XOXO

We all know it by this point, but social media sells books. I don’t know who retweeted a two-sentence synopsis of Axie’ Oh’s contemporary young adult novel XOXO in my feed on Tuesday when it released, but I was immediately smitten by the cover art and concept. IMMEDIATELY smitten as in ordered it online POSTHASTE. One-day shipping worked its magic and this K-pop and K-drama inflected love story arrived in the mail yesterday after lunch. Despite taking all-day teacher training classes this week (or maybe because of that?!), I read it in one afternoon and evening. As I write this review I am like, aglow with the cute, the fun, and the excellent chain of decision-making that led me to this book and its dreamy, secret romance.

Jenny Go is a talented and driven Korean-American girl living in L.A., attending a performing arts school, and planning her future. Her goal: to get into the best music school possible to achieve her dream of becoming a concert cellist. In her free time, she works at her Uncle Jay’s karaoke bar. When her uncle challenges her to be more spontaneous and live life in the moment, it leads her to an unexpected and perfect night out with a mysterious boy from Korea. But Jenny has a plan, and one encounter isn’t going to change her path… right? When an unexpected chance to travel to Korea presents itself, Jenny goes. There she meets her maternal grandmother for the first time, finds friends, and… runs into that boy from that one night in L.A.… only it turns out he’s a K-pop star. Jenny will have to grapple with secrets, figuring out what she values above all, and deciding whether a relationship is worth possibly losing everything you’ve worked for and dreamed about.

First things first: this is an adorable teen romance that deals with having big dreams and matching expectations for success, what celebrity culture means for the celebrity and those around them, and culture shock and the strangeness (and fun exploration) that comes with moving to a new place. It’s also a charming YA romance with supportive family members, healthy ambition, sweet friendship dynamics, and just the right amount of tension – Jaewoo and Jenny must keep their situation-ship under wraps for the sake of his budding career. There’s lots of fluff, and very little angst, to use fanfiction terms.

My favorite bit: Jenny! She’s a grounded soul: a little guarded, but a good listener and observer, passionate about music, and if you don’t fall in love with Seoul through her eyes (and through the food she eats!) then I don’t know what to tell you! I want to book a trip there like, now. I also loved the introduction to the way that the K-pop idol “machine” works! I had no prior knowledge about K-pop or going in, and I got the context I needed through author Oh’s descriptions. I also appreciated the seamless inclusion of Korean language throughout the text. The feel, sound, smell, and tastes of Seoul (and L.A.’s Koreatown) set the stage for Jenny’s adventures and were a major strength of the book.

If I wanted anything more from this novel it would have been interactions between Jenny and her mother and grandmother. I could sense a deep well of love in their relationships, but it all plays a very secondary role to the main romance (as it should, to keep the story tight and moving along). If this story is ever made into a movie – and it 100% should be! – I would hope that they build out more plotlines based on Jenny’s family (and Jaewoo’s family, for that matter!). The scenes Oh included were heart-warming. And if I’m already creating a wishlist, let’s get to know the other members of XOXO too! I want follow-up books that feature Sun and Youngmin at the least (and Nathaniel and Sori deserve happy endings too, yes, okay, FINE!).

In all, XOXO is a hug in book form. I like books with high stakes as much as anyone, but every now and then it’s lovely to read something wholesome, heartfelt, with a light dose wish-fulfillment, and travel through it to a new place. XOXO is that book.

Recommended for: fans of young adult fiction and romance, anyone with an interest in K-pop or celebrity culture, and fans of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I've Loved Before.

“Cellist Jenny Go has one thing on her mind: getting accepted into her dream music school in Manhattan. After receiving a critique about lacking artistry, she gives in to a moment of insanity and spends the night roaming the streets of Los Angeles with a boy she’s just met at her uncle’s karaoke bar. The night ends as quickly as it began, but the pair exchange contact information. When Jaewoo stops responding to her texts, she does her best to forget him and focus on music . . . until she moves to South Korea for a semester and finds out he’s a student at her new school. Not only that, he’s a member of XOXO, a new K-pop band taking the world by storm. Now a relationship is a possibility, but it means sacrificing their respective music paths. Will Jenny choose cello over Jaewoo, or is she willing to give up her dream for the boy she’s falling in love with?”

I don’t consume contemporary romance on a regular basis, but I turned to “XOXO” to fill a hole left by the disappointing romance in my last read. Unfortunately I didn’t fully connect with Jaewoo and Jenny as individual characters therefore their romance did not interest me in the slightest. Jaewoo was fine but not particularly interesting; he actually reminds me of myself which makes sense because I’m pretty boring. I didn’t like Jenny’s irresponsibility every time Jaewoo was in the near vicinity, missing cello practices and cancelling plans with friends. I understand this behavior is normal for a teenage girl with a boy on her radar, but it always irks me.

