尾钩 [Tailhook]

by larivegauche, 塞纳左岸

当浪子遇上君子，当什么都没有的遇上什么都不缺的

Genres: LGBT, Contemporary, Fiction

297 pages, ebook

Published August 11, 2022

Reviews

[V.ya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two pilots from different corners of the globe start a friends-with-benefits relationship, but it quickly becomes clear that one wants more than the other.

Sexy, mature, and surprisingly insightful when it comes to the psychological depth and character development. We also get treated to a touching, healing journey filled with tender moments.

At first, I was perplexed when characters were randomly mentioned or showed up without proper introductions. Events, too, were brought up in passing, and I found myself flipping back through the chapters, wondering if I’d missed something. Turns out, this is a spin-off, and those characters and events come straight out of the main book.

As someone living in the Netherlands, the fact that Lang Feng is a Chinese Dutch pilot working for KLM was a nice bonus. He’s portrayed well—direct, rational, with a Western upbringing of treating everyone as an equal. But what I don’t get is how German fits into the picture. It’s mentioned that his sister is more comfortable speaking to him in English or German, and I was like… wait, what? 🤔

Also, they say Lang Feng’s Western name, Evan, is used by his family and close friends. But, from what I know, it’s usually the opposite. Chinese folks in the Netherlands tend to use their Chinese names within their circle and reserve the Western names for other settings.

Despite these minor gripes, it’s still a good read. The aviation setting was a fresh and fascinating change for me, and it added a unique layer to the story. And of course: the switch couple dynamic!!! And did I say sexy? 🥵

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character driven companion story to The Approach focused on two pilots and their love story. Another mature (both in their 30s with established careers) and very sexy novel. You will fall in love with both Zhou Qichen and Lang Feng. Tears will be shed but it's so satisfying watching their journey, especially Zhou Qichen's growth and healing 🥰

🛫Mature romance
🛫Slice of life
🛫Character driven
🛫Spice 🌶️spice 🌶️spice🌶️
🛫Pilot x pilot
🛫Vers couple
🛫Communication- intimate and genuine conversations
🛫Beautifully written with some quotes that really hit you in your heart

Fairly short (47 chapters 2 extras) and will be published in one volume by Rosmei with an ebook option too 🙌

*I do think this can be read before and/or without reading The Approach but I highly recommend reading The Approach first!

One tiny little gripe and really it's just something I find annoying in general nothing at all with the novel itself….why do the female characters always break down and cry when in the exact same situation as the male character? This particular instance, the character is one of the few (maybe only) female pilots and she *sobs* after an incident and has to be consoled by her copilot who experienced the same thing 🙄.

[✨Meli the bookworm✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

He suddenly felt like he'd been overcomplicating this matter called love during the past ten years. If he were to talk about it, he'd say that love was actually quite simple. It was the refreshing aroma of malt unique to Pilsner beer, the smell of leather in a new car, or the half-melted chocolate between one's lips. At that moment, his world suddenly became very narrow, so narrow that it could hold nothing but Lang Feng's eyes.

OBSESSED WITH THIS DANMEI. NO NOTES. A NEW FAVORITE!!!!!😍😍😍😍😍❤❤❤❤❤💖💖💖💖💖

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a decent read to pass the time, nothing more. I will probably forget about it soon. The sex scenes are really good, though.

[⋆ ࣪˖ ִֶָ sel ་༘࿐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A promise to be with each other for the rest of your lives was a constraint, but it also granted him freedom.

At that moment, all of a sudden, he felt like he understood Lang Feng's faith."

Book so good, it completely obliterated my feelings about certain things. Well, I'm not really a fan of marriage because it's a big commitment and it means I would have to bare my whole being to someone, and that's really scary. I'm happy for the people who finds happiness and can share it with someone like that, and I believe they're really brave for that but it's not for me. That's why I am genuinely happy for Zhou Qichen and Lang Feng, especially for ZQC.

Zhou Qichen has experienced a lot and it's a given that he's bound to create barriers for himself. Reading through his journey feels like I have known him for years. The book feels so intimate. It was written like you're listening to a good friend talk about his life and at the end you're crying, not because you're sad because of what he has gone through, but because you're happy with how far he has come. This book literally made me also want to find someone I can feel secure enough to be with for the rest of my life. Lang Feng is a really perfect character, I can't say anything more.

