Tbh I liked many aspects of this even outside the romance. The romance was good, just needed some more details before they got together. But I felt like the author did a good job nevertheless.
For once, the gang member bottom actually seemed like a fr gang leader. He was intimidating, ruthless when needed, had prestige, and was neither afraid to get hurt or hurt others(in the most bloody way).He wasn't just a title tacked on by an author that wanted a badass bottom, but can't actually showus how cool they are, so they just put a tattoo on them and call it day. For someone the author was trying to purposefully portray as wishy washy or indecisive, he's one of the the only real criminal bottoms who are accurate to the term "gang member" with the ruthlessness and presence to match. Even his mellowing down was accurate, he went to prison, everyone he cared for died or left him, and prob age made the fire to continue die out. So his behavior throughout never made me frustrated and I understood him.
Secondly I liked that the relationship between bottom and the childhood friend was actually pure friendship and not made into smth else(not every strong emotion or complex bond must be romance I'm tired!). And idc what anyone thinks, I truly believe it was familial and brotherhood on both ends. I even think the author slick addresses the readers question "is it deeper then that?" By having the friend suggest having sex when they met again and then firmly stating he actually can't get it up and that he loves him like family lol. As for Bottoms treatment of the friend, it was like watching a good friend go astray, wanting to persuade, but understanding there is only so much you can say and they might not listen. On the friends side, the bottom is the only thing that was with him when he was rock bottom and when he rose up. Thick and thin. In his mind, even if they were lowlevel hoodlums or high ranking gang members, they were still brothers for life. There was a certain degree of loyalty there. But they had different views and were on different pathways. It was unfortunate, but hopefully prison will help adjust his mindsets and they can be close again when he gets out.
Thirdly, the bottoms decision on what to do with the friend. I was getting a little frustrated at first watching him run away again but Im glad it was the bottom who consciously made a decision toward a better life, even if it meant betraying the friend.
Lastly I liked that the little girl Hanas request was remembered by the author and not forgotten. The top really went on the scheduled date and even if it didn't go as plan, I'm glad it happened and he didn't disappoint her. It would be too easy for the author to forget this plot point but thankfully they didn't.
Tbh I liked many aspects of this even outside the romance. The romance was good, just needed some more details before they got together. But I felt like the author did a good job nevertheless.
For once, the gang member bottom actually seemed like a fr gang leader. He was intimidating, ruthless when needed, had prestige, and was neither afraid to get hurt or hurt others(in the most bloody way).He wasn't just a title tacked on by an author that wanted a badass bottom, but can't actually showus how cool they are, so they just put a tattoo on them and call it day. For someone the author was trying to purposefully portray as wishy washy or indecisive, he's one of the the only real criminal bottoms who are accurate to the term "gang member" with the ruthlessness and presence to match. Even his mellowing down was accurate, he went to prison, everyone he cared for died or left him, and prob age made the fire to continue die out. So his behavior throughout never made me frustrated and I understood him.
Secondly I liked that the relationship between bottom and the childhood friend was actually pure friendship and not made into smth else(not every strong emotion or complex bond must be romance I'm tired!). And idc what anyone thinks, I truly believe it was familial and brotherhood on both ends. I even think the author slick addresses the readers question "is it deeper then that?" By having the friend suggest having sex when they met again and then firmly stating he actually can't get it up and that he loves him like family lol. As for Bottoms treatment of the friend, it was like watching a good friend go astray, wanting to persuade, but understanding there is only so much you can say and they might not listen. On the friends side, the bottom is the only thing that was with him when he was rock bottom and when he rose up. Thick and thin. In his mind, even if they were lowlevel hoodlums or high ranking gang members, they were still brothers for life. There was a certain degree of loyalty there. But they had different views and were on different pathways. It was unfortunate, but hopefully prison will help adjust his mindsets and they can be close again when he gets out.
Thirdly, the bottoms decision on what to do with the friend. I was getting a little frustrated at first watching him run away again but Im glad it was the bottom who consciously made a decision toward a better life, even if it meant betraying the friend.
Lastly I liked that the little girl Hanas request was remembered by the author and not forgotten. The top really went on the scheduled date and even if it didn't go as plan, I'm glad it happened and he didn't disappoint her. It would be too easy for the author to forget this plot point but thankfully they didn't.