Romantic Comedy

romantic comedy

  • PARTNER PURSUIT BOOK BLOG TOUR

    Partner Pursuit is going on an international book blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.

    Blog Tour Poster

    Partner Pursuit Book Blog Tour Reviews

    All three sites today have reviews so feel free to check them out. I am so happy with these lovely reviews.

    Romance by The Book summed it up as :

    “Partner Pursuit is a vibrant, fun rom-com that will leave you feeling all those wonderful good feels.”

    Here’s an excerpt from Beauty Addict blog:

    Partner Pursuit is a fun and cute romantic story, with well-written and strong main characters. I love that Kathy Strobos has written so passionately about the real-life struggles we can all face of managing a work/life balance, and being career-focused but still wanting to be happy in a relationship. For me, Partner Pursuit really is a must-read.

    Beauty Addict Blog.

    And another excerpt from the review by Tizi’s Book Review:

    “But this story is so much more than just a romantic, swoon – worthy tale… It’s about the struggles women also have to endure at work. And the author manages to show us that life isn’t always fair and some men still think they are the stronger sex. But this isn’t written in a patronizing way, but it’s also not too subtle to go unnoticed.

    The most important lesson however is that even when we think that we know what our main goal is, sometimes these goals can change direction.
    And that sometimes it’s meeting the right person, and also losing them, will make you understand what truly matters in life. And that falling in love and having a wonderful relationship doesn’t mean that you cannot have your successful career.  

    I loved reading this beautiful story about lovely people, I laughed several times, discovered a shared fear of water bugs (where is my own superhero Jake?) and I admired the courage our main characters showed when they did follow their hearts and instincts and didn’t just go with the flow. 

    A truly heart – warming story that left me a warm feeling inside I didn’t want to get rid of!”

    And another review from the Book Review Crew:

    I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I love a good rom com book. This one is no exception. It’s absolutely adorable. Audrey is a strong female character who is focused on her career. She’s a big shot New York lawyer and is in the running for partner. She’s made it her life mission to her partner and won’t let anything come in her way… Unfortunately that means her love life generally suffers. That is until Jake moves in next door. They become friends and the rest is history. JUST KIDDING. Audrey is forced to make a lot of life decisions. Is she willing to give up partner? Can she have both? Is this total stranger worth giving up her dream job that she’s worked so hard for? This book is a roller coaster of emotions on what’s going to happen but it’s sooo cute and so good.

    Kendra, Book Review Crew

    Thanks so much to the reviewers for those insightful and warm reviews! Available to buy here. It will be discounted for Black Friday. For Barnes & Noble/Nook readers can use coupon BNPSAVE30PP to save 30% at checkout from 11/25/2021 to 11/28/2021 on Partner Pursuit.

  • Cover Reveal: Is This for Real?

    Is This for Real? cover

    It’s time for the Cover Reveal for my second book, Is This for Real? It’s fake dating and friends-to-lovers and dogs and dollhouse miniatures! My cover was again designed by Lucy of Cover Ever After.

    Is This for Real? Cover and Blurb Reveal

    Here’s the blurb:

    An opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, slow burn, fake dating romantic comedy

    Love is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Usually me. I admit it, I’m a relationship-recluse. Ironic, given that I write romantic comedies. So, I’m on a sabbatical from dating.

    Which is why fake dating my best friend Rory is foolproof. Rory suggested it because he needed a date for work functions. And I can use our experiences as fodder for my romcom novel.

    Plus, my sister doesn’t know it’s not real and she is thrilled that I’m not walling myself off emotionally. Her words, not mine. But I do wish she would stop saying that she always suspected there was something more between me and Rory. She should realize that we’ve been friends forever so I’m immune to his appeal. 

    We would never work. Rory is such a romantic; he still believes in that perfect love similar to his parents’ marriage. My parents fought bitterly. So, we are better off as friends. I can’t risk losing our friendship, even if this might be my chance—before his ex-girlfriend wins him back.  

    Those flickers of attraction? Easily extinguished by cold water reality—like a two-mile hike in drenching rain over sand with wheelie luggage. 

    But our relationship is not sticking to the plot—or is it?

    The e-book is available for pre-order (releasing January 11, 2022) and the paperback will be for sale in December 2021.

    Blog Tour Interview with Julie of A Little Book Problem

    Today, I’m also chatting with Julie of A Little Book Problem. Here’s one of my favorite questions, but check out her blog for the rest of the interview.

    What is your favourite thing about being a member of the RNA? What do you think you have gained from membership?

    I have gained so much. First, my favorite thing is the friendships I have made. I made so many friends when I was at the RNA Conference in Leeds. That was an amazing experience. Everybody was so friendly. I went not knowing anybody.

    I met my now-critique partner Giulia Skye on the train to Leeds, and we immediately clicked as we discussed The Hating Game and the novels of Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Now we email each other weekly, and she is the one who encouraged me to indie-publish. But I’ve made a lot of friends at the RNA (also online via the Facebook groups). It is great being friends with other writers.

    Second, I think the critiques in the NWS are invaluable. 

    Third, I also enjoy the camaraderie, friendships and mentoring in the Facebook groups. 

    Also, the RNA Conference, the online classes and the magazine articles are really helpful. I had a 1-to-1 consultation for my Partner Pursuit blurb at the RNA conference this past summer.

    Let’s Talk

     I hope you are all doing well. I just watched two fun romantic comedies LOVE HARD (Netflix) and THE LAST CONCEPTION (Amazon). Have you seen them? Any books or movies you’d recommend?

  • Partner Pursuit’s Book Tour Continues

    Partner Pursuit‘s virtual book tour continues.

    On October 25, we will visit with All the Ups and Downs. She asked me what qualities I think make for the perfect significant other, so check out her blog for my answer.

    For October 26, we will be talking with Sandra’s Book Club and Lisa’s Reading. We will also be hosted by The Faerie Review and Books a Plenty Book Reviews. Sandra’s Book Club will have a review of my book, and Lisa’s Reading will have an excerpt and an interview. She asked me if I ever write books with sad endings.

    On October 27, we will hang out with Novel’s Alive with an author interview and a review. She gave me a choice of what question to answer and I chose: “What tips do you have for world-building and writing description?

    On October 28, I will be interviewed by Rogue’s Angels and The Avid Reader. They also have great interview questions, so check out their blogs for my author interviews and more excerpts.

    On October 29, we will hang out with Harlie’s Books and Inside the Insanity. Both Harlies Books and Inside the Insanity also have author interviews.

    For October 30, we will stop by Book Crazy for another author interview.

    The tours will include excerpts and author interviews.

    Here is the schedule for Goddess Fish Promotions, and here is the schedule for Silver Dagger Tours.

    Halloween in NYC

    A brownstone decorated for Halloween in NYC

    We have off on Halloween to go trick-or-treating! Hope you all have a fun Halloween! I just love when people decorate their brownstones in New York City for Halloween! These skeletons crack me up. I want to try to make our skeleton like the guy in the top row.

    I spent part of Sunday helping out with my son’s school’s Halloween festival, volunteering at the obstacle course, so I spent about an hour yelling, “step on the o’s and x’s! Don’t let the hot green lava get you!”

    Have a wonderful week! And I hope you enjoy Partner Pursuit‘s Book Tour as it continues virtually.

  • PARTNER PURSUIT Releases Today

    The e-book of Partner Pursuit releases today! It’s available on Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play and Kobo. Here is a link.

    You can also request your library to order it!

    Partner Pursuit is going on 3 virtual book tours around the world! I am so happy to see how well it is being received internationally. So far, it has positive reviews from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Malaysia, and South Africa.

    The tours will include excerpts and author interviews.

    Here is the schedule for Goddess Fish Promotions and here is a schedule for Silver Dagger Tours.

    Everybody has such good titles for their blogs.

    Book Tour Schedule for this Week

    Today we are hanging out with Bowen’s Book Publicity, Literary Gold, Long and Short Reviews and A Pinch of Bookdust. Literary Gold interviewed me. She asked me what scenes I liked writing and what advice I have for a new writer, among other great questions. Long and Short Reviews asked me what lessons I learned from my heroine.

    Tomorrow, on October 19, we are hanging out with Fabulous & Brunette and Lisa’s Everyday Reads. Fabulous and Brunette asked me how my book cover came about. I love my book cover by Cover Ever After, so that was really fun to talk about.

    On Wednesday, October 20, we are hanging out with Read Your Writes Book Reviews, The Library of Erana and Literary Gold. I have an author interview with Read Your Writes Book Reviews.

    On Thursday, October 21, we will be celebrating Partner Pursuit‘s release with Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews, Word Processor, Romance, Cats, Kids and Creed, and Insane Books. I have an author interview with Lisa Haselton.

    On Friday October 22, we will be hanging out with Midnight Book Reader and Gina Rae Mitchell. Gina Rae Mitchell asked me to tell a story about anything entertaining related to the book or me.

    We will have the weekend to recover. Lol.

    Thank you for all your support as I celebrate that Partner Pursuit Releases Today

    I am so excited to celebrate Partner Pursuit’s release today with you! Thank you all so much for your support. I am so happy about all the love my book baby has received.

  • Partner Pursuit: Behind the Scenes

    I’d love to share some behind the scenes photos of where I envisioned various scenes of Partner Pursuit taking place.

    Here’s the corner where I envisioned Audrey and Jake’s cute-meet right outside the corner store.

    A picture of the corner store where I envisioned Audrey bumping into Jake

    The Upper West Side also has many side streets filled with brownstones. They are a mix of single-family, two-family and multi-occupant houses. One floor could be an apartment or half a floor could be an apartment. Or you could have duplex apartment with a circular staircase like Audrey. They usually have about 5 floors. The parlor floor usually has eleven-foot ceilings so it can be the most desirable. I love the colorful colors of this row of brownstones on the Upper West Side.

    And in another behind the scenes secret, this is the block where we did the photo shoot for my author picture.

    Here’s a picture of Levain Bakery. I pictured them stopping by this Levain Bakery as they were bicycling to Riverside Park. It’s closed right now because of the pandemic because it’s an incredibly small space that gets really packed, but they opened up a more spacious Levain Bakery a few blocks north, so not to worry! And you may remember my previous post with a picture of the actual chocolate chip cookies. They weigh the cookie dough before they put in on the tray to make sure each is the right weight.

    A picture of Levain Bakery

    Partner Pursuit: Behind the Scenes at Fairway

    And here’s a picture of Fairway where Jake and Audrey go food shopping. Fairway has the most amazing selection of food.

    Let’s Talk

    How are you? Are there any other scenes from Partner Pursuit where you’d like to see my inspiration (if any?) Next time, I’ll do their bicycle date up the Hudson River.

    Have a great weekend!

  • PARTNER PURSUIT COVER REVEAL

    I’m excited to reveal the cover for my debut novel PARTNER PURSUIT available in paperback on Amazon. The e-book will release on October 18, 2021 and is available for pre-order.

    Partner Pursuit Cover by COVER EVER AFTER

    It was designed by COVER EVER AFTER in Australia. I love it! I asked her to add the little briefcase on the back of the bicycle because Audrey is a lawyer.

    Here’s the blurb:

    When a workaholic lawyer meets a fun-loving music marketing executive for opposites attract, friends-to-lovers adventures, which partnership will she choose?

    Workaholic lawyer Audrey Willems is not going to take any chances with her bid to become a partner at her New York law firm—especially with only six months until the decision.

    Until she bumps into Jake—her new neighbor. Jake is a fun-loving music marketing executive who might just be The One.

    He’s funny, caring, supportive—and able to kill water bugs in the bathroom.

    But Jake will never date a woman married to her job. His father was a workaholic lawyer who never had time for family.

    And she’s just got the case of a lifetime—the one she needs to win to make partner.  Working 24/7 at the office may not even be enough hours to pull off a victory.

    If only she had not met him now.

    Audrey is determined to prove that she can juggle work and romance—even if managing court cases, candlelit dinners, and bike rides around Manhattan is a lot harder than it looks.  She keeps canceling dates for yet another case crisis.

    But when making partner is like a game of musical chairs and the last seat is a business-class alone, which partnership will she choose?

    Let’s Talk: COVER REVEAL

    I hope you are doing well. What do you think of my cover?

  • Why I love HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS

    How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days movie

    There are so many reasons why I love HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS. In my Gotham screenwriting class, we had to list our favorite movies and I said HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS. I’m pretty sure that’s the first time my teacher heard that movie listed. I think he even did a double-take 🙂

    Kristen Buckley, Brian Regan and Burr Steers wrote the screenplay based on the comic book by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long.

    WHY I LOVE HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS

    • Brilliant Premise
    • Sparky Dialogue
    • Set Scenes
    • Inner Conflict
    • Romance
    • Rule of Three and Callbacks
    • New York

    PREMISE

    The premise is brilliant because it insures that the two romantic leads in direct conflict. She is writing an article on how to lose a guy in 10 days making the mistakes some women make when dating (like being clingy or paranoid), so she is doing everything she can to lose him. He has to make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days and bring her to a client event in order to be able to pitch the diamond advertising account he wants. Basically no matter what she does, he is going to keep dating her.

    The “diamonds are forever” angle adds another layer of conflict. He reminds himself that diamonds are forever, so this isn’t a one night stand. He wants to take it slow, changing the music and moving away from the bed; she is trying to make sure he is hooked by kissing him.

    It’s also a twist on the “clumsy, emotionally open” romcom heroine because Andie is super cool and is only acting like the clingy and immediately emotionally open girlfriend to write the article.

    SPARKY DIALOGUE

    This one word dialogue exchange is so sparky and immediately showcases their chemistry and connection.

    “Andie: Unattached?

    Ben: Currently.

    Andie: Likewise.

    Ben: Surprising.

    Andie: Psycho?

    Ben: Rarely, Interested?

    Andie: Perhaps.

    Ben: Hungry?

    Andie: Starving.

    Ben: Leaving?

    Andie: Now?”

    From the script of HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS.

    SET SCENES

    The premise leads to some hilarious set scenes as she gets more and more desperate in her attempt to lose him. There’s the scene where he’s cooking a lamb dinner (“bringing out the big guns” to make her fall in love with him), and she has brought over a box of girly things to move into his apartment, even though it’s only the second time she’s been there. The frilly toilet cover was a particularly good touch. Her interrupting his poker night with the boys is another hilarious scene.

    INNER CONFLICT

    What’s also well done is that Andie and Ben are falling for each other, which renders Andy conflicted about behaving like a crazy girlfriend and even about writing the article.

    Meanwhile, Ben feels like he’s dating two people:

    Thayer:

    “I thought you said after the Knicks games, she was a goddess.”

    Ben

    “Oh she was. That was the good Andie, this amazing, fun cool, sexy woman. I’m talking about the evil Andie now. It’s like a crack-enhanced Kathie Lee Gifford”

    HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS

    This personality switch first happens at the Knicks NBA final basketball game. At first, they’re both having a great time, and then Andy remembers that she has to be a nightmare girlfriend, so, in the last minutes of a tight tied game, she asks Ben to get her a soda.

    ROMANCE

    The romance is also well-developed, starting from their cute meet to their clicking at the basketball game. But it’s at the weekend with his family in Staten Island, when Andie is herself again, that their feelings deepen and they both acknowledge that they feel something real for the other. She plays Bullshit with his family and learns that she’s the first girl he has ever brought home. He then teaches her how to ride a motorbike. And she gets emotional about the fact that his mom hugged her. Their kiss then is a more heartfelt, slow kiss.

    CALLBACKS

    HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS illustrates certain comedy techniques, namely Callbacks. First, in the dinner scene, she brings the baby fern over: “it’s a baby fern, just like our relationship, a helpless little baby in need of tender, loving care.” Second, when she interrupts his poker night, she sees that the baby fern is wilting (“Our love fern! You let it die!) and asks if he is going to let their relationship die. And finally, when Ben is pursuing her to win her back, he picks up the wilted love fern from her office and brings it to her.

    The basketball game is also a recurring callback:

    • the first game, when she makes him miss the final moment
    • the second game: he thinks they will watch it from home, but she says she doesn’t eat meat so they have to go out and eat at a restaurant where he can’t see the game
    • the third game: he thinks she has front row tickets (she doesn’t)
    • the final game: they don’t watch it in at Madison Square Garden because they’ve broken up

    Similarly, there’s a callback to the Bullshit game when she says she has to go to Washington D.C. to write the more substantive articles she wants to write and he says “bullshit.”

    NEW YORK

    And finally, it’s a love letter to New York with all the street scenes, the Knicks games, and even a visit to Staten Island.

    Let’s Talk

    Those are the reasons why I love HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS. What are your favorite lines and scenes from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? What do you love about it? Do you have other favorite romantic comedies?



  • Korean Drama RomCom Recommendations

    I’ve become addicted to watching Korean dramas since watching CRASH LANDING ON YOU, so here are 6 Korean Drama RomCom recommendations. I am also slowly getting in shape via my workout regime of watching a Korean drama while biking. The cliffhangers get me on the bike every day.

    WEIGHTLIFTING FAIRY KIM BOK-JOO

    I love this Korean drama. This is about a woman, Kim Bok-joo, chasing her dream of becoming a professional weight-lifter, inspired by the real-life story of Olympic gold-medalist Jang Mi-ran. (So on point for this summer with the Olympics). Kim Bok-joo (played by Lee Sung-kyung) is pursued by a swimmer (played by Nam Joo-hyuk) training at the same elite college. Their relationship is so happy and adorable. And she also has a great group of girlfriends.

