Hart & Seoul

I recieved an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. “Hart & Seoul” is released June 4th, 2019.

SUMMARY

Merilee Hart has been doing her best to keep things together since her mother left, her art a welcome escape from her depressing new reality. But things seem to go even more awry the moment her next door neighbor’s enigmatic and mysterious nephew arrives from South Korea. Lee is moody, cocky, and utterly infuriating.
But when Merri’s closest friends betray her and her father crushes her dream of going to art school, Merri finds herself drawn to Lee, who seems to live within even greater shadows than her own. And just when she thought things couldn’t get crazier, Merri’s world is upended when she discovers Lee’s big and bizarre secret…he is none other than a runaway member of the K-pop mega-group Thunder.

It’s not long before Thunder’s fans, the Storm Chasers, begin to close in on Lee, ready to do whatever it takes to return their favorite idol to his rightful place in the band. Faced with the prospect of even more heartbreak and caught up in an international whirlwind that has a life of its own, Merri realizes that she must find a way to mend herself, gain control of her life, and pursue her dreams—her heart and soul depend on it.

THE GOOD

So much to unpack here. So let’s do some bullet points. Those are a good way to get thoughts out.

-From the start, this book makes MASTERFUL use of romance tropes. It’s got everything from enemies-to-lovers (Lee and Merri’s terribly-flubbed first meeting and their subsequent awkward interactions are absolutely hilarious) to fake-dating and everything in between, and I LOVE IT. Tropes only suck in the hands of authors who don’t know how to use them – Burnham definitely does. All of it is done in a very tongue-and-cheek way that makes it deliciously obvious that these are tropes, but not the tropes you know.
-Speaking of tongue-in-cheek, the tone of this book was fantastically fun and comedic. It had its serious beats, which were also well-done, but it was also uproariously funny at times. Some of Merilee’s turns of phrase cracked me up, Merilee and Lee’s early, awkward interactions were all 10/10 amazing, and almost every incident with Lee’s fangirls, the Storm Chasers, had me in stitches (not really funny for the characters, I know, but oh, how I laughed!).
-I’ll admit that I don’t know a lot about the world of K-Pop, but “Hart and Seoul” was a great primer, and it really dug into both the pressures that the industry puts on its stars and the global phenomenon that k-pop has become. It was really seamlessly worked into the story, and it also provided most of the story’s most poignant moments. I especially appreciated the story’s focus on the impact of the industry’s rigors on Lee’s mental health – that’s a side of the story that we commoners don’t often see, and the author’s note, which talks about fame and mental health and provides resources for those struggling with depression, anxiety, etc., was a nice addition. That part of the story was tastefully handled and added a lot of depth to the story.
-The food. I never knew much about Korean food before reading this (to the chagrin of most of my Asian friends, who all swear up and down by Korean barbecue), but I loved how food became a bonding point for Lee and Merri.
-THE ROMANCE. OMG, SWOOOOOON. I’m a huge sucker for those “famous person falls for a normal person” love stories (Geekerella!) and this one was not only adorably swoonworthy, but actually made that improbable storyline seem somewhat grounded and realistic. And OMG, SO CUTE. I DIED. Really, this is a heckin’ cute romance.
-The ending. *HERE BE SPOILERS* Lee’s flower deliveries and mid-concert confession werethe stuff of my melodramatic teenager dreams. HE WROTE HER A SONG…AND SANG IT IN FRONT OF 600,000 PEOPLE…AND SAID HE LOVED HER…*faints* *SPOILERS BEGONE* High romance right there, folks. HIGH ROMANCE.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD

-Merilee has a tendency to be quite insensitive. She does improve, but it felt kind of off considering how much she knows Lee is struggling.
-That’s about it, really. This was a delightful book.

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

Plot: 5/5 – a creative twist on a whole boatload of tropes that work so, so much better than you’d ever expect them to.

Characters: 4/5 – Lee and Ema are angels and I’d die for them. Ms. Park is pretty great. The rest are sort of meh, and Bree is a scumbag. Lee and Ema make up for most of this, hence the high score. Not all of them are well-developed, but the leads, Lee and Merri, are, so it doesn’t feel flat.

Pacing: 5/5 – it was short, so there wasn’t a lot of time for it to slag, and I loved the lack of slow-burn. Slow-burn drives me nuts in most cases – this is one where it would have, which is why I appreciated its absence.

Handling of Subject Matter: 5/5 – surprisingly heartfelt, tasteful, and nuanced look at the K-Pop industry. Merri’s family situation (her mother left the family) is well-handled as well.

Writing Quality: 4/5 – it wasn’t exactly masterful prose, as YA rarely is, but the writing lent itself well to the story’s comedic timing, and Merri’s turns of phrase were wonderful.

Message/Moral/Appropriateness for Audience: 5/5 – squeaky clean except for one use each of “a**” and “hell”. Lots of kisses, but they’re not graphic. Allusions to a failed suicide attempt – the character later seeks out help, and the author’s note provides contact information of suicide prevention agencies; potentially disturbing but a sensitive handling of the topic. Good messages about the dangers of celebrity hype and the importance of trust, forgiveness, and loyalty. Would recommend for ages 14+ – I’d put it younger if not for the mention of the suicide attempt at the end because it’s largely clean (there’s no adult situations, drinking/drugs, or violence, and characters conspicuously don’t curse), but that would probably be a bit much for younger readers, though it’s brief and sensitively handled.

