Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS

Plus, 12 more vibe-y reads for K-Pop stans

For a decade now, BTS has been giving their ever-growing Army "Permission to Dance." In celebration of their tenth anniversary, the group is releasing a book telling their story. Written in collaboration with journalist Myeongseok Kang, Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS reveals the "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" behind the septet's meteoric rise. With personal, intimate anecdotes and never-before-seen photos of their journey, this "Dynamite" oral history will be packed with plenty of BTS "DNA." Adding fuel to the "Fire," the volume will include more than 330 QR codes allowing readers instant access to trailers, music videos, and more—smooth as "Butter." Preorder your copy today! And while you wait for it to arrive, check out our K-Pop reading list. "Mic drop."    

Nonfiction about BTS and K-Pop 

On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity
BTS's supersonic rise may seem enigmatic to some, but according to Atlantic Senior Culture Editor Lenika Cruz, the trajectory is a natural result of their authenticity, artistry, and general coolness. In this love letter to the pop sensation, Cruz narrates her own unexpected embrace of BTS fandom.

How to Speak K-Pop
Wouldn't it be amazing if you could understand what your favorite K-Pop idol says to you or the jokes from your favorite Korean drama on Netflix? This straightforward guide from Jungho Park will help you learn the basic vocabulary and cultural clues to deepen your enjoyment of Korean culture.

Burn the Stage: The Rise of BTS and Korean Boy Bands
Using quotes and anecdotes from BTS and industry insiders, entertainment journalist Marc Shapiro explores the history of K-Pop and the pivotal twists and turns behind the rise of BTS. Sharing behind-the-scenes insights, the book chronicles and analyzes the BTS journey from obscurity to superstardom.

The Birth of Korean Cool
As a child, Euny Hong moved from America to the Gangnam neighborhood in Seoul. She offers a fresh, funny, up-close look at how South Korea, a nation that once banned miniskirts, long hair on men, and rock 'n' roll, remade itself as the world's pop culture powerhouse of the twenty-first century.

BTS: Icons of K-Pop
All seven members of BTS—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—sing, dance, and rap, and write and produce their own music, too. This fully revised and updated edition of Adrian Besley's bestselling book tells their story. It also includes 16 pages of full color photographs of the band.

K-Pop-themed novels 

I'll Be the One
The world of K-Pop has never met a star like this. Skye Shin has heard it all. Fat girls shouldn't dance, wear bright colors or call attention to themselves. But Skye's about to break all the rules. Author Lyla Lee delivers a deliciously fun, thoughtful rom-com celebrating confidence and body positivity.

K-POP Confidential
This romantic coming-of-age novel by Stephan Lee is about chasing big dreams. Candace Park is a sensible Korean-American girl who finds herself risking everything in hopes of debuting in a girl group at the same K-pop company behind the most popular boy band on the planet.

Comeback: A K-Pop Novel
After a tragic loss, Alana escapes to her family in Korea, abandoning her love of music along the way. After she literally runs into M, the famous K-pop idol, the two must work together to prevent a scandal, sparking a journey of friendship, love, and healing. A heartfelt collaboration from Lyn Ashwood and Rachel Rose.

XOXO
Jenny is an award-winning classically trained cellist headed to an elite music school. Jaewoo is a member of one of the biggest K-Pop bands in the world. When they fall for each other, it puts both their futures at risk. This sweet romance by Axie Oh is about chasing your dreams without sacrificing your heart.

Stars and Smoke
Meet Winter Young—Global pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. Meet Sydney Cossette—a fiery, no-nonsense secret operative. When Sydney is assigned as Winter's bodyguard in a high-risk operation, romance and danger abound in this smoldering enemies-to-lovers thriller by Marie Lu.

Once Upon a K-Prom
From Kat Cho comes this friends-to-lovers romance. Elena Soo has no interest in prom, so when K-pop superstar Robbie Choi shows up at her house and asks her to it, she doesn't see it coming. Because with his new K-pop persona, Robbie is nothing like the sweet boy who was once her childhood best friend.

Shine
What would you give for a chance to live your dreams? For seventeen-year-old Korean American Rachel Kim, the answer is almost everything. As a recruit of one of Seoul's largest K-Pop labels, the cost of success is steep. Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl in this knock-out debut by Jessica Jung.

As always, we love hearing from you. Let us know if you have any recommendations to add to this list. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for daily book recommendations, literary tidbits, and more.

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon