[NOVEL] Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

    Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

    If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

If Funny Story made me want to read Emily Henry, then Book Lovers made me reconsider this eagerness.

I'd say the book started very promising, interesting premise, almost curse-like situation of being dumped for those small town ladies that are somehow so better and able to transform people, that Nora's men choose to leave the city life and move to chase love. And there is also Charlie Lastra, the infamous editor she had a deal with, but it fell through and the moment they had left a special taste of mutual irritation (alost like I admit you're hot as hell, but you're irritating you know).

We skip to two years later, the curse of being dumped continues, but above all else Nora will choose her career and herself for a reason. And that is something to do with her sister Libby and their past.

Note: I think it was wrong to choose the word 'Sissy' for Libby to use as address for her sister, it sounds bad and also sounds same as deragotory term to describe feminine men.

Nora, it feels, almost has a sister complex and also as if her life revolves around her sister instead of her own. Ironically, she doesn't want to let other men in and control her life, but Libby basically controls hers in a roundabout way. And the moment I saw it I thought it's not going to end good, because such thing is ruinous for oneself emotionally.

I thought they were young, but Nora is 32 and Libby is a mother of two (third on the way) and it would be logical for her to let Libby live her own life. But it felt like both haven't grown up much and their way of thinking is kind of stuck on the past. Especially Nora. I thought that time made them loose a bit, but with Nora it almost felt opposite.

This is why even if Nora has work to do even during the most uneventful publishing month of August, she agrees to her sister's plan for a trip. Basically "we feel like we're drifting apart, I want to have a chance to fix it" and "everything to make her happy". And this is why they travel to the small town out of the book with a checklist to do.

And although here is where we meet Charlie Lastra for some reason. And they make you laugh with their banter on the verge of flirting. But from her things started to get tedious for me.

Especially the situation and revelation. Some of the "problems" that are described feel like they were maxed out to feel critical. And also the situation at the end felt like author describes it almost as the world is coming to an end.

Nora's situation is real, although it's a bad example. 

So here's the backstory with spoilers.

Their mother came to NY to be an actress, but when she was pregnant with Libby her "boyfriend" who was not ready for kids left her. All her next boyfriends didn't share the responsibility but their mom was a hopeless romantic. So she brought up the two herself no matter how hard it was. It made Nora cherish her mom, Libby and their world of wonders in NY she loves so much.

But then she fell in love for the first time and the moment she was "needed" she wasn't there for her family. To be precise the day her mother died and her sister was calling her, she was too occupied in happinness and her phone was off. When she find out you can imagine the amount of shock and guilt that built up after that. Her first love left after a while for a small town where he found "someone". But Nora was left with her sister and life of uncertainty. This is why she has all those small habits, phone always charged, always on max volume when she falls asleep. Her life of constant worry and the fact that Libby was smaller but also a mess which didn't help, but added to her worries and growing paranoia.

Yes, this is paranoia, fear of losing someone close to you when you're not there for them, but the cruel truth is it may happen, you can't control it even if you want to.

Partially this is why I think she allowed Libby to be more free-wheeling, although for two young girls it's hard for one to drag them both along.

Money, stability. Those were the aspirations.

Although it did hit me that Libby and her husband, despite deep love for each other, were too young. Nora could describe her sister as wonderful as she wanted, she didn't strike me as such anyway. And Libby despite becoming a mother did strike me as a tad bit irresponsible. Maybe she felt that her sister is always behind her. But job hopping and getting more kids despite a strainous financial situation. Everybody lives their life as they want, but just think things through sometimes.

Maybe this is why I had a bit of a negative way towards her, especially knowing her reason behind the travel Libby (which was a pure selfish move imo). Maybe she feels that her sister is the best and she loves her sister a lot, but it just felt wrong. Libby's talk as "you sacrificed so much for me" etc. feels like talk and nothing more. Through tears and snot she will still choose her life, because that's her life. It just felt weird, like she knows her sister for sure and knows her character, but somehow managed to add so much stress to her for a month before revealing that from now on they will live in two different places. And the trip was mostly to woo her sister to come along. This is why I say it's a selfish move. It's contradicting like she doesn't want her sister to accomodate and mom her, but at the same time tries to woo her into this small town.

On top of that Libby managed to be a disposable background character that has nothing to her except being a mom, living like the best girl in Nora's head and sometimes do the Puss in Boots starry eyes.

