Another headache truncated review: another delectable K-pop novel. I don't know how it got on my list because the author is male and there aren't queer characters, but I read it and loved reading it. Candace is a Fort Lee-Korean 15-year-old who doesn't actually know a lot about K-pop, but she loves to sing. Unfortunately her parents force her to channel her musical talent into an instrument she has no affinity for, the viola. She sneaks into an audition for a new group that's training in Korea, and much to her shock, especially because she can't dance, she's selected.

K-pop training is rigorous and even cruel, especially for an American (individualist) who's a little extra in the best of times, but Candace manages to adapt to what she must and stay true to herself for the rest.

Discovery of Seoul life--they have cafés where you can hang out with animals other than cats. Candace visits a raccoon café and a meerkat café. Korea has jumped a dozen places on the list of countries I'd like to visit (but probably never will for environmental reasons and also the pandemic will never blobdamn end).