Romance is a bonus book is a slice of life kdrama that captures the highs and lows of life in the most beautiful, vivid and captivating manner. The drama revolves around a woman, Kang Dan Yi, who puts her career on hold to focus on her marriage and raise her daughter. Unfortunately, her marriage ends in a divorce leaving her penniless, homeless and jobless. Kang Dan Yi seeks help from her best friend, Cha Eun Ho.
As no company wants to hire someone who has been on a career break for years, Dan Yi bets on the one thing she knows best; her love for books and takes up a task support job at a publishing company where her friend Eun Ho is a chief editor. In the quest for achieving professional excellence alongside great friendship, their true feelings for each other comes to light.
The drama is uplifting, inspiring, comforting, motivating and realistic. The story thrives on the ordeals and struggles people go through to get a job especially those who haven't worked for a while. The drama captures the reality on the ground; the tears, disappointments, failed interviews and hopelessness of the unemployed.
However, this drama offers comforts and motivates one not to give up with the hope that there will surely be light at the end of the tunnel. Dan Yi's situation was pitiful and discouraging. This is a woman who couldn't even afford to buy herself a new pair of shoes. She could have shrank but she didn't. She continued to press on and even as a task support, she took on big tasks and contributed accordingly. At the end, her life took a positive turn.
The drama also portrays the day to day activities of a publishing company, Gyeoroo Publishing, which is the main setting of this drama. Every step involved in book publishing is shown and it appreciates the work of key players such as the editor, book designer, marketing and sales team, the illustrator etc. It also highlights the struggles publishing companies go through to make sure a book is a success.
The romantic aspect is not left out either. Dan Yi, in her quest to overcome the challenges of life finds love with her friend Eun Ho. Their romance is soft, sweet, beautiful and healthy. Friends to lovers and Noona romance troupe is exhibited in this drama; one that would make you smile, cringe and make your heart flutter as well.
This drama is one I'd call a masterpiece or a skillful piece of film making. If you're a fan of books, friends to lovers troupe, interested in the publishing world or in need of a drama to comfort you and give you a ray of sunshine, then this drama is for you.