For the Love of K-Dramas

by Lyla Lee

You Had Me at Hola meets The Hating Game in this spicy enemies-to-lovers romance about two movie stars who are forced to work together after a viral celebrity beef debacle.

Clara Kim is full of spite. Spite is what fueled her to become a Hollywood actress when no one in her immigrant family believed in her. And it's what drove her to become one of the first Asian American women to win a Golden Globe. But when a heated exchange between Clara and a popular K-drama actor goes viral, it leads to the two being paired up on the movie of her dreams. Even spite may not be enough to get her through this role.

Shin Min-joon is the man Clara loves to hate, but the success of the movie requires them to make out and make nice. Despite the animosity between them, Min-joon's good looks certainly make Clara's job a bit more tolerable. But as things get steamier both on and off-screen, will Clara and Min-joon be able to separate fiction from real life?

Genres: Romance, Adult, Contemporary, Ebooks, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, LGBT

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 24, 2026

About the author

Lyla Lee is the bestselling author of books for all ages. Inspired by her Korean heritage and love of pop culture, she writes cute and sometimes swoony stories that have been translated into multiple languages around the world. Originally from South Korea, she’s lived in various cities throughout the United States, worked in Hollywood, and studied Psychology and Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. She now lives in Dallas, Texas. Visit Lyla at lylaleebooks.com or on social media (Kid lit: @literarylyla and adult romance: @authorlylalee).

Reviews

[Claire ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2⭐️ This book was a good read, I appreciated every single detail that directed each acting scene and brought the image to life through our acting leads. I’m happy about the representation that was written in this book, I hate that there is still homophobia when we’ve evolved so much from certain ideologies but the older almost closed mindset was written well and very understandable to my own. While I couldn’t exactly relate to glits and glamour of being an actress, I felt that the desire to be known. Acknowledged for your effort in your work and inside yourself was relatively relatable.

Clara and Min’s relationship coming from a love-hate relationship that was real, to acting and then a misunderstood relationship was a crazy ride. I wished that Clara experienced other relationships aside from her roommate similar to what Min-joon had, I would’ve loved to see her interact more with her other close friends from Korea too. Glad she was able to make a friend like Seri. I’m happy that Min-joon and Clara got their happy ending, it explored family acceptance through change.

☆〜（ゝ。∂） 🍎🍵
—— Thank You’s ——

Genuine thanks of appreciation to Io Sakisaka along with the entire creative team behind For The Love of K-Drama. Thank you to the Lyra Lee & NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

[Mai H.]

ANHPI TBR

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Forever

[zara · Rating 3 out of 5]

erhm, this is definitely a quick read! the sexual tension between them was electric and super fun to read about (which is the first half of it, was 4 stars material) but cut to the romantic parts and their dynamic feels off and not so fun to read about 😭 like i'm sorry but they definitely break up 6 months after the book ends, they definitely work better as fwb. and even the sex scenes were a very mid payoff after all the insane buildup. bonus point for their talks about the struggles of being bisexuals i feel like it was done nicely

[Hannah Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a K-drama lover, I went into For the Love of K-Dramas hoping for all the delicious tropes that make me willingly sacrifice sleep while yelling at my TV…and Lyla Lee absolutely understood the assignment.

Enemies to lovers? ✔️
He falls first? ✔️
Forced proximity? ✔️
Drunken confessions and a piggyback ride? ✔️
ONE ROOM, ONE BED?! ✔️✔️✔️
A dramatic airport moment?! ✔️

This book was basically K-drama catnip, and I ate it up.

Clara Kim and Shin Min-Joon are actors with some very real beef who are cast opposite each other in a movie where—because apparently the universe has a sense of humor—their characters are ALSO going from enemies to lovers. The chemistry between these two was absolutely off the freaking charts. The push and pull, the grudges neither one wanted to let go of, the forced proximity, and the gradual realization that maybe the person they thought they knew wasn’t that person at all…I was GIDDY.

Did I completely buy the “enemies” part from both sides? Ehhhh. Clara? Absolutely. Min-Joon’s hatred was a little harder for me to buy. But as we learn more about him, his initial rigidity makes much more sense, and honestly, I didn’t care because the tropes were doing some heavy lifting—as they SHOULD. This is K-drama territory, people!

And Min-Joon. MIN-JOON. 😭

His backstory gave his character so much more depth than I was expecting. Underneath that rigid, emotionally repressed exterior is someone carrying an enormous amount of hurt, rejection, and loneliness. Understanding everything he had gone through made his patience and tenderness toward Clara that much sweeter—and somehow even sexier. Why don’t men like this exist in real life?! Asking for me.

