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A story about Love, Friendship, Companionship, Colleagues and a love for books
"We make books".That's the motto of Gyeoroo Publishing.
"Romance is a Bonus Book" is a story about love, companionship, passion, and comfort - and shows that everyone is bound together in a book. In fact, it's up to us on how we interpenetrate this book which we've written. How is it that your favorite novel - which you've read countless times - somehow seems different the second time you read. How is it that amidst the quotes which used to be your favorite, you're finding new lines which you never bothered to look at before.
That's the story of Kang Dan Yi and Cha Eun Ho.
As a woman who once dreamed of pursuing her dreams and ambitions, Kang Dan Yi was compelled to marry a man at a young age, and leave behind the aspirations she once hoped to achieve. As a full-time housewife, and dedicating several years of her life raising her daughter and taking care of her husband, she got divorced.
In fact, that was the turning point in her life and career.
As an unemployed woman in her late 30's, it's hard for her to find a job in her expertise - despite her qualifications.
That's when her life gets tangled with her childhood friend - Cha Eun Ho - a Chief Editor and Co-Founder of a Publishing company, Gyeoroo.
What I love about this story is that isn't a mere romance. It's more than that. As viewers, we get to see the progression of Kang Dan Yi's life in the publishing company - and she teaches us many morals and life lessons along the way. In fact, I learned the in and outs of a book publication process through this drama, which is quite astonishing. A book isn't always about the story, but what makes the story worth reading. Seeing the behind the scenes and little celebration moments that the staff shared together after seeing their books get published is so wholesome and heart-warming. Outside of work, Gyeoroo Publishing is a huge family who've shared the ups and downs of life among themselves.
The romance. Ah, the romance. I was waiting to see Eun Ho's unrequited love for Kang Dan Yi being reciprocated, and it didn't disappoint me. They were so natural with one another, and every one of their interactions made me internally squeal. As childhood friends who've known each other for 20 years, changing their status from mere friends to lovers is difficult. Especially when you happen to be living together, and work at the same company. But these two are so adorably cute with one another, it's amazing. Their romance also highlights the fact that age doesn't matter when it comes to relationships - all that's necessary is a mutual love.
The side characters. I adored them. They added an extra fluffiness, humor and entertainment to the story - and it's so hard to let go of them (although we got a small glimpse of their epilogue :P). Ji Seo Joon began with being a love rival, but I soon came to love his character, especially after his interactions with Song Hae Rin (they're seriously adorable). And, Park Hoon and Oh Ji Yul's story was just hilariously cute! Those two never fail to put a smile to my face; seriously. I also loved that the drama implemented character's facing problems with their own love life too, like Seo Young Ah and Bong Ji Hong's divorce, and Go Yoon Sun's tragic history with her fiancee and her independent but lonely life.
Last, I loved the mystery aspect! It kept me so entertained throughout the drama. Even though it was a subplot, I kept trying to churn the gears in my head, trying to subconsciously figure out the 'mystery' behind Kang Byun Jun's novels and his career as an author. It was so well put together :)
All in all, I loved this show. 10/10 and would probably watch again.
(I loved the OST too!)
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sad? feeling down? watch it, cry a bit, feel determine to overcome the difficulties in life ......
i am currently rewatching. it is such a lighthearted and warm series! the lady has acted with such a grace! her expression in sad is heart wrenching. even though the story is not anything out of the box, but the simple story acted by lee jung suk and others was just something u need when u are feeling down. it is gonna make u cry in the frst episodes and then in the later ones u will feel the friendship, love and the affection u imagine to get from your friends, loved ones and the workplace people. the songs are pretty good. the view of lee jung is as usual heart stopping <3Was this review helpful to you?
A Beautiful Show for Book Peeps
I am a writer and a reader, so the storyline of this show touched me deeply. Seeing all these people bonding over a love for books as they discovered a love for each other made me all warm inside. It's probably my favorite drama right now. I never grew tired of it.Practically, the pacing was rather good, especially when it came to introducing and exploring the stories of side characters. They all felt like real people with realistic lives that were not always over-the-top, allowing you to relate to them. Of course, the chemistry between the main two was to die for (and I died for it with every little look they exchanged), so that was a strong glue that held the show together. Basically...
I loved it! I loved it! I loved it!
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Standard melodrama and is predictable. Good actors though.
Good story, premise, and actors; but it has a lot of the same melodramatic stuff going on when it comes to the triangle relationships. It is so predictable and I could guess exactly what was going to happen once a scene started. When i saw her pet the lost dog at the park i knew the SML was gonna show up LOL. Your standard melodramatic drama, but the premise is different so it was worth the watch. Wish they included her kid in the story more instead of just having her living in the Philippines and just mentioned as a part of her backstory. The leads do not get together til late in story like normal, but they do have a lot of nice moments with the build up. The ML is a genuinely nice guy who cares a lot for the FL who of course never saw everything she did for him until it all culminates and slaps her in the face. Even after he confesses she does not accept it...after everything he has done for her which would not be a problem, except she does have feelings for him so why reject him? Yeah there are superficial reasons you could say but that is your standard melodrama for you. To be frank the ML is kind of a simp which is normal for these melodramas i guess. He has unrequited love for decades while the FL marries and has a kid with someone else. He stalks her whenever he gets drunk. They make it romantic but it is all just melodramatic repetition.Good drama, but i am kind of getting tired of the same romantic tropes being overused, but that is not this dramas fault and more my bias. I am kind of upset I did not enjoy this drama as much because it is actually very good. I think i need to take a break from melodramas.
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I love Lee Jong-suk and saw several series he starred in. For this series, he is a successful editor who has been in love with his childhood bestfriend Lee Na-young. This is the first time I saw her act.In this series, it was mentioned that Na-young will be older (as per the series, gap of 5 years). But I feel she looks a tad way too old for Jong-suk. I mean, she is pretty and great actress but that’s my opinion only :). The series will revolve partly on how Na-young got married and stop working. But since she got divorced and has a kid to support to, she needs to find a job. But the thing is, since she didn’t work for quite sometime, she found it difficult to go back. I’m not really sure if this is the reality in South Korea. If it is, then it such a sad thing. This is a first time for me to encounter such a plot. So, I find it very interesting.
And since they are adult, I find it quite cute how they act as a couple. I’m not against second lead syndrome or having other characters shine in a series but for this one, hhhmm so far, there wayyy ttoooo many love stories going on. I mean, the funny “relationship” between Park Hoon and Oh Ji-yool is fine but I feel they are focusing too much on it. Anyway, they made-up for it by giving several cute, funny, lovely anddddd most of all kissing scenes between Jong-suk and Na-young.
In terms of the places they shoot the series, everything were lovely so far even the soundtrack which I have downloaded already. I will update my review once I’m done watching it. But so far, it’s very highly recommended!
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Anyway?the overall storyline is great. I like the publishing house setting?its pretty unique. I'm 100% for Eun-ho by the way. Originally I wasnt because he can be a little moody?but hes so cute and has really grown on me now. Dan-i's actress is wonderful and looks like kyary pamyu pamyu!! 10/10 best drama I've seen in a while. I work 60 hr weeks and I look forward to my free weekend evenings to watch each new episode!
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This is a nice relaxing drama to watch, no1 noona romance. The usual complications aren't present, the triangle is weak too, over the course of the 16 episodes nothing overly dramatic happens. The leads have good chemistry & the secondary characters are entertaining to watch too, for the most part. I like almost everything about it really. To mention some negatives, the last 2 episodes were really rushed, not all questions were answered in a satisfactory fashion and maybe the scenes felt a bit too structured, if that makes any sense. Was this review helpful to you?
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The story is interesting and coherent. The cast is hilarious and completely loveble. I simply adore the gap age going on. Its love based on friendship! I couldnt be happier with the characters choice. I dont know how it is gonna end but I hope it keeps as fantastic as it is until the end!
Also, I havent found it yet, but the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. I love every single song that plays in it (to be honest I think until now there are only 3 o 4 songs, but they are catchy and they work just fine with the story).
I give it a 10 and I recommend everyone to watch it!
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It was good until he refused to fight for her at work. More than once he lets that old hag screw Dani over and it’s sad because he’s a founding member of the company. Go over her head Jesus. Lost a lot of respect for his character. Not sure I’ll continue. After they take her name off the book it just gets harder to watch as he stands back while it happens and only puts in a few words to disagree with the hag but won’t go against her head on. Grow a spine man. Ugh. I am curious about the mystery but I don’t know if it will pull me in enough to save it.
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