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Fireworks
Seventeen-year-old Lulu Li has her last summer before college all planned out. But her plans go awry when she learns that Kite Xu, her old next-door neighbor and childhood friend, will be returning home from South Korea.
Lulu hasn't seen Kite since eighth grade, after he left the country to pursue a career in K-pop, eventually debuting in the boy group Karnival. When Karnival announces that Kite will be taking a break from K-pop activities for mysterious reasons, the opportunity to rekindle their friendship arises.
Star-struck and nostalgic, Lulu tries to reconnect with Kite. As they continue to bond and reminisce over the past, Kite's sister, Connie, warns Lulu not to get too close to her brother. The harder Lulu tries to deny her feelings, the stronger they get. But how could a K-pop star ever fall for a nobody from home? And even if he did, is there any way for their relationship to end but badly?
Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.
Lulu hasn't seen Kite since eighth grade, after he left the country to pursue a career in K-pop, eventually debuting in the boy group Karnival. When Karnival announces that Kite will be taking a break from K-pop activities for mysterious reasons, the opportunity to rekindle their friendship arises.
Star-struck and nostalgic, Lulu tries to reconnect with Kite. As they continue to bond and reminisce over the past, Kite's sister, Connie, warns Lulu not to get too close to her brother. The harder Lulu tries to deny her feelings, the stronger they get. But how could a K-pop star ever fall for a nobody from home? And even if he did, is there any way for their relationship to end but badly?
Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.
298 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2022
45 people are currently reading
5632 people want to read
About the author
Alice Lin
2 books56 followersAlice Lin first started dreaming up stories in sixth grade and is an avid reader who loves to get lost in other people’s imagination. She holds an MLIS from Rutgers University and has a working background in teen librarianship. Find her on Instagram @miss_alicelin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
July 6, 2022
ugh. this is why i hate 3 star ratings. they cast such a wide net - high end 3 star reads are totally and completely different from low end 3 stars. and yet, they are both 3 stars…
this is definitely on the higher end of the scale. its very similar to ‘once upon a k-prom,’ which i adored, so this had me fangirling all over again. and honestly, im not a fan of kpop, but i LOVE reading about it. so i wish there was a little more of the band/other boys in this, but i enjoyed reading about the “normal” side of things. and i also thought the childhood friends to sweethearts was done really well.
and the only reason im not rounding up is because of the ending. its just wayyy too abrupt and open-ended for my personal liking. honestly, if a sequel isnt the plan, then an epilogue definitely should have been included.
but overall, a quick and fun read. for sure one to pick up if you want to scratch that kpop itch.
thank you, random house childrens, for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
this is definitely on the higher end of the scale. its very similar to ‘once upon a k-prom,’ which i adored, so this had me fangirling all over again. and honestly, im not a fan of kpop, but i LOVE reading about it. so i wish there was a little more of the band/other boys in this, but i enjoyed reading about the “normal” side of things. and i also thought the childhood friends to sweethearts was done really well.
and the only reason im not rounding up is because of the ending. its just wayyy too abrupt and open-ended for my personal liking. honestly, if a sequel isnt the plan, then an epilogue definitely should have been included.
but overall, a quick and fun read. for sure one to pick up if you want to scratch that kpop itch.
thank you, random house childrens, for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
June 16, 2022
Well, I liked K-Pop angsty drama theme with romcom vibes! Pop star meets ordinary girl next door that rekindles their unresolved feelings give us gender versed Notting Hill vibes with well approached representation of bisexuality of MC!
The romance between Lulu and Kite adorable. The realistic approach to chaotic side effects of fame, repercussions of trying to be star at demanding and competitive K-Pop industry were perfectly developed.
I was so close to give five stars after reading the first half but when I started to read the rest, I got so agitated because things started spiraling out of control and extra messy! It seemed like another author sat down in front of the computer to finish the rest of the book or the same author’s dark side took control and threw as much as angst she could to disturb us!
I don’t know the main reasoning but I didn’t like the sudden turn of events. So I’m giving my three solid stars just because of its promising first half and likable characters!
I wish the second could be rewritten! The entire drama could be handled better without too much exaggeration!
So many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
The romance between Lulu and Kite adorable. The realistic approach to chaotic side effects of fame, repercussions of trying to be star at demanding and competitive K-Pop industry were perfectly developed.
I was so close to give five stars after reading the first half but when I started to read the rest, I got so agitated because things started spiraling out of control and extra messy! It seemed like another author sat down in front of the computer to finish the rest of the book or the same author’s dark side took control and threw as much as angst she could to disturb us!
I don’t know the main reasoning but I didn’t like the sudden turn of events. So I’m giving my three solid stars just because of its promising first half and likable characters!
I wish the second could be rewritten! The entire drama could be handled better without too much exaggeration!
So many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
January 19, 2022
This was a very cute YA romance for the most part, but a little too heavy on the drama for my taste in the second half. I would however love to know what happens next!
I didn't know this book would have LGBTQ+ rep, I hardly knew anything about it going in - the MC is bisexual, and the rep is very casual, which I loved!
I didn't know this book would have LGBTQ+ rep, I hardly knew anything about it going in - the MC is bisexual, and the rep is very casual, which I loved!
June 13, 2022
This was a pretty cute book. I do like the 'former friends and now one person is famous' trope and that this showed the good and bad sides of being famous. The way Lulu and Kite rekindled their friendship and then morphed into a romance was cute and I rooted for them to make it. I don't know a lot about K-Pop, but the fandoms seem pretty intense. There are some extra parts that show social media comments and news reports that helped show the scope of what Kite being in a band means and I liked how it was put together.
