Once in a while type of drama... worthy to watch
Its a drama that will glue you till the last episode. Yes its light, but it is also relevant and realistic. You will not get bored. Its not perfect but it will make you feel good.Wang Yuwen (FL) again delivers a superb performance. To me, she carried the drama, although the 2ML/3ML and 2FL/3FL did well too. The ML seems off at times in acting especially when startled by the FL. His acting seems wanting or short of the desired action.
The two mothers? Wow! I like both. They help keep the drama lively....
I just indicate 10 in all rating category (in spite of the ML acting issue) as it ought to be more than 9.5; the music? I forgot how or what the music was. I was simply too immersed in the drama episode by episode...
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Expected WAY BETTER
I was expecting this show to be good but 1st it's way too slow, the drama has way too much episodes like i felt like most episodes were fillers plus the acting was mid like really mid, i couldn't watch more than 14 episodes i felt like it was way too slow like nothing was actually happening.I watched this drama because of the male actor but i was disappointed... could have been better. The story had potential but the result wasn't it, plus the flashbacks at the end of EVERY episodes started to get really heavy to watch like it would have been better if they uncluded that in the episode instead of doing it as an extra at every ending of an episode
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Friends to lovers at its best
You Are My Lover FriendGenre: Romance
Episodes: 30
Streamed on: Viki
Plot Summary:
This is a slow burn friends to lovers romance drama. There’s a subplot that involves someone’s death buried deep in there, but really this is a slice of life drama about 3 pairs coming together.
Characters & Cast:
Main Characters: Ships.
Couple 1
- Zhang Xin Cheng ⇒ Jiang Shi Yan
- Wang Yu Wen ⇒ Tang Yang
Couple 2
- Wu Jun Ting ⇒ Cheng Hui
- Luo Qin Yun ⇒ Sheng Ni Na
Couple 3
- Guan Yue ⇒ Jiang Yan An
- Guo Yun Qi ⇒ Feng Wei Ran
Villains:
It’s complicated. There are a few bad people, but I can’t decide on the big bad.
Best Of OST:
Twinkle Twinkle little star… lol
https://youtu.be/NxRtM15-Zj4?si=BvlxGCSHGpWg4K1F
There’s even a track the whole team got in on.
https://youtu.be/_BM59rLFZp8?si=_qnzbDgqaP-M1q3z
https://youtu.be/0wNPP8C-oJ4?si=nIfTHHDuqEQb49Fw
Gripes:
The always interrupted kisses LOL. No but really, this was a fun ride the entire way through. I even enjoyed the work part of the drama.
Re-watch:
**Would I watch it again?**
Yes. Regularly even. If I need a pick me Cdrama I can think of this and maybe one other that I wouldn’t mind rewatching once or twice a year.
**Would I watch it with my brother?**
This is one that I’d want to force my brother to watch, but I know it just isn’t his bag.
**Would I watch it with my kid?**
As she snoozes on the lounge I’m thinking of ways to convince her to watch it. I think yes for sure.
Final Thoughts:
The happiest, fluffiest, most wholesome healing drama of 2024. With all of the sad endings of the 2024 Cdrama’s this drama stands at the peak of good endings. Plus, this drama was the one that finally got me into Cdrama.
Rating:
9.2/10
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The best rom com Best Friends to Lovers ever
Things I adored1 I'll start with the trope. Best friends to Lovers is my favorite trope, but I never found a rom com I adored with this trope. Well, it's done. I've never watched such a joyful, heartwarming, funny, romantic rom com. This was a real Best Friends to Lovers romantic comedy where the leads are compatible and their relationship is based in real friendship that was tested by time.
2 The ML. I can't even explain how much I loved him. The actor and the character. I admired his acting in The Day of Becoming You, but it was difficult for me to follow the story so I abandoned, but he shone already in this one so I had put him in my list with actors I wanted to check their other dramas. This how I came tot his one and this is how I fell in love with him. The character is absolutely perfect. I'd love to have a boyfriend like him, I'd love to have a friend like him, I'd love to have a work partner like him. I'd even love to have a son like him. I enjoyed every scene he was part of and it doesn't hurt that I find him so handsome. To stop here because I can write a book about his character, the actor was perfect, the character was perfect.
3 The 2ML. What a great actor. So funny and goofy and handsome. I watched the small video at the end and was surprised of how much more handsome he was than in the series. I already found him handsome but he was adorable in the video. I loved his performance. He created an endearing character with multiple facets and it was a joy to follow his journey. I also adored his reaction to the main couple relationship. That made for some truly funny moments.
