The main conflict in 'How Does It Feel' revolves around the protagonist's struggle to reconcile their artistic passion with societal expectations. As a musician, they crave creative freedom, but their family pressures them to pursue a stable career. This tension escalates when they land a lucrative corporate job offer—their dream band simultaneously gets a breakthrough tour opportunity. The clash isn’t just external; internally, they battle self-doubt, fearing failure in both worlds. Their romantic partner adds another layer, advocating for the artistic path but struggling with the instability it brings. The novel brilliantly captures the agony of choosing between security and self-expression, making every decision feel like a fracture in their identity.
The secondary conflict simmers in the protagonist’s relationship with their bandmates, whose trust erodes as deadlines loom and commitments waver. Late-night arguments about ‘selling out’ versus ‘starving for art’ highlight how ambition strains friendships. Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal a parent’s abandoned artistic dreams, haunting the protagonist like a ghost. The story’s raw emotional core lies in these dual battles—external expectations versus internal desires, and the cost of chasing a feeling that might not last.
The core conflict in 'How Does It Feel' is generational. The protagonist’s immigrant parents sacrificed everything for stability, but their definition of success clashes with the protagonist’s indie music dreams. Arguments about ‘wasted opportunities’ escalate when the dad secretly attends a gig—and hates it. The mom’s silent disapproval cuts deeper than shouts. The novel’s tension springs from these cultural divides, asking if honoring one’s roots means abandoning one’s heart.
At its heart, 'How Does It Feel' pits authenticity against compromise. The protagonist, a songwriter, grapples with a music industry that demands commercial hits while their soul screams for raw, unfiltered lyrics. Their manager pushes for trendy collaborations; their fans beg for the old style. This creative dissonance mirrors their personal life—they’re drawn to a free-spirited lover but feel safer with someone predictable. The conflict isn’t just about music; it’s about whether to dilute one’s essence to fit in. A pivotal moment comes when they ghostwrite a pop star’s album, hiding their involvement. The shame of anonymity wars with the thrill of success, leaving them questioning every choice. The novel’s genius lies in showing how the protagonist’s art suffers when they silence their voice, turning the conflict into a visceral, relatable crisis.
'How Does It Feel' explores the collision of mental health and ambition. The protagonist’s anxiety disorder makes the chaos of touring unbearable, yet quitting feels like betrayal. Their band depends on them; their therapist urges rest. The conflict peaks when they collapse mid-concert, symbolizing the unsustainable grind of creative careers. Family adds pressure—a sibling dismisses their ‘first world problems,’ while a friend’s overdose forces a reckoning. The story questions whether passion is worth self-destruction, balancing gritty backstage scenes with tender moments of vulnerability.
2025-06-24 11:47:57
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Conflicted
Sadieperez9
9.9
136.6K
Gunnar Hámundarson is brutal, ruthless, and cunning. His pack, is no different. They have little compassion for others and have zero tolerance for the weak.
Gunnar and his warriors have made a reputation for themselves all over the world. A strong and heartless reputation. As the leaders in Mercenary work, they are not to be taken lightly.
But when their Luna is finally discovered, that reputation is threatened. Will Gunnar side with his pack or with the mate that nature intended for him to have?
Vanessa Hanes has never had a family of her own and her time is up for being adopted. Her 18th birthday has finally arrived, marking the end of her stay in the group home.
But Vanessa has a plan. Her and her bestfriend, have high hopes for the future. Can they make it on their own, will they even get the chance?
I was nineteen the first time Cole Whitfield broke me.
Not with cruelty. With a single word.
Why.
Not did you — why. Like the answer was already settled and he just wanted the story to make sense. I told him the truth anyway. He said nothing that mattered. So I picked up my bag, walked out of his apartment, and decided that a man who trusted a rumor over two years of me wasn’t worth a correction.
I spent the next two years becoming someone I actually liked. New city. Graduate program. A published paper with my name on it. I was done with Cole Whitfield in every way a person can be done.
Then I walked into Seminar Room 114 and he was sitting right there, gray eyes already on the door, like some part of him knew.
I sat down. I opened my notebook. I did not look up.
Here’s the thing about studying how people form beliefs: you understand exactly why he believed it. That doesn’t mean you forgive it. That doesn’t mean two years of silence disappear because he’s learned how to look at you like he’s sorry.
He wants a conversation. I want my degree.
But the campus is small, the seminar table is round, and the boy who broke my heart at nineteen is doing everything right at twenty-one — and I’m starting to understand that composed isn’t the same thing as healed.
I hate that I still know the exact sound of his voice.
"What do you want? I thought I warned you to stay away from me the last time we talked on the phone?” I said, with my hands across my chest.
“Alexandria! What did I do wrong? Please tell me, if it's something I can fix, I will gladly do it! Why all this coldness towards me?” He said, moving closer towards me, and I did not move. Looking at his cute face, I sigh softly.
“Fred, you did not do anything wrong, okay! We just had fun, and nothing more!”
“Fun? Was that all it was to you?” He asked, his eyes turning red at my words.