I also really loved Clara, even when I desperately wanted to shake her. She spends so much time worrying about what’s best for everyone else and being afraid to let herself truly want something that she continually puts herself last while convincing herself she’s doing the right thing. And THAT frustrated me because…I get it. I understood exactly why she made those choices because there’s a very real possibility I would have done the same damn thing. 😂

Which brings us to the miscommunication and self-sacrificing angst.

OH. MY. GOD.

JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER, YOU BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONALLY STUNTED IDIOTS.

There was a point when I wanted to throw ALL 👏 OF 👏 THE 👏 THINGS 👏, especially when Clara started making decisions about what Min-Joon deserved without perhaps consulting the actual Min-Joon. But at the same time…welcome to K-dramas! I knew what I signed up for, and somehow the emotional torture only made the eventual payoff sweeter.

Beyond the romance, I appreciated how Clara’s Korean-American identity was woven into the story. The cultural differences between American and Korean sets contributed to Clara and Min-Joon’s original misunderstanding, while Clara returning to Seoul after years away added another emotional layer to the trip. I especially loved the book’s exploration of “home.” Clara’s feeling that home is wherever her family is stirred up some deeply nostalgic, wistful feelings in me.

Her complicated relationship with her mother also added more depth than I expected. The pressure surrounding Clara’s career and marriage—and her mother’s tendency to cling to the daughter she expected Clara to be instead of always seeing the woman Clara actually is—was painful at times. I appreciated their eventual reconciliation and the realization that so much of her mother’s behavior came from fear about Clara choosing an unpredictable path. It gave me the warm fuzzy feelings I desperately wanted for them.

My one real wish is that Clara’s bisexuality had been explored more deeply. I liked that it created another avenue through which Clara and Min-Joon could understand and truly see one another, but I wanted it to feel more integral to Clara’s individual story rather than something primarily used to deepen their connection.

But ultimately, my favorite thing about this book is incredibly simple: the way it made me feel.

I finished completely satisfied, ridiculously giddy, and genuinely happy. The chemistry was approximately 100,000,000/10, the tension was deliciously drawn out, and watching the movie they were filming mirror their developing relationship was the cherry on top of my trope-loving sundae.

If you love K-dramas, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one-bed situations, men who fall first, and two emotionally constipated people who desperately need to admit they’re in love, PLEASE pick this up.

My biggest complaint?

I wanted more.

Give me Clara and Min-Joon’s next chapter immediately. 😭💜

[Lochi's Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first. I read this book after attending BTS's Arirang World Tour in my city, the timing was impeccable. However, after wrapping my time with this book, I have to say the title which is how many readers will identify this book was a...tremendous let-down. The illustration done by an artist that I truly love is outstanding, fabulous, a collectable. But I wish more thought was put into how this book would be identified for readers, and I think this sentiment carries through how I feel about this book. It's nearly there, almost on the cusp. We're on the surface instead of going in with more depth.

It's so close but needs more work, possibly another revision with more feedback pushing for more. Something is missing...and I'm trying to figure it out.

For the Love of K-Dramas was pitched as a read similar to the beloved You Had me At Hola by one of my favourite romance authors Alexis Daria. I remember the feelings I had when I first read the book, a love letter to telenovelas, the exploration of culture in film, a romance for the AGES, and diving into the pressures of acting, the identity of an actor pushing against the mainstream. A well rounded romance novel that stuck to me. So the comparison of this book to a top tier read? Oh, my expectations were high.

There's a surge of Korean content at the moment. I've watched my fair share of K-Dramas, but I have a real appreciation of the film coming out of the country (more daring storytelling, and technically filmed better than Western media), I'm newly diving into the music (now the journey of an idol is ripe for a romance novel whew), and I have a respectful adoration for the skincare.

But sadly I don't think Lyla Lee capitalized on imparting a meaningful message to readers as it lacked nuance. Maybe this book is riding that wave. We skimmed some potentially interesting concepts, for me a standout was identity. Having a Korean-American actress working with a Korean actor, bridging the understanding of how both come from different cultures in film and must work together. But then it was dropped. I think sadly, there was a lot of fumbling and lack of direction. We never really get a holistic picture of the characters and their motivations.

Don't get me wrong, there are some good moments. But was this really a love letter to K-Dramas, the world of Asian entertainment, and more? For me, it was an attempt. We have to start somewhere and I hope it encourages publishers to be more inquisitive with the exploration.

