A sweet and lively coming of age novel with a bit of romance XOXO is a light and fluffy story that will leave you feeling good. Jenny Oh is a brilliant technical musician who just needs a bit of a spark to make her performances stellar. Taking the advice of her Uncle she decides to just live a little and ends up meeting a cute mystery guy. After moving to South Korea for six months with her mother, she finds out that shes in school with this mystery guy who’s not at all who she thought he was, but maybe just what she needs. Navigating this new life she makes friends, enemies, and most of all figures out what it means to be herself.

#XOXO #NetGalley

Axie Oh’s XOXO is a big-hearted, feel good piece that’s equal parts humorous, adorable, painfully human, and deliciously wholesome.

Jenny Go needs a spark. She’s a technical genius on her cello, but she’s missing the passion she’ll need if she wants to land a spot at her dream music school.

Enter chaotic goodness in the form of Jaewoo, a sullen but irresistible young man who accompanies Jenny on the best night of her life. After Jaewoo mysteriously disappears and ghosts her via text, Jenny has to move on.

But when chance throws Jaewoo’s and Jenny’s paths back together, sparks fly and these two combust. The problem is, Jaewoo is a K-Pop idol, and dating is strictly forbidden. Jenny has to decide if she’s willing to take a chance on love, and if Jaewoo losing his career is worth the risk.

With beautifully rich Seoul as the glimmering backdrop, Oh transports readers into the culture, traditions, and intricate nuance of Korean life.

*Siri, play K-Pop essentials playlist*

I don’t know if it’s me (who likes food) or my book choices (very possible), but lately all the books I’ve been reading have been filled with mouth watering, delicious food descriptions. XOXO is no exception as Axie Oh takes us on a trip with Jenny and her mother to South Korea to take care of her grandmother. From kimchi pajeon to gimbap, you don’t want to open this book up on an empty stomach.

Outside of the food, I loved the different relationships.

~ Jaewoo and Jenny – cute and adorable romance (that starts with them meeting at a noraebang or karaoke bar), that is all.
~ XOXO members (and with Jenny) – if I weren’t already preoccupied in multiple fandoms… (no but seriously, I actually wouldn’t mind if someone could manifest XOXO to life. I’d listen to their music in a heartbeat) I’m such a sucker for bromance.
~ Jenny’s new friends – Angela and Gi Taek were quick to adopt Jenny the moment they meet at Seoul Arts Academy, and although Sori starts out as cold roommate who would would likely murder with a look, she eventually opens up as the book progresses
~ Her mother and grandmother – Axie Oh only touches the surface between Jenny’s grandmother and mother, but I still like how this was explored even at a surface level (especially considering Jenny goes to South Korea so she wouldn’t have to spend an entire semester alone at home)

I think there could’ve been some development with a few storylines such as with Jenny’s mother and grandmother, Sori and Nathaniel, and even among the XOXO members. The book went by at a very quick pace that sometimes it was hard to immerse into the story because we’d go from point A to point B within a few paragraphs.

Overall, XOXO was cute and adorable as hell, and I think this might be my favorite book set in K-Pop. XOXO checks off quite a few boxes for me: cute romance, friendship goals and of course the food (the most important part). Whether or not you’re already a K-Pop fan or just a fan of cute romances, Axie Oh’s latest novel is a perfect, feel-good quick and light summer read.

Sweet and dreamy, I loved the romance in this novel. I like reading stories about characters who are accomplished and proud of their achievements, and the main character in this book definitely fits that bill. I liked the atmosphere and the setting, and felt really emotionally involved in the character's journey.

A Wattpad staple being traditionally published. Every fan of Kpop has imagined a similar storyline to this, meeting a Kpop star before you know their a Kpop star and being invited into that world. I'm glad the protag had a solid passion so she didn't get completely swept away in the romance to the point where she loses her personality. I read this in 2 days.

Though I'm only a casual k-pop fan, this book was a lot of fun to read. It was a lot better than I maybe expected it would be and I had a good time with it.

First off, this cover? Immaculate! This book as a whole, I didn’t expect to fall in love with it as much as I did, but I dove in right for the deep end because this book stole my whole heart. I remember in high school my friends were obsessed with K-pop and of course I listened to some K-pop music as well. The lyrics were catchy, the boys were stunning. I think this book captured that essence perfectly. It was written like a gorgeous K-pop fanfiction that I wanted to bury myself into and never leave. I really liked Jenny as a main character because as I’ve seen in many books with BIPOC women as the MCs, they grow up a lot faster than other white characters might. These characters are easy for me to relate to because I too felt like I had grown up incredibly fast and was doing adult things at a young age, being fully independent, taking care of my sister, etc. Of course there was a fair share of cheesy moments too, but instead of finding it cheesy, this book just made me smile.

