#I literally cannot see Lily and James in a romantic relationship anymore

[nikolai-alexi]

why’d you need to call me out this loudly excuse

Me a year ago: Wtf why would anybody write James with someone other than Lily??? They're literally perfect???

Me now: *gay gremlin noises* JEGULUS. STARCHASER. SUNSEEKER. THE BABIES. SO PERFECT. IN LOVE. MUST WRITE NOW.

[chdarling]

Hi CH, thank you so much for your wonderful story! I really love it!

I do want to express my experience as a reader and mention that while James was portrayed beautifully in the first book, I feel that in the recent chapters in this current book he's missing so much light, prankful energy and the leadership he's meant to posses. he's not playful anymore, quite broody and kind of boring. I think his relationship with Florence is literally killing his vibe and I cannot see why he hangs on to her or even like her romantically enough to date her for so long... she's been a good friend to Lily, and she's nice overall (really no hate to her, just realization she's not it for him) but she's so vanilla-boring in every aspect almost, and James is Aries, the element of fire, he needs intellectual and a strong spirited girl to stimulate his brain and attraction (well, in my pov anyway). I just don't get it and I think she doesn't even make him that happy, it really feels like convenience and playing couple after all, they just don't really click.

I know you're a brilliant writer, and so far your world building and plot are beautiful, so I'm not complaining and I'm sure you've put a lot of thought on the way you shape the plot and story. It is just an "I miss James" rant and while I'm at it, will we have more pranks and some good old Marauders scenes coming still?

Thank you again for the lovely story. Love to you.

I mean…James is going through a lot. He’s facing the inevitability of his dad dying, he’s confronting his own shitty behavior and flinching as he takes an honest look in the mirror. He’s trudging through the misery of teen romance and coping with the particularly painful heartache of unrequited love. Not to mention that he’s coming of age in the shadow of violence and the incessant creep of fascism. He’s 17! I think he gets to be a little broody sometimes. 🫠

One note though, with regards to James dating Florence for “so long”…they really haven’t been haha. They started dating mid January, and it’s like…barely April TLE time. I realize this misconception is almost certainly a result of it taking me so long to finish TLE2 and, frankly, some overall larger pacing issues that come from me writing chapter to chapter, rather than all at once and editing — both of which are reasons why I’ve decided that after TLE2 I am never writing-as-I-go again lol. But yeah, it’s not that long of a relationship. And they’re already very clearly on the rocks. 🙃

Anyway. Yeah, James is different from TLE1. And he’ll be different in TLE3. So goes the character growth!