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, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Ebooks, Contemporary Romance

352 pages, Paperback

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 T.]

ANHPI TBR

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Forever

[lost in epilogue | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

“For someone who said she hates me, you know me so well.”

a love letter to k-dramas 💖

after winning a golden globe for a featured role, clara finally gets her chance at a lead in a fantasy k-drama film. she's especially excited bc as a korean-american, it'll be her first time getting to return home in years. her anticipation quickly turns to dread when she finds out her new costar is min-joon, a korean star with whom she's been in an embittered feud with ever since he rebuffed her on a project years before.

i've only watched a few k-dramas, but i def see the inspiration for not only the overall plot, but a few iconic moments throughout the story that are pillars for the genre (dislike to love! only one bed! allll the hurt x comfort!!!!) FTLOKD leans into the tried and true lighthearted comedy and romance that keeps audiences coming back for those feel-good vibes.

i liked that both characters are bisexual and korean, but different experiences and perspectives. clara struggles with feeling like an outsider as a korean-american, despite being born and raised a good portion of her life in korea. min-joon feels isolated as a bisexual in korea bc of the rigid societal norms, which are only expounded by the pressures and intense scrutiny from fame.

i liked their chemistry and buildup to the relationship, although i think the physical was sometimes heavy handed in the first half. i'd rather have more subtle ways of attraction being described. fortunately there were deeper, emotional conversations between them to balance that out. i also would've liked to have the clashing at the start of filming drag out a bit more, just for fun.

overall, it was a light read that's a great palate cleanser for between heavier books.

an honest arc review ♡

[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

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: 4 stars

Thank you, Hachette, for the eARC via Netgalley.

This one definitely brings in the K-drama vibes, and I enjoyed it. Clara, who had always played supporting roles, was cast as a lead actress in an upcoming Korean romantic movie, a tremendous step up for her as an actress. The fact that filming also takes place in Korea, her native country and where her parents are based. The catch: she will be acting alongside her nemesis, popular K-drama actor Min-Joon, whom she despises for his high-end, arrogant attitude since they first met during a drama project years ago.

This one really hits the bitter rivals-to-lovers vibes, since they couldn't get along at first and tried to set the feud aside to act, only for it to come back and bite them during the romance. It’s so very fun to see their banter, with their snarky, sarcastic vibes to start, as they had very little respect for each other despite feeling some attraction.

Despite its light-heartedness, this story shines when they fall for each other, slowly open up, and trust each other with their vulnerabilities. I also love that both characters are bisexual, in addition to being Korean. Clara was born in Korea, but her family immigrated to the USA when she was young, and her parents eventually moved back to Korea. She chose to stay because she wanted her breakthrough as an actress. Having been raised in the USA for part of her growing up, she sometimes feels disconnected from her culture and heritage. So, taking on this prestigious role feels like a means to reconnect. Min-Joon has just been released from his active military duty and is suffering from some burnout, including the pressure and societal norms he faces as a bisexual Korean actor. I do appreciate the subtlety with which the author handled the nuances between Koreans and Korean Americans, where the dynamics can differ.

I find the pacing of the book solid despite the predictability of the plot - the short chapters made it digestible and at a quick rate. Other topics tackled throughout the book are also filial piety, mother-daughter relationship, opposites attract, depression, culture, identity and sexuality.

Overall, a fun read touching on some noteworthy topics, and it makes me remember how much I love K-dramas!

[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.

[AK · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Lyla Lee is apparently my go-to travel author, cause I'm always bingeing her books when I'm on vacation.

For the Love of K-Dramas is such a fun book. Just picture me laughing to myself while a plane full of people sleep on in blissful ignorance. Clara and Min-joon are such strong characters that definitely clash at the start of this book.

I loved how their relationship slowly unfurled - first, for professional reasons; then, because their chemistry and tension were so strong.

There are some tropes that I felt a little sus about (what do you mean this production company messed up hotel bookings and now there's only one bed for these co-ed co-stars, that's a wild thing to do in Korea). However, I accepted it for the plot (read: steam). I love these characters so much, and I appreciated how fleshed out their lives were outside of filming and falling for each other - Min-joon is helping Celeste and Gemma with their wedding (from Lyla Lee's previous release, Love in Focus), while Clara has her college friends and her family in Korea, all of which who love her in their own way. I adored them all!

