Bruh the way I am so tired of every ACOTAR criticism conversation devolving into "Wait but I'm confused.. how can you say that when SJM *wanted* you to feel XYZ? So therefore that IS what it means and how could you NOT feel that way and since she said it, it's good and there's nothing to criticize."
Like girl I don't caaaaaaare what she WANTED me to feel! It didn't make me feel that way and I don't think it made any sense or felt earned! THAT'S THE CRITICISM!
I mean, don't get me wrong there are a ton of conversations where establishing what we think the author's motivations were is actually really helpful for interpreting things and for the context of the discussion. I do it all the time and it's helpful in analyzing the text.
It just isn't a good "STOP YOUR CRITICISM!" cudgel lol. It offers us context.. and usually that context allows me even MORE reason to expand upon where "what she wanted" and "how I felt due to these writing choices" failed to match up together.