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sarasoup's review
3.0
love/hate relationship with the non chronological format
nur deffo did not deserve yasmina!!
nur deffo did not deserve yasmina!!
earthseeddetroit's review against another edition
4.0
This was an aching story, full of the weight and complexities of familial expectations and relationships, especially cultural norms/stereotypes/expectations that surround marriage, love, race, religion. The ways we can become entrapped by our fears and our own biases, how its easier to “do nothing” even if that’s something we don’t want to admit to and even when “doing nothing” is a choice too. So many different friendships are also explored in this story and of course a tender love and all its twists and turns.
I appreciated being taken inside of another culture and geographic location to learn a bit more from a different perspective.
There were times, the writing, the dialogue, the sentiments, the relationships…got me. Tears! Multiple times, tears. And anger. I will say the more I thought about this story the angrier I get. Although I understand the flaws of human nature that would make such a story happen. But at what expense? At what expense do we compromise ourselves or compromise others to make us feel whole and loved and wanted??? I don’t think I liked the main character at all. You know… Some people can be really nice but they’re not nice! Even though I think we ultimately did see an arc of growth, he had a long way to go still.
“Good intentions” is a very appropriate title! (And we know where the road paved with good intentions leads.)
I appreciated being taken inside of another culture and geographic location to learn a bit more from a different perspective.
There were times, the writing, the dialogue, the sentiments, the relationships…got me. Tears! Multiple times, tears. And anger. I will say the more I thought about this story the angrier I get. Although I understand the flaws of human nature that would make such a story happen. But at what expense? At what expense do we compromise ourselves or compromise others to make us feel whole and loved and wanted??? I don’t think I liked the main character at all. You know… Some people can be really nice but they’re not nice! Even though I think we ultimately did see an arc of growth, he had a long way to go still.
“Good intentions” is a very appropriate title! (And we know where the road paved with good intentions leads.)
sunshine608's review against another edition
3.0
This book was ok. It's a love story that alternates between the beginning, the middle, and the current status of their relationships. I enjoyed reading about the beginning, but I couldn't follow with the middle and the constant going back and forth made it hard to stay engaged in the book. I think it should have just alternated between the beginning and current. The ending was completely unsatisfying, but realistic.
veecaswell's review
2.0
The choice of audiobook narrator is excellent, but there is so much filler and a lack of plot and I like Yasmina but Nur is, he is frustrating.
natashaball's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Self harm
iabsolutelydespisesoggytomatos's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
- 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
3.0
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
3.5
A heartbreaking debut about an interracial couple torn apart by the burdens of parental expectations and the heavy cultural pressures working against them. Nur is a British Pakistani man who meets and falls in love with Yasmina, a young Black aspiring journalistst. The two try living for themselves and hiding their relationship from their parents but when years go by, the secrecy ends up taking a toll. Slow to start for me, the story really built up to a suspenseful conclusion as the couple fails to let outside pressures impede on their love. Great on audio narrated by Nathaniel Curtis with a beautiful cover. This was a wonderful look at the challenges of romantic love with someone outside your culture/race. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC.
A heartbreaking debut about an interracial couple torn apart by the burdens of parental expectations and the heavy cultural pressures working against them. Nur is a British Pakistani man who meets and falls in love with Yasmina, a young Black aspiring journalistst. The two try living for themselves and hiding their relationship from their parents but when years go by, the secrecy ends up taking a toll. Slow to start for me, the story really built up to a suspenseful conclusion as the couple fails to let outside pressures impede on their love. Great on audio narrated by Nathaniel Curtis with a beautiful cover. This was a wonderful look at the challenges of romantic love with someone outside your culture/race. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC.
jconte's review against another edition
3.0
Wonderful premise for a novel - a love story between two adults who share the same faith, friends, education, and family upbringing. Despite having these things in common, the relationship is under the strain of familial expectation and racism. The pacing feels glacial because even though the issue of race is introduced early on in the book, it takes Nur four years (and the author 2/3 of the book) to actually address it with the family. As a result the book seems much more about the buildup to an event and its rapid resolution than it does about the family's feelings about the relationship. I personally found all the flashbacks and flashforwards difficult to follow because the characters did not really seem to develop or evolve over the four years.