Seoul Mates

by Jerry Cole

Kevin Jung is Korean, but he’s not that Korean. He’s third generation Korean-American. Meaning, he grew up in an English speaking household in the whitest suburb of New Jersey playing basketball and eating almost exclusively Jewish and Italian food. He doesn’t know anything about the strange and foreign land his grandmother comes from. However, he’s in for a rude awakening. Kevin is given the opportunity of a lifetime. He signs on with one of South Korea’s biggest entertainment companies as a K-pop trainee. He packs up his bags, says goodbye to his family and gets on a plane headed for Seoul. There, he learns very quickly that this musical venture is not going to be as easy as he thought it would be. Sad and isolated in a country he knows nothing about, Kevin feels like giving up. Then a handsome trainee named Li Minseok waltzes into the picture. Minseok just so happens to speak near-perfect English. Out of Kevin’s desperation for companionship, blooms a sweet and genuine friendship that slowly morphs into more. However, when the band debuts and skyrockets to superstardom, Kevin and Minseok are forced to hide their relationship, while also navigating the impossibly demanding world of K-pop stardom. Will their forbidden romance hold up against immense societal pressure? Please Note: This book contains adult language and steamy adult activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novel, approximately 72,000 words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger. Themes include: K-pop, Korean, Seoul, music, band, boyband, friends to lovers, fish out of water, age difference, Asian

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Contemporary

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2019

About the author

Jerry Cole is a gay author who lives in California & enjoys writing love stories. Jerry has been writing fiction since he was a child. As a young adult, he worked as a freelance writer in the evenings & on weekends. Jerry started writing gay romance stories several years ago, but initially just for his own entertainment & occasionally sharing stories with his friends. In the summer of 2015 he published his first gay romance short story on Amazon. Overwhelmed by the positive response he decided to quit his “day job” & took up writing gay romance full time. When he’s not writing steamy M/M romance he enjoys globetrotting, watching movies with family and friends, working out, & being dragged down the road by his two Great Danes.

Reviews

[Denise H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

* This is a lesson in K-Pop, Koerean pop music, like the current hot group, "BTS" !
It's like a diary of our Kevin's discovery and relocation from New Jersey to Korea for training and becoming a singer/dancer in a popular guy-group that became famous.

We learn so much about him, his thoughts and what he goes through.
* During this upheaval in his life, we watch the grueling progression these guys go through to become incredible. The company that owns them is greedy, of course, but do try to keep everyone in line, and obeying the rules. Their careers are moving along, and Kevin, 18, is falling for member, Minseok, 23,

and has been trying to be a success at the studio for awhile. There are few chances for any interaction together, but eventually they manage some sexy times.
* Kevin goes with Mineok to his Korean family Christmas, and we learn more about that Korean life and traditions.



Later, there is a dastardly deed by a creep, and Mineok and Kevin are "outed." It's against the rules to have a relationship, but also against society to be openly gay.

You'll learn what happens, and how Kevin turns things around, spectacularly.
ENJOY !
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Check it out...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBdVX...

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[❤Sharonica-Logic❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seoul Much Fun!!! 🎶🌈🎶

It's "5 o'clock" somewhere! 🎶🕔🎶

This story was phenomenal! I NEVER EVER expect anything less from a JC romance.

This one takes us from Jersey all the way around the world to Seoul, Korea. Nineteen year old Kevin Jung is given the opportunity of a lifetime when he is offered a chance to work with a team of guys in a k-pop "boyband." BTW- I had NO clue what the heck K-pop was til this book! (but I am old 😂)

Kevin is Korean-American, so has the look the entertainment guys wanted. However, he suffers major culture shock once he gets to Seoul. The cultural differences are so vast between Kevin and his teammates that it takes Kevin jumping hurdles, lots of blood-sweat-&-tears, along with the patience of his roommate Minseok, to help Kevin acclimate and finally get accepted by his team and to this new life.

Minseok and Kevin grow closer as time passes and the two young men have to hide their feelings from the outside, because their contract forbids intimate relationships of any kind. They also must hide their growing love for each other because of the culture being so traditionally and religiously conservative and against thoughts, views, or anything under the rainbow's umbrella.
🌈LGBTQ+🌈

As with all things in our age of technology, nothing is EVER truly hidden for long... especially if you are a celebrity. That being said, good things can happen if you remain steadfast and true, so our guys do get an HEA. It is quite sweet.

Beyond the love story I loved that Jerry took me to Korea and introduced me to so many wonderful things while reading this book.

I watched k-pop videos to get a feel of what Kevin and his band, 5 o'clock, we're like. I also looked up pictures of some of the outfits that would have been worn by Kevin for the holidays while visiting Minseok's family.

The cities that were described in the book came to life and I wanted to learn more, so I googled images. I fell in love with the country's landscape and architecture. I imagined what it must have felt like for Kevin to experience this place so far from home. I felt his homesickness, his frustration with not understanding the culture, his jubilation at finally feeling accepted, and finally his sense of "coming home" at the end when all the pieces slotted together and fit without being forced.

Pure Magic!🎶🌈🎶
Pure Jerry Cole Romance at its best!💕🌈💕



I read a complimentary (FREE) Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review. 💋

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is among my "very favorite" books. It was so good, with an incredibly creative and beautiful setting, and it also rang almost unbelievably true with matters close to my own experiences as a grandchild of immigrants. Kevin's character made me smile so many times. While he was not above being angry, sad, fearful, and uncertain, he was also earnest, open-minded, eager to learn and approached things with a touch of humor and acceptance that I found very charming and endearing. The interludes woven into the plot that allowed Kevin (and the reader) to learn about the Korean culture were beautifully written, and showed a respectful objectivity that could be applied to anyone learning about any culture. Just because something should be a certain way doesn't mean it actually is that way, and not all went according to plan or as it should for Kevin and Li Minseok. But I loved how Li Minseok stuck with Kevin, despite how difficult it was for him (culturally speaking), and how they both stayed true to their music and musicianship, which was what they bonded over to begin with. I have read this book twice now, and on the second time through, I again saw just how much Kevin and Li Minseok treasured what they found in each other, even in hard times. I can't say enough about this book.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I am offering you an opportunity that millions of people would die for…’

Jerry Cole is a successful California author who has been writing since his youth, both as a freelance writer and now as a highly respected and popular gay romance author. He has published in excess of 65 books to date – each being popular with a very large audience.

One of the many reasons Cole’s books are so well received is his courage in taking on problematic relationships and sharing enough insight into his character development to allow the story to be both sensitive and erotically charged. In the cleverly titled SEOUL MATES Jerry takes on cultural differences, prejudice against gender preferences, that universal need for exploring roots, and in the process unravels a very fine erotic romance. In a very timely topic he makes his central character a third generation Korean American living in New Jersey who discovers a way to escape his dull life by accepting an invitation to join a K-pop band in Seoul, Korea. The adjustment is tricky, made more solid by his friendship with an English speaking Korean lad - Li Minseok – a relationship that blossoms into a florid romance but must be kept secret if the two are to remain associated with the rise-to-fame band that frowns on being gay. It works and the two lads benefit form their link and their erotic but secret relationship

The manner in which the story unravels marries art and passion and identity and makes for an illuminating premise – and of course the erotica is very present. This is a fine new novel by a man who grows with each story he explores. Recommended.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a good story.. good characters and enjoyable to read. i enjoyed the pop star aspects.. it was fun to read about korea.. and i enjoyed the writing.

[Karin Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

K-Pop love story

I’ve never been into K-Pop, but I am a huge Manga fan and this theme, the male idol who has to hide his love for another man is one of my favorites (although of course, those are J-Pop idols).

This story was hugely entertaining and involving. Just the premise of a young man moving to a new country and being thrown into a whole new industry is interesting. I am a romance reader, but I was thoroughly engaged long before the romance began. Kevin is a sympathetic and charming character. I felt he was believable as a eighteen year old who had never been anywhere more foreign than Canada. Getting a glimpse into the K-Pop world was fun, as well. His relationship with Minseok was slow and genuine-feeling. I loved the tender way they came together. The secondary characters were well drawn and unique in their own way. Even with names I wasn’t familiar with, I quickly came to know their personalities.

Seoul Mates was both a fluffy and an emotional read. I have a feeling I will want to read it again sometime and I definitely recommend it to readers (especially Yaoi fans) looking for a great read.

