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Green Plum Island [青梅屿]
When I was ten, I fell from a tree and hit my head. When I woke up, the world around me had changed. I could see people’s emotions in the form of numbers and colours—pink for love, red for anger, green for awkwardness, blue for sorrow, yellow for desire…
I met Yan Kongshan the summer after college entrance exams on Green Plum Island. Mysterious and handsome, with a tinge of melancholy, he was the ideal man of every woman on the island. And mine.
I wanted him to turn pink for me, but one day, he suddenly turned yellow. Despite that, he seemed ever so nonchalant when facing me.
Love is like lemon soda water. Sour and sweet, filled with energy.
You never know how a person’s heart beats for you, hidden in its cage beneath their flesh.
I met Yan Kongshan the summer after college entrance exams on Green Plum Island. Mysterious and handsome, with a tinge of melancholy, he was the ideal man of every woman on the island. And mine.
I wanted him to turn pink for me, but one day, he suddenly turned yellow. Despite that, he seemed ever so nonchalant when facing me.
Love is like lemon soda water. Sour and sweet, filled with energy.
You never know how a person’s heart beats for you, hidden in its cage beneath their flesh.
401 pages, Unknown Binding
First published March 1, 2020
18 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 27, 2025
This novel was an incredibly heartwarming and fluffy, overflowing with sweetness and positive emotions. From the very first page, the setting enveloped me in a sense of relaxation and comfort, as it was beautifully painted with vivid descriptions of Green Plum Island—complete with its lush greenery, gentle ocean breezes, and the warm, inviting atmosphere of the quaint village. As a slice-of-life story, the plot unfolds gradually, focusing on the intimate journey of the central couple rather than a series of dramatic events, but I found this approach to be quite refreshing and enjoyable.
The protagonist, Yu Mian, is a charming and relatable character. After a childhood accident—falling from a tree and hitting his head—he developed the unique ability to perceive people's emotions as percentages displayed above their heads. This intriguing twist adds a layer of depth to his interactions and provides insight into the emotional landscape of those around him, made all the more realistic by the author's thoughtful handling of this concept. As he moves in with his grandfather on Green Plum Island, we witness his adventures and misadventures as he attempts to win over his older and strikingly handsome neighbor, Yan Kongshan.
Yan Kongshan is introduced as a somewhat aloof and enigmatic character, shrouded in mystery as we are kept in the dark about his true thoughts and feelings for a significant portion of the story. However, as the narrative unfolds and he begins to develop genuine feelings for Yu Mian, his character takes on a richer dimension. The transformation from a distant neighbor to a clingy and caring lover is beautifully executed, and I appreciated how the author navigated this shift with sensitivity, turning what initially seemed like unrequited love into a warm and hopeful romance.
In conclusion, this novel was an absolute delight—a cute and uplifting story that I highly recommend to anyone in search of a narrative that will undoubtedly bring a smile to their face and provide a sense of relaxation. It's a perfect escape into a world filled with love, warmth, and the simple joys of life.
The protagonist, Yu Mian, is a charming and relatable character. After a childhood accident—falling from a tree and hitting his head—he developed the unique ability to perceive people's emotions as percentages displayed above their heads. This intriguing twist adds a layer of depth to his interactions and provides insight into the emotional landscape of those around him, made all the more realistic by the author's thoughtful handling of this concept. As he moves in with his grandfather on Green Plum Island, we witness his adventures and misadventures as he attempts to win over his older and strikingly handsome neighbor, Yan Kongshan.
Yan Kongshan is introduced as a somewhat aloof and enigmatic character, shrouded in mystery as we are kept in the dark about his true thoughts and feelings for a significant portion of the story. However, as the narrative unfolds and he begins to develop genuine feelings for Yu Mian, his character takes on a richer dimension. The transformation from a distant neighbor to a clingy and caring lover is beautifully executed, and I appreciated how the author navigated this shift with sensitivity, turning what initially seemed like unrequited love into a warm and hopeful romance.
In conclusion, this novel was an absolute delight—a cute and uplifting story that I highly recommend to anyone in search of a narrative that will undoubtedly bring a smile to their face and provide a sense of relaxation. It's a perfect escape into a world filled with love, warmth, and the simple joys of life.
September 1, 2021
This was way too sweet for my own taste. I felt like my teeth were gonna fall of from it. It’s not in a bad way as many seemed to like the amount of sweetness but for me it was unrealistically sweet. Maybe if I were few years younger I would have loved the book but for now it was just a passing novel.
This reminded me highly of many Netgalley YA/NA books I read, which I’ve long left behind. If that is the genre that someone likes, this is a good book but if not I would not put too much thought into it. Still I loved MianMian’s antics and love can be found in the most unexpected places after all.
