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abeerhoque's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, addictive, light, lots of interesting themes and range of characters, could have done with editing for the overwriting and melodrama but some genuine sexiness and chemistry.
brokenrecord's review
3.0
3.5 stars. This was a really easy read, which sounds a bit like a backhanded compliment, but I mean it genuinely — I've struggled since the pandemic with sitting down and reading a book for more than a chapter at a time, and few books have been able to break through that, but this one managed to. Which in a way is especially impressive because I wasn't in love with it at any point, but I found it really easy to keep reading.
My biggest issue with this book was just that the romance didn't work for me. I wasn't convinced they were in love by the end, especially considering they only know each other for like a week and part of that time she had serious issues with his brother while also having a ton of other family/work stuff to deal with. I bought them being attracted to one another and in lust, but not love. Also, in general I'm fine with romances without many or any sex scenes (and honestly often times would prefer none, although it depends on the couple/book), but I feel like if you're going to have a line late in the book about how the characters were truly ~making love and not just having sex, you should… include a scene that depicts that rather than just referring to it after the fact? Especially since I never got that impression from any of their other scenes? I mean, I barely got the impression they liked each other very much. I don't even mean in the sense of this being enemies-to-lovers (it isn't really — more, two characters who get on each others nerves to lovers), but just that they seemed attracted to one another but not like they really enjoyed one another as human beings.
I did find Amira a bit too prickly and quick to jump to conflict at the beginning, although I grew to like her more as the book went on and I got to know her better. Conversely, I started off liking Duncan pretty well, but got annoyed by him constantly calling Amira "Princess," even after she told him repeatedly not to, and by the end I had just gotten a bit tired of him and kind of didn't want Amira to accept his apology?
That being said, I did enjoy a lot of the non-romance stuff. I found Amira's family drama interesting. I was mostly glad for how things worked out between Sameer and Travis ( was especially nice. I also liked Amira's relationship with her sister and her mom. I also enjoyed the bits with Amira getting advice from her dad on her engineering project. The family stuff was definitely what kept me engaged in this book.
I found the work stuff a little frustrating at first because it seemed so clear to me right away that
So yeah, even though I didn't like the romance, the rest of this was very enjoyable. It looks like there's a sequel featuring Reena (who I didn't mention but also really liked), so I may give that a shot and hope the romance there works better for me.
My biggest issue with this book was just that the romance didn't work for me. I wasn't convinced they were in love by the end, especially considering they only know each other for like a week and part of that time she had serious issues with his brother while also having a ton of other family/work stuff to deal with. I bought them being attracted to one another and in lust, but not love. Also, in general I'm fine with romances without many or any sex scenes (and honestly often times would prefer none, although it depends on the couple/book), but I feel like if you're going to have a line late in the book about how the characters were truly ~making love and not just having sex, you should… include a scene that depicts that rather than just referring to it after the fact? Especially since I never got that impression from any of their other scenes? I mean, I barely got the impression they liked each other very much. I don't even mean in the sense of this being enemies-to-lovers (it isn't really — more, two characters who get on each others nerves to lovers), but just that they seemed attracted to one another but not like they really enjoyed one another as human beings.
I did find Amira a bit too prickly and quick to jump to conflict at the beginning, although I grew to like her more as the book went on and I got to know her better. Conversely, I started off liking Duncan pretty well, but got annoyed by him constantly calling Amira "Princess," even after she told him repeatedly not to, and by the end I had just gotten a bit tired of him and kind of didn't want Amira to accept his apology?
That being said, I did enjoy a lot of the non-romance stuff. I found Amira's family drama interesting. I was mostly glad for how things worked out between Sameer and Travis (
Spoiler
although I'm never a fan of public proposals, particularly surprise public proposals, and especially when the characters are going from broken up to engagedSpoiler
he and Sameer break upSpoiler
I guessed from some of the hints early on that her mom's secret relationship was with a woman, but that reveal was still fun, and I loved how completely Amira supported her.I found the work stuff a little frustrating at first because it seemed so clear to me right away that
Spoiler
Raymond didn't have Amira's best interests at heart, and I was frustrated that she couldn't see it for so long, although I can also understand why. But since we don't ever actually see Raymond being a great mentor and the two of them being close, it was hard to understand her faith in him. I was glad when she finally did figure it out, though, and decided to leave the company.So yeah, even though I didn't like the romance, the rest of this was very enjoyable. It looks like there's a sequel featuring Reena (who I didn't mention but also really liked), so I may give that a shot and hope the romance there works better for me.
maria_hossain's review
5.0
Wow wow wow wow wowsers!!!
AMAZING doesn't begin to cover it. So much nuance and maturity and depth. Don't be fooled by the synopsis and the cover. Although the banters are hilarious, this book sheds so much light on intercommunity homophobia and racism and xenophobia and Islamophobia and much more. I'm so glad I picked it up. Duncan and Amira are the hottest couple. Travis and Sameer deserve the world. I love them all so MUCH.
AMAZING doesn't begin to cover it. So much nuance and maturity and depth. Don't be fooled by the synopsis and the cover. Although the banters are hilarious, this book sheds so much light on intercommunity homophobia and racism and xenophobia and Islamophobia and much more. I'm so glad I picked it up. Duncan and Amira are the hottest couple. Travis and Sameer deserve the world. I love them all so MUCH.
hyphenating's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
a56jml's review
5.0
LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS!! Amira was AMAZING! I love that she stood up for herself and others. Such a strong, inspiring woman! And Duncan, so wonderful. This book made me laugh, grr, cheer and really brought all the happy. I highly recommend!!
lostinfrance's review
3.0
A book recommended by a BARCS friend....a fun (hopefully) Canadian chick lit novel.
It is definitely cute....but a lot of it is unbelievable....must suspend all disbelief to get through this book.....a woman takes a train home so she can work on her last project quietly while finishing up her Masters. On the train she runs into a "lumberjack" who tries to protect her from some weirdo....she gets home to hole up in her grandma's basement so she can attack the project- to find it was rented out to an a cappella group...and magically one of the member is the.....LUMBERJACK (Duh.) She works on her project, obviously annoyed by the group, helps her mom and sister....returns to visit her old job to find it has become racist and sexist (ooooooo). So. Much. Change....and finds herself FALLING for the lumberjack (GASP). So much. Drama.
Nothing really shocking, all pretty predictable....and sadly a lot of the plot details are stupid- she is so traumatized by going into secondary on her visit to the US? Doesn't realize how bad her company has become and needs others to tell her? Her project really takes that much work/time....and then magically she doesn't really need to work on it (so she has time for new boy toy)? Again....suspend! Nice break from my random books....and nice that everyone lives almost happily ever after.
Read if you love a break from the scary world!
It is definitely cute....but a lot of it is unbelievable....must suspend all disbelief to get through this book.....a woman takes a train home so she can work on her last project quietly while finishing up her Masters. On the train she runs into a "lumberjack" who tries to protect her from some weirdo....she gets home to hole up in her grandma's basement so she can attack the project- to find it was rented out to an a cappella group...and magically one of the member is the.....LUMBERJACK (Duh.) She works on her project, obviously annoyed by the group, helps her mom and sister....returns to visit her old job to find it has become racist and sexist (ooooooo). So. Much. Change....and finds herself FALLING for the lumberjack (GASP). So much. Drama.
Nothing really shocking, all pretty predictable....and sadly a lot of the plot details are stupid- she is so traumatized by going into secondary on her visit to the US? Doesn't realize how bad her company has become and needs others to tell her? Her project really takes that much work/time....and then magically she doesn't really need to work on it (so she has time for new boy toy)? Again....suspend! Nice break from my random books....and nice that everyone lives almost happily ever after.
Read if you love a break from the scary world!
rebeccas_bookshelf's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
bakerisreading's review
3.0
I don’t typically read books like this but I needed something light and entertaining. I liked the local setting and the culinary references. I want to learn how to make my own chai now.