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When The Phone Rings
Hong Heeju is a sign language interpreter who has become mute due to severe depression.
For three years of their arranged marriage, she and her husband never exchanged a single conversation.
One day, her life takes a harrowing turn when she’s taken hostage.
‘Don’t hang up! This isn’t a phishing call…!’
However, her husband, who was even worse than a stranger, coldly disconnected the call.
– “Call me when a body is found.”
***
You $%#£! He’s such a jerk!
Overwhelmed with anger, Heeju decides to threaten her husband anonymously.
The problem is that he was a well-known spokesperson for the Blue House.
– “Can’t you send threats on time?”
“That…”
– “Here I’m anxiously waiting for my blackmailer’s call.”
“What do you…”
– “Are you playing around with someone else besides me?”
“…?”
Wait, is this the same sociopath husband I knew?
For three years of their arranged marriage, she and her husband never exchanged a single conversation.
One day, her life takes a harrowing turn when she’s taken hostage.
‘Don’t hang up! This isn’t a phishing call…!’
However, her husband, who was even worse than a stranger, coldly disconnected the call.
– “Call me when a body is found.”
***
You $%#£! He’s such a jerk!
Overwhelmed with anger, Heeju decides to threaten her husband anonymously.
The problem is that he was a well-known spokesperson for the Blue House.
– “Can’t you send threats on time?”
“That…”
– “Here I’m anxiously waiting for my blackmailer’s call.”
“What do you…”
– “Are you playing around with someone else besides me?”
“…?”
Wait, is this the same sociopath husband I knew?
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First published January 1, 2022
90 people are currently reading
794 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 14, 2024
Binged the novel now I don't have to feel like I'm going insane waiting for new episodes of the k-drama to air 😌
December 23, 2024
3,5 stars ⭐️
I’m such a sucker for K-dramas, and I’m not even gonna apologize for liking this. Even though it’s a super toxic relationship and all… it is what it is—a guilty pleasure read. But honestly, I think the Netflix show was actually a bit better than the webtoon. Anyway, ‘When the Phone Rings’—I binged that in a day!
———————-–—————————————
저는 K-드라마 좋아해요. 이 드라마는 연애가 좀 독하지만, 그래도 재밌어요. 넷플릭스 드라마가 웹툰보다 더 나은 것 같아요. ‘지금 거신 전화는’은 하루 만에 다 봤어요.
I’m such a sucker for K-dramas, and I’m not even gonna apologize for liking this. Even though it’s a super toxic relationship and all… it is what it is—a guilty pleasure read. But honestly, I think the Netflix show was actually a bit better than the webtoon. Anyway, ‘When the Phone Rings’—I binged that in a day!
———————-–—————————————
저는 K-드라마 좋아해요. 이 드라마는 연애가 좀 독하지만, 그래도 재밌어요. 넷플릭스 드라마가 웹툰보다 더 나은 것 같아요. ‘지금 거신 전화는’은 하루 만에 다 봤어요.
December 25, 2024
weirdly 홍히주 and 백사언 or rather, 백교언, somehow managed to piss me even more than the drama. though, being honest, i do like that we got more insight on their relationship and reasons behind each actions which were filtered out in the drama. loved the og 406 reveal to be the actual 백사언 though i did catch onto that pretty quickly. by the end, it was quite dragged on. i’d have still accepted it if 백교언 had ended up simply dying in that blast too. but i would’ve also liked if they had explained how he walked away unscathed. that too with 백사언 too. while he was proclaimed dead, both of them (technically one since they both share the same name, you know), how did they even cross international borders? that too to a conflict filled zone without proper documentation. just having a shell company doesn’t do much. but not to focus too much on the specifics, 백교언 you freak omg. your wife is literally in the hospital how can you DO THAT LOL. but i did enjoy 홍히주’s character development later on once she started to stand her ground. also 홍인아’s character i thought would be bad but we do love sister solidarity. personally, i don’t blame her for running away, i would too if i found out 백교언’s actual secret. the parents on both sides were shitty as usual, almost had me fooled with the sweet act of 백교언’s “mother” dotting on 홍히주 during the memorial service. overall, it was an entertaining read. it was by no means The Best Thing i have ever read, but definitely very entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2025
I read the novel and the ongoing manhwa while waiting for the last two episodes of Netflix's When The Phone Rings. The story was much less complicated than the limited series and pretty much diverged in some key moments since the tv show wanted to focus on the drama while the novel was about the romance. Baek Sae-on and Hong Hee-ju was much more interesting characters expanded for the tv audience while the novel does feel a bit underbaked with tropes and shock-factors. I was warned about the spiciness of this (because the lack of it in the k-drama) but it was tame. Overall, an okay romance thriller story with promising backbones that fared better in a different medium.
December 12, 2024
4.5 stars
This novel was a hell of a ride. Although it started pretty strong. It was a love hate relationship with the H and I as a reader felt all the emotions and feelings along with our h. The writing was very smooth. However, what got to me was the way it ended; to many things happened at once and it felt slap dashed. The author maybe wanting to throw a curve ball at the readers but it ended up more of a batter out than home run. Still all in all it was pretty great read and it s not every read that leaves you feeling angsty even after finishing.
This novel was a hell of a ride. Although it started pretty strong. It was a love hate relationship with the H and I as a reader felt all the emotions and feelings along with our h. The writing was very smooth. However, what got to me was the way it ended; to many things happened at once and it felt slap dashed. The author maybe wanting to throw a curve ball at the readers but it ended up more of a batter out than home run. Still all in all it was pretty great read and it s not every read that leaves you feeling angsty even after finishing.
December 30, 2024
3.5
the ml was WAYYY more audacious here than the kdrama
the ml was WAYYY more audacious here than the kdrama
December 16, 2024
Tenia unas ganas enormes de ver el drama pero no soportaba la idea de verlo en emisión! Afortunadamente encontré la novela 🤩
No he visto ni un solo capítulo de la adaptación, pero por los cortos, creo que va a ser mucho mejor que la novela.
La historia es buena, pero las interacciones de los protagonistas no me emocionaron tanto, (ni cuando hablaban por teléfono, ni cuando estaban juntos en presona). Hay escenas +18 que obviamente no van a incluir en el drama y la neta no importa porque me dieron un poco de cringe jajaja.
Me gustó la forma en la que se descubre quién es 406 pero odié que la protagonista fuera tan idiota para no darse cuenta de que ya no era un misterio, literal se entera hasta el final de la historia 😑
Para mi, lo ideal hubiera sido que desde el accidente en la montaña trataran el tema en persona. Espero que la forma en la que se revela todo cambie en el drama y que la protagonista no sea tan mensa.
El final... no me gustó 😵
O sea, si terminan juntos pero creo que le metieron escenas innecesarias, mientras las leía, mi cara era de wtf? y si no hubiera sido por las historias extras, sería un final malisimo.
En las historias extras es cuando los protagonistas POR FIN empiezan a hablar claro sobre sus sentimientos. Yo esperaba que la primera vez que hablaran frente a frente los protas, fuera algo emotivo... pero fue bien equis. Al menos vi que en el drama ella grita el nombre de él y eso es muy cute.
ESPERO que la protagonista del drama sea más inteligente y sea un apoyo para el protagonista 😭🙏
⭐⭐⭐ solo porque ahora puedo esperar, muy tranquilamente, hasta que se termine de emitir el drama. 💗
No he visto ni un solo capítulo de la adaptación, pero por los cortos, creo que va a ser mucho mejor que la novela.
La historia es buena, pero las interacciones de los protagonistas no me emocionaron tanto, (ni cuando hablaban por teléfono, ni cuando estaban juntos en presona). Hay escenas +18 que obviamente no van a incluir en el drama y la neta no importa porque me dieron un poco de cringe jajaja.
Me gustó la forma en la que se descubre quién es 406 pero odié que la protagonista fuera tan idiota para no darse cuenta de que ya no era un misterio, literal se entera hasta el final de la historia 😑
Para mi, lo ideal hubiera sido que desde el accidente en la montaña trataran el tema en persona. Espero que la forma en la que se revela todo cambie en el drama y que la protagonista no sea tan mensa.
El final... no me gustó 😵
O sea, si terminan juntos pero creo que le metieron escenas innecesarias, mientras las leía, mi cara era de wtf? y si no hubiera sido por las historias extras, sería un final malisimo.
En las historias extras es cuando los protagonistas POR FIN empiezan a hablar claro sobre sus sentimientos. Yo esperaba que la primera vez que hablaran frente a frente los protas, fuera algo emotivo... pero fue bien equis. Al menos vi que en el drama ella grita el nombre de él y eso es muy cute.
ESPERO que la protagonista del drama sea más inteligente y sea un apoyo para el protagonista 😭🙏
⭐⭐⭐ solo porque ahora puedo esperar, muy tranquilamente, hasta que se termine de emitir el drama. 💗
December 14, 2024
just like everybody else, i read this ahead of the ongoing k-drama adaptation (since i'm too impatient to wait for it to finish airing all episodes).
i think it was true what they say online that they definitely provided a better plot and screenwriting in the k-drama 'cause there are times where i found this novel boring. for one, the phone sex scenes were sometimes unnecessary and i didn't like reading about it especially since it happens way too often. there are situations where i start new chapters and get disappointed to see that the entire plot and story for ONE whole chapter is just the leads doing that repetitive stuff.
the ending is also absurd. i was reading it, and i thought, "they're really going through this plot? of all things we could've had?" but they did. they definitely did.
after the ending happened, it was the first time i ever wished they try to provide a different ending or a better version of what happened in the book in the adaptation. it was an okay read, of course, but it definitely could've been better
i think it was true what they say online that they definitely provided a better plot and screenwriting in the k-drama 'cause there are times where i found this novel boring. for one, the phone sex scenes were sometimes unnecessary and i didn't like reading about it especially since it happens way too often. there are situations where i start new chapters and get disappointed to see that the entire plot and story for ONE whole chapter is just the leads doing that repetitive stuff.
the ending is also absurd. i was reading it, and i thought, "they're really going through this plot? of all things we could've had?" but they did. they definitely did.
after the ending happened, it was the first time i ever wished they try to provide a different ending or a better version of what happened in the book in the adaptation. it was an okay read, of course, but it definitely could've been better
February 12, 2025
I wasn't planning to review this because I read a rough translation of the novel, but this is a warning for the drama fans: don't read it. It's not worth your time. Baek Sa-Eon is so much worse here and Hee Joo is very timid. He's a walking red flag with no clear character development. It's spicier than the drama, yes, but it's rampant with age gap fetish. He continues to talk down to her because he sees her as a child and sometimes the talk gets sexual. It felt icky.
The few redeeming values I can find are that it takes Hee Joo's selective mutism more seriously and for its creative premise of arranged marriage and blackmail calls.
The drama writers and actors made it so much better. The twist upon twist, the addictive pacing, and the swoonworthy romance—I couldn't stop watching.
The few redeeming values I can find are that it takes Hee Joo's selective mutism more seriously and for its creative premise of arranged marriage and blackmail calls.
The drama writers and actors made it so much better. The twist upon twist, the addictive pacing, and the swoonworthy romance—I couldn't stop watching.
December 16, 2024
show baek saeon >>>
idk maybe bc i read this while waiting for the new eps of the drama, i cant help but compare the novel from the drama. book saeon was rly rough with heejoo both physically and emotionally. he sure loves to manhandle heejoo and not in a fun way! there's this one scene where he drags her using her neck like wtf dude i wanna smack him so bad. heejoo's a fcking doormat here too i cant
i dont understand why saeon's so mad to see heejoo in argan when he literally told her to find him and when she did he's screaming at her 😮💨
still, great plot twist. i cant wait to watch everything on screen.
idk maybe bc i read this while waiting for the new eps of the drama, i cant help but compare the novel from the drama. book saeon was rly rough with heejoo both physically and emotionally. he sure loves to manhandle heejoo and not in a fun way! there's this one scene where he drags her using her neck like wtf dude i wanna smack him so bad. heejoo's a fcking doormat here too i cant
i dont understand why saeon's so mad to see heejoo in argan when he literally told her to find him and when she did he's screaming at her 😮💨
still, great plot twist. i cant wait to watch everything on screen.
December 16, 2024
It's is very korean webnovel like but delivers very well in that regard. The thing I didn't like is the insane amount of second hand embarrassment I felt in the time span when he knows who she is and when he figures out that she knows that he knows that she knows. The phone sex was too much personally and it happened too often for my liking. Otherwise interesting backstory.
Spice level: 2/5? But I'm surprised that this was rated 17 in Korea when I would've solidly rated as mature because of said phone sex scene.
Spice level: 2/5? But I'm surprised that this was rated 17 in Korea when I would've solidly rated as mature because of said phone sex scene.
June 20, 2025
— acabo de terminar el webtoon y no puedo esperar para empezar a leer la novela !! así que tocará leerlo en unas horas. 5 estrellas.
— terminé la novela y la verdad solo quiero decir que tanto pedo para cagar aguado, cuando el drama estaba en emisión leía que muchos se quejaban porque no era tan parecido al libro en términos de +18, y wey, o sea si entiendo, pero literal las únicas escenas que hay +18 son como 3, y ni siquiera son explícitas, no chinguen, btw neta como me caga el prota en la novela jajaa. 3 estrellas.
— terminé la novela y la verdad solo quiero decir que tanto pedo para cagar aguado, cuando el drama estaba en emisión leía que muchos se quejaban porque no era tan parecido al libro en términos de +18, y wey, o sea si entiendo, pero literal las únicas escenas que hay +18 son como 3, y ni siquiera son explícitas, no chinguen, btw neta como me caga el prota en la novela jajaa. 3 estrellas.
