SO SO SO UNDERRATED!!!!!! EXCELLENT ACTING
DON'T TRUST THE RATINGS!!!After so long I've come across such a nice drama, really ♥️ It's so fresh and peaceful and sweet and funny at the same time.
The leads are amazing, the second leads are amazing and the whole group is amazing.
The drama so much reminds me of When I Fly Towards You and Our Secret ♥️♥️
I initially started watching it because of Yu Cheng En as I previously watched him as Demo in Go Go Squid, I was so excited to see him in a lead role!!!! And surprisingly I fell in love with the female lead too ♥️ Even the other lead is amazing ♥️♥️
IT'S A MUST WATCH!!!!! IT LITERALLY DESERVES MUCH MORE RECOGNITION 😭
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IT. WAS. AWESOME.
omg. I honestly don’t know what to say. this drama was so so so so SO good. I’m not even joking it’s the best I’ve watched in a while, it might even be a part of my top three all time favs now. If you’re thinking about watching it, please go ahead and do so, you won’t regret it. Our ML is such a green flag and our FL is SOO cute and pretty. They have such good chemistry together as well!! Literally feel like rewatching it already… PLEASE WATCH IT. 🙏🙏❤️Was this review helpful to you?
Cute, light-hearted, everything you need in a romantic drama!
I found this drama by chance since all episodes were dropped together. The story is quite refreshing with the leads having a beautiful chemistry.There are not much mishaps or misunderstandings and the leads are you typical "polar opposites" who attarct each other. The story is also not draggy and everything seems on-point.
Their romance development and chemistry is beautifully depicted. feels like a healing drama too at some point.
Overall, if you love a cute romance to watch, this is for you!
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its so good like omgggg its really gooddd.. At first i just watch this because i really love the fl i watch her drama with wangyibo its called gank your heart i didn't expect it to match since the lead is not so known but people known them already you know what i mean but i really didn't expect they deliver their role so good plus the storyline omgg so loving it.. I want s2.. Or i want another drama of themm plss
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BEST OF CDRAMA FIRST 2025
CITY OF ROMANCE presents itself as a university romance like "Lighter And Princess" with many similar ingredients:1) the nonchalent lead (at the beginning)
2) The bunch of super friends
3) Strong and fluid alchemy
So you say to yourself, yes ok, well we're going to fall back into the usual good old clichés... AND WELL NO, not as you think! No, the girl doesn't fall in love with the bad boy, no, he doesn't have one anyway, and no, love doesn't come at first sight either. It is built. He hates lies and his family has always rocked him into them as well as his ppl. SHE, she only lies to hide a past pain. So obviously when the two meet there is absolutely no chance that it can work and yet little by little he discovers his pain, and she understands his principles....
XIAO DUO student, fan of comics and in particular of BLACK his favorite illustrator whose identity is secret. Xiao was not always pretty and thin in his childhood and lies often protected him from the worst things. She is very smiling and playful. She may seem superficial at first, but very quickly you understand that she has great strength of character and sensitivity. It reveals itself from episode to episode!
YAN CHENG psychology student and illustrator in his spare time, he has a very calm and serious temperament, he smiles little but he is very altruistic observer and protective. He suffers the absence of his parents, despite his friends, he is quite alone. He reminded me of the character of Honey Lemon Soda. He is very kind and introverted, an endearing character who doesn't need to make tons of them.
XIAO YANG the best friend of our lead Yan Cheng who has a playful personality close to our female lead. He is very fun, always the word to laugh, he contrasts a lot with the personality of the lead since he is extroverted. We loved it in Stay With me. So a pleasure to find him here.
What struck me in it and conquered me was really the "art/drawing" part indeed, for the role, they literally created a whole comic fiction with characters, derivative products, complete books, crazy decorations! I was impressed how carefully every detail was built around the secret illustrator "BLACK". I even thought that if it was on sale, I will definitely buy the illustrations!
The more we advance, the more pain appears and tongues untie. I loved seeing the fragility of the leads without false appearances and the communication he had. We learn that sometimes lying is not bad, it can protect, serve as a shield.
A scene particularly impressed me, is that of the father of the lead and the hero when the former accompanies him by car to the station. He shows her things, talks to her about his daughter, he evokes the loss of his wife... A conversation essential to the script and that triggers strong emotions for the lead.
