Book Review: Once Upon a KProm

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Romance

After reading Ann Liang’s books, I’ve really been wanting more of those kdrama/kpop vibed books. When I saw this one, it seemed like it’d give exactly that…and it did! It was such a cute read and it really brought me back to my own kpop days 😂

Continue reading for more details.

Synopsis:

Elena Soo has always felt overshadowed. Whether by her more successful older sisters, her more popular twin brother, or her more outgoing best friend, everyone except Elena seems to know exactly who they are and what they want. But she is certain about one thing - she has no interest in going to prom. While the rest of the school is giddy over corsages and dresses, Elena would rather spend her time working to save the local community center, the one place that's always made her feel like she belonged.

So when international K-pop superstar Robbie Choi shows up at her house to ask her to prom, Elena is more confused than ever. Because the one person who always accepted Elena as she is? Her childhood best friend, Robbie Choi. And the one thing she maybe, possibly, secretly wants more than anything? For the two of them to keep the promise they made each other as kids: to go to prom together. But that was seven years ago, and with this new K-pop persona, pink hair, and stylish clothes, Robbie is nothing like the sweet, goofy boy she remembers. The boy she shared all her secrets with. The boy she used to love.

Besides, prom with a guy who comes with hordes of screaming fans, online haters, and relentless paparazzi is the last thing Elena wants - even if she can't stop thinking about Robbie's smile... right?

Review:

I admired Elena’s character because, like her, I really am not the type of person who likes being the center of attention and has the guts to make full blown announcements in front of the whole entire grade. Though, her passion and dedication towards the community center she advocated for put her in really tough situations but she always was able to get through them one way or another. I also felt really bad for how unseen she truly was, especially at home with the way her mother constantly mixed up her name with her other, elder, sisters and clearly favored her twin brother, Ethan, over Elena. Still, at times, I found myself struggling to fully connect to Elena’s character.

“Elena, careers and hobbies and dreams can be discovered whenever. What makes you interesting isn’t any one thing. You’re so many small beautiful things put together. You know that, right?”

At first, Robbie did come across as a self-absorbed idol who cared more about his appearance than Elena’s feelings. Though, he changed a lot throughout the book. At some points he seemed like a totally different character, which I didn’t mind, but it just didn’t line up with who he appeared as for most of the book. Overall, after he got over the initial confused-idol phase and started connecting with Elena more, I did like his character a lot more. He was genuinely sweet and caring (he wrote love songs for Elena when he was 10 or something, like c’mon).

Elena and Robbie make the best childhood best friends-lovers. Their relationship when they were young was like every best best-friend friendship to ever exist. The fighting, the teasing, the antics, it was all so adorable and wholesome! Once they reunited, I could feel the unsureness and carefulness lingering between the two as they didn’t know what to expect from each other as they expected their time apart to bring changes within each other. Though, some things never change and that comforted them, allowing them to reconnect and let each other in.

“I’ve never stopped caring about you,” he said, and I felt my cheeks

burn. Now I was grateful he couldn’t see me; I’m sure I looked like a fire

truck. “I really did miss you, Lani.”

I did find the ending especially unrealistic with a world-wide loved kpop idol dating a regular girl because they did show in the story how crazy Robbie’s fans could be. I know this is just a fiction book, but still it made the ending a little questionable to me. I feel like they wouldn’t last long because of the crazy fans causing it to be way more difficult for Elena than it needs to be. If they were secretly dating, that would make more sense to me.

On that note, I was glad that this book highlighted the difficulties for idols in the industry with the strict rules and diets they need to follow. Sooyeon and her company represented the more toxic and difficult side of this, what seems like, fun and perfect life. The idols look beautiful, have amazing vocals, talented choreographies, and all the fame in the world. It seems lovely on the outside, but the things that go on behind-the-scenes aren’t as pretty. I was waiting for these things to be revealed, and I’m glad the author did address it.

The plot was well-paced. I enjoyed the different scenes and events that occurred, it kept things fun to read about. There were little twists and secrets throughout the story keeping things intriguing because even though some things were a tad bit predictable, it was still enjoyable.

“I missed you too, Robbie,” I let myself say. And I knew I’d done the thing I promised I wouldn’t. I’d completely fallen for Robbie Choi.”

Robbie’s boy group, WDB, was filled with such amazing characters. Each of them was unique in their own way and very enjoyable to read about. They were so charismatic and I could definitely see them being a group lots of girls would go crazy over in real life too. Though, one member I didn’t like as much as the rest because of the way he treated Elena as nothing but a tool for them to use (I forgot his name, but you’ll know who I’m talking about once you read this one). I loved Sooyeon though! She was an angel and such a supportive friend to Elena. Elena helped Sooyeon out when she needed it as well, their relationship was the sweetest!

"'And right before you feel like you’re going to faint, eat a cube of cheese,' I mumbled.

'Devil Wears Prada!' Sooyeon said with a grin.

Wow, now I wanted to date Sooyeon."

Overall,

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