March 31, 2025
Honestly I would give this a 3.5 /5, the relationship shown on the novel was pretty toxic I didn’t like how the protagonist would mistreat his own wife even is it was meant to kept secret! I don’t find it as an excuse if I was her I wouldn’t had forgiven him honestly.
The k-drama was much better I feel Netflix made the story less toxic than how the novel was written. But if you like thriller romance I would only recommend it if you are open to that kind of stuff.
The k-drama was much better I feel Netflix made the story less toxic than how the novel was written. But if you like thriller romance I would only recommend it if you are open to that kind of stuff.
December 11, 2024
3.5
La trama iba tan, pero tan bien. Esos plot twist tan WOW, todo para que nos dieran un final todo horrible y aunque los extras salvaron un poco la historia no fueron de mucha ayuda, no hubo mucho avance ni un buen cierre. Así olvídate de leer la novela si eres amante de los buenos finales porque te aseguro que odiaras la historia después de haber pasado por tanto
La trama iba tan, pero tan bien. Esos plot twist tan WOW, todo para que nos dieran un final todo horrible y aunque los extras salvaron un poco la historia no fueron de mucha ayuda, no hubo mucho avance ni un buen cierre. Así olvídate de leer la novela si eres amante de los buenos finales porque te aseguro que odiaras la historia después de haber pasado por tanto
December 15, 2024
I started reading 'When the Phone Rings' after seeing it everywhere on social media, especially the edits with drama clips. Honestly, picturing them in the roles while reading made the experience even more enjoyable! The plot is gripping with unexpected twists and turns that kept me hooked. I'm so excited to see how the drama adapted the story – I hope it lives up to the hype.
December 6, 2024
2.5 ⭐ hasta la mitad me tenía enganchada pero después me empezaron a cansar con tantas vueltas y ni hablar del final, mucho texto y encima queda todo incluso (nadie tuvo un buen final, ni el villano 🤣), meh por primera vez estoy a favor de que cambien cosas en una adaptación 😀✌🏻
December 14, 2024
Me leí esto por la ansiedad de no tener capítulos nuevos del kdrama por 2 semanas y ahora estoy peor, aunque fue muy interesante algunas cosas que estuvieron demás y no hubo tanto desarrollo del villano (espero que en el drama si lo tenga)
December 26, 2024
Read this while waiting for the next episodes of the kdrama to air but somewhere along ep 7-8 I feel like they already drifted apart. Now at least I won’t go crazy waiting what could happen and I can enjoy the kdrama as well if they would be changing some things. Was a good read overall.
December 31, 2024
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
I don't read a lot of books but I love it so so so much.
this is way way way more better than the K-drama and I wished I can erase my mind so I can read again, (and the main lead it so much hotter in the K-drama.)
I don't read a lot of books but I love it so so so much.
this is way way way more better than the K-drama and I wished I can erase my mind so I can read again, (and the main lead it so much hotter in the K-drama.)
January 10, 2025
4.5 🌟
La novela me pareció súper buena, pero el final… meh 😕, no sé, después de todo lo que pasaron, esperaba algo más. Aunque, eso sí, los extras son top 🔥, de verdad, salvaron bastante el cierre. Sin ellos, el final hubiera sido demasiado flojo
La novela me pareció súper buena, pero el final… meh 😕, no sé, después de todo lo que pasaron, esperaba algo más. Aunque, eso sí, los extras son top 🔥, de verdad, salvaron bastante el cierre. Sin ellos, el final hubiera sido demasiado flojo
December 4, 2024
Nyobain baca novelnya, seru juga, walaupun endingnya cringe banget 😭 tapi jadi penasaran dengan dramanya.
Hmmm nanti kalau sudah nggak ongoing mungkin mau aku tonton.
Hmmm nanti kalau sudah nggak ongoing mungkin mau aku tonton.
December 5, 2024
ya puedo ver el kdrama
December 7, 2024
I'm so excited 😍😍😍😍
December 8, 2024
It got weird towards the end but it was good
Currently reading
December 12, 2024Good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2024
3.5
Lo comencé a leer por el K-Drama. Estuvo bastante bien, pero le faltó bastante desarrollo en algunas partes, sobre todo en relación de los protagonistas cuando ya están saliendo de verdad.
Lo comencé a leer por el K-Drama. Estuvo bastante bien, pero le faltó bastante desarrollo en algunas partes, sobre todo en relación de los protagonistas cuando ya están saliendo de verdad.
December 14, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ this book is the epitome of “oh, aww, oh lord, huh?
December 15, 2024
I am so invested in this novel
I hope to enjoy it
I hope to enjoy it
December 21, 2024
It is very satisfying to read
December 21, 2024
I can't wait
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews