6.5/10... more>>

Really really enjoyed the plot, the twist and the relationship between the two leads. It is fun, flirty and sweet with a tinge of tragedy. Just wish that the ending was a little elaborated. It was a great build up but the climax felt kinda flat. It just ended abruptly although it is HE, I guess. 

The characters were great. Since it is a short story, they didn't get much time to be fleshed out but the general gist was there. And although there was no focus on character development, the slow building of the characters as the plot went on and mysteries unfolded was great. The best part to me was definitely the chemistry between the two leads. I was living with each of their interactions. 

//Completed// <<less

Cold blooded ml in a contract marriage with fl for his benefits. And I don't mean calm, reticent type cold ml. The just don't know... more>> how to express, 0 EQ types. But here, the ml is really heartless. He is willing to do/use anything for his ambitions. If the former is mountain(steady, stable), the latter is thunder(strikes and pierces). This ml is always hurting FL. Thankfully, ml seems more likely to fall in love than FL which makes me happy when he gets his karma.  <<less

6/10... more>>

I know it was sweet af but I don't remember the story. 6 because it is not memorable but I remember i found it cute. 

And no, there is nothing like sexualising minor or predatory thing going on. Although, it does sound sketchy.

//Completed// <<less

8/10... more>>

Dengeki Novel Prize Award winner. More than romance, it is about friendship and human relationships. When adults fail, kids suffer. And here is story of children struggling to clumsily survive in a brutal society. Alone they try to make things right, to protect themselves and their loved ones, only to make it worse. This novel gave me such complicated feelings. What if they had some help? What if their family cared a little? What if someone stopped them with bad decisions? What if they weren't alone? So many what ifs. But it all ended in tragedy. 

Tw: Main theme is bullying, su*cide. But it is a mystery with twist. Who is the victim and perpetrator? If you ask me, I can't exactly say it. If I did, I would point at someone, get mad, call injustice and it would be easy to process the feeling. But when I can't pour that feeling anywhere, I am just left alone with this huge rock on my heart. One's suffering led to others suffering until it led to huge tragedy with point of no return. The tragedy where resolution doesn't exist. With too heavy cost, loss and with no way to recover. The children who have already lost their future. And unfortunately there is no second chances, no time travel, reincarnation, isekai in real life, no? Too many lights, which could have shined so bright, gone out over the negligence of adults. Over the incompetence of adults. The ones to the pay the price, in the end, are the little innocent kids who couldn't know any better. 

//Completed// <<less

5/10... more>>

Cute but.....cringe. And its lowkey ecchi lol.

//Dropped at ch 25// <<less

6.5/10... more>>

This novel called me single in thousand ways. It is just sugar, sugar and more sugar. So sweet.

Ml is rich, tall, handsome and caring. A perfect fantasy boyfriend. I can tell he is definitely a ml written by woman. Fl is clever, flirty, bright and bold. She is the one to chase ml and make the first move in many situations. It is the case of she fell first, but he fell harder. <<less

6/10... more>>

Short and fluffy. Ml is sweet and fl is bratty but Her heart is clean and she doesn't hide away in pretense. Lots of fluff. But for someone who live and breathe for angst, i had to drop it. I got bored. 

//dropped at ch. 23// <<less

7/10... more>>

This is 100% sweet. Some readers don't like ml. But I think we needed this ml for socially awkward fl. Otherwise they wouldn't be together. Ml knows when to push and when to retreat. Just the right amount. If he was too pushy and aggressive that would startle fl and she just retreat to her safe space. But if he was too gentle and passive, she would never come out of her shell. Some people coughmeuh need a little push to get out there. So, I don't mind that ml was forcing fl to get out of her cocoon. And he was also very patient with her, constantly giving her space and taking time to communicate and understand her. I don't think he ever crossed her bottom line nor did he loose his temper and behaved badly. So, yeah he did barge into her life but he isn't a bad guy. But yeah he is definitely very sly, charming, smooth and knows how to get a girls heart. He can be a gentleman but also not? Some playboy traits if you ask me. 

Didn't rate higher because it is romance. And just that. I wished FL would overcome some of her challenges and for her life to change. But all it changed was her relationship status. There was no character development. Her backstory was left open. Felt like author quickly rushed to end so it had feeling of something unfinished. Such a pity. 

//Completed// <<less

6.5/10... more>>

Sweet, light, short, happy end. Two people who missed each other before meet again in life. Nothing to complain. It is a feel good type story. Good for heart but not for reality. I mean what is the probability that you meet your crush again in life AND that crush happen to like you back AND that crush is still waiting all these years for you?

