Image: Google

Title: To My Star

Director: Hwang Da Seul

Scriptwriter: Park Young

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Youth

Stars: Son Woo Hyun, Kim Sang Min, Ko Jae Hyun, Jeon Jae Yeong, Kim Jin Kwon, Han Ji Won

Watched on WeTV

Actor Kang Seo Joon was once one of South Korea’s biggest and most popular stars, but his career is now in decline. Despite his fall in popularity, he believes he has had a change of fortune when he meets and falls for a dashing young chef named Han Ji Woo.

Despite having wildly different personalities, the two enter a relationship. However, their love comes under threat when the more conservative Han Ji Woo and the free-spirited Kang Seo Joon realize that their outlooks on life, love, and everything else appears irrevocably different.

***

Honestly, I don't remember how I found this series. But, since I still want to watch a BL drama, I decided to find a good recommendation for it. Then, it turned out To My Star is one of the best.

The story

To My Stars tells the story of Kang Seo Jun, an actor with a declining career because of some misunderstanding rumours. In order to avoid the press' attention, Seo Jun's agency asked him to stay low and move to Han Ji Woo's place. Well, to be exact. Ji Woo, a young and talented chef, rented a room from Seo Jun's boss. Therefore, it's effortless for Seo Jun to stay at Ji Woo's place.

Both of them have very different personalities. Ji Woo is a quiet type, meanwhile, Seo Jun has the very opposite personality. At first, I don't know how their story would be developed, but, how Seojun is being honest toward Ji Woo and how Ji Woo gives special attention to Seojun, is enough to make me melt.

What I really like

One thing I remember for sure is how this series didn't make me cringe. I still remember how I really struggled when watching Cherry Winter After Blossoms. Yes, I am aware that the setting is different. But, To My Star is way better than CBAW. Seo Jun and Ji Woo's chemistry is built little by little. It just makes my heart warm watching it. 

Then, I loved how Ji Woo started to care for Seo Jun. He knows how Seo Jun still got trauma from his past. The way Ji Woo knows how to make Ji Woo calm. I love their intimate relations on this.

In my opinion. this mini-series definitely need a continuation story--and I am glad they have released the second season. I would do a separate review for it.

Conclusion

To My Star is a very good BL story. Even though it looked so simple, this mini-series definitely deserved more and more love. 

7.5 out of 10 stars

Sincerely,

Ra

Image: Amazon, edited by me

Title: The Cheat Sheet
Author: Sarah Adams
Narrator: Renee Dorian and Teddy Hamilton
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC.
Date of publication: December 14th 2021
Duration: 8 hours, 57 minutes

Listening on Storytel

Is it ever too late to leave the friend-zone?

Hi, my name is Bree Camden, and I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend and star quarterback Nathan Donelson (so is half of America, judging by the tabloids and how much the guy dates). The first step is admitting, right? Except, I can never admit it to him because he clearly doesn’t see me that way, and the last thing I want is for things to get weird between us.

Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for us! Everything is exactly how I like it! Yes. Good. (I’m not crying, I’m just peeling an onion.)

Our friendship is going swimmingly until I accidentally spill my beans to a reporter over too much tequila, and now the world seems to think me and Nathan belong together. Oh, and did I mention we have to date publicly for three weeks until after the Super Bowl because we signed a contract with...oops, forgot I can’t tell anyone about that!

Bottom line is, now my best friend is smudging all the lines and acting very un-platonic, and I’m just trying to keep my body from bursting into flames every time he touches me.

How am I going to make it through three weeks of fake dating Nathan without anything changing between us? Especially when it almost-sort-a-kinda seems like he’s fighting for a completely different outcome?

Send help.
XO Bree

***

So, in order to finish this book, I tried to listen to it on Storytel. Well, at first, it's hard to catch the story, but the more I think about it, it's fun to listen to an audiobook.

The Friendzone

Bree is hopelessly in love with her best friend, Nathan Donelson. Nathan is a star quarterback and very popular. However close are they, Bree never got a chance to admit her feeling. Well, to be exact, she didn't want to admit it because she believe that Nathan doesn't feel the same and that confession will ruin their friendship.

On the other hand, in fact, Nathan has the same feeling as Bree. He also has the same fear. He doesn't wanna losing Bree if he confessed to her. So, just like that. Bree and Nathan are avoiding to confess to each other because they don't think the other party has the same feeling as theirs and, their friendship is more important than anything else.

One day, Bree accidentally spills something personal about her and Nathan to a reporter because she is too much drunk. It's inevitable. The world finally knows what's happening. As Nathan is practically a celebrity, his agent offers an opportunity for Nathan, but it will involve Bree. So, after that, the journey of a fake relationship between Nathan and Bree is begun.

Just be honest

After all this time, I believe being honest with each other is very important. Even though I ain't into that level, I understand sometimes we just don't wanna ruin our friendship if we are trapped in a friendzone. I believe, it will be better if we can be honest first. Whether it will be a good thing or end up being awkward. Confessing with someone, moreover to your friend, will be hard. But, doing nothing and keeping silent won't bring any good, too.

Just like Bree and Nathan. Since this novel uses two POVs, it feels so frustrating when they actually like each other but still overthink about the others. I mean, sometimes it annoyed me. Assuming about everything won't give a clear answer and it just makes you feel stupid, or more, like a fool.

What I like

Not much that I like about this novel. Neither from Bree's character nor Nathan's. But if I have to choose, I appreciate how Nathan tried to pay Bree's bill without saying anything. He also knows what's the important thing for Bree. Start from Bree's dream to make an affordable ballet dance class for any girl who is interested in it.

Other than that, I don't think I have another favourite scene.

Conclusion

I really like using audiobooks for now. At least, I can do my chores or else while listening to it. So, it definitely won't be my last attempt to use Storytel. 

For The Cheat Sheet, I think this is just an okay contemporary romance. Not really much happening and the story is not that engaging for me. 

So, let's give 3 stars for it for now :)

Sincerely,

Ra