Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai

13 reviews

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! 

---

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

auudrey's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Stalking, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Grief

Minor: Body shaming and Panic attacks/disorders

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

caseythereader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense 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? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Infidelity and Alcoholism

btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Minor: Body shaming, Racism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Abandonment, Grief, and Death of parent

sydapel's review

adventurous funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

A perfect romp, equal parts adventure, angst, fun and spice! Alisha Rai somehow manages to write both an amateur heist/spy plot along with a exploration of both Mira and Naveen's family trauma and it's an absolute delight! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship

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:

Mira’s father was a conman who used her in his schemes when she was a child.