit this if I'll have time to reread it.
Overall, it was an experience I'll never forget.
May 4, 2016
ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted at b i n i b i n i
If you're wondering why I read and reviewed something like this, like... you know---band stuff, music-related genre when I don't even know a single K-Pop band much less listen to any of their songs IRL, we'll you're not alone. Haha! I suprise myself sometimes, too. And you know what? This book isn't just a welcome one. It is freaking golden.
I haven't read anything from Tara Frejas yet but it seemed like Scandalized is all I've been waiting for.
Fi Legaspi is having the time of her life being the road manager of East Genesis Project. Straight out of college when she landed the job, hasn't been home for five years to make sure everything's going smoothly and nicely for her band. Until the two things she held dearly went out of hand all at once with just a scandal that turned out to be one hell of a rollercoaster ride: her job and her heart.
Scandalized is different in a way because our main character Fi isn't a member of the band, East Genesis Project. And the-MC-and-LI-belonging-to-one-same-band-and-falling-in-love-for-each-other-but-has-issues trope is kind of a hit or miss for me. Doesn't mean though that she doesn't have the hots for a band member because well, she does. And he doesn't know that because he's got his eyes trained on someone else so there goes the unrequited love that I seem to have a thing for in the books I read. (So. Weird.)
While I'm really not a K-Pop person or anything near that and I had trouble connecting with the story the first few pages, I recovered from it and can totally say that I enjoyed the flow of it. Tara just made everything so beautiful---from the narration to the characters' own personalities and voices, from the out-of-this-world fans (there's a harsh reality in that and it happens A LOT) to the crazy industry of music, from taking me places to the comforts of my home country and even down to the glossary---I was very impressed! And can I just say that I loooove the characters so much?
Personally, Fi gets my I-want-to-be-her-best-friend-IRL approval because of her strong attitude and loyalty to the band even when she's under the scrutiny of all people. She turned into this person who was suddenly so lost and just accepted anything thrown in her way without giving it a fight to this woman who knew how to work around her weaknesses and make it her starting point to somehow begin again. It's very easy to connect with her and I'm sure you'll love her as much as I do. Then there's Gabe who I wanted to keep for myself because he was like this guy who's just in the background but knew all the things to say, when to say it and when to act on it. Of course there's the three men of the band I never knew I'd love because of their concern for Fi. They grew so much because of that hit from the scandal but they got back up and became stronger than they were before. And OMG Haera, I hated her so much in the beginning but Tara made sure she got her covered as well so that left me hating no one in the book. I love that. Fi's mom, Diana, got a medal, too, for being the typical, caring Filipina mother. As for the other heartless temporary CEO, suck up dude.
While the book's not that romance-y at all, it still got the kilig feels that made up almost 30% of the plot. It gave me the warmth that I love in a story especially the scenes with Fi and Gabe and the adoration of the boys when they visited Fi at home when it's freaking flooding outside!
With that said (not too much romance), I guess I'm expecting more of our MC and (the-not-expected) LI to know more about them in the romance department. It's like Tara made me taste something good and then... nothing! Ugh! So I guess this is something she should really work on next.
But overall, I would say Scandalized was pretty amazing because of the near-poetic words and the story that held me captive and the hopeful, meaningful and strong message it delivered clearly that I wasn't expecting. Like I said---golden! Must-read!
Originally posted at b i n i b i n i
If you're wondering why I read and reviewed something like this, like... you know---band stuff, music-related genre when I don't even know a single K-Pop band much less listen to any of their songs IRL, we'll you're not alone. Haha! I suprise myself sometimes, too. And you know what? This book isn't just a welcome one. It is freaking golden.
I haven't read anything from Tara Frejas yet but it seemed like Scandalized is all I've been waiting for.
Fi Legaspi is having the time of her life being the road manager of East Genesis Project. Straight out of college when she landed the job, hasn't been home for five years to make sure everything's going smoothly and nicely for her band. Until the two things she held dearly went out of hand all at once with just a scandal that turned out to be one hell of a rollercoaster ride: her job and her heart.
