5 K-Pop YA Books to Tide You Over Until Next Comeback
Interest in all things K-pop is at an all-time high nowadays, with Seoul-based musical acts and artists gaining prominence on radio, television, music and video streaming platforms, and, of course, on social media. But one final frontier for K-pop is literature. While fanfiction and self-publishing have been forums for fan-written stories based on the lives of their favorite stars, 2020 is a milestone year for young adult novels centered around the Korean pop music industry.
Arriving as the latest ripple of the Korean Wave, a.k.a. Hallyu, K-pop YA is having a moment with U.S. publishers, with several books arriving recently that explore the life and times of K-pop stars and idol hopefuls. Some are written by stars themselves, and others by lifelong aficionados or recent arrivals down the K-pop rabbit hole, but they all explore fictionalized versions of this glossy, performance-based world that has become beloved by so many across the globe.
While varied in scope, each book discusses the complexities of K-pop star lifestyles, careers, and training systems. They also delve deep into issues like diversity and representation in media, with main characters making their way from the States to Korea to pursue their dreams after growing up without seeing many Asian faces in Hollywood. With a splash of love and a dash of drama mixed into each novel’s tale of the competitive path towards the stage, these stories may be fictional, but they evoke true-to-life feelings and insights into what it takes to achieve success, and what it’s like to try and make your dreams a reality.
Shine by Jessica Jung
Penned by the former Girls’ Generation member, Jessica Jung’s debut novel centers on Rachel Kim, a Korean-American teenager whose family has moved from New York to Seoul so that she can pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop star. Splitting her days as a trainee and high school student, she faces the ups-and-downs of teenage life with the ramifications of romance and rivalry amplified when corporate company decisions can affect her life, and that of her family.
Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
Out in mid-2019, Somewhere Only We Know was one of the first K-pop-focused YA books to arrive, and the novel updates Roman Holiday for the 21st century. Love and fame clash as K-pop star Lucky embarks on a new stage of her life after a run-in with paparazzo Jack in Hong Kong. The “It” girl soloist has been on top of her career for years, and she dedicated her youth to pursuing her K-pop dream. But when she spends some time outside of the spotlight, she gets to rediscover not only romance, but also herself. (Note: The author of this article provided free consultation for Somewhere Only We Know.)
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K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee
Candace Park isn’t expecting to become a K-pop star when this riveting tale of friendship, love, and passion begins; she’s simply trying to share her voice with the world after years of her mother telling her that singing isn’t her path. Motivated by her closest friends to audition for a major K-pop company’s forthcoming girl group, she makes her way to Seoul, moving into a dorm with other idol hopefuls. Her whirlwind experience is both glamorous and sometimes traumatic as she works to make the cut, making and losing friends along the way as she builds her skills, and her confidence.
I'll Be The One by Lyla Lee
K-pop may look polished in the spotlight, but many of these books touch on the requirements and restrictions put on stars. Lyla Lee’s I’ll Be The One introduces Skye Shin as a plus-size, bisexual teen girl who dreams big despite being told she doesn’t fit into the ideal K-pop star image. Facing fatphobia, the industry’s lofty standards, and a lack of familial support, Skye learns to fight for what she wants.
XOXO by Axie Oh
Though it’s not out until Summer 2021, upcoming YA rom-com XOXO by Axie Oh – a longtime Fin.K.L fan – touches on that swoon-worthy dream of falling in love with the biggest K-pop star around. While attending a music high school in Seoul, a Korean-American cello prodigy connects with the lead singer of the biggest boy band in the country.
