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Soul Vibration-3
Arrive upon this world
Kissing a pair of gentle eyes
Thank you for having...
Looked into my eyes
Thank you, for wanting to look towards me for the rest of your life.
Talented Bassist X Indie Singer-songwriter,
Idol x Fanboy,
Rock Star x Assistant,
Straight x Straight
From admiration to love.
This novel describes the daily lives of a chart-topping rock band, LOTUS, told from the perspective of the bassist's personal assistant.
Independent singer-songwriter Chi Nan had to give up on his music dream after finding out about his incurable hearing defect. At the depths of his despair, the bassist of his favourite band, LOTUS, bought the rights to all his songs and made him his personal assistant.
“Even if I become completely deaf, I can't break free from myself. Even if half of me grows old, the other half will always remain within the dream named Rock and roll, the dream named Teenage Dream, named Salinger.”
Kissing a pair of gentle eyes
Thank you for having...
Looked into my eyes
Thank you, for wanting to look towards me for the rest of your life.
Talented Bassist X Indie Singer-songwriter,
Idol x Fanboy,
Rock Star x Assistant,
Straight x Straight
From admiration to love.
This novel describes the daily lives of a chart-topping rock band, LOTUS, told from the perspective of the bassist's personal assistant.
Independent singer-songwriter Chi Nan had to give up on his music dream after finding out about his incurable hearing defect. At the depths of his despair, the bassist of his favourite band, LOTUS, bought the rights to all his songs and made him his personal assistant.
“Even if I become completely deaf, I can't break free from myself. Even if half of me grows old, the other half will always remain within the dream named Rock and roll, the dream named Teenage Dream, named Salinger.”
372 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 13, 2025
Soul Vibration's last volume left me emotionally devastated, in the best and worst ways. I cried multiple times, felt intense frustration, and yet, by the end, was completely satisfied with how Chi Nan and Salinger’s story finally settled into something whole.
What stood out most to me was how frustratingly human this book is. The emotional misalignment between Chi Nan and Salinger, especially with the slowburn tension dragging on for so long, made me want to scream. There were so many moments where I thought, "Just get together already!" and yet, I understood why they couldn’t. The emotional stakes were too high. They both loved each other deeply, but also placed each other on such unreachable pedestals that neither dared to reach out first.
One of the hardest parts to read was Chi Nan’s slow descent into total deafness. The way he processed his hearing loss—quietly, with dignity and reflection—was incredibly moving. He never dramatized his condition. Instead, he accepted it with heartbreaking grace. There’s one moment where he uses his own inner ear's MRI scan as an album cover, like a symbolic farewell to the soundscape he once belonged to. That imagery broke me.
Salinger, on the other hand, is often caught between silence and contradiction. He tries to rationalize feelings he doesn’t yet have the courage to name. His inability to act sooner deeply hurt both Chi Nan and Dong Jia. I sympathized with Dong Jia to some extent—she too was searching for something—but ultimately, I appreciated the novel’s decision to not romanticize her role. Both she and Salinger needed to confront their own intentions.
That said, one of the most powerful aspects of this volume is how it shifts from longing to revelation. We’re given glimpses of Salinger’s past, his guarded interiority, and all the things that made him both harsh and quietly kind. For Chi Nan, learning about Salinger’s past wasn’t just a moment of clarity, but a deepening of love. He understood that to love someone fully is to know them completely, even in their silence, even in their pain.
There’s also the surprising "soulmate" trope that which really, really got me! It was handled through the beautiful metaphor of quantum entanglement. It could’ve easily been cheesy, but here it was deeply poetic. The parallels between Chi Nan and Salinger—their rare blood type, mirrored ways of thinking, and mutual love for music—felt like evidence of a connection that defied rationality. I don’t usually fall for fate tropes, but this one was written with such sincerity, I couldn’t help but believe in it.
And finally, the confessions that are both quiet, conflicted, and raw. They weren’t grand declarations. They were vulnerable admissions, shaped by months of restraint and yearning. The ending was soft, understated, and breathtakingly beautiful. Just two people, finally letting go of everything but each other.
This book ends not with a bang, but with a slow exhale. Like a return to simplicity, to presence, and to love that’s been there all along, waiting for the right moment. The series as a whole has been about more than just music or romance; it’s about learning how to live, love, and listen in a world that can sometimes go quiet. And this volume, more than any other, made me realize that sometimes the loudest kind of love is the one that never stops playing, even in silence .
I absolutely giggled my way through the extras because of the characters' silly banters and shenanigans. I am also glad that we got some hints and passages here and there to what happened to them. But I really just wish we have had some extras fully showcasing Salinger and Chi Nan as a couple. Because we only got some candies as a form of gossip and that, but I guess that's how the author wanted it to be.
What stood out most to me was how frustratingly human this book is. The emotional misalignment between Chi Nan and Salinger, especially with the slowburn tension dragging on for so long, made me want to scream. There were so many moments where I thought, "Just get together already!" and yet, I understood why they couldn’t. The emotional stakes were too high. They both loved each other deeply, but also placed each other on such unreachable pedestals that neither dared to reach out first.
