Review: K-Pop Idol Diaries by Go Futa!

K-Pop Idol Diaries by Go Futa – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended: sure!!
For a cute quick read, for anyone who’s all about the idol fandom, for a likable but realistic MC.

Summary:
Gigi is a 16-year-old from South Korea, who dreams of becoming an idol for the famed talent agency, One-Shot Entertainment. As fate would have it, Gigi is recruited as their newest trainee, but winds up in a situation far from what she ever dreamed of when she’s placed in an experimental unit group project code-named “SKS.” From there, Gigi’s new life as a K-Pop idol begins to unfold more like a K-Drama after she’s assigned to the newly defined co-ed unit SKS-7, and must adjust to working with 6 male bandmates who aren’t very thrilled by her placement in their group. Will Gigi be able to survive in SKS-7 and the world of Korean idol life, or will her dreams go up in flames as quickly as they were ignited?

Thoughts:
Oh man, this was so fun to read! Gigi is too edgy for her girl group, so gets shifted into a (previously) all-boy group where her rapping style will have a bigger impact. That’s definitely unusual, which is openly acknowledged in the book. Typically idol groups are gender exclusive: all female or all male. KARD is one of the few real-life mixed-gender groups I’m aware of, and even in their interviews they’ve shyly acknowledged that it can feel pretty awkward doing some of the dances and such together. Just a part of the culture.

I think that was well accounted for in this book, with one or two details that seem a bit bent from what would really happen, but aren’t a big deal. The priority in the story of the conflicts within the groups gave a surprising amount of insight into every character — which is an accomplishment when the core group is SEVEN PEOPLE. Ahh, k-pop groups and your enormous casts…. And yet I felt like I had a sense of who they all were, AND that I wanted to get to know them even more.

The character dynamics are well developed even though this is a shorter length story. It didn’t feel rushed at any point, and the conflicts were resolved without feeling forced. Plus, that ending, man… I am so excited to read the next book! One of my favorite features was the inclusion of a few drawn photos of main characters and important events! The first one was such a pleasant surprise, and the style really suited the story. It was like adding a tiny slice of a webtoon to the book. I’m already very invested not only in Gigi, but in all of SKS7 and their hopeful success.

Thank you to Go Futa for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!