Oh is back with another highly engaging story set in the South Korean entertainmemt industry. A satisfying sequel, ASAP expands upon the life of an important side character in the months after XOXO's end. It is brimming with excellent setting descriptions, strong characters, and events that aren't unnecessarily dramatic. Fans of XOXO have a lot to look forward to.

This book was such a delight! Just like its predecessor XOXO, ASAP felt like the perfect mix of k-drama and cute YA novel. And as an old millennial who shies away from YA, it’s incredible that Axie Oh makes me love it so much. I think the pacing and storytelling really leveled up in this book too — not that XOXO was bad writing, but ASAP feels more polished. I’m still not a fan of second-chance romance but I AM a fan of Sori and Nathaniel 🥹 if this series doesn’t cover all the other characters and go on forever (or at least to the 16th episode) I’ll die

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc! I’ve never requested a book so fast!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. ASAP was a great side story based off of the world of XOXO, and I loved every minute of it. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?

Axie Oh has easily become one of my favorite authors. This was such a cute book.. I loved the plot line and the characters.

An easy 5 star read! Even before reading this book, I had a feeling I’d already love it. The first book XOXO was such a fluffy sweet story and I loved meeting the enigmatic chic roommate, Sori. After reading ASAP, Sori is officially my favorite character!!

From the first chapter, I was already giggling, squealing, and kicking my feet at how cute it was that I had to take a few moments to compose myself. I LOVE Sori and Nathaniel’s banter and interactions, they’re adorable! Sori sets out to find her own path and her journey felt so relatable and believable. I was rooting for her all the way…Team Sori!!!

I also loved exploring Sori’s relationships with her family, old friends, and XOXO members, especially Sun. Tbh I wasn’t a big fan of Sun in XOXO because the few moments he appeared, he wasn’t the most likable person to Jenny. But in ASAP, I became intrigued about Sun after his interactions with Sori, he really felt like the protective older brother figure, seemingly cold and calculative on the outside but actually very caring on the inside. I loved how he looked out for Sori in his own way. Also, Sun and Sori’s similar backstories had me perking up, giving off real chaebol k-drama vibes.

While reading ASAP, I was also pleasantly surprised to see Axie’s writing skills had leveled up. She’s an auto-buy author for me and I already love all her books but in ASAP, the storytelling felt more tightly woven, the beats sharper/cleaner, and the characters even more personable. As a reader, I loved seeing the growth in writing! I loved XOXO but I enjoyed ASAP even more!

You’ll love ASAP if you love k-dramas, k-pop, fluffy second-chance romance, forced proximity, and sassy, strong, yet soft FMCs. My second-gen k-pop-loving heart was so darn happy and nostalgic with the song cameos. This entire book had me longing to go back to Korea asap!

I was sent this ARC for free but all thoughts are my own. I just loved reading Sori and Nathaniel’s love story sm! I’ll be patiently awaiting a third book (ahem YOLO???) to release with Sun or Youngmin’s happily ever afters 👀

I love Axie Oh. She could write anything and I would (AND WILL!) read it. ASAP is such an incredible follow-up to XOXO and still feels just as comforting. I loved XOXO and its setting, ASAP only added to that love. I can't wait for this to come out so I can recommend it to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this DRC.

ASAP is a companion novel to XOXO. Sori makes the hard decision that she no longer wants to be a K-pop idol. How will she tell her absentee mother who is also the K-pop company owner. What will she do when life brings her back in contact with her first love K-pop idol Nathaniel? Her mother and her scandal causing father have both forbidden her from dating him.

I loved Sori and her relationship with Nathaniel. And I loved that Axie Oh does not gloss over the hours of work idols put in and enormous pressure they are under to keep their public image flawless. Sori must constantly balance family expectations, idol expectations, and what she wants. Just needed more Seventeen references!
#ASAP #NetGalley

We have all been awaiting a companion novel to XOXO with Sori and Nathaniel, and I genuinely screamed when we got the official announcement! I knew this book had the Potential because I loved the two of them in the first book and couldn’t wait to see more of them. Sweet and heartwarming, ASAP takes a bold chance on first love and new dreams.

Sori has been training her entire life to debut, but recently, she’s realized that being and idol is no longer the path she wants to take. However, she’s still somewhat in the spotlight, with the weight of her parents’ expectations. She strikes a deal with her mother to let her pursue whatever she wants in exchange for mentoring Hyemi, a new trainee who’s set to debut in a new group called ASAP in two weeks. Meanwhile, she keeps crossing paths with Nathaniel, her ex-boyfriend and now-member of one of the biggest K-pop groups in the world. When he needs a place to get away from the paparazzi, she offers him her house and as they spend more time together, old feelings begin to arise.

