Get that cosy blanket on, your beverage of choice on the ready and the snacks in arms reach… and press play on these lovelies!

Here are first seven on the list:

1. Paperback Hero

2. Under the Tuscan Sun

3. Simply Irresistible

4. The Truth about Cats & Dogs

5. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

6. Tune in for Love

7. Falling Inn Love

Paperback Hero

From the late 90s this is a Hugh Jackman film before he became a household name and I think it is one of his best. His co-star Claudia Karvan is a familiar face from a number of Australian series, and brings the very down-to-earth character Ruby to life in a way that makes you smile every time. It is a must for your romcom viewing!

Under the Tuscan Sun

One of my favourite movies of all time - this brings the beauty of Italian countryside, gorgeous characters and a beautiful story. With a wonderfully strong female core of Diane Lane, Sandra Oh and Lindsay Duncan, this is just a must see. If you’re not dreaming of a life in the wilds of Italy after this I’ll be amazed!

Simply Irresistible

I’m not sure this was ever a big hit at the time (some say it panned 😆) but I must have watched this film dozens of times because it is just such a lovely film. This enchanting romance brings to life the idea that food holds your magical energy and influences everyone who eats it - I love this. A reminder we are all magical ✨😊 Sarah Michelle Gellar brings sparkle, alongside her co-star Sean Patrick Flanery and some delightful scenes with Amanda Peet - an early sighting of her before her career took flight. Very light and easy to watch romcom that brings a smile.

The Truth about Cats & Dogs

A Romcom from some time ago starring t stars Janeane Garofalo, Uma Thurman, Ben Chaplin and Jamie Foxx - what a star line up! The story follows Abby, a veterinarian and radio talk show host who asks her model friend Noelle to impersonate her when a handsome man shows interest in her. Of course this backfires somewhat and so the story unfolds. Love the scene with Uma’s character Noelle eating cake, among many other truly funny lines, with such on point timing by Janeane, Uma, Ben and Jamie A charming movie not to be missed - and a sensational soundtrack too - I had so forgotten this!

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

With Emily Blunt & Ewan McGregor with extraordinary scenery as the backdrop, how could you go wrong with this romcom. Also supported by the extraordinary Kristin Scott Thomas, star of many films including Four Weddings & a Funeral, another Romcom must. Beautifully captured and wonderful chemistry between the two actors (btw Ewan McGregor has never looked so fine!), this is a must see if you haven’t caught it already (sorry for the pun 😂).

Tune in for Love

This is a Kdrama to love. For the uninitiated, there are far fewer Romcom/Kdrama films to choose from compared with the one-off series format… check other posts for the many wonderful opportunities to watch these… but when they do come they are usually brilliant. This one stars Kim Go-Eun who followed this film up with her lead role in the Kdrama The King: Eternal Monarch with Lee Min-ho (aka the KDrama Master). She is a great actress to watch, there’s real artistry in her performances, and she is accompanied by another great actor, Jung Hae-in. Do catch him in the 2024 KDrama Love Next Door with Jung So-min - it is another delight!

The story takes the two main characters, Mi-soo and Hyun-woo, across multiple years of a ‘will they, wont they’ timing in love challenge. Really lovely story and will take you through ups and downs ending with a beautiful moment between them.

Falling Inn Love

I’m finishing Part 1 off with this romantic movie set in the beautiful New Zealand countryside. A really charming romcom starring Christina Millian and Adam Demos. The setting and supporting cast really bring this movie to life, with many well known Kiwi actors making this a truly NZ feeling film. Renovating a beautiful old wooden house, fitting in to a very rural community, and a sort of love-triangle, the lead character Gabriella keeps it coming with the romance and the comedic moments.

Light, funny and so very watchable - worthy of a romance-filled evening in at any time.

Part 2 with the next 8 off-the-radar films… Coming Very Soon!

How happy was I to find a film with Andrew Walker that I hadn’t seen before, and with Bethany Joy Lenz no less (she is the smile-maker in my book!) - wonderful! Let’s go! Press play… oh oops I have seen this movie (this is definitely not a first time that I’ve had to start a movie to see if I’ve seen it… not sure if that says something about the movie or my complete lack of memory - I think I’m a 'enjoy & let go’ watcher).

Anyway, did I stop the movie and flick to a newer potentially unseen film? No… I watched again :) It is delightful! The premise goes like this… two competing & opposite kind of writers for a magazine have to write a Christmas story (in an Aspen resort - not quite sure how that is a thing but nevermind not important). They head off for Aspen but the plane cannot land due to weather and they end up in Indiana, in a place called Santa Claus where a jolly Chris and Carole Winters offer a place to stay in their B&B.

Kevin (Andrew’s character) and Jenna (Bethany’s character) start spending time together and find they’re enjoying themselves… quite a lot in fact. Then they visit Kevin’s family home and the magic just keeps coming. Kevin realises he’s falling in love… Jenna is a slightly reluctant and unconfident faller herself… and then the ex comes into play. Of course it is a happy ending but I’ll leave you to enjoy the final plays :)

I think it is the magic of the two actors that make this movie delightful. A lovely story but the two are just so loveable and draw you in. They hold the emotional scenes so nicely, without over doing it. You just want to root for them even though you know they will get together in the end - how I love Christmas movies!

And yes, to loop back to the beginning, I am an Andrew Walker fan - he is handsome of course, but he also just delivers every time. In my book he is a mark of a great rom-com. Ryan Reynolds you’re not bad 😉 but Andrew beats you on this genre methinks.

So yes it a recommendation! Go Christmas movies! Even for a second, or third, or fourth… time around ;)

Enjoy enjoy enjoy - it’s always Christmas movie time! 🙌❄️🎄🎅🏼🎬🍿😊

The title for this was a little off-putting at first - I thought perhaps it would be too cutesy and how on earth can there be a whole series based in a potato lab… what is a potato lab?! But this series was delightful - the wonderfully put together story and the main characters Kim Mi-kyung (played by Lee Sun-bin) & So Baek-ho (played by Kim Yoon-hwan previously in Extraordinary Attorney Woo another charming k-drama) dynamic kept me coming back every episode.

Kim Mi-kyung is a passionate, seriously passionate, potato researcher… her hobby is potatoes, on top of her job that is potatoes… which has replaced her old life as a slick corporate employee (I wont be the spoiler for why she left this life…). In comes So Baek-ho, the no nonsense, if not harsh, Director Wonhan Retail who has the job of ‘assessing’ the potato lab with the likely cutting of jobs… guess who is last in and therefore first out…

I loved the ups and downs of the pair as they connect with each other, deal with challenges and influence their view on the world. And the potato lab itself - the characters, the mountain village setting, the house she lives in, the villagers, it all makes for a joyful watch.

It’s a lovely touch getting insight into village life and the tensions that come about within companies and the casualties at the end of the chain… but of course, I love the romance the most of all.

With the classic 12 episodes, you’ll want to watch every episode and treasure the final two… my favourite two episodes of any K-drama #lovehappyendings 🙌😊

I watched this series on Netflix

It seems I’m going back to the late 2010s this Christmas! Another Christmas movie pops into my line of sight with Christmas Getaway. With the beautiful and engaging Bridget Regan as Emory and her romantic co-lead played by the affectionately familiar handsomeness of Travis van Winkle - they go really well together - I say a great call by the casting director here (and before in their other combo productions)!

Both bring that believable connection and I found it an easy, warm and wonderful watch. (I currently have another Christmas movie on but oh my goodness it is jolting to watch, the ‘trying’ acting and the overly done make-up & plasticity - I’m going to click end on this before we get any further in!)

