"Caught Me Off Guard" Webcomic / Webtoon Review
You know that feeling when you're scrolling through webcomics at 2 AM, expecting another generic romance story, and suddenly you're hit with something that makes you actually feel things? That's exactly what happened when I stumbled across "Caught Me Off Guard", and I couldn’t be happier.
What is Caught Me Off Guard About?
Caught Me Off Guard is a modern day romance webtoon created by Suzihuan and YoudbgStudio that can be read for free on Storygrounds (www.storygrounds.com/webcomics/caught-me-off-guard).
The story follows Valentina Jiang who spent years secretly pining for the untouchable CEO Levi Bo, until she wakes up naked in his bed with no memory of how she got there. One mysterious night has changed everything for her. Suddenly she's his fiancée, the Jiang family who once tormented her now trembles in fear, and Beijing's elite bow at her feet. But the biggest shock? The cold, calculating Levi Bo can't seem to keep his hands off her.
Why I’m Obsessed?
Caught Me Off Guard hits all the notes I look for in a romance webcomic:
- Is there romance? Check
- Is there drama? Check
- Is there revenge? Check
- Is the story compelling? Check
- Do things get spicy? Check
- Is the fashion on point? Check
- Is the male lead hot? CHECK
OK, but seriously, isn’t this the list that all of has? Let me break this down a bit further.
Romance + Drama + A Touch of Mystery
There is no shortage of romance in this one. Levi makes for a great male lead, and the chemistry between him and the female lead is palpable. Adding to the spice, is that the source of the romance ties directly into the hints of Mystery. Why is the once brooding Levi Bo now full of lust for Valentina? What has given her such great allure to this handsome tycoon? I won’t spoil it, but it was a fun ride finding out.
The drama elements are great. If you have any in-laws or family members that you feel less than thrilled about, you’ll get a kick out the way Valentina exacts her revenge against those who deserve it.
A Visual Treat
I love the look of this webcomic. Its style is gorgeous, the people are hot, and I’m always excited to see what clothes the characters will appear in.
I mean, come on, look at this guy.
And who wouldn’t want to be at a party like this.
But it knows how to be fun as well and isn’t all glamor parties. Although of course, everyone still looks great even when on adventures.
It Understands Modern Dynamics
I can’t stand when romance stories set in the present day act like we’re still in the 90s. Caught Me Off Guard understands what romance is like nowadays, but doesn’t go over the top with it. Sure, people are glued to their phones but it’s not like I want to see the characters doomscrolling all the time. On the other hand, I don’t want to pretend like social media isn’t an omnipresent force.
Caught Me Off Guard finds the right balance here with social media (and other modernity) being present, but always in service of a plot point.
It’s Fun!
There’s a real story there full of drama and romance, and yet I found myself breezing through it. The tone is excellent, and clever visuals keep things varied and interesting.
Final Verdict
Caught Me Off Guard is a winner in the romance comic space. It hits all the right notes, and while I have minor quibbles, they never got in the way of me wanting to hit the next chapter button.
Check it out on Storygrounds (www.storygrounds.com/webcomics/caught-me-off-guard) if you're ready for something that might actually catch you off guard too.
