El amor es un capítulo aparte (2019)

Serious or Fun?

As others have written, I felt that this romance lacked passion. But my main issue was that it felt the writers were torn between serious and silly fun. The Gangnam Leopard scene and rich mom suggested silly fun, but then we had the suicide of the poet and the medical condition of the missing author. I'm ok with the a mix of fun and serious, but when the fun seems implausible (like the middle aged female being the biggest draw at a night club for a younger crowd) it lessened the impact of the serious. Regardless, i was bored through the middle episodes, but found myself genuinely enjoying the last three.

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Sweet slice of life with an unusual setting! My favorite drama!

I fell in love with this drama. I love that this is set in the publishing world and a noona romance. I love the leads and all the side characters. This drama is sweet without being tacky or grotesque. Its story, despite some harsher elements, depicts the twists and turns of adult life in a comforting way. Even the colors on screen tend to be on the warmer side, which is part of why watching it feels like sipping hot tea on a snowy day.
I feel like this drama cradled me in its hands and told me everything was going to be OK. We've all had our failures and tragedies. We all feel, at one point or another, like life has passed us by. But just like Dan-i, we can try again. We deserve to find our purpose and our victories.
RIABB is beautiful, funny, evocative, warm and sweet. I watched it twice, then watched it again with my husband who loved it and declared it to be his favorite drama as well. Watch it if you love books, noona romances or comforting slice-of-life dramas with endearing characters.

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Love amidst books

Romance is a bonus book is a slice of life kdrama that captures the highs and lows of life in the most beautiful, vivid and captivating manner. The drama revolves around a woman, Kang Dan Yi, who puts her career on hold to focus on her marriage and raise her daughter. Unfortunately, her marriage ends in a divorce leaving her penniless, homeless and jobless. Kang Dan Yi seeks help from her best friend, Cha Eun Ho.
As no company wants to hire someone who has been on a career break for years, Dan Yi bets on the one thing she knows best; her love for books and takes up a task support job at a publishing company where her friend Eun Ho is a chief editor. In the quest for achieving professional excellence alongside great friendship, their true feelings for each other comes to light.
The drama is uplifting, inspiring, comforting, motivating and realistic. The story thrives on the ordeals and struggles people go through to get a job especially those who haven't worked for a while. The drama captures the reality on the ground; the tears, disappointments, failed interviews and hopelessness of the unemployed.
However, this drama offers comforts and motivates one not to give up with the hope that there will surely be light at the end of the tunnel. Dan Yi's situation was pitiful and discouraging. This is a woman who couldn't even afford to buy herself a new pair of shoes. She could have shrank but she didn't. She continued to press on and even as a task support, she took on big tasks and contributed accordingly. At the end, her life took a positive turn.
The drama also portrays the day to day activities of a publishing company, Gyeoroo Publishing, which is the main setting of this drama. Every step involved in book publishing is shown and it appreciates the work of key players such as the editor, book designer, marketing and sales team, the illustrator etc. It also highlights the struggles publishing companies go through to make sure a book is a success.
The romantic aspect is not left out either. Dan Yi, in her quest to overcome the challenges of life finds love with her friend Eun Ho. Their romance is soft, sweet, beautiful and healthy. Friends to lovers and Noona romance troupe is exhibited in this drama; one that would make you smile, cringe and make your heart flutter as well.
This drama is one I'd call a masterpiece or a skillful piece of film making. If you're a fan of books, friends to lovers troupe, interested in the publishing world or in need of a drama to comfort you and give you a ray of sunshine, then this drama is for you.

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Warm, Cozy, Friends to Lovers with a Bookish Backdrop

This show. This show. *This show*. How do I even begin to describe it?

Is it the best kdrama ever? Probably not. Does it feel like it to me and is it my favorite out of everything I've ever watched? Yes.

