My K-Pop Secret: Book 1

by J.L. Lee

CNTR (Center) is the top K-pop boy band in South Korea, and everyone is shocked when one of the members disappears right before their performance at the VMAs. Anxious to fill the spot before the big night, the role is given to newcomer, Haneul Kyung, a Korean American college student who aces the auditions. Haneul quickly wins the hearts of fans but clashes with the group’s leader, Jiho. 

What no one knows? Haneul is actually Hana—a girl—and she’s just joined the most popular boy band in the world under false pretenses. With Haneul’s growing fame, Hana will have to choose between her career and her growing feelings for Jiho…

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fiction

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2021

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. It felt like She’s the Man meets Kdrama. I sped through this book so fast. I loved all the different POV’S that were given and just the overall concept was great. I will say my biggest thing with this entire story line is that once you finish this book you have to continue the story on an app where you buy coins and pay per chapter. With this being said, it was such a drag to catch up to current chapters, which by the way it is still on going, it comes out every week. There also are just so many chapters that go by where absolutely no progress is made. There are currently 4 seasons out each have about 70-80 “episodes,” or chapters and there is still no clear resolution — no one besides the same characters in this book know who she is, Jiho is still mean to Haneul and nice to Hana. Youngdo and Hana have gotten closer since Season two and still haven’t progressed in literally over 150 chapters.. Literally every chapter and every POV is left on a cliff hanger.Overall, it seems like this book was reorganized to progress like a novel, but the on going story, while interesting and I will continue to read, has taken up so much of my time is expensive and just overall lacking progression.

[Christy Broderick⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the webcomic, I knew I had to get behind the story to get more details that weren’t already mentioned. I was pulling for Hana every step of the way and cringing in all the moments where she “almost” got figured out as Haneul. Besides getting to learn more about CNTR and the members, I’m glad to have finally picked this book up. Heading over to the Radish app to continue the saga and see what happens next…🎤

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

The eff??? This is NOT a stand alone. It ends on a cliffhanger. Like BAM book closed, NOTHING resolved or sorted and there is no second book available through Amazon that I can find. The story itself is decent although its constant flipping back and forth between different people is semi annoying and feels more like this should have been a k-drama instead of a book.

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good. i skipped over all of doyoon's parts i just didn't care. hate how the second book is on some app. might look it up on z-lib. this is a mulan retelling no one can change my mind. jiho gives STRONG li shang vibes and im not mad about it

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

so upset

Loved the story— but I cannot access the second book unless I download the massive ad of an app the author is pushing. The app itself is ridiculous, do not download it. It’s like paying 1.99 a chapter and you can only read a chapter an hour. Super shame.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun. I liked the two stories. I do think the whole charade was a little absurd and I wish it had been a standalone.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have such mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I really enjoyed the premise and the inside sneak peak at K-pop idol culture. But I am so annoyed that this isn’t a standalone and you can’t purchase or read the book anywhere other than a “pay per chapter” style app. In fact I’m so annoyed, I’d say that the story itself is a 4 star but I have to remove a star for it not being advertised as a cliffhanger - and not being able to easily get your hands on the next book.

As far as the story goes, it’s a cute YA novel with Korean characters set predominantly in New York, as the group CNTR prepares for their first VMAs performance. But when they host a dance competition for a new temporary member “Hanuel” (aka Hana) ends up getting picked and having to fake being a guy as she finds herself their latest member.

I’d like to think in this enemies to lovers plot that the next book is the follow through, but for now, the romance is limited and it left a lot of things unsaid….

[Lydia R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short, pretty fun read. I like romance and I have a weakness for hidden identity stories so I had this on my TBR for a while.

However, I was kind of let down to find that it wasn't a standalone and the second in the series is published on a Wattpad adjacent. It was also quite short and had no definitive ending (which is expected in series but still, I was disappointed).

Anyways, I did have a good time reading it. The characters were fun and the story was interesting. I didn't care that much for the Doyoon subplot: it felt forced.

It's a pretty fun book but it ends on a cliffhanger so I wouldn't recommend if you want a standalone.

[Michele Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read, need part 2!

It was a fun read, for kpop and kdrama lovers, I liked the 2 story lines going back and fourth, but I need to know what happens next lol book 2 please! 😁

[Jordyn Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

i always end up picking the first in a series without paying better attention

[Wynnie97 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the story but there is no way I’m downloading an app and paying by chapter to finish the series -.-‘

[Huijessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not standalone.

I knew it was a fanfic style.

Upset

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the K-drama feel of this cute love story. I wish the story had wrapped up at the end, but now I get to read three more books!! Great read for fans of very unrealistic romance like me :))

[Franzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great and funny book, thus I will give it 4 Stars ⭐️

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

CNTR soll bei den VMAs auftreten, doch dann verschwindet eines der Bandmitglieder. Kurzerhand gibt es ein Casting und Haneul bekommt den Spot. Dumm nur, dass Haneul eigentlich Hana ist…
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Geschrieben ist das Buch aus den verschiedenen Perspektiven der wichtigsten Figuren: Hana, Jiho - der Leader der Band - und der verschwundene Member. So laufen die Handlungsstränge praktisch parallel ab. Hana ist wirklich sympathisch und es ist schon witzig, in was für eine ungünstige Situation sie sich manövriert hat. Jiho ist unglaublich ehrgeizig, was seine beruflichen Ziele angeht, was sehr gut nachvollziehbar ist. Umso interessanter ist die Perspektive desjenigen, dem einfach alles zu viel ist. Praktisch von Anfang an ist die Stimmung zwischen Hana und CNTR sehr aufgeheizt und Hana muss einiges tun, um auch nur ansatzweise etwas zu erreichen, während sie gleichzeitig weiter ihr Geschlecht verbergen muss. Die Handlung ist super spannend und ich hatte viel Spaß beim Lesen. Aber Achtung: Das ist der erste Band einer Reihe mit einem offenen Ende und den zweiten Teil bekommt man nur bei einer App für Geschichten. Deshalb werde ich nicht weiterlesen, auch wenn mir die Geschichte an sich gefallen hat.
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Interessante Perspektiven