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annashan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
rworrall78's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It took me too long to get into the characters. It was very London. But I did stick with it and I loved the ending, in the last 70 pages I finally found myself really wanting to pick it up and not want to put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Addiction, Incest, and Rape
Minor: Death
jennikreads's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Dementia
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Islamophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Lesbophobia
sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.0
Yasmin Ghorami is engaged to fellow doctor Joe Sangster, loving families merging together. Yasmin and her brother Arif brought up by Baba the patriarchal Doctor father and their mum Anisah. Arif and Baba have a strained relationship, which deteriorates when it's found out his girlfriend Lucy is pregnant. Joe has a difficult relationship with his overbearing mother, Harriet, and is in therapy for his secret sex addiction. Secrets, lies, race, class, gender, faith, sexuality, clashing cultures, relationships, and family rifts are at the heart of this book. It is a messy story of strained family dynamics. A great compelling read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, and Islamophobia
kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Islamophobia
Moderate: Rape
ukponge's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Rape
bella_cavicchi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-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? Yes
3.0
I struggled to rate this because, by and large, I did enjoy it. Ali has crafted a family saga for the ages, her characters distinctly drawn, their overlapping stories and struggles compelling. (I recall reading a review that compared it to a Dickens novel, which feels apt!) But I also found it incredibly slow to read -- the pace isn't entirely there, and I don't think the story warrants five hundred pages. Make of that what you will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, and Medical content
Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, and Violence
kimberlyallen011's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Islamophobia
Moderate: Incest and Rape
bookmaddie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
I suggested this as our July book club pick, and it was chosen, but then none of us actually finished it. Oops!! But I finally got going in August, and wow—I really liked this one! I do think it would be a great book club pick.. maybe just when it's not summer and when everyone has the time to devote to it.
Anyways! This book has the drama—it is so juicy! That alone will keep you reading, but Ali's writing is really approachable and encompassing. I was instantly drawn into the story, and could easily flip pages all afternoon.
This story follows Yasmin and her family just after she gets engaged to Joe, another doctor at her hospital. As time goes on, secrets are uncovered, deeds are done, and Yasmin is forced to confront herself—what she actually wants in life, and how she has misjudged those closest to her. It is a story about love, what we expect it to be, and the myriad of forms it takes in life.
I gotta admit that none of these characters are really likable, but I found them all intensely relatable—there are bits of all of these people in myself or my life. I especially enjoyed Yasmin's relationship with her mom. Ali excelled at showing how we can box people into certain roles rather than allowing them to be their whole selves (also kind of a theme of the whole book..). And while it was expediently clear to the reader that this was happening, it was really rewarding to watch Yasmin realize this throughout the story. Love some character growth!
Anyways! This book has the drama—it is so juicy! That alone will keep you reading, but Ali's writing is really approachable and encompassing. I was instantly drawn into the story, and could easily flip pages all afternoon.
This story follows Yasmin and her family just after she gets engaged to Joe, another doctor at her hospital. As time goes on, secrets are uncovered, deeds are done, and Yasmin is forced to confront herself—what she actually wants in life, and how she has misjudged those closest to her. It is a story about love, what we expect it to be, and the myriad of forms it takes in life.
I gotta admit that none of these characters are really likable, but I found them all intensely relatable—there are bits of all of these people in myself or my life. I especially enjoyed Yasmin's relationship with her mom. Ali excelled at showing how we can box people into certain roles rather than allowing them to be their whole selves (also kind of a theme of the whole book..). And while it was expediently clear to the reader that this was happening, it was really rewarding to watch Yasmin realize this throughout the story. Love some character growth!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, and Medical content
Moderate: Islamophobia and Pregnancy
katgent's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders