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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
megj23's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Body shaming
onegalonelife27's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Romance meets thriller in this one!
For the longest time, Mira has tried to find a nice, stable husband in order to avoid the life her father lived. Yet, just after getting dumped by the latest man her matchmaker set her up with, she finds out that her late aunt's attorney is actually the first-and best-match she had, whom she left. It only gets more awkward between these two exes, when they get kidnapped. Turns out her late father stole from the wrong person. Now they’re on the run in Vegas, trying to save their skins and loved ones. And along the way, find a chance to reconnect and come out with an even better relationship than before.
This story is a great blend of thriller, romance, and a bit of comedy! You hold your breath when things get intense and then cackle when some hilarious happens like Mira telling the owner of a strip club about body shaming! Then swooning as the characters find themselves falling back in love with one another.
This romance shows a lot of parallels between the two characters, coping with their pasts in different ways and it makes the connection they grow even more wonderful. Mira often tries to bottle up her emotions but Naveen helps her release them. Naveen often worries about how others perceive him, but Mira helps him become more confident.
The last hour or so had me going “Oh god!” so much with the twists revealed.
I highly recommend this one for anyone who’ll want romance but also love a good thriller too!
For the longest time, Mira has tried to find a nice, stable husband in order to avoid the life her father lived. Yet, just after getting dumped by the latest man her matchmaker set her up with, she finds out that her late aunt's attorney is actually the first-and best-match she had, whom she left. It only gets more awkward between these two exes, when they get kidnapped. Turns out her late father stole from the wrong person. Now they’re on the run in Vegas, trying to save their skins and loved ones. And along the way, find a chance to reconnect and come out with an even better relationship than before.
This story is a great blend of thriller, romance, and a bit of comedy! You hold your breath when things get intense and then cackle when some hilarious happens like Mira telling the owner of a strip club about body shaming! Then swooning as the characters find themselves falling back in love with one another.
This romance shows a lot of parallels between the two characters, coping with their pasts in different ways and it makes the connection they grow even more wonderful. Mira often tries to bottle up her emotions but Naveen helps her release them. Naveen often worries about how others perceive him, but Mira helps him become more confident.
The last hour or so had me going “Oh god!” so much with the twists revealed.
I highly recommend this one for anyone who’ll want romance but also love a good thriller too!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, and Death of parent
bethbaty's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.75
This was such a wildly fun rollercoaster ride. I could’ve done without the graphic sex scenes 😬 but otherwise, I LOVED that even in the crazy unrealistic circumstances, the characters were so real and believable. If you just want a sweet romance, this is not that book. 😂 But if you want a wild ride and tons of unexpected turns, with a bit of romance thrown in too, then yes, this is definitely that book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence and Blood
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
booktalkwithrae's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
How is it that I did not expect this book to go the way it went. In a good way.
This is not your typical romance. This is much more of an action packed romance. Which really made it unique and different from the romances that I usually read.
The two main characters are caught in a life or death situation, where they have to find an item in order to stay alive. But this is not the first time our main characters met, oh no, they are actually exes.
Typically, with a second chance romance, you usually would expect some animosity between the two love interests. Considering that they broke up previously, but there was none in this case. Whether that’s something you enjoy or not, it’s totally up to preference, personally I would’ve liked to have a little animosity and created some drama between the two to start the book off.
The romance was definitely there, however, I found a lot of the romantic elements for rooted in the characters past. Because of that, I felt like I’d as the reader didn’t feel a really deep, romantic connection between the two because every moment of feeling always came from a past action when they were together. I would’ve liked to seen more romantic interactions with the characters in the moment, as opposed to a past thought.
The ending was very interesting and not what I expected. While I was reading the book, I thought I predicted the ending and I was completely off.
Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable romance read. If you’re someone who loves romance reads, and you find that they’re often using the same formula over and over again and you wanna shake things up a bit then this one would be a good one to do that.
This is not your typical romance. This is much more of an action packed romance. Which really made it unique and different from the romances that I usually read.
The two main characters are caught in a life or death situation, where they have to find an item in order to stay alive. But this is not the first time our main characters met, oh no, they are actually exes.
Typically, with a second chance romance, you usually would expect some animosity between the two love interests. Considering that they broke up previously, but there was none in this case. Whether that’s something you enjoy or not, it’s totally up to preference, personally I would’ve liked to have a little animosity and created some drama between the two to start the book off.
The romance was definitely there, however, I found a lot of the romantic elements for rooted in the characters past. Because of that, I felt like I’d as the reader didn’t feel a really deep, romantic connection between the two because every moment of feeling always came from a past action when they were together. I would’ve liked to seen more romantic interactions with the characters in the moment, as opposed to a past thought.
The ending was very interesting and not what I expected. While I was reading the book, I thought I predicted the ending and I was completely off.
Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable romance read. If you’re someone who loves romance reads, and you find that they’re often using the same formula over and over again and you wanna shake things up a bit then this one would be a good one to do that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Gun violence
katebrownreads's review
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Sexual content, and Gun violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Addiction, Body shaming, and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Infidelity
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings: sexual scenes, death/loss of family/loved ones, alcoholism, kidnapping, violence, gun violence, forced drugging, sexual harassment, PTSD, and feelings of abandonment and inadequacy.
What can I say...I adore anything Alisha Rai writes. 🥰
This book gave us a fast paced second chance romance with mystery, learning from your past, and finding where you fit. 💜
Mira and Naveen had been each other's first matches through the community favorite matchmaker Hema Auntie...after six amazing months together Mira panicked and broke up with Naveen via text. 😳
Now years later, multiple failed matches, and the loss of her aunt...Mina is feeling hopeless and alone. When she goes to hear her aunts will the last person she expected to see was Naveen.
After Mira broke his heart...Naveen dealt with his own share of challenges. The last place he ever expected to see Mira again was at his grandfather's practice...and why was she using a different name?!
Mira and Naveen were so easy to understand, connect to, and cheer for. Two sweet people who've dealt with their fair share of family betrayal, heartache, and pain. Both so caught up in the past that they seemly fail to fully appreciate the connections they still have.
I do wish the last 1/4 of the book was a bit longer and the first half slightly shorter but overall I really enjoyed this story.
What can I say...I adore anything Alisha Rai writes. 🥰
This book gave us a fast paced second chance romance with mystery, learning from your past, and finding where you fit. 💜
Mira and Naveen had been each other's first matches through the community favorite matchmaker Hema Auntie...after six amazing months together Mira panicked and broke up with Naveen via text. 😳
Now years later, multiple failed matches, and the loss of her aunt...Mina is feeling hopeless and alone. When she goes to hear her aunts will the last person she expected to see was Naveen.
After Mira broke his heart...Naveen dealt with his own share of challenges. The last place he ever expected to see Mira again was at his grandfather's practice...and why was she using a different name?!
Mira and Naveen were so easy to understand, connect to, and cheer for. Two sweet people who've dealt with their fair share of family betrayal, heartache, and pain. Both so caught up in the past that they seemly fail to fully appreciate the connections they still have.
I do wish the last 1/4 of the book was a bit longer and the first half slightly shorter but overall I really enjoyed this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
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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