I loved Sori’s character arc throughout this book! She’s struggling under both of her parents’ expectations, with her mother being her company’s CEO and her father running a presidential campaign. She no longer wants to debut and have to have her life be so public, but she still loves the thrill of dancing and singing and doesn’t fully want to let her mother down. As she helps Hyemi prepare to debut, she finds herself enjoying being a mentor. I also liked seeing her relationship with her mother progress throughout the story. Her mother has always wanted what was best for her, and Sori wants to return her love by helping her company in any way she can.

I also really liked the side characters. I loved Nathaniel’s character in XOXO; he is the type of character I always fall for. In this story, he’s trying to strike out a place for himself amidst all the chaos and getting into producing music.

We also get to see more of Jenny and Jaewoo, with them being Sori’s and Nathaniel’s best friends. Sori and Jenny’s scenes together were so fun and silly; I love them so much! The introduction of Hyemi and Nadine, one of Nathaniel’s sisters, were great as well. Hyemi’s quiet determination to debut reflected how Sori used to feel and reminded her the joy of being in this industry.

I’m usually not super into second-chance romances but this one had me literally kicking screaming crying!! The tension between Sori and Nathaniel was off the charts. They grew up together and dated a couple years ago, but Sori’s mother told them to break up because of the public scrutiny they would face. Since then, it’s been hard for them to spend time together, especially because from Sori’s point-of-view, she is still so obviously in love with him. It doesn’t help that after they star in a variety show together, their natural chemistry begins to trend and they’re being called to film more together.

Now that they’re being thrown together a lot more, Sori has to hold herself back from giving into her feelings. The amount of loaded glances and responses between them…I literally gasped at certain scenes. Axie has given us so so so much here; I always love the way she writes her romances, but something about Sori and Nathaniel has me by the throat. Anyways, aside from the tension, I also really loved how they both care and support each other, even when they aren’t together.

I’m honestly contemplating rereading ASAP already as I’m writing this review; that’s how much I loved this book. It’s definitely up there as one of my favorite of Axie’s books, which is saying something because I adore all of her works. I can’t recommend ASAP enough, especially if you’re a fan of XOXO or Axie’s other books and/or tension-filled second-chance romances!

Reading ASAP felt a lot like a more mature, and well-rounded book than XOXO. I think that the characters within the book being older, allowed for more depth in terms of it's discussion on finding direction in life, whether the pursuit of the path you were given versus the path that you choose is worth it, and the uncertainties and doubt that come with it. At it's heart, ASAP was not only a romance book, but it was also about finding yourself, and I loved that about it.

I loved the calm and collectedness that Sori possessed, and she worked well as the protagonist. She wasn't wishy washy, she wasn't indecisive, and she gave such strong Wonyoung vibes!! I loved Nathaniel, he was such a charming love interest, and the dynamic between Sori and Nathaniel was priceless. Their dialogue just felt so natural, and their personalities complimented and balanced each other out.

On top of that, the addition of celebrity life, was peak escapism. There were so many humorous situations, where I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Furthermore, the world of politics and power play was an interesting addition to the story, and I appreciated how this book wasn't just about the romance.

Overall, reading this was such a good time, and the perfect way to wind down after a long week!

Thank you so much to Axie Oh, for personally sending me the e-galley for ASAP. I love you and your books so much!

I loved being back in the world of XOXO. This was a great read. The writing was easy and the characters were so well developed. I loved the relationships between the different character. I loved the bond between Hyemi and Sori. I would love more books in this series. I want one about Hymei and one about Sori's mother, maybe a prequel?

This book was super good! It was just as good as XOXO. I didn't realize it was a continuation but you don't have to read the first one to understand what's going on. I really liked the relationship between the main couple and the mentorship between Sori and Hyemi. I want more K-pop books from Axie Oh!!

Equal parts fun and heartwarming, ASAP is a story that will hold the reader from start to finish. It means so much seeing great Asian American representation in YA! Romance was so adorable and I swooned at all their interactions. I will be recommending this everybody!

