Despite the heavy content, I still found myself immersed in the story and unable to put the book down. Prior to diving into In Love With An Idiot, I was forewarned about its grim nature. It was accompanied by an array of trigger warnings, ensuring that I was mentally prepared for the ensuing events. This novel addresses difficult topics, including incidents of rape and incest. If such themes are particularly challenging for you, it may be best to forego reading this book. Nevertheless, the weighty content did not detract from my immersion in the story, and I found myself unable to part ways with the book.
The novel In Love With An Idiot by SQC is an absolute gem that leaves readers thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The main character, Jian Suiying, is an incredibly humorous and unique character, who could easily be described as a "shameless bastard", yet still manages to be utterly adorable. The book will have you in stitches with laughter, and the secondhand embarrassment is so real, you may find yourself having to take a break from reading.
The foreshadowing of the angst is evident from the outset, and as the story unfolds, the love triangle becomes increasingly complicated. However, SQC has managed to weave this complex web of emotions seamlessly, making the book a true page-turner. What's more, the main couple's relationship is a switch dynamic, which is a refreshing change from the author's usual style.
Despite the emotional turmoil that the characters go through, Jian Suiying remains an incredibly strong and resilient protagonist. He has been through so much, but he manages to stay on his feet, which is a testament to his character. This is in stark contrast to other protagonists in SQC's novels who are often left emotionally shattered.
In Love With An Idiot is a must-read for anyone looking for a good laugh and a satisfying romance. Jian Suiying's humor and ability to handle difficult situations make him a lovable character, and the book's angst is balanced out by his strength. However, readers should be aware that the novel does contain trigger warnings, so it's not for the faint of heart. Overall, In Love With An Idiot is a fantastic read that will leave you wanting more.
First of all, don’t go into this blind and read the warnings. There are plenty and they will happen.
That said I have to admit that I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. At the beginning, I was solely lured into it by the live action (Fool in Love) because - let’s be honest - Bank Artit Tangwiboonpanit is brilliant as Ing (Jian Suiying) and Copter Nuntapong Wongsakulyong is not too bad as Yok (Li Yu) either.
It took me a while to get warm with book JSY because he seems ridiculously narcissistic at the start and even at the end I didn’t know why he loved Li Yu so much. It will remain a mystery and I just accepted it over the course of the story. Don’t be mistaken, JSY is an asshole and a creep, but he is aware of the importance of consent and he’s charming in a very rich young master way who actually knows what he’s doing (business wise). He’s got a terrible temper and can’t stand to lose face or back down when he feels wronged which brings him a lot of trouble. Deep down he’s lonely since he’s lost his mother as a child but he’s hellbent on showing no weaknesses at all. Complicated guy, but very entertaining.
Li Yu is a whole other matter and I cannot for the life of me understand how people find him to be a good character and so promising. For the record, he’s described like that by his relatives all the time and I was like ‘Are we talking about the same guy?’. I couldn’t stand him from start to finish and contrary to JSY I wasn’t swayed by his handsome face (he’s named well as Yu/Yok aka Jade) and his actions only cemented my perception of him. LY is immature, homophobic (as a closeted homosexual who later comes out to try and make things right between himself and JSY) and - his main trait- has got an obsessive streak a mile long he can’t regulate at all. I found him despicable and only accepted him for JSY’s sake.
Then there’s Jian Suilin, who is the younger half-brother of Jian Suilin and best friend of Li Yu. He is even more crazy than the other two. He hates and loves his older brother in such an unhealthy and unhinged way that I honestly didn’t know if I should’ve laughed or cried over the things he does in this story. At one point JSY, who’s in an extreme situation at that time, can only think ‘this motherfucker is absolutely crazy’ and he’s right. JSL is delusional when it comes to his brother. He’s not a good friend either, but let’s be real, if you have got friends like Li Yu or JSL you don’t need any enemies. The only satisfying thing about him is that he’s never going to be happy in his life if he doesn’t fall out of love.
