He's the hottest Korean I've ever seen. 
 Not that I have much experience with Koreans, but all the ones I've encountered couldn't even be considered in the same realm as Sophie's brother. 
 This is not a book for k-pop lovers. It is a book about a superior, condescending American and how she spreads her knowledge to the poor ignorant K-pop star. 
 "She doesn't play any instrument," Yoon Jae provides. "She just knows everything about music." 
 "That's not true," I say. But I can't help smiling at his blind confidence in me. "I only know a few things." 
 "Would you be interested in helping me with a new song?" Jason asks. 
 This book is the k-pop equivalent of The Last Samurai. Let me explain. The Last Samurai is widely held as the movie that displays a prime example of Western superiority. Long story short: white guy goes into Japan without knowing anything, the language, the culture, the combat styles, out-Samurais all the Japanese dudes, wins the heart of the fairest Japanese woman in the village. 
 This book can pretty much be described in the same manner. White girl goes into South Korea. not knowing the language, the customs, improves the K-pop industry, wins the heart of the hottest K-pop idol in the land. 
 Bullshit. Absolutely bullshit. This book displays the stereotype of the ugly American at its worst. The main character is condescending, views everything foreign as "exotic," is completely unwilling to learn and appreciate the culture, and steadfastly clings onto her own standards without embracing the new. American tourists have a pretty bad reputation abroad, and the main character in this book displays no deviation from that stereotype. 
 This book MOCKS Korean culture. From the way the people smells, to the heavy accent, to the squat toilets, to the language, to the formalities within the culture. 
 "Why are there so many different levels of formality?" I ask Jason, praying he's feeling gracious. "I don't get it." 
 "It has to do with respect," he says, shocking me. "You want to give respect to people who have authority over you or are older." 
 "Okay, I get that, but seven levels? Really?" 
 He doesn't answer. 
 "It's dumb" pops out of my mouth before I can stop it, and I mentally kick myself. Just what I need--to insult the language of the country I just moved to. 
 If you are expecting a lot of k-pop loving, as I did. Be prepared for severe disappointment. 
 I don't have the nerve to tell him his music is heartless, mass-produced fluff. 
 The main character's superior attitude towards K-pop and Korean music makes me want to gag. 
 "But you think I should make it more like your American music?" he asks. 
 "You say that like it's a bad thing." 
 This book made me rage. I wouldn't recommend it for k-pop fans. I wouldn't recommend it for any kind of light, summery read. It just gave me a headache. 
 As a side note: it's kind of stupid to rant about a book involving k-pop, so allow me to give myself some credibility. I've been a k-pop fan for a long-ass time. Since before some of your oppas were even born. I started with Shinhwa (and suffered their departure). I loved DBSK (and I witnessed with much heartbreak their departure). I fell in love with EXO (and was absolutely heartbroken at the demise of EXO-M...oh, Luhan...;_;). 
 There may be a trend here. 
 In any case, I know my freaking k-pop. I've bopped to H.O.T's Candy, and I danced along to Bonamana. I attempted to do Growl, but only ended up looking like a freakishly incompetent cowboy. I'm well-read on Korean culture. I'm well up-to-date on k-pop current releases, and I consider myself, if not an expert, very, very well-informed on the k-pop scene. Just keep me out of your flame wars. I ain't an ELF, I ain't a Cassie, I ain't a Baby, leave me out of your drama. I'm here for the music. 
 Since I'm accusing the main character of elements of racism, let me first be fair. Let's address the huge fucking pink elephant in the room. Korean culture, and k-pop, is not innocent when it comes to racism. I am not speaking for all Koreans by any means, and I understand that every culture is guilty of feeling racially superior to some extent, but the k-pop world is peppered with racism, particularly when it comes to darker-skinned races and people. 
 This denigration of darker-skinned people is not limited to foreigners. Even Koreans who are darker-skinned get mocked (like the beautiful, golden-skinned Kai of EXO, who has been constantly given a hard time for his darker skin tone). SNSD members have mocked a member whose skin is darker, calling her dirty-looking. There are rampant examples in which k-pop idols have dressed up in blackface (and nobody thinks anything of it), and there are numerous examples in which idols have made highly racist statements without any serious repercussion from society whatsoever. 
 So there you have it. Racism does exist in South Korea, but that's not to say we should emulate it. We should strive to be better. An eye for an eye is not the answer here. You cannot solve racism by being racist in return. 
 Look, I'm not fucking Mother Theresa. I'm a jerk. So it should say something when I feel like we should maybe try to get along? 
 Open k-pop discussion in the comments. Go! 
 Quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof subject to change in the final edition.