Close to You is a 2025 Chinese youth drama with a setup somewhat reminiscent of Meteor Garden – four good-looking boys and a girl who earns a scholarship to a prestigious high school. However, Close to You brings its own charm through romance and characters with unique stories to tell. Yet, despite having it all, from a full cast to pleasing music, read on to find out why it didn’t quite hit the mark for me!
Read MoreTag: Youth
Always Home Drama Review: A Fuzzy Friends-to-Lovers Journey Through Time
This 2025 Chinese coming-of-age youth drama explores the story of Chen Huan’er and her friends Jing Xichi and Song Cong as they journey from high school to adulthood, facing love, loss, family struggles, and personal growth, with their enduring friendship remaining a constant through every challenge. Read more about Always Home and my thoughts on the finale!
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Drama Review: You Are Desire
Two scarred and lost high school students create an everlasting relationship with those around them and through the years, become each other’s light. Zhuang Da Fei and Zhou Yi Ran star in ‘You Are Desire,’ pushing through to live life with no regrets in this 2023 Chinese romantic youth drama.
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Drama Review: When You Be Me (反转人生)
Finding me through you – a youth soul swap drama! Read the final drama review on When You Be Me (反转人生), a 2022 Chinese drama starring Zhou Yi Ran and Ma Si Chao. Mu Xiang Xiang and Qiao Nan faces difficulties maneuvering through their daily lives in another body. Their comedic and tough experiences leads the two youths to discovering more about themselves and life.
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Final Review: Memory of Encaustic Tile (昔有琉璃瓦)
What legacy would you leave behind ? Read my final review on Memory of Encaustic Tile (昔有琉璃瓦), a 2022 Chinese drama starring Chen Yu Qi and Lin Yi. A romance drama that focuses on the life of Shao Xue and Zheng Su Nian as they grow up in the alleyways of Beijing. Feel the warmth of family and the slow burn of their love as they become working adults.
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Final Review: Shining For One Thing
Spacetime is everlasting… wherever there’s light, there’s Zhang Wan Sen! Read my final drama review on Shining For One Thing (一闪一闪亮星星), a 2022 Chinese drama starring Zhang Jia Ning and Qu Chu Xiao. This romance drama that focuses on Lin Bei Xing, a woman reaching her 30s who travels back to a parallel timeline where she meets Zhang Wan Sen, a schoolmate of hers that she does not remember. You’ll be bound to feel the desperation of Lin Bei Xing, the unrequited love of these youth, and the timeless dedication of Zhang Wan Sen.
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