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Once Upon a K-Prom Book Cover Once Upon a K-Prom
Kat Cho
Young Adult Romance
Disney Hyperion
May 17, 2022
eBook, Hardcover, Audiobook
351

What would you do if the world's biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school. Elena Soo has always felt overshadowed. Whether by her more successful older sisters, her more popular twin brother, or her more outgoing best friend, everyone except Elena seems to know exactly who they are and what they want. But she is certain about one thing - she has no interest in going to prom. While the rest of the school is giddy over corsages and dresses, Elena would rather spend her time working to save the local community center, the one place that's always made her feel like she belonged. So when international K-pop superstar Robbie Choi shows up at her house to ask her to prom, Elena is more confused than ever. Because the one person who always accepted Elena as she is? Her childhood best friend, Robbie Choi. And the one thing she maybe, possibly, secretly wants more than anything? For the two of them to keep the promise they made each other as kids: to go to prom together. But that was seven years ago, and with this new K-pop persona, pink hair, and stylish clothes, Robbie is nothing like the sweet, goofy boy she remembers. The boy she shared all her secrets with. The boy she used to love. Besides, prom with a guy who comes with hordes of screaming fans, online haters, and relentless paparazzi is the last thing Elena wants - even if she can't stop thinking about Robbie's smile...right?

Has anyone in the history of existence ACTUALLY enjoyed High School? Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho was a sweet but emotional journey back to the vulnerable time when everyone is trying to figure out who they are, while also trying to manage all of the new grown-up feelings teens aren’t used too.

“I’m like an empty book. No one is interested in reading a blank page”

While the rest of her school is in an excited frenzy preparing for prom, Elena would rather spend her time and energy helping at her local community center. In a constate state of feeling like the she doesn’t measure up to her siblings and popular best friend, the center is the only place she feels welcome.  Her thoughts about Prom aren’t a secret from her classmates, so when she is surprised by K-Pop star Robbie Choi asking her to the much-anticipated dance, she is completely caught off-guard and thrust into the spotlight she tried to avoid.

Elena and Robbie were childhood best friends and when he left to become a K-Pop idol she was lost without the one person who understood her.  Now that he’s returned to fulfill their promise to go to Prom together they are left in the awkward place of trying to figure out if they know each other anymore, and if their feelings are enough to keep them together through the difficult road of sudden fame.

I was so excited when “Once Upon a K-Prom” became available, the cover is perfection, and I am quickly gaining appreciation for all that is K-Pop and the Idols that are larger than life. Kat Cho was able to masterfully capture the awkwardness that teens inevitably feel as they try to navigate the great hormonal shift that is High School.

We are given a dual POV of both Elena and Robbie and I loved getting to see both perspectives. Elena is the insecure girl who doesn’t think a K-Pop star, even one that used to be her best friend, could possibly be seriously into her.  And Robbie, the international celebrity, who, despite his fame and millions of fans, still doesn’t know how to talk to a girl, but gets his every move broadcasted to the world.

The romance was sweet and brought back memories of those first few young crushes and the belly flutters that go with them.

“If I didn’t have to breathe, I’d just want to kiss him forever”

This was my first book by Kat Cho but without a doubt it will not be my last.  Congratulations on an amazing new release!