Very sweet and enjoyable drama. Although we all knew how it was going to end, the process was well-written and natural, and it kept you guessing how they will actually get there.
I liked how all the characters were written, and the fine details of their changing relationships. I liked her honesty, how she was always trying to do the right thing, to be a mature, responsible adult, doing her very best for what she had committed to. I liked how they handled all of the exes. Both the men in her workplace. How she came to have a friendly relationship with them, how she developed a healthy relationship with her ex's new wife because of the classy way she handled it. The relationship with the pushy girl who was Ren's girlfriend for a while, how it developed, with no resentment. Even the Ryuhei character was realistic and well-rounded, not a hero but not a villain. The "bad" things about him were not evil, he just had a different agenda and he wanted her to be as he pictured her, not accepting her as she really was. Which is bad, yes, but it's human, people can be like that, especially in patriarchal societys like Japan. He wasn't portrayed as a monster, he really loved her, in his own way. And all the relationships with the families were really great too, not the usual slapstick, no stereotyped figures - except for the entomologist brother's character, who was drawn in wider brushstrokes and didn't feel that real.
The ups and lows of married life and motherhood shown through her friend/classmate. Even the school bullies were given a chance to redeem themselves and played an important role at the last moment.
So, kudos for character writing, and kudos for all the actors. Both leads were adorable and it was so refreshing to see that the actress did not feel the need to re-do her teeth, nor the male nead redo his nose. They were perfect just as they were and a treat to watch. They also had great chemistry.
However, I do have a gripe: I feel that the director should have shown a changed, romantic and sexy vibe between them after they became a couple. They acted EXACTLY like before. I understand about the force of habit, but still! What’s the point of dating if nothing changes? Aaaand... they waited for a full year before getting intimate? Really? That's complete nonsense and it took away from the realism of a drama which otherwise tried hard to be relatable and real-life-y.