This is very good at a lot of things. It brings in characters from the previous two books in a really great way. It confronts directly atypical circumstances for both of the leads in this and high standards rooted in ethnicity (as far as I know, anyway; that’s what it seems like to me).

Best of all, the dynamics are far more compelling to me as well. Cultivating intimacy is rooted in an organic way and during trying events for both characters. It feels less contrived, for the most part. There’s some communication problem tropes, but the contrived aspects of that is buttressed with the overarching issues they’re dealing with. I really like that it’s a romance with less of a magical sexy-time followed by The Problems.

It provides so much more characterization and doesn’t leave cultural things by the way side, digging into family dynamics and history. Its just a really great novel. And, ironically, it’s because it’s less of a romance, maybe? Focusing on everything else about their lives just really works for me, though. Far more interesting and feels more “real”.

Oh, I did think of an annoying thing: The male voice actor in contrast to the woman is terrible. Just let her narrate the whole thing. The woman is emotive and fantastic and the guy is way monotone and boring.