Another hit with Lyla Lee, I definitely need to get a hard copy for my shelf!!

TW: biphobia, sexism, sexual content; mentions infidelity, burnout, disownment from family, COVID

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.

[Elisa · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

For the Love of K Dramas has such a fun premise, but something was missing for me. Clara and Min-joon have incredible physical chemistry but I was not convinced of their emotional chemistry. What I did really enjoy in this book was Clara’s reflections on being Korean American and how it felt to her to basically have each foot in a different world. I liked the scenes of them filming the movie or where the format changed into a scene from a script. We love to see bi x bi representation also!! I also felt this book had the perfect amount of setting changes. I guess tldr I was more interested in the movie plot line and their individual stories than their romance. Also a moment for this cover!!!!

Thank you for read forever & netgalley for an opportunity to read and review early via eARC.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to thank NetGalley for allowing me a read of this one.

This was, for sure, a cute nod for K-Drama fans. I do not think it was a bad book, I will say I think it will range between 3 - 5 stars. Either due to romance portrayal, the inability to relate to Korean drama / home life, and or the overall tale it told.

For me? I loved it. I loved the two characters. Both of them have real, legitimate reasons for being withdrawn in their social Hollywood lives and the expense of that affected how they came across in their acting careers with one another. Watching them do this fantasy film together was super cute, and I loved how they slowly began to have feelings. I think what I liked about this was two people who really, truly knew they were falling in deep but both tried to resist because they couldn't. It does happen in other books / stories, but this one I felt it was authentic enough.

I gave a star off from it because I felt that the issue at the end was a little odd. I guess Korean families also value honor as high as Chinese families, and Japanese families too. Because her mom felt that the life she was living as an actress was not good enough, and with him being also an actor and in a different country, it wouldn't work and that she would be held back... ehhhh. Idk about that? He truly wanted to make it work, and really believed in her that it was worth it to try (she was still young enough to try). That for me I felt that she was relying too much into what her mother thought when she makes so much money, is so independent, that I felt that for her to be hung up over what her mother did or didn't think of her was not very strong to me and that there was not much else to it to give that reason its strength. Again, it's me being a white gal, so don't mind me.

All in all, it was cute and if they made a show about this book I'd watch it.

[Gretal · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I received a copy to review from the publisher via Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

While I liked the beginning of this a lot, as well as how it ended, I guess I felt like the middle dragged a bit and I was left a little bit more ambivalent in regards to Clara and Min-joon that I hoped to be.

[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. 😭💜

[Keke (theebookexplorer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

FOR THE LOVE OF K-DRAMAS | Lyla Lee
⭐ 3/5 | Spoiler-Free Review

🎬 The Chemistry Was There. The Love Story? I Needed More.

I genuinely enjoyed the premise of this book. It really did feel like watching a K-drama unfold in my head, from the familiar romantic moments to the tension between Clara and Min-Joon. I also appreciated that we didn't have to spend forever going through Clara's previous career struggles before getting into the actual story.

But somewhere along the way, I realized that while I was enjoying the K-drama experience, I wasn't necessarily convinced by the romance itself.

╰┈➤ From Enemies to Lovers... When Did We Get There? 💕

There was definitely physical attraction between Clara and Min-Joon. That was never the issue. What I struggled with was seeing how their dislike actually developed into love.

It felt like we went from "I hate you" to sexual tension, to romantic feelings, while the whole "but you hate me" conversation was still happening. And at some point, I was just thinking, are we really still doing this?

I wanted more moments where they genuinely got to know and understand each other outside of their attraction. The chemistry was there, but I needed the emotional connection to catch up.

╰┈➤ A Conversation I Wish Went Further 🌸

One thing I appreciated was the inclusion of Clara's Korean American identity and the differences between her experiences and Min-Joon's.

The whole diaspora conversation is something I've always found frustrating across cultures. Being born or raised outside your family's home country doesn't suddenly make you any less connected to that culture.

Which is why I wanted more from Min-Joon's perspective. He made comments about Clara's Korean American identity, yet I never felt like we fully understood where that attitude came from. His apology for how he treated her in the past was appreciated, but I wanted them to actually unpack that tension rather than leave so much of it unexplored.

Especially because it played a role in why they didn't get along in the first place.

╰┈➤ When the Episodes Start Feeling Long ⏳

The pacing felt drawn out at times, and I did find myself skimming certain parts. I initially wondered whether it was just my reading mood, but looking back, I think the lack of development in their emotional connection may have contributed to that.

There was so much focus on the production they were working on, which made sense for the premise, but I wish some of that attention had gone toward developing their relationship beyond the physical attraction and repeated misunderstandings.

╰┈➤ The Final Episode 🎞️

I did enjoy this book, and I was satisfied with where Clara and Min-Joon ended up. I just wasn't completely convinced by the journey that got them there.

For me, this was a case of enjoying the concept more than the execution. I loved the K-drama atmosphere, but I wanted the emotional development to be just as convincing as the romantic tension.

If you enjoy K-drama-inspired romances, familiar romantic scenarios, and plenty of tension between the leads, I can see this being a fun read. Just know that the emotional progression of the relationship may not work for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

⋆｡°✩ case closed, book explored. ✩°｡⋆
╰┈➤ @theebookexplorer 📖

[Bry · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

For the Love of K-Dramas is a romance story featuring K-drama actors, bi representation and widely loved tropes like enemies to lovers and forced proximity. Clara gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she gets the lead role in a K-drama, only to find out that her co-star is none other than her rival, Min-joon. It is public knowledge that they both hate each other, so how are they supposed to star as lovers in a movie?

I was a little skeptical of this book at the beginning, and was afraid I wasn't going to like it, but that quickly changed and it took me by surprise how much I ended up liking it. I had such a fun time reading this book, the connection between our main characters is amazing and the setting of the book is so fun. I love the Korean representation in this book. I love that it’s mostly set in Korea and it is so filled with Korean culture. I like the film aspect of the book as well, it is really interesting to read about the movie being made and following our main characters doing their job and seeing the behind of scenes.

I like our main characters. I love their representation, with both being Korean and bisexual, but their experiences being very different. Min-joon comes from a very traditional family who don’t accept him as a bisexual, while Clara is more open about being bisexual. Clara has lived in America for a long time which has affected her opinions, her culture and her behaviour, to the point where she struggles to be accepted as a Korean, and feels like an outsider in her own home country. Those are both really interesting problems to explore and it is done so well in this book. Clara and Min-joon have a very fun dynamic, I always love a good enemies-to-lovers trope. But one thing that bothered me is how very physically attracted they are towards each other from the very beginning. It kind of diminishes the enemies aspect and makes it less believable. It is also just a lot, their extreme physical attraction is described in most chapters, to the point that it gets repetitive and annoying. However, the romance redeemed itself towards the end since their emotional connection was very obvious then and I love how their story ended. As someone who dislikes third act breakup or end of book conflicts, there are very few instances of it being done well, and in a way that I don't dislike. This book being one of those instances. The "conflict" towards the end, if you could even call it that, is very reasonable and I like how our characters handled it respectfully and in a mature way, also in the way they resolved that conflict and got back together. That scene towards the end is absolutely adorable.

This is the third book I read by this author and I really enjoy her books, especially because of the Korean and LGBTQ+ representation in them. I will definitely be reading future books by her. I would recommend this book to all romance readers, but especially if you enjoy books with enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes. Thank you Forever and Netgalley for the arc copy which i received in exchange for an honest review.

[Danyle Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Review of *For the Love of K-Dramas***

As someone who absolutely loves K-Dramas, *For the Love of K-Dramas* was such a treat for me. It felt like getting to experience a K-Drama in a format I could read, and I had a lot of fun diving into the story of Min-Joon and Clara.

