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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
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
alliei's review
emotional
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
4.75
For anyone wanting to read this, pls check content warnings/trigger warnings.
As soon as I finished the first book, I went straight to this. I loved Pride and prejudice and other flavors, and I loved this even more!
This book was such a rollercoaster for me. I felt too much of everything, and I loved every bit of those feelings. The only reason why I didn't give it a 5 star is because I was lead on thinking this was abt the cooking show and saving the restaurant. Although the latter was indeed essential in the book, it was more than that yk.
As soon as I finished the first book, I went straight to this. I loved Pride and prejudice and other flavors, and I loved this even more!
This book was such a rollercoaster for me. I felt too much of everything, and I loved every bit of those feelings. The only reason why I didn't give it a 5 star is because I was lead on thinking this was abt the cooking show and saving the restaurant. Although the latter was indeed essential in the book, it was more than that yk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Suicide
alyssancoon's review
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Rape
Minor: Abortion
ashhearddwrites's review
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
this is another series where i (accidentally) started on the second installment, however i didn't feel like i was missing anything, all the characters were introduced well
it's a modern adaptation of jane austen's persuasion. in some ways it does a good job with that modernization, particularly in rico and ashna's relationship mirroring captain wentworth and anna, but otherwise i didn't really see many parallels and didn't really *feel* like an adaptation of persuasion. it also quoted persuasion (rico commenting on how "altered" ashna was felt like a word for word quote) BUT they also reference the book, as a thing that exists in their world that rico himself has read and enjoys (but will genuinely quote it without realizing???)
i enjoyed the story and characters, and would recommend the story on its own merits, but it feels a bit muddled in its intent as an adaptation. also mind the tags.
i enjoyed the story and characters, and would recommend the story on its own merits, but it feels a bit muddled in its intent as an adaptation. also mind the tags.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Alcoholism, and Addiction
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I went in to Recipe for Persuasion expecting it to be light and fun based on a brief synopsis. Ashna is struggling to keep her late father’s restaurant afloat so agrees to appear on Cooking with the Stars, a reality tv show. Rico, the star she is paired with, just happens to be her former high school boyfriend. However, this one had a lot more depth and complexity than I anticipated. The plot features alcoholism, forced marriage, abusive and controlling behaviour, suicide, rape, family secrets and a complicated mother-daughter relationship. It also offered a good taste of Maharashtrian culture. While this book did deliver the expected light and fluffy elements (second chance romance, reality tv show shenanigans) it also offered a lot more and was therefore a richer reading experience than I was anticipating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicide
Moderate: Rape
rossi_dyl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
The miscommunications just made me want to shake all the characters—which is the backbone of Persuasion. It all felt very human.
There were some confusing jumps in the book to different times or different characters that could have been clarified or identified better.
There were some confusing jumps in the book to different times or different characters that could have been clarified or identified better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
Minor: Abortion and Infidelity
margueritestjust's review
emotional
funny
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
5.0
First of all, may I say that I adored this book. It has an incredible amount of devotion to its characters and their arcs, and I think that it's had the best character work out of the books that I've read this year. The plot and point of views had me questioning some decisions earlier in the book, but Sonali Dev really explored some heavy themes in this book, and also ended up with an actual aww-worthy romance along the way. I also think that it's so funny that the plot of this book was basically "Chopped, but for fancy chefs". This book absolutely convinced me to pick up Persuasion as I've never read it, though this has set really high expectations for it.
Once again, Dev hits a homerun with the Raje family. I seriously can't get over how well their relationships and dynamics are written, and I bought the next book in the series as soon as it came out because her writing is seriously amazing. The love interest feels a lot more fleshed out to me than DJ did in the first one, and the central romance actually works, with all of the conflicts naturally arising out of a difficult situation and confusion and misunderstanding. By the time they finally get together, it feels very beautifully done. The only issue I had with this book is when the author referenced the plot of Persuasion! A character tells the love interest that he's totally "Wentworthing-ing" the main character, and that got to be just a bit too self-referential for me, haha.
I really can't describe how much I loved this book, so please just pick it up. The premise is fun, the characters are well-written, and the story will have you seriously re-evaluate your first perceptions of everything and everyone in the book. I cannot wait to read her next book.
I'm also not usually one for quoting the book during reviews but this book had me SO aww'ing here (rather late in the story so spoilers tagged).
Do you mean it?" Her voice was a whisper.
He swallowed, his thickly stubbled jaw tightening. "Mean what?"
"Everything you say to me with your eyes?"
Once again, Dev hits a homerun with the Raje family. I seriously can't get over how well their relationships and dynamics are written, and I bought the next book in the series as soon as it came out because her writing is seriously amazing. The love interest feels a lot more fleshed out to me than DJ did in the first one, and the central romance actually works, with all of the conflicts naturally arising out of a difficult situation and confusion and misunderstanding. By the time they finally get together, it feels very beautifully done. The only issue I had with this book is when the author referenced the plot of Persuasion! A character tells the love interest that he's totally "Wentworthing-ing" the main character, and that got to be just a bit too self-referential for me, haha.
I really can't describe how much I loved this book, so please just pick it up. The premise is fun, the characters are well-written, and the story will have you seriously re-evaluate your first perceptions of everything and everyone in the book. I cannot wait to read her next book.
I'm also not usually one for quoting the book during reviews but this book had me SO aww'ing here (rather late in the story so spoilers tagged).
He swallowed, his thickly stubbled jaw tightening. "Mean what?"
"Everything you say to me with your eyes?"
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Rape
In the past, and in flashbacks, an alcoholic character is depicted, who later kills himself. A supporting character was raped in the past, though it is never graphically described.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
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
em_likes_books's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion