From Paris to Seoul

by Odessa E. Taner

Oh Seo-yeon—thirty-five, forever second lead, possibly unemployed—thad a plan: book an impulsive flight, eat ice cream in front of the Eiffel Tower, and figure out the rest later.

What she didn't plan for was running into Yang Baekhyun: a former co-star, four years younger, freshly single and perpetually broke.

He's too modest for her world. She's too polished for his. They have exactly nothing in common except a city that doesn't belong to either of them... And a few stolen nights that were never supposed to mean anything.

Then the flight home lands.

Back in Seoul, reality has opinions. The industry. The families. The very loud gap between who they are.

Turns out, the Paris versions of themselves were considerably easier to be—and considerably easier than figuring out what to do with each other back in the real world.

Tropes & Highlights:
- K-drama / Hallyu vibes
- Reverse Age Gap (Older Woman / Younger Man)
- Starting over after 30s
- Celebrity / Entertainment Industry Romance
- Destination Romance
- Opposites Attract
- Secret Romance

Each book in the K-drama Romance series can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 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

[⋆°.☾⋆Rae.ೃ࿔*:⋆]

This was cute. Unfortunately, I just don’t think I was the right demographic for this book and that’s completely okay. It was still a short, easy read, and I had a nice time reading it. This story felt like watching a few episodes of a k-drama and that’s exactly how it was marketed. We follow the story of Seo-yeon, a b-list actress who is going through a lot in her life: confusion regarding her career, a failing relationship, and some family drama. After a deeply upsetting event, Seo-yeon decides to run away to Paris for a change in scenery and a place to be alone with her thoughts and feelings regarding the state of her life. While in Paris she reconnects with an old co-star, Baekhyun, an actor and model who is working paycheck to paycheck to support his family, also in Paris alone after a failed relationship.

The two meet up and sparks fly in the city of love and they begin a relationship that can only exist in Paris. They share their time, their hearts, and their bodies with each other and it’s as magical as they wanted it to be. But of course… all good things come to an end and it’s time to return to Korea and make some big decisions regarding their lives.

There are some really sweet moments between the characters and I found myself smiling every time Seo-yeon playfully punched Baekhyun or when she surprised Baekyun with how down to earth and sweet she can be. He has this preconceived notion that all rich actresses and models are snobbish and only care about the most expensive restaurants and broadcasting their lives through their phone cameras instead of just being in the moment but Seo-yeon quickly proves him wrong. She can still be a bit of a perfectly well-behaved princess but Baekhyun challenges her to let those behaviors go a little and live for her instead of living how everyone else wants her to.

This story is perfect for anyone looking for a quick easy read that will just have them giggling and smiling the whole time. Pretty low stakes romance with just the right amount of will-they, won’t-they tension. Anyone who enjoys a cute k-drama romance will absolutely adore this story.
But I wouldn’t be able to call myself an honest reviewer if I didn’t share some of my honest opinions about the story. Sometimes the relationship feels a little surface level if you understand what I’m saying. There was little development of the actual relationship and at times it felt like a rebound for each other until suddenly they were in love and it was a big thing. I feel like there could’ve been more in that department. And this story claims to focus on the whole “will they rekindle the love they felt in Paris’ like that was meant to be the main plot of the story when it was actually a very small part. It’s only a few chapters towards the end. My favorite parts were when they were actually IN Paris. But as I said, I just don’t think I was the right demographic for this book, personally.

I can see how people would enjoy it. The characters feel like they have actual substance and I actually adored Baekhyun the entire time I was reading. I adored the references to actual historical places in Paris and the little references to Korean culture sprinkled throughout. All in all, it was a very cute, fun little read. Definitely recommend it if you're looking for something short and sweet with a cute story.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Odessa E Tanner for the ARC and trusting me with your story. ❤️📖

[Jumi]

Rating: 3.75/5

This was a good read, but I didn't find much similarities to kdrama in terms of how the plot progressed or how the characters interacted. The book had no kdrama trope as well (some of these cliches like umbrella, shoe lace tying, rich/philosophical grandparent (the book touches on this but fails to explore the trope), fake relationship, etc. are what set kdrama apart from the rest imo). Then the plot comes up with the 'confined to one room/bed' part and I was like, well finally something kdrama-like is happening (because that's what the book advertises to be...a kdrama like book!) but then the couple have sex in that settingg; it was not even a date night ...that's not kdrama with the heat turned on! You want to know what that is, check out Secret Garden. Or Healer. There are exceptions in kdrama world as well (e.g. Nevertheless), but usually kdrama romance is slow burn.. that's its most staple quality.

We don't get to see much of Seoul or Korean culture, including food in the novel. The peppering of Korean words (and character names) was there, which was probably the only element that kept reminding readers of the Korean context.

Nevertheless, it was a good read. I wished the author explored the plot in greater depth—things get sorted out too easily fot everything but still, I was engrossed in the story.

What worked for me is still the plot and the two protagonists. Character development is not a strong forte but the author did maintain good integrity in these two characters for the most part. Overall plot and writing style was good, which made it a fast read.

The female protagonist belongs to a rich family, and is a mid-level second lead actress. The male lead is an actor with not a so strong financial background, who works for supporting cast in the drama industry. They meet in Paris and click! Paris as a city has been explored well to some extent (in comparison to Seoul) and they leave Paris saying, what happens in Paris stays in Paris. Like all romances, the rest is predictable in a good way.

The book is about being your true self and following your passion. But I have seen YA and MG romances do a better job of carrying out this mission; yet my rating remains at 3.75 /5 ...which I think is a good rating (given how much I have cribbed) because:

1. I didn't take off any star from the rating for the book's non-adherence to the kdrama world. I was irritated of course, because that's how it has been marketed and probably that's why I picked this book, still I kept that aside when rating the book.

2. At the end of the day, the book did entertain me well: I was into it the whole time. That's what we expect from this genre, right?

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this ebook.

[Lovelettelore]

Running away from heartbreak in Seoul, only to find love again in Paris? ✈️❤️

📖 From Paris to Seoul by Odessa E. Taner
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.25)
🌶🌶🌶

After catching her boyfriend cheating, Seo-yeon, a model/actress burdened by her family’s impossible expectations, runs away from Seoul to Paris in search of freedom. There, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Baekhyun, a fellow actor/model she’s worked with before. But while Seo-yeon comes from privilege, Baekhyun is grounded in reality, supporting his mother and sister. Despite being from such different worlds, their time together in Paris sparks something undeniable. When they both return to Seoul, they must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice—and who they truly want to be.

This book was so entertaining! I adored their playful flirting and how their connection grew naturally, with no pretense or heavy expectations. Their care for each other felt genuine, and the tenderness in their relationship really pulled me in. While I hoped for a slightly more satisfying resolution, I appreciated how the story honored their bravery in choosing their own paths—it was sweet, vulnerable, and real.

Thank you NetGalley and Odessa E. Taner for this ARC. 💌

Tropes:
✨ Model/Actor FMC & MMC
🎬 Kdrama-Esque Vibes
💔 Second Chance
👑 Rich x Poor Dynamic

[Ames]

I won this book is the authors giveaway & I feel super lucky. This book is visually stunning and so well written.

Im not a huge romance girl, I recently fell in love with cowboy romance, however this is my first book outside of that & I loved every minute.

I loved how relatable these characters were, I loved the MMC POV's.


I LOVED EVERYTHING!!!

[Ultimate World]

Book Review: From Paris to Seoul: A Melody of Freedom and New Beginnings by Odessa E. Taner

Odessa E. Taner’s From Paris to Seoul blends the dreamy romanticism of a K-drama with the emotional depth of a modern love story, turning up both the passion and the stakes. Seo-yeon, the perfect daughter and rising actress, has built her life on meeting everyone’s expectations—until heartbreak and relentless pressure push her to escape to Paris. There, under the city’s glowing lights, she meets Baekhyun, a struggling model whose life is defined by responsibility rather than dreams. Their chemistry is instant, undeniable, and fueled by the unspoken understanding that their time together is temporary.

What begins as a fleeting Parisian escape soon follows them back to Seoul, where reality bites hard. Taner captures the ache of “what now?” as the pair navigate careers in flux, personal reinvention, and the terrifying vulnerability of falling in love when you’ve already been burned. Both Seo-yeon and Baekhyun are richly drawn—flawed, hopeful, and grappling with the pressures of an industry and society that rarely offer second chances. The dual settings of Paris and Seoul add both visual splendor and cultural texture, making the romance feel both intimate and cinematic.

Steamy yet heartfelt, From Paris to Seoul isn’t just about passion—it’s about freedom, self-discovery, and the courage to rewrite your own story. Fans of K-dramas who crave a little extra heat will find themselves utterly hooked, but this novel also resonates as a poignant exploration of love in the face of life’s relentless demands. Taner delivers a story that is equal parts swoon-worthy and soul-stirring, leaving readers rooting for Seo-yeon and Baekhyun long after the final chapter.

[Lanie Brown]

Seo-yeon's life may look perfect; she is the daughter of a conglomerate, her boyfriend is gorgeous, and she may not be an A List celebrity, but people recognize her while she's out, so close enough. Of course, when she catches her boyfriend of six years cheating, she realizes pretty quickly that she hates pretty much all of this. So she does what anyone does and drops everything to runaway to Paris.

Baekhyun's life has been the exact opposite. His father walked out on his family years ago and he's been the "bread winner" ever since. While he lucked into his career in modeling and acting, he doesn't have much aspirations other than to get the next role so he can help keep a roof over his family's head. However, when his influencer girlfriend gets tickets to Paris, he decides not to pass up this opportunity to visit the country that produced most of his favorite books.

When Baekhyun and Seo-yeon run into each other by sheer coincidence, neither one of them plans for a whirlwind romance but anything is possible in the city of love!

This is 100% the cheesy romance you think it's going to be and to be fair with the graphic sex scenes it veers pretty far from the typical KDrama, that all being said, I absolutely adored it. Seo-yeon is your typical rich girl character and thanks to her parents being the head of some large company she has things like social status to worry about, so you've got a built-in roadblock to any relationship with Baekhyun right off the bat. Yes, this is a pretty common trope in Kdramas. To be fair I think one of the things that attracts us to Kdramas is their heavy reliance on tropes, we can say we don't like them all day long but at the end of the day they are comforting. Which is why Baekhyun is the perfect "responsible yet reckless bad boy" to Seo-yeon's "perfect daughter" character type. He I wouldn't say pushes her but opens her up to doing new things she normally wouldn't, which gives us most of the sex scenes you don't find in many Kdramas. I will be honest, at first this kind of annoyed me, I watch/read this genre specifically to get away from the smut when I'm just not feeling it, but they were cute together so I'm fine. Plus it's got a great Happily Ever After at the end so it works out well.

My complaints contain spoilers so just a heads up there.

I do have a couple of complaints with this though. The first being I genuinely feel like Seo-yeon never even tried to work anything out with her parents. Her whole hang up with having an open relationship with Baekhyun is that her parents would never approve (apparently they have a semi valid reason for this) and at one point she does say she's going to tell them. Instead, the whole family sits down and has dinner together and she kinda blows up and then just runs off and occasionally sends them post cards. The other thing is she spends a ridiculous amount of time worrying about a "scandal" so she doesn't tell anyone where she has run off to but then records and releases a song with Baekhyun and doesn't seem to be the least bit worried that someone will find out she's ran off and living with a man unmarried in JP. Between these two things I feel like this whole social class barrier goes down the tubes. Her parents are loaded I feel like if they really wanted to find her they could, especially since she's in contact with both her sister and her grandparents, and if the song they released blows up there's your cover gone right there. So she should have just talked it out with her folks. Or at the very least gave it a shot and if it didn't work out then try to fly under the radar.

