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rina_reads's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I’ve gotten past halfway and trying to reach the end but I’m getting bored. So I have no idea what happens at the end.
I’m a bit disappointed to be honest. I was expecting something more but the entire book felt repetitive. I’m a South Asian Muslim woman and anti-Blackness and colourism is a huge unspoken problem within the South Asian culture. I felt like the author just touched the surface of the subject but didn’t go in-depth. The rest of the books seems to be about Nur, his anxiety and the weight of his culture’s expectations burdening him. But his character practically stays the same for most of the book. He doesn’t develop and I got fed up of hearing his perspective and hoped that I would hear Yasmina’s side of the story. Though the book is about the two of them, I did not feel invested in their relationship. It felt flat because it’s all about Nur. Nur hides what he feels from Yasmina yet needs constant reassurance from her. Majority of chapters was hearing how Nur feels sorry for himself for not knowing what he wants and feeling like everyone hates him. I understand this because of my own similar upbringing but it got passed of point of sympathy and Nur just got on my nerves.
The writing style was okay but to me it felt like the story was being told and not described especially the parts around anti-blackness and Yasmina. Nur strongly assumes his parent won’t accept Yasmina due to her skin colour and ethnicity but why not actually have a scene in the book that shows what colourism/racism in the Pakistani, Desi culture. It was blatantly being explained in dialogue between characters why Desi folks are intolerant in accepting other races.
I also didn’t understand the purpose of the dual timeline. One minute we’re in 2019 and the next we’re in 2015. I’d rather read the book chronologically because I couldn’t feel there was a plot and a climax with the story jumping around like that. Nur in 2015 was still the same Nur in 2019. You wouldn’t feel a difference in character or writing when you’re reading it.
The repetition of Nur loathing everything about himself made the pace slow and plot didn’t develop as fast I had hoped. The side characters were okay. I wondered if the book should have just explored being Muslim, brown and British. The friendships and family themes were stronger.
There’s also just too many issues that tie with each other like age, aspirations and coming of age. The uncertainty in your early 20s after having left university is something relatable. Nur is anxious about the future a lot and misses his family/home. But these themes felt separate to the plot and could’ve been woven better.
I’m a bit disappointed to be honest. I was expecting something more but the entire book felt repetitive. I’m a South Asian Muslim woman and anti-Blackness and colourism is a huge unspoken problem within the South Asian culture. I felt like the author just touched the surface of the subject but didn’t go in-depth. The rest of the books seems to be about Nur, his anxiety and the weight of his culture’s expectations burdening him. But his character practically stays the same for most of the book. He doesn’t develop and I got fed up of hearing his perspective and hoped that I would hear Yasmina’s side of the story. Though the book is about the two of them, I did not feel invested in their relationship. It felt flat because it’s all about Nur. Nur hides what he feels from Yasmina yet needs constant reassurance from her. Majority of chapters was hearing how Nur feels sorry for himself for not knowing what he wants and feeling like everyone hates him. I understand this because of my own similar upbringing but it got passed of point of sympathy and Nur just got on my nerves.
The writing style was okay but to me it felt like the story was being told and not described especially the parts around anti-blackness and Yasmina. Nur strongly assumes his parent won’t accept Yasmina due to her skin colour and ethnicity but why not actually have a scene in the book that shows what colourism/racism in the Pakistani, Desi culture. It was blatantly being explained in dialogue between characters why Desi folks are intolerant in accepting other races.
I also didn’t understand the purpose of the dual timeline. One minute we’re in 2019 and the next we’re in 2015. I’d rather read the book chronologically because I couldn’t feel there was a plot and a climax with the story jumping around like that. Nur in 2015 was still the same Nur in 2019. You wouldn’t feel a difference in character or writing when you’re reading it.
The repetition of Nur loathing everything about himself made the pace slow and plot didn’t develop as fast I had hoped. The side characters were okay. I wondered if the book should have just explored being Muslim, brown and British. The friendships and family themes were stronger.
There’s also just too many issues that tie with each other like age, aspirations and coming of age. The uncertainty in your early 20s after having left university is something relatable. Nur is anxious about the future a lot and misses his family/home. But these themes felt separate to the plot and could’ve been woven better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
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
fluffy1st's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Racism, and Self harm
Minor: Sexual content
kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
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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