a little late but better than never!
2024 was a slow one… for books that is. actually, no books were read in the last half of 2024. 😁 my goal was to at least read 12 books but instead i entered my #kdramaERA and it was all downhill from there. if i’m honest, reading subtitles (because if you’re watching it dubbed, what are you even doinngggggg!!!) of 16 episodes is equivalent to 5 books that’s legit #girlmath for ya.
either way, books and k-drama are an escape. and we love those right?! esp in today’s hectic world. i love getting lost in a story and falling in love with characters and storylines (mainly romance). i think i talked a little about k-dramas before, but what i love about them is that they are cute, quirky, innocent. it’s sooooo different from american television. there’s no sex scenes and rarely any kissing - and if they do kiss, it’s farrr into the episodes. with k-dramas i liked being exported visually to a different place and it made me miss korea so much, i cannot wait to return to verify some of these things — like is subway really a thing there?, is the banana milk that good?! i also find it interesting how influential k-dramas can be. i find myself craving bbq chicken, i’ve bought soju and eaten more tteokbokki than i ever had my entire life, i’ve bought the kahi multi balm stick, i have the g-shock watch in my cart, i also have a yellow umbrella in my amazon cart… IYKYK. i also know i’m not the only one influenced by k-dramas!!! 😄 i love this phase of my life for me 🫰
one of the many cutest scenes in Crash Landing on You (CLOY)
books read //
i * my favorite book from this year. yep, just one 😄
again, a slow year on books but my friend and bookworm Anita has got you covered with her 2024 book roundup!
it happened one summer by Tessa Bailey*
if you loved Alexis from Schitt’s Creek, you should give this book a read! a cute read about about a IG-famous LA gal who is ends up in jail one night and her step father punishes her by sending her back to small hometown where she learns about her father’s past and falls in love. along the way, she learns about herself and capabilities. warning: it is SUPER steamy.
before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
ever ponder what you would do if you can go back or forward in time? this book is about a cafe in Japan where you can do just that! it’s a quick read with short stories that all weave together. it kind of makes you wonder, that even if you could go back of forward in time, would you still go if it wouldn’t change anything?
the true love experiment by Christina Lauren
this is the sequel to the soul mate equation featuring the friend who’s an author trying to find love and signs a contract do a reality dating show. somehow i liked the first book more.
hook, line, and sinker by Tessa Bailey
this is the sequel to it happened one summer featuring the sister. this was still cute but i think i liked the first book more?!
k-dramas watched //
i rated these on a scale of 10 since i’ve been talking non-stop to my friends about k-drama (whether they want to hear it or not) and of COUIRSE i have to give recommendations (whether they want to hear it or not)😁 i took into consideration on how quickly i finished it, or how sad i was that it was over, or how much i’ve re-watched it since, or how much i couldn’t stop talking about it 🥰
lastly, it would be remiss for me not to mention lovely runner which i just finished this year in 2025 but wow. just watch it. please.
crash landing on you — 10/10
it’s about a south korean heiress who finds herself in north korea from an paragliding accident.
vibes: pulls at your heartstrings, romantic, heartwarming
HANDS DOWN THE BEST KDRAMA. you’ll have to fight me on this one. this was my first k-drama and i was hooked. i had thoughts and wondered if it was a good or bad thing that i started my k-drama journey with this because i’m not sure anything could beat it. of course, i loved the love story, but also; the way it was told, it was funny, all the characters & personalities really resonated with me. it was eye opening how they depicted the north and south. i have re-watched this more times than i should probably share. 10/10 for me. ALSO, the two got married IRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ultimate swoon.
queen of tears — 9.5/10
it’s about a rich family that is brought together after being ripped apart.
vibes: pulls at your heartstrings, romantic, heartwarming (pretty much the same as CLOY)
hellooo Kim Soo-Hyun! i do confess, i watched this since Kim Soo-Hyun was in it — my first kdrama crush! can you blame me? my first drama i watched with him was it’s okay not to be okay and i was impressed by his acting and his ability to FRIGGIN cry. guys in the kdramas aren’t the typical toxic masculine guys. later, i learned that queen of tears is by the same writer who wrote crash landing on you, so clearly i love this author as these two are the highest rated of 2024 for me. i also have rewatched episodes from this. ALSO, this kdrama had the BEST soundtrack. i downloaded almost ALL the songs!!!
