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bandysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
First of all, I really loved the way the author brought Iran to life. The setting is almost a character of its own as it is so present and involved in the plotline. I could fully imagine the stationery shop, the markets, and everything in between. It reminded me a lot of some of my own travels in the Middle East and I absolutely loved that sense of nostalgia from the reading.
Additionally, I loved Roya as a main character. She is clever, opinionated, and knows what she wants. She is a good daughter to her family and a loyal partner to Bahman when they fall in love. I felt a rapport with her immediately and continued to feel it throughout.
I also enjoyed the way the story was split between past and present. Sometimes when there is a split timeline in stories, one timeline is stronger than the other. That is not the case here. I loved both timelines and love the way the two timelines eventually come together.
My only real critique of the book is that the main source of conflict could've been so easily resolved. I won't give details here as I don't want to spoil the book, but suffice it to say, that you can't think about the conflict too deeply or it creates a bit of a hole in the story.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it without reservation to anyone who likes historical fiction and romance.
Graphic: Abortion, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Violence
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Classism, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Self harm, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion
allyordyna's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Grief, Police brutality, Death, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Emotional abuse, War, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Cancer
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I found myself confronted with so many emotions reading this, which has now left me in an emotionally confused state as I keep processing this book and everything in it. It does not shy away from making very complicated characters, that you despise for their actions, but sympathetic because of their circumstance, but then frustrated as those circumstances are not an excuse for their actions, and so the cycle continues whilst reading. It leaves you in a strange but also real situation where not everything is black and white.
The plot at the beginning had me interested but not hooked. I enjoyed it for the most part, but when I stopped reading at part 3 during my first sitting of this book, I could have left it as I didn't have me hooked (granted I was also in a bit of a slump so that contributed to this feeling as well). Part 3 was much of the same from part 2 but had some really heart breaking and warming moments that felt so real., but part 4 is where this book shines in my opinion. This part hit me like a train. I was all over the place and the epilogue had me stunned and tore my heart from my chest with the emotions that I felt and everything that lead to that moment.
I highly recommend this book , but also encourage to look up the trigger and content warnings as there is some heavy and triggering moments in this book.
Graphic: Classism, Death, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abortion, Violence, and Child death
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Grief, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Abortion, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Cancer
flameoflareon's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Medical content
Minor: Racism, Abortion, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
kaiulanilee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
On the negative side, there were moments where I felt like ideas kept repeating when they didn’t need to, particularly in regards to Roya’s internal monologue as she’s missing Bahman. It felt slightly repetitive in that aspect but it was nothing to bad. I also found the letter he writes to her at the end to be so focused on explaining what happened that it didn’t actually feel like a letter to someone. I know she had to have a way that things are explained but it was especially odd in letter format, to me.
This all being said, I would HIGHLY recommend this book. It’s stunning and captures so much about love for the people in your life so incredibly well.
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia