Story: Disappointing! From the first epsiode to the last was too fast paced. There was some back story to the characters but it is not something that reeled me in. I felt like this could have been a better drama if the director would have included more of a twist but literally all this drama did was go in a straight line, no suspense or anything. There was some fuuny scenes that made me laugh.
Acting: The only good thing about this drama was the acting. I felt that Sung Hoon was putting in his all (not trying to be bias) but the girl protagonist was too awkward in her role. The acting to Sung Hoon's secretary and his love interest was funny to watch (in a good way) as well as the the girl protagonist younger sibling.
Overall I would not rewatch this drama, seeing it the first time was enough for me.
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A good typical drama!
I watched this like almost three years ago, and i thought it was pretty cute. The show itself was pretty short and i enjoyed watching it. It's probably gonna be cringe if i rewatch, but i like cringe so i think i would still give it the same 8/10. It's very cliche, but its a good classic watch. Maybe if you don't like cringey a$$ romance, then you probably won't like it, but i like this genre, so i enjoyed it. I even rewatched it when i was stuck with a fever and nothing to do. Overall, i recommend if you want to watch a cliche romance drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Shouldn't be underrated drama
During this quarantine time, I have just finished watching the drama, and surprisingly I feel empty after that, I laughed and cried a lot, and I need a re-watch again. I didn't find any boring parts in the whole drama. The story is simple, but fun and cute. If you are looking for a love comedy, one single theme drama, it is highly recommend to watch. Most of the Kdramas can be classified as romance, but usually come with others, such as political (especially in historical drama), or business, or the society problem etc. However, this one mainly focus on the main lead's love story.The main leads couples bring great chemistry, it is real. They are so natural and their kiss scenes makes you feel heart pumping. When I watch other Kdramas, even for extremely good storyline, if there are no chemistry between them, I didn't enjoy the drama at all.
Moreover and amazingly, the two main leads can sing well, and when listened to their songs OST, I will remember all the romantic parts on them. I have watched the whole drama for two times, and I will rewatch again for sure.
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This review may contain spoilers
Want RomCom
This is a conflict driven romance/drama. Both leads have issues with betrayal. So the series start with the plot pretty much laid out . What makes this so delectable are your main characters. Sung Hoon a true alpha male & Song Ji Eun the cute girl, who needs her big strong man. Sung Hoon can make any heart flutter, he is handsome, his voice is strong & he brings a sensitivity to this character. I love how they brought in the swimming since he came from a professional swimming background. Song Ji Eun played that girl, you know the adorable , the beautiful, but cute, but strong, but needs her man & has so much angst from her upbringing. All in all it is a series I could watch over and over. Whenever a person needs that feel good hit this is a must have. Not to mention the supporting cast was stellar, there wasn't any bad acting that I could see .Was this review helpful to you?
The first 10 episodes were worth it
This was a cute story and I'm not mad that I took the time to watch it. The chemistry between the two leads was (IMO) amazing. The male lead almost set my laptop on fire. The first 10 episodes are definitely worth watching if you like Kdrama rom-coms.Unfortunately it falls apart halfway through episode 11 and never recovers what was lost. I don't know what happened. Halfway through episode 11 the story ran out of steam or something and the writers seemed to stop caring at all. The last 4 episodes are really disappointing and made me think that if lead characters probably shouldn't be in a relationship. If not for the last 4 episodes this would've been an 8 out of 10, but now it's more like a 6.5/10.
The story has the usual plot holes and loose ends, but I can live with that. This is a basic Kdrama rom-com that doesn't reinvent the wheel or try to make any statements. It's pure fluffy enjoyment - it's really just a shame about the last episodes.
Will I re-watch it? Yes, the first 11.5 episodes were cute and if nothing else it's worth watching just to see Sung Hoon with a kid in his arms. Someone should do womenkind a favour make a gif of him playing with kids.
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Detailed:
I honestly struggled to finish this one, what kept me going was the music, the actors that I was enjoying watching, and a desire to see the relationship find its feet. But it was a struggle.
This was the version on Netflix, called My Secret Romance, 14 episodes around 45 minutes each - just to be clear.
Ok so...
Production issues - the audio is a mess. Some times you've got studio clean audio and clear actors voices. Moments later, possibly even in he same room, you've got raw echoey audio like they had to use it straight from the mics on-set. Another time you've got background music playing that's quite "busy" - but they've set the volume around the same as the actors so they're virtually drowned out. In another scene I noticed the waves were rolling backwards into the sea, clearly a bit of reversed footage, it looked really unnatural. Noneof this happens a a *lot* but it happens enough to keep it in your mind throughout.
Predictable story - I mean just about every cliche romance comedy trope is in here, and the timing of them is almost like this drama is a parody of romcom's. It's just *too* predictable :) One that comes up over, and over, and over (multiple times in one episode in at least one case!) is that deer-in-the-eyes look when she stumbles and he catches her, or she's knocked and ... he catches her, and... you get it. That doesn't make them all bad, but I just felt there were too many. Let' not forget the obligatory double love-triangle too of course!
Abusive Relationship - bit controversial perhaps, and maybe i'm just a bit oversensitive but... you know how when young lads like a girl one of their outlets is to pull their hair - which makes the girl miserable and hate the boy, that kinda thing. Well, now do that with a grown up guy who can't express himself in a sensible way, likes the girl a lot, so orders her around, is generally rude and abrupt to her, makes her feel bad a lot of the time, keeps her late at work, forces her to go out to places with him, fakes a seizure to get attention.... i mean in drama world that's one thing but let's not kid ourselves, in the real world that's a problem... and before you say "well, she could just leave" you have to remember he's her boss, and jobs are not the easiest thing to come by, and that's the rub. If this was brief, i'd have glossed over it, but it was 10 out of 14 episodes. This is not acceptable behaviour! Once he gets past it, it's all fine, but... isn't that how it is in real life too, until things go bad again? Let's just not make this acceptable. Maybe i'm just oversensitive, but I found this difficult.
Dragging on - the last 2 or 3 episodes, the last one or two in particular, really lay the flashbacks on thick.
So what did I *like*, why did I not make this my first drop?
I liked the music. I liked the actors, I thought they both worked well together and wanted to see their relationship to its pinnacle moment. I thought the relationship between the secondary leads Hyeon-Tae and Hye-Ri was nice and warm and was happy with how this progressed. I thought that the reconnection of Jin-Wook with his mother was by far the most tender and emotional moment of the story. The funny relationship between somewhat extreme characters of Assistant Kim and Je-Ni were amusing and well played.
There were good moments, the story DOES get somewhere, but it's built on a framework of flaws and issues. That said, it's also quite short - so if you're looking for that romcom fix and you've haven't seen it yet, well, if I haven't put you off so far then why not give it a shot and then please do come back and tell me if my review is unfair or wrong!
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This review may contain spoilers
First of all, this drama hits differently than others. I finished this 2 days ago, and still, this is so powerful. The story is very nice, but I also had problems with the last 3 episodes. I mean, I can't understand why the story was so dramatic and everything changed. Anyways, the female leader wasn't my favorite one. I had so many problems understanding her reasons for doing something. But still. the show was saved by our favorite man. I recommend this for those who need a nice story, but the kinda weird and crazy ending(still sad about it). The drama was refreshing, I enjoyed but I wanted more than that. Was this review helpful to you?
A lighthearted comedy with a shy soul.
My Secret Romance is one of those dramas that doesn’t try to revolutionize its genre, but instead wraps the viewer in a sweet, gentle, almost therapeutic atmosphere. Its essence is simple: a fleeting encounter, a love seemingly destined to fade, and an unexpected reunion years later. Yet the series works because it understands that even the simplest stories can resonate when told with honesty, warmth, and a touch of vulnerability.🌸 A story that plays with fate—softly, without dramatics
The premise is straightforward: Cha Jin-wook, a rebellious heir accustomed to the luxuries of his world, crosses paths with Lee Yoo-mi, a reserved and disciplined young woman who lives by her own rules. What begins as an impulsive spark—almost an emotional mishap—becomes the quiet bruise both carry without fully realizing it.
This isn’t a tortured romance; it’s a gentle reminder of how a single moment can linger, silent but steadfast.
The narrative avoids unnecessary heartbreak, choosing instead a light, almost innocent romantic comedy sustained by the chemistry between its leads. It’s a story that doesn’t demand anything from you—only that you let it accompany you.
✨ Jin-wook: from impulsiveness to tenderness
One of the highlights is Jin-wook’s personal arc. He begins as a young man driven by impulse, caught up in the frivolity of his privileged life, but Yoo-mi becomes an unexpected mirror that reflects his emotional gaps.
His growth is simple yet sincere: he learns patience, softness, and care. He becomes protective without being possessive, attentive without suffocating.
It’s emotional development in small, believable steps.
✨ Yoo-mi: a shell of shyness guarding an honest heart
Yoo-mi is defined by her reserve; she’s a woman who learned to shield herself from others’ judgment—and from her own fears. Her struggle is internal: allowing someone to care for her without feeling ashamed of her past choices.
Her charm lies in how unforced her growth feels. It’s gradual, respectful, intimate.
At its core, her journey is about letting herself be loved.
🌙 A relationship built on the quiet things
Their dynamic is the true heart of the series:
— glances that recognize each other,
— silences that make sense,
— awkwardness that becomes affection.
In My Secret Romance, love doesn’t grow from tragedy but from small decisions: staying a little longer, listening a little deeper, admitting what hurts.
It’s a story made of gestures—and that is where its beauty lies.
