Hi, Stephan! For readers discovering Like We Were in Paris for the first time, how would you describe the book?

The original pitch was Before Sunrise meets the Paris storyline of Heartstopper, which remains an incredible pitch, if I do say so myself.

The book follows Ben Lim, a Korean American teenager on a school trip to Paris, who gets locked out of his hostel for one night. He ends up exploring the city with Tyler Travers, a boy from back home with whom he has a very complicated history. Over the course of those few hours, they have to confront everything they’ve never said to each other while also trying not to get lost or expelled or emotionally destroyed.

More than anything, I wanted to write something fun, funny, romantic, and truly transporting – something that’d take you on vacation even if you couldn’t physically go yourself. I wanted it to feel like a “song of the summer” in book form.

Why did you want the story to take place over a single night?

I loved the constraint of knowing Ben and Tyler only have this tiny window of time together. There’s something so romantic and terrifying about having only a few hours to change your life or say the thing you’ve always wanted to say.

The first image I had when I began writing was Ben realizing that the door to the hostel will not budge and that he is really, truly locked out. As a former “good kid,” that moment felt viscerally frightening and exhilarating to me. He has followed the rules his entire life, and suddenly following the rules is no longer an option.

At that point, he has a choice: he can spend the night panicking about how much trouble he’s in, or he can accept that he’s already broken one rule and might as well break a few more while having the best night of his life. That was the emotional engine of the book for me.

Paris has inspired countless love stories. How did you make your version of the city feel personal?

I wanted to embrace the fantasy of Paris without pretending that everyone experiences that fantasy in exactly the same way.

Ben absolutely arrives with all the cinematic expectations. He wants romance, beauty, glamour, pastries, dramatic walks along the Seine—the whole thing. But he is also a queer Korean American teenager who is very aware that people like him have not traditionally been placed at the center of these sweeping European love stories. Even within the queer community at his school, he’s definitely on the outside.

That tension interests me. What happens when you desperately want the fantasy, but you also understand all the reasons you may not be the person the fantasy was designed for?

I was also inspired by books about American writers and artists who went to Paris hoping to reinvent themselves. I read Proust and biographies of expat writers like Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein while working on the book, which sounds hilariously grandiose when I’m also talking about The Lizzie McGuire Movie. But all of those influences belong together in my mind. They’re about people going somewhere beautiful and foreign and using it as permission to become someone new.

You’ve described The Lizzie McGuire Movie as an inspiration. What did you take from it?

I love any story where a school trip turns into a huge, glamorous, disastrous, life-changing adventure. That is one of my favorite fantasies.

There’s something wonderful about leaving your ordinary environment and suddenly believing anything could happen to you. Maybe you’ll perform at an Italian music awards show. Maybe you’ll fall in love in Paris. Maybe an adult chaperone will be revealed as super incompetent. These are the risks we take when traveling.

I wanted Like We Were in Paris to have that same feeling of a normal teenager unexpectedly becoming the main character in a movie. It also makes me genuinely happy that younger generations continue to discover the magic of Hilary Duff.

Ben is deeply sincere in a culture that often rewards detachment. Why was that important to you?

Ben’s superpower is that he understands his dreams and obsessions are worthy simply because they are his. He loves things openly–that’s something he learned from his father when he was alive. Ben has references. He wants too much. He is not very good at pretending not to care. In other words, he is cringe—and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.

We live in such a self-conscious culture. Everyone is terrified of being caught wanting the wrong thing, loving something too intensely, failing in public, or displaying too much sincerity. But almost everything worth doing is at least a little cringe, including falling in love or obsessively curating a dream trip where you’re the main character. Giving a sweet little book five stars on Goodreads is cringe. Hint, hint.

If you remove all possibility of embarrassment from your life, you also remove so pretty much all the joy and hope for the unexpected. I wanted Ben to understand that instinctively, even when the world around him tries to make him feel foolish for it.

The novel is romantic, but it also seems clear-eyed about who is most easily cast as the lead in a love story. How did you approach that balance?

Romance has always been difficult for me to write because I don’t want to create a fantasy that feels inherently dishonest.

I love swoons, tropes, yearning, misunderstandings, dramatic declarations—all of it. But I’m also a 40-year-old gay Asian American man who knows that not everyone can stumble their way into a love story. I have experienced the daily, constant, and agonizing pain of feeling invisible or automatically dismissed, especially in environments where people are making instantaneous decisions (or swipes) about who is desirable. It also makes it harder when you grew up thinking that being among queer people would be sort of like a cozy, small village and then discovering that hierarchies and prejudices are all there in full force, too.

Ben falls for Tyler, who is a very legibly attractive, privileged white boy. That is a familiar pairing in young adult fiction and romance, and I wanted to make sure the book never suggested Ben should simply feel lucky to receive Tyler’s attention. Their differences in privilege matter, and both of them know it.

But privilege is also complicated. Ben enters the night assuming Tyler has been protected from every form of pain, and he learns that isn’t true. Each boy’s hurt is connected to his identity, but it is also connected to being human in a difficult, wonderful, unfair world.

I wanted to hold two truths at once: the search for love is shaped by race, sexuality, gender norms, and power, yet love can still surprise you. Wonderful people really can enter your life on an ordinary day and disprove every cynical belief you’ve developed about who gets to be chosen. That isn’t naïve. It is literally something that happens every day.

Taylor Swift is part of the book’s DNA. What does her work bring to the story?

First of all, there are many deep-cut references for the people who will understand them. I shan’t apologize. But beyond the references and the title, I think Taylor Swift understands something essential about romance: an experience does not become meaningful only because it ends well.

Love can be cinematic and mythic because of the imagination and drama and attention you bring to it. A relationship can end. A person can disappoint you. You can eventually understand that what happened was more complicated than the story you initially told yourself. None of that means the feelings were fake or the memories were worthless.

Ben is someone who believes in giving experiences meaning. He doesn’t wait for the world to certify that something mattered before allowing himself to care about it. That feels very connected to the way Taylor writes about memory, longing, and the stories we build around the people we love.

The book sounds lighthearted, but you’ve said it was one of the hardest things you’ve written. Why?

Because lightness is hard!

I am a person with many dark and heavy emotions, so I love pop culture that is unapologetically fun. I’m always a little disappointed when it’s time for a “song of the summer” and all my favorite pop girlies release their deepest, most depressing albums. I love those albums too, but sometimes I need a song that makes me want to jump around the room.

I wanted Like We Were in Paris to feel breezy, funny, and effortless. Unfortunately, creating effortlessness required an enormous amount of effort.

The biggest challenge was making the romance believable within one night. I didn’t want Ben and Tyler to feel like two attractive characters being pushed through a machine that squeezes them through familiar tropes. They needed a real history. They needed to misunderstand each other in specific ways. They needed wounds and desires that existed before the first page.

I wanted readers to feel swept away, but I also wanted them to believe every step that carried them there.

What do you hope queer Asian American readers take from Ben’s story?

I hope they feel entitled to the fantasy.

Not entitled in the sense that life owes any of us one particular happy ending, but entitled to desire, hope, beauty, adventure, and romantic possibility.

I would never tell a queer Asian kid that the gay world will treat them fairly or most guys won’t completely overlook them as romantic potential. I’ve lived some life, and I don’t think false reassurance is useful.

But I would tell them that being overlooked by certain or even most people does not make them inherently overlookable (is that a word??). I would tell them that other people’s limited imaginations do not determine the size of the life available to them. I would tell them that the unexpected happens constantly, and that ridiculous hope, even beautiful delusion (how is that not a Taylor song title??) is sometimes simply an accurate understanding of how unpredictable life can be.

Ben does not need to become less Korean, less queer, less intense, or less himself to earn a great love story. He needs to stop assuming he has already been disqualified from one.

What do you hope all readers feel when they finish the book?

I hope they feel lighter. I hope they want to travel somewhere, text someone they miss, or do something a little embarrassing… it’s all for the story.

Mostly, I hope they feel more willing to want what they want without apologizing for it.

So much of adulthood involves learning how to protect yourself from disappointment, which is useful until it isn’t. Ben’s night in Paris does not teach him that nothing bad will happen if he takes a risk. It teaches him that something wonderful might happen too.

What’s next for you?

The sequel to Donutella Hamachi and the Library Avengers, the middle grade novel I co-wrote with drag icon and beauty superstar Kim Chi, is coming in 2027. I’m so excited for readers to see where that story goes next.

There are also some very exciting developments involving the film rights to K-Pop Confidential, my first novel, though I can’t say much more about that yet.

And I’m working on my adult literary debut, which I have been writing for much, much longer than any of my young adult or middle grade books. I am determined to finish it this year. Please send love and light! Although maybe discipline and threats would be more effective.

Will you be picking up Like We Were in Paris? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Stephan Lee, Author of ‘Like We Were in Paris’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Welcome back, Stephan! Thanks for joining us a second time. How are you doing?

I’m doing so well! It’s so amazing to be talking to you and The Nerd Daily again … Mimi, talking to you the first time was one of the highlights of K-POP CONFIDENTIAL’s release, and I’m even more excited to share K-POP REVOLUTION with you and the world!

Last time, we asked you about your favorite K-Pop bands and you gave us some great recommendations! Have you found any new favorite bands since then?

Ooh, I’m such an aespa fan … Candace’s girl group in K-POP REVOLUTION, THE GIRLS, is nothing like aespa, but they were still an inspiration seeing how they handled the pressures of being a super hyped new group from a major company. Their music is just getting better and better!

What can readers expect when picking up K-Pop Revolution?

Take all the stakes of K-POP CONFIDENTIAL and crank it up times a hundred! In the first book, Candace was just a K-pop trainee, and now she’s debuting in the most hyped girl group of all time, so the pressure is way higher and she has way more to lose. We also get way more glamour and K-pop tropes! You’re with Candace as she films her first Music Video, stars in her first Reality Show, and competes in Music Shows. Plus, her romance with YoungBae gets way more complicated, and her feelings about One.J continue to evolve. In the first book, almost all the action happened behind closed doors, but now, the whole world is Candace’s stage. There’s more fun and wild lewks, but also more danger and chaos.

I also think this book has more twists and surprises. If K-POP CONFIDENTIAL was more of a coming-of-age novel, K-POP REVOLUTION has elements that feel like a mystery or thriller as Candace has to find out who’s trying to destroy her debut and why. It’s a roller coaster!

Talk us through the writing process of K-Pop Revolution. On your Instagram, you mentioned what a challenge writing this story was and how you ended up rewriting all of it during a 3-week period. How did that come about?

Oh gosh, I went through a journey with this book. My first book came out in September 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, so needless to say, nothing about my debut, which I’d been dreaming about my entire life, happened as planned. Even though K-POP CONFIDENTIAL sold well and the reception was overwhelmingly positive, the release didn’t really change the way I felt about myself the way I always thought it would. For no rational reason, I couldn’t help but feel like a failure, and my mental health took a huge downturn. I was going through all this while struggling to write the sequel. I found it hard to fully invest when I knew that if the first book didn’t “fix” certain things in my life, the second definitely wouldn’t either. I blew right past my deadline and I kept having to make excuses to my editor to buy more time.