This paranoia and inability to communicate was hanging between the two for entirety of the trip, made Nora to think all types of plots and nothing made her feel better, I think she felt like a nervous wreck.

But this feeling of paranoia and being trapped and unable to do anything and the cycle of her memories of herself, Libby and their mother were like on repeat and this is why I say it felt tedious. because it felt like running in circle, but for too long. I didn't find the need to stretch it to almost 400 pages for this.

Next thing is the relationship with Charlie Lastra. While Nora is the literally agent, he is an editor. Both are known in their circle. After rekindeling their communication their chat almost felt like flirting, banter was good, but also felt like it's fast for the two. Although they feel like they're not for each other and nothing good will come out of it and all that jazz, but at the same time no one feels as right.

This trip allows them to be in the proximity of each other and slowly find more about they truly are.

Charlie shares a bit of a tragic backstory, but honestly it felt flat. Because Nora was always in her stress it was easy to feel for her, but because Charlie's life was described quite plainly and shortly I felt like he deserved a bit more as MMC.

But because Charlie was very much like Nora in spirit it was easy to portray him and he also was the only person who appreciated her as her true self. He was the right person for her.

Note: The only thing I felt weird about is the use of 'fucking' (adj.). Like "you're fucking amazing" or "you're fucking deserve it" something along those lines. I don't wait too much from an editor, but he didn't strike me as such a person from description. I honestly felt that no sky won't fall down if no one will cuss. This honestly threw me off not once in their dialogues.

And as for the conflict. Again, description-wise it felt like the world was ending. But in general Nora was heading back home, while Libby, who wanted to woo Nora to live here was staying. She couldn't bring herself to talk about future and plans earlier. Honestly, I couldn't get it, why not talk. Why not say - sis, the life is getting hard and we think of moving to a place that will be easier for us (after all NY is an expensive city to live in), so our plans are as follows. There would be tears and separations, but it would be a big stretch to ask one person to live for another.

Same with Charlie. Charlie stays because of his father's condition and Nora leaves because she is teh city person, she wants her dream job and needs life for herself. So it felt heartbreaking, but in the back of your hand you knew, give the a couple of months and they'll be together, because someone will say the right thing. Charlie's situation wasn't a big deal to me, like his mother's bookstore was declining, father had a stroke, he could come, wait for the right time and arrange everything when things will go right and his parents might accept it. Good thing that the ending ruled out even better, making Libby look after the bookstore as part of the family and Charlie being able to leave to be with the woman he loves since his parents told him "we are the parents", not him.

From one side the book was good. The style is easy, so I read it almost in one sitting. The idea of them being like this as a setting. Some problems in life to solve. But from another side I was sitting and thinking - when will this end?

Some may prefer this, I preferred Funny Story because it was breezier.

It makes me believe that contemporray romance, the modern one, does not exist without FMCs and MMCs who have no problems. When sometimes I just want things to be romancing. I don't want to get too sad or too depressed when certain topics are brought up in the book.

RATE: 3,5/5. 

[SHORT REVIEWS] #15

Not much this time, but I'd say it's a good catch? Or at least promising :)

First two novels are by Green Plum Sauce (青梅酱), NU has mostly their e-sports novels, such as "The E-Sports Circle’s Toxic Assembly Camp (电竞魔王集结营)", but they don't have the novels I found by accident. 

Note: They have some really bombastic covers.

我，污染值爆表 by 青梅酱

(mtl: My pollution level is off charts)

[BL] On-going. Summary: Former Supreme Executive is said to have died in line of duty, but Lin Xi, who is now reborn in new absolutely reconstructed body knows better, when he swallowed the highest pollutant, people from his own office conspired to wipe him out. There was only one person who rushed towards him when he was engulfed in flames.

Three years have passed since that day. Now in this new body and a strange entity in his head that keeps on talking, he wants to figure out what happened, but the start was bumpy.

And he meets a person from the past, Yan Xingzhou, who now separated himself from the Joint Office, but still takes part in eradication of pollutants when he's needed, but no one knows that this person keeps on waiting, waiting for one person.

The premise of this novel is quite intriguing. From a certain point in time cracks that released monsters (mtl: pollutants) appeared in the cities. They're like a parasytic form that occupies humans and if not annihilated it may evolve into a stronger monster. As a result some people awakened superpowers. Those people have numbered IDs, but also letters before their ID number. It's already an achievement to have only one letter in front of ID, indicating your superpower, but it's rare to have two, even more rare is to have letter 'X', unique superpower. Yan Xingzhou is the one. Lin Xi was the one too.

I've read a little bit and it is quite intriguing. There is a backstory of who and why decided to wipe Lin Xi, Lin Xi now feels like he has no pollution whatsoever, though he has this thing in his head and also was found near the crack. Yan Xingzhou is ML and was waiting for MC with only tiny hope that feels like it will never happen.

PS: MC in the novel looks exactly like the cover, with read hair and different-colored eyes.

我能RUA你的精神体吗 by 青梅酱

(mtl: Can I rub your spirit body?)

[BL] Completed. Summary: Interstellar era. Sentinels and guides join the military,  the two parties were always at odds, even the whole towers they belonged to, East and West respectively, acted like opponents. But the two most prominent figures from new recruits were sentinel Li Zhuang and guide Qi Yan, not because of anything, but they were too overpowering that it made others cry.

I'd say they acted almost flirty when they confronted each other from the beginning, both were super strong, so it was hard for them to find opponents and they saw such opponents in each other. While others were scared of them, they pushed their own limits.

A promising story, don't know if the stakes are high or no, but they're young and energetic. Even if they're OP, it doesn't really take away from the novel.

真少爷放飞自我后[重生] by 日光融融

(mtl: Real young master decided to let himself go)

[BL] On-going.  Summary: Wei Tinglan was reborn. In his last life he spent too much time on trying to get close to his family and relatives when he was brought back in high school. But what met him wasn't a warm family, but a family that liked their now adopted son Tao Chen who they consider the kindest child on earth, loved by everyone. Wei Tinglan wasted too much of his precious life on hatred, jealousy and just the feeling of injustice. Why someone who stole his life for many years still enjoys family affection while he struggles to get some crumbs of it. After rebirth he decided not to care about the opinion of his hateful parents and siblings. And especially Tao Chen. Family is not people related by blood, it can also be someone who honestly loves you and cares for you.

He also wants to accompany the one person who tried to save him when his life ended, Wei Chuan.

Although the premise is old, there's a ton of those stories about real and fake young masters, but I loved the writing style and delivery, so it's not brain-dead (only dumb people are the Tao family I guess, and those in love with Tao Chen), but feels quite good. Also there aren't many to me where MCs let themself go and oppose their biological parents and others, they don't mind coming off as rude or anything like that. Wei Tinglan basically sold Tao Chen's place in teh family for money, because to him money meant more than something he can't get. He figured that Tao Chen is actually a green tea, but was baffled why others couldn't see it. He also wanted to stay away from Tao Chen's group, especially Tao Chen's fiance, who actually ruined his career when he decided to cut off ties with Tao family and do his own thing in entertainment industry.

He also meets Wei Chuan by accident, he has affinity towards the person because of his act of goodness and is happy when they could become friends. Wei Chuan is the ML of the story, but I must say from the start he has quite a chemistry with another character, not neccessarily romanitc.

So I'm quite optimistic about it, even if it's very fresh.

[NOVEL] Funny Story by Emily Henry

    Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

    Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

    Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

    But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

It feels like, if you want to read popular modern contemporary romance, you got to put Emily Henry on the list.

I can't compare this book to others from Emily Henry because it's my first, but for what it is I quite liked it.

The overall short impression would be that her style is really easy (I finished the book in a day), the story might seem to have no direction, but it also feels that the relationship development is the anchor. I may not have giggled like others, but I indeed smiled at their dialogues, because they felt quite organic and natural. For example, characters may do sound awkward, but this I find awkward in a situation, not awkward to read about, not everyone has ability to jab back verbally with the best answer, we also have times like that :) Also her characters might have their own vulnerabilities, but those don't feel overpowering, even if they have influence on their actions. It felt more like everyone has a story, but not issues. This story indeed shaped us as people.

And don't judge others if they're older, but they have a baggage, some things we don't notice that stay with us that don't change.

Also when I read something contemporary, I never go strong with "this can't happen", because who are we to know what can and can't happen. I've heard too many real life funny stories to know many things you don't expect can happen, because other people are not you.

And while my neighbors are drilling in attempts of repair or destruction, I'll try to put out few crumbs of my thoughts on this relationship.

