Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

K-pop Confidential by Stephan Lee

7 reviews

pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

While this was a very light read, I did struggle with this book a bit. It just seemed too ... unrealistic. And yes, I adore unrealistic stories. Books are places where fairytale dreams and reality can collide with no need for logical explanation ... But this was just a bit too far fetched.

I'm also highly intrigued how this segues into the second book. Given the current ending ... it seems even more implausible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, and Fatphobia

Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Grief, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

doodeedoda's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexism, Stalking, and Bullying

Minor: Death of parent and Eating disorder

chloe_23's review against another edition

funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Not the best book I've ever read, yet it's an amazing read for a K-pop fan. This is my second time reading it, and my reactions were either the same energy or even more energy when something big happened. I think I'll forever love this book, or at least as long as I stan K-pop. I started reading the second book the moment I flipped the last page in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Body shaming

Minor: Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Mental illness, and Fatphobia

ellaticonstellation's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Oh my god! This might be the best K-pop book I have ever read (besides Jisoo Lee's). I could've read this in a day, but adulting, so yeah, two days. I love Candace Park, Binna, Jinjoo, Aram, and even Helena. I thought One.J was sus, Youngbae, you sweet thing. Eomma, you're the best!💕 *that speech* must be hard to do! Thanks, Stephan, for this beautiful book, and on to the next one. You better have the audiobook companion when you read this.✨

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Racism

sankta_aleena's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexism, Bullying, Child abuse, and Eating disorder

Minor: Misogyny, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent

miss__manga__'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

2022 review: Not a bad read, and I really enjoyed the end. I just wish there had been a faster pace for the first half of the book.
Rating 3.75

2023 reread review: I really like the almost effortless worldbuilding, though I still wish we had seen more of the other trainees (JinJoo was just... existing...). The writing did feel a little inconsistent at times (especially when Candace was using slang like shooketh - I have no issues with slang or the words chosen, but they were very sporadic).

I would have also liked to have seen the theme of feminism being a bit more developed, same with friendly rivalries amongst the girls. I hope these are expanded on in the sequel, which I plan to read soon.  
In my reading journal, I've updated this to a 4 star rating, but since it's not that different to my original rating, I'm leaving it there.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming and Bullying

Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness

ariam's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I liked how the enemy relationship between Candace and Helena was resolved, especially how Candace's mom talked to them about debuting. The whole change up of the debut team was so weird. I truly didn't like One.J , but it seems like he's too much of a person on a pedestal to Candace to be a fleshed-out character in terms of the book. I kept forgetting how Candace and Youngbae, and One.J were all 15/16 by their characterization. 
I have so many thoughts of like how messy it is which props to realism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Stalking

Minor: Bullying and Death of parent