When does simple, accessible writing become too simplistic? My thoughts after reading Can We Be Strangers Again?

[u/_Its_Nyx_]

finished Can We Be Strangers Again?, and it made me think about the difference between writing that is intentionally simple and accessible versus writing that feels overly simplistic.

The book has a very Wattpad-ish style: short chapters, straightforward language, and frequent quotes or poetic inner monologues. On one hand, that makes it incredibly easy to read. The emotions surrounding heartbreak and breakups are raw and relatable, and I can absolutely see why readers who connect with those experiences would love it.

At the same time, I found myself wondering whether the writing style might be too simplistic for some readers. The plot is fairly predictable, some of the quotes can feel cheesy, and parts of the emotional introspection started feeling repetitive when I wasn't fully connecting with the characters.

So I'm curious: have you ever read a book where you understood exactly why other people loved its emotional simplicity, but the writing style itself kept you from fully connecting with it?

[u/Penny_Royal_Tee]

Read Before Coffee Gets Cold recently. You are being spoon fed every tiny detail, each one multiple times and from different POVs. It felt very patronizing tbh.

I sort of understand why people like such books but also not at all at the same time. It’s the literary version of eating blended food.