I'm a weird reviewer since I read ahead and a back to previous chapters to review after some time. The one thing I noticed here that starts to become consistent and more pronounced as the story progresses is how Emilie both wants to make her relationship with Aksel work but is already halfway out of it with her constantly feeling as if she's not enough.

This chapter genuinely made me a little heartbroken when reading... which means you must be doing a great job as an author :) I can't say I'm happy about Emilie's 'revelation' about Lumi, but it certainly makes for another interesting obstacle. I love that you chose to make Lumi such a sweet character though; it's a bit of a relief to see the story stray away from the usual "bitter-ex-but-not-really" trope.

I really am hooked - you bet I reached for my phone and pulled up this page to check for an update as soon as I woke up this morning. As usual, very excited (and also, honestly a tad nervous) for the next chapter to see how Aksel and Emilie work through this! (Or don't, but I'm hoping that isn't the case.) Here's hoping your cough goes away!

I loved the scene with Aksel’s friends because I’ve DEFINITELY been in a similar position before, meeting my friend’s friends, and just... it being in the same wavelength as them. It gets super hard to communicate, and it’s such a strange feeling watching your friend interact with them. It’s literally like watching from a far distance. Anyway, you captured that feeling so well!

Bananas really are THAT fruit, huh? You can eat them on their own, you can make bread and pancakes with them, you can (maybe) cure bronchitis by boiling them... they’re so underrated

if I’m being totally honest emi is driving me completely insane. (but also I can’t really relate since I’ve never been in that position) but regardless, still a great chapter. thank you for the updates!

Awesome! Keep up the work!

I'm hoping Emilie is able to actually become a bit happier in Helsinki soon.. very excited to see how this turns out! The Finnish classes were a nice touch - I've had that feeling of thinking I'm behind everyone else too, so it'll be interesting to see how Emilie progresses through that, assuming she does.

Lovely chapter as usual; I love how your writing is often unlike the super happy-go-lucky books where characters really can change their mindset around in a snap, and Emilie's drawn-out struggle is (unfortunately) a lot more realistic. Looking forward to the next update, and hope the bronchitis passes quickly! (I had it last summer and was miserable, so here's hoping your experience isn't quite as bad.)

I remember the first time around, I loved the bench scene too, so I’m so glad you kept it in! What you said about the intensive lessons is super interesting - I started learning French at uni a few years back, and even though we started off completely in French as well, it actually wasn’t too horrible to follow along, surprisingly enough! Though maybe it’s because so many English are basically French haha poor Emilie. Switching the not communicating enough thing to basically communicating too much works pretty well here. It’s so easy to mess up what you’re trying to say :/

Because I’m Aussie, I’m very much here for more references to Australia (and New Zealand too, I suppose, begrudgingly ) haha

Ugh bronchitis sounds dreadful, hope you get better soon!

I’m so glad you’re posting this story again (and having them communicate a bit more). Looking forward to the next chapter!

I just read this chapter for the second time within these past twenty mins and now I can see what else aksel meant when he ordered the latte and said so emi wouldn’t have to decide between both aaah I love him

I AM LIVING for these consistent updates thank you so much I don’t have a preference as to which day they come I just love reading this :) also glad that aksel and emi are getting so much better about communicating!

I think for me, in terms of weekly update day, Friday would be best - no more uni for a couple days, I can stay up late reading this! But really, I’m not too picky, any other day can do too :)

I definitely noticed that Emi was making more of an effort to communicate in this new version! I mean, she got Aksel to admit what he was feeling about her zoning out situation, which definitely couldn’t have been comfortable for him. That man has the patience of a saint, I swear, but even saints have limits at some point

And aghhhhhfhsadbfbfnf Emi really does drive me crazy sometimes, with her obliviousness to how the way she acts affects Aksel. Like, gurl is so obvious with how much more she feels comfortable in Hamburg than in Helsinki but I see so much of myself in her insecurity I can’t not like her :’)

The previous Emilie was indeed angstier. Present Emilie is struggling but with a little less of it all. I dunno what I'm talking and I know I don't make sense anymore but AAAAAAHHH! LOVE this story so so so much! 3

omg I stumbled on this story after rereading something better for the thousandth time and i love it! I never got to read the old version before it got taken down, so thank you for starting this up again! love these two chapters and can't wait for the next :)

Oh my god! I just visited your profile to check if you’d posted a new story but to my delight you’re continuing an old favourite of mine! So so happy! Good luck to you :)
(I’m a really old reader of yours but I’m not sure if you remember. Anyway I’m veryyyy happy you’re back!)

And so the breakdown begins :/ I always felt so uncomfortable reading the awkward, unhappy parts in the old version of this fic, and I felt the same way for a lot in this chapter, so that must mean you’re doing a good job hahaha. I can’t seem to recall whether Tatiana was in the old version, but I think it’s a great idea that she made an appearance because for Emi, it’s really important that she has support from someone who’s not Aksel. Anyway, great chapter, and can’t wait for the next :)