K-Pop Revolution: review

This smashing sequel to K-POP CONFIDENTIAL absolutely SLAYS. If you haven't read the first book, find it here

Stephan is a YA lover, ardent K-pop fan, and journalist. He currently works as Senior Editor at Bustle after a five-year stretch covering books and movies at Entertainment Weekly. At EW, he traveled to Seoul for three weeks to write a feature about Korean entertainment’s world domination, interviewing K-pop idols and Korean filmmakers. He earned an MFA in Creative Writing at The New School.

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Title: K-Pop Revolution

Author: Stephan Lee

Publisher: Point

Release Date: April 5th 2022

Genre: YA

Links: AMAZON/ GOODREADS/B&N/TARGET/BOOKSHOP.ORG

She thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finish line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only Candace's company judging her—it’s the entire world. How will she find the courage to stand by her beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence her...

In the sequel to K-Pop Confidential, Candace is a Rookie idol. Her life is suddenly filled with the fans, cameras, and glamor of stardom: She and her boyfriend, YoungBae, are a K-Pop power couple; she’s a walking icon at Brandt Foreign School; and her new girl group, known simply as THE GIRLS, is poised to break records across the industry. With her status as the industry’s K-Pop Warrior, she has all the clout at her disposal to make waves. Right?

Her label, S.A.Y., promises to help make the sweeping changes for the industry to become a more humane and compassionate place for artists. But what will happen when the road to a record-breaking debut isn’t as smooth as they’d planned? When a rival girl group emerges to steal the spotlight, carrying the message of change better than Candace ever could, she’ll have to decide what it’ll cost her and her bandmates to stand up for their beliefs. And as the world turns against her, with online bullies scrutinizing her every word, there’s only so much that one person can take.

From the top of the world to the brink of disaster, Candace is going to have to figure out why the world is out to get her. And she’s not going to be able to do it alone.

How far does one girl need to be pushed to start a K-Pop Revolution?

Big thanks to Edelweiss for making my dream come true!

Quick note: I own two copies of K-Pop Confidential and one of them is signed and I will flex that until the day I die.

Ok, reasons to read: this doesn't suffer from the sophomore slump. At. All. Also, idols, MVs to die for and an ending that will have you screaming

Personal rating: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, this book is definitely an 11! (that's an IVE reference btw. ;)

Candance is feeling the repercussions of her tea spilling at the end of book one, but things start to look up when SAY decides to use her popularity to debut her after all. They say they're trying to change the way things are done in the industry. Que in the real hard work. On top of school, Candance has to balance dance practice, friendships, and making sure she stays true to herself.

The stakes have been raised. THE GIRLS have become one of the most anticipated K-pop groups of all time.

My favorite thing about these books is that the author keeps us in a state of fantasy while dripping into some sad facts of reality in the K-pop industry, but it was the state of the girl's feet that truly shocked me. I reminded me of an interview I read a while back about a K-pop star who talked about how deformed her feet became after becoming an idol. Those long hours of practicing and touring and fan meets etc must be Hell. It continues to surprise me how determined K-pop trainees are and how long they train for that tiny chance of debuting someday while some never get a chance in the spotlight. Never mind the strict diets, dating bans, and the fact that the industry sucks the life of these groups. But there is always room for change and I feel like some of the things Candance fought for could become a reality in K-pop nowadays.

I went off on a tangent and I am NOT editing that bit because my fingers are cramping bahaha

Overall, I devoured this book. I have some predictions for book three (there is going to be one, right?) and I hope it goes the way I see it going, but knowing the author, he's going to blow it out of the park. Fans of the first book are going to LOVE this one. :D

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