Comeback

The NEON Series #1

by Lyn Ashwood, Rachel Rose

Emery Jung is living his dream. Known by his stage name M, he is loved by millions of fans around the world as a member of the rising K-pop group NEON, but all fame comes with a cost, especially when one slip up can have viral consequences.

Alana Kim is trying to forget. After a tragic loss sends her spiraling, she escapes to her family in Korea, abandoning her love of music along the way. However, her plans are derailed when she literally runs into M, the famous K-pop idol.

When their paths collide, Emery and Alana must work together to prevent a scandal from ruining NEON’s success, sparking a journey of friendship, love, and healing. Unfortunately, fame and love aren’t easily compatible, especially in the world of K-pop.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Music, Asian Literature, Fiction, Asia

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2019

About the author

Lyn likes to think of herself as an incorrigible wanderer—through cities, cultures, and stories. After acquiring her degrees, traveling from place to place, and eavesdropping on random strangers with her hard-won language skills, she finally made the somewhat irrational decision to move to Korea to work as a writer and editor, because apparently she didn’t get enough of that in grad school.

When not trapped in her own mindscape, Lyn can be found queuing for concerts, hunting down the best chocolate ice cream in Seoul, or hiding in her tiny apartment streaming music videos because it’s too “peopley” outside.

Reviews

[†Reviews of a FearStreetZombie† · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's the end!?

*forcefully tries to turn the page knowing there are no more pages*


Okay, but in all seriousness. This book was EVERYTHING and so much more! The moment I saw "K-pop Novel" I was sold! I mean come on, my two most favorite things in the whole world (Books and Kpop) combined into one? Hell yes!! I KNEW I had to read this as soon as possible.
Comeback is the perfect book for those who are curious about Kpop and also for hardcore-hard stan-crackhead fans. (haha)

대박!!! I had to force myself to stop reading this book so many times. I wanted to never put it down, it was so mind-blowing-amazingly written! .... Unlike my review right now because I am so scatter brained. Haha! This book has left me JUNGshook! Lol


There is so much I want to say about this book but my brain is like "헐" (heol)!!
The glimpse we get to see into the Kpop world here is so amazing and REAL! I was honestly worried this book would lack something somewhere, but there was NOTHING lacking at all about this book. If you looked up "perfection" in the dictionary, I'm pretty sure you would find this book.
It captured the world of Kpop so beautifully and transported you right into the madness. Lol

You can't read this book and not manage to fall in love with every single character.... all except three maybe. Ugh they are all just satan rolled out into three people. Lol. But even they were written incredibly!

If you haven't read this book (whether you are into kpop or not) you really need to read this book.
The story line is so powerful that you can't help but to laugh when they laugh, hurt when they hurt, and cry when they cry. I don't know many books that can make you feel this way, so when I say this, I mean it with all my heart and soul. Best bet I'm going to be asking everyone if they have read this book.


But it will be "You know Comeback?" Hahah!

Also, can I please give this book more than 5 stars? It deserves more stars than there are in the sky!

Side note, those who have read this, who is your bias and wreaker? 😏😏
My bias is definitely Stu. Though M is wreaker.

[aimee (aimeecanread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether or not you're interested in K-pop, I can assure you that Comeback will still tug at your heartstrings and pique your interests! If you're a sucker for sweet romances and are curious about Asian culture, do yourself a favor and pick this book up.

I'll admit, I'm pretty picky when it comes to reading self-published novels, so I tried to lower my expectations when I got into this... But believe me, I really didn't have to! I've come up with a list of what I wanted to see in Comeback, and I'll tell you whether or not this beautiful book delivered.

🎤 Wholesome leads with interesting backstories?
Comeback is told from two alternating perspectives: from K-pop artist Emery Jung's, and music lover Alana Kim's, both of whom I appreciated a lot.

Emery, especially, became a quick favorite for me. He's charming towards everyone, driven towards his goals, and passionate towards his music. He's funny and sweet, but more than that, he's just your regular boy-next-door, doing everything he can to be the best that he can be.

Alana was a more closed-off, quiet lead, which is totally understandable given how much this character has gone through. She's hard-working, soft, and extremely considerate, even to the people who don't deserve her kindness. She grows a lot in the novel, and I'm so happy that she eventually realizes that she has to think of herself sometimes, too.

🎤 Intriguing side characters who actually help the MCs grow?
Ashwood and Rose gave us a fantastic cast of characters, and while the Korean names made it harder for me to remember people, I eventually got the hang of it and loved all the secondary characters as well.

Emery's support system consists of the rest of his boy group's members--Yongnam, the caring older-brother-figure; Jaehyun, the confident sort-of asshole; Stu, the supportive best friend; and Sungil, the adorable group baby. Emery didn't always have the best relationships with them throughout the book. But somehow, they all helped him love and accept himself, which was just absolutely beautiful.

"It's time to stop playing the martyr."

Alana had her amazing cousin, Stephanie, who was sassy and persistent. Stephanie always gave the best advice, and was always ready to step up to anyone who tried to put Alana down. The sisterhood they shared was just amazing.

🎤 An adorable romance--with some depth?
I already mentioned how Emery's such a sweetheart, yeah? Him trying his best to get close to Alana was just cute as fuck. Their awkward encounters and entertaining text exchanges just made me want to squeal into a pillow!

Of course, their relationship wasn't always great. Both the main characters had their own shit to deal with, and weren't always in the best state to be in a relationship. I don't want to spoil anything here, so just read it and you'll understand what I'm trying to say. But the romance was fabulous, and I was totally on board for it.