No effing way.. two drills. Honestly what the fuck XD

Anyway.

Because to me the romance was romancing and the relationship development felt like it was the center of it, I'd drop few words about it.

Daphne and Miles ended up in a shity situation, both are dumped by people they loved, but in the moment of get back at those who hurt her Daphne ends up lying that she and Miles got together. Although she feel remorseful, it's great that Miles is a goop sport and did not get angry at the idea. 

Before that they were just two strangers that lived at the same place, due to Miles initiative to show her that this place is worth more and she should live her own life and see places that were out of her reach during her relationship with her ex. 

I'd thought we were building something permanent together. Now I realize I'd just been slotting myself into his life, leaving me without my own.

For three years I’ve been eating like him, exercising like him, working tirelessly to befriend his friends and impress his family, going to his favorite breweries, and all along I thought it was my idea, my life. Only now, without him in the picture, absolutely none of the rest of the picture makes sense. 

This started their Sunday outings, but because of them they grew closer and opened up to each other. But now the door opened and can't be closed. They begin to know each other more and since we only have FMC's pov we know she has a moment when she realized she is attracted to him. More physically, but later emotionally. It's a bit of a tug because to her Miles became more than just potential hookup partner (one hookup did happen), he became a support and a friend and ruining it all with relationship that at that time for her had no future was a cruel thing to do. She cared too much for him. He was there for her.

But the attraction was too great, the person irresistable and their attempts at getting back at their exes made her feel shitty, like she's a tool. At least they knew how to talk about it and she found that he was not as calm as he showed, he wanted her, but there are things that pulled him down. Everyone has a story. Everyone has their fears.

Spoilers: The core of her troubles and mostly the trigger of the final conflict, was the visit from her dad who passed by. Daphne lived with her mom after parents divorce. They moved a lot, so she did not build strong friendships, she knew those will fade away. And she had a long list of moments of her waiting for her father and realizing that she wasn't a priority. He might appear from time to time, butter up, so it made it hard not to forgive and hope for something, only for your hopes to shatter. Because of her being self-conscious, her confidence was low and she also felt that her fiance left her for hotter and more adept woman, and because Petra is also Miles' ex, he might also still have feelings for her (he called her love of his life). She always felt that she will be the one left behind, not the top priority. So when the moment of misunderstanding came, it felt like - yeah, sure, I was expecting that. But that moment was not how it was, she just had such a bad story that she brainwashed herself into these things and failed to see beyond and panicked. At least it wasn't late to turn back. And she got her happy ending.

The novel has no bigger conflict actually, it's quite calm to me, but when you reach this quote, you might get the idea why it was like that, because FMC many times emphasized on these things herself, for her it was fitting to live in a plot like that.

All those moments throughout the days, weeks, months that don't get marked on calendars with hand-drawn stars or little stickers.

Those are the moments that make a life.

Not grand gestures, but mundane details that, over time, accumulate until you have a home, instead of a house.

All in all I find that the relationship was quite good, the tension and build-up, the friendship and love. All was mixed together. I enjoyed it.

RATE: 4,5/5.

[NOVEL] Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan

    When her whole life collapsed, Rae still had books. Dying, she seizes a second chance at a magical bargain that lets her enter the world of her favorite fantasy series.  

    She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she's not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor's tale.  

    So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they're doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor's fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.

Time of Iron series. Book 1

I start from the very end. Acknowledgments. Where I found that Sarah is a cancer survivor and this explained Rae's character a lot to me. And secondly in the list of inspiration I found that author mentioned The Founder of Diabolism by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu and mentioned her wish for more works to be translated. And this is where it hit me why the novel felt so close to what we've all seen in many Chinese novels before. Those stories with travelling into the plot, where the world revolves around hero and heroine, where plot it seems makes the characters puppets of its' will (about in detail later).

Our FMC - Rae - is a cancer patient. She knows she is on the very edge with no hope in sight. While she's treated she is visited by her little sister, who is a big fan of Time of Iron series and to pass the time her sister reads the books. Rae might not remember much of them, because her memory fails her and her health doesn't allow her full concentration.

