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jencolumb0's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I found this to be an incredibly engaging read: I blinked and I was almost half-way through it. Mira and Naveen make for a very likable couple and Ms. Rai did a solid job with the arc of their emotional growth and growth together. The rest of the story was a wild, if not somewhat gritty (for Romancelandia), heist of a heist that had me thinking of Dial A for Aunties (but less absurd). My hang-up with all of this is just how much was supposed to be shoved inside, like, 18 hours. ( drive to Vegas, wake up and free themselves, drive to diner, eat and arrange new car, track Emi to two places, negotiate at the poker game, play poker, the whole charade to talk to Sunil, going to the party + talking with Steve, Walmart stop, sex, sleep . . . until sunrise, then a few piles of other things Then, we have how all of this stuff was wrapped up and that’s really what knocked a star off for me. I get how it couldn’t be a much deeper resolution but the resolution provided feels super cheap and is what I think would actually mess Mira up the most . . . but there’s just a passing mention of her PTSD when there had been pretty steady talk about her emotions. This produces a bit of a disconnect that is only bolstered by Ms. Rai ’s decision to keep it real with the resolution, or lack thereof, between Mira and her sister . The warm-fuzzies of the epilogue and Mira/Naveen smooth the experience for the reader but there is a definite gap between the rather realistic emotional experiences of the characters through the first, oh, 80% of the book and then that kind of crumbled at the end. I do think this book would make a very fun movie, though, where the issues at the resolution are easily smoothed over in a move visual medium.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Pregnancy
renpuspita's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
If judging by cover alone, I expect a cute contemporary romance feature Desi characters. Even the blurb said so. What I don't expect after finish reading is rather than a conrom, Partners in Crime more like romantic suspense. With angst, LOT of angst. I had read Alisha Rai's title before and I forget that she can write a delicious angst.
I like both Mira and Naveen, since both in their thirties so they are already mature and no unnecessary or prolonged drama OR third act breakup. Before the story began, Mira matched with Naveen, only to let her insecurities about her shady family and past that make her broke things up with Naveen via text. Ouch. I like the second chance trope that Rai write because not only Mira have a huge emotional baggage, Naveen himself also just recently sober and also failed in the romantic department. I think both Mira and Naveen suit each other, they compliment each other with Mira who is savvy enough to face their enemies while Naveen also support her emotionally and also smooth things over with his communication skills. Truly a partners in crime. In the end Mira manage to face her past and pursue her happiness in the future with Naveen.
The story is fast paced and full of adrenaline. The suspense keep me reading especially regarding the jewels that Mira's late father stole and the identity of the villain named Cobra. Not only Mira and Naveen race through time because Cobra threatened Mira's sister life, they also go to many states and also do heist. The romance itself maybe not much and more like angst, but the amount of romance and angst are well balanced. However, the twist regarding the Cobra identity and another character from Mira's past left me dumbfounded. A true Bollywood moment, lel. Just like your usual Asian centered story, the story will be no complete without meddling parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc.
If you love your romantic suspense with heist element, well balanced angst and romance, family theme and a nonstop chase with a slight mystery, I will recommend Partners in Crime!
I like both Mira and Naveen, since both in their thirties so they are already mature and no unnecessary or prolonged drama OR third act breakup. Before the story began, Mira matched with Naveen, only to let her insecurities about her shady family and past that make her broke things up with Naveen via text. Ouch. I like the second chance trope that Rai write because not only Mira have a huge emotional baggage, Naveen himself also just recently sober and also failed in the romantic department. I think both Mira and Naveen suit each other, they compliment each other with Mira who is savvy enough to face their enemies while Naveen also support her emotionally and also smooth things over with his communication skills. Truly a partners in crime. In the end Mira manage to face her past and pursue her happiness in the future with Naveen.
The story is fast paced and full of adrenaline. The suspense keep me reading especially regarding the jewels that Mira's late father stole and the identity of the villain named Cobra. Not only Mira and Naveen race through time because Cobra threatened Mira's sister life, they also go to many states and also do heist. The romance itself maybe not much and more like angst, but the amount of romance and angst are well balanced. However, the twist regarding the Cobra identity and another character from Mira's past left me dumbfounded. A true Bollywood moment, lel. Just like your usual Asian centered story, the story will be no complete without meddling parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc.