Overall: 4.67/5 Confused Llamas

As a huge fan of storyline and flow,I am usually hesitant about reading YA novels without reading the reviews. However, being an avid Kpop fan myself, I found myself drawn to this book by the title and was NOT let down. I am giving this book 5 stars for storyline flow, characters, and proper use of a foreign language. It’s so hard to find great writing where a foreign language is used correctly in a sentence that can make the language comprehensive to the non-native speaker. Hart and Seoul did an amazing job of keeping the dialect flow consistent and orderly. As well as foreign language, the author managed to keep the characters interesting yet relatable, and on another level very much realistic to those fellow K-pop fans out there. Five stars to this YA that I’m looking forward to seeing published soon.
P.S Here’s to hoping for a sequel

Merri has just gotten back from spending a week with her long time friend in Australia. Suddenly her best friend is acting weird and the neighbor Ms. Park has her strange and mysterious Korean nephew staying with her. Despite her efforts, Merri and Lee are forced to start spending time together. Merri has always wanted to pursue art but her father is constantly shutting her dreams down. Lee becomes her inspiration and starts doodling all the ridiculous (and seemingly rude) things he says to her. Somehow he has become her muse and she finds herself wondering about everything that is Lee until one night his secret is exposed... Lee is a Runaway K-Pop star.
I just want to start off by saying that this is the first novel I have read about K-pop stars. I don't know much about K-pop but this book had me making a new playlist! I think this is the perfect YA novel to be released right now with K-Pop bands like BTS become so huge right now. The depth that this book had was surprising, yet evoked all the right emotions. The romance between Merri and Lee was a lot sweet and what every girl hopes their first real love will feel like. Hart & Seoul will become a hit this summer for YA readers everywhere! I will definitely be on the lookout for more Kristen Burnham books in the future! Big thanks to Mascot Books for the ARC!

This book was everything I didn't know I needed! I am not a huge Kpop listener however, this book was the perfect mix of cute and addicting! I already recommended it to some people who are and aren't into the Kpop scene :)

Whoa.

I really loved this story. It's sweet and full of soul. It has everything that is dramatic and heartfelt of Sarah Dessen along with all the situational comedy found in Meg Cabot's work. I use these older comp titles because it truly had the feel of a classic contemporary novel. Tackling teen issues but also with the aspect of comedy and surrealism. (;You're the princess of Genovia' anyone?)

Our main character Merilee Hart is dealing with some drama within both her friend and family relationships. There is momma drama, pressures about where to go to college and friendship breakups. All things portrayed beautifully and in an authentic way. Less dramatic, and more just real. These are real problems.

Now the novel part of it is the fact a kpop star turns up to be her neighbor's nephew and his world and her world collide as they are thrown together to process the things happening to them. I liked this aspect a lot, it led to some great cultural crossover moments. It is important to remember the Korean main character in this novel is not Korean-American, so there are times when confusion comes up in simply learning another country's customs. I think this is done respectfully, but would look to representative voices to decide if they feel that way too.

Ultimately the book really delivers. There is the angry first connection, fake dating, and then sweet romance all in the story. It packs a nice punch and Merri stays strong through the whole thing. She keeps her self respect while also making a few mistakes that have consequences. The ending was just perfect for me. I can't wait to see more of the author's work.

I'll give the context that I am kpop adjacent. I know a LOT about my family's favorite bands because they are literally always talking about updates on whats going on with them. So I am vaguely familiar with the world, but if you don't have the knowledge going in the novel does a good job of explaining what it is like. It examines the idea of fandom and showcases both problematic fans and genuine fans. The emotional arc for Lee's character also seems authentic to what a real kpop star could be going through.

Oh my my my, this was such a refreshing and joyous read! I am a huge fan of anything Korean, and to hear that this heavily featured Korean influences, especially k-pop which is a major love of mine, I felt like this was written just for me. And it really felt like it was!! I love, love, lovedddd all the references to popular Korean shows and bands, but I especially loved all the mentions of food! And as someone who regularly researches and studies current Korean culture, has been learning the Korean language for almost a year now, and is quite addicted to k-pop shows and k-dramas . . . this author really did her research on that side of things! And her writing was light and easy to read, not too dramatic nor heavy on the purple prose; it felt just right. And as I read, I could imagine the scenarios in the book like I was watching a good k-drama so 10/10 for that!

But I also loved the characters. Merri is sweet yet salty enough to be a realistic MC. Lee is snarky and pretty much 99% perfect (still not a fan of the way he was written a bit as far as how many Korean words he threw in with his English, but overall I was quite impressed!!) . . . which kind of made him 100% perfect in my eyes. I would have loved to have even more of his and Merri's interactions and see their relationship grow further. But the ending was quite nice and heartwarming, and I am looking forward to seeing what other works this author has in store for the future!

The Quick Cut: A girl is surprised to find out the new boy next door she's been flirting with is a K-Pop star named Lee. Chaos happens when the band's fans go looking for him and succeed.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Mascot Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What would your reaction be if a pop star moved in next door? If it's anything like our heroine Marilee's, it would be one of absolute unknowing. It's funny how we react whenever a celebrity enters the room... almost as if they're more than human or above any issues those of us with more typical lives experience. In this story, we see what happens when a pop star's life intersects with a normal high schoolers.

