Prompt #5: A book about K-pop

I am too old for K-pop! I know it exists and constantly seems to trend on social media, but that is about it. I don’t know anything about the industry, the stars and the future. I wasn’t looking forward to the prompt, so decided to go for it early in the challenge with Jessica Jung’s Bright.

What’s it about?

From Goodreads:

The sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller Shine! Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl in this knockout series from Jessica Jung, K-pop legend, fashion icon, and founder of the international luxury brand, Blanc & Eclare.

Couture gowns, press parties, international travel. Rachel Kim is at the top of her game. Girls Forever is now the number-one K-pop group in the world, and her fame skyrockets after her viral airport styling attracts the attention of fashion’s biggest names. Her life’s a swirl of technicolor glamour and adoring fans. Rachel can’t imagine shining any brighter.

The only thing that’s missing is love—but Rachel’s determined to follow the rules. In her world, falling in love can cost you everything.

Enter Alex. When Rachel literally falls head over designer heels into his lap on a crowded metro, she’s tempted to give up her anti-love vows. Alex is more than just heart-stopping dimples and adorably quirky banter. He believes in Rachel’s future—both in music and in fashion.

But the higher you rise, the farther you have to fall. And when a shocking act of betrayal shatters her world, Rachel must finally listen to her heart.

What I think:

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would.

The writing is simplistic, the characters are flat and you can see what’s coming a mile away. If you are a reader beyond a certain age or experience, this is not a good book.

Having said all that, going into the book with absolutely no knowledge of K-pop I found the glimpses into that world absolutely fascinating. The reader is shown behind the scenes of the training the groups receive, the rules the girls live by, and the expectations placed upon them.

Rachel and the rest of Girls Forever have strict contracts and rules about what they can and can’t do. All of their opportunities have to be cleared by their management company and the rivalry between the different groups and even between the girls of a girls Forever.

Rachel is based on the writer’s own experiences and is very much portrayed as the innocent victim who can’t help the fact that she is so talented and beautiful and is offered more opportunities than anyone else. She is a bit whining in places. She breaks the rules and does not like it when her bandmates call her out on her behaviour. She distances herself from the group and then is shocked when they do not include her in things.

There is no complexity to Rachel’s character and it’s hard to feel much sympathy for her by the end of the book.

As I’ve said, I did find this an interesting insight into some aspects of the K-pop world, but it’s definitely not something I will be looking at again for a while.