I'm looking for manhwas with older woman x younger man. With small age gaps (1 to 6 years)
WOMAN MUST BE OLDER PLEASE. I don't like when the man is older. Bonus if he thinks she's younger
and please NO stories that include step siblings, cheating or love triangles
I'm looking for a manhwa where the MC is non-human and the ML is human.
Okay, here we go.
I've had a lot on my mind this week, and since we're all part of this community, I wanted to share some thoughts. Maybe some of you will relate, and maybe some of you won't. I think when you have opinions that aren't very popular, or you notice things that don't seem to bother most readers, it can be intimidating to talk about them because you feel like you'll be the only one. But I've found that even with some of my less popular takes, there's usually at least one or two people who agree. So maybe I'm not completely alone.
Anyway, here's what's been on my mind.
I love romance. I'm a romance girl through and through. Sometimes I'll be watching an action series, reading a thriller, or consuming a story that isn't romance-focused, and I'll find myself wishing there was at least a little bit of romance. Not because every story needs it, but because sometimes the chemistry is right there and it feels like it would fit so well.
The problem is that the more romance I've consumed over the years, the harder it has become for me to enjoy it.
I think once you've read enough books, watched enough movies and dramas, and spent enough time engaging with stories, you start figuring out exactly what you like and what you don't. Sometimes it's specific things, and sometimes it's broader patterns. The downside is that eventually you start noticing the same plots, the same character dynamics, and the same tropes being recycled over and over again.
I love when authors take a familiar trope and give it a fresh twist. I remember reading a Wattpad story years ago where, instead of the typical "best friend's brother" trope, it was the best friend's cousin. It's a small change, but it felt refreshing because it wasn't exactly the same thing I'd seen a hundred times before.
I've also noticed that as I've gotten older, a lot of romance tropes that I used to tolerate have become things I actively dislike.
For example, I've completely lost interest in the whole "she can fix him" narrative. The bad boy who becomes a good man because of love. The toxic guy who gets chosen over the healthier option because the author wants to give him a redemption arc. The love triangle where the emotionally manipulative character wins because he's more dramatic.
I just can't get invested in those stories anymore.
I think everyone has their own idea of what chemistry and love should look like. For me, love is built on mutual respect. It's not about power imbalances, possessiveness, obsession, control, or emotional dependency. Because of that, a lot of romance stories simply don't work for me.
That's probably why I've never really been a dark romance reader. I've read some dark romance before, but a lot of newer stories don't even feel romantic to me anymore. They just feel abusive. Of course, everyone has different preferences, and that's completely fine. It's just not something I enjoy.
Another thing I've realized is that this doesn't just apply to romance tropes. It also applies to how characters are written.
I've never really understood the idea that a character has to be deeply flawed, extremely relatable, or have a tragic backstory in order to be interesting. Personally, I don't need to relate to a character to enjoy them. A character can have a completely different life experience from mine and still be compelling to read about.
Likewise, I don't think every character needs a devastating backstory. They don't all need to be orphans, survivors of severe bullying, victims of betrayal, or people carrying years of trauma. Those stories absolutely have their place, but sometimes it feels like writers rely on tragedy as a shortcut to make readers care.
The reality is that not everyone goes through something life-altering, and that doesn't make them less interesting. Some people have relatively normal lives and still have fascinating personalities, relationships, goals, and struggles. When a writer can create a character who doesn't have an overwhelmingly tragic past and still make them engaging, relatable, or memorable, I actually find that more impressive.
Maybe that's also why I get frustrated when stories introduce certain character choices that feel unnecessary. There have been so many times when I've really liked a character, only for the story to take them in a direction that completely changes how I see them.
For example, in Lucky Paradise, I really liked the top and I was happy he was chosen in the end. But then there were chapters, especially in some of the side stories, where he treated his friend horribly and almost got physical with him. After that, I found myself liking him a lot less.
Or in Dangerous Convenience Store. I never finished it, but I know the top disappears for a while, comes back, and by that point the bottom is dating someone else. Maybe the boyfriend wasn't perfect, and maybe readers can justify why the relationship wasn't great, but the fact remains that he was still in a relationship. Then the story introduces cheating because we're supposed to root for the main couple anyway. That completely took me out of it.
I think that's part of the reason I struggle with a lot of romances these days. It's not necessarily that the characters are flawed. I actually like flawed characters. It's when the story expects me to overlook behavior that I personally find difficult to excuse just because they're the main couple or because they're destined to end up together.