I would highly recommend this to everyone because I can’t rave about this book enough. I will say that there were some undertone themes of what responsibility and following your dreams/having priorities and familial obligations looked like. That’s another thing I related to. Apart from that, I just felt like I was vicariously living and experiencing Korea through Jenny’s eyes and I was so sad when the book ended because I wanted to stay in this book forever. If that doesn’t indicate how much I enjoyed this book I’m not sure what will. Definitely keep your eyes out for this book when it releases in July!

Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Intrigue: 9/10
Logic: 7/10
Enjoyment: 10/10

Rating: 8.3 or 4 stars (rounded to 4.5)

K. Imani: So, what do you all think about the book overall? I really loved it. I’m sure I had a goofy smile on my face the entire time I was reading. It felt like a KDrama, but in book form, with the various twists, the school bully, all the wonderful friends, and of course, the sweet slow burning romance.

Jessica: I loved it! It was so much fun and had all the twists and drama that I love to see in YA. Ditto on the goofy smile — I couldn’t help smiling when I was reading. I just had to text my friends who love kpop and kdramas about XOXO and make sure they were planning on reading it when it came out.

Crystal: I really had a lot of fun reading XOXO. There were so many hilarious moments, but like Jessica said, it also had plenty of drama. It was just the right mix of tension and lightheartedness.

Audrey: XOXO was a delightful read–exactly what I needed during a rather stressful summer. It was familiar in a good way, where I was looking forward to different story beats and immensely pleased whenever they showed up. I didn’t intend to finish the book in one sitting, but it was so much fun that I pushed the rest of my responsibilities off to other days so I could. It’s always great to read a book when you can tell just how much the author loves the genre. This is definitely a book I would recommend to anyone in search of a contemporary romance.

K. Imani: One of the many “world-building” aspects of the novel that I liked was that Axie Oh didn’t describe much of Korean culture, instead the reader lived Korean culture, which is a big difference. This book was very much not written for the white gaze and I really felt like I was experiencing Seoul and South Korean life through Jenny’s eyes.

Jessica: You absolutely hit the nail on the head. Books written for an assumed white audience are always so frustrating to me — the writing comes out stilted and alienating. Unfortunately, I think the gatekeepers in publishing tend to favor that kind of writing, so you’ll even occasionally see Asian American writers coming out with writing that’s obviously meant for the white gaze and ugh, it just makes me sad. But XOXO didn’t do that — it was so refreshing to read a book that celebrates Korean culture through a Korean character’s lens. I just really enjoyed seeing all those details as an integrated and integral part of the story. XOXO really pulled it off, and I’m so happy that Asian teens will get to read it.

Crystal: I too am excited for Asian teen readers to have another book with representation and it’s awesome when authors don’t spend a bunch of time explaining every single thing so the average white reader won’t feel too lost. Jessica, I think you’re absolutely right about the gatekeepers and I hope that books like this one will help gatekeepers see that their beliefs about what readers want may be a lie they’ve accepted as fact. In XOXO we were immersed and it certainly helped make me see the setting and get that day-in-the-life-of experience that most readers would prefer even if they have to Google something once in a while.

Audrey: This is a great point! I’ve noticed this as well in some of the other BIPOC-authored books I’ve been reading lately–that they’re not explaining things that don’t need to be explained (because the character knows what they are and what they mean). As a reader, it’s refreshing to be trusted to pick up on things from context, and I’m sure BIPOC writers appreciate not being forced to explain basic things about their cultures all the time. Axie Oh did a great job of this in XOXO–I never felt like the story was being forced to break the fourth wall to deliver information to me about Korea or Korean culture that Jenny already knew.

K. Imani: I feel like that in addition to romantic love, XOXO was also about the different types of love and what we must do to maintain them. What stood out to me was the contrasts between Jenny’s relationship with her mother and with Halmeoni. Jenny’s love for her mother was strained because of how her mother rarely showed affection, but yet her growing relationship with Halmeoni was the opposite as it was sweet and full of love. What other love relationships stood out to you?

