Ashwood & Rose Llp | June 2019 | 314 pgs
Source: Authors
I'm a fan of K-dramas; and I do listen to a few K-pop groups. Thus, when the authors of Comeback: A K-pop Novel asked if I'd like to read and review their book, I knew I couldn't pass this up. After all, this story centers around the exciting world of K-pop industry.
Emery Jung, also known as M with rising K-pop boy group NEON, is preparing for their comeback performance when he meets a girl whom he'd lost contact two years ago. Alana Kim, stylist coordinator to girl group, LilyRed, didn't expect she'd literally run into M with a cup of hot tea. And so, their awkward chance reunion begins their journey where they'll learn more about each other alongside the ups and downs they're going through while pursuing their dreams.
For starters, this book is not all about the fame and glam behind the entertainment industry. In fact, it dictates the realities of a life of an idol and one's self discovery and healing after experiencing the loss of a loved one. The former describes Emery, and as we know, name and fame come with a price and that's freedom. And very often, their private life is also being scrutinised and monitored. However, his biggest burden is more towards his family; whereby he feels he has disappointed his father for not going along his wishes of pursuing a business career instead of the entertainment industry in which the span of being an idol is short-lived and that anything could happen. As for Alana, her older brother's suicide has left her raw and hollow, leading her to abandon her love of music until she met Emery again.
This book focus much on the brotherhood among the NEON members, the love struggles between Emery and Alana and most of all, the courage of pursuing one's dreams and love. The reader also gets a glimpse of the insider's K-pop industry but not so much of the Seoul setting though, which I felt a little disappointed. Nevertheless, it was still an entertaining read and I'm curious what the authors will have in store next.
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This sounds like a really fun read! I'm only sad it's not available at my library.
ReplyDeleteLark- It was a fun read. I hope your library will get a hold of a copy soon.
DeleteI'm not so much a K-pop fan, but I love K-drama. It would be interesting to read a book that could easily have been a K-drama plot!
ReplyDeleteJenclair - I rarely come across a book which centres around the K-pop industry so I'm glad to read this. And I'm definitely looking forward to a book which has a K-drama plot. :)
DeleteWhile I don't listen to K-Pop, I think it's great that there is so more much musical variety nowadays. Too bad Seoul is not described as much as I think it would be fun to see it from a teen's/YA perspective but still sounds like a fun book.
ReplyDeleteIliana - It was a fun read. And I agree with you that it's great that there's much more musical variety nowadays than in the past.
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