Shine Hardcover – September 29, 2020

Hi all,First, some quick background. I have been an SNSD fan since 2010 (watched all of their content from predebut, too) and they are my bias kpop group. I also support ALL NINE of the girls in their solo careers and endeavors post 9/30. I preordered the book and decided to read "Shine" knowing that it would focus on trainee life and that there would be a second book coming.With that in mind, I read through Shine very quickly. It was a great YA read and I think that Jessica does a wonderful job of keeping the reader engaged. The book picks up more towards the end and left off on a cliffhanger of sorts, which has me craving the next one. But I digress...If you are wanting to read this novel to find out tea on SNSD then, unless you are a serious SONE and can somewhat connect the dots from references made by Jess and SNSD themselves to their trainee life, you will be disappointed. However, if you read this novel wanting to know more about trainee life and what idols go through pre-debut, there are definitely some gems included. This novel particularly showcases the harsh reality that girl groups deal with and the double standards for girl groups v. boy groups.If there is some truth in this novel (which Jessica has already said there is, especially regarding trainee life), then trainee life is just as bad or even worse than I initially thought it was. In the book, she does spill some potential tea about contracts and contract length loopholes, which I found particularly interesting (if it's true, of course). There is also information about the restrictive lifestyle for trainees, including dating bans, harsh training and competition amongst trainees, and how it is decided if a trainee is ready to debut. I also enjoyed that this book is written from the perspective of a Korean American trainee and how trainee life looks different for Rachel (main character) because she is not a native Korean.After reading this book, I have my suspicions on which characters are actually based on real life people/idols (she does give hints, especially on Mina, Kang Jina, and Jason) but of course it's just speculation. My guess is that each character is a based off of a combination of real and fictionalized experiences and that it's up to the reader to conclude what's true and what is just entertainment.Overall, a great read, especially for girl group fans and kpop fans interested in trainee life.

I devoured this book. As someone who loves YA books and Kpop...it was such an interesting and entertaining read.Rachel is not a perfect character. She's not the perfect good girl heroine. She has flaws. But her flaws and mistakes, it's what makes following her journey to stardom interesting. And it makes her relatable and lovable. Also...the swoon! There are some cute swoon-y romantic moments. And while reading this book, I kept thinking this story would make a great tv series or movie. The visual of the cute boys, cool clothes, pretty makeup and delicious food from the book would be amazing to watch on screen.And I really felt like I was taking a peek on the inside world of what becoming a Kpop Idol is like. And it's a lot darkness in that world. Hopefully our girl, Rachel will be able to keep her Shine going on, in the next book. I'm SO ready to read book 2. I need to know what happens next. :)My one negative of the book- There's a few Korean slang terms that I didn't know the meaning of. Adding a glossary or footnotes would be helpful. But for the most part, I could figure it out.

Seriously though, it’s a great page-turner! Very interesting insight into the sometimes seedy world of K-Pop. And, if it’s as “based on true stories” as it is believed to be, on the one hand, it makes me disappointed in the behavior of some members. On the other hand, they were kids and kids can be mean and hateful at times. But they DO grow up and people change.

The Debut Novel from former Girl's Generation member Jessica Jung captures the glowing artifice of the Kpop industry. From the seemingly dehumanizing training regimen to the cutthroat political nature of debuting as a Kpop Idol. It also doesn't help that prior to the book's release a small contingent of Girl's Generation fans thought of this book as some sort of "hatchet job" by Jung against her former groupmates and record label.While it would be easy to draw those conclusions especially if one goes looking for them or presupposes them into the text of the novel. It's, not something that feels like it was the intent of the author to be that seemingly petty. In fact, I think those that would assume this are simply just jumping to conclusions. Due in part to the fact that Jessica Jung in interviews had mentioned that the protagonist of the novel Rachel Kim is partially autobiographical.While the character of Rachel's younger sister is partially based on Jung's younger Sister actress and former Idol Chrystal Soo Jung. This just seems like a jump to conclusions on the parts of some at best and an act of bad faith at worst from others but I digress.The novel its self is an enjoyable Melodrama filled with Archetypal two-dimensional characters there are some frustratingly sharp and incisive looks at being a minority whether by Ethnicity, language, or culture. That shows the author has the insightfulness and wisdom to tell something deeper than the K-Drama in print the story sometimes turns into.It's not a slight novel but it's not startlingly mature either again given the age of most of the cast that is forgivable although the often use of curse words and "bawdy talk" at times that took me out of the story as I think profanity shows the sign of a weak and stunted vocabulary.That is more a personal problem I have with the novel than an actual criticism of the story itself which again as I've said works fine with the mechanics of the story and its flow and plot all feeling workmanlike and sturdy.Overall I'd recommend it if one wants a melodramatic story about the entertainment industry comparable to say The Deer Park by Norman Mailer The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald with a more glittering and feminine sensibility. Decent debut hopeful the rumored sequel will soften the rough edges and feel more vibrant.

O livro é lindo e veio em perfeito estado

I love U Jessica thank U for giving me chances to get to know U better

J'adore le fait que ce soit écrit par une kpop idol qui connaît l'industrie et ses vices, l'immersion est encore plus totale. Le livre est arrivé rapidement, sans défauts, c'est en anglais

It was interesting to read about the Kpop industry from someone who was part of it. The story is entertaining, the romance part wasn’t spectacular, but it actually helps giving it some realism. It definitely shows more of the dark side of the industry, but that is probably what makes this book unique. It is about following your dreams and at the same time acknowledging all you have to sacrifice. A realistic touch.

4/5