Engage by Yuu Minaduki

[reviews_and_ramblings]

The greatest love is one that surmounts even the greatest obstacles in this romance featuring Naru from the Love Nest series.

When a young chef confesses his love to a mysterious and attractive older stranger, he’s drawn into a deep web of intrigue and buried family history that could threaten his attraction to the only man he’s ever loved.

The highlight of chef Mei Suzumori’s year is the Tanabata Festival—the one day a year when a pair of mythical lovers reunites. For Mei, it’s the day that a mysterious, handsome stranger visits his adopted family’s restaurant to buy tasty seasonal taiyaki. This year, unable to hold his feelings for the attractive stranger back any longer, Mei professes his love—and finds he’s linked to the enigmatic Naru by a bond much deeper and more complicated than he ever imagined.

My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/46NcEeB)

It's a bit difficult to say exactly what I liked about this series, and I’m not even entirely sure I loved it. Yes, I like Naru—I was already a fan when he was a supporting character in Love Nest, and I genuinely wanted him to find true love. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that his polyamorous relationships can’t be filled with love, but Naru himself describes those relationships as more comforting than truly passionate—they’re easy, without pain. But with Mei, it’s different; it’s true love. The problem is that for most of the series—two out of three books, even though it’s not finished yet—we're led to believe that Naru is Mei’s uncle. Later, we learn he isn’t biologically related to Mei, but honestly, does that really matter? Does the lack of blood relation make their relationship more acceptable? It’s also true that Naru has never acted as an uncle to Mei, and Mei has grown up thinking he’s just a gentle man he met once a year. Mei’s feelings for Naru are genuine, and now that they can be together openly, it feels like a true romance. Still, since the series isn’t complete, I’ll hold off on my final judgment until it’s finished.