4 The 3ML. He made me laugh so many times and at the same time he was so cute and endearing. He had the funnier interactions with the other two male leads. I loved his expressions and his reactions when they discussed something. His relationship with the 3FL was the less developed, but it was so nice and so touching. I adored watching him acting awkward and falling in love and also watching them together. What I loved in all three couples was that their relationships seemed real. There was no rush tings evolved naturally. I wish the third couple had more scenes, but I loved all those they had and honestly this was a good base for their story if you ask me. Sometimes, he looked too young but the actress who played the 3FL, also looked younger when she didn't wear too much makeup so it wasn't weird.
5 The mothers. I've never loved any mothers in any drama more. These are examples to follow. Smart, funny, sensible. The second couple said they were meddlers and they were but they didn't surpass the mothers. But it was done in such a good way, it didn't bother me at all. It rather reminded me of my family. They care, but never go as far as intruding in my life. Mediterranean moms seem to have a lot in common with Chinese moms. I was looking forward to see the moms and that happens very rarely in these dramas. It's not only that I adored hem as individuals but also their friendship.
6 The chemistry between the leads and all the couples. That's also rare so I need to point it out. All the couples had chemistry and seemed to like each other and have fun acting.
7 The kisses. There weren't many, but he's the best kisser I think amongst all those I remember. Great kisses and I wish there were more. Then perfection would have been achieved.
8 The friendship between the three male leads. So good to watch and not only it was fun, but felt real. This was one of the strong points of the series. Moon light had also a great friendship between the male leads but here they were three which gave it another flavor. If I had to compare, I'd say they are both great.
9 The funny moments. There were so many, but I will mention some I remember. The drank FL was fun to watch. It was done with in good taste and I'll definitely go back watch this again. The moments when the mother of the ML was waiting for him and opened the door to ask if he was hungry was so fun. The scene with the mother of the FL when she didn't believe they were together was also a great moment. The way they played the couple in the end the mothers was also fun. So many moments to enjoy and this is the first time I will say with certainty that I will go back and rewatch this series. This is the first series I gave a 10 in all items and one of the rare ones (with Love Between Lines and the scenes with only the main couple of Love is Sweet) that I'm certain to rewatch. A true gem of rom com.
Things I loved
1 The FL actress. I'm not talking about her character, just the actress. She's not in my "adore" list because I don't find her ideal for rom coms, but I think she did a wonderful job here. She impressed me to be honest. I was expecting to dislike her and I even thought she'd ruin the rom com vibe because I don't find her attractive enough. I was so wrong. She was so good in her role and there were times I found her beautiful. She was a gorgeous bride and she acted well as a high school student, as a bank employee, as a friend. Now I'm going back to watch My Page in the 90s I abandoned a few weeks ago to watch other series. I will also search for her other dramas. That alone can tell you how good she was in this series. Kudos to her for her acting. She was believable in every scene.
2 The second couple. They were adorable, especially the 2ML. It was the first time I've seen him and loved his acting and his character. The couple was funny and endearing. I had so much fun watching their interactions and I loved the relationship they had. It felt real and solid.
3 The 2FL. She did a great job with her character and although I can't for some reason imagine her as lead, I'd love to watch her in other dramas.
4 Nina, the 3FL. I've seen the actress in Filter and honestly I disliked her. Not the fault of the actress though, the character was terrible. Here she played the character of the lonely vulnerable actress perfectly. Not only she is gorgeous but she made me feel things. I cried even when nothing really sad happened, but she managed to convey emotions that spoke to me and made my heart drown. I loved her character.
5 The grandpa and the whole family. It was so heartwarming to watch the episodes they were all together. It reminded me so much of my family and the laughter, the teasing, the food, the whole thing made me cry. I miss these moments with my family. They are precious and stay with you your whole life.
6 The small scenes from the past. They were all so funny and endearing. It gave us so many reasons to root for the couple and made their relationship look even more solid. I enjoyed every vignette they showed and waited for them after each episode.
7 The intro song. One of the rare times I listened to the intro every time. I loved the music, the words and the voice.
8 The last scene. So lovely and funny.
Things I disliked
1 I had to look hard to find something. I didn't dislike a single line or a single scene. I loved everything, but I found something in the last episode. Although she was a beautiful bride I didn't like her wedding dress. I didn't hate it, it was nice, but I can imagine dozens of more fitting wedding dresses.
