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Romance is a Bonus Book: Review
Romance Is a Bonus Book, Romance Supplement, or Romance Is a Supplement is a collaboration drama between top actor Lee Jong-suk and top actress Lee Na-young, produced by tvN. This drama replaced the time slot that previously occupied by Park Shin Hye and Hyun Bin’s drama, Memories of the Alhambra. Romance Is a Bonus Book aired every Saturday-Sunday at 21:00 KST from January 26 to March 17, 2019. This drama also marks Lee Na-young’s return to the small screen after nine years and Lee Jong-suk’s first romantic comedy as well as his last appearance before his enlistment. This romantic-comedy-drama is a perfect watch for you who have been waiting for Lee Jong-suk’s new appearance as well as Lee Na-young’s comeback to the drama industry. If you are looking for a drama recommendation with light and entertaining stories set in a publishing company, this is it!
Synopsis:
A successful author and a senior editor at a book publishing company named Cha Eun-ho (Lee Jong-suk) meet a mother and former successful advertising copywriter Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young) when she saved him from an accident that happened in his childhood and even became injured from the accident. While Kang Dan-i was recuperating in the hospital and later on bed-rest for one year, Cha Eun-ho helps her acquiring books to read from the library. And due to that, Cha Eun-ho began to develop a strong interest in books. With that event, Cha Eun-ho and Kang Dan-i developed a strong friendship s until adulthood. Unfortunately, after Kang Dan-i started dating a selfish, inconsiderate man, their relationship began to deteriorate. In the end, Cha Eun-ho stands by her decision to marry this man even though he disapproved of her choice in a partner. Years later, Kang Dan-i helps Cha Eun-ho find a housekeeper from afar – with him having no idea Kang Dan-i helps her. Kang Dan-i even hides her living situation and the hardships she is facing as a divorced single mother with a large gap in work experience from her best friend, Cha Eun-ho. Eventually, Cha Eun-finds out Kang Dan-i’s secrets and lends her a helping hand. Kang Dan-i eventually works as a temporary task support worker at his publishing company, and their life became more intertwined. Kang Dan-i finally surpassed Cha Eun-ho’s and other senior executives’ expectations, who were worried about her performance with her creativity and hard work. The series focuses on the personal and professional challenges they face as Kang Dan-i, and Cha Eun-ho starts to develop romantic feelings.
Memorable Scenes
Romance is a Bonus Book is not a simple office romance. Frequently, it also offers a broad insight regarding hope and job-hunting process through Kang Dan-i’s relentless effort. In one of the final episodes, hopeless Kang Dan-i finally started her new job given by her old boss Ko Yoo-sun (Kim Yoo Mi), who is initially hostile toward her and even steal Kang Dan-i’s ideas. But in the end, Ko Yoo-sun has a positive change of character as she helps Dan-i to land a job at a small publishing company. And more, she even received a generous raise in her new job! Not only the main couple, but the side couple in this drama also brought a warm feeling to the viewers. Originally, Song Hae-rin (Jung Yoo-jin) has feelings for Eun-ho and even getting rejected after she confessed. The same thing happened to Ji Seo-Joon (Wi Ha-Joon), who held a genuine feeling for Dan-i and ended up getting friend-zoned. Luckily, it seemed like the two side characters will end up together as they develop a friendship upon having an unrequited love for the main characters. And finally, the perfect scene in the final episode where it seems like all the couples got beautifully together. From Hoon and Ji-yool who finally seals a kiss and Yoo Sun and chairman Kim Jae-min who ends up together. And of course, Cha Eun-ho and Kang Dan-i after years of devotion to each other! What a beautiful ending.
Final Episode
Reported by Nielson Korea, episode 15 of this drama received a rating of 5.018% on a national scale and 6.166% for the Seoul area. Whereas in episode 16, the tvN drama broke the record for airing with a rating of 6.651% on a national scale and 8.177% for the Seoul area. This noona romance drama was recorded to have a 7.2% rating in the highest point in the last episode. [SPOILER ALERT!] As expected by fans, the love story of Cha Eun-ho and Kang Dan-i ended happily. Not only that, but Kang Dan-i’s dream of returning to a publishing company also came true. In this last episode, all the secrets of writer Kang Dan-i were successfully revealed. Thanks to Cha Eun-ho, Ji Seo-Joon was able to see his father again and find out that his father tried to remember him despite suffering from Alzheimer’s. He forgives his father and is by his side at the last moment. Eventually, Kang Dan-i returns to the publishing company, where she prepares the ’10 people ‘project with Oh Ji-yool. Their first book which was painstakingly prepared, was poorly received by the members of the foundation because it did not fit the trend and would not sell. After much deliberation, the company decided to publish it, decided that it should publish books that have value and redeem sales with other books. The publishing company also decided to use a blind recruitment system in which they would judge based on skills, a clear indication of the change that Kang Dan-i had brought given how much she had been underestimated at first. Not enough there, Cha Eun-ho and Kang Dan-i finally closed the drama with a romantic gesture, giving fans a kiss scene in the final episode. Overall, this drama is an enjoyable watch set in a book publishing office, and this drama is certainly not far from the name of the book. The behind-the-scenes process of how books are published and sold (editing drafts, designing covers, laying out, printing, distributing, marketing, and making promotions for books that have been published) to thousands of books displayed in various scenes will make you enjoy and gain more knowledge in the publishing industry. Not only that, at the end of each episode, but sweet quotes will also be made as well as the contents of prose books. So cute! You will want to read a book after watching each episode.
