Romance Is a Bonus Book

Read this if you are thinking of watching this drama….

Before watching drama, I read some negative reviews about this drama so when i started to watch this drama, i didn’t have any expections going into this drama. I was so close to not watch this drama since i read some negative towards this drama but i’m so so glad that i did watch this drama. It was so good. I fell in love with lee jong suk character. As a book lover, i totally enjoyed this. I just wanted to say if you don’t like strong love triangle trope, then you might not like this. I don’t mind it so much in dramas so this wasn’t bad for me. But please give this drama chance.

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The whole concept I think is very cool, I really enjoyed watching the work life of book publishers, the work that each department do, and their struggles as employees but also as different individuals with their own personal matter, and the development of each character is very nice to see. The office environment looks very cute and cool and lowkey made me feel like I wish I was there.

I watched the show because of Wi Hajoon, so I think it's pretty obvious and super biased when I say my favorite character is Ji Seojun. Before I watched it I've only seen fanmade edits and pictures, and thought that his character would be nice and sweet, which he is! But I didn't eexpect his character to go a lot deeper than that, but I absolutely love it. I can always enjoy some lowkey mysterious characters, and when his secret was revealed ngl I cried. I do think his story is showed enough for a second lead, but I kinda had wished there was a little bit more to show... Other than him, I unexpectedly actually really like Song Haerin. When she first appeared I thought she would be more on the annoying side, but thankfully she's not, and became my second favorite. She was actually really adorable and sometimes I can relate to her character...

Honestly... adding to that, not just Seojun and Haerin as individual characters, I also really like seeing them as a couple (idk if i can say that bc... they technically haven't? but anyway) I really like their chemistry. From the way they meet, the way they bonded with work, their little problem, their reconciliation... I really loved seeing them and lowkey wished they would have more scenes together, and tbh even wished that they would at least end up dating a few episodes before the drama ends.. I honestly like Seojun and Haerin (both individually and as a "couple") than Eunho and Dani. Though I do think Eunho and Dani are adorable too, I can't help but feel a little bored. To me it's just the usual childhood best friends to lovers trope. When they weren't dating their bickering, Eunho's jealousy, Dani's interactions with Seojun were really enjoyable to watch, but I guess starting around the middle of the drama? When Eunho confessed and Dani kept thinking about it... Ever since that I skipped a little of their moments, and when they date or have romantic scenes I kept skipping for some reason? It just felt... a little boring for me. But that's probably just me... I generally don't really watch romance unless my favorite actor is there... Was it because I was biased? Who knows really...

Other than that, it's pretty good overall. The songs were nice, though sadly weren't really memorable for me, I don't remember any of them...

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Cute but not about motherhood

My sister reccomended this drama to me because I was really missing a touching romance like Because this is my first life or Personal Taste, where they talk about the challenges of being older and having to deal with responsibilities while in love. Then I read the caption and I thought it would be a pleasant surprise to see something about a single mother, since this is not the kind of storie that it's portraited is most medias...
It's so sad I was actually wrong.
The drama is ok, the ost is awesome (It has Jannabi in it so that's obvious) and the relationships between the characters are cute and all, but in the end I got myself anxiously waiting more for the resolution of the mistery behind the book author then the romance itself. I must confess, I got a little upset that she doesn't look like she's a mother AT ALL except when she's having a hard time and she reminds herself she has bills to pay. Through 16 episodes Dan I has ONE talk with her daughter and when the girl is finally brought up in the last episode is just to say "oh, we can talk about it later". I think I'd be a little more inclined to give the highest scores to this drama if she was just a divorced woman, not a mother who doesn't seem to care about her daughter at all and just think about her now and then, putting her on a boarding school so she wouldn't have to deal with the girl.
It's a cute romance and the acting is nice and all, for those who always loved books like myself is really interesting to see they working in a publisher and I think is quite accurate all the problems that appear there, but in the end I think the story got quite stuck and could've been better developed. I think 12 episodes would've been enough in this drama, or 16 but if they actually cared about the challenges of being a single mother. It's good to watch if you don't have anything better to do, but I don't think I would rewatch it anywhere soon.
8/10

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Good story setting, could've been better!

I liked this drama with a few exceptions.

