Shin Hyeri is a Korean-American living in Seoul. Online, she is known as the “scandal princess” because of all the rumors surrounding her. When she has a backstage encounter with the K-Pop star “Moon”, their interaction turns into tabloid fodder. The two soon end up fake-dating each other to save their careers. Soon, the two are dealing with critical anti-fans, industry issues, and their developing feelings for each other. What will happen with their fake relationship? Will it become a real relationship?

The plot is entertaining and gives a no-holds barred approach to K-Pop industry. The character romantic dynamics are a bit lacking, but the characters are charming and relatable. People who like K-Pop, realistic fiction and romantic comedies will enjoy reading this book. Recommended for library collections where romances and realistic fiction are popular. 4 stars, Gr 7 and up.

4.25 stars!

As somebody who used to be really into kpop and korean variety shows this one was a lot of fun! We follow a former kpop idol turned actress who is constantly being dragged by the public. She gets the opportunity to turn her image aro0und but she'll have to be fake married to her former rush whoh is now apart of one of the biggest kpop boy groups. I enjoyed the mixture of friendship drama, and romance! I'm always a sucker for friends-enemies-lovers and it was even more fun with the idol trainee life as the backdrop.

As somebody who watched the korean variety show 'We Got Married' back in the day this was so fun, it could easily picture the show as I read the story. I think this is perfect for fans of fake-marriage, hate-to-love, and the kpop scene!

Thank you to Disney Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review! <3

The eek I eeked when I saw this book was coming out. I loved Once Upon a K-Prom and the little cameo in this book from Robbie and Elena was perfect.

On to Hyrie and Minseok. I adored them. And fake dating {married}?! Yes. One of my most favorite tropes! And second chances?! Happy dance 💃🏻

I did not love her mom. At all. She was the worst. And the worst of this book for me.

I don’t think I am supposed to love her brother as much as I do but 🤷🏻‍♀️

But back to them. I loved their past story (even if it had heartbreaking moments). I love their now story. And even with all the bad that happened to them and around them I just generally loved and enjoyed this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Cho's follow-up to "Once Upon a K-Prom" brings even more K-Drama feels with this romantic comedy featuring Moonster (Moon Minseok) this time and Shin Hyeri, an idol-turned-actress and childhood friend to Moonster. Both battling an image-issue due to recent events, they have to team up on a reality show in order to boost each other up, and of course they fall in love in the process.

I really enjoyed seeing Hyeri get her come-back. She's spunky and full of tentative hope, and I really loved seeing her come into her own once she's given the space to do so. I also enjoyed seeing Minseok (Moonster) grow as a person because of his relationship with Hyeri. Both of them help each other find themselves and open up emotionally and speak up about what they want for once. Their up-and-down relationship is really the heart of this book and there's something so warm about seeing these two mend a broken relationship (broken because they were just kids!) and grow into stronger, more capable adults.

Cho's writing is just so cozy. I felt all warm and fuzzy while reading this book and it reads like a total K-drama. Cho does such a good job of capturing that buzzy, lighthearted romance feel, even while tackling some very intense topics, like anxiety and anger. I think she paced the drama well and was very mindful to keep space for her characters to grow organically. If I could change one thing, it would be to make more space for Moonster's POVs, since it is a duel-perspective novel. I felt that 90% of the POV was Hyeri and I wish it had been a little more balanced.

But overall, I'd say this book is really fun and a strong sequel to the first book. I enjoyed it very much and I read it quickly because it was so light and cozy. I'm not a quick reader, so I know I'm enjoying a book if I wan to keep picking it up and reading it.

This was one of the most adorable, emotional, and HEART WRENCHING ya romances I've ever read. It was like watching your favorite K-Drama about your favorite K-Pop stars. I might even dare to say it was better than book 1... and I LOVED book 1.

What was great about this story was that you don't even have to read book 1 (although I would recommend it). This story stands entirely on its own. I loved Hyeri with everything in me. The reasons she spent a lot of her time alone were so sad but also relatable. I felt sooo much for her. My heart actually hurt, which was a bizarre feeling, but at the same time it was nice. I was glad the book was dual POV because something would happen and I would NEED to know what was going on in Minseok's head. Thank goodness the author gave that to me. I needed it! But I also liked that it wasn't split 50/50 on the dual POV. Making Hyeri the main POV was fantastic.

Basically, if you like K-Pop-you should read this. If you like K-Dramas-you should read this. If you like pining-you should read this. If you like situations where they kind of have to fake date-you should read this. If you like cute romances- you should read this. Sooo... I think everyone should be reading this now. Enjoy!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an earc in exchange for my honest review.

