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ggpdiamond's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
2.75
sophierachel's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
2.75
highschoolbookworm's review
2.0
This book was such a disappointment. I honestly hated Bunty sooo much, his gold chain and his self-importance and how he ended up using Bobbi for sex and the fact that he didn't even have his own apartment? I got the ick so many times from him that I can't even keep track. Bobbi, on the other hand, was a breath of fresh air. I loved how she was such a badass when it came to handling conflicts and she was obviously gorgeous inside and out. She deserved so much better than Bunty, who refused to treat her right and never put her first for anything. He made her feel horrible about herself from day 1 and did nothing to make her feel better, yet she kept forgiving him over and over again. I also really didn't like the whole wedding sabotage plot, it's way too cartoon-villain for my liking and it was honestly annoying to see Bobbi be put through so many trials multiple times over just to prove herself to everyone around her, while Bunty had to do nothing of the sort because he was a man and the oldest son in his family. Long story short, Bobbi deserved so much more and Bunty was an entitled asshole.
embrcko's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.25
kaysreadsx's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
tagoreketabkhane31's review against another edition
5.0
The second book in the "If Shakespeare Was an Auntie" series, Sharma returns to the world of Desi New Jersey/New York, this time focusing on the best friends of Prem and Kareena from "Dating Dr. Dil", Bunty and Bobbi (Listen, I was lowkey hoping that Sharma would lean into "Bunty Aur Bubli" for the characters, but I will make do with Bobbi). Both are Punjabi Americans, and both are pretty loyal to their friends and are workaholics. And, much like their best friends, have a meet hate that does not got well for both of them.
However, that is pretty much where the similairies with the first book end, and "Taste Like Shakkar" takes off like its own novel, and in my opinion, tramples the second book syndrome in the series and outshines the first book. First off, this is such a Desi novel that I would argue that this is the most Desi novel that Sharma has written in her literary career. I didn't read this novel thinking that here was a Desi author that had made her book palatable for an American audience (and we know that with publishing and American editors, that is always going to be the case, especially when it comes to diaspora stories of first and second generation Americans.
Bunty and Bobbi are part of the #Vermaan wedding squad, as Prem and Kareena prepare for their Desi wedding events, and all of the friends are involved in ensuring that their best friends have the best wedding. Bobbi and Bunty agree to a truce in their cold war for the sake of working together to get the wedding done right given the change in the timeline of events - and with the four month calendar moved up, that is when they also start to realize that someone is attempting to sabatoge the wedding of their best friends, and the two (with the aid of the aunties) are doing their best to uncover who the sabatoeur is and make the sure wedding goes off without a hitch (well, as smoothly as any Desi wedding will go).
First off, the characters take center stage. Not only is the chemistry between the two MCs palpable on the page, their is a steady buildup that not only are we told occurred off screen between the time gap of the two books, but also what we as the reader see between the two as they communicate over the course of four months. Sharma puts a little bit of herself in boths MCs, and it comes alive as they both interact, and are very different for how Kareena and Prem went about their ways towards each other. Their banter, their vulnerability, and their mature conversations with each other (once you got out of the petty Cold War phase) were refreshing, and while a good grovel is always worth the angst, I did appreciate that they were adults about their relationship and the conflicts that they faced - and that they really did care about each other and as a reader I didn't have to question whether this was real or not.
Second, I appreciated that Sharma went out of her way not to make the Desi elders (parents, aunties and uncles) the outright villains. While there are some notable exceptions that were necessary for the plot from the two books, the Desi elders were eccentric, overprotective, and suffering from their own shortcomings as humans - but they were never seen as a burden by the kids or the next generation, nor were they belittled, even in their writing. You as the reader fell in love with them, became protective of them, and yes, in turn, became exasperated by them (as Desi aunties and uncles were made to be LOL)
Third, and most importantly, the plot was the saving grace of the novel. Bobbi makes a point as to why, especially here in the states, Desi weddings are such important facets of cultural and social occassions for us - because it is one of the few times that large groups of our community can gather together to celebrate their customs, eat their food, and dress in clothes that allow them to shine. Reading this line, especially as I plan my younger brothers wedding, really emphasizes (whether for good or bad) why so many of our immigrant parents are so obsessed with our own weddings, and why there are so many events and people that are invited to them.
I loved every single second of this book, and I can't wait to see what twists Sharma adds for Deepak and Veera when the third book arrives.
However, that is pretty much where the similairies with the first book end, and "Taste Like Shakkar" takes off like its own novel, and in my opinion, tramples the second book syndrome in the series and outshines the first book. First off, this is such a Desi novel that I would argue that this is the most Desi novel that Sharma has written in her literary career. I didn't read this novel thinking that here was a Desi author that had made her book palatable for an American audience (and we know that with publishing and American editors, that is always going to be the case, especially when it comes to diaspora stories of first and second generation Americans.
Bunty and Bobbi are part of the #Vermaan wedding squad, as Prem and Kareena prepare for their Desi wedding events, and all of the friends are involved in ensuring that their best friends have the best wedding. Bobbi and Bunty agree to a truce in their cold war for the sake of working together to get the wedding done right given the change in the timeline of events - and with the four month calendar moved up, that is when they also start to realize that someone is attempting to sabatoge the wedding of their best friends, and the two (with the aid of the aunties) are doing their best to uncover who the sabatoeur is and make the sure wedding goes off without a hitch (well, as smoothly as any Desi wedding will go).
First off, the characters take center stage. Not only is the chemistry between the two MCs palpable on the page, their is a steady buildup that not only are we told occurred off screen between the time gap of the two books, but also what we as the reader see between the two as they communicate over the course of four months. Sharma puts a little bit of herself in boths MCs, and it comes alive as they both interact, and are very different for how Kareena and Prem went about their ways towards each other. Their banter, their vulnerability, and their mature conversations with each other (once you got out of the petty Cold War phase) were refreshing, and while a good grovel is always worth the angst, I did appreciate that they were adults about their relationship and the conflicts that they faced - and that they really did care about each other and as a reader I didn't have to question whether this was real or not.
Second, I appreciated that Sharma went out of her way not to make the Desi elders (parents, aunties and uncles) the outright villains. While there are some notable exceptions that were necessary for the plot from the two books, the Desi elders were eccentric, overprotective, and suffering from their own shortcomings as humans - but they were never seen as a burden by the kids or the next generation, nor were they belittled, even in their writing. You as the reader fell in love with them, became protective of them, and yes, in turn, became exasperated by them (as Desi aunties and uncles were made to be LOL)
Third, and most importantly, the plot was the saving grace of the novel. Bobbi makes a point as to why, especially here in the states, Desi weddings are such important facets of cultural and social occassions for us - because it is one of the few times that large groups of our community can gather together to celebrate their customs, eat their food, and dress in clothes that allow them to shine. Reading this line, especially as I plan my younger brothers wedding, really emphasizes (whether for good or bad) why so many of our immigrant parents are so obsessed with our own weddings, and why there are so many events and people that are invited to them.
I loved every single second of this book, and I can't wait to see what twists Sharma adds for Deepak and Veera when the third book arrives.
shefalijain123's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thereadingfits's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.75