When I first saw XOXO by Axie Oh at the Harper Collins Canada Frenzy Presents: spring/summer preview, I immediately knew I had to read it; it looked so fun! I did NOT expect it to totally take over my life, make me laugh and cry, and have me messaging friends in all caps because I was so stressed about what was going to happen to the characters.

XOXO follows the story of Jenny, a Korean-American cellist who is so focused on her future that she often forgets to live in the moment. When she meets a strange boy in her Uncle’s karaoke bar, she spends the night hanging out with him in LA, only for him to mysteriously leave and never message her back.

Fast forward a couple months, and Jenny is moving to Seoul, South Korea with her mother while her grandmother undergoes surgery. Jenny enrolls in an elite music academy to continue pursuing her dream of being a cellist, and finds out that her mystery boy is also a student there.

But he’s not just any boy—his name is Jaewoo, and he’s a member of one of the world’s most popular K-pop bands! And, plot twist, he’s not allowed to date.

Now Jenny is dealing with a strained family life, moving and attending school in a new country, chasing her dreams, and falling in love with someone who is strictly off-limits (please excuse me while my heart continues to SCREAM!!!)

If you’re a fan of the forbidden love trop, meet cutes, K-pop, K-dramas, boarding schools, or unexpected friendships, pick up this book.

I read XOXO in less than 24 hours, and wish it had an extra 300 pages because I would have devoured it. I’m so glad I read this book, and that I was able to borrow it from my local library.