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debirainbow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This is a strange book, the chapters are short and there are a lot of characters. Good descriptions of Bengali household & the author’s description of cooking and food. It explores the mixing of different cultures & parent child relationships. I liked the chapters set in the hospital wards, felt Ali described those really well - the issues with elder care & the pressures of geriatric care.
Spoiler : If she had focussed on that - the love triangle & maybe left Joe’s therapy sessions in, it would have been less of a chore to finish. Didn’t really care for Harriet’s chapters, raised a lot of issues which were not followed through ie her relationship with her dad!!! - the author had a lot to say and opinions about Brexit & Islamophobia which is great, but made the book muddled and dragged a bit towards the end.
Graphic: Islamophobia, Rape, Grief, and Incest
linda48's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Medical content, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Islamophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, and Sexism
mags123456'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
4.5
I feel the story came to a neat end with all issues which were explored being resolved
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
Moderate: Islamophobia
danimcthomas'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
4.75
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Islamophobia, Biphobia, Dementia, Medical trauma, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Addiction, Alcohol, Genocide, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
granolagrandma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Islamophobia and Physical abuse
bootsmom3'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
Graphic: Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Classism, Death, and Sexual violence
Minor: Dementia
jazful'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
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical trauma, Dementia, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Classism, Medical content, Misogyny, Addiction, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infertility, Incest, Abandonment, Blood, Cultural appropriation, and Grief
Minor: Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, and Police brutality
monalyisha'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
3.75
Note: TW for abuse (domestic, sexual, emotional). This is called “a riveting social comedy” but it isn’t. Not really. It’s about families, which means that it has its share of tenderness and ribbing but the trauma and struggle, for me, felt a lot more prevalent — even alongside the love. Despite the author’s clear wit, I don’t think this can properly be called a “comedy” without conveying a half-truth about tone.
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Rape
Minor: Homophobia
ell_n'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: Sexual assault and Islamophobia
Moderate: Medical content
jennikreads's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Dementia and Infidelity
Moderate: Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Lesbophobia