Jun 1, 2026
10/10 so far. The first 11 episodes of this new and upcoming manhwa have already shown great potential. There's no bullshit, and the plot is simple yet fascinating. TL;DR: a romance manhwa exploring second chances, trauma, and a murder mystery.
Firstly, I have to give credit to the two beautifully written leads in this story. They are both walking green flags but are flawed and relatable. Misunderstandings, accusations, rumors. In society, we've seen them all the time. Unfortunately, they can also ruin lives. Our gloomy male lead, Mingyeol, suffered traumatic bullying in middle school. At his lowest point, Arin, a bright and cheerful girl, takes
...
his side when no one else does. After the two separated, the roles flip when they reunite in high school.
The artwork also fits the mood of the premise. You're not supposed to think that this is a heartwarming story. Your mood will shift between "Oh, this is so wholesome" and "Something bad is going to happen, isn't it?" as you read. It connects two compelling themes into an attractive story that'll keep you hooked.
My only area of mixed feelings is the somewhat fast pacing. On one hand, one may argue that fluff is boring, while quicker pacing keeps the audience engaged. On the other hand, another may argue that short scenes make the audience lose interest and sacrifice character development. I've personally found it to just be slightly above the middle point to be a bit rushed. The reunion between the two characters should've had more depth to it. Seems like they wanted to spill the juicy plot ASAP, instead of building towards it more. Arin's initial demeanor and persona at the reunion switch a bit too fast for my liking once Mingyeol enters her life again.
My recommendation:
If you've liked what you've read in this review and/or enjoy the mystery-romance genre, please give Heart-Aching a try. Personally, I'd let the manhwa marinate and read it when there are more chapters. Nobody likes waiting a week per chapter for a good story, haha.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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