One of the hardest parts to read was Chi Nan’s slow descent into total deafness. The way he processed his hearing loss—quietly, with dignity and reflection—was incredibly moving. He never dramatized his condition. Instead, he accepted it with heartbreaking grace. There’s one moment where he uses his own inner ear's MRI scan as an album cover, like a symbolic farewell to the soundscape he once belonged to. That imagery broke me.
Salinger, on the other hand, is often caught between silence and contradiction. He tries to rationalize feelings he doesn’t yet have the courage to name. His inability to act sooner deeply hurt both Chi Nan and Dong Jia. I sympathized with Dong Jia to some extent—she too was searching for something—but ultimately, I appreciated the novel’s decision to not romanticize her role. Both she and Salinger needed to confront their own intentions.
That said, one of the most powerful aspects of this volume is how it shifts from longing to revelation. We’re given glimpses of Salinger’s past, his guarded interiority, and all the things that made him both harsh and quietly kind. For Chi Nan, learning about Salinger’s past wasn’t just a moment of clarity, but a deepening of love. He understood that to love someone fully is to know them completely, even in their silence, even in their pain.
There’s also the surprising "soulmate" trope that which really, really got me! It was handled through the beautiful metaphor of quantum entanglement. It could’ve easily been cheesy, but here it was deeply poetic. The parallels between Chi Nan and Salinger—their rare blood type, mirrored ways of thinking, and mutual love for music—felt like evidence of a connection that defied rationality. I don’t usually fall for fate tropes, but this one was written with such sincerity, I couldn’t help but believe in it.
And finally, the confessions that are both quiet, conflicted, and raw. They weren’t grand declarations. They were vulnerable admissions, shaped by months of restraint and yearning. The ending was soft, understated, and breathtakingly beautiful. Just two people, finally letting go of everything but each other.
This book ends not with a bang, but with a slow exhale. Like a return to simplicity, to presence, and to love that’s been there all along, waiting for the right moment. The series as a whole has been about more than just music or romance; it’s about learning how to live, love, and listen in a world that can sometimes go quiet. And this volume, more than any other, made me realize that sometimes the loudest kind of love is the one that never stops playing, even in silence .
I absolutely giggled my way through the extras because of the characters' silly banters and shenanigans. I am also glad that we got some hints and passages here and there to what happened to them. But I really just wish we have had some extras fully showcasing Salinger and Chi Nan as a couple. Because we only got some candies as a form of gossip and that, but I guess that's how the author wanted it to be.
June 7, 2025
✰*ੈ✩‧₊˚ five ✰’s
yup i’m totally normal about soul vibration. i absolutely don’t have 173 highlights just in this volume alone.
RTC sometime soon since i binged all of this basically in one sitting & need time to process everything!!!! but anyways all you need to know is if you like extremely slow burns that are full of grand moments that are steeped in subtlety you should definitely read soul vibration
btw salinger has now wormed his way in my list of favorite danmei gong’s of all time. the author really exposed salinger in the extras by giving him a pov. cannot believe chi nan was that dense when salinger was being so obvious with his feelings
yup i’m totally normal about soul vibration. i absolutely don’t have 173 highlights just in this volume alone.
RTC sometime soon since i binged all of this basically in one sitting & need time to process everything!!!! but anyways all you need to know is if you like extremely slow burns that are full of grand moments that are steeped in subtlety you should definitely read soul vibration
btw salinger has now wormed his way in my list of favorite danmei gong’s of all time. the author really exposed salinger in the extras by giving him a pov. cannot believe chi nan was that dense when salinger was being so obvious with his feelings
Because he didn’t have to really say the words to me, I was already his.
August 8, 2025
4.6/5 possible spoiler warnings talking about the side story
I wish we had gotten more of a romance between Salinger and Chi Nan, but when I really think about it, I can see why the author wrote it this way. Their romance wasn't physical, but musical. They flirted through inspiration, fell in love when playing music together, and communicated through lyrics. It could also be due to the fact that Chi Nan is naive and the story was told from his first-person point of view.
I was kind of disappointed in the side stories and wanted more. The fact that they were just interviews was kind of weird for me. The letter Salinger wrote really showed how he was feeling and how misunderstood he really was and 'Stone's diary' was the only chapter I liked from the side stories.
Reading "Soul Vibration" made me start to miss music. Growing up, music was my escape during some rough years. I was in an auditioned choir in high school and also did musical theater. Oh, how I wish I could just go back to those high school days.
My mutuals, what did you think of this novel? Did you also feel that their romance was in the music?
I wish we had gotten more of a romance between Salinger and Chi Nan, but when I really think about it, I can see why the author wrote it this way. Their romance wasn't physical, but musical. They flirted through inspiration, fell in love when playing music together, and communicated through lyrics. It could also be due to the fact that Chi Nan is naive and the story was told from his first-person point of view.
I was kind of disappointed in the side stories and wanted more. The fact that they were just interviews was kind of weird for me. The letter Salinger wrote really showed how he was feeling and how misunderstood he really was and 'Stone's diary' was the only chapter I liked from the side stories.
Reading "Soul Vibration" made me start to miss music. Growing up, music was my escape during some rough years. I was in an auditioned choir in high school and also did musical theater. Oh, how I wish I could just go back to those high school days.
My mutuals, what did you think of this novel? Did you also feel that their romance was in the music?
August 7, 2025
3/5 🌟
Finally, some of my questions from Volume 2 review were answered! I always suspected Salinger struggled with expressing himself—used for his fame and looks, never truly seen, and left feeling isolated. His relationship issues make sense now. That said, we still didn’t get enough of the main couple.
I understand why the author wrote the ending that way—Chi Nan leaving and completely unaware of Salinger's feelings, while Salinger's hesitance and his attempts at surprises just caused more misunderstandings. From the MC’s POV, it was a bit frustrating because I just wanted them to talk about their feelings earlier on— talk about lack of communication, I felt so in the dark due to it. I would have like at least hand holding, hugging or kissing. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
I loved the 1st side story where we get Salinger's POV (about 15 pages of pure perfection!). We needed more!
The story dragged; the slow burn with all the anticipation felt unrewarding with what we got, which was only two pages of them together. I needed more sweetness, more of them actually together. Did LOTUS fans ever find out about them?
Instead, the rest of the side stories after the first, felt dull. I nearly DNF'd but pushed through. The ending was rushed and unsatisfying.
I liked about 65% of this volume, but the lack of romance and focus on LOTUS in the extras with interviews, shows, concerts—dragged it down. I love music, but this felt repetitive and flat.
Sadly, this danmei ranks lowest out of all the ones I’ve read. 😩
Finally, some of my questions from Volume 2 review were answered! I always suspected Salinger struggled with expressing himself—used for his fame and looks, never truly seen, and left feeling isolated. His relationship issues make sense now. That said, we still didn’t get enough of the main couple.
I understand why the author wrote the ending that way—Chi Nan leaving and completely unaware of Salinger's feelings, while Salinger's hesitance and his attempts at surprises just caused more misunderstandings. From the MC’s POV, it was a bit frustrating because I just wanted them to talk about their feelings earlier on— talk about lack of communication, I felt so in the dark due to it. I would have like at least hand holding, hugging or kissing. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
I loved the 1st side story where we get Salinger's POV (about 15 pages of pure perfection!). We needed more!
The story dragged; the slow burn with all the anticipation felt unrewarding with what we got, which was only two pages of them together. I needed more sweetness, more of them actually together. Did LOTUS fans ever find out about them?
Instead, the rest of the side stories after the first, felt dull. I nearly DNF'd but pushed through. The ending was rushed and unsatisfying.
I liked about 65% of this volume, but the lack of romance and focus on LOTUS in the extras with interviews, shows, concerts—dragged it down. I love music, but this felt repetitive and flat.
Sadly, this danmei ranks lowest out of all the ones I’ve read. 😩
January 13, 2025
Slow burn so slow the author forgot to write half of the romance; I started to think the straight x straight tag was being literal — I still am not wholly convinced that it isn’t the case… I did enjoy Solo’s writing, but the payoff felt very lacklustre, though for the character’s personalities, I guess it’s fitting. I’ll leave them in their own world.
June 16, 2025
"You live simply and passionately in this world, and without you I can only live in the darkness of long nights. As long as you still live simply and passionately, I can live simply and passionately too.
I love you, but I don’t have to possess you."
It's final! I love this story. Honestly, the first few chapters of Volume 3 had me a little worried—I was starting to lose hope after the slow burn (and I mean really slow) pace of Volume 2. But wow, I’m so glad I stuck through it. Like I mentioned in my review for Book 1, I had a feeling things would eventually come together, and they did. Everything started clicking into place, and lingering questions found satisfying answers.
What surprised me most was the sudden shift in pacing. After the drag of Book 2, this one just zoomed. I couldn't predict what was coming next, and that unpredictability made it all the more exciting. It felt like I was on a rollercoaster, going from one unexpected twist to another. I actually enjoyed the fast pace, though I wouldn’t have minded if some scenes were given a bit more breathing room.
And let's talk about those extras—absolutely hilarious! They gave such a fun insight into how the characters viewed each other and lightened the tone after the intensity of the main story. We even got to see what happened to Chi Nan post-ending, which felt like the perfect way to close things out. He deserved every bit of that resolution. All in all, this book redeemed the entire series for me and left me feeling really satisfied.
Date read: 2025.02.11
I love you, but I don’t have to possess you."
It's final! I love this story. Honestly, the first few chapters of Volume 3 had me a little worried—I was starting to lose hope after the slow burn (and I mean really slow) pace of Volume 2. But wow, I’m so glad I stuck through it. Like I mentioned in my review for Book 1, I had a feeling things would eventually come together, and they did. Everything started clicking into place, and lingering questions found satisfying answers.
What surprised me most was the sudden shift in pacing. After the drag of Book 2, this one just zoomed. I couldn't predict what was coming next, and that unpredictability made it all the more exciting. It felt like I was on a rollercoaster, going from one unexpected twist to another. I actually enjoyed the fast pace, though I wouldn’t have minded if some scenes were given a bit more breathing room.
And let's talk about those extras—absolutely hilarious! They gave such a fun insight into how the characters viewed each other and lightened the tone after the intensity of the main story. We even got to see what happened to Chi Nan post-ending, which felt like the perfect way to close things out. He deserved every bit of that resolution. All in all, this book redeemed the entire series for me and left me feeling really satisfied.
Date read: 2025.02.11
June 4, 2024
The slow burn indeed slow burned.
This whole book:
Chi Nan: For Salinger to be so kind to me... Just a normal fan... He will probably forget about me but it's okay...
Salinger: What should I wear to our wedding.
As a devoted Chi Nan's fan (a fanboys's fangirl, yes), I found myself yearning for more of his inner world. The focus on LOTUS and Salinger, fueled by Chi Nan's fervent love towards the band, provides a great group of anecdotes, but it also creates a void. I can't help it, I want so much more than the glimpses we got into Chi Nan.
One conversation in particular, which I had been looking forward to during the last two volumes, landed with a thud. The anticipation for a pivotal moment between Chi Nan and Salinger fizzled, replaced by a deluge of Salinger's past relayed through a third party. This narrative choice felt like such a huge missed opportunity that it kind of broke my heart.
That extra chapter, narrated from Salinger's point of view, is pure perfection. I would gladly read three more volumes of just his version of the events.
While some narrative decisions left me hanging, the emotional core of this story is still strong. And Chi Nan and Salinger are so, so silly (both in their own particular ways), I love them.
This whole book:
Chi Nan: For Salinger to be so kind to me... Just a normal fan... He will probably forget about me but it's okay...
Salinger: What should I wear to our wedding.
As a devoted Chi Nan's fan (a fanboys's fangirl, yes), I found myself yearning for more of his inner world. The focus on LOTUS and Salinger, fueled by Chi Nan's fervent love towards the band, provides a great group of anecdotes, but it also creates a void. I can't help it, I want so much more than the glimpses we got into Chi Nan.
One conversation in particular, which I had been looking forward to during the last two volumes, landed with a thud. The anticipation for a pivotal moment between Chi Nan and Salinger fizzled, replaced by a deluge of Salinger's past relayed through a third party. This narrative choice felt like such a huge missed opportunity that it kind of broke my heart.
That extra chapter, narrated from Salinger's point of view, is pure perfection. I would gladly read three more volumes of just his version of the events.
While some narrative decisions left me hanging, the emotional core of this story is still strong. And Chi Nan and Salinger are so, so silly (both in their own particular ways), I love them.
November 15, 2023
“I don’t know how to like someone who’s not you.” 😭
I could not stop reading/listening to this story ever since I started the first volume. I just really fell in love with the MC Chi Nan and enjoyed the development of his relationship with Lin Sai-ge (Salinger). Some heartbreaking moments for sure but overall a beautiful, sweet and enjoyable series with good characters and IMO a well-paced plot. However, when the focus was not on either Chi Nan or Salinger I sometimes found myself just wanting to get back to them as soon as possible. It's written first person POV present tense but it's very easy to get used to if that's not what you typically read (like me). I do feel like musicians and music lovers might have a deeper connection with these books but I still loved them despite being neither.
I could not stop reading/listening to this story ever since I started the first volume. I just really fell in love with the MC Chi Nan and enjoyed the development of his relationship with Lin Sai-ge (Salinger). Some heartbreaking moments for sure but overall a beautiful, sweet and enjoyable series with good characters and IMO a well-paced plot. However, when the focus was not on either Chi Nan or Salinger I sometimes found myself just wanting to get back to them as soon as possible. It's written first person POV present tense but it's very easy to get used to if that's not what you typically read (like me). I do feel like musicians and music lovers might have a deeper connection with these books but I still loved them despite being neither.
January 18, 2025
To arrive upon this world, kissing a pair of gentle eyes, thank you, for willing to look toward me, for the rest of your life.
This series needed a little bit more romance. I did enjoy it but the series or to be more specific this particular volume needed more scenes between the couple since it was the final book. This read more like a diary of a fan and I loved the yearning and all the glances and what ifs but I needed more.
It's still a good read, with a lot of stuff from the world of music industry and idols so if that's your thing, check out this trilogy.
This series needed a little bit more romance. I did enjoy it but the series or to be more specific this particular volume needed more scenes between the couple since it was the final book. This read more like a diary of a fan and I loved the yearning and all the glances and what ifs but I needed more.
It's still a good read, with a lot of stuff from the world of music industry and idols so if that's your thing, check out this trilogy.
March 9, 2024
“But I think even a vampire would be willing to die under the sun one day - when he sees an unknown sunrise somewhere on earth.”
4 stars - great ending. A little sad that since the confession from Salinger is at the end you don’t get to see much of him and Chi Nan together, but the extras definitely make up for that partially! In particular from ‘A Letter from Salinger to Stone’ I really loved the last thing Salinger says in reference to Plato’s “The Symposium”:
“I would not have thought that one day I would have love and desire for someone of the same sex, just because I felt that he was meant to belong to me. From body to soul.”
