It’s been a while since I’ve completed watching a drama, manga, or movie! True Beauty is one of the many dramas that I started and was never able to complete. I found the Manhwa at the store and I had to buy it. While reading it, I decided that it will be my slow crawl back into writing on the blog.
True Beauty by Yaongyi (Kim Na Young)
Published by Naver/WEBTOON Unscrolled
Genre: shoujo, romantic comedy, slice of life, coming-of-age
Run: April 2, 2018- June 28, 2023
Episodes: 223
Synopsis
Ju Gyeong was bullied while attending middle school. For high school, she is given a chance to reinvent herself. She stumbles upon the world of make-up and uses it to transforms herself into a completely different person. She becomes a ‘True Beauty.’
Whenever she isn’t in school, she’s her true self–make up free, rock loving, and manga reading fanatic. One day while visiting the comic store by her home, she runs into a handsome teenager. The next day, she finds out that he is a student at school. She attempts to avoid him so that he may not recognize her, but he recognizes her and it results in her being his slave in exchange for a kept secret–her true identity.
Review
True Beauty is a fun manhwa to read. It is light hearted and entertaining. Yaongyi keeps the story engaging by bringing in a continual element in each episode. In fact, the ending of this book, immediately prompt me to purchased the second one (Review coming soon). When you compare the Manhwa to the drama, the drama follows the it closely. I think the episodes in the manhwa and so much shorter than the drama and so the drama extends things longer (but then again, I don’t remember everything from the drama). Even though the manhwa uses the same story plots that you find in most shoujo style stories, It feels refreshing in this format.
Characters
The story of True Beauty starts with Ju Gyeong who struggles with insecurity because of constant bullying in middle school. She ends up hiding the insecurities with makeup.
Su Ho runs into makeup-free Ju Gyeong at the comic book store and then blackmails her at school the next day. He has similar interests as her but as fas as his personal life, we aren’t given much information about it.
Sua Kang is her best friend that she hangs out with a lot. They go out to end, attend study sessions together, and also have class together.
Su Jin is another pretty girl who suddenly attends the school in what seems like the middle of the year (Woo Hyeon is another character who does this). She seems to be in love with Su Ho and is envious of Su Gyeong and her relationship with Su Ho. In a fit of jealously, she introduces Woo Hyeon to her in hopes of diverting her attention.
The Best
I’m not sure if my opinion is different because I have the physical books in my possession, but I love Yaongyi’s art style. She drew some of the most hilarious and entertaining facial expressions. And it’s a different vibe compared to the Manga that I have read. I’m usually read manga online, so to have the book in my hands has a different feeling to it.
The Worst
It’s difficult to pinpoint anything that I didn’t enjoy. The Manhwa is pleasing to the eyes and just easy to read. And maybe I found nothing wrong because I haven’t been watching/reading dramas like I used to do. Or maybe this was just the right read at the right time.
Afterthoughts
- I love the different brand name changes. If you know, you know. And for a lot of them, I didn’t know.
Recommendations
- Read: True Beauty 2
- Watch: My ID is Gangnam Beauty, Switch Girl 1 and 2
Book-to-Life Connection
- Chocolate Cappuccino
- outfit
- dates
- Keychain
- Katsudon