The only normal person in this whole book is Xiao Zhu who is a boy toy / male prostitute of Jian Suiying. He’s timid and shy (he needs the money to help his ill dad) but he actually cares about JSY and helps JSY through some rough times. Compared to everyone else he is a beacon of light and morality. You know all you need to know about how crazy this story is going to be when the prostitute is the normal one. 😭
And yet I was terribly entertained while reading. There were 5% of this story where I was actually mind blown when the plot went from worse to the worst and where I asked myself ‘What the heck am I reading?’ and neither could I stop in that moment nor did I regret a second of it later on.
This story is literally like watching a train wreck. In real life a situation like this - where people watch accidents - is nightmarish and as soon as I’ve checked that help has been called or is already there, I leave and never look back, but I’m all for the craziest drama in fiction.
Honestly, I didn’t get the actions of both families, I mean good for them that especially the grandfathers were so accepting, but the dynamics were very weird to me. Might be that modern rich people in China have some rituals going on I just can’t comprehend. Same with all the hot and cold feelings from everyone all the time. I just took it as it was presented and gave up on wanting to understand the motivations of this book’s characters.
All in all I enjoyed this book. And I’m very much looking forward to watching the show. I’ll probably start it the week episodes 15 and 16 will have aired and can enjoy an episode per day without waiting.
Oh, and I’ll also read at least My Little White Poplar from the 188 series because Bai Xinyu was another idiot but he treated his cousin (YSJ) well when that guy had not enough people in his corner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The way this novel had me in an absolute chokehold...
I,of course, started watching the thai drama adaptation and then HAD to know what happened next.
It wasn't perfect (the SA was a huge no for me) but there was something about the way the author built up the emotional turmoil and tension that had me unable to put it down. I laughed, I cried, and then cried some more.
While im not sure I'd recommend it easily to people, I still think it was an Incredibly well written and deeply thought provoking.
me whenever Jian Suiying, Jian Suilin, and Li Yu fight each other in this book:
These 188 novels are like pure crack to me. In this book, both the gong and the shou are scummy with an added master scum who's Suiying's brother. They literally have a brawl every chapter and I love to see it. I like that that they're both such strong characters and Suiying's so damn annoying and practically a lecher and he really thought that he was the one who's doing the hunting. Li Yu truly showed him what's up LOL. The wife chasing era isn't as prolonged and as satisfying as the previous books that I've read, but it's still pretty damn good.
"Li Yu didn't realize until this very moment, why Jian Suiying used all that tyrannical and arrogant attitude to take care of his relatives, young and old. Perhaps it was because while everyone else depended on him, there was no one for Jian Suiying to rely on" I felt so bad for this guy at some point, you can really feel the loneliness that he had to go through and on top of it all he had to get scammed by his yandere brother.
Suiying es el personaje más encantador del grupo 188 para mi es fuerte sexy decidido inteligente es perfecto lo amo demasiado no merecia sufrir todo lo que pasó por culpa del violador de su hermano como odie a suilin solo deseaba que muriera. El gong liyu es bastante antipático pero aprende y sufre por el amor de Suiying
I felt uncomfortable reading this. In my opinion, even Sissy is better. Li Yu isn’t that bad, but I just can’t get over some of the things that happened in this story. There are some serious content warnings, so make sure to check them out beforehand. I’m glad I’m done with this book—I couldn’t even bring myself to read the extras.
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First reread: 7 nov 2026 - 11 nov 2026
I actually read ALL the extra chapters and was still tapping on my screen till the page would not turn anymore. I didn’t get enough of JSY&LY. This is my first reread in my lifetime that I read from the very end to the very beginning and my first read I didn’t even read the extra and rated it 2 stars. Now I’m obsessed and it’s 5 stars! Makes me wonder if I should reread everything I came across before because.. you really never know.
When I first started to reread I kept a timeline of who did what and why because I was determined to find who is at fault. I guess at the end of the day they both were good and bad to each other and they match each other “perfectly” so … as long as they are happy I guess.
jian suiying tú lo eres todo yo te quiero incluso siendo increíblemente insoportable,,, es el típico personaje que me va a hacer soltar una carcajada de lo bruto y descarado que es, muy único, entiendo el hype. me encanta también lo cabezota y decidido que es. li yu me ha sorprendido mucho porque al principio lo tenía bastante sin más (barbie -jian suiying- is everything, he's just ken -li yu-) pero la verdad me ha encantado ver como ha caído a la locura por culpa de suiying,, todos los gongs deberían andar rogando y llorando constantemente la verdad
nada chicos sois perfectos el uno para el otro que nadie os diga lo contrario
buenos personajes en una trama muy repetitiva donde parecía más un combate de boxeo que un romance pero, sin embargo, nunca me ha aburrido y siempre me tenía enganchada,,, chicos es que tenéis encanto la verdad...
2.5/ 5 ⭐ Veamos ay no sabía cómo calificar la novela, es muy diferente a todo lo que he venido leyendo. Ya venía sabiendo las etiquetas y qué era a lo que me metía, pero de algún modo quedé enganchada y no pude soltarlo hasta acabarla. Hay muchas 🚩🚩🚩 y tiene sus momentos medio sad y graciosos, en especial por el MC juajaua aún así siento que no es recomendada para cualquiera, pero siquieres ver un montón de drama, malentendidos y sangre de perro, esta es tu novela.
De las mejores historias de Shuida OK jaja pero ame esta historia y que rabia siento al Gong no dejo de pensar que no se merece a mi poderpsisim SuiYing en fin viva SuiYing
Goood the novel has one of the best mc that i have ever read about....( guys i mean he has a lot of flaws but his development.... his suffering... how he faced his misfurtune all of it regardable things ) But i really hoped the end wasn’t rushed like this There is still a lot of thing that can be discribe Yet the Auther end it everything so quickly Nice read
Non official english title: In Love with an Idiot. Length: 134 chapters + extras. Official manhua title: My Beloved Fool
This is a 3.5 stars. Not a bad one, but it isn't leaving an impact on me, perhaps because for Shui Qian Cheng level of craziness, this one is on the tamer side. I wouldn't say that the ones with more insane plots are better, but I didn't enjoy this as much as the rest of her works.
The plot is about Jian Suiying, he is playboy in his 20s who changes his male lovers casually, the older brother in his family and is in charge of most of the shares of the family's company. He meets his half brother's best friend and becomes infactuated with him. This isn't the kind of crush that would have the reader rooting for him, instead we discover MC isn't a good person, because he is a creep. Li Yu is younger than him, and rejects his advances many times. Things go downhill the more push and pull there is between both, since both are forces that clash and cannot get along.
When I first started it, the MC made me feel very uncomfortable, mainly because of his actions towards Li Yu. I knew Li Yu wouldn't turn out to be better, but it was still a struggle to go through the first third of the story. But that's what he is, a player and someone who will never give up, annoying and arrogant. Li Yu is not that different, he also doesn't give up on what he wants, and Jian Suiying learns this the hard way.
I honestly cared little about the romance. I wasn't rooting for them to be together (as usual in a SQC crematorium novel, at least for me), I only wanted both to take separate paths. The difference is that here I hated both at different stages, the first half I was on Li Yu's side, the second one I felt sympathy for Jian Suiying, which says a lot about SQC's writting. I don't think this is a bad novel, but it just isn't for me, the dynamic wasn't to my taste and it didn't keep me going.
Instead, what I liked the most and I think deserves the most praise is the family drama. SQC is a genious at pulling heartstrings and portray bits of China's society in her novels. I felt so much rage at the treatment MC got from his family, to the point I wanted him to just go away from everyone, even after he committed mistakes. I enjoyed MC's character development the most as well.
About the grovelling/chasing crematorium element, I think it was alright, although Li Yu really pissed me off many times. I like it when a ML . I don't doubt Li Yu had the purest intentions in the final act, as Jian Suiying himself . As I said on my last update, at least he waks him like a dog lol.
I wish SQC had explored more about the effects of many awful events on JSY's mind. I kind of got what she hinted at and his reactions, but I would've loved if she explored it more as she did in the rest of her works. I guess it's more difficult to show here due to JSY's personality since he isn't someone that breakdowns usually, and instead reacts with anger, which is interesting but I wish this was given more light.