Scandalized is different in a way because our main character Fi isn't a member of the band, East Genesis Project. And the-MC-and-LI-belonging-to-one-same-band-and-falling-in-love-for-each-other-but-has-issues trope is kind of a hit or miss for me. Doesn't mean though that she doesn't have the hots for a band member because well, she does. And he doesn't know that because he's got his eyes trained on someone else so there goes the unrequited love that I seem to have a thing for in the books I read. (So. Weird.)
While I'm really not a K-Pop person or anything near that and I had trouble connecting with the story the first few pages, I recovered from it and can totally say that I enjoyed the flow of it. Tara just made everything so beautiful---from the narration to the characters' own personalities and voices, from the out-of-this-world fans (there's a harsh reality in that and it happens A LOT) to the crazy industry of music, from taking me places to the comforts of my home country and even down to the glossary---I was very impressed! And can I just say that I loooove the characters so much?
Personally, Fi gets my I-want-to-be-her-best-friend-IRL approval because of her strong attitude and loyalty to the band even when she's under the scrutiny of all people. She turned into this person who was suddenly so lost and just accepted anything thrown in her way without giving it a fight to this woman who knew how to work around her weaknesses and make it her starting point to somehow begin again. It's very easy to connect with her and I'm sure you'll love her as much as I do. Then there's Gabe who I wanted to keep for myself because he was like this guy who's just in the background but knew all the things to say, when to say it and when to act on it. Of course there's the three men of the band I never knew I'd love because of their concern for Fi. They grew so much because of that hit from the scandal but they got back up and became stronger than they were before. And OMG Haera, I hated her so much in the beginning but Tara made sure she got her covered as well so that left me hating no one in the book. I love that. Fi's mom, Diana, got a medal, too, for being the typical, caring Filipina mother. As for the other heartless temporary CEO, suck up dude.
While the book's not that romance-y at all, it still got the kilig feels that made up almost 30% of the plot. It gave me the warmth that I love in a story especially the scenes with Fi and Gabe and the adoration of the boys when they visited Fi at home when it's freaking flooding outside!
With that said (not too much romance), I guess I'm expecting more of our MC and (the-not-expected) LI to know more about them in the romance department. It's like Tara made me taste something good and then... nothing! Ugh! So I guess this is something she should really work on next.
But overall, I would say Scandalized was pretty amazing because of the near-poetic words and the story that held me captive and the hopeful, meaningful and strong message it delivered clearly that I wasn't expecting. Like I said---golden! Must-read!
April 22, 2017
I'm in sheer awe with Tara's talent as a writer. She is as daebak as Scandalized.
For the full review on my blog: https://mielsalva.wordpress.com/
For the full review on my blog: https://mielsalva.wordpress.com/
May 25, 2016
Disclaimer: I did some light proofreading of this novel. However, I had no input on the story and this did not affect my opinion of the book; neither did the fact that I received an advance reader copy for this review, which was originally posted on book blog Will Read for Feels.
When I learned that this book was inspired by Korean pop (KPop) music, I jumped at the chance to feature and review it. I’ll admit that at first, the present-tense, third-person point of view style the author used was a little disorienting for me, but eventually I got into it and was free to swoon and sigh over all the feels in this book! If you’re a fan of K-dramas or K-novellas, you’ll be sure to enjoy Scandalized.
At the center of the story is Filipina “Fi” Legaspi, who acts as road manager and mother hen to up-and-coming Korean pop-rock band East Genesis Project. You see immediately she’s got just the right amount of warmth and discipline to keep them cared for yet on their toes. We also meet dreamy Jo Yihwan, the band leader and guitarist, who has been Fi’s crush for ages, as well as the other members of the band and a few more support staff from their record company, Amethyst Entertainment—including yummy US transplant and PR specialist Gabriel Park.
