I liked reading this book, especially being it was about K-pop because I have a lot of friends who are into Kpop but I know little about it but I'm fascinated by the way the bands are created and how the entertainment industry in Korea works. I think the talks of mental health, fan culture, and all that goes with it is an interesting idea and I like that this book talked about it because from what I've seen with the kpop industry, it is not an industry to talk much about it (however it luckily seems to be changing). I like how the book focused on one member primarily but also gave light to each member and allowed for me to learn about them. I think that it was a cool book with a good concept.

I’m always mesmerized by pop culture and those that live in the spotlight, so when I heard about The Band, I was instantly drawn to the concept. I don’t know much about K-Pop aside from very mainstream things and a few documentaries, but the overall plot of being part of a band, having obsessive fans, and living under a microscope are things prevalent in pop culture, so it was easy to fall into this plot.

While I loved the overall concept, the evolution of the story, and the ultimate ending, it did take me a while to get there. I actually almost DNF’d this book, but decided to go back and read another chapter, which I’m very happy I did! The first few chapters feel disjointed, as the author provides a lot of background information that is interesting, but hard to conceptualize how it will all fit together. Once the story started to focus more on Duri, the connections became clearer and I was hooked on finding out how things would end.

I loved, loved, loved the narrator’s humor! She felt so real, from her personal struggles, to her opinions and observations.

Give this one a chance to build up and then enjoy the satirical ride!

I am a fan of k-pop, I enjoy a good analytical piece, but I'm ...not sure if I realized what I was going into when I started this book. I appreciate what it was trying to do and the commentary it was trying to make, but I think it just didn't work for me sadly!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for a chance to read and review.

This book intrigued me because of it being about a K-Pop group. It's not secret that K-Pop is slowly taking over the world (which it absolutely should because it's awesome!) and I really wanted to love this one. But I ended the book not really understanding why this written? Like there wasn't really much of a plot. There was no character development. There was no true drama that ended up getting resolved. It was a book full of revenge but even that ending was not satisfying at all.

I did rate it a 3 star though because it was enjoyable. But I am writing this and wondering if it was enjoyable because I was hoping something would start clicking and making sense or that I just needed something mindless to read. I did like that it basically read like one of those band documentaries that used to be on Vh1. And I did like the humor bits through it all. But that is about all I can really say about my feelings on this one.

This had some funny moments, some silly eye roll moments that made me laugh. I understand it is being satirical about adoration of K-pop bands, but it felt a little too messy for me. Sometimes I was confused, and wasn't sure what was happening. The author did bring it all together by the end, though it was messy to get there. I think if you like K-pop and the K-pop culture, you will probably "get it" better.

The Band
By Christine Ma-Kellams
Atria Books
April 2024

Review by Cynthia Chow

“The Band” begins with a breezy narration full of footnotes covering the rise – and fall? – of a female Korean Pop Band attempting to forge their success in the States. They hope that connecting with another Korean Idol who has found popularity in America will give them a boost up, but ominous hints would indicate that it’s about to go wrong. Our narrator then takes us to the Producer’s follow-up Korean boy band unimaginatively named The Band, but whose popularity has become so phenomenal that it’s the only name they need. Sang Duri was one of the five members known as the Pretty One until his very personal song lyrics had his country and his fanbase turn on him and essentially make him “cancelled.” His disappearance from public events is a mystery not just to his fanbase but to his fellow bandmates, for whom mental health is an issue but not something to be discussed.

Here the narration turns to an H-Mart in Los Angeles, where Duri runs into a somewhat dissatisfied Chinese-American psychologist. Through somewhat muddled advice over proper Asian cooking from his phone’s interpreter app, Duri somehow convinces her to allow him into her home to cook Tteokbokki. Her two young sons Kilim and Sam rather complacently accept Duri into their home, while her husband Luc is confused but genially accepts the young man into their home. While the psychologist – only once in passing referred to as being named Mae- attempts to help Duri adjust to life outside of being just Pretty Boy and forge the next step in his future, she also confronts how other’s perception over her Asian American identity has affected her life. From questionable racially appropriated Halloween costumes to her choice of college majors, being Chinese American has influenced her more than she would like to admit. While these two are living in their suburban bubble The Band and their manager dodge questions from the press and must decide if the time is right to move on without their fifth member or continue along as The Smart One, the English-speaking Leader, the Dancer with Dimples, and the Dancer with sings like an Angel. The mystery of the female K-Pop band lingers in the background, with events culminating in an explosive concert performance.

You would almost have to live under a rock to be unaware of the K-Pop and Korean Drama phenomenon. It would also be difficult to have ignored the prevalence of suicides among Korean Influencers, Actors, and Musicians, all of whom are idolized for their perfection and feel the pressure to unrealistically live up to it. Fanbases can be powerful, toxic, and prone to pivot at the first hint of a perceived betrayal, so they are often feared as much by their idols as by any perceived rivals. This makes it fascinating to delve into this world through the eyes of the Chinese-American psychologist and Duri, who is having difficulty adjusting to a life full of choices. As restrictive as his boyband life was, having every hotel stay, meal choice, and fashion wear decided for him was comforting. Both Duri and Mae are unhappy and dissatisfied, but throughout the novel they find connections and help the other to at least move out of being stagnant and find a happier path. Footnotes add much humor to the novel, layering on biting commentary along with information that is not required but definitely helpful. The pressure to be perfect, through plastic surgery, constant workouts, and filtered Instagrams, weigh upon all of the Band. The immigration experience, whether first, second, or third also is examined as being the more acceptable “model” immigrant has its own burdens along with the irony of then often turning on other, later migrants. This is a very fun read for fans of the K-Pop phenomenon or anyone feeling too comfortable and stagnant in their life.

DNF at 15%

The Band reminds me of Esther Yi’s Y/N in several ways: both use fictionalized stories about K Pop idols to examine celebrity, fandom, and obsession, and share similar writing styles and aesthetics. However, I struggle with esoteric prose, so I found myself disappointed. I love thoughtful examinations of celebrity culture and fandom, but not ones that feel inaccessible due to their esoteric tones. This wasn’t the book for me.

I really enjoyed this book. It was witty and bordered on satirical. There were a couple times where I said "oh snap" out loud, much to the chagrin of my dog.

In The Band by Christine Ma Kellum the book starts at the end after one of the members writes a song about his dad who is a fisherman and he turns into a fish at the end of the song the dad is eating the fish he caught in that includes him and everyone was up in arms saying he’s obviously Japanese and then Japanese people were saying we’re not cannibals end it was a whole kerfuffle so the guy who wrote the song goes in hiding. The rest of the book is how their managers who are called Pinocchio and Frankenstein started managing first a failed girl group and then “the band“ I just want to say the guy who goes into hiding pics one of the worst places to hide out and that just causes more problems. The beginning of the book I thought was written in a frantic style but as it was tweets and Snapchat ET see it kind of makes sense also I thought the conversations between the band members that were left really made me laugh out loud I at first didn’t like the book as I said due to the frantic style but the more I read the more I loved these boys and found the book really funny and I love funny books. Having said that I didn’t like the format so much I wish it would’ve just been a straight on story but the author got their point across and even with these drawbacks this is still a book I enjoyed and definitely recommend. If you like pop culture funny banter and a pretty good plot then you’ll definitely like this book. There is so much to be said for the great parts that I am totally recommending it as I said. I want to thank atria books for my free arc copy via NetGalley. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate most of my review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this darkly humorous and snappy novel. I liked the idea of a K Pop idol falling from fame and finding a way back by way of a psychiatrist that will save him. Social media can be hash and cruel with criticism, but isn't that the assumed price of "making it" and being in the public eye? This is such a timely and relevant theme.

Thank you Christine Ma-Kellams for taking me on this ride. Also, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy.

The Band was satirical but in a dicey kind of way. Very unfiltered and jumps all over the place. One second we were talking about churros, the next moment we were talking about oblivion!

It does shed light on how hurtful micro aggression can be though!

We find out pretty early on what got the Duri cancelled. It was interesting that this story is told through the perspective of the psychologist and the band manager. I’m glad I stuck it out to the end because it got slightly better, but still not a book I’m crazy about.

Truly the only depth we get from the characters is what you read on the back cover. Don’t expect to learn much else about them. She’s in a boring marriage and he got cancelled! Finished this feeling very “whatever”. It’s a quick read, so if the summary is calling you in, I’d say go for it — but don’t blame me if you don’t like The Band!

It’s time for me to read a romance and cleanse my palette. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting debut that looks at the toxic side of K-pop celebrity, fandom and cancel culture. This one sounded really good but I honestly struggled to stay invested right through to the end. Okay on audio, this was a miss for me but is sure to appeal to those who enjoy books about the dark side of celebrity culture. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

The band is a k-pop phenomena that is at the apex of fame. Their “visual” duri accidentally finds himself creating a controversy and decides to drop out of the public eye and disappear from the fan. He ends up entangled with an unhappy psychologist who tries to shield him, while his producer struggles with reconciling his past with a girl group.

This is not an upbeat, lighthearted look at fandom and stardom. It is much darker and nuanced and explores its themes of fandom, cancel culture, AI, mental health with care and precision. It is well-written and thought provoking, just not exactly what I expected! I think many readers will easily love this-just have to know to expect a darker ride.

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kpop fandom, but make it litfic.

A Los Angeles therapist finds herself sheltering a Kpop megastar on the run after his latest solo single leads to a near-global fallout. While the remaining members are left to wonder and worry over Duri’s whereabouts, his producer has to face a reemergence of repressed memories from his first project, a girl group from a decade earlier that ended in tragedy.

Marketing is everything these days — it can make or break a book. There was a novel I read in March that I enjoyed a lot, but it was labeled romantasy..and the TikTok girlies itching for their next Fourth Wing were wildly out of their depths, resulting in scores of one- and two-star early reviews. THE BAND is currently seeing some of the same negative reviews which is such a shame! Friends, this book opens with a Rachel Cusk quote! It’s likened to MOUTH TO MOUTH (one of my top reads of 2022, and an incredibly apt comparison!)

A cutesy celeb romcom this is not. Think more Claire Dederer’s MONSTERS than Elissa Sussman. There’s a legit bibliography page that references all the case studies mentioned in the footnotes (!! be still, my heart!), frank conversations regarding SA and suicide (while pointing out how money can make a person untouchable), and a stark depiction of the objectification that Kpop thrives on with little to no regard for the performers’ emotional and mental wellbeing. The same fanbase that professes their obsessive love one day can turn toxic and dangerous the next. I couldn’t look away.

I don’t want to jinx myself 🤞🏻 but I’ve been having a stroke of luck finding short novels that pack a punch. THE BAND is barely over 220 pages and each one had me hooked. What a fantastic read and I’m already looking forward to whatever Christine does next!

Christine Ma-Kellams' "The Band" offers a unique narrative set in the captivating world of K-pop, delving into the complexities of fame, identity, and relationships. At the center of the story is Sang Duri, the visual of a Korean boy band, whose life takes a drastic turn after a solo single sparks controversy, leading to his sudden disappearance.

Ma-Kellams weaves a poetic tale filled with vivid imagery and intricate character dynamics. However, while the narrative promises intrigue and depth, it may not fully resonate with all readers. The book's stylistic approach, characterized by its extensive detail and poetic prose, may present a challenge for those seeking a more straightforward storytelling experience.

As a satire of the K-pop industry, "The Band" offers sharp commentary on themes such as fandom obsession and the pressures of stardom. Yet, its exaggerated portrayal and verbose writing style might alienate some readers, particularly those within the target audience of K-pop stans.

While I appreciate the author's bold exploration of these themes, I found myself struggling to fully engage with the narrative due to its overwritten nature. As a result, while I acknowledge that there may be readers who will resonate deeply with "The Band," it ultimately did not align with my personal preferences.

In conclusion, "The Band" by Christine Ma-Kellams is a thought-provoking read that offers a unique perspective on the world of K-pop. However, its dense prose and exaggerated storytelling may not appeal to all readers, particularly those looking for a more accessible narrative.

The Band by Christine Ma-Kellams is a very difficult book to categorize in any particular genre. It's very realistic and talks about cultural appropriation, fame, cancel culture, and the effects of all of the above on mental health in a very satirical way.

Duri, a member of a K-Pop band, is in hiding. He hides in the home of a Chinese-American woman who is also a therapist. She is in an unhappy marriage, and with her giving shelter to this pop idol cause any more problems?

On the surface, this book sounds very simple, but it's hardly that. The author does an amazing job of describing cultural appropriation as well as the marginalization of women. To be honest, it was difficult initially to get into the book. It does pick up eventually, but going into this book when a reader is in the right frame of mind would be good.

