it starts out well enough, and the kissing scenes are great, very erotic. but then the author strays onto the worn down, lazy route of using stupid misunderstandings as a plot device. yeah, you allegedly love this person beyond everything; you want to build a life together; but the first time you see him with another person unknown to you who seems to be on familiar terms with him, you withdraw, doubt him, and pout/angst? oh, please. that's not much of a love then, is it. this always ticks me off because it makes me start to dislike the characters for being such idiots, and that spoils my enjoyment. hello! how about extending the beloved a little goodwill? yeah, yeah, i know; some people really are this stupid in real life too, but i don't have to like it.
luckily not everything is misunderstandings; some is insecurity -- and i can buy that much more easily because, heck, who isn't insecure when they don't know each other all that well yet. especially when the beloved seems to have a seedy past, which now comes to haunt him in the form of a sharp-tongued former lover. there's also some actual growth happening for the characters (well, mostly to satori). i also like asou when he's dorky.
it's not great, but it's above average for BL novels (i know, that's not saying much). the translation is good, and wow, somebody copy-edited this book!