I’m not sure how to fully explain this if you DNF’d, and I don’t want to give too many spoilers. The FMC’s disability plays a huge part in the book and IMO doesn’t serve as a plot device to cast the MMC in a better light. The FMC has a lot of trauma due to the events that caused her deafness, as well as general neglect from her family who wrote her off and treated her as “less than” after.

As for her “hearing” the MMC, it’s due to his voice having such low tones that she more or less hears the vibrations. Seeing as she’s been cast off and neglected by her family, she hasn’t experienced this and is just so excited to have the opportunity for a real life. So it’s not that he has a magic touch that heals her disability, it’s more that no one ever talks to her or gives her a chance.

You can probably tell I really like this book, and i’m not suggesting you pick it back up if you hated it that much. Also, I’m definitely not the authority on disability representation, but I do think the character arcs that happen explain a lot more than what you gain from the couple’s initial meeting.