love happiness and reality
it is a must watch, very relatable show. happy ending makes it me to eatch mote since thats how we should be living this is world and society.message of this series around how your strength is your family and friends around you makes it even more special.
people these days tendency not to share their problems and difficulties, and just try to deal with them alone. which I think was very well conveyed, if family is with you will get through the toughest part of life easily. try not to ignore love
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Watch the show - But just for the second leads next door!!!
Love Next Door started off strong with its realistic portrayal of burnout, sickness, family struggles, particularly the pressure faced by the eldest child—especially when she’s a girl. It really hit home for me, as I could relate to the cultural expectations and emotional weight that comes with those roles. FL is someone who constantly strives to be perfect for her parents, never allowing herself to make mistakes or ask for help even when she's sick, pushing herself to a breaking point, that really felt seeing my own reflection in this aspect of her. But it lost it's charm along the way for me.What I loved : *SECOND LEADS*. A strong female second lead and such a supporting soul male second lead. Their storyline had depth and the slow-burn friendship to romance? Goals. I was more invested in their story than the main leads, not even gonna lie. Throw in the adorable kid, and you get a heartwarming mix that makes you smile every time they’re on screen. Chef's kiss.
What really sucked : The show did lose some of its charm in the later episodes. The constant arguments felt forced, and I found myself fast-forwarding through parts just to get to the good stuff. The emotional investment in the show started to wane. Also, I just couldn’t vibe with FL’s mom—her character felt a bit too frustrating and hard to connect with.
Overall, Love Next Door had a solid start, and the second leads were the highlight of the show for me. But unfortunately, the later episodes took a toll on my enjoyment. It’s definitely worth the watch if you’re in it for the childhood bffs to lovers troupe, slow-burn relationship, discovering your dream and family dynamics, but don’t expect the charm to hold up throughout. It has it's highs and lows.
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I relate to this drama a lot
To be honest, as a romcom, this series is not a very good one. I enjoyed the second couple more than the main couple.But this is a quite good slice of life drama. The reason I give it a 8-star rating is because I relate so much to the female lead, Seok Ryu. My life journey and hers have a few things in common. I was kind of a model Asian student and daughter, trying too hard not to upset her parents who favor their son. They’re never satisfied with whatever I do or how much effort I have put. And my mom is very similar to Seok Ryu's mom. It hurt me a lot when hearing what those painful words Seok Ryu mom told her. I also have gut health issues and I had depression for years. Felt like a part of my life was brought to life in this Kdrama. :)
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If you liked Reply 1988, you will love this.
I CRIED TWICE DURING EACH EPISODE I SWEAR!!!!! this drama was so relatable as an eldest daughter with brothers and i saw myself in seokryu's character constantly. the family dynamics in this hit home and made me wish i had a better relationship with my family :') love next door shows that no matter what you say to each other or how far apart you've grown, you can always find a home within your family.jung somin's acting in this is phenomenal; exactly how i act around my family. she captured being the asian eldest daughter so well. but i wish her kissing was better. i keep seeing her kissing scenes and i'm not impressed.
all the characters and their relationships are shown beautifully; misuk and geunsik, hyesuk and gyeongjong, moeum and her mom jaesuk... all the characters are just written so realistically. this was definitely a feel good, slice of life yet relatable family drama :")
overall, what kept me watching was not the romance but the family relationships between each character and their parents.
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This review may contain spoilers
Reconnecting and Growing from Childhood Friends to Lovers
Love Next Door, the new hottest romcom, isn't exactly a "romcom". It leans more over to the melodrama side, which can be misleading. This features the classic childhood lovers to friends trope. We dive into the main leads' complicated pasts and how they rediscover each other.The ML, Choi Seung-hyo, is not your classic pure male who's never touched another female in his life. He has past relationships, though it seems like they weren't very deep. However, it's cliche that he fell first, and liked her for majority of his life. His whole family is kind of on the outs, at first. They barely talk to each other so ML ends up spending more time with FL's family.
I believe many people weren't quite happy with the FL, Bae Seok-ryu, at the start of the drama. Don't be discouraged in the first few episodes at the fact she seems so easygoing, and uncaring. It seems to be her coping method. I was starting to not like her, but then a lot was revealed.