//Completed// <<less

3/10

Frustrating. First of all, i like ml. Someone said ml reminds them of huang zi tao. Completely agree. A bit simpleton, lots of arrogance, fierce loyalty and unexpectedly innocent and softie. He is also very sincere. And this is why i find this novel annoying. Fl doesnt deserve this sincerity. I get that she is on a survival mode but it is completely unfair to ml. She runs to ml for his luck, sniffing, touching, cooking and buying gifts for him. Then when ml falls for it, she is so clueless and indifferent. I agree with the comment that said author potray fl as some pristine being unintentionally making people fall in love... more>> with her while herself being completely unaware. Even if she is someone who has already lived another life who went through crush herself. She should know better as someone with more experience the effect her actions has. But no, she goes and takes what she wants but is oblivious when it comes to taking responsibilty for the consequence her action has. Love starved 17 y.o. Ml ends up opening up thinking that fl is the only one who loves him for him. Turning to the first person to show him love. But she is also just another person using him. And yet, the author makes her sound so nobel and righteous.

The main lead halo is also too strong on her for someone who is trying to go against this same halo from the novel system. Author tried but she is just another regular fl. Stand-offish, Bland, like a stone. She has no emotion regarding ml, her family or her ex-crush, no chemistry. She just cuts her past off. Not even to the youngest bro,  who was relatively close to her. Also with ml when ml is blushing, flustered, or even sulking, she is just like oh okay. That's it. Nothing left in her, like a lifeless doll. I would prefer a vengeful villain over her anyday. She is just another mary sue, she becomes school beauty, top at her class, joining competitions, good at cooking, cello, disciple of respected professor, her ex-crush is desparate for her, her family starts regreting, most powerful family's heir is in love with her. I really dont get villainess novels where in second life mc becomes the exact same type of steoreotypical heroine they criticise. The time travel is simply like just changing places of mc and villain. 

This is another thing i hate. The og fmc now becomes villain, the evil adopted daughter, jealous of fl. Why cant she just a normal flawed character? Does she have to be evil and plotting against fl? It is so annoying. Then again, the family now turns against this og fmc and starts neglecting her, finding faults with her because they feel guilty for treating fl unfairly and in the end fl is their "true" child. Wtf dont they know what equal is. They are like we were biased against one child before so now we have to be biased against other child. Lets be even more biased about fl now because she is our biological daughter. Author keeps subtlely implying "...but still blood is blood, fl is superior over og fmc because she is biological." Honestly? They dont deserve both of the daughters. 

If you want to read good trapped in novel story, read "the villainess wont let the main leads die". Fl, there, is not a heroine, she is not perfect, she is not righteous, selfless or pure. She is not a character in novel but a human with emotions and complicated feelings. She is not better than everyone, people don't worship her and things dont fall in her lap. Not pretentious at all. She does what she needs to do to survive but is not stone cold about what effect her choices has on others. She stays with ml for her safety but is also honest, sincere and genuinely gives him back as much as she takes. This is what makes readers want to read a story. Not a narration of some lifeless doll, but of feelings, struggles, and yet her standing on top of all that. No need to be standing alone at the top with pure, clean white dress with not one blemish but standing even at the lowest pit with pride even if scars, dust and mud is smeared all over is what is admirable. 

Tldr: 3/10 and all 3 is for ml. Don't get why it's rated so high. full of cliche and stale plot. Mary sue fl. Shallow and fl doesnt deserve ml, fl's family doesnt deserve children.

//Dropped at ch. 40// <<less

4.5/10... more>>

Just mid. Nothing new. There are novels I love whose plot is very typical. The difference, though, is all in the writing and how the author developes the characters. This one is unoriginal, with weak writing, shallow characterization and just boring. 

//Dropped at ch. 75// <<less

5/10... more>>

I am a sucker for these type of tropes. So, i loved it at first but then the ending was just okay. It hate the way it went. Its a happy ending but personally, fl deserves better than the ml. Till the end i feel fl loved ml much more than he did. He just did minimum and there she is pouring her heart, body, soul and sacrificing her career and future for him. He is just let off too easy.

And my biggest complain is that the angst wasnt fully utilised. I wanted them to live separately for a while then ml can pursue fl. I want him to coughsuffercough do as much for her. After all, fl pursued ml and loved him for so long. It would only be fair that he goes through the same thing for her.

//Completed// <<less

6.5/10... more>>

Short, funny, cute, lighthearted. Well written. No need to think too much, just a simple story. 

//Completed// <<less

5.5/10... more>>

Good. No complaints and I did enjoy it. But it bored me after 20 chapters. It is fluff and it is very sweet. But it is too common and I feel like I have read stories like this thousand of times before. And I feel like I know what remaining 50 chapters will be too so I dropped it. I think the whole novel could have been condensed to 30 chapters and that would be perfect length. 70 chapters are too many for a story with no plot.

//Dropped at 29// <<less

6.5/10... more>>

No drama, it is just a simple story. Cute af. As the translator said it is nothing like everlasting love and eternal vows, but just a part of their youth. A small story of their first love beginning. "A person may go through several relationship and we don't know her ending but we get to follow through her first relationship that is sweet and innocent but also hesitant and never racking."

//completed// <<less

5/10... more>>

Quick read. Not bad but also not that exciting bcs there is no conflict in the plot. Pretty straightforward story. The old couple meeting again in another timeline. Premise is smthg original so that good. 

//Conpleted// <<less

5/10... more>>

Writing is a little weak. The transition from one scene to another is jarring. It just cuts off to different scenes at random so it was confusing to read. Another issue, the leads get together first and their relationship and past is slowly explored in later chapters. Ngl, I find that order very odd. It just felt hollow and superficial at first. But it does get better as you keep reading tho, once you get a hang of deciphering random scene jump cuts and the past between the leads unfold. 

Putting these aside, I did enjoy the plot as long as I remember it is not the depth in storyline/characterization I am looking for here. It is just a story to get some dopamime and then forget about it. The plot is also not original but who doesn't like stories of unrequited love finding their happy end. The story of people who missed each other once finding themselves again later in life. I have to put a reminder tho, ml is tsundere and fl has serious avoidant attachment issues. They missed each other before because both were unwilling to take a step lol. 

//Completed// <<less

7/10... more>>

There is something only a slice of life can give. It is slow, calm, steady, gentle. There is no fuss or unnecessary drama, even with second ml. And the love between the leads blossom slowly and beautifully. Their love is like a still pool of lake, not explosive and sparkly like firecracker. I really enjoyed seeing the two get closer. It didn't feel greasy and they came together rather naturally. I always appreciate it when romcom don't give me second hand embarrassment. I do find certain details a little ridiculous like the tangled acquintence between the characters and the family issue of FL could have been tied up better. But, novel overall is good and the length was also just right, longer than that and it would turn boring, mundane. Slice of life is one tricky genre.

Ai jing Chu is cold, quiet and reserved while being kind and righteous. Zheng Li is someone who appreciates people and the one who gives 10 fold to those who are kind to her. So, they find each other because one kindly helps and another returns that favour with 100s of her own. They find each other because of their kindness.

//Completed// <<less

6.5/10... more>>

Light cute novel. I think it could have been longer and we get to see the character development slowly and the relationship between the foster parents getting better. It was way too short and lots of skips in later chapters so it felt a little like a pilot episode. But still I like the characters and the MC is just so endearing, I would have adopted her too. 

//Completed// <<less

6.5/10... more>>

Liked it a lot. Although there is politics and scheming here and there because it is a court based historical novel, I didn't find it as politics heavy as other novels of same genre. Probably because this novel was romance heavy instead and the author took "telling" approach with politics parts instead of actively showing and letting the scenes unfold. I found the political part a little muddy too. But yeah in the end, like with most novels, ml and fl's future title is quite predictable. What is different here is the father-in-law is shown as ambiguous character and FL doesn't go for revenge. 

Now for the romance part, I liked it a lot. The best part. They have the most understanding, teasing and sweet relationship. Also there is implicit s*x scenes which I think was important to show their relationship slowly building up. And it builds up pretty smoothly too without much space for second leads although both of them have ex fiancée. Maybe because ml and second ml are friends. Also FL is decisive so there is no hanging between two people kind of drama. As for ml's ex, ml is even more straightforward about his past and there is no room for any misunderstanding at all. My only problem is that second ml deserved better. He shows up to help FL everytime she gets in trouble but only as damage control, because in the end ml ends up saving the day. He is always just backing wei tan while wei tan prepared for finale. I have never seen a second ml, second ml-ing as much as pei jiyuan. He deserves his own story and happy ending. The absolute gentleman. 

//Completed// <<less

6.5/10... more>>

This was fun. If you like romcom and historical setting with slice of political drama, then you will like this. But this seems to be hit or miss among readers. I for one enjoyed it. Of course if you want super op character that is plotting schemes after schemes for revenge, this won't suit your taste. But to say FL is s*upid is also wrong. She is bright, clever and audacious. It might annoy people if you are looking for solemn leads but she is vividly charming and pairing her with a little serious, clean freak and intelligent ml brought a very fun bickering chemistry. They are like cat(ml) and dog(fl). And for a little break from clichés, FL chases ml first and it is hilarious (although she isn't in love yet). The premise is also not that cliche and FL doesn't reincarnate with full memories, it is just snippets. 

A little sad about ending and one of the characters dying. But it just means that I was that invested in the story and the characters. Besides, I am just happy the at least ml and FL are together in the end.

//Completed// <<less

There is something about melancholic unrequited love stories that just gets me. Specially when the stories follows the realistic path and the leads end up... more>> going on their own separate ways. It always leaves me with a huge rock on my heart. The heaviness, sadness, a little unwillingness to accept the ending but also touching my heart like no other. Some end better than other, with some there is resolution and with others there is none but that's life and we need to move on as it comes, even if we don't get the closure we desperately wish for. <<less