But back to Christmas Getaway - supported by the seasoned actress Teryl Rothery, who never fails to deliver (I’ve loved her character, been annoyed by her character, wished her character would go away… it’s wonderful when that happens with the same actress - yay for you Teryl!). And also Raven Stewart who unusually brings a restrained child ‘acting’ (so grateful for this Raven!) and real loveliness to her role as Katy, the young daughter of van Winkle’s character (Scott).

The story is feel good all the way through, with a light splash of ‘oh no, don’t go’ moments, which today I am sooooo thankful for - it’s a day for comfort food and comfort movies for sure!

Set in the mountains with some beautiful snow close in’s and wide landscape shots throughout - gosh it makes such a difference. Filmed on location in Vancouver, the effort taken in this way definitely adds to the overall feel of the film.

Also love that unlike most movies that there is a character that is a writer the scriptwriter didn’t go down the path of this role writing an article and not telling the other party and then the inevitable ‘you were just doing this for your article/book… this isn’t real at all’ part. This one keeps it upfront and smooth as a result, focussing instead on the chemistry between the two main characters. I liked that - and it shows the acting skills of the actors because they held that chemistry throughout… and my smile throughout the movie! No jolts here - get prepared for a beautiful and festive traditional (northern hemisphere!) Christmas, a great romantic connect and of course, a happy ending :)

So Christmas movies are an absolute favourite of mine - I use to look forward to November because the Hallmark (or equivalent) channel started kicking off their Christmas catalogue - it makes for a great weekend relax… especially with tea (or wine!) and a cracker and cheese or two. They of course are entirely predictable in terms of a happy Christmas ending but like the romance genre there are some magical ingredients that make a great Christmas movie.

In a great Christmas movie I look for chemistry between the male and female leads. It can be really hard to watch if the actors are thinking more about how they look than their connection with their leading partner, or if they are trying to hold that romantic moment… ouf it is tedious when that happens.

I also look for how I feel - am I smiling as I watch the movie? Do I laugh a little with the characters, and am I forgiving little details because I am enjoying the vibe so much? It might be intangible but I think the magic is in the combo of happy delights.

Hope at Christmas has the two actors Scottie Thompson and Ryan Paevey play the main characters Sydney and Mac, supported by Erica Tremblay playing the daughter of Sydney. They are a lovely combo. I keep thinking Thompson is going to be not that great, but she keeps stepping in - it’s like she was having a tough time behind the scenes and once she steps into the character we see the happy magic that she can embrace on the screen away from real life.

Paevey is classically handsome to look at, so it seems most likely that he’ll deliver that ‘I’ve been told I’m handsome my whole life’ delivery… but there is something lovely there - his voice is beautifully smooth and deep, it helps a lot to show hes not ordinary. And he is always on with the connection with Thompson. They both hold it - just! I can’t help but think they could both bring more of themselves into the character - there’s a light there shining in their own selves that could come through… maybe I’m expecting too much though!

I enjoyed the movie and Colleen Winton’s character Bea brings a lovely tying together of the story, and she plays the wise Aunty figure just as you’d like one in real life. I wish I had a Bea with a bookstore!! And the story of the connection between Syndey and Mac builds nicely without overly dramatic storylines, just lovely flow throughout. Nicely done director Alex Writer!

Worth a watch? Yes for sure, on an evening that you just want calm and loveliness… and a Christmas charm - go with this. It was released in 2018 but doesn’t feel like it at all… its charm is holding the test of time ✨🙌💛

*Note* All have happy-endings, with lots of love and romance in the best way.

In no particular order (they are all just wonderful!)

1. Romance is a Bonus Book

2. Oh my Venus

3. The Heirs (aka The Inheritors)

4. Crashlanding on You

5. Hospital Playlist

6. Alchemy of Souls

Romance is a Bonus Book

I watched this on Netflix and it seems to stay over time - thank goodness! It is perhaps one of my most favourite K-Dramas and one of the first I watched. It stars Lee Jong Suk and Lee Na-Young as well as a stellar cast alongside them (Jung Yoo-jin, Wi Ha-joon, Kim Tae-woo, Kim Yoo-mi, Jo Han-chul, Kim Sun-young, Kang Ki-doong, Park Gyu-young - all turn up in other delightful K-Dramas as well!) and directed by Lee Jeong-hyo.

