For fans of captivating art and contemporary romances like Chasing Red and A Business Proposal, this debut South Korean graphic novel is perfect for fans of workplace romance and boss romance dynamics.
After Ji-eon finds a doll that can control her celebrity boss Doyun, power dynamics shift—now it’s her turn to be in charge.
After a mix-up at a broadcasting studio she finds herself spending the day as the personal assistant for the famous actor Doyun Nam—and quickly lands herself into even more trouble at work.
Yet another miserable day of taking orders from others only to face ruthless criticism, and Ji-eon is left frustrated by her own passivity. But most of all, she blames Doyun, the stuck-up celebrity who she spent the day waiting on hand and foot.
With a dwindling bank account and loss of dignity to match, she lets out her stress on a plush toy. It isn’t long before she realizes its magical ability: the doll can control Doyun.
With the power now in her hands for the very first time, Ji-eon gets a taste of what it’s like to finally be the boss. But with power comes responsibility—and consequences.
And with a slow-burn romance developing with Doyun, Ji-eon must decide what she truly wants for her future.
This volume collects episodes 1 to 10 of the captivating WEBTOON series Act Like You Love Me!, which has more than 130 million views on the platform.
Season 1: Episode 1 - 57 Season 2: Episode 58 - current (69)
I wish Doyun & Ji-eon could just kiss and fall in love already. And that Se-In (aka Geumsuk Kim) can just take a step back. I've built my ship from the beginning because of how hilarious the both of them are esp with the magic doll causing some memorable moments (i.e. that one time when he thought he kissed her but had actually kissed her shoes instead 😝). I wonder what would it take for Doyun to jump back into the industry and what impact it would have on their relationship. He can't stay a "house husband" forever even though it's doing wonders for their relationship.
This is the second story I've read by XUANN. The first was the Wolf and Red Riding Hood which was great. While this is a fun romp of a story with a traditional enemies to lovers trope set in the entertainment world with a slight supernatural element, it wasn't quite as inventive as the wolf story. This season ended with lots still to be resolved and I look forward to seeing the further development of the characters and the plot. The artwork is also excellent and really adds to the story.
4 ⭐️ This was a great read! It was pretty chaotic and definitely had its cringe funny moments. I enjoyed Ji-eon’s and Doyun’s interactions at each unfortunate unintentional meeting due to the doll that’s given her the power to become a boss that makes the decisions instead of being told what to do. The cliffhanger left me wanting to know more, and to see what comes next afterwards! I would definitely recommend this for folks that enjoy slow-burns, showbiz, and normal person x celebrity dynamic.
I admired Ji-eon’s work ethic, and unfortunate workaholic tendencies due to the pride of survival made me attached to her. Her frustrations with customers in her retail jobs were incredibly relatable and it’s funny that regardless of where you go, there will be people like that in real life who lack empathy and self-awareness. The moments where she was venting her frustrations of her daily life were absolutely hilarious and made me laugh so loud.
I can only imagine the anxiety that comes with being an adult that has been left to be the sole bread winner of the family, and constantly providing, transferring money to your parent and making those ends meet for yourself. I hope that Ji-eon isn’t being taken advantage with her forced work ethics.
Doyun had your typical stuck-up attitude towards a stranger on their first meeting, presenting himself to be quite the jerk as a celebrity. Showbiz unfortunately has a way of making all of your worst moments 10 times worst. I would react the same way as him if I suddenly had no control of my body, and couldn’t completely remember the events of the previous day during that time.
Both lead characters had such funny cringe interactions, I especially enjoyed the intimate moments where you could really tell that Ji-eon had empathy towards Doyun despite being a so-called jerk. Curious to see how their dynamic will grow and evolve once they’ve become attached to each other.
☆〜(ゝ。∂) 🍎🍵 —— Thank You’s —— Genuine thanks of appreciation of to the author Xuann along with the entire creative team behind Act Like You Love Me. Thank you to the Webtoon & NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
I used to read this back when it was still being published on Webtoon, and rereading the first few chapters in this volume today made me realise that Act Like You Love Me! is still one of the funniest romcom out there (ノ´ヮ´)ノ*:・゚✧
The story focuses on Jieon, a woman who struggles with working multiple part-time jobs and somehow ends up crossing paths with actor Doyun, who she found to be quite a stuck-up. She vents out her frustration to a doll she recently gotten, and lo and behold, Doyun is suddenly on his knees begging for her forgiveness. What would one do if they have a doll that can control someone's actions? Jieon made him kiss her shoe (by accident of course, or is it?) ヽ(;^o^ヽ)
The dynamic between Jieon and Doyun will never not be chaotic, and it will just get more hilarious in the upcoming volumes. Jieon is such a relatable character, because who would not freak out when a hot celebrity enters your already messy life and make it more messy 。゚(TヮT)゚。 as for Doyun, there is definitely more to him than just a handsome face. Since it had been years since I last read the webtoon (I did not even finish it), I cannot wait to relearn about these two again ⊹♡ they'll surely make me cackle in delight multiple times again.