CW: This book has references to appearances, #metoo, cultural appropriation, and mental health

This look at mental health, celebrity obsession, and cross-cultural/global celebrity is fascinating and a little frustrating? The ambiguous ending, limited perspectives - I ended this read with so many questions. But the more I have thought about it, the more I feel like those choices really served the goal of the story and also speaks to how good it is that I both can't stop thinking about it and wanted to know more.

In some ways it reminded me a little of the recent film "Past Lives" and "Trust Exercise" by Susan Choi. It's a completely different topic but it made me think in similar ways.

It's the kind of book that is absolutely made for book clubs because I could discuss it all day!

I liked this book. It's weird and niche and voicey and self-involved and not a lot happens in it, but that's OK -- the point, even! -- if you're its target audience, which is to say, an academic slash self-consciously intellectual slash cerebrally inclined reader who's also a big fan of pop culture and/or BTS. (I am not actually a fan of BTS, but I make up for it with my college One Direction phase.) I have a lot of friends who are in this category, and so there are a lot of people I would specifically recommend this book to, although I suspect it would not appeal as much to a general audience.

HOWEVER - for all its obsession with academic footnotes and facts, I can't forgive it for calling Justin Bieber "American." But maybe that's just because I read an ARC and they'll correct it in the final version, lol.

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While not like anything else I have read I enjoyed this book and it really made me think about mental health and how we perceive celebrities in a new way.

The writing was engaging, the storytelling made me think and the characters were interesting enough to make me want closure for them.

I would recommend it if I found the right reader looking but not to everyone who enters the store. For the right readers this is a powerful book.

Christine Ma-Kellams’s whip-smart, darkly funny, and biting debut, The Band, follows a psychologist with a savior complex who offers shelter to a recently cancelled K-pop idol on the run.

This book was completely unexpected! I’m not sure what I expected though–perhaps a literary drama. This is much more of a satire, which delighted me. I love that biting, dry humor that layered just under the surface. I am actually not a huge K-Pop fan, though I find the popularity of K-Pop to be fascinating. I think this book could replace K-Pop with [celebrity] and still work, and the story is only about K-Pop on the surface and speaks much more about how celebrity “talent” is used like a piece rather than a person.

The story reads a bit like fan fiction, in a fun way. It felt like a love letter to K-Pop fans. It seems to me like the author and narrator blend together at certain points in the story, as though Ma-Kellams wrote herself into the K-Pop world and imagined playing a small part in it. The story centers around Sang Duri, a cancelled Korean boy band member who caused an uproar among the public after releasing a controversial solo.

Duri hides from the public outcry in the mansion of a Chinese-American woman he meets in Los Angeles. Ma-Kellams writes the narrator as a psychologist with a savior complex (and I’ll say as a psychologist myself, this type of unhinged savior complex is sadly not uncommon in our field). The relationship between the narrator and Duri is at the center of the book, but it’s also only one small piece of the broader story. The book weaves together many related stories—the Band’s producer and his attempts to work with a girl group, the other members of the Band dealing with the fallout from Duri’s departure and cancellation.

The narrator is a bizarre character, and I do love a character that is boldly strange. Her relationship with Duri is unclear—the book hints heavily at a sexual relationship between the two. The spotlight is on the narrator but also on the reader. Aren’t we all guilty of being too interested in the salacious and private details of celebrities’ lives? Don’t we all sometimes feel entitled to know intimate things about these idols, as though they don’t deserve privacy because of their career?

The book is written in a freeform style that was exactly what a story like this needs, but also may not appeal to every reader. I think in part that’s because it’s hard to get a concrete grasp on the story. It’s very dream-like in the way it unfolds across the page. There isn’t a dull or extraneous moment—for such a loosely flowing narrative, Ma-Kellams kept it tight in presentation.

Duri’s struggles with mental health in the wake of his scandal felt authentic. This is a man whose entire identity for years became what the public saw him to be, and not who he truly was. The very same public and fandom cancelling him begs the question if Duri can find himself again and not take on what others think of him. Fellow people pleasers out there will have a small moment of comradery with this aspect. How do we learn to not see ourselves by someone else’s definition of who we are?

A book for the K-Pop fans out there, but really for anyone who appreciates a novel approach to storytelling and a broader message about obsession, celebrity, and fandom, and the toll those can take on the person at the center of it.

Thank you to Atria Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.