I finally sent half of my first draft to my amazing editor, Sam Palazzi. I knew something wasn’t working — I almost expected her to reply that we needed to cancel the book, and I actually would have been relieved if she did. Instead, she was extremely encouraging — she thought there was a lot of good stuff, but that I needed to dive into Candace’s mind and character like I had in the first book.

I realized I was so frozen in writing Book 2 because I was obsessed with the end result, not the joy of creating. My editor’s notes gave me the permission to play again, and write with a sense of exploration and fun. She didn’t think I needed to throw out the draft, but I knew I needed to. My first draft just had a lot of rbrnyd that happened — the plot wasn’t connected deeply to Candace’s desires, point of view, or decisions. So I started from scratch, and I wrote with my heart this time. It was the most magical, satisfying creative experience of my life. After months of struggling and self doubt, I suddenly felt so connected to writing again, and so many things figured themselves out. I was writing 11,000 good words per day sometimes, and my editor had very few notes or changes. What I wrote in that three weeks is basically exactly the final book with only a few tiny tweaks. It was life-changing.

I adored that in this book, we follow Candace to some very dark places where outside opinions make her question everything about herself, her relationships and the K-Pop industry. Without spoiling too much, what inspired you to write this dark turn in her journey?

Building off the previous question, part of what froze me for months while I was trying to write K-POP REVOLUTION was fear of what people would say. Even though 99.9% of the reaction to K-POP CONFIDENTIAL was positive, I allowed that .1% of negativity to take up way, way, way too much real estate in my brain. I was terrified that every word I would write could potentially alienate readers.

But Candace came to my rescue! I know that’s a corny thing to say about your own character, but it’s true. Even though I went through only a tiny fraction of the scrutiny that Candace and real-life K-pop idols deal with, it took a lot of work to free myself up to put my own emotions into Candace’s story. When you do something public, like publish your first book or start your own company or almost anything else creative, part of the process that people don’t talk about enough is learning how to protect your joy in creating art despite the inevitable disappointment and criticism you’ll receive, no matter how successful you are. It took a while for me to realize that everything I was going through was a lot like Candace’s struggles.

With that harrowing writing process, tell us about the good memories! What was your favorite scene or moment to write for K-Pop Revolution?

Oh gosh, so many! I loved, loved, loved writing the scene where Candace and YoungBae are reunited for the first time. I cried while writing the scene where Candace has to say bye to Umma, her mom, when she’s flying back to America. It calls back to the scene in the first book where Umma drops Candace off at the trainee headquarters for the first time, but it shows how much their relationship has grown since then.

I also enjoyed writing all the scenes featuring a new character, Lena Sonu, the new CEO of S.A.Y. Entertainment. Lena was the first character who came to my mind when I was dreaming up the sequel, and she just came fully formed into my head. I hope readers find her complicated and fascinating!

If you could trade places with any of the characters you’ve created so far for a day, who would you choose and why?

WooWee! She’s the K-pop veteran who debuts with Candace and THE GIRLS, and although she fits the mould of a “diva” in certain ways, a lot of that is just confidence and knowing what she’s worth. I’d love to wear her outfits and wigs and just inhabit her attitude for a day!

Candace already breaks down seemingly impenetrable walls in the K-Pop industry in K-Pop Confidential. In K-Pop Revolution, we also get to see another band attempt to make K-Pop more diverse and inclusive, with huge success! What do you want readers to take away from this storyline?

That the world is ready for some major changes! Not just in K-pop, but in the way young people are allowed to make decisions for their own lives and own their own talent and humanity. Candace sees a rival girl group following none of the rules of K-pop and still become just as successful if not more so than THE GIRLS. Look at Simone Biles — she drew a line for herself and is re-writing the rules of what it means to be a champion. Of course, this scares the people who wrote the old rules, but it’s worth fighting the fight.

Now that Candace has conquered the world of K-Pop, any chance you’ll return to some other characters’ stories we’ve gotten to know so far? (I would read an entire series about SLK or YoungBae)

Perhaps! I definitely have wanted to write about SLK’s origin, and I opened the door even further in K-POP REVOLUTION to explore them in more detail.

I briefly considered writing K-POP REVOLUTION from Helena’s perspective, but I realized I wasn’t done with Candace’s voice just yet.

In fact, I have a fully formed idea for a third book from Candace’s perspective, but I haven’t shared it with my publisher yet. It would have to do with THE GIRLS’ crossover into the U.S. music industry and Candace’s journey as she lives in Hollywood and New York preparing her solo English-language debut. Of course there’ll be all new drama and villains as well as a deeper look at some familiar friends! I’d also want to explore Candace’s relationship with her older brother Tommy, who’s only a minor character in the first two books.

And with K-Pop Revolution releasing soon, are you already writing on another project? If so, can you share a sneak peek with us?

I recently moved to Los Angeles from New York, and like a true Hollywood cliché, I’m working on some TV pilots! It’s so much fun. I’m also working on an adult book that I’m really hoping will land at a publisher this year. Keeping very busy!

Last but not least, recommend some books to our readers!

There are so many great ones I’ve read in the past year that I’ll limit it to a few books by Korean American authors: CRYING IN H-MART by Michelle Zauner, SKINSHIP by Yoon Choi, and THE LAST STORY OF MINA LEE by Nancy Jooyoun Kim.

