Truly wasn't expecting this to be so good the rating doesn't do it justice. I actually had low expectations coming in and did not expect the writing to be so good. The initial set up of the pheromone candle could've been used for cheap smut, which it has some scenes of, but was really used to force these two people together who might not have gotten together otherwise. On the one hand, top was in denial about his feelings for so long, like he said, if it's something he feels he can't achieve, he'd rather not pursue it. So the candle was a good excuse for him to act on thoughts he delud3d himself into thinking he didn't have. On the other hand, bottom is like the abo version of "straight" and the candle let him see the top as a potential love interest and not an alpha. But I feel like that's still not what this story is about. Instead, i feel like I really got to know these two people and watched them fall in love like real people. For an abo, it's strangely realistic.
The story is mostly told through tops pov in the beginning. He's a bit scatter brained, an unreliable narrator, and is in denial about his own feelings. Every scene, every memory, and every hallucination almost screamed that he was in love. This kid is a yearner! But like, I kinda liked that there were hints of other sides to his character. How rude he was to the bottom when they were in high school, excluding him from the friend group. How blunt he is sometimes, how spaced out he is. That scene where the bottom "infiltrates" the friend group when he invites the top to his family bbq and the top agrees in surpise...I felt he was quite multifaceted. Towards those he dislikes, he's almost bluntly rude, when he likes you, he really dedicated himself. He's a unique character I feel. Later, he basically decides to give up on the bottom for the bottoms happiness, I felt like actually he's a pretty good person. I liked him.
Now the bottom was surprisingly the most interesting character to me! Tbh, for the first couple of chapters, I wasn't very impressed by him. I just knew the top liked him. Then his pov changed everything. The inferiority complex, the loneliness, as an alpha with no pheromones, but who is able to be attracted to omegas, he's put in a real odd position in life. He can't be as carefree as betas, but he's not "attractive" to omegas as an alpha. This follows him throughout life. But at the same time, the determination to make friends and not be a loner anymore even if it means he has to do things that are hard for him and take him out of his comfort zone really made me admire him.
The phrase "smoothing out his rough edges" was so suitable, he is indeed quick tempered and has an inferiority complex, but to achieve the things he wants, he will adapt, soften, and even be kind to those he dislikes. And then he really got what he wanted. There are multiple scenes where he is visibly anxious or troubled, but still somehow finds the courage to do things and says things many can't. Getting the top that cake on his bday, inviting top to his family bbq, all in an effort to make sure he fits into this friend group and not be a loner anymore.
There are memories interspersed that showtheir interactions and for once I really enjoyed them(I normally don't like past and present intertwined). I actually felt like they were meaningful to understanding their characters and their emotions toward each other. I felt it was very very nicely paced as well. Time passes in this manhwas, days to weeks to months, it feels grounded in reality. There is no insta love. They only get together for real in the last 1-2 chapters, but there's like 3 extras and I still enjoyed it. Near the last 10 chapters, I felt vaguely it was dragging. Then I realized it wasn't dragging. I just knew how many chapters were left and didnt want It to end without enough couple moments lol. But thankfully we had some, though I could have used more.
Finally my favorite scene was the double date with the top and bottom going with two omegas. While waiting for the omegas to arrive, they talk, and the image of the bottom as he hold two flowers in his coat to give to the omegas is literally seared into my brain. He is truly...very lovely. I don't know why, that scene was actually moving to me. Later, the one who ended up with the flowers is the top. He puts them in a cup on his dining table. Really, this author writes very well. I enjoyed it. I would recommend to anyone who likes slice of life, daily romances.
Truly wasn't expecting this to be so good the rating doesn't do it justice. I actually had low expectations coming in and did not expect the writing to be so good. The initial set up of the pheromone candle could've been used for cheap smut, which it has some scenes of, but was really used to force these two people together who might not have gotten together otherwise. On the one hand, top was in denial about his feelings for so long, like he said, if it's something he feels he can't achieve, he'd rather not pursue it. So the candle was a good excuse for him to act on thoughts he delud3d himself into thinking he didn't have. On the other hand, bottom is like the abo version of "straight" and the candle let him see the top as a potential love interest and not an alpha. But I feel like that's still not what this story is about. Instead, i feel like I really got to know these two people and watched them fall in love like real people. For an abo, it's strangely realistic.
The story is mostly told through tops pov in the beginning. He's a bit scatter brained, an unreliable narrator, and is in denial about his own feelings. Every scene, every memory, and every hallucination almost screamed that he was in love. This kid is a yearner! But like, I kinda liked that there were hints of other sides to his character. How rude he was to the bottom when they were in high school, excluding him from the friend group. How blunt he is sometimes, how spaced out he is. That scene where the bottom "infiltrates" the friend group when he invites the top to his family bbq and the top agrees in surpise...I felt he was quite multifaceted. Towards those he dislikes, he's almost bluntly rude, when he likes you, he really dedicated himself. He's a unique character I feel. Later, he basically decides to give up on the bottom for the bottoms happiness, I felt like actually he's a pretty good person. I liked him.
Now the bottom was surprisingly the most interesting character to me! Tbh, for the first couple of chapters, I wasn't very impressed by him. I just knew the top liked him. Then his pov changed everything. The inferiority complex, the loneliness, as an alpha with no pheromones, but who is able to be attracted to omegas, he's put in a real odd position in life. He can't be as carefree as betas, but he's not "attractive" to omegas as an alpha. This follows him throughout life. But at the same time, the determination to make friends and not be a loner anymore even if it means he has to do things that are hard for him and take him out of his comfort zone really made me admire him.
The phrase "smoothing out his rough edges" was so suitable, he is indeed quick tempered and has an inferiority complex, but to achieve the things he wants, he will adapt, soften, and even be kind to those he dislikes. And then he really got what he wanted. There are multiple scenes where he is visibly anxious or troubled, but still somehow finds the courage to do things and says things many can't. Getting the top that cake on his bday, inviting top to his family bbq, all in an effort to make sure he fits into this friend group and not be a loner anymore.
There are memories interspersed that showtheir interactions and for once I really enjoyed them(I normally don't like past and present intertwined). I actually felt like they were meaningful to understanding their characters and their emotions toward each other. I felt it was very very nicely paced as well. Time passes in this manhwas, days to weeks to months, it feels grounded in reality. There is no insta love. They only get together for real in the last 1-2 chapters, but there's like 3 extras and I still enjoyed it. Near the last 10 chapters, I felt vaguely it was dragging. Then I realized it wasn't dragging. I just knew how many chapters were left and didnt want It to end without enough couple moments lol. But thankfully we had some, though I could have used more.
Finally my favorite scene was the double date with the top and bottom going with two omegas. While waiting for the omegas to arrive, they talk, and the image of the bottom as he hold two flowers in his coat to give to the omegas is literally seared into my brain. He is truly...very lovely. I don't know why, that scene was actually moving to me. Later, the one who ended up with the flowers is the top. He puts them in a cup on his dining table. Really, this author writes very well. I enjoyed it. I would recommend to anyone who likes slice of life, daily romances.