One day she is visited by a mysterious woman who offers her to open the door and travel to the world of Time of Iron, where she can find the flower of Life and Death, which will allow her to revive back in this world, heal and return to normal life. Rae thought the woman was crazy, but as any desperate person she grabbed this straw and the plot point she landed was the evening before her character's execution. She was now in the body of lady Rahela Dimitia, the evil step-sister of the heroine (in our beloved lingo, the cannon fodder character).

Rae used all her knowledge of the plot (which wasn't much) to drag herself out of this dire situation and the gears started to shift. No matter her conviction in her own knowledge, no matter her desire to change things, the plot started to shift.

By the end of the book you had the feeling of "uh-oh, what have you done".

A bit about feeling close to some parts. First of all Rae's absolute belief in the plot and characters as if they were set in stone. This is so familiar, that oblivious behavior :) At other times it felt so familiar when Rae took it upon herself to charge forward and do heroic things actually, but others still saw it as a frame-up, her own design in elaborate attempt to hurt the heroine (who by the plot took the attention of the king and she was the favourite before), so everyone still considered her evil. All her actions, all her deeds, she was like an embodiment of evil for others in stark contrast to the kind and good-natured heroine.

Many times characters did not believe Rae at all and went on making their own conclusions that felt out of proportion.

Even the rhethoric how others serve as a foil to the main characters and others are easily discarded, but why should they.

It felt too close because of those many novels about travelling to the plot, waking up as a plot character etc. that had same thing going on.

But the closest must be the FMC.

Rae is the one who went through so much, but she still couldn't understand why some people are loved, while others feel like they don't deserve it. So was her past life, so was her new life. She was hurt, but others blamed her instead. Eventually she was tired to get justice and gave others the reason to dislike her, she became the "villain" others saw in her. In her new role she didn't even bother to be good, because she knew how hard it was to be good.

Don't listen to stories encouraging you to be good, telling you to shine in a filthy world and patiently endure suffering. Screw suffering. It's too hard to be good. Do the evil thing. Grasp whatever you desire in your greedy boodstained hands.

But through the book you can feel her desire to matter, to leave a mark. Her life was so short and full of weakness and sickness, so many people left her after she fell ill, as if she doesn't deserve love, she felt she will be forgotten, she did not enjoy so much before she realized she had to leave.

Most people die without mattering at all. If they curse your name, at least they remember it. 

When we were young, we told each other stories. When I got sick, I was scared to sleep, in case I never woke up. I could only sleep when I told myself if I died, she'd tell her kids stories about me. I wouldn't be anything but a story then, but that's better than being nothing at all. Nobody lives forever, but a story can. Stories are how I survive. When I'm fighting to live, I think to myself: what a story to tell my sister. I will be her favourite story. I will be the greatest story she ever heard.

Although the book did give her the second chance, but I think there was a hook in her approach to the story and characters. The hook proved to be true, since when she initially started she did have a feeling of playing (like noted by her maid Emer aka the Iron Maid) she did not realize how devastating the feeling will be when the realness will hit her. How it will influence her choices. How her conviction will wrong her.

I'm not a person who likes to analyze everything I read, maybe someone will say - the book was obvious. I stay in the zone of certain obliviousness and mainly live on instinct with books. Because I simply like to be impressed (even if sometimes even instinct predicts things quite accurately).

This is why I did not overanalyze the dissonance that is present in the book, that followed you like a shadow and whispered - this doesn't seem to fit, something feels off. It also involves characters who we find a bit different from how Rae remembers them. But it's more about what overall she remebers.

And by the end of the book you realize - oh, so this is where the dissonance lied and this is why I felt it starnge, even though some things felt pretty obvious when you think about them.

This is why I'm giving only the general feeling, the rest should be found by the readers.

It's action-packed, a lot of events happening, I think it's quite upbeat. A lot of pretty descriptions. The world is quite imaginative and lore is present. It's more plot-driven instead of being a romance, though you could feel the feelings sizzling.

You can feel author's eagerness about this book.

The possible dissatisfaction. Some of the lingo. Rae goes a lot about evil plans, evil schemes, villains, vipers etc. in her daily speech. Maybe some attachment to describing everything in a pretty way, though I think it's intentional. But I gave all these a pass, since I liked the book overall :)

Let the evil win~.

RATE: 5/5. It was fun.

[NOVEL] Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

    A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love in the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new fantasy series.

    Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party—or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the Fair Folk.

    So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

    But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones--the most elusive of all faeries—lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all—her own heart.

