Book Review: Zero O’Clock by C.J. Farley

Zero O’Clock by C.J. Farley is the story of Geth, a perceptive and thoughtful teenager, living through the early months of the pandemic. It is through her point of view that I witness once more, the unfolding of a world in chaos. It is traumatic to return to 2020, but reading Zero O’Clock is, in a way, a healing experience. It feels as though Geth and I walk through the experience together. She is ARMY, besides.

So, a lot of BTS’s songs are mentioned and the group’s presence in the book is very much a part of the novel’s emotional grammar. They accompany Geth through fear, isolation, and uncertainty, offering steadiness rather than easy consolation.

Zero O’Clock is not a story about resetting. It is a narrative of courage and resilience, of moving forward while carrying loss and grief. Because, in the end, Geth runs bearing the shifts and changes of the times. And she is beautiful!

#bookreview #BTSreadinglist2026 #ARMYofBangtanBookClub #booksBeatsBTS

Book Review: The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

Reading The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga was a profound experience that not only introduced me to Adlerian psychology but also deepened my connection with BTS, especially Min Yoongi. Knowing that he read this book (ITS Season 2) made me feel closer to him as an ARMY.

The book’s concepts around self-esteem, identity, and empowerment are powerful reminders of the cognitive behavioral therapies I’ve used to manage anxiety. It’s a liberating read, especially that I finished reading the book amidst controversy and chaos in the fandom. Because Suga found value in this work, I have great faith that he and BTS will continue to endure and overcome any challenges they face.

ApoBangPo!