🎤 Realistic, honest family dynamics?
Yes, Asian families are scary. They're intense, and sometimes they make you want to give the fuck up. I love how Comeback didn't shy away from that. Emery's parents never wanted him to give up a "better future" for his music career. (This is something I know a lot of Asian kids can relate to!) Sometimes it's no one other than your family that's trying to bring you down, and I think Ashwood and Rose did a great job showing that this is actually a reality that a lot of Asian kids go through.

Luckily he had his boys, and this just proves that blood isn't always thicker than water. Sometimes you need to surround yourself with people that will support you, rather than tear you apart.

🎤 Loooots of K-artist culture?
Well, I wouldn't say lots, but we're presented with enough to get a gist of how much Korean celebrities have to go through to really shine and get to where they want to be. It isn't all glamor and glory. This book did a lot for awareness--awareness of how our idols are people like us, too, and have to go through so much crap and hard work, and how all of that can sometimes take a toll on them. Being famous isn't all sunshine and rainbows!

THE VERDICT
While the pacing wasn't too great, and there was a lot of telling rather than showing, I can guarantee you that you're going to appreciate the fuck out of Comeback. Whether you're an Asian who wants to see some realistic representation, or a hopeless romantic who wants to see something sweet, or just your regular book lover who wants to read a well-crafted story, Comeback is a great read to get your hands on. You won't regret it--get your copy right here.

[Miranda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wide-eyed and pale, she looked at Emery as if he were a ghost, but she was the ghost - an apparition from Emery's past.

Emery "M" Jung is one of five members of the insanely popular K-pop band, NEON.

It still didn't feel real to Emery, that NEON was actually popular.

Everyone thinks that he should be beyond excited...well...everyone but his parents.

"You've made your point, and we've let this music phase go on, but you're twenty years old now. When are you going to stop playing around?"

But that aside, he's on top of the world...until he meets Alana "A" Kim - a girl he's only seen once before but left a searing memory on his heart.

She used to be the absolutely BIGGEST NEON FAN but when Emery meets up with her again, it's like he doesn't exist.

It was truly ironic. Her former self would have died of happiness, but now all she felt was dread.

Despite himself, Emery can't get her out of his head. And she's the same (though she won't admit it).

But the world of K-pop is wild and untamed - the fans are ravenous and the demands of the band - all-consuming.

These young lovers are about to realize that it takes far more than love to have a relationship in the K-pop world.

Overall - I enjoyed this book.

It was light and fluffy in just the right ways (and honestly, who doesn't want that kind of book every once in a while)?

As someone who is not overly familiar with the K-pop world, I was able to catch on fairly quickly to the terms/general lifestyle.

And I think the characters were fairly well done and fleshed out. I rather liked Emery and Alana as a couple - they fit naturally and their banter flowed quite well.

Emery's parents seemed a bit out of touch (which is how they were supposed to be) but to the point where it didn't quite make sense. (I.e. the kid was making tons of money, but all they could focus on is how irresponsible and under-prepared he was.).

And the book had a few cliches happen with the two lovers (i.e. working to the point of exhaustion and being carried out but the guy you had a crush on...etc). It didn't completely throw me out of the book, but it did make me pause every time.

All in all, I did rather enjoy this one. It was a fun read!

With thanks to the authors for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

All quotes come from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon publication

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[April (Aprilius Maximus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Since their debut three years ago, NEON’s music had been the soundtrack to her life. She had lived and breathed their songs, each one bringing back distinct memories from the time of their release.”

representation: Korean/American MC’s, Canadian/Taiwanese side character, Korean/Australian side character, anxiety (panic attacks), grief.

[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]

★★★★

okay prepare for some chaotic (non-spoilery) thoughts i wrote down while reading:

- discussion on gender stereotypes, sexism, abusive (strict, traditional) parents - we love to see it!
- why does the aussie character have to use the word ‘mate’ in every single sentence…. that’s not how australian people actually talk
- THERE IS A CHARACTER CALLED JAEHYUN. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. WILL I SURVIVE THIS BOOK? TO BE CONTINUED...
- this is getting me all up in my kpop loving feels “Since their debut three years ago, NEON’s music had been the soundtrack to her life. She had lived and breathed their songs, each one bringing back distinct memories from the time of their release.” omgggg me with bts and nct
- love the little nods to bts (beach? Bitch? Beach? And the whole injury/having to sit on a stool throughout the concerts is totally jungkook from bts lol)
- omg the scene with the umbrella in the rain???? SUCH A KDRAMA SCENE I COULD PICTURE IT SO CLEARLY IN MY HEAD OMG
- this truly puts our thoughts as kpop lovers onto the page “Your fame may cage you, but it also gives you power to make real change. Your lyrics inspire people every day to overcome their fears, to push through their pain, to dream, because there’s hope waiting on the other side. That’s why your fans love you. Not because of your perfect image, but because of the humanity of your message.” FEELZ
- I was worried that the main female MC was going to be white and that this book was going to be fetishy, but even though the authors aren’t korean, I’m glad they chose to have the main female character be Korean. It seemed quite authentic and I thought the characters were really well written!
- I read this at the perfect time when BTS put on their bangbangcon and I was watching my fave concert of theirs (HYYH: Epilogue) and they were doing the epilogue where they all talk to armys and cry and taehyung was crying and in the book they were literally doing the exact same thing. Emery was crying onstage too! UWU
- the bond between the boys legit had me tearing up.
- I also love how the authors weren’t afraid to give their male characters emotions. Like, helloooooo, boys cry too!!!!
- I don’t know why, but Stu really reminds me of Mark (from nct)
- okay, i really enjoyed this and thought it was really well written and really fun while also having a darker tone throughout a lot of the book, but the ending was so abrupt and i wanted more!!!

trigger warnings: dieting, shitty parents, sexism and gender stereotyping, loss of loved one from suicide (flashback shown), grief, panic attacks, car accident, surgery.

Thank you so much to the authors for sending me a review copy!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that is relevant for anyone who has had a crush on a celebrity. For anyone who has daydreamed that one day, just one day, they would meet their idol and it would be love at first sight. It is a reminder of innocence and youth, and the Korean setting added a new flavour to a typical romance story.

Initially, I had trouble getting involved in the story and I think it was because I struggled to connect with the characters. The narrative perspective shifts between Alana and Emery in alternate chapters but, it was the supporting cast that I had difficulty keeping tabs on. I think the unusual names befuddled my brain and it took me a while to adjust. Despite this, once the story was progressing, I felt like I understood Alana’s dilemma and Emery’s internal conflict.

The Korean setting definitely made this story more interesting and enjoyable. On the surface, this is a cutesy story about young, forbidden love. Alana restrains herself from getting close to Emery because of personal issues, whereas Emery has his pop image and band to consider. As external factors throw the couple together, they realise that they need to acknowledge their true relationship.

I have very little knowledge or understanding of K-Pop and I found the terminology and different culture rather interesting. I could not help but compare it to my own pop obsession when I was younger and found there were plenty of similarities – thereby broadening the appeal of what might seem a rather niche novel. Still, it was fascinating to see how NEON’s fan-base worked and to get a glimpse of behind-the-scenes of being in a famous pop group.

Without the different setting, I think this would have been a very “middle of the road” story. Instead, I felt more interested in the characters and their surroundings. Reading it felt like a guilty pleasure and I can see this appealing to many young readers – most likely female ones. It is not complicated to read and once you have adjusted to the unusual names, the story moves quite quickly. The writers have also helpfully provided a glossary at the closing of the novel so not only do you understand the Korean words, but learn a little bit at the same time!

It is suggested that this might be the start of the series; if this is the case, I will be interested to see what happens to Emery and Alana next. It is an innocent story that shows the importance of love and family, with the pink gloss of a famous pop band.

I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Hristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know those books, that despite whatever imperfections they might have, they manage to transfer you in the story and make you feel like you’re part of it?

Comeback is exactly that.
The writing flows just beautifully, despite it being in two POVs. Speaking of the POVs they felt separate and didn’t blend in which I know is hard to pull of. I thought the characters were very well developed, each of them so distinguished from the others but in harmony with them too. I really enjoyed the friendships and relationships that were set, the interactions seemed organic, and so did the dialogue.
I liked the pacing. It didn’t feel rushed, and it didn’t fell slow either. The story was engrossing, and despite how alien the setting might be, it somehow felt close. I have to admit that it was a bit more angsty than I thought it would be, but it was a nice and welcomed surprise, as it added to the dynamic ever present in the book.
It was enjoyable and fun. It was hard to put it down.
Whether you’re an enthusiast, someone who enjoys it from afar like me, or the biggest Kpop fan, there’s something for you in this book. If you like fluffy YA romance, angsty YA romance, or YA stories about friendship, this book is for you.

*Rating: 5/5 stars

A huge thanks to the authors who sent me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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[Lunabookaddict · Rating 2 out of 5]

Une histoire sympathique avec un personnage Emery vraiment attachant. Je n’ai pas eu de connexion avec Alana, mais genre vraiment pas beaucoup. Après, je ne vais pas mentir que ça reste une histoire qui fait très wattpad story, mais pas désagréable.
J’ai beaucoup aimé les liens entre les membres du groupes et c’est une partie qui m’a beaucoup touchés. On fait vraiment fasse à pleins de sujets malgré que le livre soit très court : la vie d’idole, la famille, les amours, les membres du groupe, les conflits, l’agence. En bref pour un livre de 300 pages cela reste une histoire agréable pour les fan de kpop.

Je mets quand même un trigger warning pour moi. Je ne m’attendais pas vraiment à avoir un souvenir sur un suicide d’un artiste dans ce bouquin. Ça m’a fait remémorer des choses pas trop cool de mon côté. C’est vraiment ce côté qui m’a un peu gâché le côté lecture soft

[jenoodle✮⋆˙ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh. Just sigh. 😮‍💨

This book has SO much potential, I mean SO much. Yet the author failed to capture that essence for me. 😫

This book has taken me almost exactly a WHOLE month to read. Either that’s because of how extremely boring this was or because it was written in third person.

Or maybe it was because of the confusing storyline at the start 😬

I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to DNF this book but pulled through for the sake of not giving up 😣

Usually I would write a whole summary of the characters and storylines in my reviews but I just don’t think this book was worth it because of how bored I was reading it…💀 I can see the potential the author had but it just wasn’t written well, I couldn’t get as emotionally attached to their characters and their backstories with how it was written.

Also can we talk about how LONG the chapters are?!? This definitely made it extremely hard to keep up with the book and want to read it, so it was basically rotting on my kindle. 😭😭😭

While there was definitely some sad scenes, I just found that Alana (the main girl character) was kinda annoying and maybe a little bit dramatic. Maybe I’m being mean but I just got annoyed with her so much 💀

To be honest I don’t recommend this book at all and am barely even bothering to put effort into this review because of how BORED I was 😫😫😫 Go read XOXO instead if your looking for something similar but better written.

[Kate♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5stars

*Sent to me by the authors but all thoughts are my own!!*

This was such a fun book. I knew I wanted to give it a shot when the authors emailed me and told me about this YA romance revolving around the Kpop industry. I’m not gonna lie I was a bit hesitant because a lot of books like this can feel like wattpad y/n fanfics and be a bit cringed - but this one was adorable and very well written!!

The authors very obviously really know the industry and created a really great story around it. The characters were complex with interesting backgrounds, but also I definitely put certain idols into them lol (you cant tell me M isn’t Mark Lee sorry).