Jessica: I always get so invested in fraught mother-daughter relationships (relatable content!), particularly Asian ones, so I’m going to go back to that. The way Jenny’s relationships with her family grow and evolve was so compelling, especially that contrast you brought up between her mother and Halmeoni. Being a child of immigrants, it definitely makes me think of my own relationship with my mother and the tension and barriers that exist there.

Crystal: The relationships Jenny has with her mother and Halmeoni definitely have interesting dynamics. Another relationship that got my attention was that of Jenny and her roommate Sori. They have a very rocky start and a few misunderstandings, but ultimately make a friendship happen. Also, did anyone else have hopes for a companion novel featuring Sori and a certain someone?

K. Imani: OMG Yessss!!! A companion novel would be perfect for Sori and a certain someone. We need their story too.

Audrey: Like the rest of you, I loved the family relationships in XOXO and how varied they were. One of the things I was really happy about was how Jenny developed relationships with her classmates. Maybe I’m always too worried for characters when they move to a new place, but I was so relieved that Jenny was able to make multiple friends at her new school. Her gradual friendship with Sori was definitely the most rewarding, but it was great to see her build a network of friends rather than her entire social life hinging on her romance with Jaewoo. If there were to be a companion novel, I agree that Sori would be a great person to focus on!

K. Imani: Of course we have to talk about the romance. What was a sweet moment that stood out to you? For me, I loved when Jenny and Jaewoo run into his sister at the movies, then he takes her home. I feel like we get a real insight into Jaewoo’s life and he fully opens up to Jenny here. I feel like in that moment, they were going to overcome their obstacles and be happy together forever.

Jessica: I have to say, I’m a sucker for a meetcute. My favorite was Jenny and Jaewoo’s initial meeting and their first time hanging out together, when Jenny had no idea who Jaewoo was. As the reader, knowing who Jaewoo really was while watching all this unfold was so much fun. Thinking about it makes me really, really wish there was an XOXO kdrama! Netflix, make it happen!

K. Imani: Yes, I agree with Jessica! Netflix, make this Kdrama happen!

Crystal: I really enjoyed a certain scene at the swingset where they kind of go back over their initial encounter. It’s super sweet. Or maybe the sharing of the macaron. Food is often a part of the best scenes.

Audrey: There were so many sweet, romantic scenes in XOXO. I absolutely adored their meetings at the clinic Halmeoni was staying at–it was nice to see them start relaxing around each other and be more themselves when they didn’t have to worry about their classmates. I think XOXO would be such a fun book to adapt into a kdrama. One of the first kdramas I watched was Dream High, which was set in a performing arts high school, so an adaptation of XOXO would fit right in! In general, it was nice to see Jenny and Jaewoo’s relationship develop past that initial meet-cute attraction and gain some real depth as the book went on.

K. Imani: As always when we end a discussion, we gotta share our recs, & what we’re looking forward to. I just finished Blackout (look for my review next week) and am looking forward to Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko. The sequel to The Good Luck Girls is also out, so I’ll be getting my hands on that one soon. To stay on theme, what Kdramas are you watching or KPop songs stuck in your head? I’m in between Kdramas so I could use a recommendation :-).

Jessica: Ohmygosh, there is so much I’m looking forward to reading. Right now, the books that are burning a hole in my TBR pile are: Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko (the sequel to Raybearer!!), How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao, and Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta. As for the kpop song that’s dominating my playlist right now, it’s definitely Butter by BTS — specifically the Hotter remix which is 🔥🔥🔥

Crystal: I have a TBR that is out of control. I just finished So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow and I can’t rave about it enough. It comes out on Sept. 7 along with another one in the Remix series that I am really excited about, A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee. It’s a remix of Treasure Island and if Morrow’s book was any indication, the series is going to be one I really enjoy. Another I’m excited about is (Me) Moth if only for the gorgeous cover. It also helps that I gravitate towards novels-in-verse. From Little Tokyo, With Love, Blackout, and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating are also on my list. As for K-dramas, Hospital Playlist is what has me waiting every week. I usually don’t watch dramas until all of their episodes are out, but this is the second season and I just couldn’t wait. As for K-pop, I actually have Girls’ Generation songs going through my head because while I was reading the ARC of Idol Gossip, I listened to the K-pop playlist that Alexandra Leigh Young made back when she did a podcast about the K-pop industry. Several Girls’ Generation songs are there and brought back memories of when my youngest child was in middle school and used to play their music in the house and the car often enough for me to learn the lyrics.

