Rating: 4.65 out of 5

I honestly did not expect to get this wrecked by a story about an idol. You go into it thinking it might be some fluffy romance about a star and her manager, but then the author just decides to stomp on your heart instead. The whole vibe of this novel is deceptively heavy, and I am here for it.

Miya is introduced as this "perfect" idol, the kind you see on TV with the plastered-on smile, but the way we see her internal struggles is heartbreaking. She feels like a literal puppet. There is this part where she talks about stealing love from people who deserve it because she thinks she doesn't have a soul? That actually made me pause and stare at my wall for five minutes. It is such a raw depiction of depression and imposter syndrome that you don't usually see in these kinds of stories.

Then there is Mukashi, the manager. At first, I kind of wanted to shake him because he is so cold. The guy literally has "memory files" in his head like a robot to manage his clients. He calls himself "dispassionate" and tries so hard to just view Miya as a job, but watching that facade crack is the best part of the plot. When he finally notices something is off—not because of his files, but because he actually starts looking at her—it hits different.

The suspense isn't about explosions; it is about whether Miya is going to make it through the day without crumbling. The chapter "The Pill That Killed Romance" was intense. I was so scared for her. It tackles the toxic pressure of the industry in a way that feels super real and scary.

The relationship between them is such a slow burn, but not in a cheesy way. It is more like two broken people trying to find a reason to keep going. If you like stories that hurt a little bit but are beautifully written, you have to read this. It is not just a romance; it is a whole psychological deep dive. 4.65/5 because I need therapy after reading it.