My only problem with this was I didn’t LOVE the main character, but besides that this made me swoon and giggle at all the Kpop stuff while also telling a really interesting romance story!

Highly recommend for Kpop fans but also any YA romance fans!

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...


The Buzz

I LOVE supporting indie authors!! It's no easy thing to embark on editing, publishing, and marketing your new book on your own even if distribution can be handled through Amazon or another company. I really applaud Ashwood & Rose for making that decision.

As a result the cover isn't the best. I would have loved a stage setup with the crowd and big lights and a fancy font that fits the K-pop scene. However, Comeback doesn't have a bad cover at all! It's quite good for indie authors and I love that we get a sense of the boys hair colors in the graphic. Even small it looks professional and that is a big deal when you're scrolling through a list of books. I really love the title too. Comeback is quite specific to the K-pop scene and when I saw it I knew right off we were going to get some great background to the Korean music industry.


The Premise

Comeback noun the release of new music by any K-pop artist(s), e.g. single album, mini-album, EP, or full-length album; a comeback is referred to as such no matter the popularity of the artist(s), the level of success for the new song(s), or the length of time in between each release

Interesting, right? I was sooooo puzzled what this meant when I first joined the k-pop/k-drama fandom. It also refers to actors who have been hired for a new k-drama role. These idols and stars aren't in retirement and returning to activity at all! So it can be really confusing.... But Ashwood & Rose do a stellar job demystifying all of these terms that are specific to the k-pop industry. They also explain very clearly about aspects behind the scenes so you understand the implications and importance of different happenings and characters. This is THE most comprehensive look at k-pop that I've read so far without it being a non-fiction book.

And I really adored Emery Jung and Alana Kim in Comeback! We get their dual POVs which I loved because they were both so genuine. Alana is struggling due to losing her musical soul mate, her partner in creation. Emery is dealing with parental expectations. For Koreans this is a major, major thing. Family is everything. I really loved how their mental health struggles mirrored each other but at the same time the answers didn't come from each other. They were connected through their past but it was their friends and family who helped them find peace. Falling in love... that was a bonus!


My Experience

I just finished another book about K-pop which is quite unusual. This isn't a subgenre where there are dozens of books and series to choose from. So I was really worried that I would compare the two books and find Comeback wanting. Let me say... I totally loved Comeback just as much! They were both different but shining different lights on the same fandom... K-pop.

A major aspect of k-dramas is the angst surrounding the lead characters. It can be mental health struggles, relationship difficulties or economic battles. We get a little of all of that here and it really sold the K-drama vibe of Comeback even though the story itself is all about the K-pop industry. Normally with these Korean-American fusion stories we get an Americanized feel with K-pop and K-drama elements. In Comeback we get the real Seoul. The real Korea. It was fabulous!

So why isn't this a 5 star read? Comeback is Ashwood & Rose debut novel. They did excellent! But there was a lot of telling. Exposition needs to be distilled naturally. They did really well pairing it with the pertinent situation but it felt info dumpery. This will become smoother with experience. The important thing is I was engaged with Emery and Alana! I wanted them to make their Comeback stronger and wiser than ever... and they totally blew me away. I totally cried through this book and sighed with happiness too, its a roller coaster of emotions but isn't that what we want in our YA contemporary novels?!


Why should YOU read Comeback: A K-pop Novel as a YA Contemporary Book Lover?

-The bromance is reaaaaaaallllllll!!
Emery has a great brotherhood in his group. Sure they fight like cats and dogs when their backs are up but they care. I just loved how the boys took the initiative, which can be hard in a work friendship, and pushed Emery.

-Then we have the lovely Stephanie!
Stephanie is the cousin I always wanted. She's punk and stylish and wants to be a fashion designer. She gets Alana a job and supports her romance. Then when she needs to she pushes her cousin to confront her pain. GAHHHH family love in action.

-Woah, Suicide and Mental Health!
I have to share a small trigger warning anyway. Suicide is so tough. It breaks my heart and it will yours too. And Koreans are very susceptible to it. Parental pressure is intense and due to the way duty is seen in their society there can appear to be only one escape.

-Awwwww, the cute romance...
Dating really is frowned upon in the K-pop industry so I loved how friendly contact was developed between Alana and Emery. It was really natural and super fun. YAY for modern conveniences like texting and cell phones.

-YES! Behind the K-pop Industry.
From the manager, to the vans, to the after the show fan videos. We get to explore the world of K-pop! Some of the details were just explained but either way every detail is really accurate and it seriously impressed me.

Comeback: A K-pop Novel is seriously a must for all K-drama and K-pop fans sure... but it's also a seriously cute YA contemporary read that won't leave you lost in a fandom. Don't be surprised if Emery and Alana make you want to check out what Korea is all about... It's not too late to pick up this fun read that will leave you crying and laughing with all the feels.


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
B+ Cover & Title grade

Thanks to the authors for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. Read my special perspective under the typewriter on my reviews...

Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story! But beyond that Comeback is a really well-written book and the authors clearly put a lot of work into world-building. I say cute story but there’s definitely some darker, more serious elements to it (not giving away any spoilers). It’s got some of the binge-worthy elements of a k-drama without being over-the-top or like a fanfic.

I loved the relationship between Emery and Alana but even more so I loved the friendship between the NEON members. I can’t wait to read more about Jaehyun, Stu, Songil, and Yongnam in the rest of the series. Especially Jaehyun - he’s my favorite.



I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jimin'sRamenNoodles (Jinlo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read.

The Positives: I love K-pop. It was a fun, quick, romantic read. The writing was pretty smooth and I liked several of the characters. The romance between her and Emery was really cutesy. I especially like how it shows she met him, the scene had me holding my breath.