Marilee hasn't had the easiest time lately. Her mom left behind her and her dad while also finding out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend. Then the next door neighbor suddenly has a new boy living with her: a Korean boy who seems to take delight in making subtle jokes of her. However, once she gets past the subtle digs and gets to know him - she finds he's a really nice guy and feelings appear... until complicated by the fact he's a K-Pop star in hiding!

K-Pop seems to be a fad that isn't going away (I'm a power pop girl personally), but I like how this book explores the subculture that is growing in popularity. The story does get a little complicated for a romance book, but I enjoyed it all the same. You definitely have to focus while reading to keep track of the details.

Marilee is a better person than I am in the way she handles conflict. Although she at points can get emotional and cause a hilarious scene, more often than not she is rational and smart.

Lee is a stand-up guy that although he hides a lot of secrets, he has good reasons to and even better - acts like a teenager would in his situation. It's nice to see this book in a side way tackle stress and anxiety in the face of an extreme lifestyle such as his and hearing his story did make me feel for him.

With a sweet story that has a lot of detail, this book is worth the read.

My rating: 4 out of 5

Oh my K -drama heart did I love this book. I need something good to read and Hart and Seoul hit the spot. What a great story and how adorable was Lee and Merri . Ever time Lee called her Christmas I giggled because it was so cute. I can’t wait to read another book by Kristen Burnham since this one was so good. This is a perfect book for anyone who could binge watch an entire k drama series!!!!

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (Thank you!)

Heart & Seoul is the Bookish dream of every K-Pop or K-Drama fangirl. You know, like me. If I had to choose three words to define it, I'd chose Clichéd, Sweet and Meaningful. Don't expect originality (everything is so obvious) but expect some fun banter and moments that will make you fangirl.
We follow Merri, an American Girl whose new Boy next door is a K-Pop Idol. Merri has no clue about what is K-Pop or Korean Culture which leads to some misunderstandings between her and him. Lee, our boy is a cinnamon roll, sweet and cocky and with a secret. At first, Lee and Merri are not really fond of each other because of misinterpretations, but eventually, they warm up to each other and it becomes impossible not to root for them.
There's supporting characters that are also tropey: Ema, the BFF; Bree, the B*tch; Ms.Park, the nice older aunt and Merri's Dad which was hands down, an awesome dad and had a healthy relationship with his daughter and that filled me with joy because I'm a bit tired of the trope of "Villain parents". The remaining supporting characters were utterly forgettable. I confess I didn't like much the "mom" used as a plot device just make the heroine sob in the arms of the hero, but it's alright because deep down we all love when the hero comforts the heroine and shows how sweet and respectful he can be.
The book had so many tropes of romantic comedies and K-Dramas that it was almost like watching a K-Drama mixed with a Teen chick flick. However, it kept me addicted just like K-Dramas: We all watch over and over the same tropes but we can't help but love it. I could picture Lee in my mind saying "Aishh" and "Aigoo" and "Deh" things he said frequently. (Also I don't know why but in my mind he looked like a younger Kim Myung Soo - L from Infinite).
I loved the author addressed the huge, inhumane pressure that Korean superstars suffer. It something widely known and yet it keeps increasing, and mental health issues in Korea is something that is not acknowledged as it should be. Idols get depressed because they are forced to be "perfect" and maintain a happy image to please their fans. Let us not forget that South Korea is the number one country in Plastic Surgeries and idols/actresses diet and starve because of the societal expectations that deem their worth and beauty based on how much they weight and how much white is their skin.
As a K-Drama fan (honestly not much of a K-pop although I listen to it occasionally) I see the glitter, the glamour. But it is very important to make people aware that idols are human beings and no one is flawless and that being healthy is more important than being rich or beautiful. The dark side of fame exists.
I would have liked to see the author exploring mental health further than just a mere mention of past issues. There was no depth. The subject was acknowledged but not explored and that can be understandable because its a touchy, sensitive theme that can trigger people and must be dealt with carefully...but I would still have liked to see it developed.
In conclusion, the book gives you a sweet, light feeling with some occasional teenage angst.
It's romantic and sweet and well, predictable but very enjoyable and addicting!
If you like K-Pop/K-Dramas or a fluffy teenage romance, you might want to read this.

If you like Korean dramas, pop music, etc., this book was written for you!
I REALLY enjoyed reading Hart & Seoul and it promptly made me interested in watching another K-drama! I love how it follows the lighthearted aspects of K-dramas, but also dealing with true-to-life issues and exploring a different culture. I'm not Korean, but I do enjoy the occasional K-drama or K-pop song and this book fit into that extremely well. This is a cute way to integrate learning about different cultures in high school. I think it would pair well with a field trip to a Korean Restaurant and maybe a K-pop concert afterwards! :)
If you liked watching Boys Over Flowers, You're Beautiful or Strong Girl, you will LOVE this book!

This is the second k-pop book I have read this week. Cute YA love story about runaway k-pop star in hiding Lee who meets Merri his next door neighbor. They are both on the rebound after being two-timed by their exes and hit it off. This is a sweet summer romance type read that I really enjoyed. Merri is a smart girl who falls for Lee and his stubborn Korean ways before she kmows he is a big k-pop star. They are an adorable couple and her ex best friend and ex boyfriend deserve to see her happy with him. Love the story, romance and k-pop back drop. Definitely worth reading. Thanks for the ARC, NG!!!!

I CRIED LIKE A BABY. 😭

This was such a fantastic, fun, heartfelt, sweet, and funny story. K drama is the best. And I will always be a BigBang Fangirl, so this hit straight to my Korean culture loving heart. Lee and Merri start off as just neighbors. Lee in a sour mood and not in a place to even want to make friends. They're thrust together by the ever present auntie (ya'll know who they are) and a break up. Seeing them come together as friends after a crappy situation just melted my heart. The story was just so fun and I just ate through seeing 2 cultures coming together and how much they cared about each other. It was cavity inducing sweetness and I couldn't get enough.

A lot of Korean references - be it the little words we know from watching a lot of K-Drama, the Korean food, K-Pop fandom - were all so good and made the book enjoyable. The story was cheesy and super cute. The romance was adorable though the hate-to-Love trope is sort of overdone these days. Loved how Lee was unable to ‘get’ the phrases used by Merri and it was very authentic and real because it is difficult for a non-English speaking person to get them. Overall a very cute romance book perfect for summers and fans of K-Drama

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for supplying me with an ARC*

Girl meets boy.
Boy falls for girl.
Girl discovers boy is a runaway K-pop star.

This was such a cute contemporary. It was such a quick read too, maybe a tad predictable but I felt that it read like a kdrama with the twists and turns. It was interesting to see how the book also showed what kpop stars deal with and can internally struggle with, especially with the amount of stress that they can deal with working and showing the world an essentially perfect version of themselves.
I found this to be a very nice read from this debut author and will be looking forward to anything else that they bring out.

A romance between a K-Pop Idol and the girl next door, is the order of the day in this book and I loved it.

As someone who now wishes to be the next door neighbour of Suga (but sadly Not Today) a story about a girl who has a romance with a kpop Idol was so damn up my street, I had to request this book, Hart & Seoul, I Need U.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book, the love/hate relationship growing into friendship and more is one of my favourite things in romance tropes and this book does it so well, it’s really dope how the writer builds up the tension incredibly well through the book and the end totally does make it right. This story kept me awake at night, it would just run through my head.

I’m not a huge fan of girls screwing over girls in books, I know it happens, but I wish I didn’t and for me the side-plot wasn’t my favourite thing, but I like how Merilee has a best friend online, I feel online friendships are considered lesser, but I love how seriously this is taken in the book and how strong that friendship is shown throughout the whole of the story.

Not at all a spine-breaker to read, Hart & Seoul doesn’t need a cypher to understand and it makes for such a great read, especially when you’re not feeling great like I was when I was reading this. Probably one of my favourite books I’ve read this year, this book was paradise to read!

As someone who knows very little about K-pop, I can't vouch for the authenticity at all. But this novel is fun, with strong chemistry between the two main character. The reader often hits the major beats before the author writes them, but sometimes, that's part of the fun. I also felt the message board/blog posts helped move the story without feeling tacked on or intrusive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mascot Books for letting me read an advanced readers copy for my honest review.

<i>Hart and Seoul</i> is the debut book for Kristen Burnham. I found this book...adorable. There were some hard things discussed in it, but I feel like it's things that teens are facing now. Especially with the rise of internet bullying and social media.

First I'm going to talk about what I wasn't a fan of with the book. The spelling/mispronunciation of some of the Korean words. The biggest one - <i>deh</i>. I'm not sure if Ms. Burnham had looked at any Korean language tutorials or if she speaks Korean, or how she did her I research. I'm Korean - with a mother who likes to yell at me in Korean good or bad. Deh is not a word. Neh is the correct way to say and spell 'yes'. Also, <i>bo</i> is not a word either. From the context, it should be <i>mo</i>. The mispellings are the biggest things that I had a problem with in the book. It's not hard to google translate something and get the right answer.

That being said - why I loved this book! It was sweet and lovely. This is the first time I've read a book that had a Kpop star in it. Kristen got a lot of aspects correct in that way. I've heard rumors, but don't actually know any Kpop stars that can confirm. The things they go through are rough. They do start training at an early age and they have to do what the managers say and when they say it. The way that she described the ordeals that people go through when it comes to depression are spot on. These are also things that happen to everyone.

All in all, I recommend <i>Hart and Seoul</i> to everyone! It was an extremely satisfying book and I'm hoping to see more of Lee!

When a book can make you laugh, make you hungry, make you want to travel the world, and make you feel the looks the characters are exchanging, all while highlighting an important topic that is impressive!

This novel is fun, with a capital F. There is romance, but it isn’t graphic and the moments that could be cheesy are endearing because the characters laugh at their own cheese factor. There is K-Pop music with obsessed fans, but not in a way that feels fake and certainly not in a way that makes you wish for fame. Most of all, there are two main characters and a supporting cast that through a short novel manage to grow, love, hate, and become the friends you didn’t know you needed. Hart & Seoul is one of the books that has characters you wish you could hang out with in real life which is always a sure way to make me love a reading experience. The writing is fun and light and the sprinkling of Korean and Australian words and confusion over sayings is just right making the book speed by while many months are covered in the book’s timeline. Because of the way that passage of time is handled, the end of the books seems fitting and doesn’t end with a quick fix which can be a common pitfall of shorter YA books.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for an enjoyable book, needing a laugh, getting over heartbreak, jamming out to K-Pop on the regular, or anyone who has learned who their friends are the hard way. Just don’t read this one on an empty stomach! No kimchi for me, but I’ll be ordering in bibimbap tonight!

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely lovely in every way. I won’t forget this book and it’s words for a long long time. Completely unforgettable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mascot Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Merilee Hart is doing everything she can to keep her life together after her mother left. Her art has become her escape from the world and it’s where she can creatively log the things that happen in her day-to-day life.

A few days after returning from Australia with her father Merilee, or Merri to most, happens to notice that her next door neighbour has a new house guest in the form of her enigmatic nephew. It doesn’t take long for Merri to realise that Lee is moody and utterly infuriating. Not only that but Merri is quick to uncover that she has been betrayed by her two closest friends and is left feeling very vulnerable.

She soon finds herself drawn to Lee and after spending some time with him comes to find that he isn’t anything like she first thought. He’s funny, he’s kind and he definitely has a sparkle to him.

It isn’t long till her life is thrown out of the loop when she realises that Lee is actually a member of the K-Pop mega group Thunder and is currently in hiding and taking a break away from the fame. It doesn’t take long for the fans to try and close in on where Lee is hiding and are ready to do whatever they can to return him to his rightful place in the band.

Merri is not only faced with the fans but with the looming prospect of heart-break as she begins to fall for the singer. After a misunderstanding Merri must learn how to pick up the pieces, gain control of her life and pursue her dreams as an artist.

Now, I’m not a huge fan of K-Pop and was scared to start this book incase I didn’t understand the references. I’m thoroughly glad I did read this. The characters are so well written and I was completely hooked from the first chapter
.
Merri goes through so much in this book that my heart goes out to her. Not only is she fighting her dad over her future prospects but her friend’s have betrayed her in the worst way possible. Lee is honestly the only thing that keeps her going.

The humour, for me, was on point and had me laughing to myself but most of all Kristen Burnham made me fall in love with Merri and Lee. I recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, light-hearted read with a sprinkle of K-Pop on top.

This book was so cute and fluffy and swoon worthy I loved every second of it but it does have some hard topics in it also but it still was a good read

First off - I know zero about K-pop, but that didn't stop me from loving every bit of this book.

I highly enjoyed this book. I read this baby within a day and it left me craving more.

The story itself was cute and something you wanted to experience yourself - meeting a rockstar and falling in love. A mutual love, not just you being weird and obsessive. The language flowed easily and the pacing was solid.

The characters were easily likeable (those who deserved to be liked) and I just wanted to jump into the book and give Merri a big hug for all the crap that happened to her throughout the story. Merri is a character that, in one way or the other, you can relate to as a girl. Hopefully not in the way that your boyfriend cheats on you with your best friend, but you know, other stuff.
Lee is your classic moody, broody and mysterious boy-next-door, whom Merri does not see eye-to-eye with in the beginning until she gets to know him and his massive secret.

All in all, a highly entertaining and quickly-read book that I can see myself rereading when I need something quick and sweet.

I really love this book! From first to last page! It seems öile Bella and Edwars are reborn in a K-Pop drama. The story is very detailed and gives you a good impression of K-Pop phenomenon. I recommend this book to everyone how loves a good lovestory.

Summary
After a few months’ stint in Australia with her dad, Merrilee returns home just in time to see her neighbor’s nephew move in next door. After a rough first meeting, and betrayal at the hands of her closest friends, they begin to strike up somewhat of an odd friendship. Lee is mercurial, cocky, and a huge pain in Merri’s butt--yet she still finds herself wanting to get to know him and attempt to peel back the many layers he’s erected around his heart.

The closer the pair become, the more secretive Lee seems, until Merri is met with the biggest shock of all--Lee is a hugely popular member of the K-POP band, Thunder. When his crazed fans discover where he’s been hiding, major complications arise and put a great strain on Lee and Merri’s blossoming relationship.

There are some false accusations and hurt feelings that fuel a blow up which precedes Lee’s trip back home, leaving Merri to wonder if the last time she’d ever see him will be tainted with bitter memories.


Review
Oh. My. Gosh. Let me just start by saying this: I’m a big fan of K-POP and K-drama, so when I read the blurb for this book I jumped at the opportunity to read and review it. And I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed in the least. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book where I honestly didn’t have anything I disliked while reading it, but I have nothing bad to say about this book.


The Hero
Lee … sigh. Lee is one of the best heroes ever. In a way, he reminds me of Daoming Si from Meteor Garden--and yes, Dylan Wang (the actor who played Si) is totally who I pictured while reading this book, despite the fact that neither Si nor Dylan are Korean, lol. Anyway, he’s got that a-hole vibe at the beginning--which, if you’ve read my reviews, you know that I LOVE a good a-hole hero!--and he’s so cocky and takes great pleasure in giving Merri a hard time. At first, I was afraid he wasn’t going to have any qualities that were redeemable enough for me to grow to like him, but boy, did I not need to worry. Lee is most definitely a tortured soul and there’s so much more to him than meets the eye, which I should have realized at the start. I mean, why else would a super popular K-POP star hide out at his aunt’s house in America if there wasn’t something troubling going on in his life?

Lee is also extremely closed off and it seems to take FOREVER for Merri to finally get to know him below purely surface level. Once this part of his story is revealed, it’s easy to understand why he’s been so unapproachable and difficult. Like I said, there’s so much more to him than meets the eye. He goes on to show Merri how protective and loving he can be; how many demons he’s still fighting and how desperately he just wants to live life his own way. Lee’s emotional turmoil and the consequences of such are so heartbreaking to read--but they’re incredibly important to be aware of.


The Heroine
Merri is easily one of my favorite heroines ever. She’s an artist, she’s sensitive, and she has such a passionate soul. She’s a little snarky and so quick to anger when it comes to Lee, which, in all honesty, lol, is somewhat justified for the most part at the beginning. Merri has a lot to overcome, between her mom abandoning her and her dad to her friends’ betraying her, and now her dad wanting her to give up her dream of going to school for art. Not to mention, her growing fascination and attraction to her new neighbor.

Merri is independent, caring, intelligent, compassionate, and sarcastic. She’s strong willed and determined to follow her dreams, despite the lack of support from her father. Seeing the growth in her character, as well as the pure emotion she feels--which is so beautifully written--was one of the best coming of age arcs I’ve read in some time. I love how there’s actually some depth to this heroine and that she’s big enough to admit when she’s done wrong--and she’s not a sniveling mess around the hero!


The Story
Ugh. This book, this story … it’s just amazing. I loved the subject matter, I loved the characters and the drama, and I loved the smart way Merri handled Lee after they had their blow up. *spoiler* I love that just because Lee confessed he was in love with her didn’t mean she was ready to tell him the same thing. Lee really hurt her and she wasn’t quite ready to be that vulnerable with him. I couldn’t help but inwardly cheer for her during that part because it was so perfect. Sure, I’m a hopeless romantic and I always want the characters to fall in love, but I love that she was smart enough to realize that some trust had been broken and it needs to be rebuilt before that next step is taken. *end of spoiler*

Like I said in the beginning, I love K-POP and K-drama, so this was right up my alley. Everything about this book kept me wanting more; the drama between the friends, the angst, the developing relationship between Merri and Lee, Lee’s backstory--all of it.

While obviously K-POP (and to an extent, K-drama) plays a large role in this book, you don’t have to be a fan of the genre to enjoy the story. At the heart of it are two young people simply trying to find their own ways in the world and attempting to grapple with their growing feelings for one another. It’s also a wonderful story of overcoming your past, fighting insecurity and heartbreak, and learning to stand on your own two feet. Romantic love is a huge part of this story, but so is self love and discovering who your true friends really are.


Conclusion
This is a definite 5 star read for me. I just loved it so much! I’m hoping the author continues Lee and Merri’s story because there’s still so much that can be done with it. I’d like to see how they handle Lee being on tour and how much their relationship will develop and grow. Also, what’s going to happen when Lee has to enlist in the military--which is a requirement in Korea? Mostly, I just want more of these two because there’s such potential for an incredible, all-consuming love that I would love to see develop.

I highly, highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys young adult novels with some romance <3

Happy reading!!

Hart and Seoul is a cheeky story about your ordinary girl and the average K-pop Idol. Filled with some seriously adorable scenes, but also has some bittersweet and downright hard life lessons.

Highly recommend, even if you're not into K-dramas, crazy fangirls, and kimchi. 😉

I'll start by saying that this is the perfect book for when you are looking for something light, sweet and with a guaranteed happy ending or in summary when you need to escape your own life.
The writing was not exceptional and there were some tiny cliches mainly when it came to some of Merri's behaviors and most importantly the beginning of the book that was too predictable but other than that I can't really complain.
If you are alive then you are at least marginally aware of the Kpop and Kdramas phenomenon and how many fans they have all around the world. There are people learning Korean all over Europe because of these bands and shows and even the American shows have begun to notice them. I'm not a Kpop fan, I requested this book just because I had never read a YA romance in which the male love interest was Asian. A lot of people will be reading it because of the Kpop angle though, the only other places I ever found stories about it being Archive of Our Own and Wattpad, so there is space for this kind of books obviously and Kristen noticed it.
With Lee being Korean the author was able to explore an entirely new set of cultural rules and she did it well. I particularly enjoyed the way in which Lee spoke, not when it came to being agrammatical or having an accent but how blunt he was not minding if he was offending someone. I also finished this book with my belly roaring after learning about several different Koran recipes.
I noticed that there is something about books inside books or books that are about another artistic medium that I enjoy and Hart &Seoul is no different. I loved reading about Merri's drawings and cartoons and wish I could see the illustrations she did of Lee and herself meeting, their first drive, Lee carrying her when she sprained her ankle and so on and I did also love to read about Lee ad Merri's best friend dancing and Lee singing and all the tiny details that set him apart from all the other male love interest I read until now.
One of those things were his clothes, that were so different from everything else they were difficult to imagine but I'm sure he pulled them off because Lee is amazing. The other was the fact that he often wore makeup and I loved that! In no way was ever hinted that he was less masculine because of it and there was even a tiny mention of Lee helping Merry applying her own eyeliner because he often wore it as well. The only part I disliked was the fact that when he wore it the author called it "guyliner". You don't need to gender makeup to make sure we know he is a man!
Despite the general lightheartedness of the book, the story does have some very heavy themes like parental abandonment on Merri's side and Lee's darker side not only of fame but also of Kpop and that is the scene that I will always remember this book for.
The book ending felt a bit rushed but I didn't even care because there is going to be a second book and I will Lee and Merri again!
When it comes to the cover, I found it pretty but it's only when you see it up close that you notice all the details. The first time I saw it I didn't even care to open the link because it just seemed so bland.
The entire book has a sense of freshness, lightheartedness, and originality that reminded me a lot of fanfics with the love you can feel emanating from every word.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mascot Books for this ARC.

