I wasn't into the book at all. I had to force myself to keep reading and I ended up skimming over everything. It felt way too cliché and childish for me. The voice of the main character was just . . . ignorant, at best.

4.5
TW: depression, self harm, parental neglect, low self esteem, betrayal

This was so cute. The relationship between Merri and Lee was just so heartwarming. There were so many moments where I was laughing out loud or just cheesy smiling.
I really liked Merri’s character arc throughout the story. She started off with low self esteem when dealing with the fact that her mother left her and her father. From that moment I connected with the character and knew that all her feelings were genuine. Another thing I also like about her is her passion for art. Sometimes contemporary novels forget the main character’s favorite activities but her love for drawing remained a constant throughout the book.
One thing that seemed kind of weird was the fact her knowledge of anything K-Pop related was nonexistent. I feel like every teenager knows about K-Pop whether they love it or don’t listen to it.
The plot line of her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend is kind of predictable. Not only because of the synopsis because the minute he got introduced it was either he cheats on her or they drift apart. In the end it was kind of both so not surprised.
Lee’s character brings a kind of warmth to the story after everything that happened but also brings a serious note to the story. He really shows that being famous might seem nice to the fans but there are negative aspects to it. I think that side of him made him more real in a sense.
Their relationship and banter with each other was funny and adorable. They have that best friend vibe in the beginning which kind of makes the romance so much better in my opinion.
The ending could have used some work. It kind of left a “meh” feeling. Which kind of makes me wonder if the sequel is about them or another couple. Personally I don’t think their story needs to be continued and I think it left at a point in their relationship where if the sequel is about them it might fall into an unnecessary book category.

I'll start by saying that this is the perfect book for when you are looking for something light, sweet and with a guaranteed happy ending or in summary when you need to escape your own life.
The writing was not exceptional and there were some tiny cliches mainly when it came to some of Merri's behaviors and most importantly the beginning of the book that was too predictable but other than that I can't really complain.
If you are alive then you are at least marginally aware of the Kpop and Kdramas phenomenon and how many fans they have all around the world. There are people learning Korean all over Europe because of these bands and shows and even the American shows have begun to notice them. I'm not a Kpop fan, I requested this book just because I had never read a YA romance in which the male love interest was Asian. A lot of people will be reading it because of the Kpop angle though, the only other places I ever found stories about it being Archive of Our Own and Wattpad, so there is space for this kind of books obviously and Kristen noticed it.
With Lee being Korean the author was able to explore an entirely new set of cultural rules and she did it well. I particularly enjoyed the way in which Lee spoke, not when it came to being agrammatical or having an accent but how blunt he was not minding if he was offending someone. I also finished this book with my belly roaring after learning about several different Koran recipes.
I noticed that there is something about books inside books or books that are about another artistic medium that I enjoy and Hart &Seoul is no different. I loved reading about Merri's drawings and cartoons and wish I could see the illustrations she did of Lee and herself meeting, their first drive, Lee carrying her when she sprained her ankle and so on and I did also love to read about Lee ad Merri's best friend dancing and Lee singing and all the tiny details that set him apart from all the other male love interest I read until now.
One of those things were his clothes, that were so different from everything else they were difficult to imagine but I'm sure he pulled them off because Lee is amazing. The other was the fact that he often wore makeup and I loved that! In no way was ever hinted that he was less masculine because of it and there was even a tiny mention of Lee helping Merry applying her own eyeliner because he often wore it as well. The only part I disliked was the fact that when he wore it the author called it "guyliner". You don't need to gender makeup to make sure we know he is a man!
Despite the general lightheartedness of the book, the story does have some very heavy themes like parental abandonment on Merri's side and Lee's darker side not only of fame but also of Kpop and that is the scene that I will always remember this book for.
The book ending felt a bit rushed but I didn't even care because there is going to be a second book and I will Lee and Merri again!
When it comes to the cover, I found it pretty but it's only when you see it up close that you notice all the details. The first time I saw it I didn't even care to open the link because it just seemed so bland.
The entire book has a sense of freshness, lightheartedness, and originality that reminded me a lot of fanfics with the love you can feel emanating from every word.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mascot Books for this ARC.

3.5/5*

I don't know a lot about K-pop personally, but I hear a ton about it from my students on a regular basis, so of course this book grabbed my attention. The classic love story of a celebrity going undercover and meeting someone is always fun, and I loved that this would be adding in some culture shock and clashes.

Very Topical Love Story
K-Pop is everywhere! With groups like BTS blowing up in North America, this romance is so on trend and I loved taking part in it. Merri and Lee are really cute together and their conversations are hilarious. Language barriers are a real thing and it's great that it becomes a source of flirting for them, instead of something awkward or uncomfortable. I also think it's great that this is such a lovely reimagining of classic stories like Notting Hill, love stories that made us root for these couples to make it despite their differences.