My thanks to Forever for the early digital copy.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this! This is definitely different than what I usually gravitate toward since it’s dual third person POV (I usually prefer dual first person), but it was done really well because each chapter is from either Clara or Min-Joon’s POV, so I was still able to get inside their heads and know what they’re thinking and feeling.

I especially gravitated toward this book because my husband is Korean American, and so much of Clara’s and Min-Joon’s experiences really resonated with me and things I’ve seen him experience. The way Clara is viewed as “less Korean” because she grew up in America, while Min-Joon is seen as more “legit” because he grew up in South Korea, was such an interesting theme throughout the book. I also really enjoyed all of the Korean culture representation, from the food (banchan, bulgogi, etc.) to the pressure from Korean mothers to get married, mandatory military service, the treatment of Asian people during the pandemic, and the different attitudes toward the LGBTQIA+ community and bisexuality within Korean families and their Christian faith. There was so much representation woven into the story, and I really appreciated it!

Clara and Min-Joon could NOT stand each other, even though they both clearly thought the other was hot, which is kind of hilarious. I loved that their relationship developed as they had to be costars but struggled with intimacy on screen because of how much they disliked each other. And the one room/one bed situation was really funny. I also loved how meta this book was. They’re starring in a K-drama while basically living their own K-drama, and I thought that was so clever and fun.

The one thing that frustrated me was the third act breakup. No spoilers, but Clara, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! She could be so wishy washy at times when it came to Min-Joon, and there were definitely times when I wanted to tell her to get it together! I understood where she was coming from, but GIRL, PLEASE.

I did really enjoy this book though! I loved the representation, the K-drama vibes, the enemies to lovers romance, and getting to see Gemma and Celeste again from Love in Focus! Definitely one to check out, along with her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lyla Lee, and Forever for the eARC of this book.

[Sequoya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Clara Kim is an up and coming actress with a Golden Globe under her belt, but for a supporting character. Excited to finally land a lead role, she trains and gets ready to go to Korea for Family Legends, an enemies to lovers fantasy k-drama. But right before she needs to leave, she learns that the previous lead of the movie has dropped out, and now Min-joon is slated to act as her love interest. The problem? Clara and Min-joon have a very public feud. Will they be able to overcome it for the sake of the project?

This book was a lot of fun! I loved Clara's bluntness and her sense of humor. I loved reading about how she stood out when in Korea despite living there when younger, and how oblivious she was to the social faux pas she was committing. I loved how Min-joon first came across as broody and closed off but once you get into his head, you realize he's just a loner who loves cats and has his own struggles.

I liked the back and forth as they struggle against their attraction to each other. I especially love that they didn't deny that they were both attracted to each other. The tension was definitely there.

I understand it's a convention of the genre, but it did get frustrating reading Clara go back and forth between feeling she may have feelings for him to shutting down whenever Min-joon showed he had feelings for her too.

The third act was a little messy. After filming wraps, we just time jump to the press tour 6 months later without much in between of how our characters have felt being apart. The grand love confession should have worked for me, but the dialogue felt so forced. The things said felt like they should have been mentioned throughout the book instead of all at once in a paragraph of just gassing each other up.

Overall, I had a good time. It was leaning 4 stars until the ending. It's more of a 3.5 read for me. I think if you like k-dramas then you'll love this book. I found the romance compelling from Clara and Min-joon, and also loved the blurred lines between them and the characters they're playing in the movie.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever & NetGalley for the ARC!

[Trish- Late Knight Luna Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book I read by Lyla Lee and I was so excited to get this book. “For the Love of K-Drama” is a sweet, heartfelt and fun enemies to lovers, LGBT story that was a fun story for sure.

Clara Kim is a driven Hollywood actress and has always wanted to prove everyone who doubted her that they were wrong. She’s won a Golden Globe and now has been offered a role in her dream movie that will be shot in Seoul. But she is co-starring with her online nemesis, Shin Min-joon. The two have to play nice so they can shoot the movie that will benefit both of their careers. Min-joon isn’t thrilled to work with Clara either but he’s a professional. And as they end up spending time together, the lines of hate start to blur.

This story is told in duel third person which is usually not my preferred way of reading. But once I got a few chapters in, I was able to immerse myself in their world. Clara is driven, caring and wants to succeed in her career despite her parents thinking she was making a mistake. And even with her success of winning an award, she still wanted to prove herself. Min-joon is grumpy but is a kind soul. He also had worked hard at his career and had a lot of success, especially in the K-Drama area. The two might have started out not liking each other but being together in the movie is what they needed. Their banter was great and I loved the slow burn to them giving into their hate/attraction. The representation of both of them being Bi was amazing and I want more of that in my books. Both had a lot to work though personally before they could even attempt at a relationship. The ending was sweet for them and I enjoyed this story.

[Natalie Intihar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching Clara and Min-joon fall in love as they go through the experience of their film was like watching a real-life K-Drama in front of me. For the Love of K-Dramas brought these former enemies together, and I loved seeing how their chemistry grew and grew both on and off the set. If I could go see Family Legends in real life, I would be fully sat for the duration of Clara and Min-joon’s film!

Both Clara and Min-joon begin this book with preconceived notions about each other, and one of my favorite parts of this story is the unraveling of those notions. It was so fun to watch them dance around each other while the rest of their cast and crew watched. For the Love of K-Dramas was entertaining to the max throughout, and I could truly see this love story through both their eyes.

I loved all the references to K-Dramas and Korea itself throughout this book. Both Clara and Min-joon have such unique lived experiences, and it was wonderful to see them play out and learn from each other. Lyla Lee does a beautiful job of vividly painting the setting for me, and as someone who has never visited, this book definitely made me want to add it to my travel list.

Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for offering me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, feelings, and opinions expressed are my own.

It is no secret that Clara Kim doesn't get along with her former co-star Shin Min-joon after the two have traded barbs throughout interviews and posts. But when Clara gets a breakout role that she can't turn down, she is forced to star in a movie with the leading man being none other than Min-joon.

I must first say that I think that this book definitely could appeal to many people. The book has Korean representation and LGBTQ+ representation baked into the book. There is also the K-Drama aspect of it all with a little bit of rivals-to-lovers (calling it enemies-to-lovers would be a bit too much in my opinion). When I headed into this book, based on the premise alone, I thought that I would like it much more than I did. However, I found the book to fall flat. Something that I immediately ran into is that I didn't love that this book was written in third person point-of-view. I feel like that choice added too much distance from the characters and maybe caused there to be more telling than showing, at least, in my opinion. Also, I found that the book's pacing felt a little too slow for my liking. Additionally, the development of the couple was alright, but nothing exceptional in my opinion.

[Nicole Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my highly-anticipated list since I first saw the cover - it's so stunning! And the title is just so perfect! If you also love K-dramas, this book is for you! It was so fun to see the action from behind the scenes, but it also felt like the MCs were living their own little K-drama and it was highly enjoyable.

Set in Korea, a Bi4Bi romance between a Korean actor and a Korean-American actress - who was actually born in Korea but mostly grew up in the USA and how she is treated because of that is very much looked at on page. From shit-talking each other on socials to co-stars with benefits to an HEA, the emotions were high and really, who can resist a little maybe-hate sex?

While this is a standalone and the romance is complete within this novel, two key side characters are the MCs from Love in Focus and they have a decent amount of page time in this book (so spoiler alter if you're planning to read out of order).

Thank you for Forever for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
CW: biphobia.

[CMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the Love of K-Dramas by Lyla Lee was my first from this author and unfortunately it just did not land for me.

The premise had me immediately. A romance centered around K-drama culture is such a fun and fresh concept and I was genuinely excited going in. The execution just did not deliver on that promise for me personally.

The spice fell flat, which was disappointing given the setup. More than that though, I struggled to connect with the characters overall. The chemistry between them never quite clicked for me and without that connection I found it hard to feel invested in where the story was going.

I finished it hoping the feels would show up and they just never did.

That said I can absolutely see this working for readers who connect with the characters more than I did, and the K-drama premise alone is worth noting as something genuinely creative. This one just was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve got a K-Drama craving, this book will be the quick fix!!!

Lyla Lee, the author that you are!! I could not put this book down once I started it because oh my gosh, it was addicting. The tension between our MCs was off the charts from the start. The description of filming sequences and schedules are so accurate, the author CLEARLY put their time into researching everything possibly needed for this book!

I love that Lyla puts such an emphasis on being town between being a filial eldest/only daughter vs. being true to finding your own path. It is a constant work in progress, and Lyla makes it clear that while there may be acquiesces here and there, some things may never fully change and that is okay!!!

I’m so so so grateful that I got to read this book early, because I have been aching for it from the day it was announced!! Thank you Lyla for a copy of this galley and Forever and NetGalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm just here for the cat. 🐈

Okay, but seriously, watching Clara and Min-joon's relationship unfold is like watching a K-drama. This enemies-to-lovers romance will have you not wanting to put the book down.