4.5
TW: depression, self harm, parental neglect, low self esteem, betrayal

This was so cute. The relationship between Merri and Lee was just so heartwarming. There were so many moments where I was laughing out loud or just cheesy smiling.
I really liked Merri’s character arc throughout the story. She started off with low self esteem when dealing with the fact that her mother left her and her father. From that moment I connected with the character and knew that all her feelings were genuine. Another thing I also like about her is her passion for art. Sometimes contemporary novels forget the main character’s favorite activities but her love for drawing remained a constant throughout the book.
One thing that seemed kind of weird was the fact her knowledge of anything K-Pop related was nonexistent. I feel like every teenager knows about K-Pop whether they love it or don’t listen to it.
The plot line of her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend is kind of predictable. Not only because of the synopsis because the minute he got introduced it was either he cheats on her or they drift apart. In the end it was kind of both so not surprised.
Lee’s character brings a kind of warmth to the story after everything that happened but also brings a serious note to the story. He really shows that being famous might seem nice to the fans but there are negative aspects to it. I think that side of him made him more real in a sense.
Their relationship and banter with each other was funny and adorable. They have that best friend vibe in the beginning which kind of makes the romance so much better in my opinion.
The ending could have used some work. It kind of left a “meh” feeling. Which kind of makes me wonder if the sequel is about them or another couple. Personally I don’t think their story needs to be continued and I think it left at a point in their relationship where if the sequel is about them it might fall into an unnecessary book category.

I read this all in one sitting! I absolutely loved the cute friendship turned romance, the reveal of Lee’s double life and even the betrayal/love triangle between Merri and her friends at the start of the book. I’d really recommend this to anyone looking for a new take on a Young/New Adult Romance as I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Merilee Hart has been doing her best to keep things together since her mother left, her art a welcome escape from her depressing new reality. But things seem to go even more awry the moment her next door neighbor’s enigmatic and mysterious nephew arrives from South Korea. Lee is moody, cocky, and utterly infuriating.
But when Merri’s closest friends betray her and her father crushes her dream of going to art school, Merri finds herself drawn to Lee, who seems to live within even greater shadows than her own. And just when she thought things couldn’t get crazier, Merri’s world is upended when she discovers Lee’s big and bizarre secret…he is none other than a runaway member of the K-pop mega-group Thunder.

It’s not long before Thunder’s fans, the Storm Chasers, begin to close in on Lee, ready to do whatever it takes to return their favorite idol to his rightful place in the band. Faced with the prospect of even more heartbreak and caught up in an international whirlwind that has a life of its own, Merri realizes that she must find a way to mend herself, gain control of her life, and pursue her dreams—her heart and soul depend on it.

I received a copy from NetGalley all my opinions are my own.
I loved this storyline!! It was humorous, sad, happy, and dealt with serious issues, and I enjoyed the two main characters bond. Merri and Lee had a rocky beginning, but they connected and became great friends, I enjoyed the character growth between that they went through. Lee, with his anxiety and learning to trust people, and Merri is dealing with the betrayal of her mother and best friend and having a better relationship with her father. I enjoyed this book, and I am looking forward to the second book in this series.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Hart & Seoul
Author: Kristen Burnham
Release Date: 6/4/2019
Review Date: 7/16/2019 On Goodreads

Girl meets boy. Boy falls for girl. Girl discovers boy is a runaway K-pop idol in hiding.
Merilee Hart has been doing her best to keep things together since her mother left, her art a welcome escape from her depressing new reality. But things seem to go even more awry the moment her next door neighbor’s enigmatic and mysterious nephew arrives from South Korea. Lee is moody, cocky, and utterly infuriating.

This book was stinking adorable. I don't tend to reach for YA contemporary novels very often but when I do I prefer them to be unputdownable and cute, and this one was exactly that. I literally just wanted to devour this book from start to finish. I did see a lot of the "twists" coming but I still really enjoyed this book. I have already added the sequel to my want to read shelf on Goodreads and it doesn't even have a title, cover or description yet, I just want it. Also, Lee made me swoon a lot.

a cheating boyfriend and best friend to isolate the protagonist is hardly original, but it does the job, and it is hard not to be on the side of a teenage girl who returns from two months abroad to learn that her best friend and her boyfriend are hooking up, especially after learning her mother walked out on her family a year before. It's a trope because it works, and it works here. This is the kind of story that would not work as well if Merri had a bunch of other people to spend time with, or a bunch of extracurricular activities. If she had those things, she would never spend all her free time either with her father or with the nephew of her nearly-a-stranger neighbor.

Merri's relationship with her father is one of the things I liked about this book. Mr. Hart, too, is clearly dealing with his wife's desertion as best he knows how, while taking an active interest in his daughter's life. Merri's plot-imposed isolation allows the writer to showcase that their relationship is at times awkward (because Merri seems to remind her father so strongly of her mother), discordant (because Merri wants to pursue art in college), and ultimately supportive (literally, when he carries her up the stairs so she can change clothes more quickly). Their relationship is pretty sweet, all in all, and seems about as healthy as one might expect.

