The first two stories were better. The last one (final showdown) was a bit rushed and it seems like all the former characters become side characters. It would have been better if all of them had a much more important role than just showing up.
It's interesting to see how Emiel has somehow a cold air around him now. His smiles don't look so free now and everything he does and says looks suspicious. I think he's not plotting something but has some inner conflict regarding something (in my opinion about his feelings and status towards Estelle). This leads to an unsincere behaviour towards Estelle. I'm excited to see what will happen to unsolve this situation.
Me too(〜￣△￣)〜
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.
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.
It's so nice to see a strong FL and a good ML that listened to the FL. Also I think it's important to mention how positive the islamic culture is described. In this day and age there are alot of negative statements (some justified some not) towards the islamic culture and is also represented that way in literature that feeds it's readers with prejudices. So appreciate such stories alot even though it might be not the reality.
Excellent point. So many westerners have (and promulgate) the belief that all Islam consists of wife beating jihadists, when nothing could be further from the truth. One of the finest Marines I knew when I was serving was a Shia Muslim of Iranian heritage. It would be like having the rest of the world judge the United States only by the Westboro Baptist Church.
But then....if they wanted to make an Arabic man as the ML, they should follow thru all the Islamic culture. Like, no premarital intercourse and no touchy feely before marriage... I usually avoided Harlequins that have sheikhs, sultans etc....I couldn't enjoy the story
Well a harlequin is basically a romance that should mesmerize the reader by showing "ideal men" (how good or bad they are created is another issue) and modern type cinderellas.
And stereo typically the "ideal men" supposed to be super touchy feely xD.
U should read books like The Map of Love, and The Bastard of Istanbul. These are books centered around the women in middle-east, and see how the narrative is different than the mass portrayal. I had these books for my B.A. degree, and I loved them!
Well I can understand why a lot of you don't like the ending but if we put the abrupt ending beside, I think her being fine without marriage seems logic. Her interest in marriage only started due to the pressure around her. She even said her main wish is to find a partner who's equal to her and can accept her lifestyle and she's only husband hunting because of her surrounding. So after dating that guy she could achieve both, having an equal partner but also marriage. That's when she developed a deeper interest in marriage. After hearing him not wanting to marry (or avoiding the subject) she lost her original interest and only had the marriage in mind. Her friend who's also boosting her concerns by having his own issues displayed, made it worse. The story rushed now but in the end she only wants to be happy and be open about their wishes.
Nice ML. He smiles alot and has a soft character. Not as pushy as in most others. But the story was abit boring. There was no tension.
The boobs are huge but these male hands are twice the size of typical yaoi hands o.O
Is it just me or am I the only one that thinks that the butler looks tiny bit like like Shou Tucker from FMA and will do something awful
I srsly like the butler but everytime he grins Tucker flashes through my mind D:
Now I can't under it, thanks
I think the story is pretty good so far. It's a Josei. That means the stories have topics of older women and also their struggles. And even though I'm not fond of cheating, I'd like to read about why and how a woman can get into such a situation. So I won't judge the FL until this manga is finished.
Finally someone who thinks before they judge....totally agree with you
I think a woman who chooses to have a deal with a man is because she has such strong feelings for him that she can't let him go ... It's like someone would get to hang out with a kpop guy. That girl would just enjoy every moment with him. It's a strong feeling that you can't let go of that man. And then it becomes special when you have sex as if you are taking drugs you have to choose to have more