I went into the book and the show thinking they would be better than they actually are. I liked the show more because Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal are truly wonderful, but however charming they are as actors, they can't make the characters more likable or interesting than they are on paper. They're interesting enough, but something's missing for me. The actors did really well, and it's sometimes a good character and relationship study, but it's not always super engaging and I wish the characters had more growth. I also wish the material was better and made me feel... something more.

The most infuriating thing, which is not romantic, is the cycle of their relationship. It would be quickly undone if thEY WERE BRAVE AND HAD AN ACTUAL CONVERSATION WHEN IT MATTERS, beyond the chats where they never seem to say what they really think or feel. The way that they seamlessly get together for a while and then something stupid happens gets old after a while. I love a good "life keeps pulling them apart but their love always brings them back to each other", but that's not what this was. The ending is unsatisfying to me because I can see them stuck in that cycle forever and I wish the story didn't leave me feeling that way.