Will you be picking up K-Pop Revolution? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Stephan Lee, Author of ‘K-Pop Revolution’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Really, it seems like nothing can go wrong for Candace. But the more Candace trains and the closer her debut approaches, she soon realises that it’s one thing to say you’re going to create a more humane and compassionate space for artists—and a whole other to actually do it.

When a new rival girl group becomes the latest viral sensation and the pressure to succeed heightens, Candace will soon realise that it’s not enough to speak up and ask for change—she needs to join forces with others who feel the same way and actually make it happen. No matter the consequences, it’s time for a K-Pop Revolution.

Wow, wow, wow. Lee somehow managed to take the drama and tension of the first book and somehow ramp them up tenfold in this sequel. All the elements readers loved about Candace’s story are present in the sequel as well: snappy dialogue, the ambitious nature of Candace and her friends trying to rise to the top and the drama, intrigue, and betrayals that make this feel like the superior Gossip Girl narrative we all miss in our lives.

I admit, for most of this novel I was very confused about the pacing—half of the book doesn’t even mention the most notable bits from the story’s synopsis. However, once those elements come into play, (hindsight is everything in so many ways in K-Pop Revolution, just a heads up) every chapter is filled with adrenaline. K-Pop Revolution surprised me in its non-stop tension and fast-paced delivery; there really isn’t a moment to rest while you run along and see Candace put more pressure on herself on top of the pressure she already receives from her management and her bandmates. There are cutesy moments between her and YoungBae, of course, but really, this is the story of Candace being put through the ringer while still trying to make her mark on the world.

I also loved the turn for the dark that this book took. Lee doesn’t shy away from the dark sides of being an artist in the music industry and definitely offers some insight on what it means to work hard for your dream—and work against a rigged system in the process. While Candace begins to question everyone’s loyalty and has to deal with hurtful comments, laughable rumors and schemes, we get to see just how cruel the world can be. It’s as painful as it is engrossing to read those chapters.

One of my favorite parts by far was the emergence of a rival K-Pop band that challenges all the stereotypes and strict confinements that are sometimes associated with K-Pop. It was such an interesting element to juxtapose their rise to fame with Candace’s and for me, this is where Lee shined the most in this novel. Sharp yet subtle commentary is paired with all the angst and anxiety you’d imagine when your personal rise to fame is threatened to be overshadowed by people who might even deserve the spotlight more than you do. As Candace questions whether she’s still pursuing her dreams for the right reasons, whether she’s still fighting for her goals or turning complacent as she’s mollified by her new management, you really get a feel for what it’s like to be in the music industry and how cutthroat it all can seem in the end. Yet Candace like the others persevere and the story grows only more addictive as you read on.

All in all, this book just really spoke to me with its commentary. Candace is a favorite character of mine because she’s resilient, smart, quick on her toes and above all, ambitious. In K-Pop Revolution, she’s going through a tremendous journey but in the end, she emerges the K-Pop warrior we can all band behind.

Empowering and addictive, Stephan Lee juxtaposes glamour and glitz with devious scheming in his sophomore novel K-Pop Revolution. Walking the tightrope between effusing love for K-Pop and sharp commentary on its rigorous system, K-Pop Revolution is an earth-shattering sequel that will have readers cheer on our K-Pop warrior Candace Park all the way to the end!

K-Pop Revolution is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of April 5th 2022.

Will you be picking up K-Pop Revolution? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

She thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finsh line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only Candace’s company judging her—it’s the entire world. How will she find the courage to stand by her beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence her…

Now that Candace is a star, her life is suddenly filled with glamour. She’s known everywhere; she has adoring fans who worship her and her boyfriend, YoungBae; and she has unlimited access to her label-mates SLK, who happen to be the top boy band in the world.

Even more important, her company, S.A.Y., tells her they’ve heard her message of change loud and clear. They promise to make sweeping changes to become a more humane and compassionate place for artists.

But the road to a record-breaking debut isn’t going to be smooth. The schedule is even more grueling; the pressure is immense, and there’s unexpected competition from a rival girl group that’s become the latest viral sensation — not to mention constant bullying and false rumors online.

When increasingly-virulent online scandals threaten the future of YAS-Q — and it becomes painfully clear that S.A.Y. is as manipulative as ever — Candace realizes it’s not enough to use her voice alone. It’s time to join forces and take action.

It’s time for a K-Pop revolution.

The post Review: K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The YA genre is not holding back when it comes to 2022’s upcoming book releases! Between the months of January and June, readers are going to be delighted as to what they can get their hands on with books from favourite authors, to those making their debut!

From stories of love, magic, and mystery, to retellings, anthologies, and sequels, you will surely find several new reads to add to your TBR and we apologies in advance for adding to it!

Looking for more releases? Check out our Most Anticipated 2022 Releases and our Must-Have 2022 Queer Releases.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you’re looking forward to!

JANUARY

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
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A bighearted novel about falling in love, making a mess, and learning to let go, When You Get the Chance is the next effervescent novel from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club pick You Have a Match.

Hopepunk by Preston Norton
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A heartfelt and funny new novel about forgiveness and redemption, and about how hope is the ultimate act of rebellion, perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli.

The Red Palace by June Hur
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June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace—a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco.

Into The Midnight Void by Mara Fitzgerald
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Fans of Holly Black and Kendare Blake will obsess over the conclusion to this deliciously dark YA fantasy duology!

Serendipity, edited by Marissa Meyer
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From stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along, 10 of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favourite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. Readers will fall for this collection of stories that celebrate love at its most humorous, inclusive, heart-expanding, and serendipitous. Contributors include Elise Bryant, Elizabeth Eulberg, Leah Johnson, Anna-Marie McLemore, Marissa Meyer, Sandhya Menon, Julie Murphy, Caleb Roehrig, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Abigail Hing Wen.

Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
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Kathryn Barker’s Waking Romeo is a spectacularly genre-bending retelling of Romeo & Juliet asking the big questions about true love, fate, and time travel

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
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Meg Long’s Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating debut about survival, found family, and the bond between a girl and a wolf that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories and frontier myths.

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg
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This heartfelt and humorous YA contemporary follows Dua, who spends the month of Ramadan making unexpected discoveries about family, faith, and first love.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
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Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

The Kindred by Alechia Dow
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To save a galactic kingdom from revolution, Kindred mind-pairings were created to ensure each and every person would be seen and heard, no matter how rich or poor…

Medusa by Jessie Burton
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A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist, stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
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A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

FEBRUARY

And We Rise by Erica Martin
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A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout.

Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity by Angela Velez
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Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this Latinx road trip adventure—a big-hearted, voice-driven YA about two sisters who couldn’t be more different, but become begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip—from debut author Angela Velez.

Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
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Extasia by Claire Legrand
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From New York Times bestselling author Claire LeGrand comes a new, bone-chilling YA horror novel about a girl who joins a coven to root out a vicious evil that’s stalking her village. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Grace Year.

All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle
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The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son.

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte
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In this fantasy thriller, four teens charged with murder and the illegal use of magic band together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and How to Get Away with Murder.

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
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In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian
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A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
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A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it’s over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone. 

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
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For fans of Sandhya Menon and Adam Silvera, a prom-night romantic-comedy romp about a Sikh teen’s search for love and identity

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
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The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
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Author of All Your Twisted Secrets, Diana Urban’s explosive sophomore novel, These Deadly Games, will keep you riveted until the final twist is revealed.

MARCH

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England
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A big-hearted, joyful romance and a love letter to all things geek, Remi K. England’s The One True Me and You is a *witness me* celebration of standing up for, and being, yourself.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
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This Pride & Prejudice retelling brings New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta’s trademark wit and insight to her bright and funny YA debut!

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee
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From New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, Traci Chee, comes a Japanese-influenced fantasy brimming with demons, adventure, and plans gone awry.

This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg
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Marit Weisenberg’s This Golden State follows a family on the run, a restless teenage daughter hungry for the truth, and the simple DNA test that threatens their carefully crafted world

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram
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A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
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A ragtag band of misfits gets swept up in Holy Land politics in Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi, a thrilling YA remix of the classic legend of Robin Hood.

Message Not Found by Dante Medema
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An emotionally complex portrayal of secrets, loss, and grief from Dante Medema, Indies Introduce author of the Indie Next Pick title The Truth Project. 

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson
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From the author of Sing Me Forgotten comes a lush new fantasy novel with an art-based magic system, romance, and murder…

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
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For fans of Jenny Han and Jane Austen, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt about the unexpected consequences of one teen’s quest to help her friends find love, from the author of A Taste for Love.

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz
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Blockbuster author Melissa de la Cruz’s YA retelling of Cinderella, set in 17th Century Versailles.

The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux
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Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood, this genre-bending page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux follows two girls who transport themselves into the world of their favorite book only to encounter the sinister alternate reality that awaits them. 

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
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A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory – and each other’s hearts – in a magical fox hunt.

APRIL

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
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What secrets will people keep—or reveal—to protect those they love? This novel, set against the frightening backdrop of an encroaching fire season, sparks reflection about friendship, the allure of romantic love, and loyalty to family.

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke
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The Fountains of Silence meets Spinning Silver in this rollicking tale set amid the 1956 Hungarian revolution in post-WWII Communist Budapest from Sydney Taylor Honor winner Katherine Locke.

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
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They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen’s Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.

K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee
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She thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finish line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only her company judging her—it’s the entire world. If K-Pop Confidential was about finding your voice, K-pop Revolution is about finding the courage to stand by your beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence you.

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham
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Wilder Girls meets The Craft in this Sapphic horror debut that asks: what price would you be willing to pay to achieve your deepest desires?

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
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Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera in the debut YA romance everyone is talking about!

Very Bad People by Kit Frick
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In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
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A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding.

Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes
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Jane the Virgin meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes’s charming, romantic YA debut.

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
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When a high stakes boarding school prank war leads to a fake dating scheme, two teens must decide if they are ready to take the ultimate risk — falling in love.

The Genesis Wars by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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Black Mirror meets Marie Lu’s Warcross in Nami’s continuing adventures as she fights to free her friends in this high-stakes sequel to The Infinity Courts by award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman.

All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney
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Amelia Kahaney’s All the Best Liars is a dark, modern psychological thriller and coming-of-age story about obsession, manipulation, and the intensity of those first friendships that take hold of you and never let go

MAY

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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From the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow comes a magical romance in the vein of Groundhog Day about a girl forced to relive her disastrous first day of college—only to discover that her nemesis is stuck in the time loop with her.

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez
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An ancient city plagued by dragons. A flamenco dancer determined to save her ancestral home. A dragon hunter refusing to teach her his ways. They don’t want each other, but they need each other, and without him her world will burn.

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
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Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan
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New from the author of Counting Down with You comes a sparkling YA romance about an aspiring screenwriter who falls for the indie film star who goes undercover at her school.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
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Who killed Brooke Donovan? It’s the biggest mystery of the summer, and everyone in Castle Cove thinks it’s the wrong guy. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and Riverdale can’t miss this page-turning who-done-it that’s sure to be the next must read Young Adult thriller!

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
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In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.

Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg
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From Stonewall Award winner Bill Konigsberg, a remarkable, funny, sexy, heartbreaking story of two teen boys finding each other in New York City at the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper
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Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
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Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.

Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho
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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.

All Signs Point to Yes, edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery, and Adrianne White
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A YA anthology of love stories for each of the star signs that will showcase multicultural characters and celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people, featuring 13 bestselling and award-winning multicultural authors.

A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
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Half-fae Arlo becomes entangled in the courtly intrigue at the Seelie Summer palace as danger for ironborns mounts in this gripping sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones.

JUNE

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
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Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright
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This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
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Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
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In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s instant #1 New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge.

This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian
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A sweeping debut novel about first love, complicated family dynamics, and the pernicious legacy of racism. Perfect for fans of Tahereh Mafi, Jandy Nelson, and Emily X.R. Pan, with crossover appeal for readers of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.

Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey
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Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in Valiant Ladies, Melissa Grey’s YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth century Latinx teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.

Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J. Redwine
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The first in a YA political fantasy duology about a fierce princess determined to bring lasting peace to her kingdom regardless of the cost to her heart —from C.J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series and the New York Times bestselling Ravenspire series. Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, And I Darken, and Ash Princess.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel
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The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar
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Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
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For Dracula lovers and fans of Diana Urban’s All Your Twisted Secrets, this spine-tingling thriller follows seven horror buffs as their dream trip to a remote Romanian castle turns into a nightmare when they begin to be killed one by one.

Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard
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Game of Strength and Storm is a YA gender-bent Hercules retelling. Teenagers of Olympia Gen and Castor race to be the first to complete six nearly impossible challenges to obtain their greatest desire. Only one will win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow
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I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this haunting mystery about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

What 2022 YA book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 72 Upcoming YA Book Releases To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Now, if you know me in ‘real life’, you know that I’m not much for K-Pop. I watch the occasional video and I’ve seen a few K-Drama episodes, but I don’t have a bias and I couldn’t tell you any of the band members names to save my life.

And yet, despite all of this, I was absolutely enamoured by this book that chronicles Candace’s time in the competition to become one of the idols for a label’s new all-girl K-Pop band that is promised to take the world by storm. Which is to say that, even if you’re like me and are not that versed in K-Pop, you still need to read this book because it is mesmerising and will blow your mind. And if you’re a K-Pop fan, well, what are you waiting for? This book was basically written for you!

K-Pop Confidential centers around Candace Park, a Korean-American teenager who keeps her love for K-Pop a well-hidden secret, even though her best friend is obsessed with it. But since her mother and father quit their musical endeavours in exchange for a stable job in America, Candace knows that they wouldn’t appreciate her having daydreams about one day having a career in the music industry. She is supposed to have good grades and excel at the viola, an acceptable classical instrument, and Candace complies, most of the time. All of that changes, though, when she secretly enters an audition for the next big Korean Pop girl band and ends up being the only girl chosen out of three thousand others who auditioned.

Completely swept up in the glitz and glamour that is sure to be in her future, Candace travels to Seoul to train ferociously with fifty others who want to be part of that girl band that is sure to make giant waves in the music industry. But what looks so perfect from the outside comes at a hard price: demanding schedules, a diet that consists of nothing but meagre amounts of sweet potatoes and eggs and almost no sleep.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading Lyla Lee’s I’ll Be The One, where a fat teenage girl named Sky enters a Korean competition and defies all beauty standards by advancing alongside her ‘more conventionally beautiful’ competitors. Where that book was fabulous and funny, K-Pop Confidential takes everything a step further and exposes the gruelling workings behind the perfection that we see on screen. Girls are pitted against each other, cruelly insulted and encouraged to eat even less so they fit the Korean beauty standard, and above all, have to be perfect in demeanour and appearances at all hours of the day with little to no sleep. All of this for the tiny chance of becoming an idol which will be even more work, more exposure to criticism and more cruelty. And yet, to Candace and her peers it all seems worth it to be the best and be adored by millions – after all, if you’re an idol, you can change the world. You can make millions of girls feel valued and great about themselves. But it comes at a cost. And Lee takes an intricate and unabashedly honest look at that cost, which is one of the most compelling aspects of the story. We all love the glitz and glamor, of course, but to see  what lies beyond it? What goes on behind closed curtains? That is what makes this book truly unforgettable.

That is not to say that there wasn’t fun in this book, though. Candace is such a fierce and flawed character that you can’t help but laugh along as she messes up dance choreography, but manages to spin it to her advantage or chuckle when she manages to sneak around with one of the members of the biggest K-Pop boy band of her times. If I had to sum up Candace in one word, I’d go with gutsy. She has her doubts throughout the novel whether she will be able to succeed, but she never compromises her own values – she’s headstrong but big-hearted and in the end, those are the qualities they cannot teach you. There’s also a bit of forbidden romance and even the hint of a tiny love triangle and both guys are absolutely swoonworthy. Paired with some epic girl rivalries and unlikely friendships, every chapter holds something to raise the stakes. And of course, there is time for glamor. Fancy makeovers, MV shoots and performances in front of gigantic audiences – it’s everything you never knew you wanted but even better.

Addictive, glamorous and exposing the dark underbelly of the Korean music industry, K-Pop Confidential is an unputdownable must-read for everyone, whether they’re a fan of K-Pop or not. A mesmerising debut that leaves you wanting more!

K-Pop Confidential is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 15th 2020.

Will you be picking up K-Pop Confidential? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A Korean-American girl finds her voice and has to navigate the complex world of K-pop stardom in this contemporary rom-com about following your heart and staying true to yourself in the process, for fans of Mary H. K. Choi and Maurene Goo.