June 22, 2022
Is it just me or did the main plot thread of having a bestie turned K-Pop idol sound extremely familiar? At first, I wasn't sure but then I remembered Once Upon A K-Prom by Kat Cho did the same thing, makes sense. Regardless of the similarity, this was the better book to some extent but by better, I just mean bland and highly predictable. Sadly.
January 20, 2023
Ahhhh so swoon worthy! I can’t wait for her next book!
February 15, 2022
This book happens in the summer before senior year. Lulu and her friends have planned an epic summer: sleepovers , restaurant nights, and theme parks. Lulu works in her mom and aunt's bakery, but doesn't have a relationship with her father, who had left her mother for his mistress during her freshman year. He doesn't even show up for her graduation. This strained relationship was talked about quite a bit in the story and then dropped.
Lulu's summer plans are spun for a loop though, when her neighbor Kai comes back to town. Kai had moved to Korea to become a star in a K-Pop band back at the end of the 8th grade, so it's a shock when he shows up 4 years later. Lulu is a fan of his band and he had been her best friend before he left Will he still be friendly, when they didn't keep in touch for all this time? And will he even remember her, now that he's a star?
It was strange that Lulu insists on calling Kai by his stage name, Kite, despite having known him since elementary school. I thought this showed that she still saw him as a K-Pop star instead of her childhood best friend. Also, the ending for this book? It just ended. There was no satisfying conclusion. I thought my kindle had died, but then I came to the acknowledgements page.
Lulu's summer plans are spun for a loop though, when her neighbor Kai comes back to town. Kai had moved to Korea to become a star in a K-Pop band back at the end of the 8th grade, so it's a shock when he shows up 4 years later. Lulu is a fan of his band and he had been her best friend before he left Will he still be friendly, when they didn't keep in touch for all this time? And will he even remember her, now that he's a star?
It was strange that Lulu insists on calling Kai by his stage name, Kite, despite having known him since elementary school. I thought this showed that she still saw him as a K-Pop star instead of her childhood best friend. Also, the ending for this book? It just ended. There was no satisfying conclusion. I thought my kindle had died, but then I came to the acknowledgements page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review!
Any book that mentions K-pop I end up reading, lol. It’s a keyword that really gets my attention. I have thoroughly enjoyed books with the topic and then there have been others that have felt flat for me in certain areas. This particular book was kind of a mixed-bag. The first half was very enjoyable and I liked where the story was going. The second half felt a bit muddled and nothing really progressed very far with the relationship/romance.
The book is told from Lulu’s perspective. She grew up next to a boy who was a friend and eventually tries his luck at joining a K-pop group. Friends-to-lovers isn’t always my thing but I am down for a celebrity relationship any day. I liked that even though he was famous he didn’t let it go to his head. He was still very down-to-earth and took care of this stray cat. Cats are the best and he is a cinnamon roll for doing that.
Their interactions from the beginning were slow and even though they eventually started to hang out more I didn’t feel like their relationship ever picked up. It kind of stayed in neutral and didn’t have me feeling any particular way. The author also tried to put another hurdle in their relationship at the end and by end I mean at around 94% or so. It made the ending feel rushed and incomplete for me even if they resolved in not so many words.
The majority of the book focuses on the pressure that can come with being in a group. It is taxing and can really wear down on someone’s mental health. I did like the talk that surrounded the subject. I feel like most books with a K-pop group miss out on this dialogue because they don’t usually go into the detail this one has, especially with the intense fans. Both Kite and Lulu handled it well and it makes them stronger.
Overall, this was good but it just didn’t a bit more in certain areas.
Any book that mentions K-pop I end up reading, lol. It’s a keyword that really gets my attention. I have thoroughly enjoyed books with the topic and then there have been others that have felt flat for me in certain areas. This particular book was kind of a mixed-bag. The first half was very enjoyable and I liked where the story was going. The second half felt a bit muddled and nothing really progressed very far with the relationship/romance.
The book is told from Lulu’s perspective. She grew up next to a boy who was a friend and eventually tries his luck at joining a K-pop group. Friends-to-lovers isn’t always my thing but I am down for a celebrity relationship any day. I liked that even though he was famous he didn’t let it go to his head. He was still very down-to-earth and took care of this stray cat. Cats are the best and he is a cinnamon roll for doing that.
Their interactions from the beginning were slow and even though they eventually started to hang out more I didn’t feel like their relationship ever picked up. It kind of stayed in neutral and didn’t have me feeling any particular way. The author also tried to put another hurdle in their relationship at the end and by end I mean at around 94% or so. It made the ending feel rushed and incomplete for me even if they resolved in not so many words.
The majority of the book focuses on the pressure that can come with being in a group. It is taxing and can really wear down on someone’s mental health. I did like the talk that surrounded the subject. I feel like most books with a K-pop group miss out on this dialogue because they don’t usually go into the detail this one has, especially with the intense fans. Both Kite and Lulu handled it well and it makes them stronger.
Overall, this was good but it just didn’t a bit more in certain areas.
April 8, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the arc and for satisfying my fluffy K-pop-inspired needs.
Reasons to read: well, if you've ever fantasized about your childhood coming back home as a K-pop idol, this is for me...I mean, you. >_>
Lulu has everything figured out for the summer, but her plans go awry when her former friend and international K-pop idol comes home after taking a break from music. Kite (Kai's stage name) has to stay in hiding when he's home since he's afraid of uber-fans swarming his house (again) and tags along with Lulu and her friends while in disguise (super funny btw) Lulu doesn't want to get too deep into her friendship with Kite, but we all know how things go when you're friends with a hot Korean idol, right?
Sigh.
The story is similar to another arc I recently read except this one is an idol and not a K-drama star, but it also had a depth I did not expect. We don't know what happened for Kite to come back to the States and that mystery is what kept me HOOKED to the story. There are so many layers to the characters and their chaotic lives.
