I feel I need to put another disclaimer, like I did in my review for the first novel, that this review is just my personal notes for the book because the goodreads "private notes" section is so itty bitty. I am actually just screeching below so please disregard.
I'm a sell-out! I'm a convert! AHH I don't even know, nor do I care, all I know is that I loved this so so so much!!!
I was expecting something completely different coming into it since I thought this would be a collection of short side stories about the couple (I guess because my only other experience with korean novel side stories was that one about the girl and her brothers) but it actually had an overarching storyline while weaving in past experiences through flashbacks. I think that worked so well here because although we did have a conclusion to the series through volume 4, it left us as readers with questions about how Zhenya and Taekjoo would have a functioning relationship in the long term. So this side story volume centering around them settling into life together and Taekjoo admitting that he's not just tolerating Zhenya, but actually wants to continue being with him, was just perfect.
Of course there were still some barriers, like Zhenya still not learning Korean or liking the food or their conflict that we saw in one of the chapters but overall, I think this painted such a nice picture of their domesticity!
Zhenya is such an absolute affectionate puppy towards Taekjoo! He always wants to be around him and whenever they are together, he is always touching him, kissing him tenderly, rubbing his face on Taekjoo or nuzzling him - I MELTED reading all of those scenes because we didn't get that Zhenya in the previous 4 volumes. Clearly when he lost Taekjoo in volume 3, and finally got him back in 4, he realized he couldn't live without him and he is so unabashedly cuddly now that he know that! He even said that he's never been happier!!! AHHHH
And it was so sweet seeing that he does care about Taekjoo's mother and even visits when Taekjoo isn't around. Plus seeing Olga again and her care about her brother was cute. And most of all (after Zhenya), Taekjoo finally accepting his feelings and being affectionate in his own way back to Zhenya while showing pretty much everyone around him that he is so deeply in love was a treat!
I am so sad this is over now, after devouring the whole series of novels in the past week. I actually had that sad empty feeling when I finished the last chapter so it'll be hard to let this one go TT What a good read! <3