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bookcasey's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I think this book could be cathartic for some people, but the main character responds to her every emotion with alcohol, which I generally find incredibly tedious. The whole book is painfully slow, especially given how little actually happens, and I wasn’t rooting for the main character at all.
I considered DNF several times but hung in there because I’d heard such great things and wondered if the book would improve. It didn’t.
It’s a midlife crisis book far more than a romance, this time featuring a workaholic lawyer in Singapore.
I considered DNF several times but hung in there because I’d heard such great things and wondered if the book would improve. It didn’t.
It’s a midlife crisis book far more than a romance, this time featuring a workaholic lawyer in Singapore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Islamophobia, Bullying, Medical content, Fatphobia, Classism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
cookiecatherine's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The back cover describes this as "Crazy Rich Asians meets Bridget Jones's Diary." That is accurate, down to the 2000's diet culture and fatphobia, which was rampant in this book (but with *spice*, because it's all coming from toxic Chinese aunties and moms).
I picked this up for a light read and that's really what it was; the book could've explored pretty heavy topics like familial expectations, mental health, and internalized capitalism, but chose to do so in a very light, comic way. I didn't mind that, but found all the characters pretty insufferable for not dealing with their issues in any other way than binge drinking for 95% of the book. Also, reading the main character's quippy observations about the privilege of her world without really confronting her complicity in it got tiring after a while (though the book is funny and I did laugh quite a few times).
I did find the romance cute and enjoyable but wish it had been a more prominent part of the story! I picked this up thinking it would be more of a romcom so was a bit disappointed that the romance wasn't the main focus, but that's my bad lol.
I picked this up for a light read and that's really what it was; the book could've explored pretty heavy topics like familial expectations, mental health, and internalized capitalism, but chose to do so in a very light, comic way. I didn't mind that, but found all the characters pretty insufferable for not dealing with their issues in any other way than binge drinking for 95% of the book. Also, reading the main character's quippy observations about the privilege of her world without really confronting her complicity in it got tiring after a while (though the book is funny and I did laugh quite a few times).
I did find the romance cute and enjoyable but wish it had been a more prominent part of the story! I picked this up thinking it would be more of a romcom so was a bit disappointed that the romance wasn't the main focus, but that's my bad lol.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
imds's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent, Islamophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Alcoholism
bedtimesandbooks's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Medical content, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Islamophobia, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Drug use
Minor: Body shaming
aargot1's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Body horror
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