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3.02 AVERAGE
3.02 AVERAGE
medium-paced
cute
I would have given 4 stars but the I love you let’s get married after a week is not for me. The whole book was development and finding of self then bam. No relationship development just insta love.
I did love all of her characters and the details of the celebrations just wanted more substance.
I would have given 4 stars but the I love you let’s get married after a week is not for me. The whole book was development and finding of self then bam. No relationship development just insta love.
I did love all of her characters and the details of the celebrations just wanted more substance.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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:
Complicated
**possible minor spoilers** (but not really)
Manny Dogra is the successful CEO of Break Up, the company she created to help people break up their relationships. Since her parents passed away, she's spent her all her time keeping busy with her business and waiting to finally marry her fiance, Adam. She never grew up knowing anything about the Indian culture, and when her photo is whitewashed on a magazine cover, she starts to wonder who she really is. When a persistent client, Sammy, offers her a chance to learn about her Indian heritage in exchange for a temporary break up, she accepts the chance to hopefully know her parents and herself better.
This was a cute book and I did enjoy it, however, there were several things I just couldn't ignore. I understand that Manny's parents wanted her to fit in with American society, but to completely turn their backs on their culture and people altogether? There was no explanation for that. It's mentioned several times that her parents, especially her mom, loved their heritage. Why give it all up? I might even accept all that, but I cannot accept that they never ever ate Indian food! Also, did these parents not have ANY family back in India? I just have a really hard time making sense of her parents. There was no real logical explanation for them keeping the culture from her.
There was also one part of the book that really bothered me. It's not a big deal, but consistency is important to me. At one point Manny is in the lobby with her bags packed, leaving, in the next chapter she's back in her hotel room. What happened to the note she left and everything? This small part doesn't really affect the story, but it annoyed me. As for the ending, can we say RUSHED??!! Manny needs some advice from Elsa.
Overall it was a nice little love story, but the background definitely needed some work. I just found it way too hard to believe. I have friends who grew up with parents who wanted them to immerse themselves in Western culture, but they didn't hide their own culture or food from their children.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Manny Dogra is the successful CEO of Break Up, the company she created to help people break up their relationships. Since her parents passed away, she's spent her all her time keeping busy with her business and waiting to finally marry her fiance, Adam. She never grew up knowing anything about the Indian culture, and when her photo is whitewashed on a magazine cover, she starts to wonder who she really is. When a persistent client, Sammy, offers her a chance to learn about her Indian heritage in exchange for a temporary break up, she accepts the chance to hopefully know her parents and herself better.
This was a cute book and I did enjoy it, however, there were several things I just couldn't ignore. I understand that Manny's parents wanted her to fit in with American society, but to completely turn their backs on their culture and people altogether? There was no explanation for that. It's mentioned several times that her parents, especially her mom, loved their heritage. Why give it all up? I might even accept all that, but I cannot accept that they never ever ate Indian food! Also, did these parents not have ANY family back in India? I just have a really hard time making sense of her parents. There was no real logical explanation for them keeping the culture from her.
There was also one part of the book that really bothered me. It's not a big deal, but consistency is important to me. At one point Manny is in the lobby with her bags packed, leaving, in the next chapter she's back in her hotel room. What happened to the note she left and everything? This small part doesn't really affect the story, but it annoyed me. As for the ending, can we say RUSHED??!! Manny needs some advice from Elsa.
Overall it was a nice little love story, but the background definitely needed some work. I just found it way too hard to believe. I have friends who grew up with parents who wanted them to immerse themselves in Western culture, but they didn't hide their own culture or food from their children.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Baskin Baskin Baskin, this author loves to remind us where we are.
I promise I wanted to like this book.
If you're looking for something light, and don't mind reading about capitalistic rich people, and an Indian woman learning to find her 'inner indian', then this might be a good option for you. This book had a bit of a crazy rich asians feel, but an Indian version.
For added context, while I am also a brown woman with Indian roots who grew up somewhat disconnected from Indian culture, there were so many problematic elements. Hopefully people who read this also remember that there are many ways to be 'Indian' or Indian diaspora, and that 'Indian culture' is extremely diverse, not a monolith (I think the author was trying to make this point, but the culture often came off very monolithic).
In addition, I just didn't really buy the love story or chemistry between the FMC and the love interest. It felt very rushed and poorly developed.
Themes & topics: racism, micro (and macro) aggressions, classism, colourism, culture & identity, fat shaming, death/loss of family members, cheating, alcohol, etc.
I promise I wanted to like this book.
If you're looking for something light, and don't mind reading about capitalistic rich people, and an Indian woman learning to find her 'inner indian', then this might be a good option for you. This book had a bit of a crazy rich asians feel, but an Indian version.
For added context, while I am also a brown woman with Indian roots who grew up somewhat disconnected from Indian culture, there were so many problematic elements. Hopefully people who read this also remember that there are many ways to be 'Indian' or Indian diaspora, and that 'Indian culture' is extremely diverse, not a monolith (I think the author was trying to make this point, but the culture often came off very monolithic).
In addition, I just didn't really buy the love story or chemistry between the FMC and the love interest. It felt very rushed and poorly developed.
Themes & topics: racism, micro (and macro) aggressions, classism, colourism, culture & identity, fat shaming, death/loss of family members, cheating, alcohol, etc.
lighthearted
medium-paced
i hate when authors write like a millennial texting
I was excited by the blurb. This could have been a lot better in the way that they build up their relationship, and the whole teaching Manny about Indian traditions. This book just did not live up to my expectations. Still a decent read though.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nothing was well developed in this book, the writing struggled to the point that I kept saying did I miss something? I thought the story was light and fun and I enjoyed the cultural references.