Idol gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young

Alice Choy and her family have moved to South Korea for her mother's job, and the best way to relax is to go to a karaoke bar and sing to her heart's content with her sister. It's at one of these sessions that Alice gets discovered and asked to audition for Star Academy, part of Top10 Entertainment (one of the biggest K-pop companies). Pushing herself to attend the audition, she makes it into the academy. Moving into the academy means committing to an intensive schedule, with voice lessons, dance training, daily workouts, school and Korean lessons. Not to mention being the last member of a new group, 'A-List', whose other members have been together waiting for their debut for years. Will Alice survive the rigorous training, as well as being the odd one out while missing her family, all before A-List debuts?

This debut contemporary novel, set in the popular world of K-Pop, is well written, with relatable characters. Fans of K-dramas and K-pop will love this YA set in Seoul, with frequent references to Korean culture. With a nice steady pace through the whole novel, this book is easy to read. Told from Alice's perspective, with infrequent 'Idol Gossip' littered throughout - in the form of an anonymous K-pop blog run by 'V'. Though set in South Korea, there is little interaction with the setting, due to the nature of K-Pop training - which is where the description comes in. Readers will find this an enjoyable read, trusting they are interested in Korean culture. As a fan of K-Pop and K-Dramas myself, I found the book quick and easy to read.

Themes: Contemporary, South Korea, K-Pop, Relationships, Music, Commitment, Passion.

Melanie Pages