love next door — 9/10
it’s about a woman who returns to korea after living in the states and starts over in her childhood hometown.
vibes: complex, heartwarming, relatable
the title was a little misleading as i thought it would be a cute girl next door kind of romance. wrong. it was complex — in such a great way. the drama goes over a lot of complexities of life: whether it’s starting over, health issues, falling in and out of love, dealing with hyper-independence, not wanting to disappoint parents that is very prominent in asian culture. i LOVED how it was the most relatable k-drama i watched. ALSO, enter my second k-drama crush Jung Hae-In.
guardian: the lonely and great god (also called goblin) — 8.5/10
it’s about a goblin. and a grim reaper. and a highschooler. intrigued?
vibes: fantasy, past-present-after life, thought provoking
this one is an old k-drama from 2016 but it is ALWAYS HIGHLY RATED and regarded. i can see why. it was really good. i cried a ton watching this. even though it’s a fantasy k-drama, it really makes you wonder and think about past and after lives, what’s it’s like to be human vs. immortal.
what’s wrong with secretary kim — 8.5/10
it’s an office romance that goes back in time featuring the “girl next door” and her narcissistic boss.
vibes: cute, childhood mystery, funny, office romance
somehow i find myself re-watching random episodes of this for some reason. it’s just funny to see Park Seo-Joon play a narcissistic person but he’s totally not! i guess it’s one of those never judge a book by its cover? i’m also a sucker for a good opposites attract and this is just that! ALSO, enter my third k-drama crush Paek Seo-Joon!
business proposal — 8.5/10
it’s an office romance between the CEO whose grandpa sets him up on blind dates and one of them ends up being an employee who works for his company who volunteered to go in place of her friend.
vibes: cute, hilarious, super lighthearted!, office romance
i watched this one after it’s okay not to be okay because i needed a light hearted drama. this was IT! the only k-drama i didn’t cry in haha — rare! it’s probably the cutest, funny, and adorable k-drama i’ve watched to date.
it’s okay not to be okay — 8/10
it’s a goth-y k-drama featuring a “dark” writer with a mystery.
vibes: goth, dark, mystery
this one was more of a dark drama, but not in a bad way. it has goth elements to it, family drama, mental health. it was a good story and mystery too!
twenty five twenty one — 8/10
vibes: first loves, athletes, training, friendship
this one was about fencing! it was so interesting i learned a little about fencing and i watched it during the 2024 Olympics, ironically. it’s a story about first loves, fencing, and athletes. super interesting and cute.
descendants of the sun — 8/10
it’s a love story between a soldier in the korean special forces and a doctor in a war-torn country.
vibes: older k-drama, army, cute,
this was actually my mom’s favorite k-drama when she went through her phase. it was good but not as good as crash landing on you imo 😁, and we’ve debated it! haha, that’s also what i love about all this is that my mom has watched some of it so it’s something we bond on.
vincenzo — 7.5/10
it’s about an italian mafia lawyer who returns to korea to uncover gold and discovers other things along the way.
vibes: funny, law, revenge, crazy
this was my first lawyer k-drama so i wasn’t sure what to expect. it has a lot of sides to it and i liked the change of character especially for both leads who end up stepping into justice/their true self. also, there are some crazy characters on here so you gotta see it for yourself! the scene with the shaman made me bust out loud and almost into tears at 2 AM!!
hometown chachacha — 7/10
it’s about a dentist who decides to open her own practice in a small town in korea.
vibes: cute, small-town romance and characters, opposites attract
i always love a good story when people start all over with new beginnings and this one was just that. it’s about a dentist who decides to start over and moves to a small town in korea where she meets someone who is not even her type but they end up, you guessed it, falling in love.
love to hate you — 6/10
it’s about an attorney who hates losing and an actor who doesn’t trust women.
vibes: quirky, funny, opposites attract, cheesy
this one was funny & cute, super quirky and a fun opposites attract k-drama which i am alwayssss a sucker for.
what’s on my k-drama list to watch next:
marry my husband
one spring night
twinkling watermelon
my demon
destined with you
her private life
mr queen
boys over flowers
and soooo much moreee!!!
cheers to the #kramaERA!,
JD