Review for: The Infatuated Second Male Lead Doesn't Exist Rating: ☆☆1/2

I'm actually leaning closer to a two-star, but I have to admit that the climax of the story was very cathartic. While the description for this novel may say that it's a fluffy romance, while it is true that the romantic parts themselves are very sweet (sometimes cloyingly so), most of the book does revolve around the drama relating to the side characters. But it's not the fact that it was a low-stakes quick read that drew me in - it's the disabled love interest. And to that, I have to say... I was underwhelmed.

I'm constantly looking for different kinds of disability rep in what I read, so what pulled me into this one was the author flat-out saying that there would be no magical cures (and this is true! He stays disabled, no complaints there at least). Having previously been disappointed by a 'magical cure' in the past, I was really looking forward to this. However, I do take issue with the way that the love interest was constantly being man-handled by the MC. Ever since they first met, the MC would push his wheelchair and even pick him up without asking, the ML never had any strong objection to this. Not only that, but there were also a few moments throughout where the MC would purposefully move the ML's wheelchair away so that he would have no choice but to depend on him. There's one moment where the ML is even put directly in harm's way (ie, pulling him into a swimming pool) because of the MC deciding to be 'mischievous'. I don't know - even though the ML never thought much of these interactions, I did, and had a very hard time finding these moments to be as sweet or flirty as the author was trying to write them off as.

That's not to say that I thought the rep was absolutely hopeless, but I was hoping it would be more realistic and respectful. This book is kind of a 'just shut your brain off' kind of read, and it gets more meh the more you think about it. But as I said, I can't be too upset because it delivered on what it said it was going to be and the climax/resolution was satisfying. Wouldn't really recommend for those looking for good wheelchair rep, unfortunately.