I enjoyed this book; it was a cute romance and one of the best books I've read set in the K-pop industry. I like the MFC Sori and how her story focuses not only on her feelings for her ex-boyfriend Nathaniel but also how a good amount of the plot focuses on what she wants to do with her life after she decides to no longer continue pursuing the hope of debuting in an idol group. I also liked how the story focuses on her family, how her parents' actions affect her, and how she chooses to navigate those situations.

I also really enjoyed Oh's writing style and will be checking out other novels by this author.

Sori and Nathaniel made a sweet couple I was happy to root for. A well done second chance romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for this ARC.

To read such a youthful love story makes me feel elderly ; ( The novel is fine; it's only that my romantic spirit has dried up into a fossil. Despite the fact that this novel will likely have you swooning, hitting the air, and screaming again, my old soul just pretends to be flat while reading it.

GOOD JOB Axie!! Cant wait for your another book!

I burned through XOXO so quickly that it was going to be a challenge for ASAP to deliver, because I truly enjoyed the first book so much that I didn't think a follow up could capture my attention to the same degree. And while I still like XOXO better for a lot of reasons, including getting to know the band members and Jenny's grandmother, there was a lot here that proved Oh can deliver.

First, as I was about halfway through, I started to realize that some elements were very similar to Jane Austen's Emma and that to me felt pretty clever. I can't see it having been a coincidence. I also genuinely liked all of the characters, and there was no real villain. Sori's dad and grandmother were nasty but they figured in so little, I really didn't give them a lot of my brain power. Nathaniel is a really nice person, and he is there for Sori throughout the book as a friend which made their relationship so natural.

The K-Pop and Korean cultural references were integrated nicely. And I really love that Sori did all of these things by fluke and did them well. Which I guess could feel contrived, but not even the (minor spoiler) hosting gig felt like it was forced.

All in all, a great addition to the series. Wondering who will feature in book 3, assuming there is a next book. And will definitely be buying this one for my daughter when it comes out because she had to rush out to buy XOXO after borrowing my library copy and loving it so much.

Thank you, Netgalley and HarperCollins for this ARC.

The first book I read by Axie Oh was XOXO, with Jenny and Jaewoo, and I fell in love. It was so fun and sweet, so when I saw ASAP I knew that I had to read it, especially when I realized it's a spin off with Sori and Nathaniel.
Usually, I have a hard time with spin offs because the characters sound too similar to the previous characters so I really worried Sori would sound like Jenny in XOXO instead of like the Sori we came to know and love. I was not disappointed, though. Sori is her usual strong and confident self but we also got to see her vulnerable side. The narration was very well executed.
I might actually I love ASAP even more than I love XOXO. Sori and Nathaniel were so sweet together and we really get to see Sori's growth throughout the story.
If you like KPOP and/or kdramas, you will probably love this.
Now I want a spin off for Youngmin and Hyemi, please!

In this follow-up to XOXO, Sori (daughter of the band XOXO's record label CEO) and Nathaniel (main dancer of XOXO) are still finding their footing with each other after their breakup. Though Sori studied to be an idol in a girl group, she has decided that she doesn't want to debut, but she's happy to work with a new-to-Korea girl in the new band ASAP. Frankly, it keeps her mind off her mother's distance and the potential for yet another scandal involving her father, and though she and Nathaniel are still friends and run into each other regularly, Sori realizes that she's still in love with him and has to factor that into the chaos of her life. So when a potential photo scandal threatens Nathaniel's career and peace of mind, she offer him a place to stay so he can avoid the paparazzi. But as they spend more time together and old feelings flare, they have to decide what's more important -- work, family, or love?

This sweet sequel to a book I really enjoyed showcases two side characters with so much personality, they needed their own story. Sori's reputation is that of someone standoffish and possibly mean, but she's a deeply caring person with the maturity to recognize what she wants and to struggle with how to get it. Nathaniel's bad boy image hides a tender heart, a deep love for his family and friends, and an abiding connection to Sori. Their path is full of frustrating ups and downs, very much like a K-drama, but their HEA is hard won and definitely requires help from others. Fans of K-pop and K-dramas will enjoy this offering from Axie Oh. 4 stars.

Thank you, HarperCollins and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

This was honestly even better than I hoped for.
The drama, the forbidden romance. I swoon!
We follow the familiar characters of Sori and Nathaniel, but also get to see how other old favorites from XOXO are doing. We also get a couple new characters that I absolutely adore.

If you read and loved XOXO you need to read this ASAP (no I will never stop)
If you haven't read XOXO yet, get on it!!!