This reminded me highly of many Netgalley YA/NA books I read, which I’ve long left behind. If that is the genre that someone likes, this is a good book but if not I would not put too much thought into it. Still I loved MianMian’s antics and love can be found in the most unexpected places after all.
July 17, 2023
I can’t believe it. I just started reading this yesterday and now I’ve reached the ending, extras included. I actually thought I could finish it in one sitting. The mood was there and I didn’t want to stop, but my body failed me. Thankfully, even when I continued reading, the tone of the novel brought me back to how I felt right before I headed to dreamland.
The secondhand embarrassment was real. A lot of the scenes made me want to hide myself in the blanket. The novel started with a comedic tone and it brought me great joy in reading. It slowly transitioned to a mellow and romantic feel, the true love that one have been yearning for.
It was truly a wonderful ride, heartwarming, and makes one feel optimistic in life. So many life quotes in the novel, one of the novels with the most lines I have noted down in a reading thread. The way the author wrote it sent my heart fluttering in bliss. It gave me hope for the days to come, reviving the essence of living life in me. And for that reason, this novel has taken a special place in my heart. A comfort read for when I’m feeling down. 😌
The secondhand embarrassment was real. A lot of the scenes made me want to hide myself in the blanket. The novel started with a comedic tone and it brought me great joy in reading. It slowly transitioned to a mellow and romantic feel, the true love that one have been yearning for.
It was truly a wonderful ride, heartwarming, and makes one feel optimistic in life. So many life quotes in the novel, one of the novels with the most lines I have noted down in a reading thread. The way the author wrote it sent my heart fluttering in bliss. It gave me hope for the days to come, reviving the essence of living life in me. And for that reason, this novel has taken a special place in my heart. A comfort read for when I’m feeling down. 😌
June 27, 2022
now i don't have any idea why this was rated soooo LOW. like, seriously, for the readers of this novel, we all know that this is the type where it's all sweetness and lovey-dovey. it is also indeed a very short story which is why, as a reader, it was only a good, short read for me. the mc, shen mian has synesthesia and then there goes the male lead arriving with a child in the island where the child is his niece. it was all fluff, there weren't any deep, mind-blowing plots, neither any angsty arcs, therefore, as someone who has been reading angsty stuff continuously, this was a great air-blower. that was just a made up word, but anyway, it was good. it was great, actually.
it's a countryside setting novel with only a few characters to mind, but i LOVED each of them. i also liked how the ml gets jealous sometimes and i love how the mc isn't being a coward despite having experienced being outed and bullied (becoming an outcast) in highschool with his feelings for the mc.
welp, once and for all, for those who haven't read it yet, GO AND READ IT RIGHT NOW. IT WOULDN'T EVEN TAKE A DAY TO FINISH IT. TELLING YA, IT'S GOOD 👍😊
it's a countryside setting novel with only a few characters to mind, but i LOVED each of them. i also liked how the ml gets jealous sometimes and i love how the mc isn't being a coward despite having experienced being outed and bullied (becoming an outcast) in highschool with his feelings for the mc.
welp, once and for all, for those who haven't read it yet, GO AND READ IT RIGHT NOW. IT WOULDN'T EVEN TAKE A DAY TO FINISH IT. TELLING YA, IT'S GOOD 👍😊
August 27, 2023
This was a sweet and an easy read! I don’t know why it took me so long to finish this though… but once I picked it up again I couldn’t leave it like that. Yu Mian (MC) he knows how to stand up for his self!! Sometimes he got a little bit embarrassing but it didn’t bother me that much, Yan Kongshan (ML) on the other hand is pretty mature overall he’s a lovely man. Yan Wanqiu is sooo mature for her age (she’s best character in the novel) you will absolutely love her!!! Loved the grandpa too!
March 11, 2022
3.5 stars
Adorable
Adorable
September 23, 2022
This was a short and cute story written in first person about young love.
The MC is Yu Mian, a 18 year old boy coming to live with his grandfather on the chill Green Plum Island. Not long after arriving, he quickly falls in love with his older neighbor, Yan Kongshan, a bachelor who moved to the island not too long ago to settle down with his young niece. There's a bit of a fantastical twist to the story as well, as Mianmian can see people's emotions as colors and a number above their head, so he knows when people are feeling sad, angry, in love, aroused, etc.
I'm not used to reading first person in danmei, so this was a nice change of pace from the stories I usually read. It definitely made the novel feel more real. I suffered from secondhand embarrassment more than once after seeing how aggressively Mianmian was chasing after YKS, from getting the volunteer job at his bookstore to confessing to him not once but twice to proposing to take down the wind chime.
There were plenty of cute moments as well, such as YKS buying all the snacks for Yu Mian that he wanted to try, or YKS being petty that Mianmian didn't reassure him about going off to college. Who knew YKS was such a clingy boyfriend?
