Anyone else feel like Ian's side is a lot more engaging than Lena's? With Ian most of the characters feel like they're actually a part of his life with stories and personalities of their own. With Lena they're really shallow and come across like they're just there to fuck her. If you don't want to fuck them they practically stop existing.
I don't think it's more engaging because of a difference in quality. At least it's not the main issue I see.
There are some elements I dislike in that regard when it comes to Lena, but those are all minor points that I feel come together into an unfortunate trend of having to pick to be more promiscous without anything really replacing it, if you don't like any of the options, or the circumstances surrounding them.
The larger problem I see for Lena is her "potential social life" or what you might call it:
At the beginning of the story Ian has a large friendship group: Jeremy, Perry, Wade, Emma, Cindy and Alison, and he can date Lena and Holly if you choose to do so. He can also engage in sexual activity with a number of the women in his social circle and one who's a friend of Alison
At the beginning of the story Lena has two friends, Louise and Ivy. Two friends who quite literally despise each other. She also has a roommate who will only make sporatic apperances unless you act lustful around him. Lena can make a friend out of Holly, and Ian sort of defaults to a casual acquaintance if you don't let them date. Lena can engage in various activities with Robert if you choose to do so. She can similarly engage like that with Mike. If you choose not to they will not have a presence in her life.
I see this as the reason why I feel Lena's story feels "emptier" or "less nuanced" or whatever other descriptor you think fits like that, at least if you choose for her not to pick all sexual options.
Regardless of Ian's sexual activites he will not be locked out of many additional scenes, as a lot of his sexual activity comes as a result of social activities that will take place regardless.
Lena doesn't have a friendship group that supports her story to the same degree. She has Louise at home and Ivy when she's out. There are no friendship dynamics unless you befriend Holly and encourage her to pole dance, thus adding her to a bunch of Ivy scenes.
