ASAP is the charming companion romance of the book XOXO which can also be enjoyed as a standalone read. Going into ASAP by Axie Oh, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I wanted to since I lack the K-pop interest that I thought I would need for this book. I was pleasantly surprised though, as I was captivated from the first page.
ASAP follows protagonists Sori, daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend. For her whole life Sori has been working towards becoming a K-pop idol, until she realises that it’s not exactly what she wants. This decision is not up to her as she’s stuck between the expectations of her mother and father. Sori is also faced with one difficult decision: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love? Throughout the story, there was one lingering question in the back of my mind: Can Sori break free from her parents’ expectations and become her own individual?
I absolutely loved the characters Oh crafted; a group of characters with diverse backgrounds and experiences, which ranged from the determined Sori to the enigmatic Nathaniel. The characters didn’t feel like mere words on paper. The relationships added layers of complexity and nuance to the narrative, which ranged from Sori’s interactions with her overbearing parents, to the tender moments shared between Sori and Nathaniel.
Although there were certain areas of the book where my attention wavered, Oh quickly brought it back with scenarios and tropes that fans of Korean dramas or romantic comedies would be very familiar with. It felt more like I was watching a K-drama unfold than reading a book, which was the winning formula that kept me eagerly turning the pages until the very end.
Martyna Bereźnicka, 15
ASAP
Axie Oh
HarperCollins Publishers, February 2024
Paperback, £13.79
ISBN 9780063299306
