Sometimes I read reviews, sometimes I don't. I love romance, melodrama, not so much. I don't know what made me start watching this, especially after reading so many negative comments. This was the classic chaebol melodrama, class separation, back-stabbing family, etc. I liked the main characters for numerous reasons, however.

Uee as Yoon Ha. This character could have been a spoiled rich girl. But, even with all the money and status, her family was a nightmare, each and every one of them. She tried so hard to get a scrap of affection from each of them, but they were so busy trying to climb their way to the top they had no use for her. She decided to break free and work as a part-timer at a grocery store. She has rebelled against her status and wants to live like a "regular person" (though she's still living in her family home and living off their money, so how free could she be?) I liked her. She appreciated and was true to her friendship with Ji Yi. (there was wonderful sismance here).

Sung Joon as Joon Ki. I really liked his storyline. He wanted to be in the upper echelon and wasn't above trickery to get there. I loved watching his interactions with others, I was never quite sure about his motives, if he was being truthful, or if it was all to get ahead. His character grew a lot throughout the drama. Plus, he has a beautiful deep voice.

Park Hyung Sik as Chang Soo. I had a love/hate relationship with this character. Multiple shower/workout scenes - loved. He's a beautiful crier. He is so cute when he is drawn to a woman and I really liked his surprise at liking a woman "for real" after having just been a player previously. Chang Soo and Ji Yi had a very cute relationship that was, for the most part, fun to watch. He's got that sarcastic humor down to an art. Good romance and good kisses. My problem with this character was his being a total doormat to his mom. She was going to decide who he married, she threatened Ji Yi multiple times and made no bones about the fact that marriage was for status. I absolutely hated how weak he was. It reminded me of the ML in Boys Over Flowers, who I hated for the same reason. You're absolutely in love, but going to marry who mommy tells you to. Even toward the end, I felt that he was compromising with his mom and felt that there would always be a problem there.

Im Ji Yeon as Ji Yi - effervescent personality. Loyal friend. Forgiving soul. I didn't like some of the conversations she had with Chang Soo - "I've decided I'm going to like you", etc. I went back and forth between admiring her and thinking that she needed to get a spine.

Jang Hyung Soon as Chang Soo's mother - Surprisingly, I loved to hate her. She was a force to be reckoned with, but her scenes between her and her son were fun to watch in a "there's an accident on the other side of the road and I don't want to look but I can't help myself" way. And when she met Ji Yi, you always felt that Ji Yi had the upper hand and Chang Soo's mom was busy trying to figure out where she went wrong. Funny!

I went back and immediately re-watched the final four episodes to see again the growth in the characters. They learned from their mistakes and were moving forward. I liked how none of the main characters were over-dramatic, for the most part. The ending was kind of love/hate for me. As usual with K-dramas, the ending was kind of rushed. We got a proposal (loved) but we also had a married couple that went through so much to be together, but now all they do is squabble. That was a letdown for me.