Welcome to Chapters & Episodes. I’m so glad you’re here.

Every two weeks, I’ll talk about one fiction book and one K-drama that’s been on my mind lately. They don’t have to be the latest (or the best) ones, but I want this to be a safe space to discuss some memorable fiction pieces, since books and K-drama are two of my favorite leisure activities.

If you’re a reader but not a drama fan (or vice versa), I hope I’ll give you some insight into another world of possibilities that you might want to start exploring.

And if you already love both - high five! You’re in the right place.

Let’s start with our first two picksD

When the idea of starting a newsletter first sprouted in my mind, this was the first book I thought of. And so it only felt appropriate to make it the topic of this first issue.

Now, if you’re not new to the book world, you’ve probably seen this novel making rounds. It came out in March this year, and since then, it has become Reese’s book club pick (that isn’t always a sign of a good book, but this time I’d say Reese knew what she was doing).

What’s it about?

First of all, I love the first line:

“The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.”

Who’s the farmer? We don’t know yet. (For the record, I love this kind of hook.)

So, Beth and Frank are a happily married couple, living on a farm, and still grieving the loss of their son. But then, a man returns to the village with his young son, and it’s no one other than Gabriel, the man Beth very much loved before marrying Frank. And that love was once mutual.

Gabriel is now divorced, and his son Leo reminds Beth of her own son she has lost. The dynamics shift, the past is awakened, and they all navigate it from there.

Is past love stronger than the current one? Who is Beth going to choose? And who died on page one?

So, this is not a murder mystery per se, even though there’s a murder and a courtroom element.

This is, first and foremost, a love story. Although complicated. And although it includes three people.

I mean, hats off to the author. She managed to paint both men as good choices for Beth. Both Frank and Gabriel seemed like the obvious choice. There are past and present timelines, and I found them to be equally engaging, which is not always the case in novels.

Historical fiction usually isn’t the most fact-paced genre, but the writing in this one was propulsive. You keep getting snippets from the court hearings too, trying to guess who’s the victim. All the while, you keep feeling for Beth and rooting for her to make the best choice.

The ending really got me. I read this book months ago, but that last scene is still vivid in my mind. I remember where I was when I was finishing the book, and I remember I cried a lot.

Who’s it for?

Pick it up if you love historical fiction, love stories, murder mystery elements, courtroom drama, stories that stick with you. And even if you like only one of these things I mentioned, I’d say still give it a go.

I’m not big on historical fiction myself, because it’s usually on the slower side, but this one was chef’s kiss.

For my first K-drama pick, I wanted something that pairs nicely with Broken Country. My train of thought was: I need a memorable drama with the female lead torn between two men, and with all the feels.

And then I knew it had to be Start-Up.

This drama premiered in 2020 on the channel tvN (some of the best dramas have been produced there). It’s 16 episodes, with each having a runtime of about 1 hour and 25 minutes.

What’s it about?

The story is set in Sandbox, South Korea’s fictional Silicon Valley, where a bunch of young people are trying to build their dream start-ups.

Seo Dal Mi (played by Bae Suzy) and Won In Jae (played by Kang Han Na) are sisters who don’t really get along, and who chose different paths in life, but have somehow now both ended up competing at Sandbox.

Growing up, Seo Dal Mi had a pen pal, whom she never met. That pen pal in Han Ji Pyeong (played by Kim Seon Ho), who is now a successful businessman and one of the mentors in Sanbox. When writing his letters, he used the name Nam Do San, because that was the name he saw in the newspaper one day.

In the present day, the two guys meet, and Han Ji Pyeong asks Nam Do San (played by Nam Joo Hyuk) to go along with it and pretend he was the real pen pal to Seo Dal Mi. Things, of course, get complicated.

Both guys end up fighting for her, all the while they’re all fighting for their dream careers.

If the setup sounds complicated to you right now, don’t worry. You’ll get a very clear picture in the first two episodes.

What I remember most vividly about this drama is (maybe strangely) the color palette. Bright, vibrant colors, lots of light, scenes buzzing with youthful energy. And the soundtrack is unforgettable. My favorite track is, of course, Future by Red Velvet.

Then, the cast. Nam Joo Hyuk and Bae Suzy were already among my favorite actors, but then the drama introduced me to Kim Seon Ho, and I never looked back.

This is also one of those cases where you can easily picture the female lead with any of the two men in question. No matter who she picks, you’ll cry for the guy who didn’t get chosen.

The pacing is great. Dramas can get a little slower in the middle, but I didn’t find that to be the case here. The first episode was just a tiny bit slower than the rest, but that one is all about setup, so it makes sense.

Who’s it for?

Watch it if you want a mostly light drama, but still exploring deeper themes. It’s about young people finding love, building careers, fighting for their dreams, and dodging the curveballs life sends their way.

Also, watch it if you want a soundtrack that makes you sing along and some scenes that make you laugh out loud.

If these picks are new to you, I hope you try them out and you enjoy them. And if they’re already know of them, I hope you at least enjoyed reading my thoughts on them.

Keep reading, keep watching, and keep enjoying fiction!

Ajla