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vj_thompson's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75 stars. I have a love hate relationship for this book. The topics and conversation about racism, religious beliefs, mental health, and cultural norms were done VERY well. This part of the story was thought provoking and I wish more books discussed these topics. Nur’s character was the issue, and I think it was the point of the book. The way the story ended was sudden but I agree that it should have happened the way it did. At times, Nur was loving, caring, and romantic. He was not direct and lacked character development. There are more things I’d love to say but I don’t want to give too much away. Good Intentions is worth reading for but for the reasons I stated in the beginning.
As a warning, this are parts where suicide and anxiety/depression are discussed. Look up other content warnings as well.
As a warning, this are parts where suicide and anxiety/depression are discussed. Look up other content warnings as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
candournat's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
churrosmom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Disclaimer: won an ARC through a giveaway.
This book was exhausting. It felt so repetitive and long because the entire time we are stuck in the main character, Nur's head, and he thinks in circular anxiety patterns, and the timeline jumps back and forth. At a certain point I was just spite reading the book to see what happens with the relationship. Nur has serious mental health issues, treats Yasmina absolutely horribly, and is constantly judging other Muslims as backwards and conservative. The author does have other characters call him out on these issues, but something about the writing just feels off. This book would be 3 stars but the way Blackness is treated in this book is just off. I can't really articulate what it is exactly.
Also, this is NOT a romance, do not go into this expecting a romance, though the romantic relationship between Nur and Yasmina is the center of the book.
TWs for explicit descriptions of anti-Blackness, self harm, mental illness, suicide attempt, panic attacks, toxic/emotionally abusive relationship, Islamophobia
This book was exhausting. It felt so repetitive and long because the entire time we are stuck in the main character, Nur's head, and he thinks in circular anxiety patterns, and the timeline jumps back and forth. At a certain point I was just spite reading the book to see what happens with the relationship. Nur has serious mental health issues, treats Yasmina absolutely horribly, and is constantly judging other Muslims as backwards and conservative. The author does have other characters call him out on these issues, but something about the writing just feels off. This book would be 3 stars but the way Blackness is treated in this book is just off. I can't really articulate what it is exactly.
Also, this is NOT a romance, do not go into this expecting a romance, though the romantic relationship between Nur and Yasmina is the center of the book.
TWs for explicit descriptions of anti-Blackness, self harm, mental illness, suicide attempt, panic attacks, toxic/emotionally abusive relationship, Islamophobia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, and Suicide attempt
ladysanctuary's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
Characters are the driving force here, rather than the plot. Starting near the end and then unravelling the whole story of a relationship by hopping back and forth through time, from first meeting to the end of the book. The time jumps are very well handled, it’s always clear where in time the reader is, and they are a good method for making the plot engaging. The characters feel so wholly realised as to be real people you could meet. It’s a really compelling look into 1st or 2nd generation immigrant families in the UK. Where similar books by other authors (Not naming names on who else has written minimally plotted college relationship stories) can kind of hit you over the head with the authors political beliefs, this book does it more subtly, giving each character their own agency and reactions to socio-political information.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, and Self harm
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