Fi and all the other supporting characters find themselves tested and then some when scandal explodes courtesy of a night involving too much booze, misread situations, ill-timed photos and a rabid fan base that turns vicious very quickly. The author takes us from Korea to Manila and back again, all the while weaving a tale of nameless bullies, love triangle tensions, and a woman’s struggle to rise a stronger person when it seems most of the world is trying to beat her down.
All of this is told in very typical K-novella style. The author immerses you in the world of KPop fandoms, and while you get to see the fun aspects and understand why fans are so devoted to their idols, you also see the very vicious and mercurial side of it. Perhaps because the author is a KPop fangirl herself, you’ll find yourself invested in the characters and the scenarios that play out, but her skill and insight shine through in the way the characters deal with the nastiness that’s thrown their way and still manage to take the moral high ground without sounding too preachy.
What’s very distinctive about the story is that it feels entirely plausible, and the emotional investment in characters who seemed pretty typical or tropish initially but turned out to have multiple facets and unplumbed depths is what kept me turning pages.
If you ask me if this is a great novel for KPop fans, especially Filipino ones, to read, I’ll say yes, but that’s not all. If you ask me if it’s perfect for anyone who’s ever crushed on a pop or rock star, I’ll say yes, but that’s not all either. If anyone’s ever been bullied or been a bully, this is a story for you too. It’s just a great novel all around, and while a familiarity with Korean culture and entertainment will certainly go a long way toward your enjoyment of the book, at its heart this is a story about a person overcoming the pain the world throws at her with a little help from her friends. And that’s a win in my book.
When I learned that this book was inspired by Korean pop (KPop) music, I jumped at the chance to feature and review it. I’ll admit that at first, the present-tense, third-person point of view style the author used was a little disorienting for me, but eventually I got into it and was free to swoon and sigh over all the feels in this book! If you’re a fan of K-dramas or K-novellas, you’ll be sure to enjoy Scandalized.
At the center of the story is Filipina “Fi” Legaspi, who acts as road manager and mother hen to up-and-coming Korean pop-rock band East Genesis Project. You see immediately she’s got just the right amount of warmth and discipline to keep them cared for yet on their toes. We also meet dreamy Jo Yihwan, the band leader and guitarist, who has been Fi’s crush for ages, as well as the other members of the band and a few more support staff from their record company, Amethyst Entertainment—including yummy US transplant and PR specialist Gabriel Park.
Fi and all the other supporting characters find themselves tested and then some when scandal explodes courtesy of a night involving too much booze, misread situations, ill-timed photos and a rabid fan base that turns vicious very quickly. The author takes us from Korea to Manila and back again, all the while weaving a tale of nameless bullies, love triangle tensions, and a woman’s struggle to rise a stronger person when it seems most of the world is trying to beat her down.
All of this is told in very typical K-novella style. The author immerses you in the world of KPop fandoms, and while you get to see the fun aspects and understand why fans are so devoted to their idols, you also see the very vicious and mercurial side of it. Perhaps because the author is a KPop fangirl herself, you’ll find yourself invested in the characters and the scenarios that play out, but her skill and insight shine through in the way the characters deal with the nastiness that’s thrown their way and still manage to take the moral high ground without sounding too preachy.
What’s very distinctive about the story is that it feels entirely plausible, and the emotional investment in characters who seemed pretty typical or tropish initially but turned out to have multiple facets and unplumbed depths is what kept me turning pages.
If you ask me if this is a great novel for KPop fans, especially Filipino ones, to read, I’ll say yes, but that’s not all. If you ask me if it’s perfect for anyone who’s ever crushed on a pop or rock star, I’ll say yes, but that’s not all either. If anyone’s ever been bullied or been a bully, this is a story for you too. It’s just a great novel all around, and while a familiarity with Korean culture and entertainment will certainly go a long way toward your enjoyment of the book, at its heart this is a story about a person overcoming the pain the world throws at her with a little help from her friends. And that’s a win in my book.
