Reviews

Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev

shanella's review against another edition

Not entirely a cutsie second chance. I will have to be in a certainood to read this, and I'm looking for light. 

blovesbooks80's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

3.5

brinr's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-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

daumari's review against another edition

4.0

Ostensibly a romance, but upfront I'm going to note that this book includes discussions of suicide, marital rape, alcoholism, crippling anxiety so... a cute cover does not mean all is light and fluffy! I knew that it would probably hit serious themes though, given the previous entry ([b:Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors|41154302|Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors (The Rajes, #1)|Sonali Dev|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539890985l/41154302._SY75_.jpg|64328109] did too.

I don't know Persuasion as well as I do P&P so, aside from long-lost loves named Frederick(o), I don't know what other beats are here (and how many are in Ashna's story vs. Shoban's.) I really did enjoy this though, and the comedy (sorta) of manners in mother and daughter trying to figure each other out. Rico's alright too, but I do wish we could've gotten a little bit more of his backstory.

katiemaesardella's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

shravks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

alayna017's review against another edition

5.0

I am loving this series! I’ve never read Persuasion, so that one has to be added to my TBR list now. I think my favorite part of this one was the split story of Mother & Daughter; knowing what the mother was thinking and what she had gone through made me so invested in their relationship. That was the relationship I was most excited about. I still loved the journey of the romantic relationship but it was 2nd to the mother-daughter one. Can’t wait for the next one!

chasingthepage's review against another edition

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? No

3.5

kdawn999's review against another edition

3.0

A flawed but creative take on the Anne-Wentworth story inside a TV cooking competition. The broad strokes of Persuasion are here in that the leads have a tortured romantic history. What is much more interesting is the B-plot--revelations from Ashna's estranged mother. We get flashback scenes far more dramatic than the real-time romance on the page. The author even finds a way to work in the Mr. Collins proposal she had to forgo in the first novel and say something about the progress of women's rights. This novel relies heavily on the network of interesting family characters created in the first installment, and I'm not sure much progresses otherwise. Like the P&P storyline, the romance is pretty tepid here too--or there's a lack of the tension always present in Austen's original. The problem with letting us in everyone's heads is we never get to wonder about anyone's feelings. The careful limiting of perspectives, to me, feels like the chief joy and realism in Austen's highly internal novels.

mariahhamilton's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

3.5

I hated the chemistry between the two characters. they should not have gotten back together