ARC Review: The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea
by Axie Oh
Publication Date: February 22nd 2022
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends 
Find This Book: The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea
Rating: 5/5

**An ARC of this book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a stunning new fantasy standalone from Axie Oh.With Mina's world devastated by storms from the spirit realm, she can't bear to see the love of her brother's life sacrificed to the Sea God and jumps into the sea herself.

Finding herself surprisingly not dead, Mina wakes up to an unwelcoming Spirit World that she initially struggles to navigate. This is where I really see the comparison to Spirited Away, but Axie Oh really takes the 'mortal in the spirit world' concept and makes it her own! This new world and the spirits, gods, and demons that live there are both obstacles and friends to help her find her voice, her path, and her resolution. While the magical and dangerous surrounds her on all sides, her supposedly powerful Sea God appears to be a peaceful sleeping boy. Can she wake him out of his curse to stop the storms threatening her family?

What makes this novel so special is Mina as a character. She's so compassionate and empathetic, and cares so much for her family and her mortal world. The way she handles not only her friends but also her enemies really speaks to her nature and made me love her and her story all the more.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea will be a gem of an addition of every bookshelf in 2022. Join Mina as she navigates her red string of fate, powerful spirits, a lost god, and her heart.

ARC Review: XOXO by Axie Oh

XOXO
by Axie Oh
Publication Date: July 13^th 2021
Publisher: HarperTeen
Find This Book: XOXO
Rating: 5/5

I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Jenny, a cello prodigy, finds herself suddenly (though temporarily) moving to Korea when the grandmother that she's never met before is diagnosed with cancer. Jenny and her mother move from LA to Seoul for 6 months while her grandmother undergoes treatment, and Jenny gets into the prestigious Seoul Arts Academy for the semester.

Her one goal? To use SAA's end of term showcase to get into her dream conservatory school: the Manhattan School of Music. The only problem? The hot boy she had a meet-cute with in LA turns out to be a student at her new school and he can be... distracting!

In XOXO, Axie Oh perfectly portrays the hurdles and stresses of being an art student, as well as the tensions and love in parent/child dynamics, AND the unique position one finds themselves in when returning to their motherland. The plot hinges on Jenny not knowing much about K-pop, when she accidentally meets a member of one of the most famous K-pop bands in the world and sparks fly. Only after she moves to Korea where K-pop and Korean Idol Culture is everywhere, does she see a poster for the band XOXO and realize that Jaewoo isn't just another student, he's a popular idol. When having a relationship means throwing both of their lives off the paths they've carefully mapped out, how much are they willing to risk for love?

Axie Oh breaks down Idol Culture in order to create this dramatic yet sweet love story that tests what Jenny and Jaewoo really want and need. Additionally, it's set almost entirely in Korea, so get ready for the wanderlust! This was the perfect mini-vacation to enjoy from the comfort of my couch. Last but certainly not least, if you consider yourself a foodie and love yummy food descriptions, this is the book for you. Axie Oh describes so much delicious food, I was practically drooling.

XOXO is definitely a must-read for contemporary romance readers.