In this edition of our review, we’re diving into a romantic comedy with a spicy twist that plays with expectations and genre boundaries. Let’s talk about the film ‘Forbidden Fairytale’.
Written by Yoon Joo-hoon and directed by Lee Jong-suk, ‘Forbidden Fairytale’ follows the unexpected journey of a hopeful writer whose dream of publishing children’s books takes a sharp detour into the world of adult web novels.
Yoon Dan-bi (Park Ji-hyun) dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a successful children’s book author. However, like many dreamers, she first needs a stable job to support herself. She ends up working for a youth protection team as a content reviewer, where her daily task is to screen adult material, ironically far removed from the wholesome stories she hopes to write one day.
Dan-bi’s life turns upside down when she accidentally damages a luxury car owned by Hwang Chang-seob (Sung Dong-il), the powerful CEO of an adult web novel publishing company. Left drowning in debt, she reluctantly accepts his offer to write adult web novels in order to repay what she owes.
The Rise of a Writer
Having never written adult content before, Dan-bi struggles to find inspiration. In desperation, she begins drawing ideas from her day job, until she’s caught by her co-worker Jeong-seok (Choi Si-won). She pleads with him to keep her secret, and he agrees on one condition: she must stay in the job for at least three months, unlike her many predecessors.
Now juggling two secret deals, Dan-bi pushes through writer’s block by enlisting her best friends as her unexpected muses. To her surprise, her stories resonate with readers, becoming an overnight sensation. Despite her success, she keeps her adult writing as a side hustle, staying focused on her original goal of entering a children’s book competition.
With three demanding roles to manage, reviewer, adult novelist, and aspiring children’s author, Dan-bi reaches her breaking point. In a disastrous mistake, she accidentally submits her adult story to the children’s book contest, exposing her double life to the judges and her employer alike.
A Story Outside the Box
‘Forbidden Fairytale’ is a refreshingly bold rom-com that handles adult themes with humor, charm, and surprising tenderness. While the premise may sound provocative, the film balances its “spicy” elements with warmth, wit, and heartfelt character growth.
Park Ji-hyun delivers a standout performance, portraying Dan-bi with emotional depth and authenticity. Watching her character grow, both as a writer and as a person, is one of the film’s biggest strengths, especially as her talent finally earns recognition beyond labels and genres.
If you’re looking for a feel-good movie that mixes comedy, romance, ambition, and friendship with a cheeky edge, ‘Forbidden Fairytale’ is well worth your time. Check out the trailer below.
