05/31/2021
When her estranged grandmother requires surgery, Korean American cellist Jenny Go, 16, briefly relocates from L.A. to Seoul with her widowed mother. After a critique calls her performance technically proficient but lacking “spark,” Jenny jumps at the opportunity to enliven her playing through a semester of study at Seoul Arts Academy. A number of K-pop trainees and idols also attend SAA, including boy band XOXO, whose lead vocalist, Bae Jaewoo, turns out to be the mysterious Korean boy with whom Jenny had a spark-inducing encounter one L.A. night. As Jenny tries to balance commitment to her own musical aspirations with burgeoning romance under the gaze of ever-present paparazzi, Jaewoo grapples with the pressures of fame and the expectations of his other band members—especially after a previous dating scandal threatened the group’s chance at success. Despite early uneven pacing and information-heavy dialogue, Oh’s (Rebel Seoul) narrative reaches an enjoyable clip that is both accessible to readers unfamiliar with K-pop and pleasing for fans of K-dramas as well as anyone who enjoys a breezy contemporary romance. Ages 13–up. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary. (July)
A dreamy dose of K-pop idols and secret romances.”
%COMM_CONTRIB%Maurene Goo
07/01/2021
Gr 8 Up—High school junior Jenny Go is a technically perfect cello player whose life is dedicated to her craft. When a competition judge criticizes her performance, stating that she has no "spark," she doubts herself and her ability. Soon after, she meets a mysterious guy her age while working at her uncle's karaoke bar in Los Angeles. Jenny and Jaewoo spend several hours together, but at the end of the night, he disappears. Months later, Jenny and her mother move to Seoul temporarily to help her sick grandmother. Jenny starts at a boarding school, makes new friends, and discovers that the mystery guy is enrolled in her school and is a star in a famous K-pop band. She and Jaewoo, at first cautious, fall into a relationship, and she begins to find that "spark" that she was missing. However, as Jenny's time in South Korea ends, she worries that being tied to her could jeopardize Jaewoo's future. This novel includes common YA themes: finding yourself, making adult decisions, understanding your family, finding a soulmate. It is well written, and the characters are likable, relatable, and distinct. VERDICT A layered love story many readers will enjoy.—Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township H.S., Cape May Court House, NJ
2021-05-17
A driven young woman learns to balance expectations and priorities with heart and passion.
A vivid, comical scene of everyday life in Koreatown introduces narrator Jenny Jooyoung Go, a high school junior and classical cellist aiming for a top conservatory. While her single-minded focus yields technical perfection, competition judges deem Jenny lacking in soulful spark. Her Uncle Jay advises her to experience more of life and broaden her horizons. An opportunity soon beckons, and the plot unfolds like a minidrama amid the Los Angeles Korean Festival, launching Jenny and her new acquaintance, Jaewoo, on an accidental adventure that foreshadows romance. When her mom, a widowed immigration lawyer, needs to return to Seoul to care for her dying mother, Jenny negotiates to go along for her first visit to Korea. Attending Seoul Arts Academy, Jenny witnesses the institutional grooming of K-pop idols—including (surprise!) classmate Jaewoo, who, as it turns out, is popular band XOXO’s lead singer. She also shares in the student performers’ duty-bound lives: Behind the glamour, they are burdened with obligations to their communities that can require sacrifice of their personal happiness. Themes of responsibility, regret, and reconciliation weave through the intergenerational dynamics in Jenny’s family, adding dimension and depth. The author incorporates Korean honorifics to convey a conversational tone and signal dialogue occurring in both languages.
K-pop helps a cellist develop musically and emotionally in this novel filled with humor and theatrics. (Fiction. 13-17)
Immensely fun, funny, and romantic.”
Simply put, this book made me happy. I guess you could say . . . I’m just a big fan.
A feel-good, page-turning, swoony read!
With fun K-drama vibes, XOXO delivers a lot of heart and warmth in its protagonist who stays true to herself to the very end.
When it was over, I immediately wanted to read it for the first time again.
An utterly delightful love song dedicated to the intersection between dreams and romance."
A handwritten letter to falling in love and opening yourself up to the world. A delicious treat!
A dreamy dose of K-pop idols and secret romances.”
A sparkling story of self-discovery—I was utterly charmed.
"Jenny's journey is never defined by her love story but instead pushed forward by stolen moments that will make romance fans swoon. At its core, this is a beautifully written coming-of-age story that will remind readers love for a friend, family, your art, and a partner can all find space in your heart."
"This book was pure joy to read. If you're looking for a lighthearted, fresh, and fun romance, Oh's latest is absolutely for you"
"Jenny's journey is never defined by her love story but instead pushed forward by stolen moments that will make romance fans swoon. At its core, this is a beautifully written coming-of-age story that will remind readers love for a friend, family, your art, and a partner can all find space in your heart."
