K-Pop Reads

Are you a member of the BTS Army? Do you belong to BLINK? As interest in K-Pop only continues to grow, more and more books are featuring characters chasing their dreams of K-Pop fame. Aspirational young stars have to learn complicated choreography while hitting every note and following strict training regimes. It doesn’t take much to push these teens to their limits. Whether you’re a die-hard K-Pop fan or just dipping your toes into the world of Korean pop, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in these titles.

Somewhere We Only Know by Maurene Goo – A breakout K-Pop star, Lucky knows appearances are everything, so it’s incredibly important she follows all of the rules and her American debut goes well. But a late-night craving for a hamburger might just ruin everything after she runs into Jack and convinces him to take her to the best hamburger joint in L.A. However, Jack works for a tabloid, and sparks fly as the two explore the city while Jack decides if his new paparazzi career is worth more than a chance at love. Also available as an ebook on Overdrive.

Shine by Jessica Jung – Written by a former member of the legendary K-Pop group Girls Generation, Shine follows Rachel Kim, a trainee recruited by DB Entertainment, one of Seoul’s biggest names in music. Rachel has to train and act perfectly 24/7. Oh, and she can’t date. Rachel starts to wonder if she has what it takes to make it, especially when she starts to fall for K-Pop star and label mate, Jason. Also available as an ebook on Overdrive.

I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee – Skye has always known she was destined to be a K-Pop star. When an international reality show comes to town and promises stardom to the winner, she jumps at the chance to audition. One problem. Fat girls don’t dance. Fat girls aren’t K-Pop stars. But Skye knows better, and she’ll have to figure out how to crush the competition (and maybe fall in love along the way) while staying true to herself. Also available as an ebook and eaudiobook on Overdrive.

K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee – When Candace earns a trainee spot with a K-pop music label, she’s thrust into a brand new world where her every move is scrutinized. She has songs to memorize, dance moves to perfect, a language to learn, and most of all - she cannot fall in love. But when another trainee catches her eye, she’ll have to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice. Also available as an ebook on Overdrive.

Skip Beat! by Yoshiki Nakamura – Kyoko has spent her life supporting Sho on his journey to become an idol in Japan. When he gets his break, he casts her out, and Kyoko’s heart is broken. There’s only one thing to do: Beat him at his own game. Kyoko sets out to become an idol on her own, landing an audition at the agency where Sho’s rival works. Game on. While this is about J-Pop rather than K-Pop, this manga series is still a fun read about the competitiveness of the music business.

BTS Army Handbook by Nikki Smith – Looking for somewhere to start learning about BTS, or just want to see more pictures of your favorite group? This is the book for you! The BTS Army Handbook is full of great images and stories behind BTS’s rise to superstardom.

If you need some background music while you read or just want to listen to your favorite K-Pop artists, check out Hoopla. You can find additional books to download and read as well as albums from popular K-Pop artists like BTS (Face Yourself), Blackpink (The Album), and more. Click here for more information on how to get started with Hoopla.