Maybe the only thing I'm having strong opinions about this book is that maybe the author had shown us something about Zhou Qichen's sister. I understand the sentiment that what's happening now is between him and Lang Feng, and what's in store for him and his sister is in the future but since she's a big part of Zhou Qichen, it felt like a loose end to me—even Bai Ziyu has some chapters to him. I just wish we could've had a small snippet with her sister, that's all. I don't really give a damn about his parents, they're old enough to know better.

"But maybe he wouldn't need to exchange any of his lifespan for this, because love, in itself, had never been something that necessitated any forms of exchange to start with. He wouldn't need to give up anything for him to attain this, and he could do so with an easy conscience and peace of mind."

Not gonna lie, this book really made me painfully wishful thinking. [4.5/5.0] ⭐

[grace ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦; 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨"

I'm not one to write reviews, but this book touched such a special place in place in my heart, and I have not been able to get it off my mind, so I thought I would give it a shot.

The way the author portrayed Zhou Qichen and Lang Feng's story was so genuine and intimate it made this seemingly simple love story feel so profound. Watching two character's with very different pasts and upbringings navigate a new relationship in such an open an honest way was so refreshing. Zhou Qichen's past is something I, and I am sure many other's can relate to, and watching his character arc throughout the story was very personal and brought me a lot of comfort. On top of that, both characters are pilots which was so so fun to read about, and if you liked that aspect, this book is actually a spin off of The Approach which features a romance between a pilot and air traffic controller (and Zhou Qichen and Lang Feng's first meeting)!

Easily one of my favorite books ever, currently on my third read and I don't think I'll ever get tired of rereading.

[... · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* Well-written contemporary slice of life with mature romance between two pilots.

It was fast paced, the plot was tight without any unnecessary fillers. The romance was pretty exciting, as the two protagonists--a KLM pilot and an ex-Navy pilot--navigated their mutual attraction and subsequent relationship through all the obstacles their lives presented. The spice was good, too.

The one thing it lacked a bit, I think, was more about the MC's time as J-15 pilot; this was a very important part that shaped his life, yet we only get flashbacks to his two flights out of thousands: the one where he crashed, and his last one before he left the Navy. So really my only nitpicking here is this: not enough of him as the Navy pilot, and not enough focus on piloting in general, which I felt was more present in The Approach (从万米高空降临). Still, a great standalone, though I would recommend reading it together with The Approach.

[Malwina · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is hands down one of the best novels I’ve ever read, you want a short, sweet, intimate and emotionally rich story about pilotes and their very cool jobs with such beautifully written relationship between the main characters and their personal growth and character development??? THEN IT’S PERFECT FOR YOU!! there’s something so incredibly special about the way the author portrayed the characters, their personalities and struggles and just the story itself in general that feels very natural. I’m on my 3rd reread now and each one hits me even harder, I feel like this is one of those books that I’ll always hold close to my heart

[noorii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I found this book; it's both healing and heartwarming. Seeing Zhou Qichen not miss his chance with Lang Feng makes me happy.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is:
"Lang Feng had healed him, so much it could be considered a medical miracle. They said that if the heavens closed a door, they'd open a window. But for Zhou Qichen, it felt like Lang Feng had blown up the whole house after the door was shut."

It's definitely a great read. The main characters are a switch couple, so...

[cezhouhsn · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adored《從萬米高空降臨》so I'm happy this is almost as good. The romance works: they have stuff to work out and the way they are resolved feels believable. It was really satisfying seeing the MC gradually trust the ML. However, I do feel like the MC is significantly more fleshed out than the ML. I'd prefer if the ML isn't so perfect; I want to see him struggle with something, honestly anything, because that would at least humanize him.

[Sleepy Zirka · Rating 4 out of 5]

✧˖°.˗ˏˋ TAILHOOK ˊ˗˖°.✧
----- ----- ----- ----- -----

As Zhou Qichen remembered, this was the third end that had once been attached to the tailhook of the fighter jet ZY2913A1B2. It was made of titanium alloy, weighed 9.8 kg, had been used for 1328 times and would have to be changed after 132 more uses.

