Praise for K-Pop Revolution:

"K-Pop Revolution takes everything that makes K-Pop Confidential so special and dials it up to eleven. It’s impossible not to read this without feeling like you’re right in Candace’s world and rooting for everyone in it. Glittering, electric, and groundbreaking." — Emma Lord, author of Tweet Cute

"Candace Park's journey to stardom continues with this swoony, thrilling adventure! A rollicking good time with a big heart and even bigger surprises." — Jessica Goodman, bestselling author of They'll Never Catch Us and They Wish They Were Us

“K-Pop Revolution is an empowering, engrossing and addictive read. Candace’s comeback story made me want to give this book a standing ovation when I finished. I will read anything Stephan Lee writes!” — Suzanne Park, author of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous and So We Meet Again

"Stephan Lee should be everybody's ultimate YA bias with his ability to not only match the addictive quality of his first book, but take it to a whole new exhilarating level! In K-Pop Revolution, we feel the pressure Candace is under as the world waits for her to take the stage, we buzz with adrenaline as she creates the best new music and kills it in performances, and we want to take on the industry with her as she encounters obstacles and villains we never saw coming. This is literally—and I'm using that word correctly—the most satisfying sequel I have ever read!" - Jason June, author of Jay's Gay Agenda and Out of the Blue

"K-Pop Revolution delivers on the promise made in K-Pop Confidential for glamour, drama, music, and scandal. Stakes get dialed up a notch as Candace makes her girl group debut, juggling music shows and reality TV with high school life and a public relationship with a new boyfriend. I was hooked from the beginning all the way to the show-stopping, fist-pumping finale. A truly remarkable comeback!" — Axie Oh, author of XOXO and the Rebel Seoul series

Praise for K-Pop Confidential:

“Lee’s Cinderella story, set to a pulsing soundtrack of Blackpink and Red Velvet, is the delectable K-pop confessional we’ve all been waiting for… frothy bubble tea of a book.” — The New York Times Book Review

"[Lee] gets at the heart of why trainee programs operate the way they do and wraps it all in a coming-of-age story that’s as much about finding your voice as it is about finding your heritage." — Fast Company

"Riveting tale of friendship, love, and passion." — Teen Vogue

"I'm still giddy over this electrifying, big-hearted, all-kill smash of a debut. I couldn't put it down." — Becky Albertalli, bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

"A hit on like, every level. There is all of the glamour and intrigue of our very relatable, big-hearted, gutsy heroine entering the world of K-pop and finding her voice, but it’s also so brilliantly grounded in family, friendship, and just the perfect amount of romance." — Emma Lord, author of Tweet Cute

“Debut author Lee captures the fun of K-pop music while exploring a factory whereyoung women are scrutinized…but it’s Candace’s sense of self-worth that will get readers to cheer.” — Publishers Weekly

“A thoughtful portrayal of determined multinational teens balancing authenticity with pursuing their dreams” — Kirkus Reviews

"Addictive, glamorous ... 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!" — The Nerd Daily

2022-03-29
After her shocking exposé of injustices in the K-pop industry, will Candace Park get a chance to change things from the inside?

Korean American Candace went from K-pop trainee to #KPopWarrior overnight after speaking out about serious, deep-rooted issues in the industry. In this follow-up to K-Pop Confidential (2020), she debuts as a K-pop idol in S.A.Y. Entertainment’s first ever all-girl group, THE GIRLS. Candace’s dream is now her reality, albeit with a rocky start. The company seems to be making sweeping changes, from hiring their first female CEO to removing dieting restrictions. Next, Candace enrolls in Brandt Foreign School for her junior year of high school, where she makes friends with YoonJoo, who is Black Korean, and Summer, who is Korean American. Trying to balance school, being an idol, and her relationship with boyfriend YoungBae takes a major toll on Candace. The seemingly perfect overhaul of S.A.Y. starts to show cracks as the new CEO repeats some unhealthy past practices that place pressure on music stars. Lee keeps readers on their toes throughout the book by creatively weaving in themes of teenage stresses, mental health, balancing multiple cultures, and staying true to oneself while presenting a curated image to the outside world. Some secondary characters are queer. Readers will benefit from having read the previous volume in order to better understand certain character arcs.

An engrossing sequel that highlights the nuances of being a performer and living across cultures. (Fiction. 14-18)