What I liked
• As a book lover I loved that the drama was set in a book publishing company. I enjoyed everything related to publishing. It was quiet interesting to see how much hard work goes to launching a book.
• The support characters were all entertaining and had their own stories.
• The SFL and the SML were likable and not the typical annoying over-the-top jealous type.

What I didn't like
• The main couple was not to my liking. I have watched and liked dramas with noona-love but this couple didn't have the depth or passion to their romance. They lacked chemistry but had a good friendship.
• The sudden omission of FLs daughter was unrealistic, I mean the drama started with the FL struggling to meet ends to take care of her child, so where is she?
• Difficulty to understand how the ML didn't have a clue about his best friend of 20 years being divorced and homeless. How didn't he know what was going on if he ended up at her place everytime he was drunk? I mean did he not get drunk for a whole year?

What could've been explored
It would have been more interesting to have explored the relationship of FL, Ms.Go & Ms.Seo plus a few scenes of the ML as an actual author and a professor would have been great. More backstory for the characters could've been added instead of unnecessary fillers in the second half of the drama, like more about FLs daughter, SMLs childhood or SFLs etc.

Conclusion
That being said I enjoyed this light weight drama excluding the main romance, those parts were skipped. For the main couple it felt like the writer didn't have much to say after a certain point. It was bland. But the story of the publishing company was enjoyed. The day to day tasks of a publishing house was interesting.

At the beginning it felt like the drama was going to show us a courageous FL with a strong willpower tackling the unfairness of life, but it soon went all Cinderella with the young and rich ML being there to save the day. The FLs character was selfish and always had to play the sympathy card and never apologetic.

So overall, without the romance parts this drama was a good watch. If you are interested in publishing and love books this could be enjoyed.

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It was lovely

This was like opening then closing a good book that made me feel warm inside. After a few false starts I finally watched all of it. Admittedly I skipped the parts involving the newbie employee couple and the main romance didn't pack as much of a punch. I didn't completely buy that Da-ni had finally fallen for Eun-ho, more like the he (or the writer) forced them to be a thing. I liked the second lead in this - I thought he was sexier - and he really needs a lead, I would like to see him a noona romance. I mostly liked it because of Da-ni's journey, Seo Yeong-wa's heartbreaking broken down marriage (she needs a lead, she stand out in the dramas I've seen her in), even the director's sad story with her ex-fiance, those were the most compelling stories to me. Lee Jong-suk didn't do much for me apart from a few lines here and there. He nails being goofy as always but I always feel like he's reading a script for his longer scenes, especially the ones where he's giving some romantic speech (see it shouldn't even feel like a speech). However, the crying scene was well done. I still think his best acting was in While You Were Sleeping, he hasn't topped what he did there yet in my opinion

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This Kdrama is for those who love Books, and Office Relationships(Be it platonic or romantic)

I started watching this Drama for Lee Jong Suk but ended up staying not only for his character but also for the rest of the characters who are all so amazing and well written.
I am gonna miss this kdrama and every single character in this story. It's one of those stories that make you feel all those emotions in life and stays true to life as well.

One of the best part of this drama are the books and the love the characters and every single person who is behind this drama shows to the books and how much they impact people's lives.
The relationships are some of the best I have seen in Kdramas.
A Feel Good Kdrama that will make me smile as I remember it or rewatch it.

The ML is not a Knight in Shining Armour but a support to the FL like our family and close friends are to us in real life. He doesn't solve her problems for her but is there for her and tries to help her the best he can. I truly love that about their relationship.
Though there is a little love triangle it's nothing that will give second lead syndrome or make us feel bad for the 2nd FL. It's so well written.
My favourite is Hae Rin but every single character has depth and have their own stories that will be heartbreaking at times but will definitely make us laugh and smile with them.
Just give this Kdrama a shot if you love Books, Relationships, Practicality, stories which are Realistic and stories with Office characters and how their lives intertwine with other people and each other.

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This is one of those dramas that I had barely any interest to watch. I always think business/legal dramas are going to be snooze fests. I am a fan of Lee Jong Suk but him alone was not a good enough reason for me to watch it. I decided to watch it due to other people posting about it here on on a FB page I am part of.

This is a really nice slice of life drama. I am in my late 30s and found Kang Dan Yi's character very relatable. This drama is a breath of fresh air with great characters. I love stories with realistic characters and these are all. No insane over manipulative 3rd wheels. I actually really like the 3rd wheels a lot in the drama. I truly like pretty much all the characters.

The music is nice and pleasant. The story was never slow. I feel most people will enjoy this drama. All the main and minor plots have nice closure at the end.

I don't see myself re watching but it was definitely enjoyable.

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Okay, I probably wouldn´t watch it if it wasn´t for Lee Jong Suk, but because it was his last project before going to the military I gave it a shot, and I´m glad I did. At that time I was in a very romantic mood and this filled my needs to the brim. It is a very cute noona love story, and I loved the noona aspect very much. It also brought up topics not very often talked about like divorce in asian countries, or looking for a job after being at home with a kid and it was very refreshing to learn about problems that women have in Korea right now. I also loved the entire vibe of this, it was very soft, cozy and warm (even their outfits matching) - I feel like it is perfect for winter evenings. As a book lover I enjoyed the process of making the books and I´m glad they touched up on it when it is from a book publishing company. And all the library/bookshop dates were honestly goals for me! I would watch this if you want to really need to feel the love and warmth. ♥

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Book lovers show

Lovely, happy, bubbly show about the struggles of a woman trying to get back to work after a career break. It's also beautifully poetic.

All the characters are good people at heart, doing the best they can in their lives. They are respectful and supportive that you can't really fault them. Life is hard. But from Lee Na-young's character we know we can be Walking on Sunshine with just a little bit of hope.

Lee Jong-suk is charming as ever as the male lead but male lead is actually a supporting character and he supports her without reservations, even when she marries/dates someone else, never imposing or possessive. The second male lead is also similarly respectful. Such healthy relationships are rarely portrayed in media.

Regardless of the title and my emphasis on the male characters, romance is only a component of the story. Much of it is around how judgemental and daunting it can be when your skills are considered obsolete in a fast-moving world.

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In my short review of this drama, I talk about why this show is a must watch for everyone who is interested in reading, writing or the publishing industry:

https://youtu.be/KgiYdAH6zBk

At times, I did wonder how Kang Dan Ee's character did not realize that Cha Eun Ho has been in love with her for so long. But then again, she has been characterized as someone who is a little oblivious. It is such a heartwarming drama! The OST comprises of some great tracks, that are full of feels. I wish we'd get a second season of this drama. Meanwhile, I would surely re-watch it again.

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I watched this drama on Netflix finally after having it on my to watchlist for a month or so. Let me tell you, I have not cried and cheered so much at a drama in a while, but this one made me cry and cheer so much! On Netflix, the subtitles say Dan-i but on here it says Dan Yi so I'll just follow the MDL name. I can understand why some people have problems with this drama for how her daughter is sidelined and forgotten about for a majority of the show or maybe how Dan Yi treats Eun Ho/how Eun Ho treats Dan Yi at times with their bickering/physical teasing/not taking each other seriously (??? if you watched the show you know what I'm talking about), but the plot and just overall feeling of the drama just won me over. I felt so warm and with friends in the publication office its set in and just felt for Dan Yi so much. I rooted for her the entire time and when she lost or felt dejected I felt as if I had lost or just needed to cry with/for her! So with those low lows also came high highs with Eun Ho and Dan Yi's relationship and how they loved each other and cared for each other. Also, let me just say I loved every single character in this drama and how realistic they were! They seemed like real people with real problems who dealt with them realistically. I really felt Dan Yi's struggle for a job because I'm a soon to graduate university student. I love books and just connected with every single touching book metaphor and got //so// sad when they went to the shredding warehouse for books! I didn't know those existed/forgot they existed. This has got to be one of my favorite couples and I'll definitely watch this on days where I feel sad/down. Definitely recommend.

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Watching this drama left me with fuzzy warm feelings all round. The quotes and thoughts are truly inspiring. As an avid book reader, it was lovely to go behind scenes of how books are published (of course with the kdrama glow up).

I've experienced the life of a single mother and this drama truly shone a light on how it is to be a single mother looking for a job after career break to look after her child.

The chemistry of main actors is amazing. Dan-i and Eun-ho are portrayed wonderfully. I really enjoyed the dorkiness and subtle romance . Same with the other characters.
Overall really happy I gave this drama a go.

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