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Easily one of my top 5 books of the year, and I'm positive it will stay there by the time December rolls around. I don't have the words for how much I loved this. Not even close.
Very interesting world building and an interesting main character, but ultimately this felt like it hit so many of the same dystopian buttons. I would have really LOVED this back in 2010. I enjoyed our main core cast of characters, but the plot is ultimately what disconnected me from the book as a whole. It didn't go anywhere interesting or new, and the cliffhanger ending didn't feel all that exciting.
Also I'm not sure how to word this, so I'll just say that all the racial/refugee prejudice toward Talin felt weird.
Marie Lu continues to be a very skilled writer, however; no matter if I've loved her novels or simply found them okay, her writing has always been very good and usually what keeps me going if I'm not enjoying the story as much. I'm glad that she successfully rode the YA dystopian wave throughout the 2010s and is still trying to write interesting stories.
Also I'm not sure how to word this, so I'll just say that all the racial/refugee prejudice toward Talin felt weird.
Marie Lu continues to be a very skilled writer, however; no matter if I've loved her novels or simply found them okay, her writing has always been very good and usually what keeps me going if I'm not enjoying the story as much. I'm glad that she successfully rode the YA dystopian wave throughout the 2010s and is still trying to write interesting stories.
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Re-reading on audiobook was the right choice. The Penguin Random House full cast audio truly brings this life, with the Lyra voice actress bringing a whole new depth of emotion to Lyra that I don't quite remember feeling the first time around.
I forgot how fantastic this is, and I'm excited to continue on. I remember so little of this series that it's like reading all for the first time again.
I forgot how fantastic this is, and I'm excited to continue on. I remember so little of this series that it's like reading all for the first time again.
For the record, this EXO song was in my head the ENTIRE TIME I was reading this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdj6R-Etk3k
I make no excuses for rating this 5 stars. I highly enjoyed it, and it spoke to the 15 year old me that would have written this exact same story about Nsync, just worse.
XOXO is pretty much elevated KPOP fanfic, but I found it incredibly charming. It hits all the right beats but works with the story of the Non-KPOP Fan Meets and Dates KPOP Star She Didn't Know Was a Celebrity At First trope in a way that doesn't feel trite or overly cheesy.
I think what made this work so well for me was that the real theme of the story wasn't about the romance, specifically. It is a big part of Jenny's life, but it's not the catalyst for the journey she takes; it's one part of it. The reason she moves to Seoul has nothing to do with Jaewoo, she gets into school on her own talent, she's hardworking and smart and figuring herself out. At the heart of Jenny's life is her desire to do something and BE more than just another hard working musician with no soul - to find a spark in her life to elevate her music and open up her experiences. Making friends at her school in Seoul, dating Jaewoo, bonding with her grandmother, all of these things make up a really nice tapestry of Jenny exploring herself and who she wants to be in her final year of school.
Of course, the romance with Jaewoo is just as sweet and dramatic as anyone could hope for in this type of romance trope!
One thing I loved the most was the dramatic climax.
And the ending! Yes, good, shoot that sweetness right into my veins!!
Like I said, this spoke to me and I enjoyed it for what it is: a really sweet coming of age romance that plays with fanfic tropes. I really, really enjoyed it and it was a very quick and pleasant read.
I make no excuses for rating this 5 stars. I highly enjoyed it, and it spoke to the 15 year old me that would have written this exact same story about Nsync, just worse.
XOXO is pretty much elevated KPOP fanfic, but I found it incredibly charming. It hits all the right beats but works with the story of the Non-KPOP Fan Meets and Dates KPOP Star She Didn't Know Was a Celebrity At First trope in a way that doesn't feel trite or overly cheesy.
I think what made this work so well for me was that the real theme of the story wasn't about the romance, specifically. It is a big part of Jenny's life, but it's not the catalyst for the journey she takes; it's one part of it. The reason she moves to Seoul has nothing to do with Jaewoo, she gets into school on her own talent, she's hardworking and smart and figuring herself out. At the heart of Jenny's life is her desire to do something and BE more than just another hard working musician with no soul - to find a spark in her life to elevate her music and open up her experiences. Making friends at her school in Seoul, dating Jaewoo, bonding with her grandmother, all of these things make up a really nice tapestry of Jenny exploring herself and who she wants to be in her final year of school.
Of course, the romance with Jaewoo is just as sweet and dramatic as anyone could hope for in this type of romance trope!
One thing I loved the most was the dramatic climax.
Spoiler
The fact that the climactic separation is because Jenny makes a decision that TRIES to be one about her doing the right thing for Jae's career and her own future was a nice take on it versus the typical ways that separation could have gone. (We hate a miscommunication trope!!) And kudos to Axie Oh for doing the trope-y Dating Scandal plot line but making it so that Jenny was going back to LA anyway when that happened so that the angst wasn't about outside pressures, but her own internal struggles and worries.And the ending! Yes, good, shoot that sweetness right into my veins!!
Like I said, this spoke to me and I enjoyed it for what it is: a really sweet coming of age romance that plays with fanfic tropes. I really, really enjoyed it and it was a very quick and pleasant read.
