kim

i went into whale store xoxo kind of cautious since a lot of people were saying it was boring, or that it wasn’t as strong as the other 2025 gls. but honestly, i ended up really enjoying it. a thai gl where the adults actually act like adults?? refreshing. no dragged-out misunderstandings, no evil fathers, no overly dramatic blowups — just two women who communicated, forgave, and understood each other. even manmook, who was supposed to be the antagonist, had such a well-done conversation with mae instead of being turned into a cartoon villain.

this was my first milklove drama so i didn’t know what to expect, but i thought both leads were great. they were so cute together without being cringey, and whenever things leaned into cheesy, it was played off with humor — exactly what a rom-com should be.

now… the side couple. that’s where most of my point deductions come from. their storyline felt weak, and tonnam didn’t really have much depth outside of waiting around for chompoo. the dynamic was a little too much for me compared to the main couple.

the pacing overall was perfect — nothing felt dragged, nothing felt rushed. i also loved the way the drama built a sense of community. all the side characters added so much, and the show touched on real-life struggles like grief, debt, financial stress, single mothers, and even victim blaming. it slowly started to feel less like just a romance and more like a family story.

my only real gripe is the ending — i kinda wish they hadn’t gotten married. it felt a little unrealistic/too soon, but i get that they wanted a wrapped-up happy ending.

overall, whale store xoxo is an easy-to-watch, comfort rom-com with depth and heart. i’d recommend it to anyone who wants something light but still meaningful. 9/10.