Audrey: I just finished reading Mercury Boys by Chandra Prasad (review on Friday!), and I have my eye on All These Bodies by Kendare Blake, The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker, and Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier. As far as kdramas go, I second Crystal’s recommendation for Hospital Playlist–I just finished watching the first season and am about to start on the second. It is a comforting show about five friends who are doctors and occasionally play in a band together for fun. I’ve also recently enjoyed Mine (rich people melodrama/thriller–if you’re looking for more LGBTQIA representation in kdramas, one of the protagonists is a lesbian), Kingdom: Ashin of the North (prologue to Kingdom’s zombies in the Joseon dynasty), and The Guest (people team up to hunt down the demon that killed their families).

This was a very charming read. Part Roman Holiday, part Romeo & Juliet (but significantly less tragic), it was refreshing to have a K-pop story from the perspective of someone not in the industry, but is a musician nonetheless. XOXO showcases the beautiful ability of music to transcend boundaries and how, if you have people you care about in your corner, anything is possible.

Initially, it was difficult getting a read on our main character, Jenny. She's introverted and self-conscious, but still has game (I didn't know cute boys working in coffee shops actually gave out their numbers within, like, a minute after meeting). She's woke, but doesn't express it (there is a stellar inner monologue that bashes the patriarchy and it's systemic oppressive use of "bitch" and "slut" to turn women against each other. My favorite line: "We're just....girls"). She's ambitious and independent, but extremely vulnerable (dead dad and working lawyer mom, anyone?). It felt like she wasn't any one thing. Like she was the shell of a general character that any reader could mold themselves into.

Then I realized, no one is any one thing. We can all be quiet and sassy; resilient, yet fragile. We can see and want and demand change in our lives, but have difficulty communicating that. We can crave love and fear it just the same. And just because a cute boy in a coffee shop has never given me his number, doesn't mean it doesn't actually happen.

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Great recommendation for any K-Pop or romance fan!

This is the type of book that makes you so happy you don’t want to put the book down. I easily read it in two sittings. The story follows Jenny, who has always been focused on her music and getting into an elite school so she can succeed in a career playing cello. When her uncle suggests that she just might need to live a little if she wants more passion in her music, she ends up going out on a limb with a mysterious Korean boy named Jaewoo and has one fantastic night she can’t forget. Fast-forward a few months and Jenny finds herself in Seoul at the very same performing arts high school that the boy goes to—and she discovers he’s an idol, a member of the K-Pop band XOXO. Jenny and Jaewoo both learn a few lessons in taking chances and living life to the fullest. I love how Jenny has to balance allowing time for herself (and Jaewoo) without letting it overcome her dreams and aspirations as a musician. This is something that many teens face as they work hard toward a goal (and there’s LOTS of pressure to succeed in high school). Both Jenny and Jaewoo are also dealing with life without their dads (Jenny because of death, and Jaewoo due to divorce), so that theme of loss is prevalent throughout the book, but it definitely doesn’t weigh the story down. Friendship is another wonderful theme, and I honestly loved each and every one of Jenny’s friends in this book. Overall, this is a light, fun romance with just the right touch of drama. Highly recommend!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

A fairly expected plot that doesn't take any risks or tread any new ground. The setting makes it more interesting but all of the conflicts are too easily resolved.

Axie Oh’s heartwarming novel XOXO brings readers along on an emotional journey of friendship, young love, and complicated family relationships. Set in both South Korea and the United States, a cello prodigy and a K-Pop idol attempt to pursue their musical passions without letting anything get in the way—except maybe each other.

[rest of excerpted review in link below]

This was so cute. I loved being immersed in the KPop world. The romance was so cute! Just such a positive well rounded YA novel!

I love KPOP, I love YA rom-coms, and I love books that make you scream out of happiness and are impossible to put down. Therefore, it was no wonder I absolutely loved reading XOXO by Axie Oh.

The premise of this book was one that reminded me of my teenage years: girl runs into a guy, doesn’t know he’s a famous singer, they fall in love but have to keep it a secret. Uhm, hello? This is basically the plot of everyone fanfictions I read on Wattpad! And I loved them!

I went into XOXO knowing what to expect: a teenage romance and a main character who might not always do things I agree and might be cringy, but who’s still sweet. I ended up with even more: amazing side characters and great friendships in the book.

Without a doubt, my favorite characters in this story was Sori, Jenny’s roommate. This was a character who could have easily been a rich mean girl. Fortunately, it was not the case.

