I suppose it's more likely that the ML's actions soured the readers, specifically sleeping with the FL when he still had a girlfriend. The whole discussion was interesting though.
That, and he couldn't stick to his own guns, let alone explain them. Despite how often it was mentioned, I not hear him ONCE explain the purpose of abstinence (it has a place in developing relationships and RL statistics show couples that practiced it before taking their vows have longer and more satisfying marriages), but he couldn't even practice what he preached (not to mention having a girlfriend when he did it)! He might have been all well spoken and nice and all, but when it came to what he was teaching, he turned out to be a full blown hypocrite.
Well, because it's been a while I reread the story to answer you. I still think it's a fairly good story. The ML wrote a book but feels not very confident about how it's published. Also his relationship already has cracks and seems to be beyond repair - maybe because they fell out of love or because the girlfriend does not really believe in abstinence. He mentions how important communication is, but that's exactly missing. Also his family gave him a strong impression regarding sexuality, that he couldn't relate to, same with his first marriage. Such a person meets someone who has a complete different view on sexuality but their main goal is a healthy lifestyle - whether as a single or as couple. So he gained a new perspective on happiness, and questions his own theory (especially because it does not seem to work in his own private life). So how can a person stick to it if he himself is not sure? And that's basically portraited. How he can't defend his theory, how he is unsure about his book, and how he's not confident like her.
All this results in him being unfaithful. Super bad in general but helped him to free himself from his own theory of abstinence. So while cheating is bad and he is not really on equal standing to the FL, it's still interesting to see how he changes.
I do agree, but... Honestly, I wasn’t sure why he didn’t like the title of his book, but honestly, if you write a book you should be able to talk knowledgeably about it’s contents.
What disappointed me was that it was so one sided. I was hoping for a serious exchange of information from two knowledgeable specialists including the RL statistics supporting abstinence and its benefits to marriage (because they exist) in addition to her more worldly view (which, if we are honest, in RL, is less likely to result in a long, satisfying marriage and more likely to spread STDs and cause unplanned pregnancies) but instead there is no point in which he is strong in his own beliefs or shared any facts that gave his stance any validity. If he could have actually defended his position and opened her eyes to his POV at least as much as she opened his, I think it would have been a great story. (The facts are that abstinence while growing the relationship and then going on safari/hunting for mutually enjoyable and satisfying techniques after your married really is a recipe for an interesting and satisfying sex life which is a valuable ingredient in a long, satisfying marriage!) But instead, he not only can’t defend his view, but ends up throwing it away completely. Granted he had issues going on, which I am sympathetic to, but the story just, IMO, made him seem weak in so many ways (and, sadly, you can’t get around the fact that he threw it away before he knew he was single).
It’s not that I think it was a bad story, it’s just I think it could have been much better.
Well, I don't understand why this one is so badly rated. I mean, there is a topic that some of you might not like but all in all it's a nice story or strictly speaking a debate.