Emily Wilde series. Book 1

God, they love the "ae", don't they? :)

The following book is made in the like of a journal. Although at times you may forget that it is, but at other times it is indeed one with recollection of events past or present in the form of recollection from FMC's point of view. But it puts everything into a singular perspective and it's like a single POV from the head of FMC (because it's her recollection of events), even if Wendell's hand is present at times, but it invaded the book too little to take much notice of it.

I may not be the most perceptive person, because I had several questions about this book after finishing it. But before raising those questions I have to give the overall impression of it.

Firstly, it did not overwhelm me. Usually, when the book fascinates me, I can't put it down and want to read the next chapter and then the next chapter. But here despite the lovely light-heartedness of the style and not being too overfilled with plot development (should this be called a cozy fantasy that suddenly has a spark of danger appearing on the horizon?), I had a feeling like I spent some time with it, although to be honest I've read this in the span of few days only. Maybe the slow plot development was the case. Maybe I'm not cut out for cozy fantasy who knows.

Now the questions.

Character-wise~

We have Emily Wilde, who is a professor and is out on her ventures to finish her encyclopaedia, for that she "hunts" the northern Folk.

And she is supposed to be relatable to many, because she has a problem with communication especially, like what and at what occasions she should say. In many ways it is expressed that she prefers her books and even common fae to communicating with humans. Even her own attitude gets her into trouble where villagers bear a certain dislike for her. And it sparks the main communicational and relationship crisis that will evolve and change in the story (though nothing fancy, the main point is that it will be resolved).

At this particular point I want to agree with her fellow professor and the MMC of the story, Wendell Bambleby, that she should have read at least something about the common people of these places and their customs (just out of respect?). In other words When in Rome, do as Romans do. She may not be the best at words and expressing herself, but she is pretty fine with expressing herself with Wendell, because she's the most familiar with him (and even can get aggressive at times I'd say), but she could have had some behavior or speech patterns developed for situations. In real world you may even offend people without knowing it and get yourself into a big trouble (I'm merely sorry for her, because of consequences). She has all the books in the world and I don't think it will cost you much to read about people you're about to meet and spend months with. Her own host, the owner of the place she lives in basically bullies her, not through words or act of violence, but through food. But if we didn't have this conflict initially, there wouldn't be the feeling of joy after the resolving the conflict and bonding of both parties, Emily herself and some of the villagers.

And I say this as factual things, not wanting to paint her or the other side with dark colors. She's not a bad character to read about (even if at times she's critical of herself and her actions). She is really knowledgable, but you know she wish not  to say anything more about herself, her past and such. All we know that she is really dedicated to her work, she almost lived at Cambridge from the age of 15(?), her encyclopaedia took her years to combine, she is full of things others may not know, she had a lot of field work done, which allowed her to accumulate experience and I must say she has a feeling of complacency about her knowledge on the Folk between the lines. She is really hung up on her studies, mostly this is why she is a bit torn away from reality and common communication. But you could also call her courageous for she went through several troughs on her way.

On the topic of her knowledge, I may not be able to judge it at all, since I don't have the knowledge to follow along and see if what was mentioned in the book is legit or not. Like what offerings to make, what fae are afraid of or like etc. But it was quite entertaining. I liked the aspect of folk tale of it.

Wendell left me with more questions though. It's better to say it left me with puzzlement. And I'm not talking about his character as aristocrat who is not used to do things by himself and is happy for others to do things for him or his character, which I actually felt was quite charming and humorous (when you get to know his origins you get the gist of it).

But when it came to "love" and relationships this is where I was the most puzzled. Because Wendell in the book does not shy away from charming few village girls, who openly left his bedroom afterwards in full view (after all he and Emily lived in the same house out of convenience and she witnessed those women wearing nothing but sheets going out of his room, she also mentioned those women herself later on). He also had some feelings for Emily, although not obvious, because we always see things happening from her POV, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't shocked when they suddenly switched to talking about feelings. I'm pretty sure I was quite attentive in reading, but it came suddenly to me. I don't think there was any building up to that moment. More than that, because of her POV we know she quite cherishes him and their friendship (even if it may grow into something more), but because her POV is the main one and she is not keen on feelings and often describes Wendell's expressions as "hard to read", "ellusive" and so on, of course it came as a big surprise to me. Because we know her feelings, it doesn't mean we are too aware of his.