    This one is available on Viki. Yang Hee-seung is the writer.

    MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER STAR

    My Love From Another Star

    Given how much I loved CRASH LANDING ON YOU, I wanted to watch the writer’s previous dramas. Park Ji-eun also wrote MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER STAR and it does not disappoint.

    A Hallyu star falls in love with the alien next door who has to return to his planet in three months or die. So, there are similar high stakes, similar character growth (successful, isolated, self-centered woman and lonely, emotionally-withdrawn man) and a smart antagonist who is trying to kill the Hallyu star.

    Gianna Jun plays the Hallyu star and Kim Soo-hyun plays the alien. Gianna Jun is a brilliant comedic actress. One of my favorite scenes is when she is plastered like a starfish against their shared wall trying to listen into the conversation next door between Kim Soo-hyun (whom she likes) and a woman she no longer trusts.

    I also wanted to watch this after reading Dramabeans commentary recommending it while in the middle of CRASH LANDING ON YOU. Like many, the commentator was concerned about whether this couple from North Korea and South Korea were going to have a Happy Ever After, and she wrote, “this writer allowed an alien and a human to live happily together. What does it say about the state of our world if this couple from North Korea and South Korea can’t live together?”

    I highly recommend reading Dramabeans recaps and commentary for any Korean dramas you are watching as the recaps can explain some points lost in translation and it’s illuminating to see other viewer’s reactions.

    This one is available on Viki.

    LEGEND OF THE BLUE SEA

    Legend of the Blue Sea is about a mermaid (Gianna Jun) who falls for a con man (Lee Min-ho). The con man schemes are fun capers. Park Ji-eun (writer of CRASH LANDING ON YOU) also wrote this one. My third book has caper elements so it was fun to watch this and be inspired. And again, we have high stakes–it’s not clear how long mermaids can survive on land. This is available on Viki.

    TOUCH YOUR HEART

    Touch Your Heart movie poster from Wikipedia

    I highly recommend this one. It’s about an actress (Yoo In-na) who wants to play a lawyer in a film so she gets a job as a lawyer’s assistant to prepare for her audition for that role. She’s assigned to work for Lee Dong-wook who is a gruff and reserved, but extremely brilliant lawyer.

    She seems initially to be very sheltered and flighty (and very into pink–think LEGALLY BLONDE), but she is actually quite smart underneath, and she gradually thaws his heart. As a former lawyer, I love how they interwove the legal work. And I love that she has all these skills (like cooking and checking out crime scenes) from learning certain trades to play various roles (like a chef and a detective).

    It’s available on Netflix. It is written by Lee Myung-suk and Choi Bo-rim.

    ROMANCE IS A BONUS BOOK

    ROMANCE IS A BONUS BOOK is about an unemployed woman (played by Lee Na-young) who used to be a successful ad copywriter, but then left the workforce to take care of her aging mother and her daughter. After getting divorced from her cheating husband, she has no income and can’t seem to get a job because of her age. She applies to work for her best friend’s publishing company as support staff, deleting her qualifications from her resume.

    This one is great for movie club discussions as it deals with the realities of an older woman trying to return to the workforce after she left to spend time being a stay-at-home mother. Her best friend (played by Lee Jong-suk) has always been in love with her and it’s about their navigating their personal and professional lives.

    Jung Hyun-jung is the writer. It is based on YOUNGER (they acquired the rights to produce a Korean drama based on it). I still have to watch YOUNGER.

    It is available on Netflix.

    PLAYFUL KISS

    Playful Kiss Movie Poster

    This one has the trope of the persistent, but less academically-inclined high school girl (played by Jung So-min) who has a crush on the mean, aloof, brilliant boy (played by Kim Hyun-joong), but I think that it’s well done. It works particularly well in showing how they both complement each other and make each other better. It also has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. And there are even bonus episodes on Youtube. Go Eun-nim is the writer.

    Available on Amazon.

    Let’s Talk Korean Drama RomCom Recommendations

    Have you watched any of these Korean dramas? Do you have any Korean drama RomCom recommendations? I would love to hear them! I am about to watch IT’s OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.

  • Tips for Writing the RomCom Video

    Here’s a short video of my talk with tips for writing the RomCom (romantic comedy) from the Chicklit & Prosecco writer festival. It’s about 11 minutes long, but it certainly felt like longer when I was talking 🙂

    I hope you enjoy this Tips for Writing the RomCom video! Also, check out this post with tips.

