Wish Upon a K-Star

Stars: 4 K-drama formulaic romance and I'm here for it!

My Thoughts:

A misunderstanding and an inability to communicate as young teens means that Shin Hyeri hates Moon Minseok. Yes, he was her first crush, but her personality now as an up-and-coming K-drama actress is prickly and difficult. She carries grudges and is still a horrible communicator. Add to that the fact that scandal seems to be following her, even if it is not her fault (really). 

After the latest scandal  at a variety show gone wrong and an act of sabotage where Hyeri is sure someone is setting her up, Moonster and Hyeri are thrust into a popular variety show where they have to pretend to be married. This is the management's way to try and save Hyeri's career, but of course the fake marriage is going to lead to real feelings. It's a K-Drama. There is no alternate emo ending. But for those readers that love reading these stories, it is a comforting, devour-worthy escape, like a cashmere sweater: soft, warm, comfy. 

If your students loved this book, make sure to follow this with Cho's Once Upon a K-Prom. I actually prefer the main character in this first book, Elena Soo, over Shin Hyeri. Although K-Star happens in Korea, and K-Prom happens in America, the real thing is that the first book characters are still in high school. The strict no dating thing in the K-Pop/K-Drama world and how that can ruin a person’s career is a little conservative for American teen readers. 

Note to classroom teachers: The timing of this as-yet-released book is not ideal. It comes out at the end of April, far from spring break and too late for school librarians to put this on the shelf for summer reads, since this comes out right smack in the middle of “testing” season and no teacher is bringing their students to the school library at this time. However, this is the quiet time for librarians and time for them to start buying for the fall, so if you are able to get this in your classroom library, you will be the superstar among YA K-romance readers because you will have the precious new release that no one else has.

From the Publisher:

Moon Minseok—or Moonster as this WDB fans know him—wasn’t born to lead. Even as part of the world’s most popular K-Pop group, he found comfort in his role as the jokester, the sidekick, the unserious one (with the cutest smile). But now WDB is drowning in dating scandals, and it’s time for Moonster to take charge of the group's image.

Shin Hyeri has been dealing with some scandals of her own. An up-and-coming K-Drama actress, she’s been labeled a “nepo baby” (with a famous idol as a big brother) and now, a bully (which couldn’t be further from the truth). Desperate to show the world that she’s earned her spot, Hyeri is determined not to let her rising star crash and burn.

When these two childhood enemies get caught up in yet another scandal while co-hosting a K-Pop festival, there’s only one solution that will save both of their reputations: appear on one of Korea’s most popular variety shows, Our Celebrity Marriage (where celebrities pretend to get married and compete in ‘newlywed’ challenges).

The plan is simple—pretend to get along, win back the fans, then go their separate ways. But what happens when a fake marriage leads to real feelings? Will Moonster and Hyeri bow to the pressures of their famous realities, or will they decide their love is something worth fighting for?

Publication Information:

Author: Kat Cho

Publisher: Disney Hyperion (April 29, 2025)

Hardcover: 336 pages

Grade level: 6-12