It follows the story of the character played by Lee Na-Young, Kang Dan-I - a mother and former successful advertising copywriter who after a disastrous marriage, tries to get her life on track in her own independent way. Her long-time best friend, Cha Eun-ho, is a successful author and a chief editor at a book publishing company. To keep her head above water, she takes up a role as his housekeepr (incognito) and then she ends up getting a job at his publishing firm as temporary task support worker, lying about her previous experience to do so (hello prejudice against return to work mothers!) and then thats when the fun really begins.

It is just a great story, well directed and a magic connection between the two main characters. Great supporting lines too - watch it, I haven’t met someone who doesn’t like it yet…

Oh My Venus

So it took me a while to watch this… the title didn’t really appeal and I had not previously experienced the Shin Min-A or So Ji-Sub magic. But it is now my most watched K-Drama because it just keeps on giving every time I watch it. Again really great supporting characters (thank you Jung Gyu-woon, Yoo In-young, Sung Hoon, Henry Lau, Jung Hye-sung…) and a cracking story with gentle ups and downs to keep you watching every episode (and in my case many times over!).

Shin Min-A plays the loveable but also annoying Kang Joo-eun. A star in her youth ‘Daegu Venus’ (Daegu is a beautiful city in southeastern South Korea), primarily named so for her looks, she struggles to keep her good looks over the coming years as she becomes a lawyer, gaining rather a few pounds and becoming rather sedentary (haven’t I known this feeling!). She meets the striking, fitness focussed Kim Young-ho (or John Kim as she comes to find out), who also happens to be an heir to a successful company (and is contending with an extended family member eyeing up his position). Needless to say her transformation begins with the support of this celebrity personal trainer and his closest friends but with no end of trouble from people around the both of them.

Definitely a watch to the end and don’t skip an episode because every one has golden moments that you wont want to miss!

The Heirs (aka The Inheritors)

Now this is classic K-Drama at it’s best and I know that many people might argue that this isn’t the epitome of many of the actor’s work, however, I love it. It was my second introduction to Lee Min-ho and my first proper introduction to the wonderful Park Shin-hye. The two actors are ultimate professionals - you just know that they are proud of their craft and work their butts off because it shows on camera. But the all star cast doesn’t stop there… there are gloriously love-to-hate watches of Kim Woo-bin (who by the way in real life is married to Shin Min-A and according to wikipedia & other outlets, best mates with our beloved Lee Jong-suk from Romance is a Bonus Book).

The story primarily follows Lee Min-ho’s character Kim Tan, who is a wealthy heir to a large Korean conglomerate called Jeguk Group. While in the States, he meets Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye), who went there to look for her sister, who has fallen into trouble and wont return home. Their accidental meeting turns into something much closer to home when they both return to Korea and their lives are intertwined forever… alongside a posse of other wealthy heirs and their dysfunctional families. Again filled with a great supporting cast, which in more recent years have taken their own lead roles, as they rightly should! Shout out to Kim Ji-won, Kang Min-hyuk, Krystal Jung, Kang Ha-neul, Park Hyung Sik, Choi Jin-hyuk, Jung Dong-hwan, Kim Mi-kyung, Choi Won-young for their acting in this drama. Even as I’m writing this I’m having a wow moment - there are just so many great performance in this K-Drama!! Thank you Kang Shin-hyo & Boo Sung-chul for your direction - it must have been a blast making the series!

Crash-landing on You

This is right up there for my favourite watches - super entertaining and great sparks between the two main actors.

