Hi, fiction lover! I’m back with a book review for you! This time, I’m reviewing Idol Gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young. If you didn’t know, I’m a sucker for a K-pop story! I lived in Korea for a year, and since then I’ve been picking up all the K-pop books that I can. Although I saw Idol Gossip pop up several times while browsing, I never really dove in till recently. And I’m so glad I did! So, here is my Idol Gossip Book Review. Hope you enjoy it. 💖
Let’s Start Reading Idol Gossip 👓
So, Idol Gossip begins with our protagonist Alice Choy heading to an audition, and she has her little sister Olivia to thank! Although Alice is very hesitant, she ends up going to the audition because of her love for singing—though she cannot imagine herself passing.
I must say, the pace is pretty fast because suddenly, Alice is part of the debut lineup for a girl group. She must learn to navigate all the newness of being a trainee in one of the top entertainment companies, Top10. Also, she must put aside many of her freedoms, showing that she can sacrifice for her dream. 💜
Idol Gossip shows a lot about the problems of the K-pop industry. I love how it focuses on empathy and the real humans behind the art. Besides, it’s a blast seeing Alice try to fit in with her girl group and go head-first into an industry she knows almost nothing about. Her passion for singing is palpable, and it’s definitely a highlight.
The Heart of This Idol Gossip Book Review ❤️
So, let’s dive into the heart of this Idol Gossip book review. First of all, I love the research that went into this. Sure, there are some parts that may not be accurate to the K-pop industry, like the likelihood of Alice being put in a group with no experience in the first place, but that was probably overlooked in favor of the plot. But in other aspects, K-pop was put in the forefront, through mentioning everything from fan culture, to the preparations for debut, to relationships between idols and trainees. 🎵
Alice trying to survive Top10 takes up a main chunk of the story, and she also needs to make many sacrifices in favor of the girl group—four other girls who are superstars in their own right. I wish we got to see more from these four girls, because Aria is the only one we really see develop. And trust me, there are a lot of differences to work through! And we also have So-hyun, the trusty and animated friend who’s also an idol, who teaches Alice a lot about what she needs to know. The instructors in Top10 are also pretty quirky and a delight to see.
Of course, I have to mention Joon! 🫰 Joon is an idol in Top10 who ends up opening up to Alice quite a bit. You’re going to have to read the book to see exactly where they end up, but I love to see him on the page. He has a magnetic and fun personality, and I couldn’t wait till he showed up again, if only for a page to show off his star presence.
The Verdict and Final Thoughts 💭
I definitely think that Idol Gossip is worth the read—especially if you’re a YA fiction fan who loves K-pop. 🔖 It might be a bit fast-paced, as I said before, and it seems that the K-pop industry was adjusted to fit a more high-school plot, but that doesn’t subtract from it being a fun and engaging read.
Idol Gossip reminded me of everything I love about K-pop. The fan culture, the attitude of always aiming for perfection, and showing a story within the limited confines of the stage. I love it so much! Alice gave me joy for a little more than a week, and I wish so much that I could actually hear her sing—that voice that made her stand out beside so many other hopefuls.
Thank you for joining me on this Idol Gossip Book Review! 📚 Are you going to pick this up? It’s a fun and light read, but it also struck many chords within me. Follow me on my blog for more posts about fiction and fandom!
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