I wish I could properly describe how incredibly wonderful this show is. It's probably not for everyone. If you're looking for something super dramatic and crazy and intense, this isn't it. Come back to it later when the chaos around you is too much and you need something soft and quiet and cozy to wind down to. This is it.

Romance is a Bonus Book is warm. It's quiet in that it sort of sneaks up on you. You're enjoying it but you don't realize *how much* until you're in too deep. It's literally the equivalent of a steaming cup of tea (or hot chocolate, whatever your poison is) by the fireplace. It's *beautifully* written, the romance is soft and quiet just like the rest of the aesthetic of the show, but it's *so welcome*. I didn't realize how tired of problematic leads I was until this show. The ML is literally *the* most unproblematic, wholesome, beautiful, wonderful ML I've ever come across. There were scenes where I literally could not stop grinning because of him (and the FL). I also really loved the FL. She's incredibly strong and there's this quiet strength to her that really drew me in from the very moment she was on screen.

There isn't a *single character* I dislike (except for random people that show up once or twice but barring them). Scratch that, there isn't a single character I don't like and/or love. Every character is unique and brings something really special to the storyline. This isn't a plot-driven drama, it's a character-driven one, so this is incredibly important. Each character is like this thread in a larger, gorgeous tapestry. One after the other, their lives weave together and create this beautiful thing that is this show. The cast is great, the acting is wonderful, and I just love everyone! (I've always heard great things about Lee Jong-Suk and this show *truly* showed me why. Guess who's watching While You Were Sleeping Next?)

This show is about strength, about resilience, about friendship, and love. It's very beautiful to see the different kinds of love that people can have for a person, and how that love can develop/change over time. It's just ... ugh I love it so much. If you're looking for a friendship to lovers, this is it. This is wholesome and beautiful and makes me happy. The side couple is also *incredibly cute* and I love them to pieces. So much. As individuals and together, and that is so rare!

All of this, added to the absolutely *gorgeous* backdrop/theme of a book publishing company and it's the best thing I've ever seen. The publishing house is so clean and brightly lit, you love every scene spent there. Not only are you surrounded by books, but by people who love and cherish them too. The literature references, the way people talk about books, the different references to quotes/deeper things was just the bow that wrapped the present that is this show all together. It brings everything together so so beautifully. As a lover of literature, just the book storylines/backdrops alone were enough to make me like this show. Pair it all with the flawed but incredibly wonderful characters and it's now my favorite show ever.

It's not without its faults, don't get me wrong but the good far *far* outweighs the little things I'm not the biggest fan of. A certain storyline could have been handled better (or just omitted altogether), and I admit I sometimes want those fireworks/epic love kind of romances, but that's just not this show's style. It's just so soft and warm and cozy, so welcoming and quietly deep, when it ended, I lowkey teared up but they weren't sad or happy tears they were just ... wow this is done. I have to leave this show now.

I definitely plan on rewatching because just thinking about it makes me want to smile like an idiot.

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Livros e Romance... Como pode dar errado?

Uma mistura de romance, comédia, drama e livros. Como diz no título. O que poderia dar errado? Nada, pelo menos nada significativo que posso estragar essa experiencia incrível.
Vi esse dorama em 2019 e agora em 2023 vi novamente, apenas para comprovar as minhas certezas antes de fazer uma resenha. Posso dizer que foi igualmente maravilhoso, se não mais do que na primeira vez. Com certeza veria uma duzia de outras vezes, sem reclamar.
Eu recomendo.

A partir de agora é possível ter spoilers:
Personagens principais - Kang Dan-i é a típica mulher que faria de tudo por seu "amado"e sua família, uma mulher dedicada, amorosa, fiel aos seus sentimentos e acima de tudo, muito forte. A busca desesperada que ela tem por um emprego - seja ele qual for -, sendo mãe solteira e tendo sido traída e deixada sem nada, mostra muito do que vai ser entregue nesse arco: Dedicação e esperança acima de tudo. "Dança poderosa", como Dan-i diria. Gosto muito dela, uma ótima atriz (Lee Na-young) que nos entregou um ótimo desenvolvimento de personagem.
Já o Cha Eun-ho (interpretado pelo conhecido Lee Jong-suk), no começo me passou um sentimento de falta, mas que foi logo preenchido por um personagem de muitas camadas e marcas do passado. Todo o peso que ele carrega, não só em relação a Dan-i, mas também por causa de seu "pai" e fundamental para entendermos esse personagem que mesmo enfrentando situações difíceis consegue continuar sendo um ótimo homem.

Personagens Coadjuvantes
*Song Hae-rin (Jung Yoo-jin) entrega tudo, mesmo sendo confundida com uma bruxa no começo. Ela me marcou, me fazendo pensar em mim mesma e na minha relação com edição, livros e escrita.
Então, não da pra falar de Hae-rin e não falar de Seo-joon. Ji Seo-joon (Wi Ha-joon) é introduzido para nós como um possível obstáculo entre o casal principal - assim como Hae-rin em certos momentos - o que pode deixar o famosos "shippam errado" loucos - não foi o meu caso. Porém, o homem simples que serviu para cativar e animar Dan-i no começo evolui e mostra inumeras camadas e inseguranças, além do desejo de conhecer o amor e seu pai. Os dois formam um casal que se forma aos pouquinhos, de um jeito bem fofo e dorameiro coreano. Que encanta com a simplicidade e as briguinhas típicas. Uma verdadeira flecha do cupido no momento certo.
Não vou me estender muitos nos outros porque são muitos, todos com um lugar especial no meu coração.
Com destaque para:
"Casal" desengonçado:
Oh Ji-yool (Park Gyu Young)
Park Hoon (Kang Ki-doong)
Casalzão, surpreendentes. Poderia escrever mais sobre eles hehe:
Go Yoon-sun (Kim Yoo-mi)
Kim Jae-min (Kim Tae Woo)
Chefe de marketing que todo mundo queria e mulher empoderada:
Seo Young-ah (Kim Sun-Young)

Narrativa/enredo no geral
Romance is a Bonus Book tem romance. Aqui você não verá cenas quentes, mas verá relacionamentos evoluindo e se construindo de momentos pequenos, até virar uma fofura completa.
O escritória, ambiente de trabalho onde se passa a maioria das cenas, é simplesmente incrível - meu sonho de empresa. Nele vemos funcionários dedicados, que amam livros e dão seu máximo para que essas perfeições cheguem perfeitas nas prateleiras. Da pra sentir o amor deles só pelo jeito que trabalham e falam sobre o assunto. Cada um com sua particularidade e sentimento diferente. Não teve um personagem que eu odiei, nem a Srta. Go hahaha
Aqui coloco o único defeito que encontrei nesse dorama... Porque demora tanto para o casal principal rolar? Para mim já era óbvio a um tempo (primeiro beijo no ep 8 seria perfeito hehe). Entendo os obstáculos, medos e anseios dos dois, além da amizade de anos e o ambiente de trabalho, mas poxa, podia ter rolado bem antes. Só não fiquei mais decepcionada, porque é típico de romances coreanos.

Além disso a única coisa ruim desse dorama é que não existem mais episódios ou uma margem para uma 2° temporada. Porque sinceramente, veria esses personagens serem desenvolvidos por mais um bom tempo. Porém, não posso reclamar. O final é encaixado, fecha as portas que abre durante a história, entrega suspense básico, climão, curiosidade e uma surpresa que para alguns pode não ser tão surpreendente - aqueles que entendem mais rápidos -, mas que não podem negar que é bem bacana.

Para finalizar tenho que dizer que foi um dorama que realmente me encantou por diversos motivos, mas principalmente pelo carinho pelos livros... não só por eles, mas também pelos editores, produtores, escritores, desenvolvedores, equipe de marketing e todos que fazem parte da produção de uma editora. De como todos são igualmente importantes para que no fim, seu livro esteja na sua estante, em perfeito estado. Impossicel terminar essa série sem uma minima vontade de ler hahaha
Romance Is a Bonus Book me deixou de coração quentinho, do começo ao fim e ainda me deu alguns sentimentos importantes, como o respeito, felicidade e reforçou o meu amor por editoras e seus livros.
Simplesmente
"Sinto o cheiro de um best-seller" - Kim Jae-min

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...

the production was good, I can't complain .
I also say that the performance was incredible, it would be a sin if I complained.

I love the actors, I loved the characters.

Of course, not everything is perfect, I can't lie, but what a drama that doesn't have a single flaw.

So in conclusion, I recommend...

I say it's worth watching, maybe it's bad for some, but for me it was good.

This is just my opinion, you better watch it and have your own opinion.

I don't know what to say, because I think everyone has their own opinion.

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Good but dragged out

it was a pretty good show and I did enjoy it, but many times through out watching it I wished that it would hurry up and finish because I feel like it drags out so much without explanation. the last episode or two really make up for it because it ties everything off but before then it just makes it hard for me to care about what's happening since I dont know what's going on. also, the main FL has a daughter but shes only mentioned like 4 times which erks me a lot lol, I wish we could have seen the daughter at the end of the show. The side characters love story was more interesting to me then the main love story... like there was times I wished the main leads would hurry up with their "cute" banter bc it'd be like 10 mins of them just laughing and giggling with nothing happening but it added nothing and I didnt care about them enough to enjoy it. overall it's an okay show, a nice watch I suppose but definitely not in my top picks

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A cozy noona romance

I give this drama a 7.5/10. I rarely see a romance drama involving an older woman and a man younger than her and I could say that this doesn't disappoint. This show radiates comfortableness and hope. Although I admit there is nothing new in this drama and rather bland. But I don't think just because it is bland it is boring already. The actors and actresses carried their role well that's why I didn't find it boring. The OSTs are bangers too. There is not much chemistry between the leads but they don't look bad together. I think it is good to watch if you want something not heavy and stressful.

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MUITO BOM!

Romance is a bonus book pode ser uma drama com um enredo simples, mas muito bom! Ele é fofo, com um casal que foi de friends to lovers ❤️
Gosto dos personagens principais, e confesso que shippei certo, para mim, esse é um dos dramas mais difíceis de se shippar errado.
Porém, na minha opinião tiveram dois defeitos: a história ser um pouco lenta (demais!), principalmente para o casal ficar junto, claro que a história deles faz o casal demorar mais para começar a finalmente namorar, mas por mim, demorou até demais para isso acontecer! Outro defeito é que eu achei que apareceu muito pouco a filha da protagonista, claro que a história não é em torno dela, mas como a filha é parte da família, e ainda mais da personagem principal, achei que no drama poderia aparecer mais sobre ela, já que só aparece nos primeiros episódios, onde fala sobre a história da FL.
Em geral, esse é um drama muito bom!! Realmente gostaria de assistir de novo, mas com a sensação de como se fosse a primeira vez! Além deste ser o drama em que o Lee Jong Suk (em minha opinião) está mais gatinho 🤭

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Portrait of a companionship

It's a nice drama for those who love books. The struggles behind writing and publishing are so interesting, I really don't know if it's like this in reality or if they just romanticized, but for sure is interesting. Some story odd parts made me think "gosh, why?", but I just decided to not be so demanding, and accepted it in my heart.

Dan Yi and Seo Joon relationship was so dreamy, and I just loved the dog. They lost a great chance of steal our hearts just because they had a dog in scene. But I would totally fall in love if I get that scallion plush toy.

All secondary roles were so full of life, and I really appreciate they gave us an ending for each one.