Other than that I really enjoyed this, it was a super quick read that just gave you all of the happy feels while hitting that smut factor for those looking for that!

As always thanks to Netgalley and Odessa Publishing for the eArc!

[Rachel]

Thank you to Netgalley and Odessa E. Taner for allowing me the opportunity to read a copy of this ebook!

My thoughts on this story are that it was a nice easy weekend read. It's part of a duology series, but either book can be read out of sequence. The author describes the story as a higher spice K-drama, and that's exactly what was delivered. The MC's are two people from South Korea in the movie industry who met a few years back on a movie set, but meet suddenly in Paris, France while trying to make some changes in their lives.

Seo-yoon has had enough of the mediocrity of her life, and when a sudden shock disrupts her otherwise seemingly "perfect" life, she makes a quick decision to get away for a little trip. Meanwhile, Baekhyun flies to Paris with his social media guru girlfriend. What is meant to be a good time together soon just underlines all the obvious struggles in their relationship. When Seo-yoon and Baekhyun run into each other, they jump at the chance to explore Paris...and say yes to everything!

K-drama tropes include some fun ones like Age gap (a couple times!), breakup, the "lean", and ramen nights. I felt it was missing some of the big ones though like the slow burn and gazing into each other's eyes. :D For a short story, everything happened rather quickly, in fact! I was surprised! The spice level was 4/5.

I needed a little more depth to the story, myself. I would have liked to have them talk about their time on the movie set together more, and maybe tell some fun stories and enjoy fond memories. I needed more connection and reason for their encouraging where the relationship was heading. The spice was there, but it was too much in contrast to their story background. It was a fling that turns into more but it lacked something before the spice hits.

What I enjoyed the most was actually when the MC's return to South Korea! There they each explore their deeper dreams and you get to meet family and friends a bit more which adds a nice dynamic to the story and the plot! I ADORE Baekhyun's younger sister, I wish she could have been introduced in a few scenes on set bothering her big brother, or in a few family scenes at the restaurant. The story needed some comedy as everything felt kind of heavy and a little depressed due to what the characters were feeling.

The ending was a classy K-drama ending I giggled and swooned and it was so dreamy. Although it ended as abruptly as the story began! lol. I was surprised again! It didn't feel like a TRUE ending where you feel like the characters will be on their way to happiness together. You kind of get an IDEA, but it's left to the reader's imagination, honestly.

Again, thank you Netgally for the copy to read!

[Nia]

⭐⭐⭐.5 (3.5 stars)
This book gave what it promised--It has very k dramey vibes which I loved. It reminded me of one of those low-stakes, 5–6 episode K-dramas you binge on a weekend: cozy, sweet, and simple.
This book felt like the just walking with the characters not through their entire story, much like the journey matters not the end...this doesn't feel like their whole story - but like they're living an mazing life out there but we stumbled upon a small, exciting, and probably most important part of their story.
The reason I wanted to read this is because I adore the idea of having a “getaway with no strings attached”--live as an alternate reality with no strings of their real life, have a big bang and come back and then meeting up again this time knees deep in their real life shit- it felt very serendipitous to me.
I loved the character growth- how they came to work together and it was just gorgeous.
If you want the vibes of escaping to Paris - living freely for a moment, a big bang moment coming back changed with a dash of self discovery and summing up the courage to chase their dreams and have their own big bang --this story delivers.
I also loved the ending and am forever rooting for seoyeon and baekhyun.
A vey sweet fulfilling story that I would definitely recommend.
This felt like ice cream after ugly crying and having a breakdown.🍦


✨ Thank you NetGalley and Odessa Publishing for providing me with ARC of this book.

[Sarah Rhodes]

I loved this book! I felt like I could very much relate to both Seo-yeon & Baekhyun. If you are a K-Drama/K-Pop fan I think you would definitely enjoy reading! I read this in one afternoon & it felt like I had just binged a cute & sweet K-Drama. Loved the banter and cheeky playfulness between the couple. Age gap/noona romance which I enjoyed.
Some spice, but I found it tasteful and added to the story. If you are in your 20s/30s and have felt the weight of society/other’s expectations or feel a bit lost when it comes to relationships and love, this story is a comforting, heartwarming, and hopeful reminder that starting over and new beginnings can be for the best. I felt like this was the perfect kind of book for me at this time in my life & I’m glad to have come across it. Will definitely be checking out & looking for more from this author and suggest others do the same! Also found it nice that there was a glossary in the back with words/translations for those who may be unfamiliar or new to Korean language/culture.

[Andrea]

Sweet

Seoyeon and Baekhyun are Korean actors who have appeared in the same drama, Seoyeon the female lead, Baekhyun the 2nd male lead. Both in Paris after breakups, they meet by chance and find to their surprise that they really like spending time together. Their feelings deepen but, once back in Seoul, they decide to go their separate ways. Her chaebol family would not accept Baekhyun’s modest background, and Baekhyun doesn’t want to force himself on her. He writes a song about their time together, it gets some airtime, and they reconnect. Ultimately they decide to go to Japan, where Baekhyun is filming a drama, and try living together. A simple but lovely story about people from different backgrounds making a happy life together.

[Lilian]

4.5/5⭐️
As a big fan of Korean dramas, I was attracted by this book’s plot. Seo-yeon is a minor actress who realises that her career may not last much longer while Baekhyun is a struggling actor/model who is forced to make ends meet even as he supports his family.

They somehow end up on a holiday in Paris where they accidentally bump into each other. Their encounters soon turn into more, and soon lead to “instant noodle” invitations.

I loved how their relationship progressed and the fact that their differences didn’t drive them apart. Instead, the similarities between them allowed them to empathise with each other instead.

This was a quick and fun read and I look forward to reading future books from the author.

[Charlotte Cutter-Byford]

This book delivers on everything it promised. It felt exactly like a kdrama in book form, and the mmc was perfect. Kind, supportive, slightly cocky and everything that Seo-yeon needed. I especially really enjoyed reading about the two lead characters time in Paris vs Korea and the differences that were made evident in their behaviour.

I’m looking forward to reading the authors other book if it’s anything like this.

[Blessing Okwuofu]

From Paris to Seoul by Odessa E. Taner is a nice Kdrama love story involving two minor actors from different backgrounds, but having the weight of family expectations in common. Short and sweet. I enjoyed reading this. I got a complimentary copy of this book from Odessa Publishing via Netgalley. This is my honest review.

[Tara]

A fun light romance read with a spicy Kdrama feel. I enjoyed the main character's chemistry and the dynamics with the best friends/siblings.

A trigger warning for some readers: there is mentioning of dieting and counting calories, but seems to do a good job of not glorifying this part of Korean celebrity culture.

[knihálek]

Nevěřím, ale zhltla jsem celou knihu za jediný den. Příběh mě doslova přemístil do Paříže, Korei i Japonska. Obě hlavní postavy byly skvělé a bylo v knize krásně ukázáno, jak fungují některé rodinné vztahy, hlavně co se týče sociálního prostředí a očekávání od vlastních dětí.

[Gemma Williamson]

I absolutely loved this book.fro. the beginning to its end so sweet and romantic and the way they over come everything defo reccomend it if u love a sweet ro.antic book.xx

[Alicia]

Fast-Fun-Travel. If you enjoy Korean romance, this flows perfectly. Great characters!

[Angelynn23]

This was a fun k-drama story, I loved it as much as I loved watching k-dramas on the screen.

With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Odessa Publishing for a great read.

[Sara Phillips]

I absolutely adored this book. I love the characters, the depth of the story and learning about Korean culture. The characters were so real and that really resonated with me.

[Paige]

This was a fun and cute read with the perfect amount of spice. I loved our main characters Seo-yeon and Baekhyun and I enjoyed the alternating POVs. This is the second book in the K-Drama Love Story series, but it can be read as a stand-alone which is great as I have not read the first book, but it has been added to my TBR.

Thank you to Netgalley and Odessa E. Taner for allowing me the opportunity to read a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review