I devoured this in between helping patrons during the one hour I was on the desk.
This is hilarious. Who hasn’t thought about how amazing it would be to have something that would make someone who wronged you apologize? Or to have the chance to bring someone back after an argument when you’ve finally thought of the perfect comeback or argument that would prove you were right? Our premise is this: our main female lead finds a plushie that allows her to control an infuriating actor that she meets during a temp job. Unfortunately for her, this leads to several rather embarrassing situations for both her and the actor, who is already on the outs with his acting firm for his anxiety and panic attacks. Hijinks ensue. Hilarity follows.
The art is a simple, colorful style that really fits with the comedy of the story, but also allows for the more serious moments (such as when they are discussing the actor’s panic attacks) to shine.
I can’t wait to read more of this!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and WEBTOON Unscrolled for the DRC!!!
3.5 ⭐️ I read and enjoyed A Business Proposal, and so I was really looking forward to reading this one!!
Overworked Ji-eon finds a doll that can control celebrity Doyun Nam. She ends up being his personal assistant by accident, and was fed up after one day, taking out her frustration on a doll. This causes the power dynamics to shift.
This is a slow burn romance between the two while Jo-eon learns how impactful she is as his sort of boss (for better and for worse).
I think my favorite part is also how silly his actions end up being. The fact that he can’t always remember things right, like thinking she has poor circulation from kissing her but he was really kissing her shoe lol. But it also makes things that much sweeter when he does nice things without the doll making him act.
Reading vol 1-10 has me ravenous for more! I feel like this has really set the stage for where this is going, and I look forward to reading more!!
Thank you NetGalley and WEBTOON for allowing me to ARC read in exchange for an honest review.
Review – Act Like You Love Me!, Vol. 1: A WEBTOON Unscrolled Graphic Novel
Act Like You Love Me!, Vol. 1 offers a fun mix of romance, comedy, and a touch of fantasy. The story has an entertaining premise, and the interactions between the main characters are charming enough to keep the pages turning. The humor lands well in several scenes, and the expressive artwork captures the emotions beautifully.
That said, the first volume feels more like an introduction than a fully developed story. Some plot points move a little too quickly, while the characters could have benefited from more depth to make their relationships feel more convincing. Although the concept is unique, I found myself wanting stronger character development and a bit more emotional impact.
Overall, it's an enjoyable and easy read for fans of romantic comedies and webtoons. While it didn't completely win me over, it has enough charm to make me curious about where the story goes next.
'Act Like You Love Me' hits all the classic manhwa tropes: poor MC, Rich love interest, bad parent that the MC finanically supports. However, there's a little twist. Our MC is able to control the love interest via a stuffed animal she was given by a strange man.
There's a bit of a lack of chemistry between the two characters but hopefully that will change. It doesn't help that from the perspective of the love interest this story is a horror novel. He can't resist what our MC commands from the stuffed animal and often doesn't remember what was commanded of him. However, there is a love triangle being teased and I fear that I prefer the second love interest. Their interactions were more fun to read from.
Thank you NetGalley and WEBTOON unscrolled for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for access in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine being given a doll that lets you control another’s actions. This is the situation Ji-Eon finds herself in.
Exhausted due to working three jobs, she is still short on money and lives in a dump. But then a customer, a strange man, gives her a stuffed doll, Mingji. Soon after, Ji-Eon discovers this is no ordinary doll.
Taking up yet another job, Ji-Eon, due to a mix-up, is at the beck and call of Doyun Nam, a famous actor. No clue what she’s doing, she becomes the target of a frustrated Doyun Nam’s criticism.
When Ji-Eon vents to Mingji, neither she nor Doyun Nam could imagine the consequences.
I enjoyed this. It was an entertaining start and I look forward to future volumes.
A comedy romance starring a celebrity who's mysteriously piloted by a bootleg plush and shenanigans ensue.
It's a fun concept but it hasn't established a clear direction for the story yet. At the moment it reads like a sitcom where random/silly things happen. There's not too much depth behind the characters beyond what's given at the surface, so their relationships feel shallow, since it's spurred by the doll. Another character keeps showing up too, but not much information is given to him, so I'm not sure what role he's meant to play.
It's still a light and fun read, but with the heavier plot lines being sprinkled in (Doyun's trauma and Ji-eon's financial situation), it struggles to develop them to bring me closer to the main characters.
2.5 I don't know why this graphic novel is described as "perfect for fans of workplace romance and boss romance dynamics". He is not her boss and they don't work together in any capacity. She's a struggling minimum wage worker who is working 3 jobs at once, while he is a famous actor whose career is slowly dying. The plot is a little interesting, but so far it's purely used for comedy reasons and zero romance. I really didn't even read this as romantic, as neither party wants anything to do with each other. There doesn't seem to be any cohesive overarching plot yet, so it feels like the story is going nowhere. The art style is nice at least.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
I was worried about the icky premise - a woman who can control a famous actor through a toy. But it is handled carefully and the FMC Ji-eon doesn't want to control him, at least not in this volume. With such a silly premise, the reader knows they are walking into a very silly story. The characters are likable enough and there are character traits that add some complexity. I'm interested in exploring more of the MMC's celebrity life.
