I actually found Mina to be the most interesting and I think has the most room to develop. We’d love your help. I enjoyed reading from Rachel’s point of view for the most part, she did annoy me at parts but what characters don’t annoy you? Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing a digital ARC of Shine in exchange for an honest review. Head through to read my review! Content warnings: fat shaming, vomit, slut Shine is like a mid-2010s YA contemporary, along the lines of Anna and the French Kiss. After Jessica unexpectedly left Girls’ Generation six years ago, fans are still unsure which members she’s on good terms with. Rachel Kim, naturally, is based on Jessica, while Rachel’s sister Leah Kim is based on Jessica’s real star sister, f(x)‘s Krystal. #LegallyBlonde3 Shine‘s Brazilian cover, for example, appears to have a poster on the wall depicting one of Girls’ Generation’s iconic songs, “Oh!”. As Rachel learns to balance her dreams of K-pop success with her disillusionment of the shiny entertainment world, she struggles to maintain her authentic sense of self. | @sooyoungchoi/Instagram. ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Electric Monkey for gifting me a copy of Shine to review! With Jessica Jung‘s young adult K-Pop novel Shine set to hit shelves in the United States in less than a week, fans of the former Girls’ Generation star have one question on their lips: How much of the book is true to real life? Her relationship with her mother is strained (because she wants her to quit idol life and go to college), but she’s close with her dad and then her sister is an absolute sweetheart. Like who is she? As a huge BlackPink stan – or at least a stan of their music and artistry – as well as someone who consumed K-Pop throughout middle and high school, I liked having the curtain pulled back to show some of the industry’s not-so-great and downright toxic elements. that she probably signed an NDA. Superbly enjoyable - can we PLEASE get a sequel? “I can’t wait.”. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Likewise, the book’s Korean edition was recently delayed, with publisher RH Korea retracting a description that called Shine “Jessica’s autobiography“. While many idols have shared their experiences of K-Pop stardom, Jessica explained that few people have revealed what it’s like behind the scenes of trainee life. Rachel and Jason first meeting was UGH. And she also spent some time calling out the double standards between female and male idols and how boy group members can get away with so many things. There are some classic tropes and a sprinkle of instalove to get the romance train going, but there are also more organic moments as the novel goes on. Jessica may not have divulged who the rest of Shine‘s characters are based on (if anyone), but she did confirmed the book’s depiction of the K-Pop industry is “based on experience“. And I have been for 9 years now.

I had a lot of drama, a lot of competition, boys—everything that I wanted to tell the world about.

by Simon Pulse. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. A kpop YA novel that focuses on the industry and is written by a veteran performer feels like it should be a smash hit. In her interview with TIME, Jessica confirmed that at many of Shine‘s major characters are based on real life. #ElleWoods But just how far do those similarities go? Wherever the truth lies, Jessica insists Shine is not autobiographical, but rather a tale of real experiences with a fictional twist.

And that’s what began my love of kpop. For me, SHINE's main strength was in its honesty about how gruelling the K-Pop industry is for trainees and idols, and how it laid bare the sexism and double standards rife within the industry. Refresh and try again. “To family and to being utterly screwed.

September 29th 2020 Jessica Jung’s book Shine is an #ownvoices novel in which the author shares an identity with her protagonist in more ways than one. However, she wouldn’t confirm whether all the characters have real life inspirations. Partly influenced by her own life, Jessica Jung draws from her 13 years of experience in the industry to peel back the curtain on all the hard work and strict rules that contribute to becoming successful as a K-pop star—rules like no dating, no social media, and strict dieting. Yes, SNSD Jessica, and since k-pop members fear lawsuits from their former companies, it's expected there will be thinly disguised personal experience, I guess it's a Yes because the author said so herself. There is a serious amount of fat/body shaming, but it felt realistic to me. In. i’m not surprised but after all the promo i’d expect the book to be juicier, but i understand why it wouldn’t… great review! Well maybe she wrote the number of the member nine as same as her former group but whats the point? I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this, because again: usually, contemporaries don’t get me. Content warnings: fat shaming, vomit, slut shaming, sexism/misogyny, bullying, emotional abuse. So, fans think it’s a definite possibility that the rest of Shine‘s characters represent other Girls’ Generation members or idols from Jessica’s past. What would you give for a chance to live your dreams? I thinks this maybe one t, Shame you didn’t get on with this read. I appreciated Rachel’s wholesome relationship with her sister Leah and the complex development of her parent’s characters as well. I hope we get to see more of them in the sequel. Both Sooyoung and the character have excellent dancing skills and come from powerful families. If that's her view of it, I'd instead wonder what you sort of message you're supposed to get from sugarcoating it.