2 Something else that came to mind, although it didn't ruin at all my joy watching this marvelous rom com were the assistant and the manager of Nina. I never warmed to them and some things they said rubbed me the wrong way. But it's still nothing.
3 The story with Mo. I didn't dislike it per se, but I wish it didn't end the way it ended and the bad people pay their crimes without Mo going too far. I would also have loved to see the despicable director and his wife burn in hell.
4 Now that I started, let's talk about another thing as well. There was a difficult scene with the FL and the director and I wish they had done something about it. It stayed unresolved in my eyes and it shouldn't.
5 One last small thing. I wasn't fond of the FL outfits. I think she could wear something more elegant. She has the body and having to wear a uniform at work would be a great reason for her to crave a unique style and not dressing like an older than she was woman and always in the same style.
Things I hated
1 The villains of course. The couple from hell who should have paid dearly for their actions and we should be able to enjoy watching them pay.
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A league of its own
I can't recommend this drama enough.Different personalities create a fun group of friends and business partners, that always work through any problem by maintaining an open communication, because there’s trust among them. They are the greenest of flags.
There's simply something different about well written characters and story development, it puts the entire cdrama in a league of its own.
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This is a slow burn romantic drama but it is not a slow burn relationship. Their friendship was strong, reliable, trustful, fun, and adventurous; so, it is very clear that they will have some apprehension moving forward into a romantic entanglement that could jeopardize their friendship; but even so, after careful consideration, it was precisely that strong connection that allow them to recognize that, in order not to lose being able to be together in the future, it was much better to move forward with their feelings and love each other without reservations.
Not been a fan of slow burn romances, this one was an enjoyable one to watch. The supporting cast also did a fantastic job bringing their characters to life; their friendship with the leading couple was a riot and their bond is genuine and steadfast; also a pleasure to watch was the leading couple’s parents. Overall, this drama is well written and it has great performances from both main and supporting cast members. Enjoy it!
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A Soft Yet Powerful Love Story
After first noticing Zhang Xin Cheng in Justice in the Dark and then completely falling for his performance in The Day I Became You, I knew I had to explore more of his work. That’s how I discovered You Are My Lover Friend — and it turned out to be a beautifully emotional experience that exceeded my expectations in every way.🔹 Acting – Zhang Xin Cheng’s Subtle Brilliance
One of the most impressive aspects of this series is Zhang’s ability to embody different characters with such ease and depth. Having now seen him in three very different roles, I can confidently say he has incredible range. In You Are My Lover Friend, his performance is mature, understated, and deeply moving. He doesn’t rely on dramatics — instead, he conveys emotion through small gestures, thoughtful silences, and incredibly expressive eyes. The chemistry between him and the female lead feels natural and unforced, giving the romance a quiet, genuine intensity.
🔹 Story – Romantic, Tender, and Engaging
While the series doesn’t feature many kisses or overly dramatic love scenes, it still manages to be incredibly romantic. The emotional tension, the slow-building relationship, the mutual respect and connection between the leads — all of it made the love story feel real and deeply touching. I was fully immersed in their emotional journey. It’s the kind of romance that stays with you, not through grand declarations, but through quiet moments that speak volumes.
🔹 Production – Elegant and Emotionally Grounded
The production quality is excellent. The cinematography is warm and intimate, perfectly complementing the emotional tone of the story. The direction and editing are smooth and polished, while the soundtrack adds just the right amount of emotional weight without overpowering the scenes. Everything feels cohesive and thoughtfully crafted.
🔹 Final Thoughts
You Are My Lover Friend is a must-watch for fans of sincere, character-driven romance dramas. It doesn’t rely on clichés or superficial drama. Instead, it offers a meaningful story brought to life through strong performances, beautiful visuals, and genuine emotional depth. And Zhang Xin Cheng truly shines in a role that showcases his quiet charisma and remarkable versatility.
⭐ My personal rating: 10/1
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The acting in "You Are My Lover Friend" was amazing! Every character brought something special, but the male lead was definitely a standout. The story was so well done too—usually, when the main characters finally get together, things start to slow down, but here it actually got even better. If you’re looking for a good friends-to-lovers romance that’s mature, not cringy, and set in the workplace, I’d highly recommend this show.
There were a few moments where the wait for the leads to get together felt a tiny bit slow, but honestly, after they did, the whole show reached a new level. Another thing I loved was that they don’t drag out any issues or throw in unnecessary misunderstandings.