Setting my romance disappointment aside, the writing is well done, and I flew through every single chapter. My favorite part was Seoul Arts Academy. I was fully invested in the goings-on at SAA and might’ve given this book a higher rating if it was centered around the school and students. I also loved all the mentions of food, even though it made me insanely hungry. Every single dish sounds delicious, and I need to find a local Korean restaurant ASAP. Those factors saved this book, bringing my rating to a total of three stars. I think “XOXO” will appeal much more to readers of this genre who are used to cute romances and young adult behavior. I can only handle so much before I’m annoyed so I’m definitely not a member of the target audience. However, the friendships and school shenanigans won my heart so I will be rereading this book in the future.

Trigger Warnings:

Dieting: In Chapter 13, eBook page 99, Angela asks why Gi Taek isn’t eating. He replies that he’s on a diet, & she remarks that he shouldn’t skip meals. On eBook Page 120, Gi Taek mentions being on a diet again.

Content Breakdown:

*Disclaimer: I am very thorough so just know that this section might contain spoilers.

Grammar & Spelling

eBook Page 75 - “ . . . having never been this situation before” instead of “. . . having never been in this situation before”

eBook Page 82 - “A familiar figures steps from the wings . . . ” instead of “A familiar figure steps from the wings . . . ”

eBook Page 184 - “An hour and half later . . .” doesn’t make as much sense as “An hour and a half later . . .”

eBook Page 193 - “ ‘Okay, now I think that everyone’s,’ Ian says . . .” instead of “ ‘Okay, now I think that’s everyone,’ Ian says . . .”

Language

B*tch - Said twice

B*llsh*t - Said once

D*ammit - Said 3 times

D*mn - Said 8 times

G*d - Said 19 times

Scr*w [everyone else] - Said once

Sh*t - Said twice

Sh*tty - Said once

Sl*t - Said twice

Religion

Chapter 27, eBook Pages 192 to 196 - During their camping trip, some of the Seoul Arts Academy students hike up the campsite mountain to a shrine dedicated to the located mountain sansin (deity).

Sensual/Sexual Moments

Chapter 16, eBook Pages 113 to 116 - While alone in a closet, Jaewoo & Jenny almost kiss before the door abruptly opens.

eBook Page 168 - Jaewoo & Jenny kiss on a swing set while alone in a park at night. On eBook page 181 Jenny says that they “made out for half an hour.”

eBook Page 177 - Sori tells Jenny that there will be very little adult supervision on the school camping trip so she might have a chance to “get into Jaewoo’s pants.”

eBook Page 208 - Kissing

eBook Page 210 - Jenny tells Jaewoo all about her first experience at a bathhouse, humorously saying her friends Angela & Sori saw more of her than her mom in recent years. He suggestively texts back “I wish I could have been there.”

eBook Page 214 - Jenny runs off to meet Jaewoo, & Gi Taek says “Have fun. Don’t get pregnant.”

eBook Page 215 - Jaewoo & Jenny hug & kiss in a fifth floor corner of the school, a blind spot from the security cameras.

eBook Page 229 - Jenny tells Sori to cover for her at the dorms because she’s staying at Jaewoo’s mother’s apartment due to the rain. Sori suggestively texts back “GET IT GIRL!!!!!”

eBook Page 231 - Jenny falls in asleep in Jaewoo’s bed. He eventually wakes her up, & she goes back to his sister Joori’s room.

eBook Page 248 - Kissing

eBook Pages 248 to 249 - Jaewoo & Jenny reserve a karaoke room for thirty minutes, Once they turn on some music, they spend the whole time kissing. Aside from removing each other’s shirts, nothing else happens.

I was immediately immersed in this beautiful YA rom-com. The characters, scenes and descriptions are masterfully crafted by author Axie Oh, without a single wasteful word. This tale is truly magic. And such a joy to read. And the food! I am so hungry now!

This is the tale of Jenny and Jaewoo. Jenny is an introverted cello player and Jaewoo is a K-pop hero. I didn't really know much about K-pop until a few years ago when I saw a Conan O'Brien episode where he goes to South Korea and takes part in a K-pop band as well as a Korean soap opera (along with other adventures). The Conan episode was super fun and charming but this book, with it's lavish and just-right descriptions, is even more so. All the action, drama, adventure, and romance is right here. And it's all so graceful and thoughtful.

Jenny and Jaewoo meet in an L.A. karaoke bar (quite the adventure), and soon (a few months) afterwards they're attending the same school in Seoul. Their characters and friends and family and all the intermingled relationships are a joy to experience. From the very first page to the very last, this tale is absolutely epic. I cannot wait to own it in print. (Have you seen the absolutely beautiful book cover? Inside, it's words, flow and story exceed the amazing cover art.)

Don't miss out. I promise you'll not be disappointed.

Hello perfect meet cute. XOXO was a delightful quick and easy read. I devoured the novel even though all I wanted to do was savor in its perfectly orchestrated, manicured, K-pop fanatic novel.