Anyway, those are the thoughts I got about it right now. Not bad a one, it's just that it missed some points that I believe could've been explored more and affected my overall enjoyment, plus I wasn't invested on anything about the couple's development, not even as entertaiment.
“Li yu held Jian Sui Ying in his arms and said with infinite gentleness, "Sui Ying, every time I hold you like this, I feel like I have everything and I have nothing to ask for in my life."
Loved the novel so much wasn’t expecting much from it because it exceeded my expectations sui ying my baby girl I love you so much I was on sui yings side from the start idk but I’ve a soft spot for characters with no mother ☹️💔 Also im so freaking happy that sui ying got the love he deserves and he finally got someone who waits for him does things for him without asking all his life he never had a home where he was loved or someone who do things for him without getting financial Benefits in return he finally met someone who would die for him and won’t even regret
“ Li Yu smiled helplessly and tightened his arms. He wished that Jian sui Ying could be rubbed into his body and never be seen or touched. This man who made him crazy wished only that he could touch him all his life”
He hopes that every festival in the future where he will receive such “gifts". No, actually every day with Jian Sui Ying is the best gift given by fate
I loveeeed the fact that jian has a lover who’s afraid to lose him ahh
Li Yu raised his head and his eyes were wet. Li Yu sniffed. “You don't understand how afraid I am that you won't want me
THIS WAS SO DREAMYYTT
Li Yu took his hand and suddenly knelt on one knee. Jian Sui Ying stared at him with a thousand words stuck in his throat, and all of them converged into a phrase "Fxck you".
I am... I..." Li Yu paused and said forcefully, "I love you very much. I hope I can be with you all my life. I will take good care of you and never lie to you again. No matter what happens, we are not going to be separated." Jian Sui Ying felt his heart beat very fast. He wanted to laugh a little, but his nose felt sour. A man knelt on one knee like another man, holding a diamond ring in his hand, and said these numb words. It was so funny and silly that Jian Sui Ying never dreamed that such a thing would happen to him one day, but it did. It really happened. And he will remember it all his life. “Jian” Li Yu took out the ring, grabbed his hand, and slowly put it into his finger.
JIAN GOT THE MAN AND THE RINGG
this scene broke my heart so bad
Li Yu shook his head, and his drunken eyes barely recovered focus. "Jian, you've been living in his house for so long?" Jian Sui Ying scolded and said, "I don't have a home. My mother is dead. My father married another woman. I have no one." Li Yu's eyes were stained with sadness. "Then you can form a family with me. Jian, I'm terrible now, but I'm sure I'll be the man you can rely on. You like me, you continue to like me. I'll never let you down this time."
I freaking love jian so much
He took a bottle of his mother's favorite wine, sat down at his mother's grave and drank a glass of alcohol with her.
Jian Sui Ying drank two glasses of alcohol and whispered, "Mom, I came to see you. It's not a day I would have normally come, but I missed you. I fell in love a while ago, but then I blew it off again. Hey, that's all. I'll never think about love again. It's no use. Business also got scammed a handful, but it's okay, your son, is born fighter and will have a resurgence. You don't have to worry about me. I don't know how you're doing there.
Jian Sui Ying's tears fell Uncontrollably. For so many years, he hasn't cried at any unfortunate event, and he doesn't know what happened this time.
I thought this was one of the author's weaker books. Mostly because I just don't buy that the MC and ML fall in love. There's a timeskip and the relationship never feels developed enough to make me believe the characters would act in such crazy ways. In most of the author's other books I completely buy the romance, no matter how toxic it ends up, but here it just felt like Suiying likes Li Yu because LY is young and beautiful, while LY eventually likes Suiying because he feels proud that he was the one who 'caught' Suiying. '
It feels shallow.
The plot with the SML was wacky and I didn't buy it, though I will say that one scene was very well-written (in a super traumatizing way!). It was horrific, but also took some real writing skill.
As for Suiying, I think most readers will either love or hate him. I had a strong dislike for him in the first part, because he's really, truly awful. The manhua version helped me to enjoy it more, because it showed how charming he was, but that just created another problem - why the hell would LY not fall for this guy immediately? I mean, who in their right mind would turn down a guy THIS hot?!
In the second half I started having a begrudging sympathy and eventual admiration for Suiying. I still didn't really like him, but the guy goes through so damn much and still holds his head high.
Li Yu never amounted to anything interesting, for a 188 ML he was just meh all through the book.
All in all I think the author's general writing skill and the few interesting moments makes the book worth the read. But it's not one of her best.
English title: In Love With An Idiot/My Beloved Fool
This is so far my only 188 book where I feel like the gong didn't suffer enough before being taken back lol I think for me it's because I really enjoyed reading their extras though because it showed them still working through their relationship and some really cute moments.
Summary: Jian Suiying goes home to find his step brother and his step brother's friend, Li Yu. Jian Suiying is immediately enamored and chases after Li Yu, not realizing Li Yu is cold to him because he likes the step brother and doesn't like how Jian Suiying has mistreated him. They eventually form a difficult relationship but that goes to shit when Jian Suiying finds out what Li Yu and his step brother have been doing and then Li Yu tries to get Jian Suiying's forgiveness.
I am absolutely baffled this has an average of 4 stars to be honest.
I couldn't get past 20 something chapters. There's no trace of romance in this story, and even if it develops later the set up is straight-up awful. "Dark" MCs are refreshing in my opinion but in this case it is a struggle to read since this MC is foul to his supposed "love", repeatedly, and without much reason (aka there's no vendetta, no debt to be paid, no larger scheme, he genuinely likes this much younger guy and thinks everything's fair game because he's older and has some power.) So, MC constantly rationalizes his disgusting behaviour with barely any hint of remorse but, by contrast, ML was shown to be quite a nice and kind person. In the beginning, ML is shown to care and worry for MC's brother and rightfully despises him for how he (mis) treats him... but then ML goes and in a burst of fury also rwords MC...
Yeah, no, the only thing I'm taking away from this story is that at least these acts garner a appropriate reaction from the characters and they are condemned/not romanticised... however, since these 2 are later to become the main couple... yeah. Not my cup of tea.
It's my first 188 and I can say I'm totally sold into the story! The way SQC moves the plot and narrates the emotion felt by the character is really *chef kiss* 💋 This is a showdown to who can be the scummiest among all. But I can sympathise and understand why they behave like that. I'm very much happy with the ending after all 🥰 Also, PLEASE XIAO ZHU IS JUST A POOR LITTLE PIGGLET HEREEEEEE. Give him a rise or else 😭😭😭🔪🔪🔪
I'm used to reading darker themes, but please if you want to read any 188 works, PAY TRULY ATTENTION to the trigger warning for each title.
I absolutely love Manhua for this novel for art and story, but unfortunately it only reached 1/4 of the novel for now, and I just should have read the novel to stop it from living in my head rent-free. I was prepared to roll my eyes at an absolutely melodramatic, unbelievable dog blood story, but instead had a great time! Furthermore, I find this particular novel pretty balanced and even has some plot!
La verdad es que fue demasiado, una montaña rusa de emociones, terminé odiando a personajes que no pensé que iba a odiar y queriendo a los que no pensé que iba a querer.
Estoy indecisa entre sí darle las 5 o solo 4.5 porque por alguna razón algo me detiene de darle 5, pero igual es una historia increíble.
Another novel from the 188 group. Honestly, there isn’t a single book by this author where the characters aren’t toxic. Rape, violence, conflict, these are always central to the main plot.
There are also so many unnecessary and dragged out misunderstandings.
And yet… I don’t understand why I keep reading these books.
No se cómo lo hace esta señora pero todas sus historias enganchan .Estos protagonistas se sacan entre si lo peor de ellos pero a la vez tienen una atracción que es insoportable. Jian Suiying me has encantado. Li Yu han habido veces que te he querido tirar por la ventana. Me leí el libro tras el trailer de la adaptación que van a hacer
Afters months of not being able to end one book, this one finally got me out of my reading block, read everything in 6 hours because I couldn’t fall sleep like if you reading the reviews to know if it’s good… YES ITS FUCKING GOOD