Public Image, Private Heart

by Odessa E. Taner

Playing his love interest was supposed to be the hard part...

Han Yumi doesn't believe in mixing work and feelings—but her nervous system didn't get the memo. Landing the lead role opposite Ryu Ji-yong was supposed to be her big break, not the beginning of a situation she has no clean category for.

Ji-yong is one of the biggest names in K-drama, but he is unexpectedly warm, funny, and unreasonably easy to be around. She is a rookie actress eating ramyeon on her floor and pretending everything is fine.

Everything is not fine.

When the cameras stop rolling and real life gets messy, Yumi discovers that performing chemistry on screen is considerably easier than figuring out what to do with the real thing—and that the most terrifying scene she'll ever play has no script, no director, and no second takes.

Tropes: Co-stars to Lovers, Celebrity/Rookie Romance, Behind-the-Scenes Tension.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit

305 pages, Paperback

Published June 4, 2026

About the author

A lifelong fan of K-dramas with a romantic soul, Odessa channels her love for Korean culture into her debut novel, Public Image, Private Heart and her second novel, From Paris to Seoul 📸🌶️

When she's not writing, she's likely binge-watching the latest K-dramas at lightning speed—some of her favorites include Nevertheless, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, and Something in the Rain.

She also loves hanging out with her two cats, Miso and Tofu, or exploring new cities with her French husband in search of inspiration for her next story.

Reviews

[Izzy's Isle]

Public Image, Private Heart by Odessa Taner explores the lives of Korean celebrities Yumi and Ji-yong as they navigate their fame both on and off screen. While the story features a few clichés, it offers valuable insights into Korean culture, particularly within the entertainment industry. Readers gain a glimpse into the kinds of food the characters enjoy and the significance of family values, including upbringing and occupations, which heavily influence societal perceptions. In the early chapters, the narrative tends to rely more on telling than showing, with some past events between Yumi and Ji-yong being recounted in the present through explanation by one of the two main leads.

The author addresses heavier topics that Yumi faces, such as harassment on set and the complexities of gender dynamics in the industry. As a woman just starting out, Yumi faces with the question of who society believes when allegations arise, especially when she's up against a man who's also an established veteran actor. Ji-yong, on the other hand, deals with leaked photos of him and another actress, leading the public to speculate about a romantic relationship, which strains his actual off screen relationship with Yumi.

Throughout the story, a recurring question emerges regarding how much personal information actors should disclose to the public, especially considering the intense scrutiny that often accompanies celebrity status. It captures the complexities of fame and the pressures faced by celebrities in the Korean entertainment industry, while exploring the challenges of maintaining a public image and private life.

[ReneeReads]

Light, fluffy and oh so adorable with a hint of spice. The cover of this is perfection.

[Kelsey Graham]

Overall I enjoyed the story on this one but some of the writing felt a little bit lacking in parts. The ending came a bit abruptly just as I felt the story was starting to hit its stride.

[Andrea]

Korean drama drama

Co-stars in a drama fall slowly in love with each other, weathering the harsh Korean cancel culture, the threat of predatory co-stars from their other dramas, paparazzi trying to generate “scandals,” and facing family issues together. Nice romance.

[Deb]

I was wondering if the K drama I saw on screen could transfer to a book and I'm happy to say Yes! From the first line of Public Image, Private Heart I was hooked by the cute geekiness of the FL. The writing was funny and relatable. Getting a chance to audition for a TV role with your movie star crush? The author makes us cheer for the FL. The male lead is incredibly likeable so right from the beginning we are hoping for something great for the two of them. The author obviously knows what it is like on set and gives us a realistic setting.

I personally like that she wasn't some rich heiress and was comfortable in an oversized T-shirt and eating noodles while sitting in her little studio apartment.

There is a shift in the story where things get a bit more real for our characters.

This is very true for K drama stars who need a certain public face.

I think the reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 stars is because I found some of the intimacy scenes a little too stark. The tone of it seemed to belong to a different novel than the beginning of the story. (Some people might give the book a 6 instead of a 4 for the same reason, lol)

I would have to say that this book is definitely worth a read and I'll definitely be looking for more books from this author.

[Taylor Martin-Newman]

I had some issues with this book. It is marketed as a slow burn, but the romance happened pretty quickly. The writing style was also a bit strange at times— sharing some important events between the characters like they’ve already happened, and the author is retelling them in a different point of time and/ or scene, catching the reader up. I didn’t think this was a strong choice, as it detached me from those moments. Due to this, I didn’t feel that tension I usually do in a contemporary romance, and did not feel compelled to have to read the next page.

I think the author would have benefited from having some comp books (books from the same genre to compare theirs with during the writing process). So she could see what practices are more typical of the genre.

I also thought the way the book ended was odd. I was actually confused and thought I missed something on my end. While the epilogue did wrap it up nicely, the last chapter should feel a sense of finality too, and I didn’t get that.

