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bethanycrowepowell's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book is a crackling blend of romance and heist. Amira's pretty sure her elite matchmaker is going to fire her when she's dumped by her perfect (on paper) boyfriend after a series of failures.
Of course, she's hiding something major from all of them: she doesn't come from a nice South Asian family, and she didn't even give her actual birth time. When her aunt's will takes her into a law office with the first match she had (who she fled unceremoniously when things got too real) this is just the beginning of a reckoning both with what she's been running from and who she is.
This was a tightly plotted book with a very fun premise. It focused a little more on the plot and the intimate moments felt brief, but the way both characters had to integrate their real selves into the relationship despite wanting to hide was really satisfying.
Of course, she's hiding something major from all of them: she doesn't come from a nice South Asian family, and she didn't even give her actual birth time. When her aunt's will takes her into a law office with the first match she had (who she fled unceremoniously when things got too real) this is just the beginning of a reckoning both with what she's been running from and who she is.
This was a tightly plotted book with a very fun premise. It focused a little more on the plot and the intimate moments felt brief, but the way both characters had to integrate their real selves into the relationship despite wanting to hide was really satisfying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism and Fatphobia
Despite Amira's assumptions, I like that both characters have shadows from the past. The strip club scene where they deal with casual toxic body standards while also being deeply attracted to each other was a nice nod to how mid-size bodies still get judged.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
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