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And to me, this is one of the best and most joyful things about reading. Every good story I read, there is always something new I learned along the way, be it from the story itself, the author's messages, or fellow readers' analysis and perspectives 😉. And they help me to understand more about life and the people around me

Well said! Love it! 😊 Well, Daniel is not a conventional person/character. I always thought his version of happiness would be very different from what others would think about happiness. Because of his hunger and who he is, he will walk that path alone. However, being alone doesn't mean being lonely. Daniel, fortunately, is surrounded by people who accept his true self and love him deeply and genuinely. And he also loves them all passionately in return. Because he chose to live truthfully with them, he strengthened their bonds and love. And because of that, I think (and this is also my hope) he will have a very fulfilled life full of love and laughs, even if his hunger is bottomless and will never be satisfied. After all, Daniel Beaumont does not lead a conventional life and love, and with the amazing people he has, I think his life could potentially be an extraordinary one in the future

I couldn't agree more with you about Daniel. Your analysis and your view on him are simply brilliant. It's a joy to read. Thank you! 😊

After reading the first three sentences, I smiled already. This is a great and hot chapter. I like Mateo already. What a fun, smart, and chaotic (in a very good way) character, especially with his over-the-top screams and hypersexual! He made me laugh more than once. Such a screen (or paper) stealer! The chemistry between Hudson and Liam got even better in this chapter. Their text exchanges and wits are also the highlight of this chapter. Not to mention their nicknames for each other. Chef's kiss! Great work, Nuno! 😄

This is another amazing story from the author, Casual Wanderer! This is one of the stories about unconventional love (through today's society's lenses), patience, compassion, acceptance, and most importantly, living truthfully with yourself and your family. It also raised the issues and consequences of people having to live with masks or personas (if we prefer a fancier word) every day in every aspect of their lives, whether they chose to or were forced to do so. Daniel is the centre of the story, of the malady that was mentioned in the title. However, his hunger is not the only hunger that was analysed or focused on. Other characters also have their own hunger. However, the different hungers didn't dilute the story's focus, and instead, they tied the events and characters together nicely. Nora is my favourite character. In my humble opinion, she is the strongest. What happened to her, especially at the start of the novel, could easily destroy anyone in real life. And yet, she not only lived through it but also strengthened herself with love, compassion, and kindness. These are the qualities that made me fall in love with the character. Alec is my second favourite because he made me smile all the time, and he's kind. I think everyone should have an Alec in their lives. Alec also reminded me to Cash from "Down In the Holler", another novel from Casual Wanderer. I think these types of characters enrich every story they are in, and I hope to see more of them in future stories/novels While Daniel is not in my top 2, he is one of the most interesting characters (if not the most). His imperfection and his journey to eventually recognise and accept it are one of the best highlights of the story. And even better, that he didn't achieve this on his own, but with the help of the people who loved him dearly and patiently. And this is the element that made me love this story. If this is your first time reading a novel by the author, I would like to share that the first two chapters can be very intense and emotionally challenging. That is one of the charms of his work that never gets old, even among his veteran readers. However, things will be entangled, and questions will be answered throughout the novel. Another point is that since this is also about unconventional love, it won't be about monogamy, especially for the main characters. Nevertheless, I think if you approach the story with an open mind, you'll have a good time with this one. Finally, another improvement in Casual's writing that I found through this story is that there is an English translation next to each non-English dialogue most of the time. This kept the story engaging and my reading (and focus) unbroken since I no longer have to use a translation tool, like Google Translate. I hope this flow will continue with new stories or new chapters of current incomplete stories

This is a love story, but it's not a conventional love story. It also went beyond the focus of the main characters and told love stories of a lovely fictional community. The story raised a lot of issues regarding guilt, anger, homophobia, domestic violence, and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. However, it also offered warmth, love, justice, and forgiveness. The characters are quite relatable. The community of the main protagonists protects each other fiercely with compassion and love. Daisy and Cash are my favourite characters. Daisy's motherly, unconditional love for Jackson and other characters is the story's biggest highlight. Cash always made me smile. He's a funny (not comical, but realistic) and well-developed character. This is one of the best stories I have read in 2025 and early 2026, and it has a happy ending. The characters in the story are from the Southern US, so a lot of the dialogue has local dialect. Obviously, it helped to make the story more realistic. Still, it can be a bit challenging to understand/follow for non-native English speakers or someone who is not really familiar with the native US English dialect. It's ultimately not a disadvantage for me, but I thought I should mention it for other readers, just in case.

Sorry, I want to add another point 😅. This chapter has so many interesting points 😄. I love how stark a contrast Malik and Cameron were portrayed. Malik is a good cook, but Cameron can't cook. This just proved how deep the lies that Malik/Cameron lives with are. It's quite scary!

@Cane23's talent is insane. I think he secretly walks in Casual's mind 😆. Those analyses and predictions are just... chef's kiss. So good!

Oh, and one final thing. This story also encouraged me to always remember to live truthfully. So thank you for that, kind storyteller, Casual Wanderer!

Of course, I had to miss a point. I think it is very lovely that Nora, Alec, and Max all know that Daniel's path in his love life won't have a place for monogamy, but they still accepted that and patiently waited for him to realise that himself (with "I know" from Max and with implications from both Nora and Alec's perspectives in previous chapters). Again, this just intensifies the fact of how lucky Daniel is. I'm really envy him (but very happy for him 😊)!

