Stephan Lee is unstoppable. He’s back with a banger (or maybe a bop?), K-Pop Revolution, his second book following Candace Park as she becomes a Rookie Idol in S.A.Y.’s new group, THE GIRLS. The YA novel serves an unflinching look at the highs and lows of pop stardom. From the hyper-controlling labels & entertainment companies that manufacture these groups to the sometimes toxic parts of the fandom who follow them.
We pick up with Candace holed up in a hotel waiting for the dust to settle on the cosmic shift she put into motion at the end of K-Pop Confidential. She’s viewed by fans as a K-pop warrior and by the business as a villain. Then, a new CEO enters the picture. The stakes couldn’t be higher as Candace navigates the rollercoaster ride that is prepping to debut — balancing THE GIRLS’ reality show to their first music video and her power couple relationship with YoungBae, all while attempting to finish high school.
I loved every last bit of it. K-Pop Revolution is high stakes and dramatic, yet feels totally real. Even when every battle seems uphill, you cheer for Candace. Even when she stumbles, even when’s she’s too American. Believe me, I was side-eying the haters who’d rather see her and the GIRLS fail. And don’t get me started on the one trying to school her about Korean culture. I love that Lee created a competing group that subverts the usual K-pop formula. It’s a vision for K-Pop that challenges the status quo and asks it to do better.
The relationships among the girls are totally relatable, the challenges and consequences of being under a microscope 24/7 resonate big time. Candace’s mom doesn’t stick around Seoul for long, but just like in K-Pop Confidential, it’s a standout relationship. Lee kicks typical Asian parent characterization to the curb with scenes between Candace and her mom that had me tearing up. This umma supports Candace 100 percent and has her back no matter what.
As hard as it is to see Candace’s journey come to an end, it feels right.
5 stars
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Signed copies are available from Book Soup.