Candace Park’s life is all planned out. She takes all AP classes, helps her parents at their dry cleaner, and spends what little free time she has watching Rupaul’s Drag Race. Then there’s graduation, college, and a “Real Job.” What her parents and friends don’t really know, though, is that she has a secret passion: singing. But what’s the point? She’s never seen an Asian-American girl make it big as a singer-songwriter anyway.

So when Candace enters a K-pop audition at the mall on a dare, she doesn’t expect to actually win. She definitely doesn’t expect to plunge headfirst into the grueling world of a K-pop trainee. Especially when her parents don’t approve of it…at all.

But when they offer her the chance to travel to Seoul, South Korea to train at the top Korean music company in the world, how can she pass it up? The only problem is, in addition to the round-the-clock singing lessons, dance rehearsals, and beauty treatments, Candance has to agree to follow the uber-strict rules of a trainee. The most important of which is: NO DATING. But it becomes pretty much impossible to follow when Candace finds herself in the middle of a love triangle between a sweet boy trainee and a superstar member of the hottest boyband in the world.

Will all of her hard work be wasted if she follows her heart? Or can she be the perfect, hair-flipping idol and stay true to herself at the same time?

The post Review: K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We talked to Stephan and asked him all about his experience with K-Pop, the highs and lows of the entertainment industry, and his favorite books!

Hi, Stephan! Thank you so much for chatting with us! Would you mind telling our readers a bit about yourself?

Of course — thank you for inviting me into this amazing Nerdy universe! Like Candace, I’m Korean American and have been obsessed with pop culture since birth. And yes, my Asian parents totally thought my obsession was a waste of time, but I turned it into a career! I was the movie reviews editor and book reviewer at Entertainment Weekly for five years, and now I’m an editor at Bustle. I live in New York City and my apartment is basically what I wished my room was when I was growing up: overflowing with books and K-pop girl group swag, and the biggest thing in it is a giant poster of Britney Spears.

Before we get into the nitty gritty, I of course have to ask you: who are you favorite K-Pop bands?

Oh gosh, I could crash this site with recs, but I’ll try keep it short and also include my favorite song in parentheses from each band. Of course BTS (“Dynamite”) is way at the top for me, but other than them, I tend to focus more on girl groups, who deserve way more attention! 2NE1 (“I Am The Best”) and Girls’ Generation (“Genie”) first got me hooked on K-pop, and then Blackpink (“Playing With Fire), TWICE (“Fancy”), and Red Velvet (“Bad Boy”) made me fully obsessed. I also love Mamamoo (“Starry Night”), Everglow (“Bon Bon Chocolate”), ITZY (“Dalla Dalla), (G)I-DLE (“Hann”), Dreamcatcher (“You And I”), and G-FRIEND (“Love Whisper”).

And naturally, who is your ultimate bias?

My ultimate bias of all K-pop idols has to be Rosé of Blackpink. On top of having that angelic voice and being a fierce dancer, she just strikes me as such a sensitive and artistic soul. When I was writing K-Pop Confidential, I imagined Candace’s singing voice being a bit like Rosé’s — so vulnerable and distinctive. I can’t wait for any songwriting or solo projects that Rosé might have in the works!

If you had to describe K-Pop Confidential in five words or less, what would they be?

Fierce competition, lots of heart.

Now talk us through the writing process of K-Pop Confidential. How much research went into this book? What was the hardest to get right? What were your favorite scenes to write?

I read and watched every interview with K-pop stars about their trainee days that I could find. I checked out documentaries and articles about the K-pop trainee life but found that Western media tended to exoticize the process a bit too much; sure, the K-pop trainee world is extremely intense and specific, but the aspiring artists are teens like anyone else. To get into the minds of young people struggling to make it in a super-intense environment, I actually read a lot of fiction and non-fiction about elite sports, competitive cheerleading, and academics. I think the experiences my characters go through are both highly specific and totally universal at the same time.

Even with all my research, I didn’t want to base my fictional K-pop company, S.A.Y. Entertainment, on any real-life record labels, so I used my imagination quite a bit when building that world. For instance, no real-life K-pop company that I know of has 100 trainees living full time in a giant skyscraper! (But it could happen.) My favorite scenes to write were the monthly assessments that Candace and her trainee team have to go through to impress the CEO of their company. They were almost like writing battle scenes, and Candace learned something important about herself after each one.

You touch on so many important issues in K-Pop Confidential and you definitely don’t shy away from the dark sides of the Korean music industry – the pressure to be perfect, to conform and yet bring something innovative to the table every day. If you were part of a K-Pop band, what do you think would be the hardest for you to deal with? And what would you bring to the table, so to speak?

I think the hardest part would be the constant criticism. Just like Candace’s parents, my parents were pretty strict and had high standards for grades and behavior — but lying beneath the “Asian parent stereotype” was unconditional love, which I never doubted. That’s not the case in a place like a K-pop company or any other highly competitive environment. People’s approval is extremely conditional. If you don’t measure up in any way — whether it’s your skills, appearance, or behaviour — you could be cut at any moment. I think that would make me constantly anxious and paranoid.

But if I were to debut in a K-pop band, I think I’d be the quirky one who said random things in interviews! I think I’d also be the dad – or let’s be real, maybe more the “mom” — of the group who listened to my members’ problems and gave advice. And just like Candace, I would not be one of the main dancers. I can’t dance, like, at all.

