I wanted to start this after Mu Su Li because I have heard similar reviews but still this was the first time I started reading this author's novels so I went into the book quite blind. After finishing the first book I can say that the book is somewhat different from my usual style but I liked it nonetheless. We have the usual case of cold somehwat tsundere male lead and the sweet innocet main character. In a way it is the typical storyline but the author still manages to put a twist to make it unique. We are yet to see the romance brewing between them, so I looking forward to it.
I loved the slow pace of the first book , it let you live with the family , feel what they feel as their feelings slowly change to something deeper than the brotherhood. No drama , no car accidents , no separation/ dramatic reunion so far . I'm really enjoying this piece of work.
Even though the author said this was an emotional novel for her, I have to be honest, I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would. The first half of the novel was bland, with too many flashbacks concerning their childhood and I felt like I was reading a cooking novel instead with all the food mentioned and their detailed descriptions, even in the process of making it. The novel kept on making me hungry with how vividly the author described the food. It made it hard for me to focus on the story.
Their family interactions were one of the things that made me feel melancholic. I love and hate reading the happy moments their family is spending because it made me miss home so much.
The romance was truly a slow-burn. It was so slow I fell asleep while reading this more than once. But I am glad no one bent anyone. They were gay to begin with, unlike most novels where straight suddenly become bent. Though still a bit bland, it got a bit better midway, especially after they got together, the smut scenes are amazing. I also liked the near ending part, it was an eye-opener for me, but that’s about it.
Writing-wise, I give my applause. I can tell Zhichu’s a sentimentalist through her writing. She gives emotional meaning to every little thing that happens in the story. A simple walk turns into an emotional event with just a few words. Aside from that, she can also truly write smut. Reading the smut scenes made me feels like I was there in the room, witnessing the whole thing. The character development was great also. It would have been better if there was a little bit of angst or heart-stabbing scenes to make the readers really feel it.
To sum it up, reading this novel is like watching a lake, the water so still and when the wind blows, occasional ripples can be seen. But after the ripples are over, it goes back to how it was before the wind blew.
Reading it once is okay, but I won’t read this a second time. Not really my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.