There are so many stories where I'll really enjoy a character in the beginning, and then they'll do one thing, or the relationship dynamic will shift in a certain direction, and suddenly I'm asking myself, "Why did the author have to do that?"
That's also why I don't usually enjoy relationships built on major imbalances. The classic example is the older, wealthier, more experienced man paired with the extremely naive, innocent girl. He's her first love, her first relationship, sometimes even her first everything, while he's had years of experience.
That dynamic has always made me uncomfortable because it feels like the relationship starts with one person having significantly more power than the other.
I also dislike when authors use a character's first romantic or sexual experience as a way of permanently tying them to someone. Sometimes it creates this feeling that the character can't move on because that person was their first. As a reader, it can make the relationship feel less like a choice and more like a trap.
That's also part of why I'm not usually drawn to first-love stories. Sometimes they're cute, but I don't like when "first love" gets treated as if it should outweigh everything else, including unhealthy behavior. Being someone's first doesn't mean they should automatically be their forever person.
All of this has made it surprisingly difficult to find romance stories that I genuinely enjoy these days.
One of the last romances I really loved was Guildmate Next Door. It was cute. There was some tension, some misunderstandings, and a bit of the enemies-to-lovers energy, but it never crossed into the kind of toxicity that completely takes me out of the story. I also really enjoyed Maybe Netkama Punch for similar reasons.
I think people sometimes assume that healthy relationships are boring, but I don't agree. A story doesn't need extreme toxicity, obsession, manipulation, or constant drama to create tension. You can still have conflict, chemistry, emotional stakes, and excitement without making the relationship itself unhealthy.
So lately I've been thinking a lot about all of this. Maybe it's just part of getting older. Maybe my tastes have changed. But I've definitely reached a point where a lot of romance media just isn't hitting the same way anymore, and it's frustrating because I still love romance as a genre.
Anyway, that's my ramble for today. I have another related topic I've been thinking about, but that's a conversation for another post.
Jaekyung was so much worse than Jiwon, so tell me why Jiwon ended up with the much better redemption arc?
It's genuinely frustrating because I was so curious to see how the author was going to turn Jaekyung from this arrogant, toxic piece of shit into a hopeless fool in love.
To be fair, there was some redemption. My issue is that it wasn't long enough. It felt very rushed. After everything Jaekyung put Dan through, I wanted a lot more groveling, self-reflection, and effort before they got back together. The payoff just didn't feel earned.
The author definitely stopped caring about the redemption arc when Dan said "I love you" first. It always gives me the ick when the bottom confesses first. After everything that happened, I wanted Jaekyung to be the one putting himself out there emotionally first.
At this point, I think I have to accept that I'll probably never read a redemption arc as satisfying as the second couple from Banana Scandal again.
One thing that will never stop fascinating me is how differently some authors and readers treat consent depending on who the character is.
What confuses me is the logic behind it. If a character ignores a clear boundary, why does it suddenly become romantic, sexy, or excusable when it's the ML? Yet when a different character does the exact same thing, it's treated as unacceptable. I genuinely don't understand where the line is supposed to be.
I've seen readers do the same thing. In one manhwa, the MC explicitly tells the ML not to finish inside them, and the ML does it anyway. The amount of people defending it with, "That's just their dynamic," was unreal. What made it even funnier was seeing some of those same people in another comment section condemning a different character for doing essentially the same thing, simply because they didn't like them.
And I already know what some people will say: "But it's the ML. That's who we're supposed to root for." Okay, then just admit your standards change depending on whether you like the character. Don't pretend it's a moral issue when your reaction is based entirely on who's doing it.
What I find equally strange is people who constantly complain about tropes that supposedly go against their morals, yet keep seeking out stories built around those exact tropes. If you know a story contains cheating, assault, toxic relationships, or whatever else you claim to hate, and you keep reading dozens of stories with those themes, then at some point you're choosing to engage with that content.
The hypocrisy is genuinely out of this world. Make it make sense.
Sorry, this story just pisses me off. This is my last comment for now.
When he says, "There's no way in hell you're leaving me for another guy" in Chapter 4, it annoyed me so much. Whenever characters say things like that, it immediately makes me root against them. The arrogance, possessiveness, and cockiness are incredibly off-putting.
And then she takes him back in the end? He treated her like crap for three whole years, and somehow that's resolved in less than six months. Absolutely ridiculous. At that point, it doesn't feel like a redemption arc. It feels like the story desperately wants the couple together regardless of whether they've actually earned it.
That's one of my biggest issues with stories like this. Authors use terrible tropes and then bend over backwards trying to justify them instead of letting them be what they are.
The ML is cheating? Well, the wife is cheating too, so apparently that makes it okay. A love triangle gets thrown in purely as a plot device, and suddenly we're expected to sympathize with the homewrecker pick me. The mental gymnastics are honestly hilarious.
And don't even get me started on how some stories handle consent. I genuinely want to know what goes through an author's mind when they excuse a character's behavior because they're the ML, but treat the exact same behavior as unforgivable when it's someone else.
I've seen readers do the same thing. In one manhwa, the MC explicitly tells the ML not to finish inside them, and the ML does it anyway. The amount of people defending it with, "That's just their dynamic," was unreal. What made it even funnier was seeing some of those same people in another comment section condemning a different character for doing essentially the same thing, simply because they didn't like them.
At that point, it's not about principles. It's about whether people find the character attractive. The standards change depending on who's doing it, and the hypocrisy is genuinely out of this world.
I love a good spicy scene, but I hate when authors use sex as the main reason the MC falls in love. It ends up feeling like the FL is completely dickmatized. I just don't believe she would realistically fall for this type of man if it weren't for the sex or the money.
At that point, I start wondering whether the author is a man or just a pick me, because the MC is giving major pick me energy.
My favorite thing to do is watch cheaters get called out and then immediately get defensive. Pure comedy gold.
What's a trope you loved when you were younger but don't enjoy as much now?
For me, it's redemption arcs. I still love a well-written redemption arc, but as I've gotten older, I find myself wanting the MC to move on instead of taking their love interest back. Sometimes the damage is done, and I'd rather see the MC choose themselves and start over than forgive everything just because the other person has changed.
Can someone reccomend me a story similar to this but where she actually rejects the asshole and moves on.
Since theres cheating in this manhwa I wanted ask you guys:
1. What would you do if you found out someone you are dating is married?
2. What would you do if you found out your current partner cheated on their previous partner.
3. Would you be friends with a cheater
4. If you found out your friend was cheating would you tell their partner? Would you still stay friends with the cheater?
I was going through my old comments and came across one I left on this manhwa, and it reminded me why I dropped it. I just needed to vent a little.
I really don't like the ML. I find him incredibly annoying, and I do not see him as a green flag at all. I also hate their dynamic. The whole bet storyline felt ridiculous to me, and his possessive behavior was a major turnoff. They are not even dating or married, they are just friends with benefits, so the possessiveness felt especially irritating.
I am also not a big fan of the friends-to-lovers trope in general. One of the things that annoyed me from the very beginning was when the ML made a comment about it being their baby. It instantly got on my nerves.
Another thing I cannot stand is when the ML is overly confident that the MC likes him back and is just refusing to admit it. That kind of attitude always makes me root against the couple, even when I know they are obviously going to end up together.
I also dislike romances where the couple already has an established relationship, whether they are exes, friends, dating ect. For me, it makes the story less interesting. I have noticed that a lot of Korean romance authors seem to prefer writing couples who already know each other, but I will always prefer stories where two strangers meet for the first time and we get to watch the relationship develop from scratch. I enjoy seeing a relationship built rather than simply evolve from something that already exists.
That is ultimately why I stopped reading this one.
I really don't like the ML. I find him incredibly annoying, and I don't see him as a green flag at all.
I absolutely hate their dynamic. The whole bet storyline feels so pointless to me, and I'm not a fan of how possessive he is, especially when they aren't even dating or married. They're just friends with benefits, so his attitude comes across as irritating rather than romantic.
I'm also not a big fan of the friends-to-lovers trope in general, which doesn't help.
From the very beginning, when the ML made that comment about it being "their baby," I was already annoyed. Ever since then, I've struggled to enjoy his character.
What bothers me most is how overly confident he is that the MC likes him back. He acts as if he already knows how the MC feels and is just waiting for him to admit it. I find that dynamic frustrating, and it's one of the main reasons I don't want them to end up together.
Unfortunately, I already know my hopes are probably going to be shattered.
I've realized I could never be a writer because none of my characters would be toxic. My ML would respect the MC's boundaries. If they say no, that's the end of it. No wrist grabbing, no ignoring consent, no treating them badly and calling it romance.
But that brings me to my question. For example, a lot of people consider Dooshik a green flag, but I don't. The whole revenge rape situation completely ruined the character for me.
When I think of a green flag, I think of someone who is kind to everyone, not just the person they love. I like characters who are genuinely good people, but it's still obvious that the MC is special to them. That's much more romantic to me than the whole "I hate everyone but you" trope.
Maybe that's why I struggle with so many popular MLs. A lot of readers seem to view possessiveness, jealousy, or obsessive behavior as romantic, while I just find it uncomfortable.
What do you guys think? What makes a character a genuine green flag in your eyes?
I don't get people who think using the block button means you're a coward or scared. If I block someone, it's because I don't want to waste my time engaging with them. I'd rather spend my time talking to people who share my opinion on a story so we can discuss theories, characters, and the actual plot.
What I find even weirder are the people who get blocked and then make a separate comment just to reply to you. Like, bruh, that's embarrassing. I blocked you. I'm not going to go searching through the comment section to see if you said something about me. The whole point of blocking someone is that I no longer want to interact with them.
People act like blocking is some kind of defeat when really it's just curating your own online experience. Not every disagreement needs to turn into a debate, and not everyone is entitled to your time or attention.
I don't get people who think using the block button means you're a coward or scared. If I block someone, it's because I don't want to waste my time engaging with them. I'd rather spend my time talking to people who share my opinion on a story so we can discuss theories, characters, and the actual plot.
What I find even weirder are the people who get blocked and then make a separate comment just to reply to you. Like, bruh, that's embarrassing. I blocked you. I'm not going to go searching through the comment section to see if you said something about me. The whole point of blocking someone is that I no longer want to interact with them.
People act like blocking is some kind of defeat when really it's just curating your own online experience. Not every disagreement needs to turn into a debate, and not everyone is entitled to your time or attention.
How do I stop myself from going back to manhwas I hate? I'm weak.
Sometimes I'll read a manhwa that annoys me so much it genuinely ruins my day, yet I keep going back. I'll read the comments, check for spoilers, or scroll through new chapters even though I already know it's only going to make me more frustrated.
The biggest examples for me are Non Zero Sum and Love Junkie. I hate those stories so much, especially because I know the endings are complete garbage, yet I still find myself checking up on them. It's like I'm deliberately upsetting myself.
Part of me is still delusional enough to hope the manhwa will change the ending, even when I know that's probably not going to happen. I keep telling myself, "Maybe this time it'll be different," and then I end up disappointed all over again.
I haven't read the novel, but based on the spoilers, she ends up choosing the creep. I'm not surprised, just annoyed. From the manhwa alone, and from how Korean authors often write love triangles, it felt obvious from the start that she would pick the rapist.
I'm still 50% delusional and hoping the author changes the ending for the manhwa since it's pretty clear a lot of readers hate him. Wishful thinking, but still.
My biggest issue is the age gap. I don't usually like age gaps, but this one feels especially uncomfortable. She was 18, clearly naive, lacked confidence, and was easily influenced. Yes, 18 is legally an adult, but at 28, pursuing a teenager is creepy to me, especially when there's such an obvious imbalance in maturity and life experience. I love a good redemption arc, but this guy went far beyond being a flawed ML. He insulted her, stalked her, and raped her. Some things shouldn't be forgiven.
It's also laughable how furious he was about her being assaulted by another man when he literally raped her himself. The hypocrisy is insane. I really wish she had laughed in his face and called him out on it. What right does he have to feel outraged? "You raped me. Did you forget?" That would have been far more satisfying than watching him act possessive and protective after everything he did.
I've seen people say Blondie is even worse, and honestly, I struggle to imagine what could be worse than rape. If that's true, it just makes the writing feel even weaker because it comes across as an attempt to make the creep look better by comparison. Using another love interest purely as a plot device like that feels lazy.
I genuinely don't understand why she fell for him in the first place. Even if she didn't forgive him immediately in the novel, she still took him back. To me, that doesn't show growth. It shows someone who still doesn't recognize her own worth.
What frustrates me most is that Korean love triangles so often end with the worst option winning. It feels like 90% of the time the author chooses the guy who has treated the heroine the worst, and I honestly don't get the appeal.