WISH UPON A K-STAR

A former K-pop star seeking a fresh start in the K-drama world gets involved in a fake relationship with a fellow celebrity in order to help both their careers.

Shin Hyeri is a Korean American actor living in Seoul whose star is on the rise, although online she’s been dubbed the “scandal princess” due to the rumors swirling around her (including that she bullied a fellow member of her former band, Hellowglow). Her relationship with her mother, who “loves having famous kids,” is difficult, adding to her stress. But a backstage encounter with K-pop boy-band sensation Moon “Moonster” Minseok ends up turning him and Hyeri into more tabloid fodder. To save her career, Hyeri must do what she hates most: lie. She enters a fake-dating scheme with Moonster, whose own band, WDB, is struggling with a dating scandal. Soon Hyeri finds their complicated history and feelings hard to ignore—and she wrestles with her attitude toward an industry that loves a good story, even if it’s false. This entertaining novel calls out gender double standards and the brutality of critical anti-fans, highlighting the less glamorous sides of the K-pop world. Interspersed amid the prose, readers will find celebrity profiles, news articles, and a transcript of video footage, all of which enrich the narrative. Even though the romance doesn’t deliver when it comes to chemistry, Hyeri is a charming and relatable lead, and her journey is thoroughly enjoyable.

An entertaining peek behind the scenes of Korean pop culture.