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2.48 AVERAGE
2.48 AVERAGE
DNF at 60%
**Thanks to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.**
** Gracias a Edelweiss por el ARC digital para una reseña honesta**
Uff, la verdad es que este libro prometía bastante como una historia de auto descubrimiento sobre una adolescente indio en EE. UU. Y déjenme decirles que empieza con potencial, pero se va diluyendo gravemente pro el camino.
Realmente no tengo mucha idea de si la historia tenía una trama como tal, pero realmente era más de Nandan hablando de fiestas, borracheras, lamentándose por su amiga Avani (que le gusta y con la que tuvo algo) y que quiere ayudarle a un amigo, Dave, para que logre conquistar a Mary.
Y si bien empece interesada, me fui perdiendo en el camino porque la historia tomo un rumbo que no me gustó y que precisamente, parece que no tiene un rumbo definido. Entiendo la gran confusión que siente Nandan sobre su sexualidad y sus preferencias, eso esta bien y empieza bien, pero nada de esto se me hizo remotamente interesante o me intrigaba. Los personajes ninguno llegó a interesarme lo suficiente y eso para mi mata una historia.
Así que prefiero dejarlo ir y buscar otro libro que si me guste.
**Thanks to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.**
** Gracias a Edelweiss por el ARC digital para una reseña honesta**
Uff, la verdad es que este libro prometía bastante como una historia de auto descubrimiento sobre una adolescente indio en EE. UU. Y déjenme decirles que empieza con potencial, pero se va diluyendo gravemente pro el camino.
Realmente no tengo mucha idea de si la historia tenía una trama como tal, pero realmente era más de Nandan hablando de fiestas, borracheras, lamentándose por su amiga Avani (que le gusta y con la que tuvo algo) y que quiere ayudarle a un amigo, Dave, para que logre conquistar a Mary.
Y si bien empece interesada, me fui perdiendo en el camino porque la historia tomo un rumbo que no me gustó y que precisamente, parece que no tiene un rumbo definido. Entiendo la gran confusión que siente Nandan sobre su sexualidad y sus preferencias, eso esta bien y empieza bien, pero nada de esto se me hizo remotamente interesante o me intrigaba. Los personajes ninguno llegó a interesarme lo suficiente y eso para mi mata una historia.
Así que prefiero dejarlo ir y buscar otro libro que si me guste.
Cute YA rom-com. They’re a dime a dozen, but sometimes some lighthearted fun is what I need in my life.
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
While I appreciate the discussion about the questioning of one's sexuality in here, a lot just did not work for me. There was too much jumping around during and between scenes, I often felt kind of lost and didn't really enjoy the characterization of the side cast, would've liked more nuance there.
So I felt like this book was very frank and real and I enjoyed that it didn't shy away from Nandan's struggle with his identity as well as his feelings about sex in general.
But I'm a white cis-het woman and this book has a lot of mixed reviews. I recommend reading reviews of people who share some of the Nandan's identities to get a better idea of if this is a book for you.
But I'm a white cis-het woman and this book has a lot of mixed reviews. I recommend reading reviews of people who share some of the Nandan's identities to get a better idea of if this is a book for you.
This one didn't sit right with me. The writing style didn't bother me, and I guess the story wasn't THAT bad. Obviously I'm not the target audience, and maybe I'm too old at 28 for this shit, but it didn't feel right to me. It just felt really really basic and ... Shallow. And very problematic.
I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm a queer, non-binary person. I feel like it was great that Nandan was questioning his sexuality. That's a really hard thing to deal with and his confusion was valid. But I felt like he was playing with Dave's feelings the whole story, and not being honest and communicating how he felt about them as a couple and them having sex. Not to mention the book was pretty much them hooking up, and not getting to know each other in any serious way. That's not healthy at all. The other friend relationships were also shallow and based on this power dynamic instead of genuine feelings and learning about each other. And I don't know if I like the idea of kids being modeled relationships that are shallow and unhealthy.
I also feel like the author was only presenting Nandan with two options, gay or straight. Other options in the spectrum were mentioned, but never thought about in any serious way, which I feel is harmful when you're already confused and don't feel like you fit in anywhere. And especially when there are other options and labels for how you feel.
I think the tipping point though for this was the constant TOXIC MASCULINITY for me. This book was dripping with it between the power dynamics, the internalized homophobia, uncomfortable gay jokes and Nandan's male friends. There was also really predatory talk and behavior about women, discussion of getting girls drunk before sleeping with them (WHICH IS NOT CONSENT) and constant drinking, which makes me think these guys had a problem.
I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm a queer, non-binary person. I feel like it was great that Nandan was questioning his sexuality. That's a really hard thing to deal with and his confusion was valid. But I felt like he was playing with Dave's feelings the whole story, and not being honest and communicating how he felt about them as a couple and them having sex. Not to mention the book was pretty much them hooking up, and not getting to know each other in any serious way. That's not healthy at all. The other friend relationships were also shallow and based on this power dynamic instead of genuine feelings and learning about each other. And I don't know if I like the idea of kids being modeled relationships that are shallow and unhealthy.
I also feel like the author was only presenting Nandan with two options, gay or straight. Other options in the spectrum were mentioned, but never thought about in any serious way, which I feel is harmful when you're already confused and don't feel like you fit in anywhere. And especially when there are other options and labels for how you feel.
I think the tipping point though for this was the constant TOXIC MASCULINITY for me. This book was dripping with it between the power dynamics, the internalized homophobia, uncomfortable gay jokes and Nandan's male friends. There was also really predatory talk and behavior about women, discussion of getting girls drunk before sleeping with them (WHICH IS NOT CONSENT) and constant drinking, which makes me think these guys had a problem.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Drug use
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
welp this was problematic in so many ways
i kept thinking it had to get better by the end and then it just. didn’t.
i kept thinking it had to get better by the end and then it just. didn’t.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated