XOXO by Axie Oh

e-Audio, 09:13:10
Narrated by: Greta Jung
Release Date: July 13, 2021
Published by: HarperTeen
Read from: August 6-9, 2021
Stand-alone
Source: Overdrive Audio
TW: 
For Readers Interested In: Contemporary Romance, Books Set Outside the US, Music, K-pop, Realistic Fiction, YA

  Cello prodigy Jenny has one goal: to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious, handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. But in a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure…before he disappears without a word.
     Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she’s enrolled for the semester. And he’s not just any student. He’s a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world—and he’s strictly forbidden from dating.
     When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.

*MY THOUGHTS*

This was exactly what I needed at the time I read it. I had just read 2 intense reads back to back and I couldn’t handle another. Luckily this one showed up in my Overdrive account and I immediately started listening. Totally the right call for something light and cute!

Jenny’s main goal has always been to get accepted into a music conservatory. After receiving some less than stellar remarks on her latest piece, she meets the mysterious and handsome Jaewoo. She takes advice from her uncle and decides to do something spontaneous like and talk to him. What she doesn’t know is once they hit it off he will be on his way back to Korea, where she doesn’t hear from him anymore. Three months later she finds herself in Korea in the same place Jaewoo is supposed to be. Will they finally make it work now that she’s here?

As a contemporary romance lover (no pun intended) I was so happy when I got this in my Overdrive. Everything about this was a “Nikki word” and I loved it. The romance was so cute that I hated the stereotypical “breakup” even though I knew they would be getting back together lol When that happens I always realize how invested in the story I really am and I know then that I really liked it.

The other thing that makes a contemp romance is the characters. It’s rare that I like ALL the characters in a story, but in this one I did. (Except that one mean girl, but I don’t think she had a real purpose) But everyone else, including her mother had a larger purpose in this story. And the two main characters were so cute together. They were so cute together and when they finally got things together, they were even more so. Definitely great characters that were perfect together.

The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars was the setting. I’ve never seen any of Korea, but I do want to. But as much as I want to, I don’t think I’ll ever get to go. I’m saying all this to say I wish she would have showed more of it in this. I wanted them to go out and see more of the sights. I know this is just a me thing, but it still would have made it better for me.

This book was just what I needed at the time. I hope that it does the same thing for others that it did for me. I hope they fall into this story and fall in love like I did.

Overall, I give this

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