The relationship that forms between Merri and Lee is also fairly saccharine. He swoops in to save her several times early in the book when her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend put in sudden appearances, but he does not exist to fight her battles for her, and as the beans incident and several interactions with her ex-best friend make clear, Merri doesn't really need someone to fight her battles for her. Just someone to support her (again, literally, because she spends about half of the book on crutches it seems). Their first kiss was so very cute, but some aspects of their relationship are almost too sweet. For instance, Lee nicknames her Christmas, which is a very weird thing to call another human being, even if their regular nickname is Merri ("like Christmas?"). The fact that Merri calls Lee by his last name because she doesn't understand Korean nomenclature at first seems markedly less weird, and serves as a good way to introduce readers to Korean cultural norms.

On that note, Hart and Seoul does well at easing neophytes into the world of K-Pop. It describes the training academies for aspiring K-Pop stars, the apparently common practice of cosmetic plastic surgery to achieve a certain "look," and the high pressure such stars face from their labels, and the toll that can take. Scenes where Merri watches semi-related K-dramas like Boys Over Flowers or Fated to Love You show readers who may have discovered a hitherto unknown interest in Korean culture an easy in. It also has the most wonderful succession of Korean dishes peppered throughout the text as the two leads get to know one another better. Seriously, jjajangmyeon sounds absolutely amazing.

To return to the depiction of K-Pop artistry and its pressures, when discussing the reason Lee is even in the States, instead of back home with his group, Burnham is not subtle about hinting there is darkness there, and throughout the text characters in emotional or mental distress are encouraged to seek counseling. The author's note includes information on her personal struggle with anxiety as well as resources for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. She also mentions that Lee is fictional, but his struggles are based in fact, citing the 2017 suicide of Kim Jong-hyun.

For such a short, sweet book, Hart and Seoul really touches on many topics of importance to teenagers and many adult readers in the YA genre. I think it will be easy to find an audience for this book, and I really hope there will eventually be fanart.

While I don't usually care for highschool-setting stories, nor am I that well-informed in the K-pop world, I found myself falling in love with Merri and Lee as they slowly began to fall in love with each other. The highschool scenes weren't in the forefront, they were just parts of Merri's life that needed to be seen.

I related to Merri extremely well on the topic of her art and wanting to go to college for what she wanted, although I feel the backstory with her mom was a bit overlooked and could have been fleshed out more.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. And I'm grateful of the author speaking about anxiety and depression the way she did, and giving strong support systems for the characters that needed it. I'm looking forward to the next book!

We are a kpop loving household so when I read this description I KNEW I had to read this book! Who wouldn't want to live next to and befriend a (secret) runaway popstar?! The book was really cute and fun but didn't pull any punches when it came to the dark side of the kpop industry. You could tell that the author is a fan and not just jumping on the bandwagon. Perfect beach read for any kpop fan, but those who aren't will still enjoy it!

This book’s got sugar and spice and all things nice, just like a K-Pop band and a hot plate of kimchi!

When budding artist and typical teen Merilee Hart returns to her home in the USA following a fun-filled summer in Australia with her dad, she can’t wait to see her best friend Bree and her boyfriend Luke again after two months apart.

Both of them are acting really weird though… but there’s no time to worry about that because a mysterious and very sparkly stranger shows up at her neighbour Mrs Park’s house. It‘s her nephew Lee from Korea, come to stay for a while.
This handsome but rude boy next door proves to be a great distraction, and Merilee’s cartoon panels of his hilarious mishaps are a huge hit online. But when she’s hit with a bombshell of bad news, she realises Lee is more sensitive than she first thought.

As they spend more time together, however, something doesn’t quite add up about him. Clearly both of them are keeping secrets from each other, but what’ll happen if they decide to come clean?

Did I like this book? DEH!! 🤩

It’s a funny and touching read which will especially appeal to fans of K-Pop, K drama or teen culture in general! Under the sparkly bubblegum surface it has serious themes at its heart, but they’re presented in a sensitive way which makes this book ideal for teenage readers. And happily, the ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel…

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've had this book for a long time on my TBR, since I received it from Netgalley (very grateful, btw), but recently I wanted something different and this was the perfect choice for me.
Hart & Seoul was a nice read, with character growth, a bit of tension and drama, romance and everything in between. Merilee Hart is a sweet and caring girl, a good friend, an artist, with problems like every teenager we know and love. Then we have Lee, our unusual next door neighbour, a Korean guy who is too perfect to be true (like every artist we follow on social media), who also has a past that we know nothing about. The plot wasn't really a surprise, unless you don't read the synopsis and I actually expected most of it, but my joy came from the details about the food, the life of Korean artists, the crazy fans, the perfection they sell and the cost they have to pay for it.
I really enjoyed watching Merri discovering the world of k-dramas and K-pop, kind of reminding me of my first time too. It didn't come with a cute guy for me, but a girl can dream, right? 🤭
I would very much like a part 2 of this, but for I guess that might take a while.
If this might be your cup of tea, then I recommend it to you.
Have a great day!

“Hart & Seoul” by Kristen Burnham was such a great read, absolutely just so fun and sweet. Left me smiling. Definitely recommend!