once you read enough stories with the same dull conflict and resolution you don’t realize how mediocre they are until you read an actually good one. There is so much to praise here: the female characters aren’t faceless plot-device marionettes, the thought processes of the leads are realistic and logical, there is genuine attention placed on the effects of financial instability. I think that Yujae, in particular, is an incredible character because he feels so real. Growing up with his parents treating love as transactional obviously has a lasting effect on his worldview and relationships. The conflict here isn’t a boring misunderstanding, but a very honest struggle between two people that are fundamentally different in the way they view love. I like that friendship is not considered less valuable, in that way. Romance stories, especially friends-to-lovers, have a tendency to brush over the meaningfulness of friendship and platonic intimacy, which I don’t get from this at all. It’s such a pleasure to see that friendship is so valuable here, not just between Hanjun and Yujae, but the supporting characters as well. Very rare to see what is a relatively common plot developed so naturally and turns out to be so interesting! :)
once you read enough stories with the same dull conflict and resolution you don’t realize how mediocre they are until you read an actually good one. There is so much to praise here: the female characters aren’t faceless plot-device marionettes, the thought processes of the leads are realistic and logical, there is genuine attention placed on the effects of financial instability. I think that Yujae, in particular, is an incredible character because he feels so real. Growing up with his parents treating love as transactional obviously has a lasting effect on his worldview and relationships. The conflict here isn’t a boring misunderstanding, but a very honest struggle between two people that are fundamentally different in the way they view love. I like that friendship is not considered less valuable, in that way. Romance stories, especially friends-to-lovers, have a tendency to brush over the meaningfulness of friendship and platonic intimacy, which I don’t get from this at all. It’s such a pleasure to see that friendship is so valuable here, not just between Hanjun and Yujae, but the supporting characters as well. Very rare to see what is a relatively common plot developed so naturally and turns out to be so interesting! :)