In short, it's a real favorite! I was in total immersion with the universe of comics, the benevolence of the drama without cliché, the endearing characters. The solar romance, the pains of each character, the cinematography, the music... in short EVERYTHING! For me it is and will be too underside while this drama is a masterpiece! You have to realize it, it makes no noise, but what it contains is a treasure! I recommend it of course! 20/2O !!!!
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I love how they portrait that there's still a positive side that we can take
First of all, i gave this series as a lightweight sweet positive kind side of the world =), but this series also have the balance to take topic bout "our past life's". This series will give you some time to take to know to understand your past life and learning from it, idk how to explain it anymore but this series is already healed my inner heart..., my favorite part from this series is the way Bai's dad telling about sincerity to others. Really, my best watch for opening my 2025's life (＞∀＜), thank you for making such a great series!Was this review helpful to you?
Fresh romantic campus story!!!
As you know, at the end of last year, Chinese dramas were full of colossal dramas with quite tearful endings. In fact, there were very few romance dramas that focused on telling stories during college. I feel like this is a breath of fresh air. Moreover, I like the male lead, i watch this drama for him. But unexpectedly, the acting of all characters is above what I expected. Although there are some plots that make me a little confused, but it does not reduce the main message of the story. So far, I feel this drama is suitable for those who want a break from heavy dramas!!!Was this review helpful to you?
Cute college romance drama with good leads chemistry - just don't think too hard
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75“City of Romance” is an easy-to-watch, short college romance drama. Aside from a couple episodes in the end that are frustrating for me to watch, this is a quick and light watch.
The leads have great chemistry and I like how their romance is slowly developed from misunderstood strangers to lovers. Bai Xiao Duo (FL) is an outgoing and fun girl on the outside, but she’s endured pain when growing up, thus, had to rely on lies to get through her adolescence. Su Yan Cheng (ML) is cold and aloof and hates lies due to his own family history. So, what will happen when someone who lies and someone who hates lies get together? Sounds great but the execution is only OK. There’s really not a whole lot of excitement.
However, I found myself really liking FL and not finding her annoying. Wang Zi Xuan did a good job playing this role in making this outgoing character over-the-top a little at times, but also suffers internally. I enjoy how the romance develops, and enjoy the leads earlier conversations before they get together when they would open up to each other. This is what frustrates me in the last few episodes when they stop communicating. I also particularly enjoy their first date before confession. It started off awkward and cute, but after the confession, they are so comfortable, flirty and intimate. I am quite surprised at the quick display of PDA, especially one particularly passionate and hungry kiss (too bad we don’t get more of those).
The supporting cast is supportive and fun. It’s weird to see Xu Bin play such a crazy and playful character in this drama, after seeing him in the BL “Stay with Me”. The secondary romance and the love square are fine and don’t take up too much screen time from the leads.
Since this is not a business romance, the comic stuff is just sort of there with the biggest focus of Black’s secret identity.. The same goes with the research that ML and his partner is doing. That research is quite laughable and unrealistic. Don’t take that seriously.
Since this is a lower budget production, there are lines that were dubbed over quite visibly due to either censorship or post-production adjustment. The makeup is all over the place and I hate seeing uneven white and pasty makeup. The songs are just there and not very memorable.
Overall, this is a good watch if you are looking for a light college romance, and can shut down your brain on the other aspects of the drama. Don’t think too hard. The leads' romance and chemistry are enough to make this somewhat enjoyable.
Completed: 3/8/2025 - Review #551
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Perfect as a beginner and palette-cleanser
Are you new to cdramas and need an easy one to get into the rhythm?Are you a veteran who has watched heavy in the feels dramas recently and want something warm, cozy and comforting?
Are you just not in the mood for caricature sml/sfl who are evil just for the sake of it?
If you answer yes then you absolutely must watch this drama!!! It is slow but fun, simple but enjoyable. You get to watch three separate couple with three different love stories, friendships, family, and lots of character growth.
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City of Romance – My Honest (and Slightly Sleepy) Review
Okay, so no breakups—yay for emotional stability, I guess? But let’s be real… this drama was sloooow. Like, sip-a-cup-of-tea-and-still-nothing-has-happened slow. The leads are cute (I'll give them that), but it felt like even they were half-asleep in some scenes. I’ve seen them both shine before, but this wasn’t one of their best performances.There was a tiny misunderstanding—because of course, what’s a C-drama without some miscommunication—but overall, it was just overly dramatic and somehow still boring. If you're looking for sparks and excitement, you might want to look elsewhere. This one felt like a pretty postcard with nothing written on the back.
