this was really well-written, to the point that i enjoyed reading it despite the relationship tropes and sex scenes. i hate dub-con & manipulative controlling asshole MLs--i usually immediately drop, with veryyyy rare exceptions. this is one! when the characters start getting physical, there were a few scenes here and there that icked me out (especially after our MC gets hospitalized near the end), but for the most part, i felt like the ML pushed the MC but didn't go too far? and i also think what the ML said about calling out the MC for having feelings but resisting when bc of atonement was what the author had already implied. ofc "reasoning" doesn't matter for shit irl and a no is a no, but i was able to suspend some judgment since we had already established the ML was an asshole from the get-go. the sex scenes--with some exceptions--felt forceful in both dialogue and art. ie the author would have the ML pin the MC from behind, etc. that made them unenjoyable and not hot at all for me. there were a few tender moments that were nice...the ML had his moments of being mildly endearing despite being a pretty static character, but for the most part, i was reading this for the MC and the supporting side characters. loveeee them.
this was really well-written, to the point that i enjoyed reading it despite the relationship tropes and sex scenes. i hate dub-con & manipulative controlling asshole MLs--i usually immediately drop, with veryyyy rare exceptions. this is one! when the characters start getting physical, there were a few scenes here and there that icked me out (especially after our MC gets hospitalized near the end), but for the most part, i felt like the ML pushed the MC but didn't go too far? and i also think what the ML said about calling out the MC for having feelings but resisting when bc of atonement was what the author had already implied. ofc "reasoning" doesn't matter for shit irl and a no is a no, but i was able to suspend some judgment since we had already established the ML was an asshole from the get-go. the sex scenes--with some exceptions--felt forceful in both dialogue and art. ie the author would have the ML pin the MC from behind, etc. that made them unenjoyable and not hot at all for me. there were a few tender moments that were nice...the ML had his moments of being mildly endearing despite being a pretty static character, but for the most part, i was reading this for the MC and the supporting side characters. loveeee them.