The rest of the supporting cast is solid as well. I loved Qiuqiu and the grandpa. Their personalities come across clearly and endears you to them even within such a short story. I had a chuckle at the end over how the grandpa knew about them dating for two years and was just waiting for Mianmian to come clean to him.
The one thing I wanted to see that I felt was missing was what happens after Mianmian graduates, since he did study diplomatic relations and this was one of the reasons why YKS was hesitant to date him. Kinda hard to do a job in that field when you're living on a domestic island...
The MC is Yu Mian, a 18 year old boy coming to live with his grandfather on the chill Green Plum Island. Not long after arriving, he quickly falls in love with his older neighbor, Yan Kongshan, a bachelor who moved to the island not too long ago to settle down with his young niece. There's a bit of a fantastical twist to the story as well, as Mianmian can see people's emotions as colors and a number above their head, so he knows when people are feeling sad, angry, in love, aroused, etc.
I'm not used to reading first person in danmei, so this was a nice change of pace from the stories I usually read. It definitely made the novel feel more real. I suffered from secondhand embarrassment more than once after seeing how aggressively Mianmian was chasing after YKS, from getting the volunteer job at his bookstore to confessing to him not once but twice to proposing to take down the wind chime.
There were plenty of cute moments as well, such as YKS buying all the snacks for Yu Mian that he wanted to try, or YKS being petty that Mianmian didn't reassure him about going off to college. Who knew YKS was such a clingy boyfriend?
The rest of the supporting cast is solid as well. I loved Qiuqiu and the grandpa. Their personalities come across clearly and endears you to them even within such a short story. I had a chuckle at the end over how the grandpa knew about them dating for two years and was just waiting for Mianmian to come clean to him.
The one thing I wanted to see that I felt was missing was what happens after Mianmian graduates, since he did study diplomatic relations and this was one of the reasons why YKS was hesitant to date him. Kinda hard to do a job in that field when you're living on a domestic island...
October 23, 2023
RTC in a few hours 💕
May 2, 2023
[★ ★ ★ ★☆] 4/5 stars
i’m someone who can handle second hand embarrassment but whew the MC in this novel was really something (he’s endearing and lovely but he has a special knack for putting himself in the most shameless and embarrassing situations) but the ML is almost worse with how clingy he is (i also mean this endearing, that man was whipped with a capital C)
anyways!! green plum island was almost too sweet at times but i love every second of it. the angst is low but the fluff is high. i devoured this so fast and wished that it was longer because i’m not ready to say goodbye to all the characters yet.
green plum island is everything i love: slice-of-life, tension, endearing characters, supportive family members (grandpa and granny and little qiuqiu, and sun rui my beloveds), small town vibes, and a heavy dose of fluff. green plum Island definitely is going to be one of my new comfort reads that i binge whenever i’m in need of a quick dose of serotonin!
i’m someone who can handle second hand embarrassment but whew the MC in this novel was really something (he’s endearing and lovely but he has a special knack for putting himself in the most shameless and embarrassing situations) but the ML is almost worse with how clingy he is (i also mean this endearing, that man was whipped with a capital C)
anyways!! green plum island was almost too sweet at times but i love every second of it. the angst is low but the fluff is high. i devoured this so fast and wished that it was longer because i’m not ready to say goodbye to all the characters yet.
green plum island is everything i love: slice-of-life, tension, endearing characters, supportive family members (grandpa and granny and little qiuqiu, and sun rui my beloveds), small town vibes, and a heavy dose of fluff. green plum Island definitely is going to be one of my new comfort reads that i binge whenever i’m in need of a quick dose of serotonin!
January 13, 2022
No me ha gustado la pareja principal, no le veo química y odié su desarrollo.
El gong es hipócrita.
El gong es hipócrita.
May 18, 2025
á đù một nhân cách khác của HNT viết đúng không
March 31, 2023
Very sweet and quite short, was able to finish in a day. I enjoyed reading this novel so much!!! All the characters were well written and i liked the way their relationship developed. Would definitely recommend reading this during summer 10/10
January 12, 2024
Slice of life at its finest.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this novel. In the strangest way, it made me envious of Yu Mian's life on the island, and awakened in me a deep longing for that lifestyle.
The large age difference between the protagonist couple is handled with care. They talk about it, go slow and let their relationship develop naturally (even when Yu Mian wanted to jump Yan Kongshan's bones as soon as he saw him).
The book was easy to read, but it had its slow moments, and at times I had to push myself to keep reading. Luckily, I found some of the characters incredibly lovable, and that kept me going: my favorites were Qiuqiu, and MianMian's grandfather, they are simply adorable, I would destroy nations for them.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this novel. In the strangest way, it made me envious of Yu Mian's life on the island, and awakened in me a deep longing for that lifestyle.
The large age difference between the protagonist couple is handled with care. They talk about it, go slow and let their relationship develop naturally (even when Yu Mian wanted to jump Yan Kongshan's bones as soon as he saw him).
