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elh1985's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
0.5
Wow this book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. Maya has moved ro the Artic with her boyfriend Ryan. Stricken with Anxiety and little knowledge of her past in India. The more Indian food she eats she gets flashes of memories. Most if her mum whome she was told died in a car crash..... not revealing anymore as would be a spoiler. I had so much hope and confidence that Maya would find what she needed along the way. And boy! She did just that. Great book Dani Redd!
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Grief, Suicide, and Sexual assault
gck's review against another edition
4.0
The title, The Arctic Curry Club, caught my interest right away. With the cute cover art and the description, I was picturing a cozy romcom full of delicious food descriptions and hilarious mishaps of a first timer in the Arctic. In reality, this book should come with all sorts of trigger warnings, and it's a lot darker than it would seem at first glance.
Maya, the main character, is described as having "crippling anxiety," and that should be taken at face value. It's not we-can-laugh-at-it-funny anxiety, it really is crippling. It took me by surprise, when I was still expecting light chick lit, but ultimately, I was glad that her struggles with anxiety were represented seriously. It made her feel like more of a real person instead of a caricature.
It's quite a journey Maya has before her, to adjust to her new living situation, to learn to live effectively with her anxiety, and to deal with family issues, past and present. I enjoyed following along, between the Arctic and India. Even though things aren't glossy and romanticized, the escapism aspect of the book still works, making it a nice read for a cold winter day.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Maya, the main character, is described as having "crippling anxiety," and that should be taken at face value. It's not we-can-laugh-at-it-funny anxiety, it really is crippling. It took me by surprise, when I was still expecting light chick lit, but ultimately, I was glad that her struggles with anxiety were represented seriously. It made her feel like more of a real person instead of a caricature.
It's quite a journey Maya has before her, to adjust to her new living situation, to learn to live effectively with her anxiety, and to deal with family issues, past and present. I enjoyed following along, between the Arctic and India. Even though things aren't glossy and romanticized, the escapism aspect of the book still works, making it a nice read for a cold winter day.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
annosuperstar's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
thefarmwifereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Death of parent
stellar_nebula's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
books_andblankets's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
2.75
colorfulleo92's review
5.0
Had a good gut feeling when I started it and it never went away. While the book isn't as fluffy and light as I first thought it was still a very good book. I was surprised this got such a high rating. Not been many or this is the very furst Chrissy book that definitely had me go as ny
jen286's review
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
Just a note: I requested this book to review when I found it in the romance category on Netgalley, but this is NOT a romance. It is not even a love story. It doesn't look like it is really being marketed as one, but just in case it is not a romance. That was a bit confusing at times while I was reading as that is what I was expecting going in, but it was still a really great read.
I really adored Maya and her story of self-discovery. Of finding what she wants from her life and where she fits in. I really enjoyed this book and it made me want to go visit Longyearbyen! Yes, Maya has a hard time adjusting to the super cold and snow and everything, but even when she was talking about how miserable it is at times, I was like yes! Sign me up! I might have even started planning a trip to very far north Norway...
Maya has followed her boyfriend Ryan to the arctic circle where he has a job lined up. For as much as I adored Maya, I hated Ryan. Right from the first. He is one of those people who seem nice, who most people would like if they met them, but are really horrible in a relationship. Whose constant putting you down might not seem as bad as it is as it is framed as well I am just trying to help you. For example he comments on how much Maya eats, and does she really need that piece of cake? And things of that nature. Which I am sorry, but Maya is a grown adult and can make her own decisions. And she is not the only one with whom he tries to monitor and dictate how much they eat. Plus he is not actually supportive of Maya, even though he makes her think he is. He is one of those people that since Maya has not the best self-esteem already he can easily take advantage of that and make her think she is the issue. She defends him, thinks he is supportive, but all of these little jabs made me so angry. He doesn't understand anxiety, he is not supportive, I hated him and wanted so much better for her.
Now Maya was a really great character. She has a lot of anxiety about various things, she doesn't remember the first years of her life when she lived in India, and she struggles with not fitting in anywhere. Her father is from the UK, her mother is from India. She never felt like she fully fit in in the UK, is afraid to go back to India because what if she doesn't fit in there as well? What if she doesn't fit in anywhere because she is not enough. Her struggles were real and heartbreaking at times, but it was so wonderful to read how she dealt with everything. How she started to remember things, how she started to figure out what she actually wanted instead of following other people her whole life. How she made a place for herself where she had people she cares about and who care about her. How she still struggles with anxiety, but it is her life and she is going to live it. I really loved this story, loved Maya and seeing her realize and become the amazing person she always was.
Just a note: I requested this book to review when I found it in the romance category on Netgalley, but this is NOT a romance. It is not even a love story. It doesn't look like it is really being marketed as one, but just in case it is not a romance. That was a bit confusing at times while I was reading as that is what I was expecting going in, but it was still a really great read.
I really adored Maya and her story of self-discovery. Of finding what she wants from her life and where she fits in. I really enjoyed this book and it made me want to go visit Longyearbyen! Yes, Maya has a hard time adjusting to the super cold and snow and everything, but even when she was talking about how miserable it is at times, I was like yes! Sign me up! I might have even started planning a trip to very far north Norway...
Maya has followed her boyfriend Ryan to the arctic circle where he has a job lined up. For as much as I adored Maya, I hated Ryan. Right from the first. He is one of those people who seem nice, who most people would like if they met them, but are really horrible in a relationship. Whose constant putting you down might not seem as bad as it is as it is framed as well I am just trying to help you. For example he comments on how much Maya eats, and does she really need that piece of cake? And things of that nature. Which I am sorry, but Maya is a grown adult and can make her own decisions. And she is not the only one with whom he tries to monitor and dictate how much they eat. Plus he is not actually supportive of Maya, even though he makes her think he is. He is one of those people that since Maya has not the best self-esteem already he can easily take advantage of that and make her think she is the issue. She defends him, thinks he is supportive, but all of these little jabs made me so angry. He doesn't understand anxiety, he is not supportive, I hated him and wanted so much better for her.
Now Maya was a really great character. She has a lot of anxiety about various things, she doesn't remember the first years of her life when she lived in India, and she struggles with not fitting in anywhere. Her father is from the UK, her mother is from India. She never felt like she fully fit in in the UK, is afraid to go back to India because what if she doesn't fit in there as well? What if she doesn't fit in anywhere because she is not enough. Her struggles were real and heartbreaking at times, but it was so wonderful to read how she dealt with everything. How she started to remember things, how she started to figure out what she actually wanted instead of following other people her whole life. How she made a place for herself where she had people she cares about and who care about her. How she still struggles with anxiety, but it is her life and she is going to live it. I really loved this story, loved Maya and seeing her realize and become the amazing person she always was.
angellizzie12's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0