The Negatives: It honestly wasn't my favorite book ever, it seemed more like the authors tried to cram in a bunch of cliches that made the book sort of chaotic and unrealistic. Although I did like the characters, the writing was vague about the separate personalities of the idols!! They basically all seemed like the same person which was confusing!! The idol's are all unique in their own way.

All in all, I'd rate this book about 3.5 stars!
I WISH THERE WERE MORE K-POP ROMANCES I COULD READ!!

[Nicole N. (A Myriad of Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A huge thank you to the authors for reaching out and offering me a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book.

I have to admit I’m not deep into the K-pop scene. Maybe if I were younger and BTS (lol) had come around then like they are now, then perhaps yes. I had my moments when I was in high school though. Yet being Korean made me want to review this book and give it honest criticism as the book is written by two white women.

Content warning(s): depression, grief, mentions of suicide, death of a loved one

Plot
This book straddles the line between young adult and new adult. For now, I’m going to label it as new adult since the two main characters, Emery and Alana, are both in their early twenties. This book explores tough issues like depression, grief after losing a loved one, and talk of suicide. I didn’t realize quite how heavy the book would be when I started. It also explores the harsh rules and regulations put on K-pop bands (I’ve heard rumors about strict diets, exercise, etc., but nothing as specific as what is mentioned in the book so I can’t validate, obviously, how truthful some of these are). The story itself was pretty good. Emery and Alana both struggle internally, and I think if it weren’t for their reunion, they wouldn’t have been able to come to terms for what this internal struggles mean for them and what they need to do to break out of it. Some of Emery’s problems eventually became external and affected those around him, but it allowed him to become closer to his bandmates as well, which solidified their friendship as a band.

This story takes place in Seoul, but to be honest, I would have never known. I’ve read two other books (Rebel Seoul and Wicked Fox) that both take place in Seoul, and they truly enveloped me in the city. Unfortunately, Comeback did not do that for me. It could have taken place in any city for all I know. Seoul is known for so many great things, but it felt lackluster here. I feel like a lot of innate parts of Korean culture were lost.

Characters
I really enjoyed NEON as a band and as Emery’s bandmates and friends. The authors don’t shy away from showing the mixture of personalities and disagreements between them. As for Emery and Alana, their lives aren’t perfect, and they’re a bit shy when it comes to sharing their struggles with each other, Alana most of all. I admit it was odd how Alana and others viewed her as Korean-American. I can’t speak to the truth of this here either, as I’m half-Korean and have never lived in S. Korea. Alana says her Korean is like that of a 10-year-old’s. Even after mentioning she spoke Korean with her family back home in America. I thought this was a bit odd. Sure, some things might be missed since Alana grew up in America, not Korea, but in terms of language, I thought this was something she could fully grasp. Alana often felt relieved because she doesn’t have to converse in Korean. A little weird to me, if I’m being honest.

Two other scenes had Alana calling herself American when someone pointed out her accent, while another had her saying she is Korean-American. I mean, both are true, but it seems like Alana isn’t quite sure where to place herself while she’s actually living in S. Korea. Perhaps this was to make her more alienated than she already feels.

Writing Style
The writing style isn’t bad. I actually quite liked it despite not feeling completely convinced of the setting. Ashwood and Rose provide decent world-building under the circumstances. However, some of my concern focuses on the way things are written to make it easier for a non-Korean reader. This is a really small thing but the word “ramen” is often used when I’m quite certain the proper word is “ramyun.” I think using the correct Korean term is best instead of referring back to what people know as the Japanese ramen dish.

Also, the way some characters were introduced throughout the book really threw me for a loop. In many Asian cultures, Korean included, it’s proper to introduced yourself with your family name followed by your given name (or in a Western world, your last name and then your first name). The authors were not consistent in this area. If you wanted to make this more believable, when your characters are introducing themselves to others, make sure they do it the Korean way! Alana introduces herself and her cousin as Alana Kim and Stephanie Lim, when it should be Kim Alana and Lim Stephanie. The same goes to a few other characters as well. This irked me so much as I felt like the authors did a disservice to the culture they’re writing about!

Maybe if I had been more in love with K-pop, I would have enjoyed this book more, or if I were more confident that the authors would do justice to my culture, I would have enjoyed it more.

[Myra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Such a fun book!!

When I saw the words "K-pop Novel", I knew I had to read this. As a longtime K-pop fan, I appreciated the chance to step into this well thought out and intricate world. The writers did an excellent job creating a realistic setting that mirrors the current K-pop landscape. I LOVED the names of the K-pop groups they created (HI5 still makes me laugh), and I feel super attached to NEON now. Not gonna lie, I teared up a bit at their ending concert ment...

Emery and Alana's relationship hit all the right notes for me. I really enjoyed being able to see their friendship progress from both of their perspectives. (The book switches off point of view each chapter). They were adorable together and I could really relate to their coming-of-age dilemmas and apprehension. Emery may be a K-pop star, but at his heart, he's just a teenager trying to find his place in the world.

More importantly, I'm definitely a NEON stan now. Yongnam, Jaehyun, Stu, Sungil, and M(Emery) have won my heart and I can't wait for the next book to read more about them. Bromance for the win!

I received an advance copy in exchange for my review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cleanly written story that sucks you and and won't let you out until you finish it.

Comeback: A K-pop Novel is a story and world that K-pop and Hallyu fans will immediately relate to with its setting in an alternate modern day Korea, the K-pop group Neon that mirrors real world favorites, and a heroine who is relatable as a K-pop fan. K-pop aside, as a story, the writers crafted an engaging tale of two young people who must overcome odds that include personal tragedy and the vicious beast that is fame. It is a coming-of-age story made readable for all audiences with carefully thought out explanations of Korean culture/language/food (with a helpful glossary in the back). The heroine, Alana, although drowning in her own pain, is still charming and quick-witted, while the hero, Emery, is very understandable as he struggles to relate not only to his music, his K-pop group members, but also to himself. It also addresses the what-ifs that are inherent in a romantic relationship between a K-pop star and a normal young woman.