The story kicks off with Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), a successful businesswoman and successor to the conglomerate Queens Group, going out paragliding in Seoul. A sudden tornado blows her off course and knocks her out. She awakens to find her paraglider hanging in a tree in a forest in the North Korean portion of the demilitarized zone, the border barrier that divides North & South Korea. Unaware of her dangerous situation, she comes into contact with Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin). The handsome soldier risks all and gives her shelter, then develops a plan to help her return to South Korea secretly.

I love the writing in this with a more unusual love story emerging, largely set with a sympathetic view of the fundamental human values and principles each of us hold. It of course also has it’s dreamlike settings too - gotta love a trip to the wilds of Switzerland!

Definitely a K-Drama to watch, even if just to say you have and to measure all others by it! And do click on the actors to see other K-Dramas - these two don’t disappoint in their other series as well 😊🙌

Hospital Playlist

There are sooooo many K-Dramas that could arguably be on this starter list but I am bringing Hospital Playlist here because for me it provided a slower, somehow still captivating watch with a joyful cast. Unlike most K-Dramas which have the 10-16 episodes & that’s it, this one has delivered a second series, an off-shoot (Resident Playlist) and likely more to come series.

The key characters are Lee Ik-jun, an assistant professor of general surgery, Ahn Jeong-won/Andrea, an assistant professor of pediatric surgery, Kim Jun-wan, an associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery, Yang Seok-hyeong, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and Chae Song-hwa, an associate professor of neurosurgery - all friends with their own respective quirks and dramas, and sitting in different areas of the hospital. Each character has a compelling backstory and is great to watch in their own right, but as we become aware of their shared and deeper relationships with each other, it is hard to stop pressing the ‘Next episode’ button.

If you haven’t watched any Korean programmes previously you may want to prepare yourself for the very unreserved shots of surgery being undertaken… you get used to after a little while but sometimes I happily pressed the 10sec ahead button to skip.

Again amazing contributions of acting by Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, Jeon Mi-do and a huge supporting cast.

Alchemy of Souls

This K-Drama is a great example of magical spiritual wonderfulness that often comes about in our beloved Korean dramas. It has the cracking Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min (also the lead in the Hospital Playlist spinoff Resident Playlist) & Go Youn-jung playing the lead roles.

The story follows the journey of young mages as they overcome their twisted fates due to a forbidden magic spell known as the ‘alchemy of souls’, which allows souls to switch bodies. An elite warrior & assassin named Nak-su whose soul is accidentally trapped inside the weak body of Mu-deok becomes entangled with Jang Uk, who is from a noble family. She becomes both his servant and master, teaching him her skills as they both start to fall for each other. Secrets & darkness loom as they manage to carve their way through to a magical ending.

Not your run-of-the-mill K-Drama so definitely worth a watch.

I am going to stop here because after all it is a starting list and I have many more to review and recommend… I have to say it is difficult to narrow it down to such a short list but hey, it’s a start and hopefully will give you a taste of the different types of K-Drama and some air time with some of the best actors in the business.

Now go! Find a network provider… Netflix is my go-to mostly for K-Dramas, and settle in for the beginning of your new world into joyful television and online streaming!

I love rom-coms, k-dramas, t-dramas, Netflix, Hallmark Channel, Great tv, Christmas movies, magical films, happy-endings… frankly everything feel-good! 💃🏽✨💛

After being asked to share lists of my recommended movies, especially k-dramas for the uninitiated (you really are missing out on the most wonderful world if you haven’t been here yet...) by friends, family and even the newest of acquaintances for many years now - I thought I would share here for you and anyone else who loves love and the smile you get at the end of a beautiful movie.

So consider this your official welcome to Tea with Rose! Get a comfy chair, mat, cushion or perch and read about films, tv series, k-dramas (and more!) that you can go and enjoy in that very important ‘me time’ 🙌😊

And don’t be shy - I would love to hear your recommendations too… and maybe add them to a list or two.

So with my cup of tea, birds happily chirping in the trees, with the leaves gently waving in the wind and my loveable dog asleep at my feet, I will now finish my intro here… and invite you to join me in the world of on-screen loveliness with Tea with Rose.