Lots of Great References
I really liked that Merri and Lee are both challenged to adapt to each other's cultures. It would have been really easy for Lee to only experience American things, but instead, he introduces Merri to new foods and words and becomes a bonding moment between them. I honestly loved this because it's so beautiful to see relationships like this bridge countries and languages and still be true. Merri and Lee (aka Christmas and Kimchi) learn a lot from each other, and are adorable the entire time.

Coasts Over the Heavy Things
This is not a book that's going to spend a lot of time on the heavy themes that are mentioned, and that felt like a shame. Merri and Lee are both dealing with a lot of trauma, and it would have been nice to see them really working on these aspects of their lives. It's really just glossed over and that was a missed opportunity to turn this light romance into a really beautiful story about love, trust, and support. It was a cute story, but it won't go any deeper than that.

This was a really cute story and a perfect summer read. I'd recommend this to anyone who is a fan of K-Pop (I feel like you'll get more of the references than I did), enjoys light romances, or just wants a cute read. This is not an intense romance, but there's nothing wrong with a light love story!

Hart and Seoul is a cheeky story about your ordinary girl and the average K-pop Idol. Filled with some seriously adorable scenes, but also has some bittersweet and downright hard life lessons.

Highly recommend, even if you're not into K-dramas, crazy fangirls, and kimchi. 😉

Summary
After a few months’ stint in Australia with her dad, Merrilee returns home just in time to see her neighbor’s nephew move in next door. After a rough first meeting, and betrayal at the hands of her closest friends, they begin to strike up somewhat of an odd friendship. Lee is mercurial, cocky, and a huge pain in Merri’s butt--yet she still finds herself wanting to get to know him and attempt to peel back the many layers he’s erected around his heart.

The closer the pair become, the more secretive Lee seems, until Merri is met with the biggest shock of all--Lee is a hugely popular member of the K-POP band, Thunder. When his crazed fans discover where he’s been hiding, major complications arise and put a great strain on Lee and Merri’s blossoming relationship.

There are some false accusations and hurt feelings that fuel a blow up which precedes Lee’s trip back home, leaving Merri to wonder if the last time she’d ever see him will be tainted with bitter memories.


Review
Oh. My. Gosh. Let me just start by saying this: I’m a big fan of K-POP and K-drama, so when I read the blurb for this book I jumped at the opportunity to read and review it. And I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed in the least. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book where I honestly didn’t have anything I disliked while reading it, but I have nothing bad to say about this book.


The Hero
Lee … sigh. Lee is one of the best heroes ever. In a way, he reminds me of Daoming Si from Meteor Garden--and yes, Dylan Wang (the actor who played Si) is totally who I pictured while reading this book, despite the fact that neither Si nor Dylan are Korean, lol. Anyway, he’s got that a-hole vibe at the beginning--which, if you’ve read my reviews, you know that I LOVE a good a-hole hero!--and he’s so cocky and takes great pleasure in giving Merri a hard time. At first, I was afraid he wasn’t going to have any qualities that were redeemable enough for me to grow to like him, but boy, did I not need to worry. Lee is most definitely a tortured soul and there’s so much more to him than meets the eye, which I should have realized at the start. I mean, why else would a super popular K-POP star hide out at his aunt’s house in America if there wasn’t something troubling going on in his life?

Lee is also extremely closed off and it seems to take FOREVER for Merri to finally get to know him below purely surface level. Once this part of his story is revealed, it’s easy to understand why he’s been so unapproachable and difficult. Like I said, there’s so much more to him than meets the eye. He goes on to show Merri how protective and loving he can be; how many demons he’s still fighting and how desperately he just wants to live life his own way. Lee’s emotional turmoil and the consequences of such are so heartbreaking to read--but they’re incredibly important to be aware of.


The Heroine
Merri is easily one of my favorite heroines ever. She’s an artist, she’s sensitive, and she has such a passionate soul. She’s a little snarky and so quick to anger when it comes to Lee, which, in all honesty, lol, is somewhat justified for the most part at the beginning. Merri has a lot to overcome, between her mom abandoning her and her dad to her friends’ betraying her, and now her dad wanting her to give up her dream of going to school for art. Not to mention, her growing fascination and attraction to her new neighbor.

Merri is independent, caring, intelligent, compassionate, and sarcastic. She’s strong willed and determined to follow her dreams, despite the lack of support from her father. Seeing the growth in her character, as well as the pure emotion she feels--which is so beautifully written--was one of the best coming of age arcs I’ve read in some time. I love how there’s actually some depth to this heroine and that she’s big enough to admit when she’s done wrong--and she’s not a sniveling mess around the hero!


The Story
Ugh. This book, this story … it’s just amazing. I loved the subject matter, I loved the characters and the drama, and I loved the smart way Merri handled Lee after they had their blow up. *spoiler* I love that just because Lee confessed he was in love with her didn’t mean she was ready to tell him the same thing. Lee really hurt her and she wasn’t quite ready to be that vulnerable with him. I couldn’t help but inwardly cheer for her during that part because it was so perfect. Sure, I’m a hopeless romantic and I always want the characters to fall in love, but I love that she was smart enough to realize that some trust had been broken and it needs to be rebuilt before that next step is taken. *end of spoiler*

Like I said in the beginning, I love K-POP and K-drama, so this was right up my alley. Everything about this book kept me wanting more; the drama between the friends, the angst, the developing relationship between Merri and Lee, Lee’s backstory--all of it.

While obviously K-POP (and to an extent, K-drama) plays a large role in this book, you don’t have to be a fan of the genre to enjoy the story. At the heart of it are two young people simply trying to find their own ways in the world and attempting to grapple with their growing feelings for one another. It’s also a wonderful story of overcoming your past, fighting insecurity and heartbreak, and learning to stand on your own two feet. Romantic love is a huge part of this story, but so is self love and discovering who your true friends really are.


Conclusion
This is a definite 5 star read for me. I just loved it so much! I’m hoping the author continues Lee and Merri’s story because there’s still so much that can be done with it. I’d like to see how they handle Lee being on tour and how much their relationship will develop and grow. Also, what’s going to happen when Lee has to enlist in the military--which is a requirement in Korea? Mostly, I just want more of these two because there’s such potential for an incredible, all-consuming love that I would love to see develop.

I highly, highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys young adult novels with some romance <3

Happy reading!!

I really love this book! From first to last page! It seems öile Bella and Edwars are reborn in a K-Pop drama. The story is very detailed and gives you a good impression of K-Pop phenomenon. I recommend this book to everyone how loves a good lovestory.

This book was not my type, I do recommend but again I didnt enjoy reading this. It was too confusing for me and I didnt like the chemistry between the characters.

First off - I know zero about K-pop, but that didn't stop me from loving every bit of this book.

I highly enjoyed this book. I read this baby within a day and it left me craving more.

The story itself was cute and something you wanted to experience yourself - meeting a rockstar and falling in love. A mutual love, not just you being weird and obsessive. The language flowed easily and the pacing was solid.

The characters were easily likeable (those who deserved to be liked) and I just wanted to jump into the book and give Merri a big hug for all the crap that happened to her throughout the story. Merri is a character that, in one way or the other, you can relate to as a girl. Hopefully not in the way that your boyfriend cheats on you with your best friend, but you know, other stuff.
Lee is your classic moody, broody and mysterious boy-next-door, whom Merri does not see eye-to-eye with in the beginning until she gets to know him and his massive secret.

All in all, a highly entertaining and quickly-read book that I can see myself rereading when I need something quick and sweet.

<k>I voluntarily read and reviewed and advanced copy of this book, received through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.</k>

If you're into kpop, dramas or Korean culture in general you're probably going to love this. If you don't, you'll probably think this is another cliché and fluffy romance story about an ordinary teenage girl and a popstar. The main storyline is quite easy to sum up: girl meets boy, they don't really like each other. Drama ensues. Boy falls for girl, girl falls for boy. Girl discovers boy is a runaway K-pop idol in hiding. More drama ensues.

If I'm to be completely honest, I was aware from the very first moment that the chances of me liking this book were slim. While it is a fun read and the Korean references can be enjoyable for kpop fans, for me this book felt like another of those fanfics with "inserte your name" as the main character. However, one thing I did like -and I think it is very important to point out- is how the author addresses the pressure suffered by Korean idols. While I'm not the biggest kpop fan, I enjoy watching the occasional Korean drama and from what I could see, the celebrity world in Korea is insanely harmful. Celebrities train from childhood and have to live in this image of perfection and goodness and rectitude and it just seems so awful and impossible to do. And this can have consequences such as mental health issues, which are hidden under this façade of shiny glamorous happiness until, some times, it is too late.

This one reminded me of one of those titles that just didn't know what it wanted to me. It started out with the content of the story are these characters teens or are they adults? Because, at times they felt like both and this book is sectioned as both young adult and new adult. The story is definitely a weird one. I would recommend this one to someone who die hard loves K-Pop and romance.



Go Into This One Knowing: K-Pop, Romance

This book was so cute and fluffy and swoon worthy I loved every second of it but it does have some hard topics in it also but it still was a good read

Thank you to NetGalley and Mascot Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Merilee Hart is doing everything she can to keep her life together after her mother left. Her art has become her escape from the world and it’s where she can creatively log the things that happen in her day-to-day life.

A few days after returning from Australia with her father Merilee, or Merri to most, happens to notice that her next door neighbour has a new house guest in the form of her enigmatic nephew. It doesn’t take long for Merri to realise that Lee is moody and utterly infuriating. Not only that but Merri is quick to uncover that she has been betrayed by her two closest friends and is left feeling very vulnerable.

She soon finds herself drawn to Lee and after spending some time with him comes to find that he isn’t anything like she first thought. He’s funny, he’s kind and he definitely has a sparkle to him.

It isn’t long till her life is thrown out of the loop when she realises that Lee is actually a member of the K-Pop mega group Thunder and is currently in hiding and taking a break away from the fame. It doesn’t take long for the fans to try and close in on where Lee is hiding and are ready to do whatever they can to return him to his rightful place in the band.

Merri is not only faced with the fans but with the looming prospect of heart-break as she begins to fall for the singer. After a misunderstanding Merri must learn how to pick up the pieces, gain control of her life and pursue her dreams as an artist.

Now, I’m not a huge fan of K-Pop and was scared to start this book incase I didn’t understand the references. I’m thoroughly glad I did read this. The characters are so well written and I was completely hooked from the first chapter
.
Merri goes through so much in this book that my heart goes out to her. Not only is she fighting her dad over her future prospects but her friend’s have betrayed her in the worst way possible. Lee is honestly the only thing that keeps her going.

The humour, for me, was on point and had me laughing to myself but most of all Kristen Burnham made me fall in love with Merri and Lee. I recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, light-hearted read with a sprinkle of K-Pop on top.

Absolutely lovely in every way. I won’t forget this book and it’s words for a long long time. Completely unforgettable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mascot Books for letting me read an advanced readers copy for my honest review.

<i>Hart and Seoul</i> is the debut book for Kristen Burnham. I found this book...adorable. There were some hard things discussed in it, but I feel like it's things that teens are facing now. Especially with the rise of internet bullying and social media.

First I'm going to talk about what I wasn't a fan of with the book. The spelling/mispronunciation of some of the Korean words. The biggest one - <i>deh</i>. I'm not sure if Ms. Burnham had looked at any Korean language tutorials or if she speaks Korean, or how she did her I research. I'm Korean - with a mother who likes to yell at me in Korean good or bad. Deh is not a word. Neh is the correct way to say and spell 'yes'. Also, <i>bo</i> is not a word either. From the context, it should be <i>mo</i>. The mispellings are the biggest things that I had a problem with in the book. It's not hard to google translate something and get the right answer.

That being said - why I loved this book! It was sweet and lovely. This is the first time I've read a book that had a Kpop star in it. Kristen got a lot of aspects correct in that way. I've heard rumors, but don't actually know any Kpop stars that can confirm. The things they go through are rough. They do start training at an early age and they have to do what the managers say and when they say it. The way that she described the ordeals that people go through when it comes to depression are spot on. These are also things that happen to everyone.

All in all, I recommend <i>Hart and Seoul</i> to everyone! It was an extremely satisfying book and I'm hoping to see more of Lee!

When a book can make you laugh, make you hungry, make you want to travel the world, and make you feel the looks the characters are exchanging, all while highlighting an important topic that is impressive!

This novel is fun, with a capital F. There is romance, but it isn’t graphic and the moments that could be cheesy are endearing because the characters laugh at their own cheese factor. There is K-Pop music with obsessed fans, but not in a way that feels fake and certainly not in a way that makes you wish for fame. Most of all, there are two main characters and a supporting cast that through a short novel manage to grow, love, hate, and become the friends you didn’t know you needed. Hart & Seoul is one of the books that has characters you wish you could hang out with in real life which is always a sure way to make me love a reading experience. The writing is fun and light and the sprinkling of Korean and Australian words and confusion over sayings is just right making the book speed by while many months are covered in the book’s timeline. Because of the way that passage of time is handled, the end of the books seems fitting and doesn’t end with a quick fix which can be a common pitfall of shorter YA books.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for an enjoyable book, needing a laugh, getting over heartbreak, jamming out to K-Pop on the regular, or anyone who has learned who their friends are the hard way. Just don’t read this one on an empty stomach! No kimchi for me, but I’ll be ordering in bibimbap tonight!