For the Love of K-Dramas also does a great job of highlighting some of the cultural differences between Clara and Min-joon, and it will have you gripping your hair and screaming at the characters sometimes. The book itself is also definitely paced like a K-drama, so don't expect anything too early on in the book.

Some of the other tropes featured in this book are miscommunication and only one bed 👀🛏️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.

[bette perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley and Forever publishing for this arc.

this is easily one of my favorite books of the year and i’ll definitely need to check out lyla lee’s backlog. admittedly i’ve never seen a k-drama, but i feel like this book would make an excellent one. it was a fun journey and i loved the biXbi rep. there was drama, tension, heartache, and sweet romance all rolled up into a fantastically written story.

clara and min-joon made for a cute couple, but i really liked their individual problems and how they eventually came together as one. one of my favorite tropes is when two characters have their own misperceptions of each other and slowly realize how wrong they are. it was done so well in this book.

this was perfect for those who love sweet romances and lots of drama.

[Guadalupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for this ARC NetGalley !

I absolutely loved the enemies to lovers. Clara (FMC) clearly has hatred towards Shin Min-Joon (MMC). When an acting role brings them together, the attraction and the sexual tension is palpable!!! The yearning and the spice is chefs kiss 👩🏾‍🍳 I also really appreciated the dynamic of being Korean American for Clara. The cultural shock is incredibly realistic, cultural norms passed by Clara that for me it’s also a learning experience.

I absolutely loved this couple 🥹 and their love of k drama brought them together 🫶🏽


- One bed 🛌
- He falls first
- Enemies to lovers
- LGBTQ Rep
- Dual POV
- K Drama Actors

[Ashleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

💫2.5 rounded to 3 💫 If you're ever wanted to read a K-Drama, this is the book for you! It's full of almost every trope that you can think of - enemies to lovers, one bed, grumpy x grumpy(ish), forced proximity, slow burn, and probably a few others I'm missing.

I think that this book has a unique premise and it's something that I haven't read before, which is nice.

While this book was just an okay read, I really do wish that I liked it more than I did. Unfortunately, the book lacked organic immersion and while it's hard to explain, I felt like wasn't experiencing Korea through the characters. The author favours description over action and I prefer to learn from actions from the characters or dialogue - not narration. Perhaps to put it succinctly, it sort of felt like the author was standing between me and the story? Often times it kind of came off as like the author was like "here is a Korean thing and I'm going to explain it to you!" I feel like it should have been more organic where a character does, says, says, something and we understand through cultural context because they are living their lives. The narration interrupted the flow and really messed with the world building aspect. I want to experience it through the character, not from what the author/narration is telling me. Maybe this is a harsh thing to say but while reading the book, I often felt like the author wasn't taking me into a world but rather taking a Western romance and putting Korean and K-Drama vibe around it and it doesn't really work. To be clear, I didn't dislike the story, I disliked the fact that I couldn't lose myself in the story.

The last half of the book became fairly decent to read but I struggled with the fact if I was enjoying the characters becoming closer or their romance in general? There was more relationship development for sure and more interaction. The book generally became easier to read. Clara's stubborn attitude felt forced and honestly I think I'm leaning towards thinking I liked them once they stopped being annoying as hell with one another. I couldn't really connect with either the FMC or the MMC.

The writing did come off as clunky and I think the book could have had at least 100 pages less. Again I chalk this up to the author constantly narrating and telling us how to feel. There generally was a really good book hidden somewhere but I don't think the author nailed the execution.

To end this on more of a positive note, I did enjoy the character dynamics and it was the strongest part overall. The romance had potential and the book eventually found its rhythm in the last half and in retrospect the development in the last half made the first half worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Laura Holley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“With you, trying to pretend I’m not attracted to you is already unraveling me.”

I really enjoyed “The Cuffing Game” by Lyla Lee so I was absolutely thrilled with the opportunity to read this book.

Clara and Min-Joon are actors forced to work together on a potentially career changing (for both of them!) movie, but they have history together and are decidedly not friends.

