beta
Hmmmmm. As someone who was okay with Ian ending up alone, with TJ or with Jo, I'm a bit... disappointed? Dissatisfied? I'm not sure how to phrase it. TJ wasn't irredeemable by far, but he is self centered and emotionally abusive. We can disagree about that but it's true. His epiphany about only needing Ian after years of putting him second and prioritizing the gang felt...inorganic at best
I think the author just wanted to end the story because there was so much emphasis on Ian wanting to live differently and to escape his past and not go back to how things used to be. Also ignore the plot points that went nowhere or the ones that have been left unaddressed because the message is basically saying no, no, everything is okay now because they're in love! ヾ(❀╹◡╹)ﾉ~
We don't get to see any thoughts from either one of them during their time apart or actions in the interim to really embrace change because there's an abrupt time skip and they'll just be fine I guess? The end? Not even 2-3 chapters of buffer before we get the "here, damn" ending of them being together. It feels hollow because there were SO many heavy moments with meaningful conversations between all of the leads before this to explain their feelings and then we get a single chapter of wrap up after Ian and Jo's emotional breakup. It feels unearned and that makes my rating go down because I do not feel like the author stuck the landing.
This is shit from the butt.