The ending did leave a lot to be desired. IMO there wasn't any real closure to Lulu or Kite's problems BUT it succeeded in me stalking the internet looking for the sequel within the next year or two. There is a lot of content to be played with. I'm excited to see how Kite deals with the aftermath of his issues, as well as Lulu and college. If there's no sequel, I will riot.
:D
BOOKSTAGRAM
Reasons to read: well, if you've ever fantasized about your childhood coming back home as a K-pop idol, this is for me...I mean, you. >_>
Lulu has everything figured out for the summer, but her plans go awry when her former friend and international K-pop idol comes home after taking a break from music. Kite (Kai's stage name) has to stay in hiding when he's home since he's afraid of uber-fans swarming his house (again) and tags along with Lulu and her friends while in disguise (super funny btw) Lulu doesn't want to get too deep into her friendship with Kite, but we all know how things go when you're friends with a hot Korean idol, right?
Sigh.
The story is similar to another arc I recently read except this one is an idol and not a K-drama star, but it also had a depth I did not expect. We don't know what happened for Kite to come back to the States and that mystery is what kept me HOOKED to the story. There are so many layers to the characters and their chaotic lives.
The ending did leave a lot to be desired. IMO there wasn't any real closure to Lulu or Kite's problems BUT it succeeded in me stalking the internet looking for the sequel within the next year or two. There is a lot of content to be played with. I'm excited to see how Kite deals with the aftermath of his issues, as well as Lulu and college. If there's no sequel, I will riot.
:D
BOOKSTAGRAM
February 11, 2023
🎆🎇🌠Fireworks🌠🎇🎆
Lulu has graduated high school and is busy discovering what her passion is. Going through life with her best friends, Ester and Stephanie, is filled with joy and excitement. However, the ugly stain her father left within her is filled with anger. Kite Xu, her old best friend from the popular K-pop group Karnival, has vanished for unknown reasons. When Lulu runs into her childhood best friend turned K-pop star, he has returned to relax from his hectic lifestyle. Unwanted feelings explode like fireworks, beautiful and unexpected. Difficulties arise as the reason behind Kite's temporary leave is revealed and Lulu's father has returned to spend time with her despite her objections. Fireworks is a "childhood friends-to-lovers" experience perfect for fans of K-pop, a tightly knit group of friends, and a cosy atmosphere.
I enjoyed the first half better than the second half, the second half consisted of them kissing 23 times. The first half would be a 3.5-star with me, with a lot of romantic tension, childhood friend vibes, and a cast of memorable characters. The tension in the second half dwindled to twenty-three kisses and no conflict until random problems were thrown in at the end. Then the last half of the book felt rushed and vague. I thought the protagonist was likeable enough, but I really found Ester and Stephanie to be more likeable.
Lulu's best friends, Ester and Stephanie, had such personalities and were instantly likeable. Ester was a fangirl with a lot of heart. Stephanie was so cool and an absolute queen of confidence. Kite was a sweet love interest who I enjoyed. He wasn't lustful or odd, but respectful and charming. The first half of the romance was very sweet, and they spent a lot more time on their friendship. I enjoyed all the little details that added to their chemistry and the anticipation of "Will they, won't they?"
I have always loved music and have recently been listening to a lot of songs from K-pop groups like TXT, NewJeans, and BTS. I'm also watching this reality show called Boys Planet that is hilarious and interesting! The lyrics of the fictional group Karnival were so beautiful, and I loved learning about each of the individual members. This book did dive into the toxic parts of the K-Pop industry and the toll it can take on the members, which I enjoyed. It added a more serious element to this mostly lighthearted book. It also takes a look at toxic fans and the effects that they can have on the idol's mental health. I loved the look of the dynamic between the members in Karnival.
That being said, there were things I still wanted to see from this story. We learn a lot about the other members of Karnival without really seeing them interact in person. Unrealistic situations such as one of the Karnival members contacting our protagonist because he wanted to know if one member hated him were just like, "Dude, why would you text a stranger because you wanted to know if Kite hated you or not?" Then there was the absence of tension or anticipation, leading to a couple of chapters of just kissing repeatedly. Their relationship just moved so quickly that it came to a sudden stop. Why? Random conflict was thrown in, and while some added to the story, others would have been better left out entirely.
Then there was that whole quote that had me sighing out loud:
"Could a K-Pop star really fall for a nobody from home?"
*sighs*
The ending felt rather inconclusive, as though it was scrambling to tie up as many loose ends as possible while leaving certain plotlines open-ended. I hate it when side characters are given a back seat in the story just because our protagonist is in love. In conclusion, this was a quick romance read with some positive aspects.
🆗PLOT
☑️PLOT TWISTS
Lulu has graduated high school and is busy discovering what her passion is. Going through life with her best friends, Ester and Stephanie, is filled with joy and excitement. However, the ugly stain her father left within her is filled with anger. Kite Xu, her old best friend from the popular K-pop group Karnival, has vanished for unknown reasons. When Lulu runs into her childhood best friend turned K-pop star, he has returned to relax from his hectic lifestyle. Unwanted feelings explode like fireworks, beautiful and unexpected. Difficulties arise as the reason behind Kite's temporary leave is revealed and Lulu's father has returned to spend time with her despite her objections. Fireworks is a "childhood friends-to-lovers" experience perfect for fans of K-pop, a tightly knit group of friends, and a cosy atmosphere.
I enjoyed the first half better than the second half, the second half consisted of them kissing 23 times. The first half would be a 3.5-star with me, with a lot of romantic tension, childhood friend vibes, and a cast of memorable characters. The tension in the second half dwindled to twenty-three kisses and no conflict until random problems were thrown in at the end. Then the last half of the book felt rushed and vague. I thought the protagonist was likeable enough, but I really found Ester and Stephanie to be more likeable.
