This was a very enjoyable novel to read, and I greatly appreciated the main character (MC) and his antics. I gave this novel 4 stars because there were a few issues that, while not major, I believe could have elevated the story to a true gem.
The novel, as the synopsis suggests, revolves around a 14-year-old boy who travels back 16 years to when his parents were in high school. The MC becomes classmates with his father and forms a relationship with him. Initially, the MC tries to get his father to recognize him, even calling him "dad." His primary goal is to bring his parents together, ensuring his own existence in the future. The way he approaches this is incredibly humorous, and he comes across as a very endearing and wholesome child. As the story unfolds, the MC learns a great deal about his parents and their personalities, leading to many charming interactions, particularly between the MC and his father. The ending, however, is quite angsty, so be prepared for an emotional ride. Having read the spoilers, I wasn't as affected, but if you're going in blind, brace yourself.
Now, let's discuss the areas where the novel could have been improved:
1. **MC's Perspective**: Given that the story is about a 14-year-old boy traveling back to his parents' high school days, one would expect a significant portion of the narrative to focus on the MC's efforts to bring his parents together. However, the author often shifts the focus to the parents, almost making them co-main characters. While I don't have a major issue with this, I felt that more of the story could have been told from the MC's perspective, providing deeper insight into his thoughts and feelings.
2. **Father's Affection**: The mother is portrayed as incredibly caring towards the MC, which is very touching. In contrast, the father's interactions, though humorous, lack a sense of deep affection. For example, when the MC is sick and dying, and the parents discover his identity, the father is concerned but doesn't display much sadness. The author notes that this is part of his character design, showing love more subtly, but I wished for more overt displays of emotion from him.
3. **Parental Neglect**: At the beginning, the MC mentions feeling neglected by his parents, who are always busy with work. When he travels back in time, he tries to determine if his parents truly wanted him. He drops several hints about his unhappy home life, and when his parents realize who he is, his mother is devastated. Despite this, they don't seem to address the issue of neglect directly. Instead, they explain that they were protecting him from the spotlight due to his mother's acting career and a past kidnapping incident. While this is understandable, it felt somewhat inadequately handled and could have been explored more deeply.
, it was a delightful novel that passed the time well. I do recommend it, especially for the cute and heartwarming interactions between the MC and his parents. With that, I bid you adieu <3