I especially enjoyed the way you addressed the unattainable beauty standards Korean girls are confronted with in the entertainment industry. It’s a huge dilemma; on the one hand these girls dreaming of being idols can’t look too much like their predecessors and yet need to be as conventionally beautiful as possible. How did fitting Candace, a Korean-American teenager, in this environment come about?

I love this question. When Candace arrives in Seoul to train at S.A.Y. — it’s her first time in Korea — she’s both overwhelmed and comforted by the fact that for the first time in her life, she’s in the majority. She can’t get over the fact that almost everyone she sees on the streets is Korean! But then at S.A.Y., she’s suddenly told that she needs to change the parts of herself that make her who she is. It’s almost like she’s an immigrant in both America and Korea, which is a painful feeling I’ve definitely had in my real life, too.

That’s her journey, though: to see if the sense of identity and self-worth she’s built up throughout her life can withstand the challenges of this environment, and if she can help other people to do the same, too.

In recent years, we have seen K-Pop bands make extreme strides in the Western market – for example, BTS’s recent release Dynamite has broken the world record for most viewed YouTube video in 24 hours. Why do you think it has taken so long for K-Pop to break into other markets? And with collaborations like BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez happening, who would you love to see collab?

I actually don’t think it’s taken that long — I’m actually constantly pinching myself that we’re in this moment at all! When I was a kid growing up in Atlanta, I felt like Korean culture was so far out of the mainstream in America — and to see my non-Korean friends singing the Korean lyrics to “Sour Candy,” or to see BTS win VMAs … I don’t think I could have fathomed this before. But I think it’s happened because Korea is incredibly proud of and really wants to share their culture and their talents with the world. The effort to spread the culture has been an ongoing, concerted effort, but I don’t think anyone expected it to pay off as wonderfully as it has. I feel so privileged that my first novel is about K-pop and it’s not being treated as niche, and that’s only possible through the hard work of Korean and Korean American creators before me.

As for collaborations — we need a girl group to team up with Ariana Grande! I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about the way Ariana combines her fierce and soft sides that has always felt really k-pop to me. I also want to see girl group collabs with Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce!

The competition Candace enters is cut-throat and harrowing and yet, incredibly compulsive to read about. What do you think compels people to be so fascinated by competitions where everyone is pitted against each other, but is still expected to work together in a team?

This is a great question! Whenever there are lots of people with different talents and agendas reaching for the same goal, there’s always going to be conflict. But I think the moment when you realize that your nemesis is actually a human being and not just the antagonist in the movie of your life is just so satisfying and makes you believe in humanity again. It’s why people love enemies-to-lover stories and reality TV competitions. It’s why Candace’s friendships and rivalries were some of my favorite storylines to write.

I loved the juxtaposition of Candace who wants to still feel like herself (refusing to get beauty surgeries, for example) with some of the other contestants who did everything they could to appeal to the general public and still weren’t chosen for a band. What would you like people to take away from reading K-Pop Confidential?

This is the heart of K-Pop Confidential for me: no one outside of yourself can take away or diminish your true sense of worth, no matter how powerful they seem, even if they seem to hold the keys to your future.

Young people today have so much going against them and so little support. It’s clear that older generations don’t have all the answers and therefore don’t have the right to force you to fit their standards. Candace’s journey is gaining the courage to acknowledge this and take her future into her own hands.

There’s this moment in the book where Candace chats to a boy from the world’s biggest K-Pop band that tells her how he wishes he never became a member of the band and yet cannot imagine life without it, despite his gruelling schedule and the impact on his mental health. It definitely puts into perspective achieving your dreams as not being the end of the road but the start of even harder work. Have you ever experienced such a dream or goal in your life?

Oh gosh, this is exactly what I’ve been thinking about every hour of every day leading to the debut of K-Pop Confidential! Being a writer for a living has been my dream since the first grade, and there’ve been so many obstacles in my magazine career — rejections, low pay, micro-aggressions, self-doubt — that have made me question whether it’s worth it. Coming out with my first novel is even scarier! Writing a book takes so much work that you can’t help but take it personally when it doesn’t get the attention you hope it does, or you get one of those absolutely crushing one-star Goodreads reviews. But what I’m learning from my characters in K-Pop Confidential is that it has to be about the love of what you do, not the result! Honestly, that feeling you get when you get a scene just right, or when you’re answering really smart questions in interview like this one, makes it all totally worth it!

With K-Pop Confidential releasing soon, are you working on other projects already? Any chance you might want to revisit Candace and her ‘career’ in the future?

Well, I’m working on a sequel about the debut of the girl group formed in book one, although I can’t confirm that Candace is actually in that group! I’d also love to write a middle-grade novel about a non-binary Korean American boy who idolizes said girl group.

I’ve also been working on a novel for adults about a family living in Atlanta, Georgia … it may or may not be semi-autobiographical! I hope to get that one published soon.

Last but not least, do you have any bookish recommendations for our readers?

SO many! I’ll just list these off with no explanation other than they’re amazing and you should read them: You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson, Tweet Cute by Emma Lord, They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman, Truly, Madly, Royally by Debbie Rigaud, This Is My America by Kim Johnson, Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim, Keep It Together, Keiko Carter by Debbi Michiko Florence, Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett, The Summer Of Everything by Julian Winters, I’ll Be The One by Lyla Lee, Love, Creekwood by Becky Albertalli, Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest, Parachutes by Kelly Yang, Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, Anger Is A Gift by Mark Oshiro, Frankly In Love by David Yoon, Grown by Tiffany Jackson … and so many more!

Will you be picking up K-Pop Confidential? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Stephan Lee, Author of ‘K-Pop Confidential’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.