An instant New York Times bestseller
Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl by way of Jenny Han in this knockout debut about a Korean American teen who is thrust into the competitive, technicolor world of K-pop, from Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of one of the most influential K-pop girl groups of all time, Girls' Generation.
What would you give for a chance to live your dreams?
For seventeen-year-old Korean American Rachel Kim, the answer is almost everything. Six years ago, she was recruited by DB Entertainment-one of Seoul's largest K-pop labels, known for churning out some of the world's most popular stars. The rules are simple: Train 24/7. Be perfect. Don't date. Easy, right?
Not so much. As the dark scandals of an industry bent on controlling and commodifying beautiful girls begin to bubble up, Rachel wonders if she's strong enough to be a winner, or if she'll end up crushed… Especially when she begins to develop feelings for K-pop star and DB golden boy Jason Lee. It's not just that he's charming, sexy, and ridiculously talented. He's also the first person who really understands how badly she wants her star to rise.
Get ready as Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of Korea's most famous girl group, Girls' Generation, takes us inside the luxe, hyper-color world of K-pop, where the stakes are high, but for one girl, the cost of success-and love-might be even higher. It's time for the world to see: this is what it takes to shine. Jessica Jung is a Korean American singer, actress, fashion designer, and international influencer. Born in San Francisco, Jessica grew up in South Korea where she trained as a K-pop singer, debuting as a member of the international sensation Girls Generation in 2007. After going solo in 2014, she launched the successful fashion line, Blanc & Eclare. Jessica has been featured on the covers of magazines worldwide, her brand now spanning platforms including film and television. "Narrator Joy Osmanski provides a spirited performance of a novel about the cutthroat world of K-pop. Rachel's talent and ambition led her family to uproot themselves and move from America to Korea. Her dream-come-true quickly diminishes as she faces bullying from the girls she competes against and relentless pressure for perfection from DB Entertainment, the label that recruited her. Tension mounts as heartthrob and K-pop star Jason begins to take an interest in her. Osmanski's youthful narration captures the emotional intensity of a forbidden romance and brings to her performance the energy that K-pop performers are known for. This contemporary romance will delight K-pop fans."