This book showcased the negative aspects of the K-industry that tend to be glossed over. I loved how relatable Hyeri was as she just couldn't catch a break in life. Hyeri's K-pop group was rooted in scandal and disbanded after a year and she is constantly surrounded by fake, negative rumors that impact her image and career. She is willing to fake date her nemesis on a reality TV show in hopes to save her floundering reputation. The concept was cute and I loved the atmosphere, but I wasn't a fan of Minseok as he came across as temperamental and cruel. Despite the few times he was kind, I didn't understand Hyeri's attraction to him beyond his good looks since his personality was severely lacking. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

I don't know much about kPop, but some of my students do. I found this book an enjoyable and learned some about kPop and how idols are created, how the media and social rules around maintaining the image required affects the young people in the industry...and also a compelling boy next door romance. This is a clean, sweet romance that is appropriate for anyone who enjoys romances or wants to read about KPop. This book is a good addition to my school library.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to preview..

Do you like K-pop, like the behind the scenes action, the romance of a force proximity/fake dating trope with an ex (therefore a second chance love story if you will)? Then this book is for you!!!!

As someone who casually listens to k-pop and watched a handful of documentaries on a few different groups (out of curiosity), I can only speak with this limited general knowledge that I have to say, this book seems to hit the nail on the head when it comes to depicting the life of some k-pop idols. It does try to dull down the stark reality that food is strictly controlled, artists can be run off their feet with rehearsals, tv appearances and such, and image is everything to the giant powerhouses that employ a lot of k-pop stars. You better do what you are told and appeal to the fans or chances are good they will just boot you and replace you. It has to be exhausting in reality. anyhow...

The book handles other things, like the fickle nature of k-pop fandoms. And I'll be honest, I was more into the background info of life as a K-pop star then I was in their actual romance (sorry, not sorry, but I am not a fan of 2nd chance love stories where one person crushed the other in the past).

But if you are here for the actual people what you need to know is this:
Shin Hyeri was a k-pop idol who turned into an actress and seems to constantly be steeped in some sort of scandal. In order to get her reputation back up where the company thinks it should be, she's told she has to participate on a tv show where celebrities' fake marry and participate in newlywed challenges...with Moon Minseok, a male k-pop star who broke her heart years before. But this is what she has to do to save her career, so she does.

Shin Hyeri is a bit of a prickly girl, so if that isn't your jam, please be aware of this. And these two kind of suck at communicating. Book-wise, just be aware, if you don't know anything about k-pop, you might be to look some stuff up to figure out what some things mean. As a surface level k-pop fan, I did have to refresh my memory once or twice. Also, Hyeri has a lot more page time than Moon does. I kinda wanted a little more from his side of things.

True to Korean standards of being proper, there is nothing questionable that happens in this book between Moon and Shin. It's just a cute, clean romance...if you like second chances.

All in all, it was a good book that took me a little longer to read because it wasn't quite to my taste. I know a lot of teenagers who would absolutely devour his book, given the chance though!

This one is perfect for all those K-Pop fans. While I didn't love it those fans will. This one does indeed read like a YA novel.

**This is not set to publish until March 28 (one month prior to book release)
Stars: 4 K-drama formulaic romance and I'm here for it!

My Thoughts:

A misunderstanding and an inability to communicate as young teens means that Shin Hyeri hates Moon Minseok. Yes, he was her first crush, but her personality now as an up-and-coming K-drama actress is prickly and difficult. She carries grudges and is still a horrible communicator. Add to that the fact that scandal seems to be following her, even if it is not her fault (really).

After the latest scandal at a variety show gone wrong and an act of sabotage where Hyeri is sure someone is setting her up, Moonster and Hyeri are thrust into a popular variety show where they have to pretend to be married. This is the management's way to try and save Hyeri's career, but of course the fake marriage is going to lead to real feelings. It's a K-Drama. There is no alternate emo ending. But for those readers that love reading these stories, it is a comforting, devour-worthy escape, like a cashmere sweater: soft, warm, comfy.

If your students loved this book, make sure to follow this with Cho's Once Upon a K-Prom. I actually prefer the main character in this first book, Elena Soo, over Shin Hyeri. Although K-Star happens in Korea, and K-Prom happens in America, the real thing is that the first book characters are still in high school. The strict no dating thing in the K-Pop/K-Drama world and how that can ruin a person’s career is a little conservative for American teen readers.

Note to classroom teachers: The timing of this as-yet-released book is not ideal. It comes out at the end of April, far from spring break and too late for school librarians to put this on the shelf for summer reads, since this comes out right smack in the middle of “testing” season and no teacher is bringing their students to the school library at this time. However, this is the quiet time for librarians and time for them to start buying for the fall, so if you are able to get this in your classroom library, you will be the superstar among YA K-romance readers because you will have the precious new release that no one else has.