The book was easy to read, but it had its slow moments, and at times I had to push myself to keep reading. Luckily, I found some of the characters incredibly lovable, and that kept me going: my favorites were Qiuqiu, and MianMian's grandfather, they are simply adorable, I would destroy nations for them.
December 11, 2021
★★★★☆ [4/5 stars]
Those who have read this novel will understand how much secondhand embarrassment the MC has given me. All for the sake of chasing his first love.
This is a light, heartwarming, sweet and with little-to-no angst BL novel. The MC has a synesthesia which regarded as the fantasy part of the story (synesthesia is actually not a fictional thing though I'm not sure about the kind of synesthesia the MC has), but it was much more of a realistic, slice of life, spending his two-month post-highschool break in an island. Unlike the MC, I could never have done those embarrassing things to chase my crush, but maybe that's why I'm still a single dog LOL He's so determined and that's what I love about him, and his love and determination won over the already cynical in love ML.
It's not really a big deal in my opinion since the MC is already in his right age but still, trigger warning for a huge age gap relationship (9 years) for those people uncomfortable in that kind of trope. The age gap actually played a big role in the story and that was where the conflict first rooted. I actually love how the young MC and the full-grown adult ML both provided the maturity and immaturity ideals of life and relationship on the table. And the story not only provided a romantic relationship but also a sweet and adorable family relationship (greetings to the ever supportive tea eggs granpa and the clever qiuqiu).
This is a short read (in my opinion since I'm used to reading an average of 200-chapter novel) and very recommended (don't forget to read the five extra chapters!!). Might not be what you're looking for if you're more into drama and angst in a relationship. Please give this fluffy story a try!!
Those who have read this novel will understand how much secondhand embarrassment the MC has given me. All for the sake of chasing his first love.
This is a light, heartwarming, sweet and with little-to-no angst BL novel. The MC has a synesthesia which regarded as the fantasy part of the story (synesthesia is actually not a fictional thing though I'm not sure about the kind of synesthesia the MC has), but it was much more of a realistic, slice of life, spending his two-month post-highschool break in an island. Unlike the MC, I could never have done those embarrassing things to chase my crush, but maybe that's why I'm still a single dog LOL He's so determined and that's what I love about him, and his love and determination won over the already cynical in love ML.
It's not really a big deal in my opinion since the MC is already in his right age but still, trigger warning for a huge age gap relationship (9 years) for those people uncomfortable in that kind of trope. The age gap actually played a big role in the story and that was where the conflict first rooted. I actually love how the young MC and the full-grown adult ML both provided the maturity and immaturity ideals of life and relationship on the table. And the story not only provided a romantic relationship but also a sweet and adorable family relationship (greetings to the ever supportive tea eggs granpa and the clever qiuqiu).
This is a short read (in my opinion since I'm used to reading an average of 200-chapter novel) and very recommended (don't forget to read the five extra chapters!!). Might not be what you're looking for if you're more into drama and angst in a relationship. Please give this fluffy story a try!!
April 30, 2021
Oh this was an absolute delight.
Yu Mian (MC) was so cute and fresh, and Yan Kongshan (ML) was so sweet underneath his aloofness. I really enjoyed their dynamics and interactions because even though there was a sizable age gap between them (9 years to be exact), it was mostly YM doing the chasing and YKS was actually pretty reluctant to get involved with YM.
I loved the warmth in the relationships in this book, between YM and his grandfather and between YKS and his daughter Yan Wanqiu. All of them took care of each other and looked out for each other and it was just so heartwarming to me.
This was a really fluffy story with minimal drama on the side (just to push YM and YKS closer to each other) 😂 One of my favourite parts about this novel is how loved YM is by those who love him. He was so lucky to have people who understand and love him for who he was and he even acknowledged that.
The pacing was good too and I liked how YM and YKS's relationship developed over time and was built on good communication and trust.
Yu Mian (MC) was so cute and fresh, and Yan Kongshan (ML) was so sweet underneath his aloofness. I really enjoyed their dynamics and interactions because even though there was a sizable age gap between them (9 years to be exact), it was mostly YM doing the chasing and YKS was actually pretty reluctant to get involved with YM.
I loved the warmth in the relationships in this book, between YM and his grandfather and between YKS and his daughter Yan Wanqiu. All of them took care of each other and looked out for each other and it was just so heartwarming to me.
This was a really fluffy story with minimal drama on the side (just to push YM and YKS closer to each other) 😂 One of my favourite parts about this novel is how loved YM is by those who love him. He was so lucky to have people who understand and love him for who he was and he even acknowledged that.
The pacing was good too and I liked how YM and YKS's relationship developed over time and was built on good communication and trust.
December 21, 2021
DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON 青梅屿。This is one of my favourite Danmeis of all time. The author, 回南雀 is one of the very few Chinese Danmei authors who writes from 1st person perspective and she is very good at it.
This novel, Green Plum Island, takes place on a small island which is called Green Plum Island. The gong owns a secondhand bookshop on the island and he has a 5 years old girl at home. The rumors say that he has a wind chime hung in front of his house and the one who takes the wind chime down can sleep at his house that night.
Every single woman on the island is eager to take the wind chime down, and , Yu Mian, a 18 years old gay boy also wants to test his luck at it.
Will he succeed or will we not? Just go and find out.
This novel, Green Plum Island, takes place on a small island which is called Green Plum Island. The gong owns a secondhand bookshop on the island and he has a 5 years old girl at home. The rumors say that he has a wind chime hung in front of his house and the one who takes the wind chime down can sleep at his house that night.
Every single woman on the island is eager to take the wind chime down, and , Yu Mian, a 18 years old gay boy also wants to test his luck at it.
Will he succeed or will we not? Just go and find out.
June 26, 2021
3,5/5
Yu mian could see other people's emotions in the form of numbers and colors. When he was 18 y/o he met Yan Kongshan, a tall man who was 9 years older than him. And Yu Mian want Yan Kongshan to turned pink.
It's a fluff, slowburn and sweet story. Don't has a lot of conflict and I like the writing. It's so easy to read
Yu mian could see other people's emotions in the form of numbers and colors. When he was 18 y/o he met Yan Kongshan, a tall man who was 9 years older than him. And Yu Mian want Yan Kongshan to turned pink.
It's a fluff, slowburn and sweet story. Don't has a lot of conflict and I like the writing. It's so easy to read
July 5, 2021
MY FAVORITE DANMEI EVER!!! ITS SO GOOD AND SO HEART WRENCHING!!! i related so much to the mc and the ways he describes the island made me feel incredibly nostalgic. this was an amazing read and the romance was wonderful and everything about it was beautiful.
April 27, 2023
3/5
This is a nicely written and brilliantly translated piece of work. It's a simple, coming-of-age, slice-of-life novel with no angst and no real plot. And while I thought it was cute, I cannot rate this highly in good conscience because I did not like the main characters.
I must say though, kudos to the author for realistically capturing the underdeveloped mind of a teenager. The author does well to capture the MC's childishness, impulsiveness, naivety and complete lack of self-awareness. The MC is stalker-ish, clingy and force fits himself into the ML's life. He eavesdrops on conversations he shouldn't. He brings up things that he mustn't. He is presumptions, selfish and acts very much like a teenager who isn't mature enough to understand himself or the people around him. He also has low self-esteem, stemming from being bullied because of his sexual orientation and the lack of affection he has received from his parents. He's a well-written character. I just didn't like him at all.
The ML is aloof, cold, rude and has anger issues. He is emotionally unavailable and not the kind of ML I'd like. But I am not the MC so I suffered through it. Other than being a reader and hot, he has no other redeeming qualities.
I felt that for the first 50% of the book, the ML tries desperately to evade getting involved with the MC. Then he just gives up and gives into the MC's persistence. It's not romantic at all.
I really liked Sun Rui and the Grandpa. They were adorable characters. I also liked the island vibes and the realistic portrayal of long-distance relationships. Overall, a nice palate cleanser between complex historical wuxia novels.
This is a nicely written and brilliantly translated piece of work. It's a simple, coming-of-age, slice-of-life novel with no angst and no real plot. And while I thought it was cute, I cannot rate this highly in good conscience because I did not like the main characters.
I must say though, kudos to the author for realistically capturing the underdeveloped mind of a teenager. The author does well to capture the MC's childishness, impulsiveness, naivety and complete lack of self-awareness. The MC is stalker-ish, clingy and force fits himself into the ML's life. He eavesdrops on conversations he shouldn't. He brings up things that he mustn't. He is presumptions, selfish and acts very much like a teenager who isn't mature enough to understand himself or the people around him. He also has low self-esteem, stemming from being bullied because of his sexual orientation and the lack of affection he has received from his parents. He's a well-written character. I just didn't like him at all.
The ML is aloof, cold, rude and has anger issues. He is emotionally unavailable and not the kind of ML I'd like. But I am not the MC so I suffered through it. Other than being a reader and hot, he has no other redeeming qualities.
I felt that for the first 50% of the book, the ML tries desperately to evade getting involved with the MC. Then he just gives up and gives into the MC's persistence. It's not romantic at all.
I really liked Sun Rui and the Grandpa. They were adorable characters. I also liked the island vibes and the realistic portrayal of long-distance relationships. Overall, a nice palate cleanser between complex historical wuxia novels.
June 30, 2023
3.5 ✭✭✭✭
Green plum island strongly felt like a nostalgic read to me. It probably has to do with the setting being on an island during summer. I also don’t know specifically when this story was set but it felt like it was set during the 2000s which amplified the nostalgic feeling. It reminded me a bit of The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy.
