I can’t get enough of Limerence!! This cute danmei about an e-sports gamer who is pining after his roommate’s boyfriend?? It sounds messy, but it is really a sweet and tender story. I couldn’t help blushing, smiling, and kicking my feet while reading. In this video, I talk about my favorite things about the story and some things I would change!

Video Notes:

Please note, these are my rough notes for recording! Grammatical errors will exist!

Cold Open

• When Pei Ran realizes his high school sweetheart boyfriend Luo Qingshan cheated on him, he almost feels relieved. Prepared to just be single, he doesn’t realize his ex’s roommate, Yan Zhun, has been pining for him all this time. As the two starting gaming together, they develop a friendship and slowly, a little something more.

Welcome

• Welcome back to TWOA and Happy Danmei Friday! This week I’m excited to talk about Limerence by Jiang Zi Bei. Also known as “I’ve liked your boyfriend for a really long time”
• If you watched my unwrapping video, you’ll know I ordered this from YiggyBooks and am obsessed with how beautiful the cover is and the transparent dust jacket.
• The little decorative details inside the book that are all computer themed are also very cute.
• This story had me HOOKED! I binged it in about 2 days, and stayed up late finishing it, which is something i rarely do now-adays due to work and just being tired all the time.

My Thoughts

• The esports environment– while i dont play the types of games mentioned in the book, i do game so i loved the gaming setting in this story. it just makes it so fun and cool. i also enjoyed Yan Zhun’s extended universe being the gaming house and having those friends to introduce Pei Ran too.
• Pei Ran – I really liked Pei Ran as an MC. I saw a few reviews online that said he was boring or plain, but that is actually what I liked about him. I think some people are just more chill and that’s okay. While he was dealing with some conflicting emotions, he was calculated and tried to go about them in a rational way.
• Pei Ran and Lou Qingshan’s relationship: This relationship dynamic was a really good one to see in fiction. I think its made very clear that even before the cheating incident, Pei Ran was feeling detached from the relationship with Lou Qingshan. He wasn’t unhappy but he also wasn’t excited. I think a lot of him being with Lou Qingshan was the gratitude for him standing up for him when he was bullied in high school. He mentions a lot how LQ pursued him and how he ended up “giving him.” He did genuinely like LQ at a point, but by the time LQ is getting too close to Su Nian, he was already mentally checking out of the relationship.
• Yan Zhun – Yan Zhun has to be one of my favorite leads in a while. I thought he was adorable and his pining for Pei Ran had me blushing and kicking my feet. He was so patient with pei ran, but i also like that he took initiative to confess his feelings and ask for a chance, when he felt like it was appropriate. My only complaint was the way he “shut down” a few times when he thought Pei Ran was going to go back to Lou Qingshan or still had feelings for him. I think he could have handled it better but also, i get it. he’s in college. he’s grown but not all the way emotionally developed.
• The relationship dynamic: while it makes for a good story dynamic, i think we can all agree that getting with your ex’s roommate would definitely be a bit problematic in real life. In fiction, i don’t care lol but what I will say is that I think the author does a great job at giving us a lot of insight into Pei Ran’s feeling and his thoughts about his relationship with Lou Qinshan as mentioned earlier. I think that softens the blow in the story so it doesnt feel as scandalous.
• Lou Qinshan’s downfall: I’ll admit, i was not a fan of Lou Qinshan’s downward spiral over losing Pei Ran. I think towards the beginning of the breakup his refusal to believe it was over and his attempts at reconciliation were okay, but the end leans into desperation and i would have thought Lou Qinshan would have grown up in his love for Pei Ran to be able to let him go. But its sad that ultimatrly, he never grew up from seeing Pei Ran as something to covet. All this actions from high school through college show that Lou Qinshan really liked the idea of having Pei Ran, but not really valuing Pei Ran as a person outside of his want of him. He takes him for granted and jeopardizes the relationship by getting close to Su Nian. If he really loved and cared for Pei Ran, he would have never put himself in the position for Su Nian to not only fall for him but think he has a genuine chance to be with him

Conclusion

I will always be a sucker for light and fluffy romcoms, and Limerence delivers just that. It’s such a fun read, where the romance moves at slower pace but is filled with a lot of little intimate moments that make the heart race! This is one i find myself flipping to my favorite parts to re-experience them over again bcause they are just THAT CUTE! I will be thinking about Pei Ran and Yan Zhun for time to come.