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ellajoy12's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Car accident, and Abandonment
hermithebs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
mybookishlife2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
lenina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The book was WAY too cheesy at some places but overall it's a good read with character development
would definitely recommend
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Car accident, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexism
Minor: Alcoholism
krutikasurve's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Also to have a white man be invested in your culture, friggin' bonus.
The book was enjoyable. Again, you know what's gonna happen. But you enjoy the ride.
Also, smut.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
faitaupea's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Abandonment
emilyle's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
i thoroughly enjoyed this book. it is a cheesy book but the whole thing makes me melt. they are an unlikely couple and jump through so many hoops for each other and to be with each other. there is fake dating which only ever leads to actually dating.
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Abandonment
annreadss's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol
lsvctria's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Car accident and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
allyhoo811's review against another edition
- 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
I was NOT disappointed. This book was such a treat. The humor and writing style that I loved from the author's debut were on full display, and most of the problems I had were much improved. This was leaps and bounds better!
What I liked:
1) No insta-love: This was a contemporary romance where the characters actually had a history together. It wasn't just boom meet cute and married a few weeks later.
2) The friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers combo tropes: You will understand if you read.
3) No ridiculous miscommunications: Sure there was some miscommunication (mainly from their past as teenagers); however, it wasn't overdone. For the most part the two main characters would talk out their problems and not let things fester.
4) The male lead wasn't crazy possessive: Sure Liam felt jealousy when other men flirted with the girl he liked, but he didn't immediately jump to wanting to pummel them into oblivion.
5) The family interactions: These are some of my favorite parts of Desai's novels.
What kept it from being a five star read?
1) Both books in the series seem to be trying to get away from the typical romance heroine "type", while appreciating diversity in women. This is great and one of the things that drew me to the series in the first place. However, I'm noticing a trend where in order to accomplish this goal women who would be considered conventionally attractive (blonde, blue-eyed, thin, etc.) are being portrayed in a very negative light (vapid, sexually inappropriate, petty, cruel). The overall vibe given is that women who look like this are bad people, who can't be trusted. We shouldn't have to build people up, by pushing others down.
2) Interestingly, the male protagonists in the novels are very much the traditional perfect male leads (tall, handsome, intelligent, wealthy, chiseled abs, etc.), and the female characters put down other less perfect men for their looks as not good enough.
Neither of these things are a good look when you are celebrating diversity in your characters.
Hope this changes in future books.
*********************************
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I hope this author keeps improving. Will read more.
Graphic: Car accident and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Alcohol