Read
April 28, 2023* Also posted on It's Time, Ana
I am not a K-Pop person. I tried, a few years ago, but I just couldn't get into it. It was, essentially the same with all things Korean for me. I watch K-dramas when I get into it, sometimes watch the movies, but I'm not into it as my other friends were. (I suppose that if/when I get to South Korea, this will all change, like how I sort of got into a lot of Japanese stuff after I visited Japan. But that's for another thing.) So even if I did join Tara's 소리질러 (Make Some Noise!) Week for Scandal ized, I still wasn't sure if I would be able to immerse in it. Granted, there was a band, and I love bands in fiction, but the entire K-Pop thing intimidated me in a way.
But really, I shouldn't have worried because reading Scandal ized was a breeze. I loved Tara's other books, so I sort of knew what to expect with her writing, and her newest one didn't disappoint in that area. I loved how real everything felt on the first few pages, and even if I wasn't into the culture, I could clearly imagine Fi and East Genesis Project, and the Amethyst office and Gabriel like they were fully formed characters who decided to settle in my head. There was a certain kind of sincerity in the pages of this book that would capture even a non-K-Pop fan like me.
I loved, loved, loved Fi. Her spirit, her loyalty, and how she handled everything in the novel. And I equally loved Gabriel, too, because he seemed more accessible than the other guy, and because of the peg (Hi, Daniel Henney *swoon*). It was a pleasure reading their scenes together in Manila, and Tara captured the usual touristy stuff that people do when they visit. It took me a while before I got to familiarize myself with the names of the two band members other than Yihwan, but after I got that, I fell in love with Song Minchan. *pinches cheeks* :P I think I must also note that the East Genesis Project website is gold - not just literally! Talk about providing a fuller experience for the readers. :)
Overall, I had a great time reading Scandal ized, despite my non-relation to the K-Pop fandom. There were many nuggets of wisdom in the book that could apply in real life, and the book left me with a lot of good vibes when I was done reading. And since this is a series, I think we can look forward to reading more of Fi, Gabe, and the band - yay! I think this can count as my dose of K-Pop? :)
I am not a K-Pop person. I tried, a few years ago, but I just couldn't get into it. It was, essentially the same with all things Korean for me. I watch K-dramas when I get into it, sometimes watch the movies, but I'm not into it as my other friends were. (I suppose that if/when I get to South Korea, this will all change, like how I sort of got into a lot of Japanese stuff after I visited Japan. But that's for another thing.) So even if I did join Tara's 소리질러 (Make Some Noise!) Week for Scandal ized, I still wasn't sure if I would be able to immerse in it. Granted, there was a band, and I love bands in fiction, but the entire K-Pop thing intimidated me in a way.
But really, I shouldn't have worried because reading Scandal ized was a breeze. I loved Tara's other books, so I sort of knew what to expect with her writing, and her newest one didn't disappoint in that area. I loved how real everything felt on the first few pages, and even if I wasn't into the culture, I could clearly imagine Fi and East Genesis Project, and the Amethyst office and Gabriel like they were fully formed characters who decided to settle in my head. There was a certain kind of sincerity in the pages of this book that would capture even a non-K-Pop fan like me.
I loved, loved, loved Fi. Her spirit, her loyalty, and how she handled everything in the novel. And I equally loved Gabriel, too, because he seemed more accessible than the other guy, and because of the peg (Hi, Daniel Henney *swoon*). It was a pleasure reading their scenes together in Manila, and Tara captured the usual touristy stuff that people do when they visit. It took me a while before I got to familiarize myself with the names of the two band members other than Yihwan, but after I got that, I fell in love with Song Minchan. *pinches cheeks* :P I think I must also note that the East Genesis Project website is gold - not just literally! Talk about providing a fuller experience for the readers. :)
Overall, I had a great time reading Scandal ized, despite my non-relation to the K-Pop fandom. There were many nuggets of wisdom in the book that could apply in real life, and the book left me with a lot of good vibes when I was done reading. And since this is a series, I think we can look forward to reading more of Fi, Gabe, and the band - yay! I think this can count as my dose of K-Pop? :)
You carry a truth in you. Feel free to burden everyone with it.