This isn't anything groundbreaking, and I wasn't left clamoring for the next volume. But if you enjoy silly and cute romance webtoons, then this will probably work for you.
Thank you to Webtoon Unscrolled and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Act Like You Love Me!, Vol. 1 is a slice-of-life manhwa where none of the characters can seem to catch a break... Just when things seem normal and okay -- something inevitably goes wrong! Ji-eon's life somehow turns even more upside down when she randomly receives a doll that can control famous celebrity Doyun *shock.*
The shenanigans in this first installment kept me giggling throughout and the introduction of a certain grape candy focused character has me intrigued... excited to see what happens next. Rooting for Ji-eon to be able to change her life for the better~
Folks who enjoy Wotakoi, Business Proposal, Start-up, and other workplace/office romances would definitely enjoy this one!
First I'd like to thank the publisher for a digital arc of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. This was a pretty funny first volume but there were a few parts that were frustrating as well. Like how she is treated badly as a temp just because someone else made a mistake. I don't understand why they couldn't just explain the situation but I guess that's part v of the story. I also don't like that this seems like their will be a love triangle. It's not that for sure yet but I feel like it's heading that way. However it's only 4 volumes I believe so it's nice to know it's a shorter webcomic that isn't going to drag on too long. Lots of funny moments between the FL and ML and the art is very good too.
A humor filled adorable start to this series. It hit those rom-com notes and lighthearted humor wonderfully. It has a nice blend of comedy and tragedy/harsh reality. The splash of magic is fun and added a bit of crazy to the mix that I appreciate.
I enjoy the art, the stuffed animal has that ugly cute thing going for it. The emotions are beautifully expressed in the art, from facial expressions to the clothes.
Looking forward to how this series develops. ❤️
Thank you NetGalley and WEBTOON Unscrolled for this ARC!
This was so stinkin CUTE!! Doyun being inadvertently controlled by the doll was so fun as he finds himself doing out of character (and out of pocket) things due to Ji-eon’s fumbles. I was giggling away and audibly gasped when I realized I got to the end (I believe my exact words were “WAIT that’s it???”). I desperately wanted to keep going after a certain plot development and might need to track this down on webtoon because I’m super invested! I can’t wait to see what happens next for these adorable disasters
This story was funny and serious at the same time. It follows a young girl who is trying to make money to help her mom and give them both a better life. Along the way, she meets an actor who is used to people only wanting something from him.
Then, after receiving a strange doll from a shoplifter, some very unexpected things start happening, and she has no idea what to do about it.
This is such a fun and interesting story, and I can’t wait to see what happens next! The art is also very well done and really brings the whole story together.
I loved how sweet and unserious the story could be while still giving me enough emotional breadcrumbs to keep me invested. I’m especially curious about what’s going on with her mom and where that storyline is headed.
The characters are adorable, the comedy worked for me, and I already want more of this story. Five stars for cute romantic chaos and accidental simping. 🤌🏻
Thank you to Xuann, WEBTOON Unscrolled, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This story has a LOT going on. A toy that controls a person, celebrities, alcohol abuse, grape candies,…. Not sure how it all fits together but I would like to read the next installments to figure it all out. Not sure yet how much I would recommend the book as it didn’t resolve anything.
Thank you to NetGalley and WEBTOON Unscrolled for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Act Like You Love Me! was so dang funny and delightful; I cannot wait to see how the story continues to develop! It really felt like watching a drama (it would make such a good adaptation!!). I love a somewhat chaotic story, and I really look forward to the next volume.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Act Like You Love Me! Vol. 1
This was a quick fun read that I didn't think too much about UNTIL THAT CLIFFHANGER! I mean, it's not an end all cliffhanger, but one just annoying enough that I will have to keep reading. Well played webtoon graphic novel. Well played.
A solid start to what promises to be a breezy, oddball romcom. Both Ji eon and Doyun are sympathetic even as they have a more unpleasant side to each of them (minor mind control and rich man judgementalness), with individual arca being set up to break free from what is holding them back (capitalism and an indifferent parent, anxiety).
Esta muy entretenido e interesante🤣 Un actor famoso puede ser controlado por… un peluche? Pero una chica es quien tiene ese peluche Jaja omg, la verdad estuvo muy entretenido de leer, el pobre actor no sabia lo que estaba pasando🤣 por el momento esta muy interesante, quiero continuarlo👀👀
Definitely a unique concept. So far I am intrigued, even though the characters aren't yet developed enough for me to be completely invested in them yet.