Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E17 / It’s another roundup episode this week, this time about dramas with a strong theme of friendship and no (or extremely little) romance.  

✨ I dig into the friendship/found family combo that’s often present in workplace dramas and slice-of-life shows and a few mystery/crime dramas as well.

📝 Quick note: this is the last episode for season 1. I’ve loved connecting with you about Kdramas and will be back after a summer break with Season 2! 

👍 Spoiler Free episode. Enjoy! 

Dramas mentioned in this episode:

• Avengers Social Club
• My Mister
• Chief Kim/Good Manager
• Stranger
• Misaeng: Incomplete Life
• Divorce Attorney Shin

Watching/Planning to Watch:

• Unnatural  
• Is Love Sustainable
• Go Back Couple
• Second Shot at Love

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E16 / Loving Kdramas but ready to branch out? I took a break from Kdramas to shine a spotlight on some Japanese dramas I loved. 

I share some of my favorites: twisty mysteries, workplace dramas, and fast friendships. 

Did you know Jdramas are getting easier to stream? Netflix, Viki, and Amazon are adding fresh Japanese dramas—so it's a great time to put a few on your watchlist.

✅ Spoiler Free episode, except for one trope mention, which has a warning. Chaptermarkers are timestamped. 

🗞️ Off the Record 

👗 Why I Dress Up for Love *

🤵‍♂️ Turn to Me, Mukai-kun 

❤️‍🩹 First Love 

🦚Who Saw the Peacock Dance in the Jungle 

🎻 Quartet

* At the time of recording, I couldn’t confirm if Why I Dress Up For Love would actually be available on Netflix, but it is available there now.

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E15 / Brett Battles is back to talk with me about Like Flowers in Sand, a brilliantly layered Kdrama that’s so much more than a sports story. 

In this spotlight episode, we gush about:

• Strong female characters in the village 
• The golden retriever that is Baek Doo and the delightful pairing of him with focused Doo Sik and their slow-burn romance
• Flashbacks done right
• The joy of a well-integrated mystery plot (versus tacked-on serial killer plot)
• Found family, hidden identity, childhood friendship, and underdog tropes

➡ Use the chapter markers to find the non-spoiler and spoiler sections.

Links:

Brettbattles.com

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E14 / Aimee Robinson, paranormal and time travel romance author and Kdrama fan,  joins me to talk about her favorite Kdramas, focusing on thriller/mystery shows–especially those with a bodyguard trope.

🎯 We explore Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ psychological triggers, like status, competition, gossip and discuss why they make Healer such a satisfying drama. 

🥇And we list some of our favorite heroes and heroines who excel in competency. 

⚠️ Spoiler warning! Our wide-ranging conversation touches on the following shows: 

• Extraordinary Attorney Woo
• Signal
• The King Eternal Monarch
• The K2
• Bridgerton
• Marry My Husband
• Night Agent
• Healer

▶️ Currently Watching/Planning to Watch:

Aimee: Love and Sword, Snowfall, Moonlovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Goblin (AKA: Guardian: The Lonely and Great God), Extraordinary  Attorney Woo

Sara: Queen of Mystery 

Aimee’s website: https://www.aimeerobinsonromance.com

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E13 / Kristi Rose and Amy Boyles join me to take a look at King the Land, a romcom that doesn’t get enough attention–at least that’s our opinion.

😠💕 We dive into the enemies to lovers trope that blossomed into a steadfast relationship, and we break down why we were absolutely rooting for Gu Won and Sa Rang, played by Lee Jun Ho and Im Yoon Ah.

🏢🎭 Beyond the romance, we unpack the drama’s deeper themes—ambition, authenticity versus pretense, and the tough realities of working in the service industry from the ground up.  We also laugh a lot and recall our favorite scenes. 

👑 So if you’re looking for a romcom that brings romance, humor,  and found family, but has a noticeable *lack* of white trucks of doom, serial killers, and amnesia, King the Land might be just what you’re looking for. 

⏩ Use the chapter markers for spoiler free and spoiler sections.

Currently Watching/Plan to Watch (with some spoilers):

Amy: Goblin, Destined with You, Grosse Point Garden Society

Kristi: The Potato Lab, When Life Gives you Tangerines 

Sara: The Potato Lab, Who Saw the Peacock Dance in the Jungle

Amy Boyles: https://amyboylesauthor.com

Kristi Rose: Kristi Rose: https://kristirose.net/ and https://kristirosebooks.com

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E12 / Kdrama fan Sana joins me to talk about her unique Kdrama origin story as well as why they appeal to viewers around the world.

🖼️ Sana shares how she found Kdramas through a museum visit, and then we discuss favorite shows.

✅ Sana also gives us a fantastic list of recommendations, broken down by genre.

🚫 Spoiler warning! Our wide-ranging conversation touches on the following shows: 

• Crash Landing on You
• Twenty-Five Twenty-One
• Reply 1988
• Sky Castle
• Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo
• Our Blues
• Mr. Sunshine
• Game of Thrones
• Goblin
• Descendents of the Sun
• Alchemy of Souls
• Itaewon Class
• Love Next Door
• Queen of Tears
• The Trunk
• My Mister

Sana’s Recommendations

Quintessential Kdramas:

• Her Private Life
• Business Proposal 
• Love Scout

Serious Period Pieces:

• Pachinko
• Under the Queen’s Umbrella

Love Stories:

• Our Beloved Summer
• Because This is my First Life

Medical Show:

• Dr. Romantic (all three seasons)

Slice of Life

• Twenty-five Twenty-one
• Reply 1988

Zombies:

• Kingdom

Time Travel:

• Lovely Runner
• Atypical Family

Thriller:

• Squid Game

Superhero:

• Moving

Currently Watching/Planning to Watch:

Sana: My Dearest Nemesis, Buried Hearts, Undercover High School, When Life Gives You Tangerines, Flex X Cop   

Sara: Quartet

Sana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kdramasaysmama/

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E11 / Stefne Miller, founder of Army Project 529 and Kdrama fan, joins me to talk about some of her favorite dramas and how they’ve impacted her life as well as the international community that’s formed with the rise of the Hallyu wave around Kdramas and BTS. 

☎️ And then we get into our thoughts on  When The Phone Ring—what worked for us (so, so well!) and how sometimes a drama just hits you with a white truck of doom in the homestretch. 

🚫 Spoiler warning! Our wide-ranging conversation touches on the following shows: 

• Squid Game
• Crash Landing on You
• King the Land
• Uncontrollably Fond
• Extraordinary Attorney Woo
• Twenty-five Twenty-one
• Cheat on Me if You Can
• When the Phone Rings
• Snowdrop
• While You Were Sleeping
• The K2

Stefne’s recs:

• Crash Landing on You 
• Business Proposal 
• What’s Wrong 
• What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim
• Dr. Romantic
• Extraordinary Attorney Woo
• Train to Busan
• Kingdom
• Bloodhounds

Current Watching: 

Stefne: Trama Code, Melo Movie, When Life Gives You Tangerines

Sara: The Potato Lab

Links:

ArmyProject529.com

Stefne’s TikTok: StefARMYProject529

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E10 / Nas from the Swoon Diaries Podcast joins me to talk about her favorite Kdramas, focusing on those emotional stories that pull at our heartstrings.  

🏢 We also chat about the office workplace trope, exploring why the setting is a staple of Kdramas and why chaebol romances and found family vibes are often paired up.

📝 Additionally, we dive into the joy of list-making, discussing how many Kdrama fans (including Nas and myself!) love to organize our viewing experiences and keep track of favorite shows. 

And be sure to check out The Swoon Diaries Podcast, if you haven't already. It's fantastic!  

⚠️ Spoiler warning! Our wide-ranging conversation touches on the following shows: 

• Romance is a Bonus Book
• My Dearest
• Goblin
• The Red Sleeve
• Itaewon Class
• Our Blues
• One Spring Night
• Call It Love
• Touch Your Heart
• Love Next Door
• Queen of Tears
• Extraordinary Attorney Woo
• Because This is My First Life
• Crash Landing on You
• Start Up
• Astrid (French drama)

Currently Watching: 

Nas: Love Scout, Queen Who Crowns, He is Psychometric 

Sara: Off the Record, Why I Dress Up For Love

Podcast: Swoon Diaries Podcast

Instagram: @SwoonDiariesPod https://www.instagram.com/swoondiariespod/

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E9 / We’re talking Joseon era dramas, nine-tailed foxes, and Korean food in this episode!  

🪄💗 Claire Kohler, Kdrama fan and author of historical romantasy and steampunk murder mysteries, joins me to talk about historical Kdramas, irresistible tropes like Girl Disguised as a Guy and Forbidden Love, and genre-blending in dramas. 

🐉 🥘 Claire also shares her love of Korean culture, including Korean food as well as Korean folklore, which she’s incorporating into her books.

⚠️ Spoiler warning! Our wide-ranging conversation touches on the following shows: 

• You’re Beautiful  
• The King’s Affection
• I Can Hear Your Voice
• I’m Not a Robot
• Sungkyunkwan Scandal
• Love in the Moonlight 
• Goblin
• What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim
• The Secret Life of my Secretary
• Avenger’s Social Club
• Tale of the Nine-Tailed

Current Watching/Rewatching: The King’s Affection, When the Phone Rings, 

Claire Kohler: https://www.clairekohlerbooks.com

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂

Would you like to share your Kdrama origin story and recs? Send me a text and let me know. *Be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL so I can get in touch with you!*

S1 E8 / Brett Battles, thriller author and Kdrama fan, joins me this week to talk about Kdramas with emotional depth and a healing vibe.

🚛 We also delve into subtitles vs. dubbing as well as some tried and true tropes, like white dump trucks of doom. 

♥️ 🌊 If you’re looking for new titles to add to your watchlist, check out Brett’s recs for heartfelt dramas, which for some reason  are often set in seaside town. 😉

⚠️ Our conversation touches on the following shows, mostly discussing the general set-up of shows, but there are a few spoilers for older shows. 

• Squid Game 
• Crash Landing on You 
• Something in the Rain
• It's Okay to Not Be Okay 
• Our Beloved Summer
• Run On
• Moving
• Like Flowers in Sand
• Call It Love
• Tell Me That You Love Me
• Gaus Electronics
• Perfect Marriage Revenge
• Marry My Husband
• Twinkling Watermelon
• Lovely Runner
• Signal
• Goblin 
• Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
• Strong Girl Nam Soon
• A Shop for Killers
• Welcome to Sandal-ri
• Love Scout
• Motel California
• When the Stars Gossip
• Beyond Goodbye
• Twinkling Watermelon 
• The Glory
• Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha 
• Twenty-Five Twenty-One
• Attorney Woo
• Beyond Goodbye

Brett’s website: 

https://brettbattles.com/

NoSleep4Dramas podcast with mention of Like Flowers in Sand: https://www.nosleep4dramas.com/post/top-10-kdramas-of-2024

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you thought:

💬 Send me a text* or find me in these places:

☂️ How I Met My Kdrama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetmykdrama

🔎 Website about my mystery books: SaraRosett.com

📚Buy my books direct and save: SaraRosettBooks.com

📖 SaraRosett Instagram (mostly bookish posts): https://www.instagram.com/sararosett

*FYI: For privacy, phone numbers aren't shared, so I can't reply directly, but I will get the message and I'd love to hear from you! 🙂