Author: Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh’s ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.

Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?

Overall Recommendation:

ASAP is finally Sori and Nathaniel’s story that takes the elements I loved about XOXO and supplements in different ways that makes this a different experience while being everything I wanted. Another forbidden romance but this time with the baggage of a past history, the angst and chemistry between these two were real since the first day we met them in the previous book. While it can be read and loved as a standalone, I enjoyed seeing familiar faces in the XOXO group and a different side of the K-pop industry. Brilliant in its characterizations and emotionally heartbreaking, this was the perfect romance read that kept me entertained to the last page.

Publication Date: February 6, 2024

Diving headlong back into the glamorous world of K-pop and the XOXO group, fan-favourite characters (that included me!) Sori and Nathaniel are thrown back together again after graduating high school and somewhat putting their romantic history behind them. After all, their last foray into the non-platonic feelings almost brought a scandal for Nathaniel’s idol group XOXO just shortly after they debuted. It seems the world is just against them from being together.

I love a well-done forbidden romance as much as the next person, and Axie Oh just has a way of seeing into my heart and knowing which heartstrings to pull when she writes these romances. Sori and Nathaniel were so well written as characters that they felt like real people. Their chemistry was evident even when they were first introduced in XOXO but it was magnified in this book as we focus on their history and present.

Getting to know Sori was one of my favourite parts of the book. She is so much more than meets the eye. Her relationship with her mother, the CEO of an entertainment group, and her rocky relationship with her father made her such an empathetic character. The deep dive into another side of the K-pop industry was so much fun. Not only the music side, I loved seeing the preparation of groups before their debut and the variety shows they go on to make themselves known to their audience. As a K-pop fan, this made the story even more entertaining and real. Axie really drew me in with her depictions of this world.

For fans of the companion book, I’m so glad the boys of XOXO all made appearances that go beyond cameos. I think the biggest surprise was getting to see more of Sun who seemed to be more elusive in book 1 as he had already completed high school by that point. I honestly hope we get a book for each of the boys. *fingers crossed*. And for fans of Jenny and Jaewoo, they also make appearances so this book has a little treat for everybody!

Honestly, I can go on with my gushing, but this book (and series) is a love letter to those who love the K-pop world. It’s fun, fast paced and filled with emotional story arcs. ASAP follows in this same vein and doesn’t disappoint, even with the high standards I had for it. I urge you to go out and find a copy for yourself!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review