BTS member Jimin has inspired a new romance novel by bestselling Spanish author María Martínez, showing how his influence continues to reach beyond music and into the world of literature.
According to a November 9 report, Martínez named Jimin and his solo albums FACE and MUSE as important inspirations in the dedication of her upcoming novel, Mensajes en tazas de café (*Messages in Coffee Cups*), scheduled for release on November 18.
The author expressed her appreciation for Jimin's music and the personal inspiration she found in his work.
In the book's dedication, Martínez wrote, "To you, who have overcome the fear of being your true self. To Jimin, FACE, and MUSE, who inspired me. Thank you for becoming a mirror that reflects my inner voice in unexpected ways. Joel carries your soul."
Her message suggests that Jimin's music and artistic expression helped shape her creative process, including the development of Joel, a character in the novel.
Martínez also openly shared her admiration for Jimin while promoting the upcoming book.
In a promotional post, she used his song Slow Dance as background music and wrote, "My idea of the perfect combination is coffee, sparkly things, and Jimin. I'm a huge fan of Jimin."
The author's comments have drawn attention to the connection between Jimin's solo music and her latest literary work.
Jimin released his first solo album, FACE, in 2023, followed by MUSE in 2024. Both projects explore personal emotions and experiences, themes that can also connect with romantic storytelling.
This is not the first time Jimin's music has been linked to international literature.
French author Morgane Moncomble previously included Jimin's song Like Crazy in a playlist of music that inspired her novel Un hiver pour te résister.
Other writers, including Patrick Rothfuss, John Green, Kageki Shimoda, Marie Lu, and Paulo Coelho, have also reportedly expressed interest in Jimin.
However, Martínez's decision to directly acknowledge Jimin in her novel's dedication offers a particularly personal example of how his music has influenced a writer's creative work.
With Mensajes en tazas de café approaching its November 18 release, Jimin's role as an inspiration for the Spanish author's latest romance novel highlights the growing connection between K-pop and international literature.
The recognition also shows how Jimin's solo projects continue to reach audiences beyond traditional music platforms, inspiring creative expression across different artistic fields.