Also at other times he points that she is like a dragon and other names which sounded a bit odd, as if mocking. At other he calls her cold-hearted, maybe this should showcase his disappointment in her not noticing him or being cold to him, but in the view of those women I keep mentioning, you can't say if his feelings weigh much.

When two and two were put together they looked pretty weird in my eyes, at one side he is expressing his liking and prior to that he welcomed women to his bed in full view. Is it supposed to hint at what he is, like his origins, I mean his behavior explained by his origins, but I'm not sure. To level things off (?) Emily was in a relationship once, which lasted a year or so (I'm not a prude, I consider this like alternative reality where people are not so strict about women, because the picture would be different if this was a a true historical fiction), but it still doesn't make it better or worse, she was in an official relationship, which can't be compared to his rendezvous, especially in the context of him "pining" at the same time.

I was so invested into describing this emotional dilemma that didn't even get enough page time that I almost forgot anything I wanted to say about the plot.

Plot-wise~

Actually, nothing much to say here, I think the cozy word explains it all, but it promises little thrill. I was actually surprised when good everyday picture was suddenly doned with a bit of danger. The overall development wasn't anything over the top, I think at a certain point you knew where things were going without them happing yet and then you reached the expected development.

I think I was most happy for Emily herself, that due to an accident with Wendell she showed her lost "what to do" side that needed help, which eventually triggered the chain of events that bonded her with the villagers and we forgot about the previous conflict. With her inability to charm like Wendell and communicate with others it was a delight to see her finally having something changed inside of her. Again with so much text not enough backstory on what shaped her like that, you can't tell me it's all books and research.

RATE: 3,75/5. Althuogh a good book, a cozy one indeed, but something was clearly missing. Maybe because it aimed at trilogy? But what's the point of other books if you don't make the first intriguing enough. And I must say, others have liked it a lot. But to me it's far from enough to put on a high pedestal and raving about it like some people did :) 

[Chinese BL novel] 和病弱老婆离婚后我后悔了 by 金玉其内 / I regretted divorcing my sickly wife

Summary: In the industry many know the story of Sui Yan's pursuit of Jiang Xiubai, it was high profile and after the beauty was one he treated him well, so no one could bully his beloved. But after three years of marriage Sui Yan offered Jiang Xiubai a divorce with words "You love your work more than me".

Both are met with an accident and both are reborn. Sui Yan thinks he will never care for Jiang Xiubai again, but those feelings are more than him. But because the rebirth time is earlier than they met in previous life he has a chance to see younger Jiang Xiubai, but he was shocked with what he saw, it felt like he missed many of the things his Xiuxiu never told him about.

Jiang Xiubai was facing a dilemma if he should stay away from Sui Yan and let him have the life he wants or give them a second chance, because he truly loves his husband.

Everything starts with misunderstanding of each other, even if you love each other so deeply.

It's a rebirth story and also a second chance for both characters. They actually love each other deeply, but some things that left unspoken made it possible to misunderstand where each person comes from.

It becomes evident from first chapters, for example, Sui Yan talks with his friends that he had fights with his husband, but Jiang Xiubai talks how they never had fights. It already directs you into thinking that both viewed their life together a bit different and they did not fully understand the motivation behind the person. Especially in case of Jiang Xiubai, because he's the "sickly wife".

As an example, Sui Yan thinks that Jiang Xiubai thinks his career is more important, but Jiang Xiubai was actually hidden for quite some time before his contract expired and he had a chance to act. He was lulled into company that promised acting, but they debuted him as singer. Later he refused the unspoken rules and was hidden and his chance was given to another member who kissed asses of everyone until they were shiny. Jiang Xiubai had several very rare opportunities, but the return of him home was actually when he rushed shooting and came back earlier than planned because he wanted to go on promised vacation.

It's the case where both are at fault in problems that arise. Sui Yan was quite in love with Xiubai, but Xiubai did not share the crucial information like his abuse in uncle's house, why he doesn't talk much and looks cold to others, when he is simply taciturn. Sui Yan also did not explore much of this. Which resulted to him being sad or aggrieved at something that was perfectly fine for Xiubai because he did not see anything wrong, because of how he grew up.

The story pretty much reminded me of "The foolish gong was reborn" where top also had some misunderstandings with his husband during their marriage, but he is the loving and sunny person of the two.