From the Publisher:

Moon Minseok—or Moonster as this WDB fans know him—wasn’t born to lead. Even as part of the world’s most popular K-Pop group, he found comfort in his role as the jokester, the sidekick, the unserious one (with the cutest smile). But now WDB is drowning in dating scandals, and it’s time for Moonster to take charge of the group's image.

Shin Hyeri has been dealing with some scandals of her own. An up-and-coming K-Drama actress, she’s been labeled a “nepo baby” (with a famous idol as a big brother) and now, a bully (which couldn’t be further from the truth). Desperate to show the world that she’s earned her spot, Hyeri is determined not to let her rising star crash and burn.

When these two childhood enemies get caught up in yet another scandal while co-hosting a K-Pop festival, there’s only one solution that will save both of their reputations: appear on one of Korea’s most popular variety shows, Our Celebrity Marriage (where celebrities pretend to get married and compete in ‘newlywed’ challenges).

The plan is simple—pretend to get along, win back the fans, then go their separate ways. But what happens when a fake marriage leads to real feelings? Will Moonster and Hyeri bow to the pressures of their famous realities, or will they decide their love is something worth fighting for?

Publication Information:

Author: Kat Cho
Publisher: Disney Hyperion (April 29, 2025)
Hardcover: 336 pages
Grade level: 6-12

This was a very cute YA romance. I liked getting to know Moonster more. We also get to see characters from Cho’s other novel which is fun. It was interesting to see into the lives of K-idols. I liked getting Hyeri’s growth throughout the novel. I wanted to get more inside Moonster’s head because I wanted to understand his anger a bit more. Fun read!

This spin-off to “Once Upon a K-Prom” brings all the drama! If you like K-pop, K-dramas, and friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, then just you wait! You are in for a treat, reader friends! 🫰 Thanks again to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for feedback.

We get to see some familiar faces in this spin-off, with characters from the popular K-pop idol group (WDB), along with some other friends that you might recognize from the first book. K-pop idol, Moonster (Moon Minseok) and newcomer K-drama star (and former idol), Shin Hyeri, are forced to work alongside together for a variety show. In doing so, it will try to help mend some drama that has affected both of them in some way. On the show, they pretend to get married and do various activities together. I liked the fact that we got to see how their beginnings as idols brought them together as teens and then get to understand why they aren’t too fond of each other when the story originally started out. There’s a LOT of drama that pops up for Hyeri throughout the story, but we get to see some soft sides of Minseok that help her realize that there’s more to her ex-crush/friend than what she originally thought. Will they mend bridges between the two of them or will working together only tear them further apart? 🧐

It was nice to revisit this world that Cho created with the first book, so I’m excited to have had the chance to read it. I look forward to adding it to my forever collection 💞

I clearly don't understand enough about K pop and the culture to truly appreciate this novel. It was hard for me to wade through the unfamiliar terms and concepts to get into the meat of the story - though it became easier as the novel went on. It was a very cute story ultimately!

Incredibly charming and fun to read. Felt like I was in the middle of a K-Drama and that is quite literally the best feeling ever. 100/10 will buy, will treasure and will love.

LITERAL PERFECTION

Love this book so much! A kdrama in book form this story will appeal to not only kpop/kdrama fans, but young readers who love strong stories with drama and a touch of romance. This book kept you turning the pages. Highly recommend.

I really enjoyed the first book and this one was fun as well. I do think it would be hard for someone who doesn't understand Korean or K-Pop culture to understand all of the terminology and relationships. But for someone who is well aware of all of that, this is a really fun book.

Author Kat Cho does such a great job of capturing the glitz and glamour of K-pop idols, as well as letting us see behind the curtain. I thought it was a great book for after Once Upon a K-Prom and an excellent addition to your YA library. Author Kat Cho is so good with enemies to lovers and fake dating, and I K-pop is the perfect backdrop.

Note: I read this as a free eARC from Netgalley

I have never read anything by this author before, but I really enjoyed their writing! The pacing was good and the characters were well developed!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Both characters were sweet and developed and I loved the way this unfolded. Perfect for fans or not of k pop and such an engaging read!

I loved this book! I loved it more than the first book in this universe. I really loved the relationship between Minseok and Hyeri and how they grew back together. When the filming for the show they were filming was happening I felt like I was one of the audience members watching the show! I also feel like this book did a really good job at showcasing some of the not so great realities that we know about K-pop. It discusses bullying rumors, the idols constantly counting calories, how the media can skew any small moment, the differences between how male idols and female idols can be treated for doing the same thing, and scary sasaeng interactions. While also being a romance book, this brings to light some issues that many of the real idols face everyday. I had such a great time reading this book and it blew my expectations out of the water.