I think this is indicative of a larger problem I have with Lena's story, how practically all of her content hinges on jumping on any sexual encounter at the first opportunity. Only Ian, Holly and Ivy (funnily enough) really stands apart from that I feel. I'd love to see some alternative viewpoints on this.
Don't wanna entertain Roberts forcefulness? Forget him then, you have to kiss him at the first opportunity to keep him interested. Not interested in hooking up with Mike after meeting him for the first time? Well, that's what you gon' get. Not into fucking Louise at a emotionally charged moment? Well, you must not be interested in her period.
Hm. Those are some good objections that I hadn't really thought about, but I agree with now that I've read it.
For me it's probably both about the "jumping on them at the first opportunity" part and also the fact that Lena at this point doesn't have any clear potential love interests besides Ian. (Not considering the "ending up with the father in law" kind of relationships from GGGB.) While Ian already has some serious progression with
Alison and Holly. Holly will probably become one for Lena as well, but for now it seems secondary to the
Holly/Ian relationship. With Ian, even his relationships with
Cindy and Cherry feels emotionally deeper than most of Lena's.
Robert or Mike? Nope. Axel, Seymour or Ed further down the line? Nah. Louise – maybe? She clearly likes Lena a lot, and it is in some ways reminscent of Alison's interest in Ian, but her jealousy seems way more possesive and unhealthy than Alison's.
I guess the main issue is that most of the male characters sit clearly in one of two categories. The likes of Axel, Jeremy, Mike and Seymour are all some variation of an alpha/player type, while Wade, Stan and Perry are the complete opposite. Ian is more or less the only one somewhere in between.