As such, many fans are suggesting the character is an amalgamation of three men who have been romantically linked to Jessica: her mogul boyfriend Tyler Kwon, Super Junior‘s Donghae, and 2PM‘s Taecyeon. A massive big meh, BORING. Likewise, another “Meet the Idols” profile for a fellow trainee character named Choo Mina immediately drew comparisons to Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published The complicated relationship Rachel has with her mother is strained by the need to protect her daughter from the pressures to achieve success within the industry. I had a lot of drama, a lot of competition, boys—everything that I wanted to tell the world about. Wherever the truth lies, Jessica insists Shine is not autobiographical, but rather a tale of real experiences with a fictional twist. We rest our case. There’s lots of controversy surrounding this book and I’m not going to talk about it in my review so...if that’s what you’re here for—sorry. Sooyoung (right) with fellow Girls’ Generation members Tiffany and Hyoyeon in September 2020.

Although I do agree there could have been more character development, I just think making up pretty stories about a troubled industry would be contributing to the problem, not revealing it. Follow Kirsty's Book Reviews on WordPress.com, Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett: Reasons to Read. Her family gave up their lives in the US to get her a chance to be a star, so of when rumours that DB Entertainment is launching a new girl group she knows she needs to fight tooth and nail to get a spot.

But I honestly knew that there wouldn’t be any serious gossip in this novel because that could end up in a lawsuit as laws in Korea about defamation are pretty serious. @ReeseW, AFI 2020 review: ‘Sound of Metal’ is an uncompromising character study anchored by Riz Ahmed’s tour de force performance https://t.co/goxPFj3V44 via @theyoungfolks, Copyright 2020 The Young Folks. Rachel is a reflection of me, of course… Leah is definitely a reflection of my little sister. I did try to fictionalize everything… I never wanted to write an autobiography or a tell-all story. Awful. Tummy tucked, shoulders back. And considering the book centers around a Korean-American trainee (Rachel Kim) who’s spent her childhood gearing up to be in a girl group under one of K-Pop’s biggest labels, Shine definitely bears serious similarities to Jessica’s real life. The ending just made me really annoyed. , I thought the message you were supposed to "get" from the sudden loss of friendship and cattiness was just Jessica's truth about the K-pop industry. While many idols have shared their experiences of K-Pop stardom, Jessica explained that few people have revealed what it’s like behind the scenes of trainee life. However, the closer the book’s publication date gets, the more fans are starting to believe Shine is closer to fact than fiction. For example, in exposing the double standards between how women and men are treated in the entertainment industry—such as the kinds of questions they are asked in interviews, the criticisms people make of female celebrities compared to their comments regarding male celebrities, and the extent of repercussions for female idols breaking the rules compared to male idols. That’s essentially setting them up for failure. Entire book? But just how far do those similarities go? Jason Lee was described as having “the voice of an angel, smile of the devil, and body of a God” in a “Meet the Idols” profile posted on Jessica’s Instagram story. *I received a free advanced copy of this novel from Edelweiss+ and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*, Yes I will be reading this for the drama mind your own business, First of all, Krystal Jung i love you so much you're my entire world and i knew how much you love your older sister. Jessica Jung does not stray from the harsh realities that K-pop artists face not only to debut, but to stay at the top. Shine is a read that balances a critical perspective with a fun story, and does it well, especially for a debut novel. As Jessica Jung pulls back the curtain on the industry, the darker side of stardom comes into focus. Both Sooyoung and the character have excellent dancing skills and come from powerful families. For example, al the rules Rachel Kim is subject to were pulled right from Jessica’s own experience at SM Entertainment, from mandatory dieting to dating bans.

A Korean American teen is thrust into the competitive, technicolor world of K-pop, from Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of Girls Generation. The book is listed as the first in a series, though it would be good as a standalone novel if the ending was adjusted to match that intention. I 100% agree you have to believe in what you’re reading or the characters reactions. I wanted to make good entertainment. Shine‘s Brazilian cover, for example, appears to have a poster on the wall depicting one of Girls’ Generation’s iconic songs, “Oh!”. Her relationship with her mother is strained (because she wants her to quit idol life and go to college), but she’s close with her dad and then her sister is an absolute sweetheart. A lot of unnecessary characters, made me as a reader feel so confused. That’s essentially setting them up for failure. oof so many people i know want to read the book for the tea haha. If you watch her interview and keep up with her promotion for this book, you'll see "the releas.

It’s going to be like an Easter egg hunt, looking for clues and who’s who, what’s what, what’s true, what’s not. She doesn't mention SNSD directly in her book though, you should be her fan or SNSD fan to notice. What an absolutely unputdownable read this was! Alright lets talk about this book, the cover? Rachel Kim, naturally, is based on Jessica, while Rachel’s sister Leah Kim is based on Jessica’s real star sister, f(x)‘s Krystal. I don't know her. For example, all the rules Rachel Kim is subject to were pulled right from Jessica’s own experience at SM Entertainment, from mandatory dieting to dating bans.