FINISHED... I'm sorry, I will be very blunt, but I just cannot bring myself to like this novel at all. I pushed through until the very end because of the reviews praising it, but I still could not find a single thing to like about the story. ... more>>

I don't have any strong feelings towards MC or ML. They have failed to evoke any sort of emotion within me. Yes, it was logical that their characters act, think, and behave the way they do due to their circumstances, but that is not enough a reason for me to like them. MC, especially, was understandably immature and ambitious, and it is well within his right to feel aggrieved for being treated unfairly. But I can't help how I feel towards his character; his personality gives me the ick, and the commenters who are saying he acts like a green tea b are not entirely wrong in their judgment. It was also annoying how easily he cries, or how he seems to only ever center his life around ML... There's a bunch of other reasons but I think I really just don't agree with the direction the author went with for his character. ML, on the other hand is... as cliché as a typical ML could get. They are all copy-pasted from the same template, and the authors don't even bother changing the childhood neglect backstory. I'm getting sick of it LMFAO. 

As for the plot, this could definitely pass as a telenovela. In the sense that it's all recycled drama—predictable, low-stakes, and nothing extraordinary. 

Regarding the technicalities, I think my dislike for this novel was hugely prompted by the writing style which I could only describe as amateurish. The narrations read like a high school essay, the dialogues don't sound natural, and there were several scenes that have no bearing to the progression of the plot and were only awkwardly inserted so that the main couple could have more romantic moments. Wow, I really do sound like I hate the main couple, huh.

Speaking of: the romance. Sigh. They are adorable, I admit. They deserve each other. But it's all the same. They're all the same. One way or another, they're still variants of the knight-in-shining-armor ML and the light-of-his-life MC trope. I'm aware I'm oversimplifying their otherwise deep relationship, but if you've read over twenty books already, you'll see some recurring patterns and the novelty of such a dynamic starts to wear off. 

I don't want to talk about the side characters. They're dumber than a rock and flatter than a cardboard.

That's all, I think. I'm sorry for being mean. These weren't even constructive criticisms. But I stand by my opinion that this novel's ratings are inflated. It's a 4.3 stars at best. <<less

DROPPED at ch 15. Author doesn't stop infodumping.

DROPPED at ch 11. too melodramatic and just not written well in general

DROPPED at ch 41. BRO WE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME but then MC's behavior just had to turn manipulative and borderline toxic! instant turn off.... more>>

what a shame. i was halfway through. <<less

DROPPED at ch 28. Plot's absurd, and the convoluted writing style isn't helping. and we still don't have a single drop of romance this far... more>> into the story! <<less

finished? dropped? i have no idea. i skipped 20 chapters to spare myself the heartache. i wouldn't read a break-up followed by a run-away arc even if you pointed a gun to my head. but that wasn't the only reason. ... more>>

i was starting to like MC and ML less and less with each chapter because they were straying farther away from the very solid characters they once were in the beginning just so that it becomes convenient for them to be used in setting up the plot, which, in my very humble and subjective opinion, does not fit their characters at all. i just think, given their personalities, the story should not have turned out this way. 

well, it's also my fault assuming things on my own and getting disappointed when the novel takes a course that is entirely different from those expectations.

and honestly it might just be because i'm not in the right state of mind to read, what more to judge and think critically?

edit: i'm sorry i was just rambling i only had 3 hours of sleep today. the romance is very good, lots of heartwarming and butterflies-in-the-stomach moments. but i'm still neutral towards the main characters. <<less

DROPPED. the writing is so stiff and awkward.

DROPPED at ch 16. boring, cliché, and substanceless.

DROPPED at ch 7. was this written by a 12 year old? perchance?

FINISHED... i've gotten so many icks from this story. oh well. the main couple is really bittersweet but they are made for each other, i... more>> have to admit that. <<less

FINISHED (?) i skipped a lot of chaps. it's just mediocre and boring.

DROPPED at ch 61. Little to no romance. The writing is too lengthy and bland.

FINISHED... the story doesn't have its feet planted on the ground. it was too fast-paced and doesn't finish expanding on one thing before going to another, so it feels very jarring.... more>>

what a shame, i liked the premise a lot, too. <<less

FINISHED... it's adorable. and boring.

FINISHED... can the MC seriously not see how controlling the ML is over his (MC) own life? such a red flag in a relationship!

DROPPED at ch 14. the pacing is ABYSMAL. the author takes FOREVER to play out a scene.

FINISHED... oh i didn't like that

FINISHED... erm. it feels like the characters are reading out a script. it's pretentiously solemn.

DROPPED at ch 3. very weak writing.

FINISHED... the story doesn't flow smoothly

FINISHED... it's weak plot-wise but i really (surprisingly) loved the main couple. 

FINISHED... cute but unfortunately shallow

FINISHED... loved the s*xual tension, but plot's a bit bland.

FINISHED... i failed to form an emotional connection to this novel. i think it's because the plot is too fragmented to have any sort of... more>> flow. loved the main couple, regardless. <<less

DROPPED at ch 33 and for a very s*upid reason. I saw the second ML who has equally as much chemistry with the MC as the ML and decided to bolt away from here. Sorry not sorry, love triangles are my absolute non-negotiables for every BL I read. Doesn't matter how good of a story I'll be missing out on when I'd just be suffocating reading it the entire time.... more>>

Also MC has a little bit of that protagonist halo that I don't really like. But everything else is written well. <<less