Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev

5 reviews

frantically's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

If this had been marketed as a literary piece about mothers and daughters and loss and reconciliation, I would've liked it a lot more. But it wasn't. And it didn't even start like that.

We start with the typical rom-com elements, second-chance romance, meet-cutes, all the good stuff. When we get introduced to Shobi, I immediately think "Damn, I wish this book was about her." I spoke too early because in some way it did — and thus the rom-com was over.

This is such a heavy (and such a slowww) book. The different plots (Ashna & Rico and Ashna & Shobi and Shobi's past) didn't feel like  they fit into the same book, which made the whole thing feel all over the place.

Espically Ashna and Rico's story just didn't make me feel anything (which is bad in a supposed romance book). Most of the time I even thought there was a better love interest for Rico. We didn't have nearly enough development for their relationship.

I loved the first book in the series but after this one, I don't think I'll be continuing — too many surprises for me. I'll leave this at 2.5⭐

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Infidelity, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion

taibreakfast's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-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

4.0

I liked this even better than the first in the series! This one deepened the story of Persuasion by adding a multigenerational element and adding the [familial] love story between the protagonist and her mom. And that actually is just as important as or even more important than the primary romance story, although that is still good!

I also appreciate that the Louisa subplot didn't carry out entirely faithfully to the original because that is truly so rough every time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Blood

Minor: Confinement, Abortion, Infidelity, and Vomit

amibo's review

emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Abortion, Blood, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Misogyny

cozylifewithabby's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is disguised as a light hearted Persuasion retelling, but deals with a lot more trauma than its source material. I enjoyed the first book more as this was heavy, but the writing is good. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Minor: Abortion and Infidelity

alisanti's review

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Infidelity, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Abandonment

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault