Gu Man

Definitely more of a 4.5 but I’m rounding up.

Until a month ago, I didn’t know who the author Gu Man was or her work You Are My Glory. Of course I had heard about the very famous drama Love O2O but didn’t know that it was also based on a book by the same author. But here I am a few weeks ago, having read both the books and watched the dramas as well. What an utter surprise (not) that I neglect my huge never ending ARCs tbr to just go with my mood.

To start off, I never know how to talk about writing in these cases because I’m reading translations done by fans. But this was such an easy breezy read for the most part. Childhood friends to lovers is a favorite trope of mine and while this is a bit of a subversion of that, it was also interesting with the addition of a second chance romance/ blast from the past tropes. I also thought the author’s depiction of the characters’ lives and struggles was very realistic, and I could really relate to some of them which made for quite an emotional reading experience for me. However, I know nothing when it comes to mobile games, so I can’t tell how well the gaming chapters were written - they seemed pretty confusing in the drama too. I have also watched the drama till the latest episodes and it’s such a faithful adaptation, that I could almost picture every scene in the book happening right in front of my eyes with Reba and Yang Yang.

The main characters are definitely the strength of this book and I was so impressed with how they are written. Jingjing is a charming, mischievous and beautiful woman, and despite the kind of stereotypes we are used to about actresses and celebrities and her falling into some of them, the author also shows us that she is very mature and empathetic and very considerate about all the people in her life. She may seem materialistic due to the necessities of her profession, but she is utterly dedicated to her work as well as anything that she puts her mind to. But she is also a romantic girl at heart and I could totally understand her feelings.

On the other hand, Yu Tu can seem like the typical intelligent, nerdy, good looking aloof guy we see so often in fiction - and he is all this - but there is just so much depth to this character. The conflict between chasing our dreams vs being more pragmatic in a money obsessed world; loving someone dearly but feeling unable to give them all the care and time they deserve; the struggle to choose between the selfishness of ambition and filial piety; realizing that being the best in our own little bubble isn’t enough when it comes to the real world - every single of these themes was explored so sensitively and realistically by the author through Yu Tu’s character and it was hard not to feel sad for him because so many of his situations felt very similar.

And the way a beautiful romance develops between these two - just wonderful. It’s not exactly a slow burn but it’s definitely very organic, and the small ways in which we realize that their friendship is turning into something more is written very effectively and tugs at our hearts. There’s very little angst in the story but whatever there was, was pretty heartbreaking and some of the dialogues and lines just brought instant tears to my eyes.

The side characters may not have prominent presence but they are definitely memorable and I loved seeing so many supportive people around our main characters.

To conclude, this was a beautiful but realistic contemporary romance, which thoughtfully showcased the normal work and love struggles of people in their early 30s. While I adored the Love O2O drama and feel that this drama is very good too, I think that the book is superior in this case. The translation was also excellent and very seamless, so maybe I will checkout the other things they have worked on by the same author. Now, I’m just waiting to see the last set of episodes of the show and hoping it is as lovely as the book.… (mer)