I especially enjoyed the way the book embraced those classic K-Drama tropes that make the genre so much fun. The arm grab, the male lead carrying the woman on his back, getting a little too drunk and needing your “enemy” to come save you—I loved all of it! Those moments gave the story that familiar K-Drama feel and made it especially enjoyable for me as a fan of the genre.

I especially enjoyed the tension between the two characters. Their dynamic had that familiar enemies-to-lovers energy that makes K-Dramas so much fun. That said, I did find myself wishing there had been a little more nuance behind their disdain for one another. They seem to begin catching feelings for each other relatively early, and I would have loved to see a more prolonged progression of their relationship and more opportunities for that tension to build. Nevertheless, I think their relationship works well within the shorter format of a novella. It makes for a quick, cute, and enjoyable read.

I also really liked the dichotomy between Min-Joon and Clara. Their differences gave their interactions an interesting dynamic, and I enjoyed watching those differences play out as their relationship developed.

Another aspect of the story that stood out to me was the way it incorporated real-world topics that can affect Korean Americans. I thought the author handled the racially motivated undertones particularly well, especially through the microaggressions Clara experiences. Those moments added another layer to the story and gave it some depth beyond the romance.

One thing I would have liked to see more of was Clara's friendships. I wish we had gotten more opportunities to see her simply have fun and spend time with the people in her life outside of her relationship with Min-Joon. I think that could have given us an even fuller picture of Clara as a character.

Overall, *For the Love of K-Dramas* was a fun, quick read that delivered the K-Drama-inspired romance I was hoping for. I enjoyed the characters, the tension, the familiar tropes, and the incorporation of real-world experiences. I think fans of K-Dramas will have a particularly good time with this novella.

[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!

[❥A · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

『 Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC. 』

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Although the premise of this didn't sound too unique, as a lover of K-dramas, I was pulled in by the title. As someone that grew up watching lots of K-dramas, I was definitely left intrigued. The premise of the book was nothing new, but the author was able to put her own unique twist on it. This ended up being a cute and quick read. The writing style was also easy to understand and digest.

I really enjoyed that this was dual POV. Because of this, we were able to see the tension between the FMC and MMC and how things changed from hate to love. This also made the love between the two more believable. The dynamic between the FMC and the MMC was fun to read as they had good chemistry. Through their interactions and thoughts, I was able to see how they were a good fit for one another. I also think that Lyla Lee did an amazing job at fleshing out her characters. The characters were consistent and true to themselves, which contributed to showing the growth between Clara and Min-Joon.

Although I am usually not a fan of third-act breakups, this one was definitely expected given the premise of the story. I think that it was appropriate, since it was used to show the growth of Clara's character. I liked that it didn't take up too much of the plot and was remedied in a realistic way. Though the actual delivery was a bit cliche, it was definitely a very K-drama-esque moment.

The family dynamic shown here was also really relatable. I liked that the author showed a more realistic side to their conflicts and problems. Although the way that Clara's problems with her mother was resolved ended up being a bit cliche, it still felt realistic and sweet. I also really enjoyed the side characters, and that no one ended up being toxic.

Overall, I had a good time as the story was a sweet read and was not overly cliche. I would recommend this to anyone that wants a romance without too much drama and/or K-drama lovers.

[Nimra Iqbal · Rating 4 out of 5]

💕 Enemies-to-lovers, celebrity drama, and a little behind-the-scenes romance? Yes, please!

The premise of For the Love of K-Dramas sounds like so much fun! Two actors who can’t stand each other being cast as romantic leads in the same movie is already a recipe for tension, but when their feud has played out publicly online, things get even more interesting. 😂

I love the idea of a romance where the characters have to convince everyone around them that they have chemistry while trying to figure out what those feelings actually mean for themselves. Clara and Min-joon have their own history, and being forced to work together means they can’t exactly avoid each other. Add long days on set, romantic scenes, and all that unresolved animosity, and there’s so much potential for banter and tension!

I’m also really interested in Clara’s journey as an actress who’s worked hard to get where she is. Her ambition, her complicated family expectations, and her determination to prove herself add another layer to the story beyond the romance. I appreciate contemporary romances that explore what it means to chase your dreams while navigating other people’s expectations of who you should be.

And as someone who loves a good enemies-to-lovers setup, the idea of two people who are convinced they dislike each other slowly discovering there’s more beneath the surface is always appealing. Sometimes the person who gets under your skin the most is also the person who understands you in ways you didn’t expect. 👀

If you enjoy celebrity romances, workplace tension, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers stories with a K-drama-inspired backdrop, definitely put For the Love of K-Dramas on your radar! ✨

[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.

[Morchaal.03 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please, stop writing books for tropes.

Exhibit 01 Only One Bed

The production and hotel had miscommunication and booked a HONEYMOON SUITE for lead actor and actress of the movie who hate each other publicly. Everyone accepted this arrangement for the whole the shoot schedule.

I am sorry have we not seen dating scandals in Korean entertainment industry?

Exhibit 02 Airport Confession

FMC finally give in and runs to confess. Instead of texting him she contacts his friend and do a public confession at airport.

Umm again.... isn't dating kind of forbidden to Korean celebrities?

Exhibit 03 He saw her in the "Date Dress" after breakup

FMC wore the red dress to red carpet of Golden Globe which was her claim to fame. She wore it their first date too. Now after their breakup, she shows up in the same dress for the red carpet of their movie release.

This production team has to be most incompetent one I have ever seen. If Golden Globe was her claim to fame, I am sure pictures in that dress is all over the internet. Where's their PR team? Source out an outfit!

Even if I tried to take the tropey plot in stride. I didn't like how Min-joon feels the entitlement to judge Clara skills. If she was casted after going through the whole selection process, why are his monologues are about her skills? The plot was about two actors who had an online feud. However, the moment they entered the same room together all of their thoughts were about sexual tension and it never ended. That alone set me off.

Thanks to NetGalley, Forever, and author for the ARC

[Nicole · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I love a good rivals-to-lovers romance, and putting two actors who seemingly cannot stand each other in the same production? Oh, I was absolutely here for this.

Clara and Min-joon were so entertaining together. The tension, the banter, the constant push and pull between their public personas and what was actually developing behind the scenes made this such an enjoyable read. I especially loved Clara’s determination to make a name for herself in an industry that doesn’t always make room for women who refuse to play by its rules.

And Min-joon, for all his broody, seemingly arrogant behavior, had more layers than I initially expected. Watching these two gradually move past their assumptions about each other while trying to navigate their careers and growing attraction was easily my favorite part.

I also really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry, particularly the pressure of public perception, social media, and how quickly narratives can be shaped around celebrities. The K-drama setting added another fun layer, and the romantasy production within the story was a nice touch.

There were a few moments where I wanted the emotional development to breathe a little more, but overall, the chemistry was there, the romance was satisfying, and I had such a good time with these two.

A fun, swoony romance with plenty of tension, ambition, and two people discovering that sometimes the person who challenges you the most might also be the one who understands you best.

[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.

[Nikki (awallflowerreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chemistry between Clara and Min-joon is soooo hot and delicious! They hate each other pretty fiercely, but also whenever they’re around each other it’s electric and fiery. I wouldn’t say that the pair argue or banter particularly often, it’s moreso this simmering tension that’s just at the surface of their interactions. And every small touch feels like so much more! I did at times wish we would have understood more of where this hatred came from, even if it is explained as him being really rude to her when they worked on a prior film together.

The actor-y, movie-making details were fun set dressing to the romance, and for some reason I really dig reading actor MCs. I can’t get behind the rockstar thing, but something about costar attraction is so fun to me. I also loved Clara’s journey in returning back to Korea (her birth country) and realizing how much she’s missed it. It gave a really great personal layer to this role for her, and overall more depth to her character.

My first book by Lyla Lee, but I really enjoyed her humorous and authentic writing! I breezed through this one so quickly, and it’s because her worlds and characters are so easy to fall into. This also felt like such a perfect love letter to K-dramas!

4/5
enemies to lovers, actor MCs, Korean American FMC, Korean MMC, bi4bi, soju piggy back ride, caretaking, only one bed, costars with benefits, cat daddy, Big Gesture

[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.