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Cute and fluffy with an underlying deep message
This is one of those dramas perfect for when you want something cute, fluffy, and light to watch. I binged this drama over two days because it was so hard to stop once I started. The theme of the drama is lying and deception, which I hadn't seen much of in dramaland before, which made for a unique perspective that the story took onThe story is about the FL who continuously tells lies and a ML who despises lies and how despite their differing views come together. This drama also has plotlines for the main supporting characters, who are a friend group with the ML and FL that each bring something interesting to the overall story. The story did feel a bit cliche at times, but I think its focus on lying and deception made it so much more unique and interesting.
In the beginning, some of the FL's behaviors felt slightly annoying but made sense considering her past experiences, so it makes that less bad. But overall, I found myself rooting for her and really liking her as the story continued since the drama. This is especially aided by the fact that the story brings up a deeper conversation about lying and deception that I think almost everyone can at least somewhat relate to. I found the ML refreshing, especially since he's quiet but super respectful of the FL. The contrast between the ML who is more quiet and the FL who is more bubbly also made the story more interesting. I loved their relationship since they both uplifted and supported each other through each of their struggles. It felt like they were truly growing together, which is something I love to see in couples. Some of their moments together made me squeal and giggle so much because they are so cute together.
The leads' acting was the best as I could see and feel everything that they were portraying. What made me knock a few points off was the acting of some of the main supporting characters, which felt a bit too surface-level at some points. That didn't affect my enjoyment of the drama too much, but it was obvious to me a lack of emotional depth in some of the portrayals, which would have enhanced the impact of the story.
I would definitely comeback to this drama when I'm looking for something comfortable to enjoy.
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This review may contain spoilers
Cute, Complicated, and Kinda Addictive
A story that centers around Bai Xiaoduo, a college girl with a messy past—she used to struggle with her weight and now deals with the tangled web of lies she’s spun to protect herself. It sounds heavy, but the drama balances it all so well with themes like identity, trust, and growth, all set against the fun and colorful world of a college comic club.What really pulled me in, though, was the characters—especially the dynamic between Bai Xiaoduo and Su Yancheng. And let’s just say, hello slow-burn romance. Su Yancheng is secretly the mysterious comic creator Black, and the way he and Xiaoduo interact? So much tension, so much chemistry, and so many sweet moments that had me smiling like an idiot. Their relationship goes from awkward and guarded to something really deep and genuine. I loved watching that slow shift—it felt earned, not rushed.
And I really appreciated how the show didn’t sugarcoat things. It tackled some pretty tough stuff—bullying, trauma, the fallout from lies—and did it with real sensitivity. Xiaoduo’s backstory was heartbreaking but also gave her character so much depth. I found myself rooting for her, even when she made mistakes, because the show made her so relatable.
The side characters were also a total win. Xiao Yang was adorable in that shy, lovestruck kind of way. And then there’s the tangled drama with He Rui and Yu Shubo, which added so much flavor to the story. Their friendships, little rivalries, and complicated feelings made the whole group dynamic feel super real.
And I loved the comic club setting. It wasn’t just a backdrop—it actually tied into the story in a meaningful way. Seeing the behind-the-scenes of comic creation, and how passionate everyone was about it, added a whole new layer of depth. Plus, the mystery of Black’s identity kept things extra juicy.
Pacing-wise, the drama did a pretty solid job balancing fun, lighthearted moments with deeper emotional ones. The romantic beats—especially those big confessions and quiet, tender scenes—were so well done. You could really feel the emotions.
That said, not everything hit perfectly. A few scenes—like the escape room bit and the scene where Xiaoduo was jealous seeing Yu Chi and Su Yancheng have such good rapport—felt a little over-the-top or didn’t land quite right emotionally. Also, a couple of the misunderstandings felt a bit too convenient, like they were just there to stir the pot - Yu Shubo and Yu Chi, for instance.
But those hiccups aside, the ending wrapped things up in such a satisfying way. Everyone faced their demons, grew as people, and came out stronger. I especially loved how Black’s identity reveal and Xiaoduo’s acceptance felt so sincere. The whole message about being honest and true to yourself really stuck with me.
All in all, this drama was such a rewarding watch. It had heart, it had tension, and it had characters I genuinely cared about. If you're into stories that mix romance, personal growth, and creative passion, definitely give this one a shot.
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