This chapter is speechless (although I'm going to pour my feelings out while writing this 😆) and simply beautiful. The ending is absolutely fitting and comes in a full circle. Now it all makes sense how "Malik" could recognise the Daniel beneath the surface during chapters 1 and 2 (like when he said "I see"). It's because he had worn similar masks, and he was even at a higher level compared to Daniel. I felt like Malik was Margot and Daniel combined into 1 person I also like the fact that this chapter mirrors the sex acts between Daniel and Malik in chapters 1 and 2. However, this time the roles were reversed. Malik was the shaking one, and Daniel was the one in control and was the dominant one. He, in turn, unmasked Malik in this chapter. This part of the chapter was beautifully done. Their sex acts before the last one were not just mindless sex, but fights in control, and Daniel easily won. I'm so happy that Daniel is now living with the truth and accepting (and loving) his true self. I don't think he could do it by himself without all the people who love him dearly, patiently, and truly. Starting with Nora, the one I respected the most in this story. She was the one who absorbed the first and the most painful impact from Daniel's transformation that could easily destroy anyone in real life. Yet, she encouraged him and freed him (in turn, freed herself, too) with a genuine, patient, and sometimes quiet love. That's why I always felt she was the most patient one among Daniel's lovers. Then comes Alec and Max, two men who loved Daniel and showed him different angles of love that are passionate and again with patience. And finally comes his side of the family (at this point, Nora - even though they divorced, Alec, and Max are also part of his family), a mom who was flawed but loved, accepted, and proud of him. A father, also flawed, but carried with an encouraging and gentle love for Daniel. And a brother who didn't have to but accepted to fill his role in the firm (the one he abandoned and passed to his brother without asking if his brother is ok with it) because he also loves Daniel wholeheartedly. Daniel is truly a lucky one because Cameron, who is in the same situation, probably would be able to achieve what Daniel did. Maybe he could in a distant future, but I truly cannot see a clear possibility at this point in Cameron's life. I used to say that I ship for the unhealthy malady to end for the sake of everyone involved. And I'm happy that it truly happened in this chapter. The malady made Daniel unhealthy initially, and now, it is Daniel, with his full self, who has turned his malady healthy. Because of this, I feel this is a fitting beginning for Daniel (and I'm talking as a person who prefers a monogamous relationship). Different folks, different strokes, and I'm in no position to dictate others' life choices, including fictional characters 😊. And I have always said, to me, Daniel seems like a person who loves every different taste or dish, but won't ever settle for just one. So this decision from Daniel is really in character from my perspective. And as long as he stays true to himself and to all the people who love him, I can see a very clear future where he lives happily with all of them with fulfilment, no matter where they are. for example, I can see that after the Italy trip, he will be back to Alec's apartment, and along with Nora, helps Alec solve his "unresolved erection" 😆. Yes, Nora will be there, and the throuple will be temporarily formed again, because let's face it, this is too hot for Queen Nora not to participate. I have a feeling she will be the one who spearheads the project, "Save Alec's Erection", this time. Yes, I used the word "Save" because, from the look of it, with Nora and Daniel in the room, Alec's erection may keep coming back again and again (so technically, in Alec's voice, it may never be resolved 😆). Sorry if it is a bad joke, I just couldn't resist 😅. All in all, great work, Casual! I really love this story, 5/5 from me 😊. Have a lovely weekend!

This is truly a slow burn story, but in a very good way. It made me want to read and read, and I reached the end of the chapter without knowing. Also, I love that in this chapter, the guys moved on from movies to discuss music (and in turn, I learned a bit more about songs, too). It kept the long encounter between Liam and Hudson interesting. I really like Hudson! Great work! Have a lovely day, Nuno! 😊

It said "(To be concluded…)" and not "(To be continue...)" at the end of the chapter, so I believe the next one will be the last since "To be concluded..." is normally the way Casual signals to his readers that the next chapter is the final one for the story

Thanks for your insights 😊 @Cane23. They are always a joy to read. And I agree with you. I have never ship Malik and Daniel at all, since the beginning. That was a job for him. The term was clear. What I'm interested in is what Daniel is going to do next, now that he has found the real "Malik". I may have used exaggerated words (I meant to make it a bit more dramatic in a funny way 😄)

The story keeps getting better. Too bad the next chapter will be the last one. I really love the shared common between Daniel's and Nora's new lives: "no Hudson, no wall of windows, no chevroned oak or curated furniture or terrace". And they are both free and true. Nora was happy, and that made me happy, too 😊 I love the subtle way you revealed Nora's ancestry through her maiden name 😄 "And the fact that I did it while destroying my own marriage is either the worst business plan in history or the best" - I'll say "the best", and you know what is even better, Daniel? That is, you join them 😉. Well that "unresolved erection" had to be resolved at some point, yes? From the flow of the chapter, I have a feeling it will probably happen whether on-screen or off-screen because Daniel's appetite does not seem to stop with one single dish. And his room can now hold multiple people. Everything about Alec + Nora and Alec + Daniel is hot and fun to read. Bonus point if I haven't been obvious 😆, everything involves Daniel + Nora + Alec is always a chef's kiss to read, even though Nora and Daniel are a bad combination, and for the sake of their growth and happiness, I'm glad they freed themselves I'm glad Daniel visited his family and made peace with his mom. Margot is no longer "mother" and is more like a true mom now, and I'm happy for her. I remembered Margot once said Sonata is strange, and after reading this chapter, I think her instinct might be correct. She could be an immortal who was sent to observe and test Daniel (I was joking about this part since Sonata is mysterious 😆). After all, she was the one who started it all. Without her, there would be no Malik for her birthday, and it might just be a high-end escort service with an NDA for Nora's birthday, and nothing enigmatic like Nox. (This part wasn't really a joke) Speaking of Malik, I look forward to the grand encounter and revelation between him and Daniel in the finale. Fantastic work as usual! Happy writing, Casual!