It was so sweet reading his thoughts across the major events of the story as well (especially when he talked about writing Vampire’s Sunrise for Chi Nan as a confession but Chi Nan being unable to hear it because he didn’t complete it in time before Chi Nan lost his hearing TvT), and reading how Sunny had to tell him that he liked Chi Nan before he realised himself was hilarious.
Chi Nan losing his hearing after the build-up of the last 2 volumes was so sad to read, but it was really nice seeing how motivated he tried to be in maintaining his ability to do what he loved despite his impairment. Very glad that the extras also confirmed that Chi Nan was able to regain his hearing thanks to Sunny!
The interview with Solo was great in displaying more of the dynamic between LOTUS which I loved reading (plus the question about how they would confess and Salinger’s answer held more meaning after reading his confession in Track 43 TvT).
Overall I really loved this series! My only issues really was the way that the quality of the translation dropped after the first volume but it was still easy to follow along with.
4 stars - great ending. A little sad that since the confession from Salinger is at the end you don’t get to see much of him and Chi Nan together, but the extras definitely make up for that partially! In particular from ‘A Letter from Salinger to Stone’ I really loved the last thing Salinger says in reference to Plato’s “The Symposium”:
“I would not have thought that one day I would have love and desire for someone of the same sex, just because I felt that he was meant to belong to me. From body to soul.”
It was so sweet reading his thoughts across the major events of the story as well (especially when he talked about writing Vampire’s Sunrise for Chi Nan as a confession but Chi Nan being unable to hear it because he didn’t complete it in time before Chi Nan lost his hearing TvT), and reading how Sunny had to tell him that he liked Chi Nan before he realised himself was hilarious.
Chi Nan losing his hearing after the build-up of the last 2 volumes was so sad to read, but it was really nice seeing how motivated he tried to be in maintaining his ability to do what he loved despite his impairment. Very glad that the extras also confirmed that Chi Nan was able to regain his hearing thanks to Sunny!
The interview with Solo was great in displaying more of the dynamic between LOTUS which I loved reading (plus the question about how they would confess and Salinger’s answer held more meaning after reading his confession in Track 43 TvT).
Overall I really loved this series! My only issues really was the way that the quality of the translation dropped after the first volume but it was still easy to follow along with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2024
"If there is no way to pull him up, then I will light up the abyss for him."
A series that basically embodies the term "slow burn" - since the two main characters don't actually get together until the very end. But I think that was the whole point of the series; it was more about the journey Chi Nan and Lin Sai take to meet in the middle, from their first meetings to the moment where they confess to each other. It's kind of like a song, really. A song about yearning and loving someone from afar usually ends with a happy ending taking root, right? (Unless it's actually a sad song.)
While I admit I want just a little bit more - maybe a short story about Chi Nan and Lin Sai going on a date, maybe their first time together - I don't necessarily think the series is incomplete without those things. There are many instances of Chi Nan and Lin Sai being romantic, whether they realize it or not. Lots of flirting via music. And you still get fed hints of their relationship in the extras anyway, including one from Lin Sai's own perspective.
Overall, a series that starts slow with the first volume, but greatly picks up after that. If you're craving an epic slow burn with lots of yearning and splashes of both humor and angst, then this might be for you.
A series that basically embodies the term "slow burn" - since the two main characters don't actually get together until the very end. But I think that was the whole point of the series; it was more about the journey Chi Nan and Lin Sai take to meet in the middle, from their first meetings to the moment where they confess to each other. It's kind of like a song, really. A song about yearning and loving someone from afar usually ends with a happy ending taking root, right? (Unless it's actually a sad song.)
While I admit I want just a little bit more - maybe a short story about Chi Nan and Lin Sai going on a date, maybe their first time together - I don't necessarily think the series is incomplete without those things. There are many instances of Chi Nan and Lin Sai being romantic, whether they realize it or not. Lots of flirting via music. And you still get fed hints of their relationship in the extras anyway, including one from Lin Sai's own perspective.
Overall, a series that starts slow with the first volume, but greatly picks up after that. If you're craving an epic slow burn with lots of yearning and splashes of both humor and angst, then this might be for you.
June 25, 2025
Well, that was not what I expected.
Do I enjoy a back story? Yes.
Do I enjoy a long, drawn out, pointless back story? No.
This pretty much bordered on the second.
Did we get a happy ending? Yes
Did it feel rushed? Yes.
Chi Nan, you deserve so much. You held your head up high - thru it ALL! And you really went thru it ALL!
Salinger. You are still a damn mystery, but I’m glad ya finally expressed those feelings.
Not the best Danmei, but it was what it was.
Do I enjoy a back story? Yes.
Do I enjoy a long, drawn out, pointless back story? No.
This pretty much bordered on the second.
Did we get a happy ending? Yes
Did it feel rushed? Yes.
Chi Nan, you deserve so much. You held your head up high - thru it ALL! And you really went thru it ALL!
Salinger. You are still a damn mystery, but I’m glad ya finally expressed those feelings.
Not the best Danmei, but it was what it was.
May 18, 2024
3.5
I really like the characters, the music references and the deep trust and care between our leads but I think the whole story burned just a little slow for what I was looking to read right now.
I really like the characters, the music references and the deep trust and care between our leads but I think the whole story burned just a little slow for what I was looking to read right now.
December 29, 2025
3.5
This novel has me torn. There's a lot of good things about it: the music in it is so vivid you can feel yourself on a stage, our protagonist is super likable, and the cast of characters is charismatic. It was a breeze to read and yet, a frustrating experience. I wanted more from this. I feel like we spend the entire novel waiting for the moment for them to finally strike the match only to cut to black when it happens. The payoff is not up to par with the buildup.
This story is written in 1st person present tense, but in so many moments the narration is so detached you can even notice. Chi Nan is telling us this story, but all we hear about is Salinger, Salinger, Salinger. And contradictory, Salinger remains a mystery for most of it because he is so closed off and we never really see him open up to anybody, not even Chi Nan. We're reading non-stop about Salinger, but the source is never himself.
I understand that Chi Nan is a big fanboy, so it is not out of this world that he thinks of Salinger so much. I also understand that their connection is formed mainly through music, and that we don't need overt romantic scenes to know there's something there. But I still needed more. I needed to see them cross that bridge that put them in different worlds, to rectify the power imbalance in their relationship. I wanted them getting together to be part of the journey and not the final destination (and I mean this literally, they only get together in the final chapter).
This novel spends a lot of energy on holding out. Chi Nan and Salinger are holding out from each other, and the author is holding out from us the readers. We only get to witness their relationship in snippets in the extras through other characters' eyes. We do get one Salinger pov extra that was so good and extremely necessary, but that still left us hanging.
I've been sounding quite negative, but that's the frustration talking. I wanted to love this so much. There's so much more here that I could've loved. But it feels like a song that's a minute too short.
This novel has me torn. There's a lot of good things about it: the music in it is so vivid you can feel yourself on a stage, our protagonist is super likable, and the cast of characters is charismatic. It was a breeze to read and yet, a frustrating experience. I wanted more from this. I feel like we spend the entire novel waiting for the moment for them to finally strike the match only to cut to black when it happens. The payoff is not up to par with the buildup.
This story is written in 1st person present tense, but in so many moments the narration is so detached you can even notice. Chi Nan is telling us this story, but all we hear about is Salinger, Salinger, Salinger. And contradictory, Salinger remains a mystery for most of it because he is so closed off and we never really see him open up to anybody, not even Chi Nan. We're reading non-stop about Salinger, but the source is never himself.
I understand that Chi Nan is a big fanboy, so it is not out of this world that he thinks of Salinger so much. I also understand that their connection is formed mainly through music, and that we don't need overt romantic scenes to know there's something there. But I still needed more. I needed to see them cross that bridge that put them in different worlds, to rectify the power imbalance in their relationship. I wanted them getting together to be part of the journey and not the final destination (and I mean this literally, they only get together in the final chapter).
This novel spends a lot of energy on holding out. Chi Nan and Salinger are holding out from each other, and the author is holding out from us the readers. We only get to witness their relationship in snippets in the extras through other characters' eyes. We do get one Salinger pov extra that was so good and extremely necessary, but that still left us hanging.
I've been sounding quite negative, but that's the frustration talking. I wanted to love this so much. There's so much more here that I could've loved. But it feels like a song that's a minute too short.
December 27, 2024
Chi Nan has finally lost his hearing. As he slowly adjusts to this new way of life, he also knows his time as Salinger's personal assistant is at its end. But saying goodbye to his idol and love is harder than he expected, especially as Salinger continues to give him more attention.
Be aware, the story concludes halfway through this final volume; the second half is bonus content consisting of band interviews, articles, and some side stories (most notably, a summary of the romance from Salinger's point of view). I really dislike it when publishers do this, but it's not the writer's fault. As I wrote in my review for book 2, the climax of the story occurs at the end of that installment, and this final volume definitely reads like pure resolution. It has a bittersweet tone throughout, so I was glad it wrapped up at a faster pace compared to the majority of the plot, rather than having to feel sad for an unnecessary amount of time. Although this was definitely an odd romance, by the end, it felt very sweet, and I was actively rooting for Chi Nan to get his happily ever after. I have zero complaints with the ending either (although some people might feel there were too many loose ends left). The extras aren't that interesting to me, though, and I've skimmed or skipped entirely most of them. I did read all of the side story from Salinger's point of view though, and that was a fun read. I also enjoyed the "articles" that depicted what Chi Nan did next; that made me feel happy for that character. Everything else, though, felt superfluous.
Having reached the end of this series, I don't think I'd recommend it, but it's not a bad story overall.
Be aware, the story concludes halfway through this final volume; the second half is bonus content consisting of band interviews, articles, and some side stories (most notably, a summary of the romance from Salinger's point of view). I really dislike it when publishers do this, but it's not the writer's fault. As I wrote in my review for book 2, the climax of the story occurs at the end of that installment, and this final volume definitely reads like pure resolution. It has a bittersweet tone throughout, so I was glad it wrapped up at a faster pace compared to the majority of the plot, rather than having to feel sad for an unnecessary amount of time. Although this was definitely an odd romance, by the end, it felt very sweet, and I was actively rooting for Chi Nan to get his happily ever after. I have zero complaints with the ending either (although some people might feel there were too many loose ends left). The extras aren't that interesting to me, though, and I've skimmed or skipped entirely most of them. I did read all of the side story from Salinger's point of view though, and that was a fun read. I also enjoyed the "articles" that depicted what Chi Nan did next; that made me feel happy for that character. Everything else, though, felt superfluous.
Having reached the end of this series, I don't think I'd recommend it, but it's not a bad story overall.
April 21, 2023
I read these books because of the deaf representation, or should I say, going-deaf rep. I had been enjoying it for the most part, despite the asides/flashbacks being tedious. I can somewhat accept him wanting to write and play music for as long as possible with barely any effort to prepare himself for the change. He doesn’t take any sign language classes, look up resources, apps to help with speech-to-text, even practicing lip reading.
However, the fact that after he goes fully deaf he
1) doesn’t want to learn sign language just because his love interest says he shouldn’t
2) the only app he downloads (with the love interest’s recommendation) is to help him talk
3)the love interest’s solution is getting him a cochlear implant (a very controversial surgery procedure)
Is not a good way to present deaf representation. I would go on, but I don’t think I could truly explain why this could be considered insulting or how I felt reading that as a CODA. The Deaf world is a beautiful, supportive, and passionate culture. Not even attempting to enter it and going straight to using a controversial and risky surgery as a solution feels wrong to me. And all for the sake of music, which you can still enjoy and play as a deaf person.
However, the fact that after he goes fully deaf he
1) doesn’t want to learn sign language just because his love interest says he shouldn’t
2) the only app he downloads (with the love interest’s recommendation) is to help him talk
3)the love interest’s solution is getting him a cochlear implant (a very controversial surgery procedure)
Is not a good way to present deaf representation. I would go on, but I don’t think I could truly explain why this could be considered insulting or how I felt reading that as a CODA. The Deaf world is a beautiful, supportive, and passionate culture. Not even attempting to enter it and going straight to using a controversial and risky surgery as a solution feels wrong to me. And all for the sake of music, which you can still enjoy and play as a deaf person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2026
It was a truly emotional story. I usually don't read books in the first-person point of view, but this one worked well. Chi Nan, the protagonist, was very charming, although my favorite was definitely Salinger, perhaps because I tend to love characters who seem cold and aloof but care too much underneath.
This was definitely a slow burn! I love it when stories delve deeper into the characters' personal journeys rather than just the romance. It felt like I fell in love with Salinger alongside Chi Nan.
I can't say I understood half of what they talked about regarding music. I don't know a thing about playing an instrument or composing, but the descriptions made me feel like I was right there. Sometimes I even felt like Lotus was a real band and their songs were great, even though I couldn't actually hear them.
However, the translation was... uh, not the best, I guess. Between the grammar issues and the lack of cohesion, I couldn't tell if it was the author’s style or the translation itself, but it felt like something was missing.
Overall, it's a great book. I skipped the last extras because I was expecting more about them as a couple, but they were written in some kind of interview style.
This was definitely a slow burn! I love it when stories delve deeper into the characters' personal journeys rather than just the romance. It felt like I fell in love with Salinger alongside Chi Nan.
I can't say I understood half of what they talked about regarding music. I don't know a thing about playing an instrument or composing, but the descriptions made me feel like I was right there. Sometimes I even felt like Lotus was a real band and their songs were great, even though I couldn't actually hear them.
However, the translation was... uh, not the best, I guess. Between the grammar issues and the lack of cohesion, I couldn't tell if it was the author’s style or the translation itself, but it felt like something was missing.
Overall, it's a great book. I skipped the last extras because I was expecting more about them as a couple, but they were written in some kind of interview style.
July 26, 2026
not sure how i feel
I wanted to give it 1 stars but decided on 3 because its not exactly bad.
I had reservations after book 2 and even more after reading the sample and i still bought it so its nobodies fault but my own.
Its exactly in the same vain as the other books but somehow im let down. I knew LS liked CN but i just dont think this was the best executed ending.
And the extras? They took up so many pages and yet they were a waste of space.
I dont think was a romance, not really.
Spoiler
He gets a surgery and his ear is fixed??? And he’s in a band? A popular one too we can assume?
We get that thrown at us in the extras. We dont get any details even though it was such a huge thing in the books.
Not to mention barely any details on them as a couple. Its still just as vague and unromantic as everything else.
Oh and what was with this timeline? I think this whole story happens in three years but thats me guessing! Its all over the place.
I would skip the whole series right now.
I wanted to give it 1 stars but decided on 3 because its not exactly bad.
I had reservations after book 2 and even more after reading the sample and i still bought it so its nobodies fault but my own.
Its exactly in the same vain as the other books but somehow im let down. I knew LS liked CN but i just dont think this was the best executed ending.
And the extras? They took up so many pages and yet they were a waste of space.
