Drama Recommendations: School Romance

A reader asked for some drama recommendation “I’ve already watched Boys Over Flowers, and read the manga of Hana Yori Dango. But I’ll surely try the Japanese version. However, I’m not too keen on watching It Started With a Kiss, because I was sort of disappointed with the K Version Playful Kiss. I wouldn’t mind a good rom-com or maybe a cross-dressing drama either! Historical is also alright. I wouldn’t mind the Chaebol-falls-in-love-with-a-poor-woman plot either. But I’m more into Dramas set in school or college where the focus is on things like bromance, friendship and love (because such kind of emotions really appeal to me). Other manga adaptations are also alright. yeah, I’m okay with the idol-boy kind of dramas (or should i say flower boys?) where the protagonist belongs to a musical band and stuff like that!

As long as the drama has substance and is addicting and juicy, I’ve got no problems at all!
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At first I was totally drawing blank but after a few days of pondering I came up with a few ideas:

First Pick

Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

This one pretty much fit the bill perfectly. Cross dressing heroine, bromance galore, and great romance. This is a historical drama of course but the plot feels modern and just a wonderful drama all around.

2nd Pick

Coffee Prince (2007)

One of the classic you just got to watch. A tomboy, our heroine ends up getting a job at a coffee shop that only hires boys. Things gets hilariously complicated when the coffee shop owner (the hero) falls in love with our heroine but has no idea she is a girl. No school here, but everyone is super young here.

3rd Pick

Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (J-Drama, 2007)

This is turning into a cross dressing recommendation… Anyhow, another classic where you will find remakes by K-drama and T-Drama as well. But I think the J-version gets the bromance down the best. To help her idol, our heroine enters into a all boy school and of course the usual hijinks (and the not so usual ones since we are talking about J-drama here) ensues.

4th Pick

Answer me 1997 (2012)

This one is all about the growing up years and the confusions of first loves. Ahh… the young love. Lots of friendship, bromance and heart melting romance of course.

Fifth Pick

Secret Garden (2010)

Kinda fit the Chaebol falling in love with a poor girl category but this one gets more interesting since our two leads’ actually has a soul exchange. No a school romance but a good one anyway.

Last Pick