----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Characters: ★★★★★
World Building: ★★★★☆
Plot: ★★☆☆☆
Tension: ★★☆☆☆
Writing style: ★★★☆☆
Entertainment: ★★★☆☆
Romance/Smut: ★★★★★

Overall Score: ★ 3.5/5.0 ★ 7/10 ★
After reading Descent from an Altitude of 10,000 Meters ['The Approach' in 3 Volumes, by Hai Tang Books is coming soon.], i thought i will reach my hand to this shorter story set in the same universe, as the other mature romance, of two adult men in the aircraft business! Tailhook will be released as a 1 Volume run by Rosmei in the next (2026) year, please go support it!
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
˗ˏˋ The Story ˊ˗

Most of the story revolves around the daily life of our characters, who travel around on their occupations, whilst one still remembers the scars left by his flights... Flickering from the present to the past, filling out the picture on both canvases.

Ex-carrier-based aircraft pilot, current civil aviation model worker piloting A320 planes x The youngest captain in KLM who is piloting A330 planes.
Contestant who faces life with a smile x Contestant who is rational and direct
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
˗ˏˋ My Two Cents ˊ˗

I will admit that i am no fan or avid reader of contemporary fiction, but Larivegauche keeps dragging me into liking these stories. Actual Science behind the planes? Terminology and logistics? You get enough from the more lenient story (Not action filled, just more domestically about their life's and when im already talking about the characters i can only approve of the explicit scenes. Not particularly cringe inducing, healthy (although rough) and has relevance to their character development (and not being only fanservice). Personally i would recommend to read this one after 'The Approach'.

[meow meow · Rating 5 out of 5]

DIOOOOOOOOS, primero que todo, debo decir una sola y bendita cosa: LANG FENG ERES TODO LO BUENO EN EL MUNDO, ME DUELE EL CORAZÓN, EL ALMA QUE SEAS INEXISTENTE 😭🥺

La verdad, yo leí esta novela no con muchas expectativas y me cerró la boca de un sopetón. Pasé de un simple «quiero conocer la historia de la pareja secundaria de "the approach"» a «¡NOVELA ESPECTACULAR, ÚNICA Y LLENO DE ROMANCE ADULTO PRECIOSO Y BIEN ESCRITO»

La historia continuó desde la perspectiva de Zhou Qichen, un piloto que bajo su sonrisa y personalidad extrovertida, esconde muchas cicatrices, en su corazón y cuerpo. El concepto de amor le resulta doloroso y algo que no entra en su vida, pensando que no se lo merece. Pero el destino, hizo que conociera a Lang Feng, un capitán de sonrisa amable, cortés y educada. Una noche los une, también los separa por sus propios muros llenos de sentimientos (rechazo y expectativas) pero como si fuera un juego, los vuelve a unir. Ambos moldean bajo sus manos y decisiones, su concepto correcto de "relación" y "amor" intentando en el camino, sobrellevar muchas cosas que pesan en su corazón, especialmente Zhou Qichen. Siendo participe muy en claro la importancia de comunicación, tiempo de pareja e individual y el propio amor que tenemos en uno mismo.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

compared to the approach, this was very character driven and pretty depressing. it definitely focuses more on qichen’s journey and how he lets go of everything in the past to be in a healthy relationship with lang feng. lang feng is literally the perfect man. he knows what he wants, communicates well, and knows how to wait for qichen. they are the perfect match for each other. this book was very spicy (much more than the approach) and they actually are a vers couple which i enjoyed reading about. it did fall a bit flat for me compared to the approach tho. there wasn’t really a plot and it seemed a bit underdeveloped at some points.

[fridge_brilliance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not enjoy this nearly as much as the Approach. The author reflects in the PS that she didn’t have a tight structure in this one, and isn’t as happy with it as with her debut novel. For me, it was the characters, I think - I didn’t like or care for the main leads here, whereas I really liked Fang Hao in particular, and how their contrasting needs/personalities matched with Chen Jiayu. With the leads here, I see the thought experiment but it didn’t move me emotionally.

I would still, however, happily read any future novels from larivegauche that get an English translation.

[Minh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story where they: went on three dates before having s*x, had s*x for three times before breaking up, were together for three years before getting married.