This book checks a lot of boxes for me. There’s tension and misunderstanding, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, only one bed, “good girl,” and a K-drama ending! A very fun story beautifully told.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

[Danelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book and I really tried but ultimately it just wasn’t for me. I enjoy romance k-dramas so the premise sounded exciting, but unfortunately I just didn’t connect with the book. I felt like I never really got invested in the romance and that I was reading about how they had so much chemistry without ever feeling that was true based on anything that happened. I wanted more yearning, slow burn tension, and emotional depth, as well as the appreciation of Korean culture you get when you watch a k-drama. It’s an okay story, so I’m giving it three stars instead of two, but it’s a lacking that special spark that k-dramas bring.

[irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
i’ve been looking forward to this book the moment i heard about it, and lyla was kind enough to send me an arc after her publisher surprised her with some.

as a korean american with my family in korea, i related so much to clara. nothing compares to my mom’s cooking, and i’m grateful for technology and facetime but they’re not the same.

the ending, after filming ended felt a bit rushed and i would have liked to see more of their lives between end of production to the premiere. other than that, it was funny, relatable, and i need to protect my bi babies 🥺i also really enjoyed seeing celeste and gemma from love in focus again!

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

I had a lot of fun reading this book because I was reminded of the time when I used to watch K-Dramas and made me want to go back to see what is out there now. I really liked the dynamic between Clara and Min-joon and how it slowly changed even though there was attraction from the start. I loved the side characters especially the other actors! Clara needs new friends though because the way they abandoned her was cruel even if it was due to plot related shenanigans. I did feel like the resolution got drawn out a little too long but I was very happy with the ending!

[M. Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I adored Love in Focus so I jumped when this arc popped up, though I think both work perfectly as standalones.

A very fun read, with a bi4bi m/f movie star romance set partly in Korea and partly in LA. I really appreciated that one of the leads is working class rather than wealthy (and actually works during the book) since that feels like a rarity in celebrity romances. Also, I'm going to need Family Legends to be made into a real movie, stat. I'll definitely be reading Lyla Lee's next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a good light-hearted romance, and this one fit the bill! I really loved Clara and Min-joon's story, and the added K-drama factor made it even better!

So Clara and Min-joon are both actors, and both have had beef with each other for years. Nothing super serious--just actor drama. However, both of them are cast in a fantasy romance movie and...well...they get off on the wrong foot. The story is dual POV (which I love), and I enjoyed seeing their push-and-pull relationship.

Min-joon is my favorite type of contemporary romance MC. He's driven, smart, sexy as hell, and talented, to boot. I liked Clara, for the most part. There were times when I truly wanted to shake her. Sometimes, she just couldn't get out of her own way.

Anyway, if you're looking for a sexy and steamy romance set in the K-drama world, you're going to love this!

**This ARC was given by the publisher in exchange for an honest review with my own thoughts and opinions!**

[Kim L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the Love of K-Dramas by Lyla Lee was such a fun surprise! Clara and Min-joon have incredible enemies-to-lovers tension, and I loved watching their relationship slowly shift from rivalry to something much more. The K-drama filming storyline added so much fun, drama, and chemistry, and I loved the bi representation woven throughout. If you love K-dramas, celebrity romance, banter, and a little chaos, definitely add this one to your TBR!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for the eARC!

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!

Have I ever watched a k-drama? No. Did I devour this book? Yes. I read this in a day and that alone should tell you how fun, digestible, and escapable this book is. The main characters are so lovable, and there's not a doubt that there's strong tension between them on the enemy side and the lover side. This book is interconnected with Love in Focus, one of my first romance reads ever, so that was absolutely the cherry on top! (4.5★)

[Nikola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.

I love the chemistry between Clara and Shin Min-Joon and I am honestly disappointed that their movie Family Legends is not a real Kdrama I can watch. The interactions in their real life and their acting scenes are electric and I breeze through this book quickly. I also liked the two point of views because I got the thoughts of Clara and Min-Joon without loosing any tension or chemistry between them. Overall, this was a cute romance read.

[Blessing Okwuofu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it all. I love Kdramas and I love books about Kdrama actors. It seemed unrealistic that both lead Korean characters would be bi but this was a nice romance.
I got the ARC from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever via Netgalley. This is my honest review

[Liralen]

3.5 stars, review to come November 2026

[TheLiteraryDoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh guys! You need to read this. It's hot and cute. I adored them but I feel like the characters could have been a little more. But still enjoyed it!

[Christina L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another great read by Lyla Lee! I really loved how much romantic tension there was between the main characters, even if some misunderstandings led to them not liking each other after their initial meeting. I also really liked the setting of the set of a romantasy movie, which definitely added to the tension between the two main characters since they were the two leads. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes K-dramas or anyone who wants to see a bit what they are like.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.