My complainings goes to main couple, of course. I've seen Jong Suk in a few romantic roles, always playing this good boy, and is never disappointing, though sometimes I can't help but thinking it could be a bit different role. First time watching Na Young acting and it was okay, but nothing remarkable, although really broke my heart how she was always emotionless even when Eun Ho was putting so much effort to make her realize he had feelings for her. Even kissing scenes were super meh. But I do admit their relationship is a portrait of how companionship should be, spending time together, supporting and caring for each other.

So if you're not eager to watch super breath-taking kisses, it's a good drama.

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I came to watch this series purely for the way it presented itself as a fluffy, simple romance - something I needed after watching all the heart aching melodrama I've been watching recently. And that's exactly what it was.

STORY: 7.5/10

There are many things I liked about the general synopsis of the story. The main female lead's situation was unlike anything I had heard of before in fluffy romance; especially their age difference. It gave some sort of message that even after you've peaked in your youth, and it seems life is over for you - there's still hope that things will get better. I loved the whole concept of the book metaphors being used throughout the series, and the entire thing taking place within a publishing company - as a writer and aspiring editor myself, many of the dialogues about how much books can affect and change the world, and how much they mean to the writers and everyone behind it touched my heart and made it easy to relate. The direction of the story was well written and left us with a cute, sentimental yet open ending.

Dani's struggle through her career and the many subplots that circulated around the company, however, were the main thing that kept me going through the series. As the other reviews may suggest, there was a point where they were just dragging everything along, and I found the melodrama undertone of the story to be a bit lacking and weak when it came to the intensity of it all. I feel like the main point of this drama was just to showcase those "cute couple moments," since that's most of what came out of it between the main leads. In the beginning, I was far from hating it, but it kept going on in the most random situations that it just seemed out of place and way too corny for even me, the romance enthusiast's, taste.

Not only that, I found it a bit weird that Eunho just assumed she liked him back and that's what started their relationship. There was a lack of that realization of "Woah, I've loved her for so long and now she finally returns my feelings!" that I was incredibly hopeful for. I also wanted more on Dani's part on how she started seeing him differently, and how her feelings for him were different from the other men she's dated previously. Simply put, I wanted more depth in how their romantic relationship developed instead of it just flashing into this whole cutefest of snuggling and kissing. I also wanted there to be more about Dani as a mother - that was the main thing that disappointed me about this drama. Her daughter literally appeared once or twice and was only mentioned once in the last episode - but it would've been nice to have the main female lead of a romance drama be seen as someone who is mature and motherly more often.

ACTING/CAST: 7/10

There was nothing remarkable about the acting between the cast members. The chemistry between the main leads was perfect and cute, allowing them to really seem like lifelong best friends (I heard somewhere that LJS said that Lee Na Young was his ideal type? Good for him). I loved some side characters (I will protect Ji Seo-jun with my LIFE), and also really liked the feminist undertones when it came to Dani, Ji-yul, Ms. Go, and Ms. Seo. Each woman sacrificed the lives planned out for them because they wanted to live the way they wanted to.

The publishing employees were all very lovable in general and their dynamic as a whole hardworking family was very fun. The comedy (with the trenchcoats, especially) made this series much more lighthearted and rendered some smiles and giggles from my part. Overall, the cast had great chemistry with one another and made me feel like I was even a part of their gang.

MUSIC: 8/10

I am a BIG The Black Skirts fan, so having some of their songs being played was absolutely wonderful. The music, in general, was very soft and fitted into the whole aesthetic of the show just right.

REWATCH VALUE: 8/10

As this doesn't allow any big emotional toll, I might give this show a rewatch in the future, simply for the cute moments.

OVERALL: 7.5/10

Although the concept of the drama was interesting, the way it played out didn't amount to what I actually expected and had much more potential plot-wise. However, it did perfectly as a way to have the audience go "Awww" at Lee Jong Suk being a cute boyfriend and tried it's best to remain interesting and poetically consistent. With lovable characters and beautiful imagery of the literature and writing world, it is a drama that is absolutely perfect for those who simply want some lighthearted fluff and to leave with a full heart and a smile on their face.

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