Review by Samantha
March 9, 2021


I’ll Be The One by Lyla Lee
I’ll Be The One by Lyla Lee is full of love, empowerment, and complexity. This novel features Skye, who is a confident and bold teenage girl, even though she doesn’t fit the mold of the thin K-pop star she sees on television shows and social media. Although she is plus-sized and isn’t quite the status quo of K-pop stardom, Skye loves K-pop and has been singing and dancing for years. Defying her mom’s wishes for her to just lose weight and stay out of the public light, Skye decides to audition for a K-pop competition show that is being cast in California where she lives. If she makes the show, Skye will be seen on television in America and Korea. However, that’s not even the most stressful part of auditioning for the show. On the day of her audition, Skye sees famous celebrity model Henry Cho is there to audition too. Dealing with Skye’s fears and insecurities is a big part of this book, but the story isn’t limited to just that. This book also explores Skye’s experience trying to be the first plus-size K-pop star, while also dealing with teenage relationships, friendships, drama, and more.
Tags: teen
book review
family
YA fiction
body image
K-pop
I'll Be the One
Lyla Lee
social media
music
singing
dancing
plus size
California
Korea
Read more: Samantha’s Review of “I’ll Be The One” by Lyla Lee