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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
Overall I really enjoyed this. It's fast paced for a no-plot story and has mostly enjoyable characters. The grumpy-sunshine trope is in FULL effect here. The grumpy is a little TOO grumpy for my liking, with very little characteristics to root for, but the sunshine keeps you interested and invested enough.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I was really looking forward to reading this! I used to watch a lot of BL dramas and while I haven't watched the Semantic Error drama, I heard great things about it! However, having read the first volume of the manhwa, I don't think this story is for me.
I understand how some folks might like the dynamic between Sangwoo and Jaeyoung; they both clearly have room to grow and that's where good romance is born. However, both characters were personally too irritating to me to enjoy the story. Sangwoo is clearly written to be autistic (no social skills, likes routine, faceblind, etc.) and while his character may resonate with some readers, I'm pretty over portrayals of autistic characters that are just 'robotic' grown cis men who still haven't learned to consider other people's feelings; it's such a tired trope and annoying kind of person to encounter in real life (I am autistic). That being said, I don't find Jaeyoung's pigtail-pulling of Sangwoo to be cute at all and it just comes off as bullying because of Sangwoo's obvious distress over it. Because we're only a few chapters into the story, we haven't really seen how they could bounce off each other well and so I finished the book with a sour taste in my mouth.
In terms of the art, it was perfectly serviceable for a comic but not particularly outstanding to me. I was kind of expecting more from a manhwa adapted from a webnovel but since my framework is mostly manga adapted from Japanese light novels (which tend to go all out on the art relative to the average original manga), that might be on me.
Overall, I can see how it could appeal to someone who is more tolerant of Sangwoo & Jaeyoung's flaws but as it is, this was just not for me.
I was really looking forward to reading this! I used to watch a lot of BL dramas and while I haven't watched the Semantic Error drama, I heard great things about it! However, having read the first volume of the manhwa, I don't think this story is for me.
I understand how some folks might like the dynamic between Sangwoo and Jaeyoung; they both clearly have room to grow and that's where good romance is born. However, both characters were personally too irritating to me to enjoy the story. Sangwoo is clearly written to be autistic (no social skills, likes routine, faceblind, etc.) and while his character may resonate with some readers, I'm pretty over portrayals of autistic characters that are just 'robotic' grown cis men who still haven't learned to consider other people's feelings; it's such a tired trope and annoying kind of person to encounter in real life (I am autistic). That being said, I don't find Jaeyoung's pigtail-pulling of Sangwoo to be cute at all and it just comes off as bullying because of Sangwoo's obvious distress over it. Because we're only a few chapters into the story, we haven't really seen how they could bounce off each other well and so I finished the book with a sour taste in my mouth.
In terms of the art, it was perfectly serviceable for a comic but not particularly outstanding to me. I was kind of expecting more from a manhwa adapted from a webnovel but since my framework is mostly manga adapted from Japanese light novels (which tend to go all out on the art relative to the average original manga), that might be on me.
Overall, I can see how it could appeal to someone who is more tolerant of Sangwoo & Jaeyoung's flaws but as it is, this was just not for me.
lighthearted
Semantic Error has been recommended to me SO MANY times and has been on my TBR for such a long while!!! I'm once again apologizing to all my friends who told me to get on this ages ago because y'all were right! I do absolutely love this!😂Their unfortunate first meeting, Jaeyoung's shenanigans for revenge + forced proximity throughout this whole first volume made the perfect setup for how the rest of this series will go and I really can't wait to keep reading! The art style is super fun and the coloring is really nice too. I absolutely love the pacing of this one, and that we actually got the POVs from both characters! The differences in Sangwoo and Jaeyoung's approaches to life and personalities was so fun to witness, and I'm so excited for the character developments as well as the developments in their dynamic and eventual romance too!
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via Netgalley, and am voluntarily leaving my honest thoughts. Many thanks to Yen Press for the opportunity!
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via Netgalley, and am voluntarily leaving my honest thoughts. Many thanks to Yen Press for the opportunity!
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Such a refreshing manhwa! It was my second time reading this and it will not be the last. I know how their story ends and it was so lovely to be back and read Vol 1 again. It's realistic, beautiful, funny, sad and all in between. It's a journey of falling in love and I was so happy that I found this little gem. There were moments where I naturally felt frustrated with Sangwoo and Jaeyoung, but isn't this how it supposed to be? To feel uncomfortable? Bothered? You deduct, learn, try and make decisions that sometimes are selfish, sometimes are dumb or sometimes are for the sake of the things you were tought. As I said - realistic. They both compliment each other, teach and learn things from each other and it's only the beginning for them.
Thank you to Netgalley and Yen Press/Ize Press for the review copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and Yen Press/Ize Press for the review copy.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was hilarious, the dynamic between the main characters is so entertaining and the art matches the vibe of the story perfectly. I feel bad for Sangwoo because he’s clearly neurodivergent but his lack of effort in communicating with people was bound to catch up with him, and Jaeyoung is just as much of a mess with his unhealthy fixation on Sangwoo. Looking forward to seeing the relationship development of these dumb boys.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was okay! It was funny and entertaining enough, but this is just the first volume so there wasn't much plot or impact yet. I've also never watched the kdrama (if I'm not mistaken, there is a kdrama adaptation?) Nevertheless, I still had fun reading it 😆 I look forward to reading the second one!
(Also is it me or Sangwoo is neurodivergent-coded? like pls, just say it and make it canon 🥹🙏)
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
TROPES:
⁴⁰⁴ Grumpy/sunshine
⁴⁰⁴ Neurodivergent MC
⁴⁰⁴ Hate to Love
⁴⁰⁴ Opposites Attract
⁴⁰⁴ Grumpy/sunshine
⁴⁰⁴ Neurodivergent MC
⁴⁰⁴ Hate to Love
⁴⁰⁴ Opposites Attract
«Jaeyoung Jang is like an irregular sequence. I don’t like things without patterns. They’re unpredictable.»
I need more of these two immediately. I loved seeing Jaeyoung go from wanting to bother Sangwoo to just wanting him to see him. These two had me giggling and blushing, and the romance hasn’t even started yet!!
“Why would you chase after me?”
“‘Cos it was weird. You ran so I just ran after you without thinking.”
“That’s even weirder.”
These guys are such a perfect pairing. My favorite part was Sangwoo just short-circuiting when Jaeyoung started being nice to him. I can’t wait to see more of their super cute story unfold.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“You told me to follow you.”
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
I watched the Semantic Error show, and so was excited for the opportunity to read the graphic novel.
I really enjoy the interaction between the two characters. Sangwoo sees everything in absolutes, and so feels completely justified in reporting that he completed a group project entirely on his own. This means Jaeyoung is unable to graduate. Jaeyoung starts to go out of his way to find ways to annoy Sangwoo with everything from wearing red to sitting in his favourite seat, to buying all of the campus stock of Black holic coffee. As the story swaps perspectives, it’s clear how Sangwoo feels, but it’s harder to see Sangwoo’s angle.
I loved that the graphic novel that would drop into Chibi mode when Sangwoo has an strong reaction, which wasn’t really replicated in the live action show. But most of the same story beats are still there.
Looking forward to the rest of the volumes.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
