By Kat Cho
Hyperion, 2022. 329 pages. Young Adult Fiction
As prom season approaches, 17-year-old Elena Soo tries to encourage her classmates to skip the luxuries (like limousines) and donate that extra money to the local community center where she volunteers, which is facing funding shortages and closure. Elena plans to skip prom all together, then her childhood best friend, Robbie—who is now an international K-pop superstar—returns to town for a local concert, and to make good on their old pact to go to prom together. However, Elena isn’t interested in being in the spotlight and all the extra attention comes with some additional complications.
For fans of YA rom-coms, this book hits all the right spots. It’s cute, fun, and definitely made me remember the highlights of my own prom (minus the K-pop heartthrob). I really appreciated the alternating perspectives between Elena and Robbie, seeing things from both perspectives, and how their background influenced their actions. If you love Korean music and dramas, this is one you won’t want to miss. That said, it’s enjoyable whether or not your familiar with the Korean music scene.
If you liked Once Upon a K-Prom, you might also like:
By Lyla Lee
Katherine Tegen Books, 2020. 323 pages. Young Adult Fiction
A nuanced celebration of body positivity by the author of the Mindy Kim series follows the experiences of a plus-sized teen girl who shatters expectations on a televised competition to become the next big K-pop star.
By Axie Oh
HarperTeen, 2021. 337 pages. Young Adult Fiction
Jenny never had much time for boys, K-pop, or really anything besides her dream of being a professional cellist. But when she finds herself falling for a K-pop idol, she has to decide whether their love is worth the risk.
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