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Protagonists who met when they were kids, first kiss in episode eight, contract lovers, piggyacks, scarfing down tteokbokki and confessing love after drinking countless bottles of soju, there’s nothing more wholesome, cutesy than a Kdrama that takes on a rollercoaster of emotions. The scenic views of South Korea, the cherry blossoms and the layered characters rarely feel stock and make you wonder what it would be like to read a book that captures the essence of a Kdrama while still offering something unique. So, here is The Bombay Circle Press’ guide to five best novels to read if you love Kdrama.

  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Want something that takes you back in time when you felt nothing but love? Make a few amends and have that one conversation you regret you never got to. Before the Coffee Gets Cold is the wholesome, feel-good-cry and one the best novels to read if you love slow Kdramas that help you deal with grief, unsaid conversations and remind you to take a deep breath and live in the moment before it is too late. First book in the series, the novel is set in a cafe tucked away in an alley in Tokyo where you meet four visitors who time-travel to make some wrongs right.

  • Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

If the love confessions during episode seven or eight or a romance Kdrama swoon, then Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You will melt your heart and make you wish someone remembered every single detail about your life. Louisa Clark who takes up a job as a caretaker for Will Traynor, who after an accident is in a wheelchair. Although Louisa knew it was not an easy job, Will’s moody behaviour and disregard for joys in life make it even more difficult for her. Will Louisa help him see the brighter things in life? 

  • The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library is one for the lost souls who love the fantastical elements that are not limited to dragons and goblins. If the slower slice of life shows, then The Midnight Library will take you back in time and make you wonder what life would be like if you just made a different choice. The story follows Nora Seed who ends up in The Midnight Library after she dies. With each book she picks, she gets to live a life where she made a different choice. But even what seemed like the best choice might not also turn out to be so.

  • Turtle A by Ellie Martin-McKinsey

Ellie Martin-McKinsey’s Turtle A takes you on a journey with The Girl who is guided by The Universe to set events into motion like a Rube Goldberg machine. Everything seems to be going according to plan but that is until she bumps into Nico, a dancer who believes in himself and nothing else. Is this a sign from The Universe? Will they come together to solve the mysteries of The Universe? Turtle A is perfect for the Kdrama lovers who want a hint of magic realism and a slice of life.

  • Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

There’s nothing like young love, especially when you finally get together after a painful slow burn. The beloved Heartstopper series is one of the most wholesome and best graphic novels to read of the decade. Sparks and leaves fly when over-thinker, introverted Charlie Spring develops a crush on Nick Nelson. But what happens when they become friends and sparks fly, but Charlie cannot convince himself that Nick might like him

There’s nothing like fiction books that feels like a hug and a Kdrama that feels like a warm bowl of ramyeon on a cold winter night. But you hit the jackpot when you can find both in one with the best of both worlds and even better character dynamics and scenes that feel like they are frozen in time both on screen and in novels.

Image: Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (TvN)