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sophielinehan39's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i enjoyed this but it wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever read. I liked rahat and imran a lot, I think they were great friends to have. i don’t know how to feel about the ending. the last 30 pages took a turn that I don’t think was reflected in the rest of the book? but I also get it? idk if nur is meant to be an unreliable narrator? asks many questions about racial hierarchy and racial bias which was super interesting and captivating.
clarahooyer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
mayrimbas's review
I tried... but the main character was extremely passive and boring, so I did not get why his amazing girlfriend was putting up with his whiny angsty bullshit. Not for me, I'm sorry.
atsundarsingh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I got so much from this book. I thought the characterization was deep and nuanced, and the story ending absolutely walloped me. I was pleased by how many moments in a familiar narrative were surprising. Really recommend, and I also think it could work on a syllabus.
slsj_'s review against another edition
2.0
Kasim Ali's Good Intentions can be summed up within the next two lines from the book:
"I am not a racist―"
"And yet you behave like one,"
It was a very raw and thought provoking book. It led me to think of what love truly means and if it is enough when the person who says they love you is passively hurting you. It allowed me to think critically on colorism and racism between black and brown people. It had me pondering anxiety and how it can lead to chronic fear of disappointing others ― so much so that you are untrue to yourself.
And yet, with all this thinking and pondering...I still found a lot of what was in this book was unnecessary. I also, as most have (because that was the point ) found Nur extremely unlikeable. I can read an unlikeable character, but I can't read one with the hope that they will get a redemption. The ending left me disappointed and a taken aback, despite knowing this is the nature of people in real life.
In summary, I think many people should read this. Most would enjoy more than me, especially if you are the type that prefers realistic endings over happy ones. I just won't pick this up to re-read again, but that doesn't mean it is not important .
"I am not a racist―"
"And yet you behave like one,"
It was a very raw and thought provoking book. It led me to think of what love truly means and if it is enough when the person who says they love you is passively hurting you. It allowed me to think critically on colorism and racism between black and brown people. It had me pondering anxiety and how it can lead to chronic fear of disappointing others ― so much so that you are untrue to yourself.
And yet, with all this thinking and pondering...I still found a lot of what was in this book was unnecessary. I also, as most have (because that was the point ) found Nur extremely unlikeable. I can read an unlikeable character, but I can't read one with the hope that they will get a redemption. The ending left me disappointed and a taken aback, despite knowing this is the nature of people in real life.
In summary, I think many people should read this. Most would enjoy more than me, especially if you are the type that prefers realistic endings over happy ones. I just won't pick this up to re-read again, but that doesn't mean it is not important .
adamok_reads_af's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
missjonesreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I first found this book, I thought it was something completely different. Like an actual romance with an interracial couple where no one was white, and I was so excited! thankfully, my partner read the book before me and was able to save me from that big disappointment.
However, even knowing how the book was going to end, I found myself so involved and attached to these characters. Silently begging them to make different, better decisions. Well really just Nur. Damn, was he frustrating. But I was still able to root for him, to want better for him. The writing was so fun and beautiful that really I had no choice.
He did Yasmina so wrong, he did his family wrong too. But there is true beauty in a story without a happy ending, a story where a character learns the hard way. Where we all did.
Exploring the dynamics of racism and antiblackness within a relationship was very interesting and I enjoyed that aspect to. But more than that, this story was about getting in your own way, lying especially to yourself, and realizing when enough is enough.
This was not the happy ending I was hoping for, but I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to others, that may need to learn a thing or two.
However, even knowing how the book was going to end, I found myself so involved and attached to these characters. Silently begging them to make different, better decisions. Well really just Nur. Damn, was he frustrating. But I was still able to root for him, to want better for him. The writing was so fun and beautiful that really I had no choice.
He did Yasmina so wrong, he did his family wrong too. But there is true beauty in a story without a happy ending, a story where a character learns the hard way. Where we all did.
Exploring the dynamics of racism and antiblackness within a relationship was very interesting and I enjoyed that aspect to. But more than that, this story was about getting in your own way, lying especially to yourself, and realizing when enough is enough.
This was not the happy ending I was hoping for, but I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to others, that may need to learn a thing or two.
theeuphoriczat's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, so when I started reading this, I couldn't help but think of Sally Rooney Conversations with Friends which I did not like. But, I did enjoy this book a lot more. I loved the nuanced discussions on ageing, politics, culture, religion, media power, their complexities and how they all change and refract our life's trajectories. Regardless of our good intentions, the past and the future is constructed solidly on those complexities. From our friendships to who we fall in love with, are all structured on societal intricacies. I appreciated the way sensitive mental health issues and self-harm were discussed so unflinchingly which turning it into a cliché woke dialogue!
Nur was an interesting character. You can absolutely feel that he is a man who is present and aware of his individuality and the benefits of being a 'man'. He was a raw character which was also why I didn't like him. He was selfish and his toxic masculinity almost killed him! I did enjoy Ali's exploration of religion and his take on how even our religious experiences are built on the societal expectations and it takes a good amount of work to personalised our experiences.
Thanks to 4th Estate for making this book available to me via #Netgalley .
Nur was an interesting character. You can absolutely feel that he is a man who is present and aware of his individuality and the benefits of being a 'man'. He was a raw character which was also why I didn't like him. He was selfish and his toxic masculinity almost killed him! I did enjoy Ali's exploration of religion and his take on how even our religious experiences are built on the societal expectations and it takes a good amount of work to personalised our experiences.
Thanks to 4th Estate for making this book available to me via #Netgalley .