She struggled. She struggled so much, always trying to be perfect and never allowing herself to make mistakes for her parents. But it's too hard to always be "perfect". So when she was sick, she couldn't bare her parents hurting because of her. She's one of those people who take on everything themselves, and never ask for help because they don't want to burden, disappoint or hurt anyone else but themselves. That was so relatable to watch because I'm the same. I always struggle with telling people who are close to me about things like this because I don't want to see them hurt and I don't want it to impact their lives so I'll just deal with it myself. Her character was relatable for me, and it was healing when she finally got the support she needed from her friends and family.
She was burnt out and at a loss while other people might just see this as pure "laziness" which was what was depicted in the first few episodes.
It was a really realistic touch to see this portrayed so well. o +1 point. It's very reassuring to see the FL eventually discover her dream and excel at it while being happy. She became my favourite character from this drama.
There's a lot of family dynamics going on in this drama too. Obviously, ML's family heals and everyone's happy lol. The main dynamic, is Seok-ryu vs her mother.
The acting skills are undeniable. Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min, top actor and top actress. Hae-in and So-min can speak through their eyes, and they have diverse ranges in emotions.
The crying, hurt and guilt felt so real? They can really channel emotions into their acting. I think they were the only ones who could've played Seokryu and Seunghyo so well. Honestly, they are perfect for these roles. The characters' interactions all feel genuine.
Kim Ji-eun and Yun Ji-on were perfect for the second lead couple too! Honestly in this drama, everyone was played out their characters quite well. This is an amazing cast with star names! Yeon-du is really cute :).
Seunghyo and Seokryu are the absolute, perfect match for each other. They bicker, fight, but they're the only ones who can heal each other ultimately. They just get each other. They know each other so well, no one can beat that type of relationship. There's metaphors hidden in the show. They're very subtle but they show that no matter what, they're there for each other.
The two leads have great chemistry, imo. I've watched all the cast content and behind-the-scenes on youtube, and honestly they look like great friends IRL and I'm glad this drama brought them together.
I liked all OSTS played in this drama, but honestly "Words I Could Not Say" sang by Jung Hae-in, HIMSELF, tops the cake! His voice sounds so angelic and expresses so many emotions.
DISLIKES:
- The mother was undoubtedly my least favourite character. She really had no emotional growth the whole drama. She has an inferiority complex and believes everyone's making decisions to spite her. There were many chances for potential character development but we never got any. It was like placing a seed, and it sprouts just for it to die before it can grow any bigger. It was just painful whenever she was arguing with literally anyone. It might have been an attempt for a realistic portrayal of an "asian mother", but it was just frustrating when this is meant to be a healing drama and she had literally no character development.
- The SML, is introduced to us as a single father. However, later we learn he's actually the uncle of the child. That was annoying because I was really hoping we could see a single father heal, and open himself up to a new relationship. Though he did lose his whole family and obviously did have to heal from it, it's just not the same yk :(.
- The FL and ML, mostly the ML, did act like teenagers in quite a few of the scenes. They're in their 30s but act like teenagers sometimes. There's a scene where the ML mentions he has "dirty thoughts" that he's not allowed to think of, but he's literally 30? I found it a bit weird, but it's nothing major.
- The writing often relies on injuries/diseases/accidents for emotion breakthroughs and communication to occur.
- The ending was a bit underwhelming, often an issue in kdrama land, I was really expecting them to get married especially cause they built the story up to marriage!
OVERALL:
I really did enjoy this, apart from the cons lol, it's a good watch. It tells a beautiful story, with a lot of healing and growth. I wouldn't list this as a romcom, but more of a melodrama, romance, slice of life with a side of comedy. Overall, it's more like an 8/10, but I gave it an 8.5 because the cast is amazing! I hope you all give this drama a try :). And, let's all remind ourselves that we are all entitled to have different opinions that can coexist.
If you do decide to watch this, I hope you enjoy it!
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strong leads, entertaining drama
With the 2 leads from 2 of my favorite shows of 2023, Alchemy of Souls and DP, how could I not watch this one? The premise of Love Next Door is very common these days: two childhood friends ultimately end up together. The strength of this show is in the story & the acting.What sets this drama apart is that it pays more attention to the secondary story arcs. It gives almost equal weight to the families & friends, as aspirations & hopes intertwine between generations. Parents project their dreams onto their children because they feel they have no control over their own lives. Children are afraid to disappoint their parents. Are happiness & success the same? The cast made their characters captivating to watch.
The leads didn't disappoint as they delivered almost Queen of Tears level performances. However, unlike QoT the families are more down to earth & don't have members who end up in jail. And after all the drama, the story didn't hold any surprises. The final episode is all feel-good vibes & happy happy, which made for a rather boring ending. The show overall was very entertaining based on the performances.
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Interesting drama ?
Heartwarming and inspiring learned a lot from the drama, from the paramedics,architect, code tech to cheffing, it was all educative.Also emotional,how to stand strong and lean on your family in hard and good times.It’s a must watch
I strongly recommend if you looking for a family,romcom drama
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This review may contain spoilers
A Beautifully Written Story That Warms The Heart & Brings Comfort To Those Exhausted In Life
'Love Next Door' or also known by its native title as 'My Mom's Friend's Son' is not your typical romantic comedy k-drama that is a no-brainer and whose plot is only filled with the usual fluff, cliches, and scenes that will make you cringe to the core, while having the typical one-dimensional perfect romcom main lead characters. This drama offers a whole lot more which had completely exceeded my expectations.The storyline of Love Next Door is simple yet very thought-provoking as it captured the essence of real life in its full color, not just merely black and white, but the greyness of it. It is not poorly written but rather well-written, and should be perceived well as it has a lot of depth to it. The story does not solely focus on the romance aspect alone but tackles real life struggles which most viewers — especially, those who come from an asian family or culture, can relate to. Apart from that, the storyline highlighted the importance of relationships in any forms and how certain life decisions or perceptions greatly affects it. The pace of the storyline might seem slow but it is at perfect temperature which burns the slow-burn romance trope in this drama satisfyingly. This drama will give you the slice of life feels, with some melo and bearable angst that blends together with the romance and comedy in just the right amount. Love Next Door might not fit certain peoples' cup of tea which is normal as everyone has a different taste. Fortunately for me, it filled my cup to the extent it overflowed.
Some of the tropes in the storyline might seem overused, however, this has long been a norm in all dramas and doesn't necessarily equate to them being carbon-copies of each other. The execution of such tropes is what sets them all apart. This is where I would love to praise the writer of Love Next Door because of the way she had used and executed such tropes in a new and refreshing way, it is definitely not lazy writing on her part. The cancer trope which almost everyone had dreaded the most actually turned out to be a cancer survivor trope that adds depth to the storyline, and clearly it stands out differently from all the other k-dramas that had used the same trope in this aspect. For the first time such illness is not being linked to instant death but rather the after effect of it, the impact it had on the lives of both the person who had experienced cancer themself and the loved ones who stood by their side along the battle. Another notable thing which I would praise the writer for, is how the issues or problems aren't dragged all throughout, instead are resolved either by the same episode or the next. They were also not merely just brought up out of the blue, most scenes had already foreshadowed them, the characters dialogues or simply who they are as a character gave the hints away too. The writer laid out certain life challenges as a pivotal element for the storyline and characters development. The neatness in how each loose ends (hardships & struggles) are woven together (resolved) as the storyline progresses leaves a meaningful impact and conveys life lessons, therefore, bringing comfort and healing too.
The characters here are realistic and definitely not one-dimensional, they are all flawed in their own ways. The realism of the characters in the storyline depicted the rawness of human emotions and the different ways certain people in real life deal with life itself. The characters reactions are animated, exaggerated, immature, ignorant and expressive making them very complex with lots of layers. Yes, the characters who are in their 30s had acted immature and this is something which can be considered realistic too. Maturity is not set on age, there is no such thing as the older you get the more mature you become, in reality it has to do more with ones life experiences and lessons, the same applies to these characters. The storyline gave these realistic characters a lot of space to make mistakes, be confused, be miserable, to learn valuable life lessons and grow, while also allowing them to hold on to what they want in life despite not being at their best selves. This is exactly what I found beautiful about Love Next Door, because I was able to find the entire range of human emotions in this drama alone. I was able to relate, understand, sympathize and empathize with the characters. It had also opened my mind to certain things that I might have not known before. Just exactly like what Jung Haein had said, we have to see the characters in Love Next Door as real people not simply as characters. We also have to open our mind and allow ourselves to step into the shoes of each characters in order to get a full grasps of who they are and why they made such decisions in life, because each of the characters here come from a reasonable stance.
Bae Seokryu is the character whom I relate to the most in this drama. She is a character written to be the 'eldest-daughter of an asian family household'. She had always been ambitious ever since she was young and she takes pride in her achievements. She values her mother's opinions and had always tried her best to be a filial daughter to her family. She is strong-willed and had shown her mature side since she was young. The flashbacks when they were children had shown sides of her maturity with how she takes care of Choi Seunghyo. She is an extremely selfless person who cares too much about her loved ones to the point she often neglects herself as an expense of trying to carry everything around her shoulder for the sole purpose of not becoming a burden or worry anyone whom she holds dear to her heart. Her questionable and easily misunderstood life decisions at certain times are due to her selfless-ness. Her cancer, workplace bullying and depression which she had suffered from made her hit rock bottom. It was an awakening for her that finally made her realize that she wasn't truly living for herself. To Bae Seokryu who fell into a slump, Choi Seunghyo became her compass that helped her navigate to the new life she had decided to live for herself. For Bae Seokryu, Choi Seunghyo is the rainbow in her life. Choi Seunghyo on the other hand is a character written to be the complete opposite of Seokryu. He has his own selfish side and may have had flaws due to his abandonment issues. He lacked familial love but still was able to grow up successfully into a kind and loving person. He isn't a completely immature character, he has his mature side too which he often brings out when him and Seokryu have their serious moments, away from the banters. His character never once annoyed me. Instead, I felt for him. While he might not have been the typical romcom male lead, he is a green forest in his own way I must say. To Choi Seunghyo who lacks familial love as a child, it was Bae Seokryu who helped him get through life as she was always there for him in his sickness and important life events. For Choi Seunghyo, Bae Seokryu is the gold medal in his life.
Their love story had never felt one sided to me as I was able to understand where both of them was coming from and how they both have a completely different way of loving. Seunghyo is more expressive with his love and Seokryu is the silent lover type. Seunghyo is willing to go through rock bottom with Seokryu no matter how uncertain their future is, while Seokryu is willing to carry all the pain to lessen the damage for Seunghyo, both are very selfless acts of love. The resilience of Seunghyo's love for Seokryu that withstood all the storms truly speaks volumes of how he is the right person for her. Seokryu's braveness to open the doors to her heart to allow love in her life again despite her past traumas and fears tells how Seunghyo really means to her. No love outweighs the other. Sometimes when life knocks you down, it isn't about who pulls you back up, it's more about who stays with you in the dark, who lets you cry and rant and rage. Accepting you in all your life's phases, even the ugly and worst one but still wholeheartedly loving you in every way. Sometimes love isn't only about building things up but about gathering the broken glass and making sure none of the pieces get lost. Their love story and many of their moments will surely remain unforgettable for me.
The transition of their romance from being childhood friends to lovers was done smoothly in a well-detailed manner. I love how it wasn't rushed and they showed the awkward phase in their relationship. They gave justice to the childhood friends to lovers trope by giving it a proper execution. Although they had a rough start due to certain past misunderstandings and the unresolved traumas each of them still carried. What I love even more about the development of their relationship is the fact that they were only brought together when they are already in the phase of healing rather than hurting. Their relationship wasn't always smooth sailing, through the moments of their arguments we got to see them slowly growing and showing maturity with how they handle their problems together as a couple. I especially love the way Seokryu and Seunghyo had both professed their love to each other. It was done in a unique way that is tailored for the two of them only, the details to their confessions makes it even more romantic. Their confessions sounded so poetic and the fact that their token of love for each other weren't merely wedding rings but things that connects to their childhood and holds sentimental value to them. I cannot pick a favorite dialogue or scene from their confessions, as I love everything including the banana milk expiration scene.
This is Jung Haein's first romcom k-drama and I have so much praise for the spectacular performance he had delivered. His micro expressions and how his eyes act alone is enough to move me. It is so refreshing to see this new side of him and this will definitely go down as one of my favorite roles of his. I would absolutely love it if he ventures more into this type of genre. Jung Somin gave a wonderful performance too. I love her. They both did great at bringing life to their characters as Bae Seokryu and Choi Seunghyo respectively. Without a doubt the two of them had delivered the childhood friends to lovers trope convincingly. Their chemistry is truly insane and the best of the best, either on or off screen. As for the heavy and emotional scenes, their performance and ability to portray a wide range of emotions didn't fall short and surely left an impact as they stirred up my emotions too and made me cry with them. Every other actors in this drama are deserving of praise too. I am so thankful that Jung Haein and Jung Somin were casted in this drama.
While watching Love Next Door, you have to completely allow yourself to be immersed in its storyline. To sit back and enjoy the flow of where the story is taking you, not where you want the story to be taken. Which I am glad I did because I was fully able to appreciate and enjoy watching this drama. The storyline might have some minor flaws but the amount of good qualities it had made me overlook such flaws. I love almost every single thing about this drama. From the story about their families, friendship and neighborhood to the wholesome friendships portrayed here between Seokryu, Seunghyo, Moeum, Danho, Yeondu...their dads and the lavender group. There were so many memorable and note-worthy dialogues and scenes that easily became my favorite. It is sad that the nuances in most dialogues had been lost with translation errors because it definitely has a deeper meaning in Korean. The title and its changes after each episode is something which I liked too but again, lost its deep meaning due to translations. The ending might have been left open-ended which I usually don't prefer, but for the first time I found myself satisfied as it was meaningful and very SeungRyu coded. A heartwarming happy ending indeed. This drama left a deep emotional impact and valuable message about ordinary human life through each of the characters experiences.
Overall, Love Next Door is the best romcom k-drama that had been released this year for me. The amount of happiness, comfort, tears, healing and warmth it brought to me with its beautiful storyline makes it all worth it. I agree when Jung Somin said that there is something heartwarming about the way the writer sees people. I don't think I will ever get this attached to a drama ever again. It will be so hard for me to move on from this. I wish Jung Haein and Jung Somin could reunite in another drama again and maintain the friendship they have. I have so much love for Love Next Door.
˖ . ݁❅𝜗𝜚❅. ݁₊
"Just find what's valuable to you in your life. That's more than enough" — Bae Seokryu
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forever in love with the childhood friends to lovers trope...
I was completely hooked. As someone who started watching the drama because of the OST (huge zerose here!), I was pleasantly surprised with how many wonderful emotions Love Next Door made me feel. In full honesty, the plot isn't perfect - there is the use of common plot tropes that I won't get into here for the sake of spoilers, but once you watch you'll know what I'm talking about - yet despite this, I enjoyed the drama so so so much. It's tagged as a romance and a comedy, but I think the comedy aspect isn't as prevalent, so that might turn some people away, just a heads up. However, I personally really liked that it didn't focus as much on the comedy but instead on the slice of life part (IDK if this is the right term, sorry I was originally an anime watcher). There are lessons to be learned within the simple interactions between all the characters - moments that caused me to reflect on my view of my own life, especially the relationships I have with my friends and family. Life isn't perfect, yet despite this, it's important to keep going, and to constantly chase your dreams. This drama emphasizes that fact in a wholesome and realistic manner, and I will truly miss it. Now onto a few specific likes and dislikes.LIKES -
THE CHEMISTRY AND THE ACTING!! All of the characters on the show, not just the main leads, have so much chemistry with each other, and I loved the acting of everyone! They truly bring the show to life, and everyone nailed their part with their expressions, subtle dialogues, and so much more. I'll definitely keep a look out in the future for them! P.S the child actors in this show are soooo adorable.
THE MUSIC! Like I mentioned above, I started watching this show because ZEROBASEONE sang the OST for it, and I'm a huge fan of their music, so obviously I have to give the music rating a 10/10! However, in addition to ZB1's OST, the rest of the music is quite good as well, and the music is used in nice moments for the show.