December 20, 2020
I reserved my copy from Tara herself and got it at MIBF last September. Why I waited this long to finally read it is not a very good decision because I thoroughly enjoyed it even though my only association with K-pop is Super Junior’s Sorry Sorry and 2NE1’s Fire. LOL.
Then again, this book came from the same author of my all-time favourite, Paper Planes Back Home, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that I liked this so much!
I loved Fi a lot. Her loyalty, determination, her giving her whole heart for something that started just as a job but she then turned into family is amazing. I worked abroad for a while so I was gladly familiar with some of the things that Fi went through and the writing did it justice. I’m happy that she hadn’t lost her love for the Philippines and for her family. Fi’s mother is a notable side character and somehow, she embodies everyone’s mom when there are visitors in the house! I love it!
I also loved that the romance isn’t the type of overrot sweetness I often associate with K-dramas (I am so unfamiliar with S. Korean influences I’m so sorry!) and instead it presents a romance that while still sweet and swoon-worthy, it is more realistic and achievable. I don’t want to blurt out a lot and spoil everyone but I am 100% happy with the guy Fi ended up with. *mas crush ko sya kesa dun sa isa* ehe.
The Korean names and words kinda threw me off a little, but that added more cultural depth and authenticity to the story. It showed Tara’s mad research skills and she was so dedicated with this book that I remember EG Project had a website, merch and actual songs. The only thing missing is EG Project IRL. Haha.
What I can say I adore the most in this book is it went beyond the premise of romance and K-popstar kiligs and actually addressed a social problem that is old but have gotten worse with the anonymity of internet technology: bullying. The comments section is always a war zone these days. It’s easier to be reckless in what you say if you’re not there to actually say it, after all. And I will admit that sometimes, even I unwittingly become part of the bullies just by saying something I haven’t thought through. This book made me realize that. A comment as simple as “I hate her face.” seems harmless enough but we never really know the extent of that hate. Thank you, Tara, for the subtle reminder me not to be careless in giving online comments that will definitely bite me back in the ass one day. Also for reminding me that I AM GOLDEN, for times when I’m on the other side of the fence.
4 of 5 Stars. It’s a fun, light read that have surpassed my expectations! I highly recommend this.
*This review also appears on my blog: bentchcreates.tumblr.com
Then again, this book came from the same author of my all-time favourite, Paper Planes Back Home, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that I liked this so much!
I loved Fi a lot. Her loyalty, determination, her giving her whole heart for something that started just as a job but she then turned into family is amazing. I worked abroad for a while so I was gladly familiar with some of the things that Fi went through and the writing did it justice. I’m happy that she hadn’t lost her love for the Philippines and for her family. Fi’s mother is a notable side character and somehow, she embodies everyone’s mom when there are visitors in the house! I love it!
I also loved that the romance isn’t the type of overrot sweetness I often associate with K-dramas (I am so unfamiliar with S. Korean influences I’m so sorry!) and instead it presents a romance that while still sweet and swoon-worthy, it is more realistic and achievable. I don’t want to blurt out a lot and spoil everyone but I am 100% happy with the guy Fi ended up with. *mas crush ko sya kesa dun sa isa* ehe.
The Korean names and words kinda threw me off a little, but that added more cultural depth and authenticity to the story. It showed Tara’s mad research skills and she was so dedicated with this book that I remember EG Project had a website, merch and actual songs. The only thing missing is EG Project IRL. Haha.
What I can say I adore the most in this book is it went beyond the premise of romance and K-popstar kiligs and actually addressed a social problem that is old but have gotten worse with the anonymity of internet technology: bullying. The comments section is always a war zone these days. It’s easier to be reckless in what you say if you’re not there to actually say it, after all. And I will admit that sometimes, even I unwittingly become part of the bullies just by saying something I haven’t thought through. This book made me realize that. A comment as simple as “I hate her face.” seems harmless enough but we never really know the extent of that hate. Thank you, Tara, for the subtle reminder me not to be careless in giving online comments that will definitely bite me back in the ass one day. Also for reminding me that I AM GOLDEN, for times when I’m on the other side of the fence.