[Karic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seoul Mates tells the story of Kevin, a Korean American, who gets swept up into the glamorous and savage world of K-pop. Found randomly in a mall by a recruiter, he and four other young men are formed into a group to become the next Korean idols. Kevin did not expect to last very long during his training and he also never expected to find companionship and romance with one of his group members. He and Minseok must navigate their blossoming romance on top of keeping their feelings and relationship a secret in a world where homosexuality is best left sealed in a closet and tossed to the bottom of the ocean. The entertainment business has not been very friendly to LGBTQ people and the country they currently reside in, LGBTQ rights are nearly nonexistent. It was both wonderful and terrifying to see their love grow and continue a relationship that is strictly forbidden in more ways than one. I was literally on the edge of my seat for quite a few chapters and couldn’t stop reading towards the end because I had to see how this would all play out. I haven’t read a gay romance novel that included men of Asian descent. Jerry did a wonderful job conveying the beautiful culture of Korea and Kevin’s culture shock coming from a suburb in New Jersey to South Korea. This story does indeed delve into current issues for a lot of people who live in countries where homosexuality is not okay and we get to see it through the eyes of Kevin and Minseok. I highly recommended this one, I enjoyed it so much! I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENG Review:

It's a cute romance and the conversations and themes it talks about are extremely important. I love K-Pop, I've been listening to it for 5 years and I know that idols' lives aren't easy but, after reading this book, I gained a new perspective on the difficulties that they have to go through, both personally and professionally. I also think that this representation of queerness in Korea is amazing, and that it shows that, even with all of the controversy and hate that they went through, they still found a way to work things out and be happy in the end, giving a message of hope.

I do believe that it could have been even better, more in-depth, but, overall, it's really important for a book that talks about these themes to exist - the difficulties that idols go through and how the LGBTQIA+ community is perceived in Korea.

Opinião PT:

É um romance fofo e os temas abordados são extremamente importantes. Adoro K-Pop, já sou fã há 5 anos e sei que as vidas dos ídolos não são fáceis mas, depois de ler este livro, fiquei com uma prespetiva diferente sobre as dificuldades que eles passam, tanto pessoalmente como profissionalmente. Também acho muito boa a representação da vida queer na Coreia e como é demonstrado que, mesmo no meio de toda a controvérsia e hate, conseguiram seguir em frente e ficar felizes no final, transmitindo uma mensagem de esperança.

Penso que poderia ter sido ainda melhor, com uma exploração mais profunda mas, de modo geral, é muito importante existir um livro assim, que aborda estes temas - as dificuldades que os ídolos passam e como a comunidade LGBTQIA+ é vista na Coreia.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a Korean-American, Kevin who gets the amazing gift of going to the land of his ancestor's in order to join a company to train for the K-pop culture of music. Being thrilled morphs into loneliness and isolation as he can't handle the language and what is expected of him and he doesn't get along with the group of musicians he is put Li Minseok steps into the picture and is able to pull Kevin out of his isolation. Exploring the country and it's culture with Minseok brings the two men into a sweet gay relationship. However the Koreans aren't ready yet to give up their feelings about gays and so they keep their secret from everyone. Then they are stalked, exposed and betrayed. Going from a high to a low, they still love each other and manage to keep their relationship going. Some things have to go full circle to reach their HEA and this is one of those stories. I highly recommend it as it draws you in as you turn pages to reach Kevin and Minseok's happy ending. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC book.

[Cheryl_cajun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. What do you do when your invited to join a group of k-pop music group? For Kevin, he was offered that chance. Flying around the world to a country he doesn't know the language, Kevin feels all alone. Feeling as if his group members hate him. Until one day a new member joins only he's not new as Kevin thought. Minseok helped Kevin fit in more as they grew closer. Feels develop until pushing Kevin away for fear of what the out come of their relationship would cause. Kevin was tired of the way Minseok was treating him, but what could he really do? Everything was on track until it wasn't,  being caught by a webcam things go sour. Can they overcome this or will it break more then just fame? Can Kevin and Minseok get through this whole before it breaks more? This was great book of love and support from even the unlikely areas.

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Kevin, a Korean-American, brought up in New Jersey and his home language is English. He attracts the attention of a Korean talent scout and relocates to Korea. Once there he found himself in a total different culture and he struggles to fit in. He felt very frustrated with his teachers, as he could not understand the instructions given to him. On top of all this roommates hated him, or so he thought. His situation only improved when Li Minseok rejoined the group. As time went by their relationship turned romantic. This creates a lot of new problems for them as well as for the group.

This book is so full of frustration, loneliness, heartache, hatred and love, which are described beautifully. It is a book well worth reading. Jerry has outdone himself with this one, yet again.

I read a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Jung gets the chance to go to Korea to train to be a K-pop star and gets more than he thought possible when he meets Li Minseok. A wonderful love story between Kevin and Li Minseok unfolds beautifully over the pages.

This book takes Kevin from New Jersey to Seoul, Korea, where he has to learn the culture and language. It is a wonderful book where you get to explore Korea along with Kevin. Learning about the training that goes on behind boy bands in Korea takes you to another world.

I highly recommend this book, great story from Jerry Cole.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.

[Queen Plamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being familiar with K-Pop idols and their life style (as a fan, of course), I would say this easily hit home and made me feel really sorry that people are actually controlled like that, trying to fit in the entertaining system, being exhausted and sometimes (if not always) wearing face masks just to satisfy fans needs. We may see cheerful and bright young people on stage, shows and live streamings, but we don't get to see what exactly is going on behind closed dorm doors. 🤷

Anyway, nice and short read, full of emotions a reader can experience - as expected from Cole. But I gotta say, this cover is such a turn off and it doesn't remind me even a slightly bit of a kpop idol,lol.

[Maria771 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Kevin and Li Minseok. I have a very intense relationship with Mr Cole's books, they always evoke so many emotions in me. And this one - oh boy! It brings back so many emotions and memories from the time I lived in South East Asia. I learned to love K-Ppo and the culture. This story brings that to life. You feel everything that they are going through. The story is emotional and Real. I loved how they grew personally and together. Lol the descriptions, the way it was written. Again I LOVE this book.

I received this book as an Arc.

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many feels in this read; pain, anguish, love, hatred. A coming of age story set in Korea and the K-Pop franchise. Kevin is gay but finds out he cannot be open in Korea, especially in the world of K-Pop. This does not stop him from falling in love with Minseok, a fellow band member. Their relationship is not easy from the start and gets more difficult from there. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Bob Palmatier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry Cole Blazes a New Trail

After reading many m/m stories plots are often repeated and settings familiar. Hesitant Hearts is set in an international music industry and explores South Koran culture. The story and setting are not the usual or easy environment for a gay relationship. The novel offers a well written and compelling change of pace.

[Skye26 (beereadsff) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could have been so so much better. I do feel like the author knows about kpop and korea. I see the inspirations of some group's name. And I would have loved to see much about the bts (pun intended) of kpop entertainement and to see more about Kevin making his way in the industry and in the country. The romance with Minseok was rushed. I don't really connect with their story. It started with little curiosity and then they are kissing, arguing and having sex. I feel like the author didn't know where to put their relationship. Cute or Sexy ? The ending was so rushed. The drama came in the last 20 pages and everything was told and not shown. It was not a bad book but it was not well done at some parts so I deduced a star.
The cover didn't represent the story at all.

[Alejandro Pinto]

Even though I've never been a fan of K-Pop, the whole context of a life controled by an entertainment company was actually pretty interesting to read.

Kevin is a korean-american guy who finds the chance of a lifetime when he finds himself being recruited by a discographic company. Jumping at the opportunity, we next see him arriving to Seoul,Korea to become a K-pop Idol.

I was amused to see his struggle to learn the language,to fit into such a conservative culture. I absolutely loved the respectful portrait of the celebrations, as well as the precise comments about the entertainment industry in South Korea, here we can read about the hardships of the people that surrender themselves in order to become the next idol.

As for romance: I loved the slow development of the relationship between Li Minseok and Kevin. I felt for them when they had to keep things undercover and absolutely loved the resolution of the troubles they were going through.

I'm happy to say that this novel met my expectations and even surpased them, since it's a topic I'm not so familiar with.

I've received a free Advance Reader Copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.