I love K-Pop and one of the ways I got sucked in was reading a K-Pop YA Romance. So, I now need to read them all, and that includes Kat Cho’s series.

Once Upon A K-Prom [Buy Bookshop Amazon LibroFM] follows a girl named Elena as her childhood best friend returns to town. Only now, he’s a super-famous K-Pop singer… and he wants her to go to prom with him.

Seems like a great set up since she’s always dreamed of going to prom with him. The only problem is that while he was away for years without any contact, she decided she wasn’t going to prom and started a campaign to get her classmates to spend less on prom, then donate the extra to help a community center open. Oh, and he’s famous, so therefore the attention is not the most welcoming thing she’s ever experienced.

This is a fun, cute YA romcom. Elena is struggling with feeling overlooked and unsuccessful even before Robbie returns to the picture, so it explores those emotions and thoughts well. Then add in your childhood crush coming back so different, and she’s got a lot to process. I appreciate that we get Robbie’s POV through it, so we know why he’s doing what he’s doing, even though it’s not always the best situation.

I loved how much the WDB band’s story felt like BTS’s story and all of the real K-Pop Easter Eggs, anchoring it in reality as if this could be happening. You don’t have to know a ton about the K-Pop industry or lore to dive in. Kat breaks down some of the important cultural concepts well, without making them feel like an info dump. You can figure out what stuff means by the context or roundabout descriptions and explanations that fit into the story. It’s a great introductory book for people curious about K-Pop or just wanting a fun second chance/ celebrity romance.

Keep an eye out for my review of book two, Wish Upon A K-Star. [Buy Bookshop Amazon LibroFM]

77. KAT CHO: Cultural Context of K-Pop Fandom | Wish Upon A K-Star – LiteraryHype Podcast

Send us a textKat Cho and I are celebrating BTS Festa and the return of RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook by talking all about her brand new K-Pop romcom, Wish Upon A K-Star. This book is a friends-to-lovers/ fake marriage romance featuring a K-Pop star and a former idol turned K-Drama actor. Kat and I are talking all about the book, as well as the importance of cultural context in k-pop and k-drama, fandom, and so much more.The fact that this is episode 77 and dropping on the day some members get out of the military almost made me cry. Seven is a special number to BTS (they even have tattoos of the number) and for it to line up like this without planning is such serendipity. BTS IS SEVEN.FOLLOW KATBUY THE BOOKS – Bookshop:Wish Upon a K-StarOnce Upon a K-PromWicked FoxVicious SpiritsAmazon:Wish Upon a K-StarOnce Upon a K-PromWicked FoxVicious SpiritsLibroFM: Wish Upon a K-StarOnce Upon a K-PromWicked FoxVicious SpiritsSupport the showSupport the podcast by shopping:EtsyMy Bookshop.org listsLibroFM audiobooksTry Audible Plus Gift Audible Membership Glocusent LED Neck Reading LightTry Shameless Snacks10% Off at Once Upon a Bookclub10% off Goli VitaminsTWO FREE AUDIOBOOKS with new LibroFM Membership: Kindle Unlimited FREE FOR THREE MONTHS!Prime Television FREE TRIALJoin the fun!WebsiteInstagramTiktok…