4 of 5 Stars. It’s a fun, light read that have surpassed my expectations! I highly recommend this.
*This review also appears on my blog: bentchcreates.tumblr.com
May 4, 2016
Previously posted in my blog: Brain Tabs
I was mindlessly scrolling my Twitter feed when I saw Tara's tweet about signing-up for an ARC of Scandalized. It was a product of #SparkNA, a writing class I also joined last year. I signed up last Saturday and in that same day, I received the ARC kit in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't able to start reading it right away, because you know "real life", but as soon as I did, I wasn't able to put it down.
So how do I love this? Let me count the ways!
1. I never liked Kpop, but I used to be addicted to KDrama. Reading Scandalized was like watching one. Complete with a love triangle with a brooding guy and another guy who really really likes the main character. Only here, I get to choose who gets to be in cast and it all plays out on my mind.
2. Speaking of cast, I don't know if it's because Tara kept on tweeting about Daniel Henney, but in my mind, he is Gabriel. I had a super crush on Daniel Henney when I first saw him at My Name is Kim Sam Soon.
3. I laughed at all the references to Mean Girls.
4. I liked Fi and her resilience. I liked that she was not desperate to jump into a relationship with someone whom she had pined for for so long. I loved her dedication to her job - even if it was mostly a thankless one. I'm like her friend who wants to berate her for being too selfless, for looking after other people's welfare first. But also so proud of her at the same time.
5. I got kilig with Gabriel and all the banter with Fi. But more than that, I loved how Tara sent an incredibly important message without being too preachy. We all have our opinions about celebrities and other people. We all have unkind thoughts. (what? you don't? sue me. haha.) But it's one thing to have them and another to act on them or voice them out. I always see hateful messages on celebrities' instagram accounts and all I can do is shake my head. I also see this a lot right now on Facebook, people calling each other names when others do not share the same thoughts on their chosen presidentiables. Saying hateful things is and will never be cool and this message was sent out loud and clear by this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I hope this book gets to many people's hands. Especially young ones who are more likely to say hateful messages online or even in person. If you would like to read this, Scandalized is now available on Amazon!
In Ellen Degeneres fashion, I'd like to end this post with this: Be Kind To One Another.
I was mindlessly scrolling my Twitter feed when I saw Tara's tweet about signing-up for an ARC of Scandalized. It was a product of #SparkNA, a writing class I also joined last year. I signed up last Saturday and in that same day, I received the ARC kit in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't able to start reading it right away, because you know "real life", but as soon as I did, I wasn't able to put it down.
So how do I love this? Let me count the ways!
1. I never liked Kpop, but I used to be addicted to KDrama. Reading Scandalized was like watching one. Complete with a love triangle with a brooding guy and another guy who really really likes the main character. Only here, I get to choose who gets to be in cast and it all plays out on my mind.
2. Speaking of cast, I don't know if it's because Tara kept on tweeting about Daniel Henney, but in my mind, he is Gabriel. I had a super crush on Daniel Henney when I first saw him at My Name is Kim Sam Soon.
3. I laughed at all the references to Mean Girls.
4. I liked Fi and her resilience. I liked that she was not desperate to jump into a relationship with someone whom she had pined for for so long. I loved her dedication to her job - even if it was mostly a thankless one. I'm like her friend who wants to berate her for being too selfless, for looking after other people's welfare first. But also so proud of her at the same time.
5. I got kilig with Gabriel and all the banter with Fi. But more than that, I loved how Tara sent an incredibly important message without being too preachy. We all have our opinions about celebrities and other people. We all have unkind thoughts. (what? you don't? sue me. haha.) But it's one thing to have them and another to act on them or voice them out. I always see hateful messages on celebrities' instagram accounts and all I can do is shake my head. I also see this a lot right now on Facebook, people calling each other names when others do not share the same thoughts on their chosen presidentiables. Saying hateful things is and will never be cool and this message was sent out loud and clear by this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I hope this book gets to many people's hands. Especially young ones who are more likely to say hateful messages online or even in person. If you would like to read this, Scandalized is now available on Amazon!
In Ellen Degeneres fashion, I'd like to end this post with this: Be Kind To One Another.
October 5, 2016
I wasn't really expecting to like it as much as I did to be completely honest. I'm not much of a KPop fan so I was thinking I wouldn't be able to relate and I'd get lost in all the jargon. I tried getting into KPop years ago but it just wasn't my thing. However, despite all that, I was still able to enjoy Scandalized immensely. You don't need to be a fan girl to appreciate the entirety of the story.
The thing about me is... I love the celebrity trope or whatever you call it. I like books that give you a glimpse of how celebrities/personalities live. They might not be as accurate as possible, but it's simply one of those tropes that excites me. (Hey, we all need to get away every now and then, amirite?) Scandalized was no exception.
The story starts off rather slow with character introductions and plot setting. I only got into it about 4 or 5 chapters in and by then I was already fully immersed in the world that Tara Frejas created. The characters just seemed crawl into my heart ever so subtly that I didn't even notice when I started caring about what happens to them and how they handle the shit storm of drama. Perhaps it was the way the characters were written — they all felt relatable. The minor characters, the love interest, even the band members with their antics all throughout the book. What I liked most though was the way the protagonist was written. Fi is strong and independent but she also had moments of genuine vulnerability. Really, it wasn't that hard to like her because she felt real. Heck, all of them did! I think having that good mix of characters helped bring that realism to the story full of fantasy.
This is why at the end of the book, I felt like I was leaving people I actually knew. Have you ever encountered that? Like, upon closing the book, you start wondering what happens to them after? Whenever I feel like this, I just know that it's a book that I need to share to other people. It's a book that I enjoyed as a whole and not just because of the feels — which by the way is completely lacking! That may be my only complaint. I got a glimpse of romance between Fi and Gabriel but it didn't go beyond that cutesy phase. But I guess I can let it slide. After all the story is so much more than love, at least the romantic kind.
Other than that, I say, GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY. Let the characters woo you and take you on for quite a ride ;-)
The thing about me is... I love the celebrity trope or whatever you call it. I like books that give you a glimpse of how celebrities/personalities live. They might not be as accurate as possible, but it's simply one of those tropes that excites me. (Hey, we all need to get away every now and then, amirite?) Scandalized was no exception.
The story starts off rather slow with character introductions and plot setting. I only got into it about 4 or 5 chapters in and by then I was already fully immersed in the world that Tara Frejas created. The characters just seemed crawl into my heart ever so subtly that I didn't even notice when I started caring about what happens to them and how they handle the shit storm of drama. Perhaps it was the way the characters were written — they all felt relatable. The minor characters, the love interest, even the band members with their antics all throughout the book. What I liked most though was the way the protagonist was written. Fi is strong and independent but she also had moments of genuine vulnerability. Really, it wasn't that hard to like her because she felt real. Heck, all of them did! I think having that good mix of characters helped bring that realism to the story full of fantasy.
This is why at the end of the book, I felt like I was leaving people I actually knew. Have you ever encountered that? Like, upon closing the book, you start wondering what happens to them after? Whenever I feel like this, I just know that it's a book that I need to share to other people. It's a book that I enjoyed as a whole and not just because of the feels — which by the way is completely lacking! That may be my only complaint. I got a glimpse of romance between Fi and Gabriel but it didn't go beyond that cutesy phase. But I guess I can let it slide. After all the story is so much more than love, at least the romantic kind.
Other than that, I say, GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY. Let the characters woo you and take you on for quite a ride ;-)
February 22, 2018
i finally met The EGP boys, Fi and Gabe. yayyyy.