If you love your romantic suspense with heist element, well balanced angst and romance, family theme and a nonstop chase with a slight mystery, I will recommend Partners in Crime!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, Abandonment, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Minor: Grief, Infidelity, Racism, and Pregnancy
notsobinaryart's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Classism, Gaslighting, and Blood
Minor: Torture, Body shaming, Cancer, Sexual harassment, and Infidelity
bookish_afrolatina's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Solid fun romance mixed with the Hangover type storyline and a generous serving of parental abuse. So if you want a good mix of emotions, this is good for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
nikspandya's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.5
First, I need to shout out the incredible narrators of this audiobook, Soneela Kankani and Shahjehan Khan. If you do pick up this book, I highly recommend listening to the audio because of these two. I'm definitely going to look into their full audiographies.
This book is super entertaining! The first thing that stood out to me from the start of this book was that I really enjoyed Alisha Rai's plotting style. She gave you just enough to establish characters, but not so much that there isn't more to discover about them as the story went on. I found Mira and Naveen to be compelling characters and I was invested in their stories pretty much immediately.
I liked how they kept reaching dead ends in their high stakes quest, it didn't frustrate me at all. In fact, it really built up my excitement on the conclusion of this story. Which is why, once we got to the resolution and big reveal, I was quite let down. Without spoilers, I'll say that she uses certain storytelling devices way too many times and close together. It really felt like this ending was fumbled. Too many reveals and not enough hints or clues that would make it feel like "of course it was that person!"
Ending rant with spoilers:
what the fuck was that ending with her sister and aunt? They both just fuck off and then come back and then fuck off again? The only reason I can consider that would make sense for Sejal to have no strength or courage to actually reconnect with her sister, is that she has her own book coming. Mira and Sejal's mom being Cobra was also just so...I dunno, it was such a let down. I thought it was going to be Sunil Uncle. Also why was Sunil helping so much and then he just fucks off too?? With all the build up of emotional development in this story, I would have expected something a little more...well though out for the ending. It felt like this author ran out of pages.
Now besides my disappointment in the third act, I am definitely going to dive into Alisha Rai's other books. I think she gets me really excited for characters and that doesn't often happen with contemporary characters. Pick up this book if you're a lighthearted romance reader!
This book is super entertaining! The first thing that stood out to me from the start of this book was that I really enjoyed Alisha Rai's plotting style. She gave you just enough to establish characters, but not so much that there isn't more to discover about them as the story went on. I found Mira and Naveen to be compelling characters and I was invested in their stories pretty much immediately.
I liked how they kept reaching dead ends in their high stakes quest, it didn't frustrate me at all. In fact, it really built up my excitement on the conclusion of this story. Which is why, once we got to the resolution and big reveal, I was quite let down. Without spoilers, I'll say that she uses certain storytelling devices way too many times and close together. It really felt like this ending was fumbled. Too many reveals and not enough hints or clues that would make it feel like "of course it was that person!"
Ending rant with spoilers:
Now besides my disappointment in the third act, I am definitely going to dive into Alisha Rai's other books. I think she gets me really excited for characters and that doesn't often happen with contemporary characters. Pick up this book if you're a lighthearted romance reader!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Addiction, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
jazhandz's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the first 80% of the book. The plot kind of falls to shreds towards the end but the romance was enjoyable and the characters were fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Minor: Body shaming and Infidelity
Details about the emotional abuse:decklededgess's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trigger warnings: kidnapping, alcohol, infidelity, violence, physical injury, emotional neglect, abandonment, sexual content, gun violence
This is like The Spy Who Dumped Me but like a thousand times better. It’s a wild ride from start to finish with such cool plot twists!!!!
Mira and Naveen are so adorable. I loved both of their back stories and the way their history fed into the people they were in the start of the book plus how as they understood each other’s past they began to fall for each other again. Beautifully done.
Naveen’s sobriety was represented with a lot of respect as was Mira’s anxiety and PTSD. A lot of tense and sensitive emotional topics in regards to fraught family history was also done super well but the tone of the book still was relatively light and adventurous.
And of course, can’t forget the smut scenes. Two strategic there’s only one bed moments WITH a cunnilingus scene. This book ate. Literally 😏
Alisha Rai continues to be one of my favourite authors of all time.
This is like The Spy Who Dumped Me but like a thousand times better. It’s a wild ride from start to finish with such cool plot twists!!!!
Mira and Naveen are so adorable. I loved both of their back stories and the way their history fed into the people they were in the start of the book plus how as they understood each other’s past they began to fall for each other again. Beautifully done.
Naveen’s sobriety was represented with a lot of respect as was Mira’s anxiety and PTSD. A lot of tense and sensitive emotional topics in regards to fraught family history was also done super well but the tone of the book still was relatively light and adventurous.
And of course, can’t forget the smut scenes. Two strategic there’s only one bed moments WITH a cunnilingus scene. This book ate. Literally 😏
Alisha Rai continues to be one of my favourite authors of all time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Fatphobia, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Violence
bookwormbullet's review
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Blood
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