Overall, this is a great drama if you want something refreshing, with characters who feel real and a story that keeps you hooked!
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This is a very good “friends to lovers” romcom.
Good actors – great chemistry between FL & MLThis is a very good “friends to lovers” romcom.
I was impressed of how well FL & ML acted and the chemistry between them. Also, the second leads were very good. FL is a “towering” presence between Chinese top actresses (factual, she is 1.72 m tall, and most of other actresses are around 1.60 and 1.65 m). Joke aside, Wang Yu Wen(FL) is beautiful, elegant, excellent acting and good comedic sense. She has an advantage in the romcom genre (so she should try to have at least one successful romcom per year to keep her popularity up), but she has to be more selective on the kind of dramas in which she acts. In YAMLF, she has great chemistry with the ML, which also acts very well, so there are expectations to see them in another romcom. The second leads had a nice and low-key love story, also with nice chemistry. They are so good that you want to see more of them (or maybe to move as main leads in another drama). The SML (played by Wu Jun Ting) is a really good and promising young actor, I fully expect to see him as ML in a lot of dramas.
I looked at comments from other viewers and almost 90% of comments noticed the good acting and chemistry of main leads, and maybe 50% liked and wanted to see more of the second leads.
I checked the original novel. The screenwriters significantly changed and improved the story, so good for them. On the other hand, they repeated some tricks too many times, it was really boring. The interrupted kiss (10 times??), Feng Wei Ran aggressive negation of any romantic connections between main leads, and extensive and exhausting use of “brother Yang”. Maybe here the director has a more significant responsibility, he is supposed to edit and control the drama. Finally, the English name of the drama is rather unfortunate.
Somebody mentioned that YAMLF was unlucky to be scheduled in the same time with the Korean drama Love Next Door (it has a similar “friends to lovers” topic). I think Love Next Door is really unlucky. After a couple of episodes, I renounced to follow the Korean drama, while I saw YAMLF twice.
To conclude, this is a slow moving romcom, where main leads transition (slowly) from friends to lovers. Main leads, very good acting and chemistry, second leads, low-key and attractive, in general good acting for secondary actors as well. Nice and fun to watch, check the first 5-6 episodes to see if it is too slow for you.
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strong and smart female lead and loving male lead
this drama is so refreshing❕️❕️✨️first the female lead!! I'm so used to see in cdramas always that dumb girl who can't defend herself, BUT TANG! she is so smart at handling things, YET although the male lead knows this He helps her and is willing and loving.
The ml is so cute! although he is a CEO he is NOT dominant or cold!
THE TRANSITION between being friends and now a couple IS NOT AWKWARD AT ALL is so subtle and so magical.
✨️✨️EVERYBODY IS A GREEN FLAG!! ✨️✨️
i wish to watch more cdramas like this in the future
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One of my personal favourite
I'm usually not a type of person who likes family drama that much, however, this one was so different and lovable. Firstly, the male and female lead both were sensible, mature and reasonable. it's really hard in cdrama to find mature female lead but wang yuwen always is here for uss! She can be abit annoying at first as due to her past friend to lover relationship went wrong, she now has a fear cause of that cause she doesn't want to lose another great friend therfore she rejects him and all that. However, even the rejections, made you love their bond so much because of how they still try so hard. Next, the second couples, cheng hui and sheng ni na left me speechless even though I adored the fl and ml sometimes I just had to skip their part just to see those both cause their chemistry was on top chefs kiss. The way he treats her and the way she only understands him aaah omg it was so cute I hope they make a drama in the future as main leads. Also don't blame the third couple, they're just genuinely dumb, they don't try to break them two or anything it's just they have been together for so long that they don't realise these two have something more than friends. Definitely recommend, don't be stupid like me and skip business scenes because it actually gets interesting later on and you'll regret it.anyways watch it :)
wang yuwen never disappoints, she picks good dramas e.g. the love you give me, Once We Get Married and now this one?? such queen!! shout out to rest of the crew aswell the acting was fab especially the second couple, third couple and the fl and ml mothers
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no nonsense romance drama
gotta give it to the writer, they know their stuff. the story stay true to itself until the end, never lose sight of what they are and their direction. every time a new plot unfold and i worry theyd fell to the same hole most other drama fell, they just didnt. they know their story and they tell it well.oh and i love the flashback at the end of each eps, it give us background story to the character without distracting us from the main plot.
hands down my favourite romance c-drama ive watched since the rational life
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