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literaryprincess's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Naz Kutub's debut is a heartfelt story about chasing after what matters most in life - or at least in the life of 17-year-old Sayyed - love. After a whirlwind first romance, Sy is determined to do whatever it takes to get Farouk, his ex-boyfriend, back, even if that means traveling around the world with a mysterious woman with an alcohol problem and abandoning his friends and family in the pursuit.
The Loophole is packed full of real-world issues and touches on each with grace and respectful realism, while also keeping to the fantastical theme surrounding Sy and his three wishes. We quickly fall in love with our main character and his seemingly impossible journey and root for him the entire way through. 'Reggie - our aforementioned drunken genie - tugs at heartstrings in a way I wasn't expecting.
This book was full of yearning, grief, and mending broken hearts and I hope it falls into the hands of the exact readers who need it.
The Loophole is packed full of real-world issues and touches on each with grace and respectful realism, while also keeping to the fantastical theme surrounding Sy and his three wishes. We quickly fall in love with our main character and his seemingly impossible journey and root for him the entire way through. 'Reggie - our aforementioned drunken genie - tugs at heartstrings in a way I wasn't expecting.
This book was full of yearning, grief, and mending broken hearts and I hope it falls into the hands of the exact readers who need it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Islamophobia, Alcoholism, and Racism
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Loophole is a book that kept intriguing me. While there's very much this central mystery - of whether Sy will be reunited - there are interspersed chapters of a Djinn story. And that added element ended up fascinating me more than I even expected. In this other POV, we are introduced to the greediness, to the love and kindness, of humanity. And when it finally come together - I gasped aloud. But back to Sy's character, my heart broke for him. For the abuse and homophobia Sy experiences from his father.
The ways his family is forced to choose. And The Loophole puts our emotions through the ringer. There's anger, heartbreak, surprise, and fear. For me, reading The Loophole felt like it had a long exposition where the action and the intrigue increased and once it did, there was this moment of clarity. Definitely keep reading to that point! Overall, The Loophole is an ode to the agency in our lives, while also examining the ways we may not be able to act.
The Loophole is a book that kept intriguing me. While there's very much this central mystery - of whether Sy will be reunited - there are interspersed chapters of a Djinn story. And that added element ended up fascinating me more than I even expected. In this other POV, we are introduced to the greediness, to the love and kindness, of humanity. And when it finally come together - I gasped aloud. But back to Sy's character, my heart broke for him. For the abuse and homophobia Sy experiences from his father.
The ways his family is forced to choose. And The Loophole puts our emotions through the ringer. There's anger, heartbreak, surprise, and fear. For me, reading The Loophole felt like it had a long exposition where the action and the intrigue increased and once it did, there was this moment of clarity. Definitely keep reading to that point! Overall, The Loophole is an ode to the agency in our lives, while also examining the ways we may not be able to act.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
kaliishacole's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
There were some promising moments of this story. A lot of things felt empty and under-developed. I really dislike Reggie who we question as a magical djinn or just a lonely, rich person. If the story was just following Sy through an international adventure without any ‘magical’ interference, I would’ve loved this for sure. I think the concept of this story is just too vast to cram into one standalone novel. I needed to see so much more, but I feel as though the ending just brought the story back to square one with minor character development.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
booksdogsandcoffee's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
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? Yes
3.5
Sy is reeling from a break up. Even though it’s 3 months he stil can’t seem to get over Farouk his ex boyfriend. His parents are over barring. Not letting him have his freedom until he finds a wife to bring home. His parents don’t know who he really is and Sy feels trapped. His only outlet was Farouk, but he is gone, broken off their relationship after Sy wouldn’t go with him to travel the world/fix the world. But now Sy has a second chance to get him back with the help of Reggie. A young woman who literally ran into his coffee shop and he saved. She offers him 3 wishes in return for saving her. Is she actually a djinn? Or just some trust fund baby who has cash to burn. This book took inspiration from Aladdin and the mythology of Orpheus and Eurydice, and turned it into a beautiful novel about found family, second chances and finding yourself.
I went into the loophole thinking it would be an epic love story, but was pleasantly surprised when that wasn’t the meat of the story. It touched on some very hard and difficult topics( done very well and with care) that are happening in the us and around the world.
Favorite quote:
“Being gay isn’t something I choose I just am”
Cw
Homophobia
Outing
Abusive parent
Beating
Religious trauma
Islamaphobia
Child abuse
I went into the loophole thinking it would be an epic love story, but was pleasantly surprised when that wasn’t the meat of the story. It touched on some very hard and difficult topics( done very well and with care) that are happening in the us and around the world.
Favorite quote:
“Being gay isn’t something I choose I just am”
Cw
Homophobia
Outing
Abusive parent
Beating
Religious trauma
Islamaphobia
Child abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Child abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Homophobia and Outing
pagesofbellerose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia
Minor: Grief and Medical content
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