Lulu's best friends, Ester and Stephanie, had such personalities and were instantly likeable. Ester was a fangirl with a lot of heart. Stephanie was so cool and an absolute queen of confidence. Kite was a sweet love interest who I enjoyed. He wasn't lustful or odd, but respectful and charming. The first half of the romance was very sweet, and they spent a lot more time on their friendship. I enjoyed all the little details that added to their chemistry and the anticipation of "Will they, won't they?"
I have always loved music and have recently been listening to a lot of songs from K-pop groups like TXT, NewJeans, and BTS. I'm also watching this reality show called Boys Planet that is hilarious and interesting! The lyrics of the fictional group Karnival were so beautiful, and I loved learning about each of the individual members. This book did dive into the toxic parts of the K-Pop industry and the toll it can take on the members, which I enjoyed. It added a more serious element to this mostly lighthearted book. It also takes a look at toxic fans and the effects that they can have on the idol's mental health. I loved the look of the dynamic between the members in Karnival.
That being said, there were things I still wanted to see from this story. We learn a lot about the other members of Karnival without really seeing them interact in person. Unrealistic situations such as one of the Karnival members contacting our protagonist because he wanted to know if one member hated him were just like, "Dude, why would you text a stranger because you wanted to know if Kite hated you or not?" Then there was the absence of tension or anticipation, leading to a couple of chapters of just kissing repeatedly. Their relationship just moved so quickly that it came to a sudden stop. Why? Random conflict was thrown in, and while some added to the story, others would have been better left out entirely.
Then there was that whole quote that had me sighing out loud:
"Could a K-Pop star really fall for a nobody from home?"
*sighs*
The ending felt rather inconclusive, as though it was scrambling to tie up as many loose ends as possible while leaving certain plotlines open-ended. I hate it when side characters are given a back seat in the story just because our protagonist is in love. In conclusion, this was a quick romance read with some positive aspects.
🆗PLOT
☑️PLOT TWISTS
June 17, 2023
an interesting factoid about this book: although it is set in new jersey, it never actually MENTIONS the words "new jersey" themselves. you would need a true, born and bred new jerseyan, like myself, to understand the minute and esoteric references that reveal the setting: the "newark airport" (very obscure) and the "jersey shore" (niche and esoteric) and the proximity to "hershey park" and "new york city" (fake places). this gets DOUBLE mentions-nj points because one of the characters in this book reads pachinko, which is a book that also mentions new jersey. so this is now one of the crown jewels of that shelf.
the sheer number of kpop romances set in new jersey is making me start to think kpop is an even more integral part of new jersey asian culture than i had originally thought. or maybe that new jersey is the kpop capital of america. actually, i know it is. there is a reason groups never actually go to new york... only the prudential center, the place where dreams are made of.
funny and silly things i liked:
- Lulu introduces one of her friends to kpop to get her to break up with her on/off boyfriend and it works! When Tanwi & I tried to do this IRL we failed and now have a 30 page google doc of pictures of mark lee.
- The stage name Kite... I just kept picturing Kite from Hxh.
- Lulu double majoring in chinese and econ at Rutgers like THAT is A GIRLBOSS!!! wish this was real so she could cross paths with dengtong
- Lulu is fr a strong independent woman and she never lets love blind her to what's best for her. I liked the ending!! #herstory #imwithHER
anyways i don't actually have all that much meaningful to say about this book because mostly it is really, really fluffy. i read it in like under 3 hours today by audiobooking WHILE i went with annie and tanwi to a pottery studio. none of these characters are super super nuanced but it's a short fluffy YA novel. i also felt like Lulu & Kite's relationship realllly leaned on the childhood friends crutch and didn't really develop much throughout the book. there could be soooo much more said about the psychological stuff Kite was going through in the industry but for anyone ever wanting to explore that i would direct you straight to K-pop confidential, the best book ever.
the sheer number of kpop romances set in new jersey is making me start to think kpop is an even more integral part of new jersey asian culture than i had originally thought. or maybe that new jersey is the kpop capital of america. actually, i know it is. there is a reason groups never actually go to new york... only the prudential center, the place where dreams are made of.
funny and silly things i liked:
- Lulu introduces one of her friends to kpop to get her to break up with her on/off boyfriend and it works! When Tanwi & I tried to do this IRL we failed and now have a 30 page google doc of pictures of mark lee.
- The stage name Kite... I just kept picturing Kite from Hxh.
- Lulu double majoring in chinese and econ at Rutgers like THAT is A GIRLBOSS!!! wish this was real so she could cross paths with dengtong
- Lulu is fr a strong independent woman and she never lets love blind her to what's best for her. I liked the ending!! #herstory #imwithHER
anyways i don't actually have all that much meaningful to say about this book because mostly it is really, really fluffy. i read it in like under 3 hours today by audiobooking WHILE i went with annie and tanwi to a pottery studio. none of these characters are super super nuanced but it's a short fluffy YA novel. i also felt like Lulu & Kite's relationship realllly leaned on the childhood friends crutch and didn't really develop much throughout the book. there could be soooo much more said about the psychological stuff Kite was going through in the industry but for anyone ever wanting to explore that i would direct you straight to K-pop confidential, the best book ever.
May 24, 2024
* Read for the Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt #5 - a book about K-pop
It’s a YA book about a K-pop star, so my expectations were pretty low. While I can enjoy some sweet YA romance books, I only picked this one to fill the prompt.
Lulu grew up next door to Kai and they were great friends, but they drifted apart when he moved away and became the superstar Kite of the K-pop group Karnival. Her friends are all part of the fan club Fireworks, and they learn that Kite is taking a break from the group. When he winds up back at home and next door to Lulu she hopes they might rekindle their friendship- and more. He’s dealing with the stress of fame, and she has some family issues, but they find their way back to each other. But what if he goes back to Karnival?
It’s cheesy and kind of cute. A decent YA story, and probably a good book for its intended audience.
It’s a YA book about a K-pop star, so my expectations were pretty low. While I can enjoy some sweet YA romance books, I only picked this one to fill the prompt.
Lulu grew up next door to Kai and they were great friends, but they drifted apart when he moved away and became the superstar Kite of the K-pop group Karnival. Her friends are all part of the fan club Fireworks, and they learn that Kite is taking a break from the group. When he winds up back at home and next door to Lulu she hopes they might rekindle their friendship- and more. He’s dealing with the stress of fame, and she has some family issues, but they find their way back to each other. But what if he goes back to Karnival?
It’s cheesy and kind of cute. A decent YA story, and probably a good book for its intended audience.
June 16, 2022
This was just an okay read for me. I really was hoping for more from this second chance K-pop romance between two former best friends. Very similar plot to Once upon a k-prom, that sees a famous K-pop singer returning to their hometown and rekindling their relationship to a former best friend. This book featured a bisexual MC and I did enjoy that but overall it was just an okay read for me - it sadly won't be a memorable one.
March 28, 2024
THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTE !!
it was kinda written like a fanfic tho but there was so much description of the food and the outfits and stuff (which i really enjoyed)
one thing that was a bit weird was how much she mentioned how rich her friend was? like it was a bit boasty at some points? idk but it was a cute read <3
it was kinda written like a fanfic tho but there was so much description of the food and the outfits and stuff (which i really enjoyed)
one thing that was a bit weird was how much she mentioned how rich her friend was? like it was a bit boasty at some points? idk but it was a cute read <3
August 14, 2024
Sped through the audiobook for our TBG group at the store.
This was cute, but would have been much better as a friends-reconnecting story rather than trying to shoehorn the romance angst in on top. Bc I didn't believe the romance feelings. But I did believe the friendship feelings.
Also, Lulu's two besties are great. <3
This was cute, but would have been much better as a friends-reconnecting story rather than trying to shoehorn the romance angst in on top. Bc I didn't believe the romance feelings. But I did believe the friendship feelings.
Also, Lulu's two besties are great. <3
April 9, 2024
This is like my highschool fantasy come true.
July 29, 2024
it was cute, it gave me the same feeling on a lesser scale that "xoxo" by axie oh gave me. very cute summer romance. not too memorable though, happy I read it and I can put it on my shelf now. very cute
February 9, 2024
kpop star books have become more common in recent years, and i think on a scale, this would be right in the middle of all of them.
fireworks covers all of the typical plot points that kpop romances have - bad work/life balance, a hesitant romance, industry issues, costars and coworkers, and a huge blowup that happens because one mc is famous and the other isn't. they're pretty formulaic in that sense but it's definitely not a negative because white authors can get away with writing the same story 1000+ times before we get bored. i liked it, i just didn't love it. the second half of the novel could have been better handled, and without spoiling the end, it just felt too...sudden? abrupt?
fireworks covers all of the typical plot points that kpop romances have - bad work/life balance, a hesitant romance, industry issues, costars and coworkers, and a huge blowup that happens because one mc is famous and the other isn't. they're pretty formulaic in that sense but it's definitely not a negative because white authors can get away with writing the same story 1000+ times before we get bored. i liked it, i just didn't love it. the second half of the novel could have been better handled, and without spoiling the end, it just felt too...sudden? abrupt?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2024
totally not me reading the book just because
1. the fmc is called lulu li and goes with the nickname lovely
2. the mmc is called kite 🪁
3. some random dudes are apparently called o-kei and xiaoming (小明??)
fav quote: "after talking to o-kei... i feel okay" ✨✨✨
thanks to the non-existent plot/chemistry between characters i feel that I have wasted my time reading this book ☺️
1. the fmc is called lulu li and goes with the nickname lovely
2. the mmc is called kite 🪁
3. some random dudes are apparently called o-kei and xiaoming (小明??)
fav quote: "after talking to o-kei... i feel okay" ✨✨✨
thanks to the non-existent plot/chemistry between characters i feel that I have wasted my time reading this book ☺️
December 3, 2025
welp here i am okay okay before you say its been like ldk three weeks now??? my bad BUT here it is basically a very long update enjoy!!! :DDD
Okay liked it the muffins??? CUTEEEEEE I MEAN TAKING A TEST TO SEE WHAT MUFFIN YOU ARE THEN MAKING THEM??? ADORABLEEEE!!!!!!! some of the flavors seemed.... ick- BUT WHEN SHE MADE KITE MAN DUDE GUY BOI TAKE THE TEST AND THEN SHE MADE MUFFINS BUT COMBINED THEIR FLAVORS????? UMMMMMMMMM OKAYYY AND YOU AREN'T INLOVE WITH HIM SURE ;-;
also its been a bit but i think she called him Kite THE WHOLE TIME IN HER BRIAN LIKEEEE HELLOO????? HE IS SOMEONE WITH A PERSONALITY BESIDES HIS K-POP SELF SO CALL HIM BY HIS DANG NAMEEE!!!!!! UGH
HER FRIENDS?? FRIENDS GOAL FR FR
HER MOM AND AUNT?? FAMILY GOALS I WILL NEVER HAVE :( YES I WANT TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR STORE AND HAVE YUMMYYYYYYYYSSS FOOD FRO LIKE EVERYDAY!!!!!!
HER BOYFRIEND???? like good for her but beee SOOOOOOO FRRRRRRRR LIKE SO FR FR HE TAKES HER ON HER BIRTHDAY??? DOWN TO THE BASEMENT OF HER BESTFRIEND'S HOUSE (cuz thats where he is living after the drama) and he picks up a tablet and get on a STUPID STUPID LIKE FACETIME WITH THE REST OF HIS K-POP GROUP???? LIKE THAT WAS SO RANDOM AND UNWANTED FROM MY SOULLLLLLL :/ OHHH BUT IT GETS WORSE THAT ONE GUY CALLED HER LOVELY HER NICKNAME FROM KITE GUY AND THEY SANG HER A BAD HAPPY BRITHDAY??? HOWWWWWW DDDDDDD: LIKE (⚆_⚆) WAOOOHHHH YOU ARE TOO CLOSEEEE PEEEPPPERRRRRR SPRAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
HER DAD?? no....... we don't like her dad ︻╦╤─ bam bam >:(((((((((( HER STEP BROTHER BLEHHHHHHHHHH EWWWWWW ICKKKKK DAD STAY AWAAYYYYY!!!!
also might just be me but i kinda lowkey i hate when the book ends with- yepperrrsss now they are happyyy and ya know what?? he totally did leave for Korea and he will only see her in like... idk- TWO YEARS??? HUHHHH UGHHH JUST SHOW THEM BEING HAPPY?? LIKE PLZZZZZZ GOSHHH ITS NOT HARDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!
(the things i will be doing next-a good girls guide to murder-hunger games books-never thought i end up here or something i forgor :[[[[- wendy's ever after- in this order ishh maybe-
Okay liked it the muffins??? CUTEEEEEE I MEAN TAKING A TEST TO SEE WHAT MUFFIN YOU ARE THEN MAKING THEM??? ADORABLEEEE!!!!!!! some of the flavors seemed.... ick- BUT WHEN SHE MADE KITE MAN DUDE GUY BOI TAKE THE TEST AND THEN SHE MADE MUFFINS BUT COMBINED THEIR FLAVORS????? UMMMMMMMMM OKAYYY AND YOU AREN'T INLOVE WITH HIM SURE ;-;
also its been a bit but i think she called him Kite THE WHOLE TIME IN HER BRIAN LIKEEEE HELLOO????? HE IS SOMEONE WITH A PERSONALITY BESIDES HIS K-POP SELF SO CALL HIM BY HIS DANG NAMEEE!!!!!! UGH
HER FRIENDS?? FRIENDS GOAL FR FR
HER MOM AND AUNT?? FAMILY GOALS I WILL NEVER HAVE :( YES I WANT TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR STORE AND HAVE YUMMYYYYYYYYSSS FOOD FRO LIKE EVERYDAY!!!!!!
HER BOYFRIEND???? like good for her but beee SOOOOOOO FRRRRRRRR LIKE SO FR FR HE TAKES HER ON HER BIRTHDAY??? DOWN TO THE BASEMENT OF HER BESTFRIEND'S HOUSE (cuz thats where he is living after the drama) and he picks up a tablet and get on a STUPID STUPID LIKE FACETIME WITH THE REST OF HIS K-POP GROUP???? LIKE THAT WAS SO RANDOM AND UNWANTED FROM MY SOULLLLLLL :/ OHHH BUT IT GETS WORSE THAT ONE GUY CALLED HER LOVELY HER NICKNAME FROM KITE GUY AND THEY SANG HER A BAD HAPPY BRITHDAY??? HOWWWWWW DDDDDDD: LIKE (⚆_⚆) WAOOOHHHH YOU ARE TOO CLOSEEEE PEEEPPPERRRRRR SPRAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
HER DAD?? no....... we don't like her dad ︻╦╤─ bam bam >:(((((((((( HER STEP BROTHER BLEHHHHHHHHHH EWWWWWW ICKKKKK DAD STAY AWAAYYYYY!!!!
also might just be me but i kinda lowkey i hate when the book ends with- yepperrrsss now they are happyyy and ya know what?? he totally did leave for Korea and he will only see her in like... idk- TWO YEARS??? HUHHHH UGHHH JUST SHOW THEM BEING HAPPY?? LIKE PLZZZZZZ GOSHHH ITS NOT HARDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!
(the things i will be doing next-a good girls guide to murder-hunger games books-never thought i end up here or something i forgor :[[[[- wendy's ever after- in this order ishh maybe-
June 19, 2022
Fireworks was a sweet YA read - really enjoyed the friendships here as well as the K-Pop elements.
✔️ Childhood friends to lovers
✔️ Dating a K-Pop Star
✔️ LGBTQIA rep (FMC is bisexual)
I loved the premise of the book: a romance with a famous boy-next-door. I also loved that he's a K-Pop star trying to spend the summer as a normal teen and the adventures they had along with Lulu's BFFs - those were probably my favorite scenes in this book.
The friendship between Lulu and Kai was handled well - loved them trying to come back to each other and be close again. While I was happy it bloomed into a romance, it didn't feel very swoony - I think maybe not enough build or pining or either of their parts.
While I was appreciative of the bisexual rep, it was only present for a small part of the story (a female asked out the FMC and she declined). Aside from Kai, the only other date she went on in the book is with another male and her celeb crushes that were prominently mentioned were also males (could have mentioned a K-Pop girl group here).
The first half was stronger than the back half of the book. The storyline with her dad felt a little cliche and didn't work for me.
I did really like that it showed the downside of fame and fandom. Also loved Kai's sister the more I got to know her - she was a standout side character.
While not a perfect read, this was a fun one and worth checking out. Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhousekids for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review.
✔️ Childhood friends to lovers
✔️ Dating a K-Pop Star
✔️ LGBTQIA rep (FMC is bisexual)
I loved the premise of the book: a romance with a famous boy-next-door. I also loved that he's a K-Pop star trying to spend the summer as a normal teen and the adventures they had along with Lulu's BFFs - those were probably my favorite scenes in this book.
The friendship between Lulu and Kai was handled well - loved them trying to come back to each other and be close again. While I was happy it bloomed into a romance, it didn't feel very swoony - I think maybe not enough build or pining or either of their parts.
While I was appreciative of the bisexual rep, it was only present for a small part of the story (a female asked out the FMC and she declined). Aside from Kai, the only other date she went on in the book is with another male and her celeb crushes that were prominently mentioned were also males (could have mentioned a K-Pop girl group here).
The first half was stronger than the back half of the book. The storyline with her dad felt a little cliche and didn't work for me.
I did really like that it showed the downside of fame and fandom. Also loved Kai's sister the more I got to know her - she was a standout side character.
While not a perfect read, this was a fun one and worth checking out. Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhousekids for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 7, 2022
Lulu and Kai were next-door neighbors. Until one day, Kai was whisked away to South Korea to become a K-pop singer. Lulu hasn’t heard from Kai, whose stage name is Kite, in years. When his band Karnival announces he will be taking a break for health reasons, the last thing Lulu expects is to see him back in her neighborhood. With the help of an adorable kitten and meddling best friends, will Lulu and Kite find their way back to friendship and maybe more?
Fireworks is an extremely cute and lighthearted romance. Alice Lin does an amazing job of incorporating LGBTQ+ representation into the novel. Lulu is bi, with additional LGBTQ+ representation casually worked in throughout the story. I enjoyed how Lulu’s identity is still vitally important, but not necessarily the focus of the romance. Instead, Kite and her friends accept her unconditionally and instead focus on the perils of dating a K-pop star.
Fireworks does not shy away from how invasive fandom can become, creating many obstacles for Lulu and Kite to work through. The ending felt a bit rushed, I wanted to have Kite and Lulu work through more of the challenges between them. Fireworks is a charming and endearing romance! Fans of K-pop, YA contemporary, and lighthearted summer romances will enjoy Fireworks. This is the perfect book for younger YA readers who have wondered what it might be like to date a K-pop star.
Thank you to Alice Lin, Underlined, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fireworks is an extremely cute and lighthearted romance. Alice Lin does an amazing job of incorporating LGBTQ+ representation into the novel. Lulu is bi, with additional LGBTQ+ representation casually worked in throughout the story. I enjoyed how Lulu’s identity is still vitally important, but not necessarily the focus of the romance. Instead, Kite and her friends accept her unconditionally and instead focus on the perils of dating a K-pop star.
Fireworks does not shy away from how invasive fandom can become, creating many obstacles for Lulu and Kite to work through. The ending felt a bit rushed, I wanted to have Kite and Lulu work through more of the challenges between them. Fireworks is a charming and endearing romance! Fans of K-pop, YA contemporary, and lighthearted summer romances will enjoy Fireworks. This is the perfect book for younger YA readers who have wondered what it might be like to date a K-pop star.
Thank you to Alice Lin, Underlined, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
January 14, 2023Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Fireworks is a YA K-pop romcom by Alice Lin. Released 7th June 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is an engaging and well written role reversed teenaged Notting Hill redux. There's lots of angst and feelings and a diverting young romance. It's aimed at a young audience (circa 12-17 years old, presumably female) and despite the page count is a very quick read. Lots of info about K-pop and the music fandom included for verisimilitude.
It's not clear from any publisher promotional materials provided for review if the author plans a follow-up book. If the story isn't to be continued, readers might want to be aware that the ending is abrupt and there's no epilogue or clear resolution in the advance copy provided. Good story, precipitate ending.
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Fireworks is a YA K-pop romcom by Alice Lin. Released 7th June 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is an engaging and well written role reversed teenaged Notting Hill redux. There's lots of angst and feelings and a diverting young romance. It's aimed at a young audience (circa 12-17 years old, presumably female) and despite the page count is a very quick read. Lots of info about K-pop and the music fandom included for verisimilitude.
It's not clear from any publisher promotional materials provided for review if the author plans a follow-up book. If the story isn't to be continued, readers might want to be aware that the ending is abrupt and there's no epilogue or clear resolution in the advance copy provided. Good story, precipitate ending.
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 21, 2022
4 Stars
This was a super sweet and quick YA romance!
I would start by saying that I think this does lean more towards early YA in terms of content and conflict, but as an adult who enjoys all levels of YA, I still found this refreshing and enjoyable!
This is a friends to lovers trope and boy/girl next door trope as well as famous/non-famous trope! The first half of the book was quick and totally had my attention as our main character struggled to come to terms with feelings for her now-famous childhood BFF, but once they got together, I felt like the story slowed and the conflicts that popped up were a bit jarring.
The main hero is a K-pop idol and the insights I to the stress and struggles for these idols was well done and I loved how it showed the non-glamorous side. Our Maine heroine was bi and that rep felt PERFECT and shown to be naturally her vs a random thing told to us as a diversity plug. And speaking of diversity, the main characters are Chinese American and I loved their family, food, and friendships all show and highlighted through a cultural lens. Warning YOU WILL BE HUNGRY READING THIS BOOK!
I found this book and story to be enjoyable and think it makes the perfect summer read!
*thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review!*
This was a super sweet and quick YA romance!
I would start by saying that I think this does lean more towards early YA in terms of content and conflict, but as an adult who enjoys all levels of YA, I still found this refreshing and enjoyable!
This is a friends to lovers trope and boy/girl next door trope as well as famous/non-famous trope! The first half of the book was quick and totally had my attention as our main character struggled to come to terms with feelings for her now-famous childhood BFF, but once they got together, I felt like the story slowed and the conflicts that popped up were a bit jarring.
The main hero is a K-pop idol and the insights I to the stress and struggles for these idols was well done and I loved how it showed the non-glamorous side. Our Maine heroine was bi and that rep felt PERFECT and shown to be naturally her vs a random thing told to us as a diversity plug. And speaking of diversity, the main characters are Chinese American and I loved their family, food, and friendships all show and highlighted through a cultural lens. Warning YOU WILL BE HUNGRY READING THIS BOOK!
I found this book and story to be enjoyable and think it makes the perfect summer read!
*thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review!*
February 28, 2025
This book was darling. It’s such a happy book! I finished a couple heavy books in a row and I wanted something that made me feel good and light. Mission accomplished!
Lulu is a fan of k-pop group Karnival but she isn’t a super fan like her best friends. Part of that reason might be because Lulu’s childhood best friend Kai is a member of the band. Lulu is a good person who wishes her friend well but their friendship essentially ended when he left 4 years ago.
Now Kai is back on a break from his band, he goes by Kite now, and the break is unexplained and mysterious. There might be a medical issue or there might be drama within the band. Either way, he’s home for awhile and reconnects with Lulu.
Kai/Kite is a sweetheart. I like that the characters bonded over helping a stray cat…don’t worry, the stray cat gets hurt but I promise you the kitty is ok.
I thought this book looked at an interesting side of fame: how it affects the people who stayed behind, we see the impact Kai’s fame has had on big Lulu and his sister Connie.
Really enjoyed this book and flew through it!
Lulu is a fan of k-pop group Karnival but she isn’t a super fan like her best friends. Part of that reason might be because Lulu’s childhood best friend Kai is a member of the band. Lulu is a good person who wishes her friend well but their friendship essentially ended when he left 4 years ago.
Now Kai is back on a break from his band, he goes by Kite now, and the break is unexplained and mysterious. There might be a medical issue or there might be drama within the band. Either way, he’s home for awhile and reconnects with Lulu.
Kai/Kite is a sweetheart. I like that the characters bonded over helping a stray cat…don’t worry, the stray cat gets hurt but I promise you the kitty is ok.
I thought this book looked at an interesting side of fame: how it affects the people who stayed behind, we see the impact Kai’s fame has had on big Lulu and his sister Connie.
Really enjoyed this book and flew through it!
May 1, 2022
Lulu is the girl next store to K-Pop idol Kai, whose stage name is Kite. She hasn't seen him in four years, since Kai left their New Jersey town in middle school to pursue his dream in South Korea. Both families are Chinese, and all of the characters are East Asian, though I think only the offstage idols are Korean. No judgment there, just observing what a worldwide phenomenon K-Pop is, and with a fierce fandom. The book is named for Kite's band, Karnival's fan community, the Fireworks, who flip out when it's announced that Kite is taking a break for health reasons. While the Fireworks assume Kite is still in Korea, he's actually hiding out in his childhood bedroom, spending time with his childhood best friend.
Of course neither Lulu nor Kai is exactly a child anymore, and the plot is a will-they-or-won't-they story. All of the characters are likable. Kai, or Kite, as Lulu calls him, suffers a bit of the perfect-YA-boyfriend syndrome, but that's the convention, so whatever. I think K-Pop YA is especially appealing because some of the world building is already done, in that it has such an established culture.
PS Author Lin is a librarian, and one of the characters attends college at MPOW.
Of course neither Lulu nor Kai is exactly a child anymore, and the plot is a will-they-or-won't-they story. All of the characters are likable. Kai, or Kite, as Lulu calls him, suffers a bit of the perfect-YA-boyfriend syndrome, but that's the convention, so whatever. I think K-Pop YA is especially appealing because some of the world building is already done, in that it has such an established culture.
PS Author Lin is a librarian, and one of the characters attends college at MPOW.
June 3, 2022
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This has some drama--especially in the second half--but the aspect I appreciate most about this book is how grounded it is. Lulu's relationships with her friends and family are heartwarming in their depth and in their stability. I was also glad to see that Lin described Lulu's regular teenage activities (going to parties, hanging out at amusement parks, having sleepovers with her friends); it feels like not many authors of YA novels know how teenagers really act. And, of course, Lulu's relationship with Kite is swoony and sweet. (I wish we had gotten to explore more of Lulu's sexual identity, but I'm glad there's some LGBTQ+ representation from her and her friends.)
This has some drama--especially in the second half--but the aspect I appreciate most about this book is how grounded it is. Lulu's relationships with her friends and family are heartwarming in their depth and in their stability. I was also glad to see that Lin described Lulu's regular teenage activities (going to parties, hanging out at amusement parks, having sleepovers with her friends); it feels like not many authors of YA novels know how teenagers really act. And, of course, Lulu's relationship with Kite is swoony and sweet. (I wish we had gotten to explore more of Lulu's sexual identity, but I'm glad there's some LGBTQ+ representation from her and her friends.)
August 12, 2022
I bought this book as one of the mystery books things that Barnes and Noble does were they write a brief description on the book but you don't know what it is. Honestly the description sounded ridiculous with the whole childhood friend turned k-pop star thing. But curiosity got the better of me and im so glad it did. This book was so cute and I literally couldn't put it down. A great love story plus cats what more could you ask for?
December 1, 2022
Very cute book, characters are lovely. Stephanie and Connie are MVP. Really makes me want to go to Hershey park and blast kpop on the way. Sometimes the thoughts would suddenly end or never fully explained but enjoyed binging this in a day.
November 3, 2022
3.8 stars sweet cute quick read
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