“Yeah! What else? I asked you out myself, didn't I?”
“Yeah, but I thought we were dating? Alex, please don't do this to me! After what I have been through, I thought, I have finally found someone who is genuine, and sincere to fall in love with!” He said, with so much passion that I felt it a little bit. But then, I wasn't the type to love someone.
"Can't you see? I have fallen in love with you! I'm head over heels for you, Alex!” He spoke softly, holding my hands again, and looking into my eyes. I could see the truth in his eyes, I could tell that he really does love me. But then, it's a pity that I can't feel anything for him.
Two individuals with different stories, different emotions and different problems...
They meet in a high school, one as a student, the other as an intern...
How can they balance their views?
Michael, the most gentle person in the whole school, was noted for his handsomeness, his blameless character, not only that, he is a brilliant fellow, a nerd to be precise. Out of the blues, he started admiring handsome boys in his class. At age 16, he discovered that all his classmates he admired were signs of him having same-sex attraction. He became mortified, guilty, feeling empty for having feelings for the same sex. He was lost in a battle, a battle of dealing with feelings for both the same sex and opposite sex. What will he do in this situation? Who can he trust with this secret and who will help him? What could go wrong when the same-sex becomes attracted to him? Will he give in to the sexual craving? Will he succeed in getting rid of it? Find out in WEIRD FEELING.AUTHORS NOTE: This novel is a good one as it will shed more light on same-sex attraction. I hope you drop your honest review as you read.
For ten years, Cal Mercer and Ethan Locke have been the hockey league’s favorite scandal: fists thrown, penalties stacked, a rivalry so vicious it sells jerseys. Then a trade puts them on the same bench... and everything ignites.
Their chemistry isn’t friendly or forgiving. It’s brutal, exacting, and charged with tension that feels far too personal. Cal, feared for his massive body and punished for his powerful temper, secretly craves rules that he was never allowed to name. Ethan, ice-cold and commanding, thrives on control, until Cal’s instinctive submission cuts too close to a need Ethan has so far refused to acknowledge.
As the season tightens and scrutiny mounts, their power struggle stops being accidental and becomes chosen. Lines are drawn, boundaries are negotiated, and a Dom/sub dynamic is explored. What begins as hatred turns deliberate, dangerous, and achingly intimate – something neither man can afford, and neither can resist.
'Thin Ice Between Us' is a forbidden M/M romance set inside a league that celebrates sanctioned violence while outlawing intimacy between men. This isn’t love at first sight, but something sharper: dominance earned, submission chosen, and conflict transformed into trust.
On the ice, they’re allowed to destroy each other. Everywhere else, wanting becomes a real risk... but being discovered will cost them everything
In 'How Does It Feel', the love triangle is more of a subtle tension than a full-blown rivalry. The protagonist is torn between two compelling love interests—one represents stability and familiarity, while the other embodies passion and unpredictability. The story explores the emotional weight of choice rather than outright competition. The relationships are deeply textured, with moments of jealousy and longing, but it avoids melodrama. Instead, the focus is on introspection, making the love triangle feel organic and emotionally resonant.
The second love interest isn’t just a plot device; their chemistry with the protagonist is palpable, adding layers to the narrative. The triangle isn’t resolved hastily—it lingers, forcing the protagonist to confront their own fears and desires. This makes the dynamic feel authentic, not forced. The book’s strength lies in how it portrays love as messy and ambiguous, leaving readers debating which pairing they root for long after finishing.
The central conflict in 'The Way I Am Now' revolves around the protagonist's internal struggle between self-acceptance and societal expectations. The story dives deep into the emotional turmoil of someone trying to reconcile their true identity with the pressure to conform. The protagonist battles feelings of inadequacy and isolation, especially when faced with family and friends who don't understand their journey. The novel beautifully captures the tension between wanting to be authentic and fearing rejection, making it a poignant exploration of personal growth.
What makes this conflict so compelling is how it mirrors real-life struggles many readers can relate to. The author doesn't shy away from showing the messy, painful moments of self-discovery. The protagonist's relationships become battlegrounds for this conflict, with love and misunderstanding often colliding. The narrative also touches on how external validation can sometimes feel like a cage, trapping the protagonist in a cycle of doubt. The resolution isn't neatly packaged, which adds to the story's authenticity and emotional impact.
Ever since I picked up 'The Name of the Wind', I've been obsessed with dissecting its layers. Patrick Rothfuss crafts this intricate world where every word feels deliberate, like a puzzle waiting to be solved. The prose is lyrical, almost musical, and Kvothe’s journey from a gifted child to a legend is riddled with unreliable narration—which makes rereads so rewarding.
What really gets me is how Rothfuss plays with myth vs. reality. You’re never sure if Kvothe’s stories are exaggerated, and that ambiguity mirrors how legends grow in real life. The magic system, Sympathy, feels grounded in physics, yet the more mystical elements like the Fae realm keep things unpredictable. It’s a book that demands patience, but the payoff is in those tiny details—like the way stories within stories echo larger themes.