If You Read These Books…Try These K-Dramas: Romance Edition Vol.5
Hello Everyone! As you know, I’m a big fan of Korean dramas and Romance novels. I’m back again to recommend more Romance novels that can be paired up with Korean Dramas and vice versa.
Each book or show centers around a romance or has romance included in the storyline. I hope you all enjoy these personal picks and come away with some new books and TV shows to watch!
To see the previous roundup of recommendations, click here.
Secret Crush Seduction follows Garret’s younger sister Adelaide (second installment in the series) who is a hard working career woman at the Hansol Corporation. She is determined to shed the image of her party girl image so that she can move up in her family’s company. To do so she enlists the help of Michael, Garrett’s best friend and PR expert to help her with a large charity event. But working with Michael proves to be difficult due to her long term feelings she’s always had for him. The romance was good balance of sweet and steamy scenes and I liked how it developed over the course of the story.
In Business Proposal, disguised as her friend, Ha-ri shows up on a blind date to scare away her friend’s prospective suitor. However, plans go awry when he turns out to be Ha-ri’s CEO and he makes a proposal. It’s funny, entertaining, and wacky as it plays on a lot of common K-Drama tropes. The casting is key in this show and Kim Sejong as the lead really charms the audience. And Ahn Hyo-Seop as the male lead is so handsome. Every episode is enjoyable to watch and it’s a show that makes me laugh out loud.
Why You Should Watch/Read: Office Romance, Opposites Attract
Duel with the Vampire Lord follows Floriane is who is intelligent and strong-willed. Her confidence and quick thinking in times of danger makes her a character to root for. I thought the concept of a forge maiden was unique along with the vampiric elements Kova chose to write into the story. The plot twists were pretty surprising and I appreciated the coming-of-age themes when it came to Floriane’s journey. The castle and village setting was mysterious and some of the creatures that emerge from the darkness of night spooked me when it came to the battle scenes.
The Sweet Blood can best be described as a supernatural romance with some fun elements of mystery and suspense. It is about Yeon Seo is a 118 year old half-vampire that wants to live an ordinary human life, so she enters high school. The show has plenty of action scenes and an interesting mystery to solve!
Why You Should Watch/Read: Sexy Vampires, Action-Packed, Supernatural Elements
Imperfect Chemistry is a mostly lighthearted rom-com about Lucy a girl with a cut and dry/clinical personality who starts to fall for Jensen her next-door neighbor when she asks him to participate in a set of experiments. I liked the progression of their relationship and it felt natural and not rushed despite being a fast-paced book. The romance is equally sweet and steamy. It’s a love story where opposites attract and help each other to become more open to the world around them.
Love Playlist can best describe it as a slice of life/romance story which follows a group of friends. There are love triangles, crushes, breakups and each episode shifts to a new povs so we get to see multiple sides of the story. It’s cute, fluffy, and enjoyable to watch. . I think what really makes this show stand out is the chemistry between the actors and their ability to convey each character’s emotions.
Why You Should Watch/Read: College Setting, Self-Discovery Journey
Only Lovers in the Building is a whimsical and fun romance novel that is an ode to romance novels and their stories. The two main characters, Ben and Lily, are both avid readers who spark up a connection through books and the attraction is instant. Two have very different viewpoints on romance on the pages and in real life (Lily is a Romantic and Ben is not). Rather than coming off an an enemies-to-lovers trope in the novel their story is one of understanding, growth, and healing from the past.
Hometown Cha Cha Cha feels like “chicken soup for the soul”! It’s cozy, funny, romantic, and has even made me cry at times but I still recommend it. It feels like a very realistic drama about life, navigating through complicated pasts, and overcoming fear. The seaside village setting is breathtaking and each one of the town’s people has their special charm making the show entertaining to watch. Like Only Lovers in the Building the story is about healing from the past.
Why You Should Watch/Read: Beach/Sea Side vibes, A Colorful Ensemble Cast, Healing Journey
Swear on This Life is a contemporary novel about a woman who finds out her first love wrote a book about their past. Emiline, our narrator, is aspiring writer who is stuck in her life. She has extreme writer’s block, doesn’t really feel a connection in her current relationship, and she is unsure of the direction she should take in her life. Revisiting her past helps her to move on and move forward.
True To Love’s main character Bo Ra, tries to cope with heartbreak while working on a new novel about winning over your ex. We see multiple scenes within the publishing company along with Bo Ra’s social experiments that she uses to write material for her newest book. The characters stay true to themselves which I really appreciated. The show has a message that resonates with its viewers about living each day as if there’s no tomorrow while planning a forever. Bo Ra has her own journey of self-realization while writing that whole book which is done so well
Why You Should Watch/Read: A Writer’s Journey, Navigating Romantic Obstacles
Have you watched any of these Korean Dramas or read any of these books? What pairings would you recommend? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
