Under the Oak Tree
Let's make this easier for us all, I'll make 2 lists, one for all the things I like, and one for all the things I don't like AKA HATE.
Things I like:
1. The art is beautiful, the clothes and the characters are all well designed.
Things I don't like (AKA HATE):
1. The plot is slow and boring, not much happens, and the things that do happen are not intriguing. Even though the story is easy to read, the actual plot drags on and on and yet nothing important or interesting happens.
2. The FL. Now before anyone says "She was severely abused and traumatized, how dare you say she's weak and annoying?!", I get it she's been through a lot, and honestly I understand why she behaves the way she does (mostly). but as a romance FL, she's passive and boring, she barely moves the plot or even affects it much. Furthermore, she acts and behaves like a terrified child, which makes kind of sense for the abuse she's been through, (some people who've been through severe trauma may age-regress or just be developmentally behind). However, if her behavior does stem from her trauma, thus making her mentally undeveloped, why is she a romance MC?!! If she's a "child" she should go to therapy, not marry a brute with anger issues.
3. The ML, yes he is hot' I'm not going to argue with that. However, the ML is abrasive, aggressive, and overall immature and insensitive. Let me explain, some of these characteristics are fine, they could work when there's a strong-headed FL and when the dude tries to get better. BUT, when you put an aggressive intimidating' uncaring' brute with a fragile, child-like girl, the relationship appears abusive. The FL is literally terrified of the ML 95% of the time, and he SEES that and proceeds to get angrier. Does he not notice that she's terrified of everything, and getting angrier makes it worse?????? I will not talk about the sexual dynamic and intimacy, I find that it's more about taste than logic. Also, I don't really get why he likes the FL so much besides that she's prettycute and demure, (that feels both sexist and shallow).
4. The relationship. I won't extend on this too much because I've elaborated on most of the reasons on the 2 listed above. The romance is instant love, there's no build-up to their relationship, they get married, they sleep with each other, she does something, he yells at her, she cries because she's scared shitless, he shows her that he yelled at her because he loves her, they reconcile, they sleep with each other, and the cycle continues. How fun... another fucked-up, abusive relationship romanticized. Most of the romantic scenes is when he yells at her because he CARES, he compliments her looks, or when he shows her physical affection.
5. The rest of the story mainly contains boring events and unlikeable characters. The most disappointing side character is Ruth, instead of being her friend and mentor' helping her understand her place and find her confidence, their relationship appears as the underpaid babysitter who hates the abused child he's in charge of.
That's it for now, I'll continue reading to see if it gets any better.
Thank you for hearing me rant, have a nice day!
To be or not to be