e-Audio, 09:21:13
Narrated by: Joy Osmanski
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Published by: HarperTeen
Read from: February 18-20, 2024
XOXO, #2
Source: Library’s Libby
TW: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Bullying, Alcohol
For Readers Interested In: Contemporary, Romance, Race/Ethnicity Diversity, YA, Set Outside the USANew York Times bestselling author Axie Oh’s ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.
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?
*MY THOUGHTS*
I think I went into this expecting it to be too much like XOXO. Well that’s what I wanted anyway. But it doesn’t even scratch the surface of my love for that book and that hurt for sure. It wasn’t terrible, but definitely not as good.
For the most part, what I had issue with was the romance. It just didn’t have the chemistry that the XOXO had. And I hate to keep comparing them, but it just didn’t seem real for me. And I KNOW I’m not the biggest advocate of enemies to lovers. But this one wasn’t even that. It was childhood friends to lovers, usually my favorite. But there was some second chance in there too, but I only like those if there’s some good groveling. And they’re teens, so there was none of that lol She just accepted that she was wrogn and hoped for the best. But even if that was the reasoning for it, I wish that the author had shown that. It was more told in like flashbacks and things.
I did like that it was still about K-Pop. In the last book we saw someone from the band and someone who just didn’t believe in fun. In this one we see someone in the band and someone else who wants nothing to do with K-Pop at all. For that to be their dynamic, I don’t think their relationship was that interesting. They were cute or whatever, but it was just ok to me. I didn’t really get it. I think I would have liked it more if we had seen some like, Idk more K-Pop stuff happening with the main characters instead of just around them from like shows or mentoring someone.
This wasn’t as memorable as the first one. And I think it really messed me up lol I hate that I’m writing this review, but it just wasn’t good to me. I can only hope that there is another one and it turns out better than this one. Because Lordt knows I don’t want this book to be the last note. (Pun intended)
Overall, I give this
