Review: XOXO, Axie Oh

XOXO was on my most anticipated reads list for 2021 and I’m thrilled to say: it didn’t disappoint. Read my full review below to find out why!

XOXO by Axie Oh
Published by HarperTeen on July 13, 2021
Genres: contemporary, romance, young adult
Format: ARC
Source: Harper Collins INTL
Buy on Book Depository, Bookshop, Blackwell's
Goodreads

Cello prodigy Jenny has one goal: to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious, handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. But in a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure…before he disappears without a word.
Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she’s enrolled for the semester. And he’s not just any student. He’s a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world—and he’s strictly forbidden from dating.
When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.

I received this book for free from Harper Collins INTL in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

☂️ TRIGGER WARNINGS:

mentions of cancer, scenes at the hospital, mentions of bullying, stalking.

☂️ DIVERSITY: Korean-American main character, a majority of the cast are Korean characters, Taiwanese-American side character.

There are no spoilers in this review.

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I ENJOYED…

☂️

• XOXO is about Jenny, cello prodigy, dreaming of going to the Manhattan School of Music. When she meets Jaewoo in her uncle’s karaoke bar, they have one unforgettable night together before he disappears… Until, months later, she finds him in South Korea, at her new school… AND it turns out that he’s a huge K-pop star.
• The story is carried by Jenny, our main character. I immediately grew fond of her. She’s passionate about her cello, she wants to get into the music school of her dreams, she’s wonderful and caring and a little bit stressed out and a little bit uncertain about life and everything, too. She was such a relatable, kind character and I loved seeing her experience new things and get out of her comfort zone, little by little, in this new life, too.
• I’m a fan of celebrity kind of romances and here, well, I was served. I loved the relationship’s progress, from meeting each other to losing each other, to meeting again. If the attraction is there from the start, stronger feelings grew little by little and I loved that, too. Jaewoo is so caring and a little overprotective, at times, but it was so easy to fall for him, too!
• The friendships were really great in this story, too and I loved their interactions so much. I had a soft spot for Sori and Jenny’s relationship. It had a bit of a rocky start, but I loved how Sori slowly warmed up to Jenny and in the end, their friendship was my favorite for sure.

• I also liked that family had an important place in the story! I loved seeing Jenny getting to know her grandmother and seeing her relationship with her mother, too.

I HAD A HARD TIME WITH…

☂️

• There are two little things I ended up being a little bit disappointed about, in this book. They’re minor little peeves of mine, but I thought they deserved a little mention.
• First, I wanted a little more from the family relationships. I feel like there was so much potential to have stronger family relationships and, most of it all, for them to have a bigger place within the story, too. That would have been amazing!
• Second, I wished for more resolution for, no spoilers, something happening with Sori.

OVERALL

☂️

XOXO was a heartwarming, wonderful young adult contemporary romance. I loved the characters, the setting and the celebrity romance made me so happy. Definitely recommending this to any contemporary fan!

FINAL RATING : 4 stars!

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📚 Books similar to XOXO that I’d recommend:

• For another great romance, in the bodyguard/princess kind, try reading Tokyo Ever After.
• To get away, this time to Taiwan for some adventures, try reading Loveboat, Taipei.

Did you read XOXO or do you want to? Do you have any recommendations of great contemporary romances? Let me know in comments!

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