Love Next Door was a whole different journey for me. The premise was pretty basic and nothing groundbreaking. Yes, the friends-to-lovers trope is familiar, but this drama brings a fresh perspective giving each character a unique identity and engaging journey.

Choi Seung Hyo - Initially the embodiment of the perfect architect - very talented and handsome (HaeIn in black and in those formal shirts hits on another level). Yet as we move forward in the drama, beneath his polished exterior, we see him grappling with insecurities tied to his past.
Bae Seok Ryu - Once a top-performing project manager in the US faces burnout and unexpected challenges and eventually returns home unemployed with the weight of unfulfilled expectations of her parents.

The evolution of their relationship from friendship to lovers was heartwarming. The pacing of the drama was excellent with seamless transitions between the past and the present and vice versa.
The romance was a slow burn but in the journey from friends to lovers, they rediscovered themselves first before jumping into a relationship plus the way they bickered with each other but still were there in tough moments offering unconditional support and care. Both of them were far from perfect, sometimes you would question their decision but somehow their motivations became clear as the drama progressed.

I am also glad that they didn’t stretch out a few clichéd plotlines. Once their issues were resolved, it became one of the best dating eras I’ve seen so freakin' romantic that it might just give me a sugar rush!

Our second couple - DanHo and MoEum. As individual characters, they were the best second leads. DanHo is such a good samaritan. Whenever he was on screen it made me happy. MoEum is the best friend I want in real life. However, their love story felt a bit underdeveloped and rushed, especially toward the end. I’m a bit frustrated that they had the chance to give us a perfect story but ultimately it fell short.
Also would like to point out, how instead of being against each other, all the leads were one team. It was nice to see the friendship between the 4 of them.

It happens very rarely that I get intrigued by the stories of supporting characters but here I was totally invested in them, especially Sseung's parent's love story. I see where Sueng Hyo gets his loser-ism from. xD
Another entertaining aspect was the friendship between the lavender ladies. They animated chats about their adult children, each of them boasting about accomplishments with a mix of pride and playful competition. Yet amid the light-hearted bragging, there was a sense of support. However, I wish they had written Mi-suk's (FL's Mother) character better so that she would understand how to treat her "adult daughter" as an "Adult". Though she eventually came around but it was pretty frustrating.

The Dad duo weren't behind. Their bonding drinking sessions were among the funniest things about this show.
I didn't particularly care about DongJin but he had no character development. The story would still be the same without him. He was just there to show how parents treated both their children differently. Thats it.

Overall, for me, this was more than a romcom. It was a nuanced story of personal growth, love and healing. The drama resonated long even after each episode ended somehow reminding me that understanding ourselves and the people around us is both complex and sometimes profoundly beautiful. It also reminded me that life can be pretty overwhelming and filled with challenges, but hope can emerge from the messiness of it and guide us towards the light.

I may have delved deeper than necessary into the drama but the 8 weeks journey was a treat. The real-life parallels made this extra special for me. I know it has FLAWS but I am willing to overlook them for the sheer enjoyment it has given me.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this. <3