In this story our main character is 18 and there are times where he definitely doesn’t act that old, it gets better during the second half but in the first half he felt a naive.
One of my favorite things about this story is that it handled every “difficult” (not really difficult as there really isn’t any angst) thing with maturity. For example the 5 year old kid goes to therapy because of past trauma, and its not because she needs help but that they want to set her up for success in being able to deal with it in the future.
There is an age gap in this story as the main character is 18 and the main lead is 27. I went into this not knowing it was an age gap but I felt that it handled it really well.
Overall if you enjoy fluff and a quick read this is a great choice! If you're looking for angst this is not it, but maybe treat yourself to fluff.
Green plum island strongly felt like a nostalgic read to me. It probably has to do with the setting being on an island during summer. I also don’t know specifically when this story was set but it felt like it was set during the 2000s which amplified the nostalgic feeling. It reminded me a bit of The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy.
In this story our main character is 18 and there are times where he definitely doesn’t act that old, it gets better during the second half but in the first half he felt a naive.
One of my favorite things about this story is that it handled every “difficult” (not really difficult as there really isn’t any angst) thing with maturity. For example the 5 year old kid goes to therapy because of past trauma, and its not because she needs help but that they want to set her up for success in being able to deal with it in the future.
There is an age gap in this story as the main character is 18 and the main lead is 27. I went into this not knowing it was an age gap but I felt that it handled it really well.
Overall if you enjoy fluff and a quick read this is a great choice! If you're looking for angst this is not it, but maybe treat yourself to fluff.
December 3, 2023
3.5 out of 5. Just a sweet, low-stakes, low-effort read for those times when you're in need of fluff.
June 27, 2023
On the surface, this is just a sweet, funny tale about a bloke intent on getting his neighbour to fall for him and said neighbour resisting his advances, though not really because it's clear he does feel attracted to him. On the surface, this is a light reading novel about the vicissitudes of falling in love, being rejected, not giving up. It could be just this and still be a good, satisfying read.
But it's not. it's not JUST that.
Under the surface, this novel addresses issues like ingrained homophobia, fear of societal pressures, parenting - the good and the not so good type - prejudices of all kinds, the role of men and women, the outdated expectations placed on those roles, toxicity that isn't blatantly noticeable, expectations, the hardship of contemporary societies and the demands for performing at your best and becoming the best, etc.
These issues, though address in a light, easy manner, ARE present throughout the story, in the shape of its several characters and old customs (the role of the Sky Maiden that can't be played by girls because of propriety, a tradition that remains to this day and age despite being outdated, for example - and I do know this was the sort of easy gimmick the author came up with to introduce a certain specific forced proximity between the MC and the LI, but it could have been done without the hint of criticism it carries to certain societal expectations, like the fact girls can't play that feminine role and boys who do have to be 18 or under AND virgins). Maybe the subtetly in which these several issues are approached and depicted - and criticised, too - makes them sort of invisible to the majority of readers, and so, for most people reading this tale, this is just a 'way too sweet and cheesy tale of falling in love' but trust me - it's anything but. The way so many times the little girl is referred to as pitiful because she's so clever, and so pretty and so sweet, but, what a shame, she's disabled, which means that in the eyes of the prejudiced people who revolve around the island and the main characters, she will never amount to much because of her prosthetic leg. Or A'Shan's ingrained prejudice with age, constantly disregarding the opinions of those younger than him and throwing their age at their faces, or the Granny who, with other women, chose to not get married and thus lived in a house with other single women who were regarded with something of shock and awe by the rest of the island, or even Mian Mian's friend who actively pursues the men she wants and refuses to act as a demure little girl should, often claiming she's going to eat those men to the bone - meaning she's going to have sex with them and be done - which always shocks Mian Mian himself. It's so subtly done, and for that, the book is even better, because you have to pause and think of all the things that are written between the lines - which in my opinion only makes you understand the tale and the characters better, and better appreciate its beauty.
It's a five star read for me, for addressing these issues in such a pleasurable manner, without being preachy or dark and disheartening - though I love me a dark and disheartening book, myself.
But it's not. it's not JUST that.
Under the surface, this novel addresses issues like ingrained homophobia, fear of societal pressures, parenting - the good and the not so good type - prejudices of all kinds, the role of men and women, the outdated expectations placed on those roles, toxicity that isn't blatantly noticeable, expectations, the hardship of contemporary societies and the demands for performing at your best and becoming the best, etc.
