Romance Is a Bonus Book Season 2 is a Closed Chapter

When you’re ranking noona-romances, Romance Is a Bonus Book is definitely high on the list. We have Lee Na-young, Lee Jong-suk, and the overarching theme of books, publishing, and office drama—a good combination you can’t go wrong with.

I won’t blame you for missing Gyeoroo Publishing House a tiny bit by the end of the series. After all, the last frame we see is of the empty office beckoning us to revisit it sometime in the future.

So, will that ever happen? Is it possible that Romance is a Bonus Book might get renewed for S2?

As of 2022, it is unlikely that Romance is a Bonus Book will get renewed for Season 2. The studio, directors, nor the actors have expressed any interest in returning to the show, especially since S1’s story tied up all its loose ends.

If you’re no stranger to K-dramas, you know that a show not having a second season is quite the norm in this industry. Still, given how some K-dramas are amassing huge success and international viewership on streaming platforms, this is slowly changing.

Although there were some rumors about the show returning for S2, Romance Is a Bonus Book ultimately did not make the cut. The biggest reason was that Lee Jong-suk enlisted into the military right after this drama.

Given the standard two-year period that male citizens have to serve, Lee finished his term only in 2021, by which everyone, including the audience, had moved on from the show. Lee himself signed on and released other projects post his military service.

The second major reason is that the show gave every single storyline a very definitive conclusion and did not leave us with any cliffhangers that could facilitate S2.

This includes the decision of Gyeoroo opting for a blind recruitment process, which was a big point of tension during the show. Had this not been put into place, we could’ve returned to S2 with a few new characters engaging in a drama that brought about a change in office politics. Appearances from the S1 leads would’ve been a cherry on top. Of course, all of this right now is nothing more than wishful thinking!

Even though I may be in the minority, I’m quite a fan of one-season shows. Romance Is a Bonus Book is a show that gets it right in its first attempt and as such, doesn’t really warrant S2.

About Romance is a Bonus Book

Romance is a Bonus Book is a 2019 K-drama created by Studio Dragon for tvN, which was later released on Netflix. 

The noona-office drama focuses on Kang Dan-i, a recently divorced single mother who has to move in with her younger friend Cha Eun-ho after being kicked out of her house. She gets a temporary job at the publishing house he works at, where her professional and romantic woes begin. 

The cast includes Lee Na-young, Lee Jong-suk, Jung Yoo-jin, and Wi Ha-joon.