Beware readers: once you pick it up, you won't put it down!

[Alyssa Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I didn’t feel like the connection between Alana and Emery made much sense. The ending of the book was fast but seems like it leads up to another book.

I loved all the members of NEON and I loved all the kpop terms so much.

[Jane (It'sJaneLindsey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might actually be more of a 3.5 star, but I'm rounding up for the enjoyment factor and how compelling it was. Full review to come.

I received a copy of this book from the authors in exchange for a free and honest review.

[chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

i received a review copy of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review. all opinions below are my own.

i have a confession to make. i only have a brief idea of how kpop works – the structure of the industry, and its differences from western music culture, from what my friends and younger sister, who are obsessed with kpop, told me.

this book was eye-opening, to say the least – it allowed me a glimpse behind the scenes of the kpop industry. i had no idea that behind a performance, there’d be so many people involved! there were coordis, stylists, managers and publicists, and it was so confusing for my simple little brain.

your lyrics inspire people every day to overcome their fears, to push through their pain, to dream, because there’s hope waiting on the other side. that’s why your fans love you. not because of your perfect image, but because of the humanity of your message.

apart from learning more about how things work in a kpop boy group, i was also introduced to the kpop fan idol culture. idols and fans have a very close relationship, and there were many terms – for example, “fansign”and “fancam” that i was not familiar with, and i was completely dumbfounded by how little i knew.

the story was so, so fun to read! we are introduced to NEON, a kpop boy group which consists of five members, with one of them, emery, being the mc of the book. they are all so lovable, and it was a magical experience witnessing their brotherhood and the ups and downs of their relationship. sure, they argue all the time, but they always make up in the end, and seeing them supporting each other made my heart melt. (also, kudos to the authors for setting up a complete portfolio and twitter page for the group online.)

the romance was so adorable. we have alana, a fan of NEON since the very start, and emery, a member of NEON, estranged from his parents and unsure of himself and his career. i loved seeing their friendship slowly blossom into something more, and it’s so sweet how they look out for each other all the time.

there was something i didn’t like though. i think that alana’s depression and emery’s anger issues are handled clumsily and lack elaboration. there are some loose ends, and i believe it’d be so much better if the authors addressed the problems further in the book, and suggested ways for the characters to cope with their mental issues, for example, going to see a therapist.

also, what the heck is that cliffhanger. i NEED MORE.

if you’re a kpop enthusiast, or simply want to learn more about the korean music industry, this book’s for you! expect heaps of cuteness and lots of aww moments.

trigger warnings:
self-harm & suicide
blood
mental illness & ableism

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story that may cure the fantasy of every fangirl/fanboy out there. I don't know about you but it partially did to me. It really has a lot of fan fiction vibes. It would be a lie to say that I have never fantasised dating the idol that I love, that even if they're so out of reach but as long as they're happy doing what they love, it would be enough for me.

If I were to read this story two years ago, I don't think that I would enjoy it all that much. Because a year ago, I wasn't that into Kpop. I used to be a really huge fan of it when I was younger but then I stopped and around late last year, my love for it has awakened once again. Let's say for now that a 7 grouped boy group has my heart!!! They are none other than GOT7!!! I would risk it all for them, I really would!!!

Alright, enough about me and my fangirl moments. It's time to properly get back into this story and this review. This book wasn't just about romance but it was also about building a family through friendship and that's what I love most. NEON are a family and they've got each other's backs through thick and thin.

NEON and GLO, the concept is really brilliant that for a second they actually seemed like the real deal. This story showed that fans will always be there for their idols and as much as we appreciate them, it's so heartwarming that they feel the same way too.

I'm so glad that I accepted the authors' request to read and review this book. I was instantly intrigued because it involved Kpop and the cover is just absolutely stunning. I had quite high expectations for this one and I find myself at the very last line that the expectations were met after all. This is a story that you definitely shouldn't miss out on if you love Kpop, basking in the city of Seoul and living the dream of a fangirl or fanboy.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emery, known to the world as M, was the lead vocalist of the hot K-pop group NEON. Alana was a fan turned K-pop staff with a past tied closely to NEON. When the two run into each other, literally, after a fateful encounter two years prior, their lives were bound to change, hopefully for the better.

So I wanna start off by saying that I am not familiar with K-pop or Korean Dramas. I was a little nervous that my lack of knowledge would hinder my enjoyment of this book. Thankfully it didn’t. The authors did a great job at incorporating Korean and Korenglish words in a way that even when I didn't know what they said, I could figure out their meanings. Also, the glossary in the back was a big help. Except that in an e-book, it was hard to flip back and forth.

This book read like a fanfic, and I really do mean that in a good way. It might have been the idol falls for fan trope, which I love. It read fast and was, for the most part, very fluffy and fun. While the plot between Emery and Alana was predictable, there was enough drama and angst mixed in to keep things interesting.

These Authors did an excellent job with the fandom and idol relationship. How they interacted and how some fans can overreact. With the way some fans treat their idols significant others, and how that makes some idols limit their personal lives on social media. These are things that happen everywhere, not just k-pop.

I love how fluffy NEON’s friendships were. Again, like every family, there was plenty of drama, plenty of ups and downs, but I liked all the bromance. Great, fun read.!

I would like to thank the Authors for this ARC. This review is my honest and unbiased thoughts

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it!!!

Like seriously, I didn't know what to expect when I first picked up this book. I was curious and bored, looking for something to read and mostly hoping it would get me that fanfic fix without being too cringey.

But it was so much MORE than that! The world building and complex characters in this AU Seoul totally blew me away! While the book offers a surprising behind the scenes look into the complex interrelationships between fans, k-pop groups, companies, actors, reality celebrities, and online communities in the Korean entertainment industry, this "look" is just that: a backdrop within which a deeper story unfolds.

At the end of the day, this book is about a group of boys just trying to keep it together in a cutthroat, competitive industry, while dealing with the constant pressure and criticism that comes with fame.

Also, there is a love story in all this :) What I liked about Emery and Alana is that they started out as friends—two people trying to heal through each other—and grew into something more. Both protagonists are aware of the risks involved in such a relationship and are seen struggling with the potential ramifications. It reminded me a bit of all the netizen uproar around the HyunA and E'Dawn dating "scandal" a while back (but you'll have read to see if Emery makes the same decisions E'Dawn did hehe).

This book totally transported me into NEON's Korea, so much so that I could actually envision the concerts and performances. I hope there are more books to come in this world because by the time I finished the book (in under 10 hours, I couldn't put it down), I didn't want to leave it TT

When is NEON's next COMEBACK?????!

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An education on K-Pop, as well as some Korean and Konglish vocabulary.
Colorful characterizations and a sweet story of young ambition, dreams and romance.
A nice introduction to Korean cultural aspects for both Korea the K Pop industry.
A good read.”

[Alex (Bri's Book Nook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comeback: A K-pop Novel is a book by Lyn and Rachel about a K-pop star and a stranger he met one night. Emery is a star, but his family never approved of his career. He almost quit his group NEON in their early days because of their first album’s failure, but he met a stranger one night whose love for music convinced him to not quit NEON. They felt an instant connection, and now he is a member of one of the most successful K-pop groups in the industry. When the girl shows up again as a staff person at one of his music shows, he knows that he has to speak to her and thank her. A scandal would ruin NEON as a whole, but Emery just can’t help but get to know her. On the other side, Alana used to love music. Then, her brother Alex died, and music reminded her of him. Then, she runs into M, the member she met that night. He seems to show up everywhere she is, but she can’t let herself get close to him.

I am a huge fan of many different K-pop groups, and my phone is full of bookmarked fanfiction about those groups. When I heard that this book about a fictional K-pop group was coming out, I knew I had to read it. Lyn and Rachel have managed to write an accurate portrayal of K-pop culture. They show how hardworking K-pop groups and their staff are, the stigma against Korean music artists, and the fan culture. I could understand every part of this book and relate it to something that happened to one of my favorite groups in real life. It’s not all pretty, but it does show why some groups have such a strong connection with their fans and vice versa. It was also awesome to see how the members of NEON interacted with each other, I started feeling as if they were a real group rather than being fictional, the characters just jumped off the page.

This book discusses serious issues, like how having unsupportive parents can affect someone’s mental health. Emery didn’t have supportive parents and the only thing that kept him from a miserable life was Alana and her love for music. Her brother loved music, and then he was gone, and she was forcing herself to be miserable to have a “real” job as a makeup artist. Emery and Alana could help each other by just being there for one another. No one was there for them the way they needed, so they were there for each other. It was really a sweet friendship/romance, and I definitely would love a sequel with these characters!

This book flows smoothly from chapter to chapter. Even though there are POV switches, I could always tell who was talking. There were no giant time-skips that made me confused, even though the book does take place over the course of several months. Also, there were no grammar errors that I noticed in this ARC, which is impressive!

I loved this book, and I can’t wait to read more by these authors. I would recommend this novel to any YA contemporary romance fan or any K-pop fan who wants to read a novel about the secrets of a fictional group!

I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

Overall Rating: 6 out of 5 books

[Priyasha Anand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly , I am thankful to receive the ARC from the author . It did come up as a surprise . This is one of the books that took me by surprise , I recently finished another K-pop inspired book , Hart and Seoul . But this book was altogether different with the glimpse of the K-pop Industry .

M, is a Kpop-Idol of the Band , Neon who is world famous but who has many hidden secrets and a chance encounter with a girl make sparks fly . The story sounds a very cliche type but I was surprised how the book progressed . This book is just not a love story but rather it depicts the life of Idol . I have been very recently introduced to k-pop , so this book K-pop and Hallyu fans will immediately relate to .

[Kayla Brunson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I heard that there was a contemporary K-pop novel out there I knew I had to read it. If you don’t know, K-pop fuels my heart. This was a good debut and it gave us a deeper look into what really goes into a comeback.

If your not familiar with K-pop, a comeback is when an artist or group is back again with a new album/single and is promoting via performances and etc. This book follows the comeback of NEON. I easily loved every member of this group! They all seemed so real and had their own distinct personalities. They way they supported each other seriously added years to my life. Is there anything better than a group of guys who love each other and aren’t afraid to show it? I seriously need some merch so I can support this fictional group.

This book showed the parts of a comeback that we as fans don’t get to see. The stress, the opinions of how they are less than male because they are an idol, and the hustle of how everything works. Our two main characters met once briefly but that time really made an impact on both of them.

Emery was sweet and such a great character. He was hiding so much his pain from his bandmates. His relationship with his parents is strained because of his choice to become an idol. That disappointment eats at him every day. Reading about that slowing eating away at him was heartbreaking.

When we meet Alana it’s during the aftermath of some very tragic things that have happened to her. Meeting Emery scares her because she isn’t the person that she was before. Reading about her opening herself up to the world was pretty great. It’s never easy to overcome trauma and I think the authors did a great job at showing that.

The relationship between these two was very cute. They both had issues that they helped each other work through. They understood each other's pain and really became friends and then lovers. I do have to say that while there is a romance here, it didn’t seem like the main focus. I personally would have loved to have a few more scenes between them.

