Define The Relationship: Vol. 1

Define The Relationship (Novel) #1

by Flona, Chada (Illustrator), Hiraeth (Translator)

Two Alphas. A chance encounter. One fateful kiss.

All his life, Karlyle Frost has lived under the strict guidance of his noble family. Burdened by responsibility and constant scrutiny over even his sex life, one day, he is diagnosed with orgasmic disorder. Following his doctor's suggestion to be intimate with someone who isn't an omega. Karlyle is introduced to Ash Jones, a fellow alpha and his brother-in-law Nicholas's ex-lover. Ash agrees to be Karlyle's partner for eight meetings as a favour to Nicholas— but unbeknownst to Ash. this isn't their first time sharing a kiss. Despite a rocky start and their promise to forgo all feelings, Ash, with his kind smiles, gentle caresses, and endearing voice, confuses Karlyle. Could it be possible, even by a sliver of a chance, that Karlyle isn't the only one falling in love?

Genres: Romance

408 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2025

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Reviews

[aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

I know this story probably doesn’t deserve a rating this high… but it was one of my first light novels, so I’m way too sentimental about it. I was literally Google translating it from Korean to English in the Google Books app (which was hella awful and inaccurate, but I did not care) after I became obsessed with it from the manhwa about four years ago, when it still wasn’t finished. So yeah, this rating stays as it is, I’m afraid.

To be honest, this story isn’t something I’d usually go for, since I’m not a big fan of plots with lots of intimate scenes and a bit of one sided insta-love. But these characters and their love are so precious that this book definitely lands in my exceptions category. Ash being so incredibly lovable also made me turn a blind eye to Karlye falling for him so fast, because I’d probably end up in his shoes too.

“I want there to be just one person I love more than anyone else in the world."

Sunlight streamed in through the large glass windows of the living room. Ash's eyes sparkled, reflecting the light as it traversed across the room, landing on the sofa. Those dancing eyes stared directly at Karlyle.

“I wish to give my all to the one I love. I can't do that if we have children."

(I love this quote so much I’m sobbing)

“Sometimes, Karlyle,” Ash said huskily, looking ahead, his tone contrasting his smiling face, “you're so lovely I don't know what to do with myself.”

"If humans truly possessed souls, just as if intangible emotions existed—then Karlyle's soul was undoubtedly now dyed with Ash's traces. As such, Karlyle could never return to being the person he'd been before he loved Ash."

I love yearning man.


Can’t wait to devour the rest of the story again!

[Benji · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t have the energy to write a full review but I liked the yearning, disliked Karlyle’s instalove and the slice of life plot. This volume ended on an angsty miscommunication cliffhanger, I’ll at least finish out the main story in volume 2

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without holding anything back, speaking in complete and total honesty, I can safely say that I adored this book. I was once again brought here because of a fujoshi on TikTok, and I am eternally grateful. I had a roller coaster of a weekend because of this book, and I have no regrets.

First of all, this is PEAK omegaverse. We follow Karlyle, an alpha who is having trouble ejaculating during his ruts, who is given some unconventional advice from his doctor. The advice? Try having sex with an alpha or beta. In comes Ash, an alpha who Karlyle had a chance encounter with years ago, but who has no recollection of that meeting and only knows Karlyle as the brother of the man who “took” the omega he was in love with away. The two of them set up an arrangement where they meet every weekend to get to know each other better and (hopefully) help Karlyle with his sexual problems. Naturally, chaos ensues.

I absolutely need to read more alpha x alpha books because part of what I was absolutely living for while reading this was Karlyle being in absolute denial of his attraction to Ash and sexual preferences when he’s with him 😂 He had so much inner conflict because he thinks he shouldn’t like having penetrative sex and being submissive because he’s an alpha. However, he finds himself more and more drawn to Ash the more he spends time with him. Before he knows it, he starts falling in love with the alpha who treats him kindly, is outwardly affectionate, and brings out a side of him he had long ago suppressed.

Karlyle easily became my favorite character because he was so repressed but also so sweet 🥺 He’s baby girl, and I would fight anyone who hurt him. He just needs patience and care. A besito on the forehead, if you will. It’s precisely because I ended up loving him so much that the ending of this book absolutely crushed my spirit. He was finally ready to open up his heart to Ash, and the absolute idiot that is Ash had to go on ahead and fuck it all up 😭 Ash took Karlyle’s delicate little heart, the heart of a man who has spent his life just following the commands of his family and refusing to be open with his emotions, and crushed it to dust in his hand. I’ll lowkey never forgive him for that shit 😩 Maybe I’ll forgive…but I won’t forget.

For most of the book, however, I adored Ash 😂 I loved how handsy he was with Karlyle. He took every and any opportunity to pet, kiss, and hug Karlyle. He was so down to just completely eat him up in every sense. In addition, since I’m a tóxica, I loved seeing the scenes where Ash got jealous of others being around Karlyle. He would not have it if anyone showed interest in Karlyle. He subconsciously knew that was his man, and he had no interest in sharing 😂👌🏻 I love me a possessive alpha that doesn’t cross lines. He was the jealous type, but he kept it cute.

Finally, I cannot finish this review without shouting out my homegirl Natalie. She truly is the only rational person in this whole book 😂 She found out at the same time that Ash did that Karlyle had never genuinely dated anyone, and not only did she crash out, but she also had the wherewithal to tell Karlyle she should get away from Ash cause he’s a piece of shit 😂 She told my man that she was better off without Ash, and with the way Ash acted at the end of this first book, she was lowkey right. But just like Karlyle… I was a sucker and at the time I couldn’t believe she would say that about her own brother 😔 I thought I knew him better than that. I was so sure I knew him! Ash, when I catch you Ash! You’ll get a loving 👊🏻

[A Nane · Rating 5 out of 5]

agh hacía mucho que una historia cliché adulta de romance me ponía el corazón chiquito 💔

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read the manhwa and when I learned that Publang did an English editionof the original novel I had to get my hands on it. This was so good. I think it added a great depth to the story, but it also made me appreciate the accuracy of the manhwa and ability to convey their emotions. This book was truly so much fun to read. I loved how new everything was to Karlyle. Also thank heavens his doctor is a bit meddlesome and suggested he try this relationship out because it was so good for him. Karlyle has always spent his entire life trying to be perfect for a family that never gave him any breathing room and playing second fiddle to his younger brother so it was really refreshing to watch him be liberated from the burden of expectation as he spent more and more time with Ash. Ash is an interesting character to me because I both like how he helped Karlyle but also think he knew exactly how restricted Karlyle has always been and he could have done a better job at working with him and communicating better. However people aren't perfect which is how we get good storytelling. I look forward to the resolution in book 2 since I don't think I ever completed the last bit of the manhwa.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Karlyle Frost. He is hands down one of my favorite characters.. the way this man yearns has me in a choke hold and I feel absolutely normal when I think about him :)

The writing is so lovely and laced with deeply cutting prose that I cried several times. I immediately want to reread this!!

[Sleepy Zirka · Rating 3 out of 5]

✧˖°.˗ˏˋ DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP ˊ˗˖°.✧
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Characters: ★★★★☆
World Building: ★★★☆☆
Plot: ★★★☆☆
Tension: ★★★☆☆
Writing style: ★★★☆☆
Entertainment: ★★★★★
Romance/Smut: ★★★☆☆

Overall Score: ★ 3.4/5.0 ★ 7/10 ★

I will assume some of you will be familiar with this story from the original Publang publication, some of you might have read the Manhwa (like me) and some of you will experience it for the first time... Well congratulations! You found yourself a solid smut centric storyline (why else you be here? A meaningful philosophical study?) - An entertaining piece, although the plot might be not live changing, where we watch, our Main Character, Karlyle Frost find his true love. Slice of Life with a good small snippet of angst. Surely flawed, but entertaining enough.

I also will praise Publang for the publication, as it was quiet successful and kickstarted their whole print business, i will track their future projects with great interest.
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- Series ☆ 3.4/5 ☆ -
[ Define The Relationship: Vol. 1 ] ★ 3.4/5.0 ★ 7/10 ★
[ Define The Relationship: Vol. 2 ] ★ TBA ★
[ Define The Relationship: Vol. 3 ] ★ TBA ★
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[Akhil Kang · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't understand the plotline at all. Artists really should figure out the pacing of the story; I thought BL/yaoi was all about the slowness of the homos falling for each other?! This alpha/blood story was so confusing.