The first thing that struck me about this story is the very poetic and thoughtful writing style. It felt like the narrator was wistfully sitting down to have a chat about how the loves in his life have gone so far.

That said the overanalyzing of every relationship he has ever had with women was a bit jarring. He seems to assess every female he meets as a potential wife. While likely unintentional, there are some parts of the book that read rather arrogant and borderline narcissistic. These women are people of their own and just because they talk to you doesn't mean they are suddenly potential wives. I would've loved to see greater acknowledgment of the importance of platonic love in friendship.

One part of this story that rubbed me the wrong way is the insinuation that there are only two genders. I realize that it was an off-handed line, but it felt very unnecessary and out of place to what was happening in the story at the time. I was tempted to take off an additional star just for this factor but decided that was a bit harsh. 

This book has absolutely zero dialogue. The author said this was a deliberate choice to respect the privacy of people's conversations. Due to this lack of dialogue, the point of view and perspective is quite one-sided. I would've loved to see more from the women's perspectives.

This book does an excellent job of expressing the feelings associated with the rise and fall of falling in love. When Ceerloshin fumbles his relationships, a lot of depth and care is shown as to why it all went wrong. From the elation to the heartbreak, this book dives into it all.

Overall this book is excellent for those looking for a book that dives into what it means to love and be loved. This book sometimes comes off a bit concerning with stalking behavior or overall arrogance, so do keep that in mind. 

Please see my blog for a more in-depth review: https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-heart-to-seek.html

I received this book as an arc. My review is honest and voluntary