[Elia Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the Love of K-Dramas was such a fantastic book! First of all, as a mom of two littles, I have seen K-Pop Demon Hunters a million times, so I loved that the premise of the movie Clara and Min-Joon were shooting had Clara as a demon hunter and Min-Joon as a demon. I KNOW their movie was not K-Pop Demon hunters, it just made the book more relatable for this tired mom!

I loved both Clara and Min-Joon, they had obviously made assumptions about each other after working with each other a few years ago and I loved how they first were against working with each other. Soon after joining the movie, they needed to form a truce, and I appreciated how they slowly opened up to each other, learned more about the other person to form a true friendship. The chemistry was clear and I love how they slowly gave into the chemistry but also wanted to make sure their priority was to make the best movie and make it a success.

Min-Joon, once you get to know him, was so sweet, he cheered Clara on and didn't ask her to give up any of her dreams. I felt terrible about his family but I loved his found family and how Clara loved and accepted him for him. I also loved seeing Clara follow and achieve her dreams, she had honest conversations with her parents. It took a while, but she was brave and honest with herself and I loved seeing her grow and blossom!

The storytelling was fun and I loved the backdrop of filmmaking and visiting different locations in Korea. I loved this story so much!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute “enemies” to lovers story between Clara and Min-joon, two very different actors who don’t think very highly of each other but are forced to work together when they’re both cast in the same project. So many moments between the main characters feel ripped out of a script and give the impression of living out their very own real life K-drama. This story not only explores the developing romance on and off the screen between Clara and Min-joon but also shows their private struggles with family and perception. A lot of the book takes place in and around Seoul and serves as a bit of a love letter to Korea as well as K-dramas, which was a very nice tie-in with the title and overall concept.

Unfortunately, the chemistry between Clara and Min-joon failed to ensnare me and I wasn’t as swept off my feet as Clara. I did, however, like the inclusion of Clara’s friends in Korea and Min-joon’s connection to the characters from Lyla Lee’s other novel, Love in Focus. Seeing these characters have a life outside of their love interests makes the characters feel much more relatable and their lives a little fuller.

While this particular story didn’t wow me like I thought it might, I do think there are plenty of people who will love it. If you like K-dramas and/or a Hollywood romance type of story then this is probably for you.

[Tatiana · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Thank you so so much to Net Galley and Forever Publishing for allowing me to read this book early. It was an absolute treat and everything I could possibly love as a Kdrama fan! That being said, while you don't have to watch Kdramas to fully appreciate this book, it would definitely help to understand some of the nuances the characters go through.
But I loved reading my favorite romance tropes, I could practically hear the music from my favorite romance Kdramas during some of the scenes. The chemistry between Min-joon and Clara was so good! The tension, the bickering, and the slow realization that love and hate can share the same passion. I loved that the book has dual POVs letting us see what's on both of their minds, and understanding their thoughts and emotions as time went on.
Not to mention, reading about them filming in Korea also really made me want to go visit! I was already planning a trip but reading the descriptions of the various locations made me so excited to see these things for myself.
As you can tell by my raving, I loved this book. So if you're thinking of picking it up, this is your sign to do so! I don't think you'll regret it one bit.

[Christina · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I have been rewatching my favorite K Dramas, so when I saw the title I knew I needed to read it! This book was so fun to read and just like a K-drama I binged it because I couldn't put it down! I really love how Lyla represents traditional families specifically with Korean families. I also appreciated that both characters were Bi and that the topic was approached in such a good way of reminding that not everyone can feel welcomed or safe to be their true self.

I really loved the cold stoic traditional Min-Joon our MMC who is well known in the K-Drama community and our FMC Clara who is unapologetically herself as a Korean American trying to make a break in the K-Drama industry as this will be her first starring role. Sounds like a perfect movie, well if you take out the years of these two hating each other and insulting each other in interviews for other projects. Min-Joon and Clara have to find a way to make this work for they love the project but also both have something on the line. If you love celebrity romance or K-dramas this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an eArc in exchange of an honest review.

[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!