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Merri comes home from a summer abroad to discover that her boyfriend and best friend have betrayed her. Luckily, she's distracted from her broken heart by the gorgeous but grumpy Korean boy, Lee, who has moved in next door. They're just starting to get past hating each other when she discovers his secret: Lee is a member of Thunder, one of the most popular K-Pop bands in the world. Why is he hiding out in Virginia? And will he break Merri's heart all over again when he inevitably has to go back to his real life of being a global superstar?

I know absolutely nothing about K-Pop, but I got completely swept up in this book. I've read several others where the heroine is Korean-American, and I often feel lost (like the American hero) as she introduces him to K-Pop and Korean foods that I'm unfamiliar with. Here, the heroine is the American who introduces her Korean neighbor to American food and music while he shares kimchee and Korean phrases with her. I really liked the exchange of cultures. Both of them were a little lost to begin with, and their mutual interest in learning what they could was adorable. I liked this set-up much better because the reader was able to learn all the ins and outs of K-Pop along with Merri.

There's a very sweet romance in this book, but there's more to it than that. Merri wants to be an artist, but her dad is absolutely against it so she struggles with getting him to accept the future she wants for herself. Lee has some dark secrets in his past that are part of the reason he's hiding out in America. The story has plenty of fluff, to be sure, but it's got some depth to it, too.

My fave of any K-Pop/K-Drama books I've read to date! And this is the author's debut novel, so I'll be checking out anything she writes in the future.

***Thank you to NetGalley and Mascot Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!***

As someone who knows very little about K-pop, I can't vouch for the authenticity at all. But this novel is fun, with strong chemistry between the two main character. The reader often hits the major beats before the author writes them, but sometimes, that's part of the fun. I also felt the message board/blog posts helped move the story without feeling tacked on or intrusive.

From the beginning, I didn't really like Merri's voice and it took a 1/3 Of the book for me to warm up to her. The dialogue felt forced and awkward in the beginning chapters and it was painful to read how oblivious Merri was to what was going on around her. (We find out in the first chapter that her BF is cheating on her with her BFF)

The fun does build with the arrival of Lee visiting his Aunt for a undetermined hiatus/vacation from Korea. There is mystery surrounding why he is there, and his aunt keeps contriving for Merri and Lee to do things together.

Lee is the reason I kept reading, he is a lovable male lead with a good heart and watching Merri and his little love story unfold was precious! I grew to like Merri a lot more towards the end of the book. This is a cute and fluffy read, I loved learning about Korean culture and food - defininitely need to check out some K-dramas. I also enjoyed that Merri was an artist and she uses comic panels to process and journal her life online.

The author did try to touch on some important topics, some were done fairly well, while others were skimmed over too quickly.

- Popularity/Self Worth - The pressures of social media
- Jealousy - Even if it looks like someone has the perfect life, underneath they may still be struggling.
- Self Harm - Tying into the whole idea, that just because a person appears to have everything, doesn't mean their life is good and healthy.

How the author addressed self harm and attempted suicide was the biggest let down for me. It was only mentioned on one page at the very end of the book and was used more as a big plot reveal, than actively recognizing and addressing the issue. The afterward by the author filled in the blanks some, but as someone who has been directly affected by suicide, it wasn't enough and read more like a statistic than something that would help someone.

If you want to read a cute romance that features two different cultures and somewhat addresses current social issues this book is for you!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC of this book for an honest review.

Review has been posted to Goodreads and will be shared on my Instagram in the month of June.

I had a very difficult time with this book. Don't get me wrong, the subject matter alone was enough for me to give it 5 stars, or more if possible, but there was something about it that really bothered me.

When I saw it available for request, I was so excited, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Luckily for me I didn't have to wait long and I jumped right in as soon as it hit my kindle. I was finished it within the day and I've been struggling with how to review it ever since. There are many problems with it, but the main thing I struggled with was the slight racist tone. I will not pretend that I am anything but white and some of the scenes written bothered me. Merri, the main character refers to Lee Hyungkim as 'Mr. Kimchi' on multiple occasions, she seems to make fun of his superstitions and the way he speaks English. The author uses weird romanized Korean words, which don't really make sense. The constant use of 'deh' instead of 'ne' will haunt me for the rest of my life. What could have been a touching romance, turned into something strange.

All of that being said, the way the author touched on the hardships Korean idols face is important. In her 'Author's notes' she writes about Kim Jonghyun, a member of the group SHINee and his suicide. Being a kpop fan for 10+ years, his death affected me greatly and opened my eyes to the ugly side of Kpop and what the girls/boys/men/women must endure. I thank her for touching on the darkside. I felt like she could do so much more with that angle, but at least she made an attempt.