From what I understand however, this is the author’s first book, so keep that in mind. Also, it does scratch that K-drama itch!

[Paola Juliet]

Encontré esta historia de casualidad y debo decir que me sorprendió gratamente. Es una lectura sumamente bonita y comfort, ideal para desconectar y pasar un buen rato.
Lo que más me llamó la atención fue su ambientación en el mundo de los K-dramas, mostrándonos a dos actores que se enamoran. La química inicial es fantástica: primero saltan chispas durante las grabaciones y, a partir de ahí, el romance se va desarrollando de a poco. Además, la trama cuenta con un toque justo de spicy y expone muy bien las problemáticas reales y los desafíos que atraviesa la industria del entretenimiento de cara al público general.
Sin embargo, desde mi punto de vista como lectora, sentí que a la historia le faltó un poco más de desarrollo en ciertos ejes clave. Por un lado, me quedé con ganas de profundizar más en el pilar familiar de Yumi. Por el otro, sentí que el vínculo y la evolución como pareja entre Yumi y Ji-yong merecía más pantalla; hacia el final algunas cosas quedaron muy sueltas y la resolución de sus conflictos se percibió un poco apresurada.
A pesar de esto, es un libro muy efectivo para pasar el rato, ágil y disfrutable.
Mi puntuación: 3,9/5 ⭐

[Jackie]

Public Image, Private Head is a debut, slow burn K drama novel. From the beginning you feel the tension between both actors that leaves you wanting to know more. Very similar to the K dramas on TV. Felt it. This is a slow burn and although I’m not a huge fan of slow burn the author did great with the love and spice scenes. This is a short cozy read that at times can be very funny. I can see how they struggle with self growth and learning to be patient especially when they are held to such high standards as celebrity figures. Enjoyed this novel very much.

[Ana Mendes]

DNF.


I couldn't relate with the characters.
I acept the first two chapters being "boring" since it's when the story being introduced. But 7 chapters in and still not connect with the characters and have close to nothing happening or changing? They're all too nice, too polite and too perfect. No one is perfect. Readers need to relate with what they're reading and I haven't.

And the writing while correct and without typos felt too bland for me. There is also lot's of telling instead of showing. THE FMC struggles with this and that but it's only told, not felt...

[Hazel Ann]

This book was a complete departure from my usual reading repertoire, but after seeing it—and having been addicted to K-dramas for quite some time—I decided to give it a go. I’m so glad I did. It’s a quick, engaging read that pulls you in from the moment you start. I absolutely loved the two main characters, Han Yumi and Ryu Ji-yong. Their dynamic is tender, compelling, and wonderfully slow-burn. You can’t help but root for them as their story unfolds with all the emotion and tension that make K-drama romances so addictive. It’s a perfect read for anyone who wants a sweet escape. I’d definitely recommend this book—especially to fellow K-drama lovers.

[J. Rose Black]

k-drama behind the scenes

If you’ve ever watched a k-drama and wondered what the actors & actresses were like behind the scenes, this was a fun romance-filled look. Coworkers to lovers, celebrity crush to lovers, close proximity and Korean traditions are some of the interesting flavors to this one. Fun and sweet with some international flavor.

[Erica Simone]

Heartfelt Romance

This was a breath of fresh air. Public Image, Private Heart captures not only the intense attraction between Han and Ryu, it also shows the evolution of their slow-burn romance. I love the book's international flavor.

[Jordan Williams]

3.5 stars rounded up! Really enjoyed this book and the characters, but it felt like it ended too abruptly for me. I didn’t even realize I was reading the last sentence of the book until I turned the page and saw the epilogue 🥲

[Antonia]

Cute Kdrama Novel

This was such a cute read andnI mean that in the best way. Kicking my feet and giggling kind of cute. I liked the balance of drama and romance. The spice was mild but fit perfectly into the plot. I really enjoyed it.

[Shaily]

very cute!

This book was super cute and gave me all the feels. I really appreciated all of the authentic Korean words and foods that they discuss discussed. Just a heart warmer with a side of spice.

[Tina SD]

So cute!

This was such a sweet KDrama romance! It’s a fast read but totally entertaining a good mix of serious, silly and sweet! I hope to read more like this in the future!

[Nikki Chaos]

Honesty it was a nice read. Nothing too special in my opinion, it did indeed give a nice feel of a k-drama but... its probably that I was expecting a bit more than what was given

[Bonnie]

This Is my first time reading a K-Drama story. It was a good lighthearted read and I did enjoy. I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Monica]

Cute. Quick read. Like watching a short K drama that serves as a pallet cleanser.

[megs]

thank you odessa e. taner for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

i just kept screaming "TELL HER! TELL HER!! TELL HER!!!" and then he finally did!!!!!

[Dawn Wagner]

I truly liked this book it remind me of all the K-Dramas I’ve watched