K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee | Book Review

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Disclosure here.

Candace wants to fulfill her dream, but it has its challenges.

Candace Park is a 15-year-old Korean American girl whose parents pressure her to behave like the perfect Korean American daughter. She reluctantly plays the viola, even though her true passion is singing. Candace dreams of becoming a singer, and her chance comes when she sees an ad from S.A.Y, the company responsible for creating the popular SLK K-pop boyband. S.A.Y is searching for talented individuals to audition and become trainees for a K-pop girl band that they are developing as the female version of SLK. Candace’s friends, Ethan and Imani, also K-pop enthusiasts, encourage her to audition. After auditioning, Candace is the only one selected to become a trainee. With the support of her friends, Candace convinces her parents to allow her to go to Seoul, Korea, to train with S.A.Y. However, Candace soon discovers that the world of K-pop is more complex and challenging than she initially thought.

Hold on to your seats because I have the inside scoop on a fantastic book that will take you on a wild adventure! Set in modern-day New Jersey and Seoul, this book is jam-packed with thrilling twists and turns that will keep you hooked until the end.
But that’s only part of it – the book takes you on a journey through Korean culture and language, and you won’t believe how much you’ll learn along the way! You’ll be a pro from Korean manners to K-pop terms in no time. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be thrilled that the book references your favorite K-pop bands like Blackpink. However, my ultimate favorite K-pop band of all time is BTS.

The characters in the book are equally captivating. Candace is an absolute firecracker, and you’ll find yourself rooting for her every step of the way. Imani is a quirky character that will leave you in splits, while Ethan is the life of the party. And let’s not forget about Candace’s amazing parents, who only want what’s best for her.

Now, let’s talk about the girl trainees – these girls are seriously talented! Binna is like a big sister to Candace, and Jinjoo is simply adorable. Aram is a stunning character with a heart of gold, while Helena may start as a bit of a meanie, but she’ll grow on you.

This book is an absolute must-read for K-pop fans who love a story that inspires them to be themselves and be a little extra! Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down.

My rating