I think you might be the best friend I’ve ever had — Jenny to Sori
I MEAN!!!! IS THAT NOT THE CUTEST THING EVER?

It was really important for me to see Jenny make friendships as well, because when the book starts she has absolutely no friends. She decides to leave for Seoul just like that, without thinking about it much, and it surprised me. What teen would drop everything just like that? It’s rare.

Another thing I enjoyed throughout this book was Jenny’s relationship with her grandma, who’s sick. It was adorable and reminded me of every grandma in K-dramas. They’re so dramatic and cute, basically the best characters.

I’d say the only thing I wish we saw more, was Jenny’s relationship with her mom. It was complicated and they didn’t communicate well, and I wish we saw a bit more of them together and saw them resolve their issues instead of Jenny just saying they’re resolved. It felt a little bit rushed.

Overall, this was a cute and adorable read and I recommend it to anyone who loves KPOP and romcoms.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I wish it could've gone on longer. I really enjoyed the characters, especially the ones that made up the Kpop group. Reading this felt like watching a Kdrama.

I recommend this for folks who enjoy Kpop music and Kdramas.

Jenny Go is a gifted cellist who lacks “spark”, but who is determined to find it in order to get into her dream college, the Manhattan School of Music. This drives her to spontaneously challenge a handsome stranger, Jaewoo, to a karaoke battle and take him to a local festival. The night ends with them exchanging numbers and an almost-kiss. But then Jaewoo disappears like a ghost in the night and leaves her texts on read. Due to an unexpected turn of events, Jenny is whisked away to finish out her school year in Seoul, South Korea. Upon settling into Seoul Arts Academy, she learns that Jaewoo also attends the Academy and...he’s a famous idol! Ever the strong, independent, and upfront leading lady, Jenny confronts Jaewoo and discovers why he acted so flaky and why any relationship they’d pursue would have to be kept a secret. Things get complicated, to say the least, and drama ensues! What will the two risk for love?

It’s like this book was made for me! I enjoyed nearly everything, from the swoon-worthy plot to the relatable characters, to the witty dialogue. I appreciated the real-life struggles (college acceptance, family health/dynamics, bullying, etc.), genuine friendships (can I get a Sori?), and references to Asian culture. HMart? Bulgogi? Kdramas? Kpop? Yes, please! I would’ve liked to have seen LQBTQ+ representation and for Jaewoo to have communicated better (like, stop running away from your problems, bro). However, overall, this was a super-cute romance that got me grinning from ear to ear! If you’re a lover of Kdramas, Kpop, and YA romance, this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperTeen, and Axie Oh (fellow New Jerseyan and dog-lover!) for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

really liked this book, it was fun and easy to get through. the mc is a great character she isn’t the usually annoying i liked the side characters even more the main relationship was the best thing. the pacing and the setting of this novel was so good and just made the book even better.

🥰😍😭🤩💕🥳

Thank you to HarperTeen (via NetGalley) for the ARC!

This book was SO much fun, and is definitely near the top of my list of favorite books so far this year. It's a fast-paced, funny, sweet fever dream of a book, and is perfect for fans of K-dramas and/or K-pop.

XOXO starts of at a roaring pace when Jenny meets Jaewoo, who appears to be on the run from something. They literally run away together for one night of adventure in LA before he disappears back to Seoul. By sheer luck (and K-drama tropes of course!) Jenny ends up at an arts academy in Seoul for her final year of high school and encounters none other than this same mystery boy, who turns out to be Jaewoo, a member of one of the biggest K-pop groups of the moment.

I used to watch K-dramas all the time, but it's been a few years since I was sucked in by a really good one. This book felt like I was watching one in my head because the descriptions and the setting were so detailed and vivid. Everything about this book was great. The plot, the pacing, the side characters (especially the relationship between Jenny and her roommate), the romance. I could definitely see this being made into a K-drama or a movie because it just fits so perfectly into that type of storytelling with all the favorite tropes (and of course Seoul being the setting for most of the book).

Overall a lot of fun, and I definitely recommend it!

XOXO is a cute romance that is fun to read, but the story and the characters aren't very deeply developed. Jenny had the potential to be a great main character, but I felt like I got to know her. Jenny is a musician, but I don't know anything more about her. I had the same issue with Jaewoo. The author hints at Jaewoo's complicated backstory, but we never get the complete story. Jenny and Jaewoo's relationship began with a charming meet-cute, but their connection felt rushed and incomplete. Don't get me wrong, this is a fun, fluffy romance but it had the potential to be better.