What a synopsis lol, ultimately a lovely love story between two people who come together slowly and quickly.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Решила прочитать этот вбоквел, чтобы поставить галочку, да и он совсем маленький. В итоге разочаровалась, многовато для меня было подробных эротических сцен и маловато чувств персонажей не на словах авторки, а на деле.

[lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

this author is officially one of my new favs

[ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buddy reading this with TheWhelmedLife (Ope)

Note that this story is a companion story to “Descent From An Altitude of 10,000 Meters,” which is where both leads first met. While it is ideal to read Descent first, Tailhook can be read as a standalone.

I didn’t expect to love this novel as much as I did—so much that I re-read it three times to get it out of my system.

This novel is a mature novel with a slice of life featuring two pilots with very different personalities who met, had a couple of one-night stands, ended the relationship and reconciled and worked through the ups and downs of their relationship.

Given that the book focuses on 2 pilots, the author added some nuances in relation to the aviation industry. It adds some nice elements as we learned about the struggles they go through together and also the differences between airlines operations like KLM, a European established airline vs Hainan Airlines, a China established airline. The research that went into world building was telling.

As this is a highly character driven novel, I’ll focus more on the characters. The story is told through Zhou Qichen, the MC’s POV, a pilot with Hainan Airlines. From when he was introduced in “Descent From An Altitude of 10,000 Meters”, the accompanying novel, he was noted as a go-lucky and easy going person. However, he hides behind that persona and is actually a very guarded person who puts strong blocks to avoid people from knowing him well due to his past traumatic scars through his friendships and familial relationships. As such, when he first meets Lang Feng, the ML, he would guard against answering questions about himself which eventually leads to Lang Feng feeling like he was not invested in a relationship and causing them to end things at first. However, after going through an intensive operation and realising that Lang Feng is the first person he thought of, he reached out to Lang Feng to re-established the relationship. Due to this, the first arc of the story operated in flashbacks of past and present to give the reader an understanding of his character and the trauma he went through. I have to commend the author for not dragging this angsty part long and giving us the reunion we wanted when the MC finally let down his walls - *the giddiness I feel here know no bounds lol* On the other hand, Lang Feng, the ML is a very straightforward character, given that he grew up in a wholesome family and is very emotionally intelligent. I love that he doesn’t hide who he is and loves wholesomely and will show his affection wholeheartedly. He is also more patient and well balanced in the relationship. He is also noted as a Christian here as he prays for his faith and does wear a cross.

The short length of this book makes it a great read with zero fillers. The plot progresses very quickly and development of the relationship is so realistic and so relatable given that both characters are flawed in different ways. I love that it featured the highlights and the lowlights of their relationship and how they COMMUNICATE and compromise throughout their relationship. Given that both characters are highly compatible, they enjoy a high sexual relationship which means a substantial amount of smut scenes. All in all, this is an amazing read featuring realistic portrayal of a mature relationship.

[Yaping Wang · Rating 4 out of 5]

四星是因为太喜欢郎峰这个角色。虽然知道这样的人只存在于小说里，但是终于知道如果可以向宇宙下订单，我“想要”怎样的人或者说“要成为”怎样的人了。

他真的很不 asian，虽然我很想用“君子”形容他，但是和中国传统里的“君子”完全是两种风格。

善良的、礼貌的、俊美的、有立场有分寸的、没有优越感的、坦诚的、开放的、理智的、勇敢的、但偶尔也会懦弱纠结的……会为爱做0️⃣的 （误

是我想象中的二三十年前的欧洲可以养出来的人——既没有东亚文化中那种压抑与沉重，也没有美式/南欧的肤浅和喧哗。他们身上有一种融合中西、温和体面、松弛而健全的气质，像是另一种更平衡的成长方式。


—————————————

其实有突然想起一篇人物设定很相似的文，李决X应允承。同样是主角的家庭环境相差巨大，应允承这种典型的当代中国“官商勾结的产物”就没那么令人讨喜，虽然作者极力把他描写成一个 decent、面对真爱时勇敢坦诚可爱的人，但和郎峰还是相差甚远。可能我打从心底觉得郎峰这样“健全”的人物设定只可能是国际友人才合理。