Title: XOXO
Author: Axie Oh
First published July 13, 2021
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.88
Overview
Get ready to fall in love with the electrifying world of K-Pop in Axie Oh’s XOXO. When Jenny meets Jaewoo in a karaoke bar in LA, she never expected to see him again, let alone find out he’s a member of one of the biggest K-Pop bands in the world.
But fate has a funny way of bringing people together. When Jenny and her mother move to Seoul to take care of her ailing grandmother, Jaewoo re-enters her life in a big way.
As they navigate the exclusive world of K-Pop and try to keep their relationship a secret, Jenny must decide what she’s willing to risk for love. With a touch of Crazy Rich Asians and the same unforgettable charm as Notting Hill, XOXO is a standalone YA romcom that will leave you swooning.
Editoral Review
Axie Oh’s latest young adult novel, XOXO, is a stunning example of the power of fiction to transport readers to another world and to challenge them to see their own in a new light. The book, which was first published on July 13, 2021, tells the story of two young women, Jenny and Jaewon, who fall in love amidst the backdrop of the K-pop industry in South Korea.
XOXO is a work of young adult fiction that explores themes of identity, love, friendship, and family through the experiences of its two main characters. The novel is set in the world of K-pop, a phenomenon that has captured the hearts and minds of millions of fans around the world.
Oh uses this setting to both celebrate and critique the industry, exploring the pressures that young people face as they pursue their dreams of stardom. The novel’s main characters, Jenny and Jaewon, are both struggling with their own identities and the expectations of others.
Jenny is a Korean-American teenager who has come to South Korea to pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop star. Jaewon is a Korean-American military brat who is trying to find her place in the world.
The two girls meet by chance and quickly become friends, but as they navigate the treacherous waters of the K-pop industry, they begin to realize that their feelings for one another run deeper than friendship. Oh’s writing is beautiful and evocative, capturing both the excitement and the darkness of the K-pop world.
She deftly weaves together themes of identity, family, and love, creating characters that are both relatable and complex. The pacing of the novel is excellent, with just the right blend of action, romance, and introspection.
One of the strengths of XOXO is its exploration of Korean culture and its reflection on the immigrant experience. Oh paints a vivid picture of life in South Korea, highlighting the beauty of the country’s landscapes and the richness of its culture.
At the same time, she acknowledges the difficulties that immigrants face when trying to fit in to a new culture. She does this through Jenny’s struggles to learn Korean and by exploring the tensions that exist between Jaewon’s Korean and American identities.
Despite its many strengths, XOXO is not without its flaws. Some readers may find the ending of the novel to be somewhat rushed, and there are moments where the dialogue feels a bit contrived.
However, these minor quibbles do not detract from the overall quality of the book. Overall, XOXO is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that will resonate with readers of all ages.
It is a testament to the power of fiction to inspire compassion and empathy, and to the importance of representation in literature. I would highly recommend XOXO to any young adult reader who is interested in exploring themes of identity, family, and love in a fresh and exciting way.
It is a true gem of a book and deserves to be read by anyone who loves great fiction. Rating: 4.5/5 stars