There were some things that I wish were handled better or talked about more. Emery’s anger issues were brought up a few times and I would have loved to see him get help regarding it. Also, this ends kind of abruptly to me. There are still questions that I have about Alana and Emery. I’m unsure if this a standalone or if there will be more books about this group and relationship.

Even though I did have some issues with a few things, this was a good debut! I’m excited to see what these two authors publish next. If you a K-pop fan or not then I recommend if you are a fan of romance, supportive relationships, and a good story.

Blog | Instagram | Twitter

[Amanda Hudgins · Rating 1 out of 5]

tw: disordered eating, self harm, destructive behavior, suicide, toxic relationships, toxic workplaces

This was rec'd in a bookstagram stories thing on good K-pop books, so I was interested in checking it out. The cover art drew me in further, and seeing all of the positive reviews on Goodreads I figured that I would find something fairly fluffy and generally inoffensive, a quick read for a stressful week.

I am not negatively rating this book because it did not meet these expectations.

I hate to use the phrase "this reads like fanfiction" because I read fanfiction, and I have read good fanfiction, and hon this ain't it. I shared some excerpts with a friend who classed the writing as "juvenile" which seems appropriate. On the one hand, this book is young adult, but on the other hand I wouldn't really recommend this book to a young adult. The relationship outlined here is incredibly toxic at its core; ignoring the power disparity between an idol/fan relationship (cause that's the trope, I got it) Alana is in a deeply emotionally compromised state throughout at least 92% of this book. It just further highlights that these two people should not be dating.

The decision to italicize Korean words was for me, a misstep, specifically in a novel about K-Pop. I understand this is a point of contention in writing multilingual books and that there are several schools of thought in regards to this.

I wanted more from the cast of characters that surrounded Alana and Emery, especially since they were giving me almost nothing except Big Sad and Big Mad (I have a particular aversion to male characters who solve their problems by physically taking out aggression against nearby objects, especially if those characters are romantic leads, this is a trope that needs to die). I don't really know a lot about the rest of NEON and that's unfortunate. It's meant to be an ensemble, and there are moments when they act as a family (particularly in the final act) which give glimmers to a real potential there but they are incredibly fleeting.

This feels like it was written by fans of K-Pop, you definitely can see that care to detail with regards to the culture of fandom, but it doesn't feel like a lived in universe. It somehow doesn't feel like people live in this world, which is supposedly Seoul.

This is a relatively quick read overall, though it does end rather suddenly. Probably much like this review.

[(Love, Stars and Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received a free Review copy from the authors for a voluntary and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own)


Book review: Comeback by Lyn Ashwood & Rachel Rose (4 stars)


Comeback by Lyn Ashwood & Rachel Rose
Genre: YA, romance, contemporary
Rating: 4/5 stars

(Synopsis from Goodreads) 

Emery Jung is living his dream. Known by his stage name M, he is loved by millions of fans around the world as a member of the rising K-pop group NEON, but all fame comes with a cost, especially when one slip up can have viral consequences. 

Alana Kim is trying to forget. After a tragic loss sends her spiraling, she escapes to her family in Korea, abandoning her love of music along the way. However, her plans are derailed when she literally runs into M, the famous K-pop idol. 

When their paths collide, Emery and Alana must work together to prevent a scandal from ruining NEON’s success, sparking a journey of friendship, love, and healing. Unfortunately, fame and love aren’t easily compatible, especially in the world of K-pop.

(Review)
(DISCLAIMER: All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Honestly, I’m not a big fan of Kpop (mainly because a ton of people forced it on me in the past), but I watch a ton of variety shows and occasional Kdramas, but this book hooked me in and even made me want to write my own kpop inspired novel!

This book was fast paced and the story was fun and addictive. A definite recommend for all fans of Kpop and contemporary books. I really enjoyed this book and found that it had a great story with emotional characters. It was like watching a Kdrama unfold before my very eyes and I enjoyed every page of this book.

This book was definitely a hidden gem and if the authors had not reached out, I would have totally missed it and I’m glad I didn’t!

[tasya ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Lyn and Rachel for providing me a copy of their novel in exchange for my honest review 💖

It would be a lie if I say I never heard any K-pop song but trust me when I say that I'm not a K-popper and I'm SO not familiar with K-pop culture. But that doesn't mean I'm not a fangirl, because of course I am! I'm a swiftie and a 5SOS fam so yes, I fangirl a LOT. I'm more into American pop, as you can tell.

All fangirls and fanboys who are fond of reading will definitely be charmed by this well written story. This is one of the books that took me by surprise because I'm not really into K-pop but to my luck, I actually enjoy reading this absorbing Korean centered book!

I don't think I have a favorite character in this book. I do love Stuart though, he's quite amusing in most chapters and I think he makes the story a little more entertaining to read 😆

What I really like about the story is the constant using of Korean slang and the ability for me to catch a glimpse of the K-pop industry which I know nothing about. Don't fret if you couldn't understand Korean slang because so do I but the authors include a glossary at the back of the story! So you can always refer to it when you're having trouble while reading 😉

This book will make you feel butterflies in your stomach and gets yourself all gleeful 🙈💕😆 If you're looking for an enjoyable and relaxing read, Comeback should be your top choice!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.75/5 stars ☆☆☆☆

//spoiler free//

I received a free Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review


Full review is now live on my blog: [ARC Review] Comeback by Lyn Ashwood & Rachel Rose

[⋆｡ ﾟ sara (rinezha’s version) ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was not good. i wanted to like it cause its about kpop ... and i like kpop lol. i thought this might get into detail about dating in kpop because as we know, its a huge no go. but sadly we barely got any of that. all we got was awkward dialogs and uneccessary drama