THE PLOT! Yes I acknowledged earlier that the plot isn't perfect, yet the main trope of it (childhood friends to lovers), I'm such a sucker for, and it met expectations! The use of the flashback scenes were so well done and I felt that there were no major plot holes when the drama finished, so that's a win for me.
DISLIKES -
I genuinely didn't dislike anything with the drama which I know will be slightly controversial but I did rate it a ten so it's to be expected that I think highly of it. I suppose here I'll just acknowledge that I never rewatch dramas hence the rewatch score but if you are someone who does, it might not be one to watch again since it leans more towards the longer side of episode length (and normally I hate things that drag out so it's a miracle this one managed to hook me that well).
TLDR - GIVE IT A CHANCE! Maybe you'll fall in love with it like I did, or maybe the trope/style of drama isn't for you, and that's okay too! But whatever you do...listen to the OST!! :)
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When I first started watching *Love Next Door*, I didn’t have high expectations. I thought it might just be another light-hearted friends-to-lovers story, but from the very beginning, it completely surprised me. What set this drama apart was how effortlessly it wove in deeper themes like family, friendship, and illness, giving the story much more emotional depth than I anticipated.
The dynamic between the characters was especially captivating. The transition from friends to lovers was handled so smoothly that it felt natural and refreshing. Despite their growing romance, the characters never lost the core of their friendship, which is rare in similar dramas. I was honestly surprised when some viewers mentioned they didn’t feel the chemistry between the leads because, to me, it was definitely there. Their bond felt authentic, and the way they supported each other through personal challenges made their love story even more compelling.
The family and friendship relationships were another highlight. They felt genuine, adding emotional layers to the drama that made it more than just a romance. The drama's slow-burn nature allowed these relationships to develop gradually, giving each character space to grow in a realistic way. This slower pacing didn’t drag at all but rather built the tension and deepened the emotional stakes, making the eventual romantic payoff even more satisfying.
As for the ending, I have no complaints. It wasn’t just a happy ending, but one that felt like the start of a new chapter for the characters. It gave me a sense of closure while leaving space for imagination about what comes next. Now that it’s over, I know my weekends are going to feel a little empty without it.
In conclusion, *Love Next Door* was an unexpected gem. It wasn’t just about romance—it was about life, family, and the importance of relationships. Despite its minor flaws, it left a lasting impression, and I’m grateful for the connections I’ve made with others who enjoyed it just as much. Oh, and yes, I even changed my profile picture to remember it!
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Two Childhood So-Called Enemies Reunite
The first episode of the all-new series introduces viewers to a delightful blend of humor, nostalgia, and character-driven storytelling. The show sets a strong foundation by delving into the complicated relationship between Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu, childhood acquaintances with a shared history that’s equal parts endearing and cringe-worthy. The episode does a great job balancing comedy with deeper themes, particularly when it comes to Seok Ryu’s sudden return to Korea and the mysterious reasons behind her life upheaval. The slapstick humor, especially during the chaotic family scenes, is well-executed and keeps the tone light-hearted.However, the episode’s pacing could have been tighter, particularly during the scenes that switch between Seok-ryu’s interactions with Seung-hyo and her more reflective moments. While the comedic elements are a strong point, the episode occasionally feels like it’s trying to juggle too many tones, which may leave viewers unsure of the show’s direction. Despite this, the chemistry between the lead characters and the nostalgic flashbacks to their childhood create a promising dynamic that hints at both tension and growth. The episode ends on a note that effectively teases the chaos and drama to come, making it a solid start to the series.Was this review helpful to you?
seems likes a promising drama!
I just finished episode one and I must say it looks pretty promising. The premise following two childhood friends reunion which some fun things happening along the way. For episode one I think everything was set up well for this series and the cast is doing a wonderful job currently. I don’t have many big complaints for episode one, but the one thing I must say I’m worried about is if it will stay as promising throughout the whole show. Mostly because it’s a light hearted drama and I’ve been finding many rom-coms to get lackluster in the end of it’s running. But I’m going to try to ignore that and keep watching because of cast. So hopefully it doesn’t fall short of anyone’s expectations including my own.Was this review helpful to you?