    Video talk on Tips for Writing the Romantic Comedy

    Let’s Talk

    I hope things are going well wherever you are. New York City is starting to feel like its old self again, especially with all the restaurants sheds in the street for open air dining.

    NYC: Restaurant sheds in the street for open air dining

    It feels like a party walking down the street at night because there are so many people sitting in the restaurants.

    It is so hot in New York right now, and the sky is starting to darken like a thunderstorm is going to hit.

    I am working on my third novel and watching romantic comedies at nights for inspiration (and tips). I’m also still working on my first two novels. I’ve also continued my workout regime of bicycling while watching a Korean drama, and that’s definitely working for me, although it’s slow progress. And if you do like Korean dramas, I recommend checking out this dramabeans site for summaries and comments (which also give tips for writing romcoms). But they’re so addictive that I definitely get on the bicycle every day to watch my next episode!

    What are your plans for the summer?

  • The Triangle Trope

    Some people love the triangle trope in romantic comedies and some hate it.

    Use the Triangle Trope to Show which Suitor is “The One”

    As discussed before, Billy Mernit notes that the triangle is a technique to show how, “the Bellamy,” named after the actor Ralph Bellamy who often played this character, is the wrong guy for the Protagonist and how the romantic lead is the right one. ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE is one great example of this technique in use.

    So, in the classic movie HIS GIRL FRIDAY, Ralph Bellamy is too staid and slow, compared to clever trickster Cary Grant, Cary Grant wants Rosalind Russell back as a wife and as a reporter. And he “seduces” her with the thrill of covering a great newspaper story.

    But the triangle can also be tricky. As Sandy Barker points out in her blog, readers might view the protagonist as cheating.

    Bridget Jones’s Diary

    In BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY, I think the triangle is well done. I can see the appeal of bad boy Daniel Cleaver. He’s fun and funny. I love the scene with the underpants (“Hello Mummy”) and the boating scene. But he also loses his appeal–he lies and cheats and isn’t offering much. “If I can’t make it with you, I can’t make it with anyone” is not a declaration of love–it’s more of an insult.

    Ironically, Mark Darcy is the stuffy, work-oriented guy; however, you can see his longing to play in the rowboat scene. He stares enviously at Daniel Cleaver and Bridget Jones reciting bad poetry, ignoring his law partner who wants to work. As would I. The boating scene also shows you the appeal of Bridget for Mark Darcy and why they will make it as a couple.

    A Triangle with Two Appealing Prospects Increases the Tension

    Boys before Flowers poster

    Meanwhile, in the Korean drama BOYS BEFORE FLOWERS, if I had been the protagonist Jan-Di, I would have chosen the guy she didn’t. I was quite heartbroken that he didn’t get his girl. In that drama, both suitors were appealing and that definitely increased the tension: who was she going to choose? I understood why Jan-Di chose the man she did, but still… My friend says it is the K-Drama second lead syndrome: when the other guy is so appealing, it breaks your heart. I told her I wasn’t sure I was strong enough for these dramas. 🙂 So, although having two appealing suitors increases tension, I’d recommend at least giving the second lead a new love too.

    In another K-drama, PLAYFUL KISS, the second lead Joon-gu is so in love with Ha-ni, that when Ha-Ni gives a love letter to her crush Seung-jo, and Seung-jo dismisses it as poorly-written, the second lead Joon-gu defends her, telling Seung-jo to apologize to Ha-ni and to pay attention to the emotion in her letter. How’s that for supporting the woman you love at all costs? But thankfully, that drama gave him his own romance at the end.

    I’ve become addicted to Korean dramas after watching CRASH LANDING ON YOU. It’s my new workout regime. I bicycle on a stationary bike for ten miles a day while watching a K-drama. They’re addictive enough to get me on the bike every day! I’ll let you know if I actually lose weight. My Korean has definitely improved. Fighting!

    Let’s Talk

    Cherry blossoms in Central Park

    It’s finally spring in New York City and the cherry blossoms are out. In my latest novel, I’ve set a scene where not-yet-a-couple picnic among the cherry blossoms on Cherry Hill in Central Park.

    And my children may return to school five days a week soon. I may be spontaneously dancing around my house.

    In other exciting news, my friend Giulia Skye’s book Her Outback Driver just placed in the RWA Vivian Contest for Best First Published Book! Congratulations Giulia!

    What have you been reading or watching? Do you like the triangle trope or do you hate it? And have you watched any Korean dramas? If you have, which ones do you recommend?