These issues, though address in a light, easy manner, ARE present throughout the story, in the shape of its several characters and old customs (the role of the Sky Maiden that can't be played by girls because of propriety, a tradition that remains to this day and age despite being outdated, for example - and I do know this was the sort of easy gimmick the author came up with to introduce a certain specific forced proximity between the MC and the LI, but it could have been done without the hint of criticism it carries to certain societal expectations, like the fact girls can't play that feminine role and boys who do have to be 18 or under AND virgins). Maybe the subtetly in which these several issues are approached and depicted - and criticised, too - makes them sort of invisible to the majority of readers, and so, for most people reading this tale, this is just a 'way too sweet and cheesy tale of falling in love' but trust me - it's anything but. The way so many times the little girl is referred to as pitiful because she's so clever, and so pretty and so sweet, but, what a shame, she's disabled, which means that in the eyes of the prejudiced people who revolve around the island and the main characters, she will never amount to much because of her prosthetic leg. Or A'Shan's ingrained prejudice with age, constantly disregarding the opinions of those younger than him and throwing their age at their faces, or the Granny who, with other women, chose to not get married and thus lived in a house with other single women who were regarded with something of shock and awe by the rest of the island, or even Mian Mian's friend who actively pursues the men she wants and refuses to act as a demure little girl should, often claiming she's going to eat those men to the bone - meaning she's going to have sex with them and be done - which always shocks Mian Mian himself. It's so subtly done, and for that, the book is even better, because you have to pause and think of all the things that are written between the lines - which in my opinion only makes you understand the tale and the characters better, and better appreciate its beauty.
It's a five star read for me, for addressing these issues in such a pleasurable manner, without being preachy or dark and disheartening - though I love me a dark and disheartening book, myself.
August 11, 2023
5 stars most definitely. Very high in my list
Literally everything I want in a summer romance story. Everything, I swear. I've tried so many before in movies or books but nothing has hit like this, except Your Name. I think of it as the vibes of Your Name but the story really isn't anything similar.
This is like the perfect kind modern setting with a *dash* of magic that I like (sideeyes again but better)
It has this really nostalgic kind of feeling and not because it's similar to any previous experience I've had before but it just feels like this is exactly what summer is supposed to feel like. Coming to a small town in the middle of nowhere with its own strange little traditions and landscape and people (Yan Kongshan lmao).
Also al;skjfdlksa their nsfw scenes are hot dont talk to me 🙈 That first one, it was just a kiss but a;lskdjf;alskjdflaksdf I took like an hour to process it and cool down lmao. I read it, washed my dishes while staring into space thinking about the scene, reread it again, face in palms, and read it again asld;kfjasldkfja;sldjkf;alsfas don't talk to me im
(this book singlehandedly started me skipping class for the rest of the semester after the thanksgiving break that I read this bc I first skipped to finish reading the extras and then I couldn't stop lksdjf. no regrets lmao)
(the adaptations all suck. I tried all of them and they all get yan kongshan wrong. yan kongshan looks like some random young dude in the manhua and no. and he sounds so...weak in the audio drama lksjd im simply stating fact ok bye)
Literally everything I want in a summer romance story. Everything, I swear. I've tried so many before in movies or books but nothing has hit like this, except Your Name. I think of it as the vibes of Your Name but the story really isn't anything similar.
This is like the perfect kind modern setting with a *dash* of magic that I like (sideeyes again but better)
It has this really nostalgic kind of feeling and not because it's similar to any previous experience I've had before but it just feels like this is exactly what summer is supposed to feel like. Coming to a small town in the middle of nowhere with its own strange little traditions and landscape and people (Yan Kongshan lmao).
Also al;skjfdlksa their nsfw scenes are hot dont talk to me 🙈 That first one, it was just a kiss but a;lskdjf;alskjdflaksdf I took like an hour to process it and cool down lmao. I read it, washed my dishes while staring into space thinking about the scene, reread it again, face in palms, and read it again asld;kfjasldkfja;sldjkf;alsfas don't talk to me im
(this book singlehandedly started me skipping class for the rest of the semester after the thanksgiving break that I read this bc I first skipped to finish reading the extras and then I couldn't stop lksdjf. no regrets lmao)
(the adaptations all suck. I tried all of them and they all get yan kongshan wrong. yan kongshan looks like some random young dude in the manhua and no. and he sounds so...weak in the audio drama lksjd im simply stating fact ok bye)
March 14, 2022
pros: so good, great writing style and translation, honestly very likeable mc and love interest with a really sweet and enjoyable dynamic, great and likeable side characters (grandpa, the daughter, the best friends), good female characters who aren’t secretly scheming or mean which was so refreshing!! i loved yu mians bestie and the child anyways, handled the subject matter of disability pretty well and didn’t demonise it, just overall a very nice and pleasant read which makes you forget about the world for a bit
cons: 9 year age gap (yu mian is 18/19, yan kongshan is around 27), they even talked about the age difference inside of the story and it brought up conflicts between them because a shan wasn’t willing to act on anything partially bc of it but all of that got ignored at some point and they still started their relationship when yu mian was still 18 which was really disappointing because i rly hoped for them to hit the brakes and wait a bit
cons: 9 year age gap (yu mian is 18/19, yan kongshan is around 27), they even talked about the age difference inside of the story and it brought up conflicts between them because a shan wasn’t willing to act on anything partially bc of it but all of that got ignored at some point and they still started their relationship when yu mian was still 18 which was really disappointing because i rly hoped for them to hit the brakes and wait a bit
April 29, 2022
WHY I DONT READ THIS EARLIER ??? the chapters' length can be considered short (based on my experience), but I'm still satisfied with the outcome.
For me, reading this feels like watching a summer vibes anime or reading your typical heartwarming shounen-ai manga. It doesn't have too much conflict. Yu Mian seemed shameless (and I sometimes stop reading this cause of the second embarrassment), but I think it's because he knew what he wants and he was pretty straightforward about it. And if he wasn't shameless the story wouldn't progress as it was lol (just prepare yourself before he did something you didn't expect).
At first I was getting frustrated with Yan Kongshan because he seems nice and kind, but at the same time if you meet a person like him in real life, you would feel like you know anything about him. Yet worry not, when the story revealed itself you would know why he acted the way he was
For me, reading this feels like watching a summer vibes anime or reading your typical heartwarming shounen-ai manga. It doesn't have too much conflict. Yu Mian seemed shameless (and I sometimes stop reading this cause of the second embarrassment), but I think it's because he knew what he wants and he was pretty straightforward about it. And if he wasn't shameless the story wouldn't progress as it was lol (just prepare yourself before he did something you didn't expect).
At first I was getting frustrated with Yan Kongshan because he seems nice and kind, but at the same time if you meet a person like him in real life, you would feel like you know anything about him. Yet worry not, when the story revealed itself you would know why he acted the way he was
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2021
Sweet and fluffy with a good summer feeling to it. At first I didn't care much for Yu mian. I felt so much second-hand embarrassment because of his naiveness.. I had to shut my eyes tight until the embarrassment eased. The ML was also kinda meh, the rejection because he's straight and then his sudden bout of possessiveness right afterward just made me confused and annoyed. But the story got better when they finally got together and I ended up liking his character. Their love was really wholesome and his clinginess was cute. Overall, not an amazing read and not exactly my cup of tea but still readable. The grandpa and the lil girl were the cutest characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2025
Since I didn’t read the synopsis, by the end of the first page I thought I was reading a si-fi novel! “Mood index” and all!
But it’s actually just a light simple love story, without dept. Characters aren’t deep and they don’t have character development either.
I didn’t feel chemistry between characters, and the way the author narrated the story, it wasn’t exciting to me; I mean, it didn’t make me eager to know what’s next. I just waned it to end.
But all in all, it was good for one-time read, for when you just want to read something to spend time, to lighten your mood, without getting entangled with a deep meaningful story.
But it’s actually just a light simple love story, without dept. Characters aren’t deep and they don’t have character development either.
I didn’t feel chemistry between characters, and the way the author narrated the story, it wasn’t exciting to me; I mean, it didn’t make me eager to know what’s next. I just waned it to end.
But all in all, it was good for one-time read, for when you just want to read something to spend time, to lighten your mood, without getting entangled with a deep meaningful story.
May 3, 2022
I asked the ocean breeze to bring you a message. Did you receive it?
Yes.
What did it say?
It said, I love you.
Reading this novel was like living in the Green Plum Island, comfortable, at ease. The atmosphere was mostly relaxing. As a letter enthusiast, I grinned like a fool, when the characters wrote letters to each other. I enjoyed it.
PS:- I think the author forgot to reveal the contents of Yu Mian's letter to Yan Kongshan. I really was looking forward to it.
Yes.
What did it say?
It said, I love you.
Reading this novel was like living in the Green Plum Island, comfortable, at ease. The atmosphere was mostly relaxing. As a letter enthusiast, I grinned like a fool, when the characters wrote letters to each other. I enjoyed it.
PS:- I think the author forgot to reveal the contents of Yu Mian's letter to Yan Kongshan. I really was looking forward to it.
April 30, 2021
It's a masterpiece. Every sentence and word choice was so beautiful and witty and the story was so warm and sweet and comforting ❤️ the romance is really really good. I basically devoured this book and afterwards I felt so happy and satisfied I just sat there revelling in the warm and sweet emotions for a while.. if you like slice of life I definitely recommend
February 19, 2022
It's a normal love story, a summer romance that'll keep you engaged. The writing is beautiful, natural, and realistic and the author is amazing at creating the mood and giving readers a visual of the island through words. Reading it was like feeling the summer breeze and I could almost smell the ocean.
Its been along time since I read such sweet romantic story.
Its been along time since I read such sweet romantic story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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