More review catch up from last year, but I’m almost done! Hopefully I will have new books to review soon.
About the Book
Title: XOXO
Author: Axie Oh
Series: none
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Pages: 352
Edition Read: Kindle eBook
Dates Read: November 19-21, 2023
Blurb: Cello prodigy Jenny has one goal: to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious, handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. But in a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure…before he disappears without a word.
Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she’s enrolled for the semester. And he’s not just any student. He’s a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world—and he’s strictly forbidden from dating.
When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.
Review
This book was so damn cute!
I had never heard of this book or this author. The main reason that I read it was because I was looking around on Kindle Unlimited to find something for the “X” spot on my A-to-Z Challenge last year. I’ve also mentioned that I’ve gotten into K-Pop over the recent years, so this book just called out to me.
The romance was really sweet, with almost Romeo & Juliet vibes (the modern take, where it’s seen as a real love story instead of just a major cautionary tale). I could relate to Jenny. She reminded me of me when I was in high school – super focused on music and not really paying attention to much else. Of course, I never had a super cute Korean pop star sweep me off my feet, but what can you do? Jaewoo is also a sweetheart, put in a really difficult situation. His fellow bandmates are also really cute (although their group name, XOXO, was way too similar to a real K-Pop group called EXO, and it kept tripping me up)..
The story line is super predictable. They meet by chance, get separated, come back together by chance, and end up happy ever after (mostly – there are lots of complications with Jaewoo’s position and the media rumor mill that surrounds celebrities, which I did think was handled rather well). If you’re looking for something super deep and thought provoking, this isn’t the book you’re looking for. But it’s a really sweet, feel good little teenage romance and I definitely enjoyed reading it.
GoodReads rating: 4 stars
Categories: Books I've Read
Life With No Plot 
The teens at my library enjoyed this book, too. I’m looking up similar titles to order for them.
It was just really cute. 🙂