First off I have to admit it took a lil while to get into the use of the third person omniscient style. At times the head hoping got a little confusing when one minute we have Fi's POV then next Yihwan's on the same page then another etc. I'v e read in this style before and sometimes it's a hit or miss for me. With this one it took a bit to get used to it but I did after awhile.
Second thing: I've heard of kpop but never knew the specific of it and never listened to the music or followed along with it at all so this was new for me. So I was intrigued to learn about this world of kpop. So while I enjoyed the characters , I liked the message portrayed here. About the seriousness of bullying and how while fandoms are great! there is a real toxic element to it too. Some fans are just so overzealous and believe they must be privy to every aspect of their idols/celebs lives.
I really felt for Fi, when she got caught up in this scandal which was no fault of hers or Yihwan's. BUT Yihwan really pissed me off when he kissed Fi like that knowing full well there's so much scrutiny on them right now re: the supposed scandal. This moment was the jumping off point for another important issue: the trouble is caused by the man and yet the woman feels the consequences. As we see this manifested after someone snitched to Management about the kiss and made it seem like Fi was being inappropriate at work when that was so not the case. Of course the company isn't going to fire their big name client. But Fi being fired for something that was so not her fault? is such a real life situation faced by some women in the workplace.
So I loved the look at these important themes, along with the banter between the characters. Listen this wasn't as romance heavy as i expected but i adored every moment between Fi and Gabriel.
Also, the texts, emails, social media updates, message threads and fan comments added a great layer to this story, made the fandom experience authentic! Cuz sometimes the comments section on a post get out of control and wild and borders on downright nasty. So that added a realistic look to this. As even tho i'm not in the k-pop fandom, these things are pretty similar across fandoms in general, where die hard fans take it wayyyy too far, and get way out of control.
So to sum up: great look at some important themes. Fun banter between characters. Cute budding romance.
Really liked this one.
First off I have to admit it took a lil while to get into the use of the third person omniscient style. At times the head hoping got a little confusing when one minute we have Fi's POV then next Yihwan's on the same page then another etc. I'v e read in this style before and sometimes it's a hit or miss for me. With this one it took a bit to get used to it but I did after awhile.
Second thing: I've heard of kpop but never knew the specific of it and never listened to the music or followed along with it at all so this was new for me. So I was intrigued to learn about this world of kpop. So while I enjoyed the characters , I liked the message portrayed here. About the seriousness of bullying and how while fandoms are great! there is a real toxic element to it too. Some fans are just so overzealous and believe they must be privy to every aspect of their idols/celebs lives.
I really felt for Fi, when she got caught up in this scandal which was no fault of hers or Yihwan's. BUT Yihwan really pissed me off when he kissed Fi like that knowing full well there's so much scrutiny on them right now re: the supposed scandal. This moment was the jumping off point for another important issue: the trouble is caused by the man and yet the woman feels the consequences. As we see this manifested after someone snitched to Management about the kiss and made it seem like Fi was being inappropriate at work when that was so not the case. Of course the company isn't going to fire their big name client. But Fi being fired for something that was so not her fault? is such a real life situation faced by some women in the workplace.
So I loved the look at these important themes, along with the banter between the characters. Listen this wasn't as romance heavy as i expected but i adored every moment between Fi and Gabriel.
Also, the texts, emails, social media updates, message threads and fan comments added a great layer to this story, made the fandom experience authentic! Cuz sometimes the comments section on a post get out of control and wild and borders on downright nasty. So that added a realistic look to this. As even tho i'm not in the k-pop fandom, these things are pretty similar across fandoms in general, where die hard fans take it wayyyy too far, and get way out of control.
So to sum up: great look at some important themes. Fun banter between characters. Cute budding romance.
Really liked this one.
February 22, 2017
I absolutely love how Tara Frejas makes me fall in love with her male characters with just a few pages. Oh Gabriel <3 and to think I'm not really a fan of KPop, the story was able to keep me reeled in. I also love how she writes her female characters so thoughtfully.
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