As Jenny travels to South Korea the exploration of a new place for her, we a gifted through Oh’s
storytelling. You know the saying show don’t tell, it’s captured to a tee within XOXO. You can feel the buzz of the city, the school and especially in the fans.

The characters, they come alive. They embrace their paths and we see the commitment they have made to their future selves. It’s remarkable. The growth of friendship is presented in such an organic manner that it’s a bit alarming.

This was definitely and unexpected book for me. I had hoped to like it but instead found myself in awe of it.

Side note, I did attempt to listen to XOXO I’m audio format. I personally wasn’t a fan. I felt the singular narrator just did not work, and think it would have benefited from a male and

Jenny is an award winning cellist, which is looking to study at a music school for college. Jenny had spent a good portion of her life picking practice over fun until she meets a boy one night named Jaewoo. One night and they don't speak after that. Until 3 months later that is, when Jenny and her mother go to visit with her grandmother in Korea and Jenny sees Jaewoo at her new school. This is when Jenny discovers Jaewoo is a huge K-Pop star and he still has eyes for Jenny.

This was so much fun. This was written like a K-drama with the teen idol and the girl that falls for him. You have the supportive friend group that is like one big found family. Supportive blood relatives on both sides. Supportive and encouragement, with a few external temptations for love. Such a great time.

This was way less angsty than a lot of the other K-dramas I have seen. I didn't feel the suspense, even when they were just kind of talking. I wish there had been more angst. Overall, this book was a mellow progression into the relationship and super enjoyable. I loved their relationship and how it progressed. I highly recommend this.

XOXO is so adorable!

Jenny, a cellist, works at her Uncle's karaoke joint and when it's time to kick out a straggler she meets Jaewoo, K-Pop idol in a band called XOXO.

But Jenny doesn't know this. For the one day they spend together running around LA she and Jaewoo create a spark. Jaewoo leaves in a hurry, leaving Jenny longing to know what could have been if he stayed.

Jenny finds out later her mother has to leave LA to go to Seoul to stay with her mother after finding out she has cancer. Jenny takes this as an opportunity to finally meet her grandmother and find out more about her roots, while also going to a Korean music school.

At the music school she bumps into Jaewoo and finds out officially that he is in a K POP band and going to the same school.

****

I really liked this book and the cute romance between Jenny and Jaewoo. As much as I liked the romance and the school aspect of the story, I do wish we got more time with Jenny's grandmother and learned more about her father's passing. I did feel like the story focused more of the school drama and the romance which is okay but I hoped for just a little more substance and more family moments.

4.5 stars

This was a super cute romance between an American teen, Jenny, and an angsty K-pop star, Jaewoo, who meet in a karaoke bar in the United States, but she doesn't know he's famous. After one wonderful evening, he disappears and never answers any of her texts.

But then her grandmother in Korea gets sick, and Jenny transfers to a prestigious music school in Seoul so she and her mom can be there for her. She's shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student there too, and not only that, he's a member of the fast-rising K-pop group XOXO and forbidden to date. Both Jenny and Jaewoo struggle to balance their responsibilities and dreams for the future with their fast-growing connection.

This was a fascinating peak into K-pop culture and the level of pressure put on band mates. Jenny embraces her new community in Korea with an open heart, and you're rooting for her to not lose any of them. I loved the scenes with her grandmother, where Jenny learns to better understand both her mother and herself. This boarding school book has great tropes - forbidden romance, roommate drama, and famous boyfriends. The perfect read for when you want something cute and sweet.

I loved loved XOXO. It was the perfect book I needed. Well written and a lot of fun.

So if you have ever seen the K-Drama EXO Next Door this reminded me a lot of that. Which made me so incredibly happy, I’ve been looking for something that captures that feeling for a long time. I loved that it’s this fun idea of an idol and regular person (even though she is talented on her own) meeting by chance. Really this needs to be it’s own K-drama.

I loved Jenny. She is a talented cellist who has all the needed technique but has been so focused on it that she has lost her spark. Her Uncle offers a bit of a challenge and she finds herself taking some risk. I really liked seeing her develop from someone who is so focused on their goals that they lost sight of other parts of themselves. To find how she can have all the things, she just needs balance.

There are so many other characters to love and I don’t even want to delve into them too much because it’s fun to get to know them through the story but I loved Jaewoo as well. It was fun to see his character evolve as well as he deals with his own issues of being a Kpop idol. There are just so many great and cute moments.

It’s always hard to put into words when you love a book sooo much how great you think it is. This book makes me smile when I see the cover. I can’t wait to reread it when I need a pick me up. I just really really really want this as a K-Drama or I would even take a Manwha or maybe both.

The sweetest meet cute. If you like K-pop, karaoke, and YA that takes place in other countries, this is the one for you.

Truly one of my favorite reads of 2021. Perfect for romance and swooning, all the book love for this.

Also take of the dust jacket and appreciate the design underneath. Beautiful.

This book is really good and I love it! It has a great storyline that isn’t difficult to follow!