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. XOXO is the perfect kind of unputdownable summer romance that I love to dive into. I read this one in less than 24 hours, because Jenny and Jaewoo's story just hooked me from the start. I am not well-versed in the world of k-pop, but Oh does a great job of defining terms and including readers who are unfamiliar with the world of idols and entertainment companies. The novel has all my favorite tropes: forbidden love, rediscovering family in another country, performing arts school, and a close-knit circle of friends. Some aspects could be called a bit cliché, but in my opinion the overall tone was a light and fluffy romance, so it worked for me. I loved that most of the book took place in South Korea--honestly, all mentions of the delicious food alone was enough to give me the travel bug! In XOXO, plot takes a backseat to character development, which I felt was paced correctly throughout the novel. My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Jenny and her roommate Sori. At first they were adversarial, but the novel subverts the mean-girl trope and the two become close friends (I hope you won't take this as a spoiler since it happens early in the novel). The romance is very sweet--Jaewoo and Jenny cared so much for each other and together both of them had to decide how to balance the important factors in their lives. I think this struggle continues throughout adulthood, where family, relationships, work, and other interests collide and we must figure out how to be our happiest selves. I had such a fun experience reading this novel, and I'd highly recommend XOXO to anyone interested in a fun summery romp with a musical touch. 5 stars.
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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