I dont think was a romance, not really.
Spoiler
He gets a surgery and his ear is fixed??? And he’s in a band? A popular one too we can assume?
We get that thrown at us in the extras. We dont get any details even though it was such a huge thing in the books.
Not to mention barely any details on them as a couple. Its still just as vague and unromantic as everything else.
Oh and what was with this timeline? I think this whole story happens in three years but thats me guessing! Its all over the place.
I would skip the whole series right now.
February 19, 2026
The way I tore through this series. I achieved light speed, istg.
But I held off on writing reviews, and the final volume is kind of why. I feel like I got 65% of what I wanted from a finale -- more than "enough," but somehow lacking. It's almost as if Dr Solo is so, exquisitely good at communicating what these two meant to each other without saying it directly, when it came time to uh, say it directly... things lost focus.
That's really the best word for this installment: unfocused. And there were a lot of dropped plot threads or promises from earlier chapters, too. Still, I am not at all unhappy with the series. I just think I might re-read before properly reviewing as a whole, maybe, because I want to better appreciate what it gives me, instead of what I was kind of wishing for.
But I held off on writing reviews, and the final volume is kind of why. I feel like I got 65% of what I wanted from a finale -- more than "enough," but somehow lacking. It's almost as if Dr Solo is so, exquisitely good at communicating what these two meant to each other without saying it directly, when it came time to uh, say it directly... things lost focus.
That's really the best word for this installment: unfocused. And there were a lot of dropped plot threads or promises from earlier chapters, too. Still, I am not at all unhappy with the series. I just think I might re-read before properly reviewing as a whole, maybe, because I want to better appreciate what it gives me, instead of what I was kind of wishing for.
February 23, 2026
This was a decent ending to the book in terms of realism and wrapping up the narrative, but it did feel a little rushed. I wanted to see what their happily ever after looked like, but it's so subtle that it's barely there. There's such a long, slow burn to get to this conclusion that it feels like the ending didn't fully pay off my investment.
Overall, I enjoyed the journey of this story, but my primary feeling at the end is a lack of satisfaction. The story is one long yearning love affair from beginning to end, but once the yearning is finally answered (in about 5 pages out of 900), the story is just suddenly all over.
Overall, I enjoyed the journey of this story, but my primary feeling at the end is a lack of satisfaction. The story is one long yearning love affair from beginning to end, but once the yearning is finally answered (in about 5 pages out of 900), the story is just suddenly all over.
December 18, 2023
Sweet love song
I liked how the three books lead smoothly one to another, slowly telling of the developing relationships among all the different characters. All their viewpoints, foibles, gentle hesitations, and rash explosions make for a many layered, colorful picture of the east Asian entertainment business. The after chapters are a wonderful icing on the cake! Thank you for such a enjoyable read
I liked how the three books lead smoothly one to another, slowly telling of the developing relationships among all the different characters. All their viewpoints, foibles, gentle hesitations, and rash explosions make for a many layered, colorful picture of the east Asian entertainment business. The after chapters are a wonderful icing on the cake! Thank you for such a enjoyable read
January 25, 2025
A little disappointed
The first book I thought was a little dry but I did not stop reading and moved on to the second book and thought that one was better but still a little dry. The third book was the best of the three. The way the third book was written at the end I thought was a bit confusing and I did not like the different pov's. If it had stayed as Salinger it would have been so much better.
The first book I thought was a little dry but I did not stop reading and moved on to the second book and thought that one was better but still a little dry. The third book was the best of the three. The way the third book was written at the end I thought was a bit confusing and I did not like the different pov's. If it had stayed as Salinger it would have been so much better.
May 3, 2026
I have to rant a little bit about this series:
first of all, beautifull writting, the way that the author describes music is beautiful and the connection that Chi Nan and Salinger have through the music is amazing, BUT, at the end I just feel like this all felt very lacking...
everybody loves a slow burn, but man was this shit SLOW and felt very unsatisfying.
for something marked as romance, it barely had any and I just wish that we could had more of them together as couple.
first of all, beautifull writting, the way that the author describes music is beautiful and the connection that Chi Nan and Salinger have through the music is amazing, BUT, at the end I just feel like this all felt very lacking...
everybody loves a slow burn, but man was this shit SLOW and felt very unsatisfying.
for something marked as romance, it barely had any and I just wish that we could had more of them together as couple.
Read
July 13, 2026I get it, I get it, I get it. Gentle and tender ending. In fact this entire story embodies exquisite tenderness! Talented author ✍🏼 my favourite scene is the Japanese uncle slapping CN on the back even after he’s lost his hearing, telling him that, “See, the world is still the same for you!”. Sighhhhhhh
March 16, 2024
A great finale, I could not have imagined it being written in a better way.
December 19, 2024
a real slow burn ❤️
you see them felling in love bit by bit 🥰
the ending was ❤️❤️❤️
you see them felling in love bit by bit 🥰
the ending was ❤️❤️❤️
March 9, 2025
oh how i wish there was more side stories of salinger and chi nan
March 16, 2025
why did this make me cry
April 21, 2025
I cried
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