by KB Meniado

I was in high school when Koreanovelas struck Philippine TV like a typhoon on Signal No. 4. While it was not the kind of disaster people feared, it did disrupt lives. The “studying habit” I was only starting to cultivate ultimately went kaput. My friends seemed to have nothing else better to do but talk nonstop about last night’s episodes. My own parents were glued to Full House, Stairway to Heaven and Memories of Bali. (I remember we even visited the actual house in Full House.)

It is easy to understand why these romantic comedies are popular among Filipino audience: they present a fantasy most can relate to. Also, they are cute. A refreshing alternative to the boohooohoooo of Filipino dramas. As a reader, this is also why I wished for these Koreanovelas to have book counterparts. And ta-da! Kim Sam Soon!

THE STORY

Isn’t it that when you’re in love, cakes begin to be filled with all the things you could possibly know off? Things such as sweetness, softness, lightness, bitterness, and depth?

The third daughter of a mill owner, Sam Soon is a patissier who aspires to bake cakes that are as delicious as her father’s rice cakes. She’s the kind of woman who despite feeling restless and heartbroken would wake up at dawn, stand in front of the oven, and bake sweet-smelling bread. She’s relieved and amazed that her heart has not turned stone cold yet in spite of her heartaches and sadness.

Meanwhile, Do Yeong is the worst guy to be on a blind date with. Although he’s a good piano player and a good kisser, he’s a pessimist when it comes to love. He thinks he’ll never be happy again after his brother died and his first love left him (although he still patiently waits for the latter’s return).

After a chance encounter, Sam Soon and Do Yeong end up working together and striking an unlikely deal that involves him pretending to be her date. He’s far from being attracted to her while she can’t stand him. But why does Do Yeong feel totally uneasy whenever Sam soon’s not around?

Read through the pages and fill your appetite with Sam Soon’s tasty tale of love and misadventures. / Read reviews: Goodreads

WHAT I LIKED

I love pastries so you can just imagine how enjoyable (and frustrating) it was to read about Sam Soon baking and tasting cakes. Now I’m not sure how exact the translations from the Korean version are but to me, the descriptions are vivid. I could see the fluff of the icing on the page. If your imagination needs a trigger, the pretty cover might help.

And don’t worry much about how the story turns out. The book retains the trademark antics of the Sam Soon TV show we all know of. It also includes an Author’s Note from Ji Su-Hyun after the story ends.

tl;dr

This book can pretty much disrupt my life anytime. Dear Kimchi Press, next one, please! ☁