Sui Yan is the beaming light, he is very cute and loving. Although he is like that only towards Xiuxiu, I don't know it was deeply touching the way he liked his husband and tolerated many things and later tried to fix his mistakes.

Outsiders are intimidated by Sui Yan's cold appearance and prominent family background. Only he knows that Sui Yan is actually quite cute in private. Not only is he gentle and considerate, but he is also loyal and responsible in his relationships. Except for being too persistent and childish in some aspects, he has almost all good qualities.

While Sui Yan wasn't the only one working on the marriage, Xiubai also tried to see what was wrong, how things could get better. Because it was evident to him that Sui Yan was reborn, he caught him quite early, but he was entangled if he should confess that he is reborn too, that he is Sui Yan's 28yo husband in the body of 22yo Xiuxiu. He did not know if those words said by Sui Yan were just angry words or heartfelt feelings. But to him Sui Yan is the only person who treated him well and even if he's lost to why he was reborn because he failed Sui Yan so much, but in this damned life where everything seemed dark Sui Yan was his light he wanted to hold strongly in his hands.

But not to make things too dark, because Sui Yan is the main source of joy, there is a lot of humor that is connected to him and his behavior. Just a textual example.

"Jiang Huan, come here and smell it to see if it smells good."

Sui Yan carefully held up the suit and sniffed it curiously, his eyes shining darkly: "It smells a little like perfume."

Jiang Huan was full of suspicion, so he leaned forward to smell it, and his doubts became even stronger. Isn't this the most traditional smell of laundry detergent?

"Yeah, it smells pretty good." He agreed perfunctorily.

Sui Yan raised his hand and touched the fabric of the suit: "He washed this for me personally."

"Him?" Jiang Huan sensitively smelled something wrong.

What is the relationship between the person who sent the clothes and Sui Yan?

"Find a sealed bag. I want to put it away." Sui Yan treated it as a treasure: "Lock it in the safe."

Jiang Huan curled his lips slightly and found a receipt in his pocket: "Nice International Laundry..."

"Mr. Sui, does the person you are talking about work in a laundry shop?"

The warmth on Sui Yan's face faded a little.

After all Xiubai even himself admits that he lacks any fun, he is a quiet and in the eyes of many might even sound like a boring person and he is puzzled at why Sui Yan likes him so much. As to what he finds in Xiubai that is worth the liking (which is honestly so sad, it just shows how unconfident Xiubai is in himself as a person).

"Jiang Xiubai." Sui Yan bent his long legs slightly, half lying on the sofa and smiled: "I don't know if you can understand this feeling. When you like someone, your heart is uncontrollable. As long as he stands there, you want to treat him well with all your heart, without caring about gains and losses and consequences. I think this feeling is the true meaning of love, and it is the rarest thing in love. If a person has never experienced this feeling in his life, and has to consider every bit of love, then it is too boring."

I may not have finished this novel, but I really wanted to share it right now, because not many novels feel so heartfelt and nice, that they have both a serious and humorous sides about them. Even two people who actually love each other dearly may go through miscommunication, not fully understanding the other person, but it doesn't make them love each other less. Both work to save the feelings they cherish so much when they're given the chance.

And few words about the characters and where they come from. As you can guess Jiang Xiubai had a rough childhood, with both parents gone he was living with his uncle and something happened. Not reaching the age Xiubai insist on transferring to orphanage. This childhood experience basically shaped his outlook on the world. Later he joins entertainment circle, because he had memories of his mother performing and giving up her dreams. But his company which promised acting debutes him with a group. They are quite tepid. Later he refused unspoken rules and was hidden before expiration date of his contract, then he flies alone with his agent and then his career took off. He truly likes acting, but in new life was ready to give it up, since he already achieved success he was dreaming about. Sui Yan comes from a wealthy family, above him are two scheming uncles and a grandfather with whom he had a strained relationship. Like Xiubai he is an orphan too. But he is quite positive and active person. In this life he could avoid many obstacles from his uncles and repair the relationship between himself and his grandfather.

In the span of the novel Xiubai still continues his career but with changes, like Sui Yan had a lot to do with it.

I felt good about it, thus I thought I'd post about it. Although I could include it in short reviews post, but I truly liked the style and the writing of it to be posting separately.

PS: Also this author wrote 联姻后我成了大佬的白月光 I reviewed earlier.