💫 Comedy as a refuge
The drama knows it wasn’t meant to be profound, so it embraces lightness with humor. The supporting characters bring freshness—some even delightfully over-the-top—yet they serve their purpose: reminding us that not every story needs weight to be enjoyable.
⭐ An ending that feels like well-being
The ending doesn’t surprise, but it soothes. It is coherent, gentle, and healing. The series achieves exactly what it intends: a short emotional journey, soft and free of excess, leaving the viewer with a cozy, almost homelike warmth.
🌸 A final note of gratitude
A quiet thank-you remains for the actors, who brought simple characters to life without turning them into shallow clichés; for the writers, who chose tenderness over unnecessary conflict; and for the technical team, who built a visually gentle world.
In its humility, My Secret Romance becomes a celebration of the everyday, of improbable encounters, and of the quiet possibility of healing without noise.
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Great, but has a couple slow episodes.
Overall I think this is almost the perfect RomCom. Unfortunately from maybe the end of Ep.11 until the ending things started to drag. All of the other issues that the characters encountered were resolved relatively quickly and the flow was "just right" through the majority of the show.The characters are wonderful. They all have personality and depth. Hyeon-Tae is such a wonderful friend. We all need a friend like that.
If you're in the mood for something sweet, fluffy and cute that will make you hate the "conniving" ones but adore the love story -- then this is probably for you.
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This review may contain spoilers
This rom com was totally carried by the amazing actors! I noticed a lot of bad reviews and just had to write my own to really explain why this cute show is worth watching. Yes the music at times overpowers the actors voices, yes the sound effects are ridiculous, yes the story is a bit weak... not feeling Lee Yoo Mi actually wants or even likes to cook. Yeah... we didn’t need yet another mother abandons her son storyline... “as if” anyone would leave behind Sung Hoon? So all that aside thank goodness for the actors amazing chemistry.. it’s the entire reason I binge watched this in a weekend! Let’s forget the fact that I totally now obsessed with Sung Hoon because of this drama! (I might stalk him on instagram;) He is literally perfect looking like a greek god... Aside fromhis amazing looks, this guy is so funny! He totally is perfect as the super conceited rich Company Director. He and his secretary (Park Shin Woon) stole every scene they are in. I loved the side relationship with Park Shin Woon and his kitchen love Im do yoon ... They... were.... perfect. And boy this story needed the distraction they provided. Song Ji Eun and Sung Hoon was great in this and she matched his comedic sense well. I liked the storyline with her mother.. it was unusual and gave her character a little more depth. Thank goodness for the cast though because the story was pretty weak. The chemistry between the leads was off the charts - hello steamy car scene - whoa! that is what kept me coming back each episode. The story got a bit off track but I was super happy with the ending. Now just put these two back together in a drama without the insane musical track, weird sound effects and it will be a smash! I look forward to seeing them work together again.
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better than the reviews
first of I want to express my deepest and heartfelt thank you to whoever had the idea of casting this man to be the ML and have lots of close ups and single shots of him! you are my hero and may you always have tp when you need it and your children be blessed with common sense, healthy teeth and good hair!!!i agree with most reviews that the mother was annoying and selfish. but in the end she redeemed herself…kind off. the ml was……well he was hot. also a good actor and all but seriously hot! i do have to say that the pool scene was too short in my opinion!
the fl lead…. cute and talented.
after reading all the reviews I was a bit biased against her. i agree she was a bit slow bug she had good reason. being bullied all of her life because of her mothers choices. her hesitation to open up was understandable. she really dragged the poor ml through the drenches. as understandable as it was, her leaving him again for the second time while he was sleeping was just plain unforgivable. he had already told her about his trauma and hownhis mom disappeared while he slept and there she goes. obviously hasn’t listened to a word he said or just didn’t care. i also agree with the reviews that the last episodes were a drag and the flashbacks are most unneccessary. boring and annoying even. I loved the ending. it is a happy ending for everyone around. if i rewatch it than mainly for the chemistry between the cast. the beginning was really funny and then it turned into sadness. but all was good in the end.
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One night stand to forever and ever
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the drama. The main cast is absolutely gorgeous. The male lead Jin-wook (Sung Hoon)'s voice is just so sexy. The female lead Yoo-mi (Song Ji-eun) is just adorable with her innocent quirks. It is a typical spoilt chaebol falling for an average girl story. However, the romantic and sweet scenes between the leads makes up for the lack of strength in the storyline. It's just an overall feel good drama which makes your heart skip a beat and go <3aww<3 . Comic relief is sparse and the other male and female lead had pretty much little role to play. They are not evil enough to create enough trouble for the lead couple nor are they sweet enough to make the leads second guess their feelings. I felt that their background stories had enough potential to develop their roles. I mean how can a second lead remain in love for pretty much a decade and not confess to the main lead or affect the main lead's feelings even once? Especially if you are comfortable enough to have close tussles with skin-ship and all... I like that this is not the case with shows like Goong or Fated to love you ....Was this review helpful to you?
