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citymouse's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual harassment
Minor: Transphobia
blackveilbeccy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This started off slow but by the end I waa really invested. There was a great, diverse ensemble cast and I found the characters super loveable. Can’t wait to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Gaslighting, Addiction, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Sexism, Abandonment, Death, Gun violence, Cursing, and Sexual harassment
le3713's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, and Sexism
Minor: Car accident
ame_lepage's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Wow. This was probably the worst romance I have ever read.
Let's just get the few positives out of the way.
First, I liked Sam's sister, John and Layla's father. That's pretty much it.
Second, I did enjoy the cultural aspect of the story, with the restaurant and everything that surrounded it.
But oh man the rest...
This book was filled with unlikeable characters, full of stereotypes and misogyny. I initially thought that the author would seize the opportunity to strongly criticize toxic masculinity, hypersexualisation and just sexism in general. But she just gave us mixed signals.
Layla was constantly saying people were sexist and she was telling people they were sexist. But then? She tolerated similar things from other people and it infuriated me.
Sam was sexist. At many occasions, he objectified Layla and he pulled misogynistic comments. I understand physical attraction, but I just felt so uncomfortable. He talked about her as if she was his to look at how he wanted when he wanted.
All the female workers were portrayed as unprofessional and constantly trying to get laid. There was not one single female character who was not trying to get Sam to sleep with him.
Layla and Sam were most of the time horrible people. They were disrespectful and I sometimes thought they were alone, but realised they were saying these horrible things in front of the person in question. They annoyed the hell out of me.
Every single men Layla met were heavily stereotyped, no nuances or depth in their characters. Can someone explain to the author that not every single guy is an asshole.
Anyway, one of the worst books I have read this year. And the worst thing is that I might read the two other books in the series. We'll see.
Let's just get the few positives out of the way.
First, I liked Sam's sister, John and Layla's father. That's pretty much it.
Second, I did enjoy the cultural aspect of the story, with the restaurant and everything that surrounded it.
But oh man the rest...
This book was filled with unlikeable characters, full of stereotypes and misogyny. I initially thought that the author would seize the opportunity to strongly criticize toxic masculinity, hypersexualisation and just sexism in general. But she just gave us mixed signals.
Layla was constantly saying people were sexist and she was telling people they were sexist. But then? She tolerated similar things from other people and it infuriated me.
Sam was sexist. At many occasions, he objectified Layla and he pulled misogynistic comments. I understand physical attraction, but I just felt so uncomfortable. He talked about her as if she was his to look at how he wanted when he wanted.
All the female workers were portrayed as unprofessional and constantly trying to get laid. There was not one single female character who was not trying to get Sam to sleep with him.
Layla and Sam were most of the time horrible people. They were disrespectful and I sometimes thought they were alone, but realised they were saying these horrible things in front of the person in question. They annoyed the hell out of me.
Every single men Layla met were heavily stereotyped, no nuances or depth in their characters. Can someone explain to the author that not every single guy is an asshole.
Anyway, one of the worst books I have read this year. And the worst thing is that I might read the two other books in the series. We'll see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
kayladaila's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Car accident, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Grief, Gore, and Gaslighting
readwithde's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
There are honestly very few positive things I have to say about The Marriage Game: it shown a spotlight on how death, tragedy, and abuse affect people, including years of bad decisions, failure to move forward, and crippling emotional ruin. It also had a clear through-line of relying on family/friends/a support system to get through tough times versus toughing it out alone.
These few positives count for next to nothing against the wave of messed up relationship drama that is supposed to showcase a real love and bond, strong enough to build a marriage and family. The majority of the book focuses on Sam and Layla's personal goals: Sam, to avenge his sister's injury and abuse by publicly outing her abuser, while Layla wants stability, through running her own business with the option to find a husband via arranged marriage (since she only chooses losers, a point repeated in the book).
They meet, they fight, they come up with a wager over the office they both have claim to: if Sam can help get Layla a husband, he can keep the office; if not, he leaves. At this point, there was so much potential for a solidly built romance, but the two continue to fight and bicker, judge each other, assume the worst repeatedly, and (in Sam's case) act possessively and violently towards every suitor; he literally gets into a massive bar fight with one of his friends over her, for no good reason. The couple jumps in and out of bed, based on the random fight of the day (or lack thereof) before Sam finally goes out on a limb and states he wants to be with Layla. This means they should start growing up, right?
With 30% of the book left, Sam instead torpedos his growth and chance to be with Layla so he can try to fire and out his sister's abuser (through a DIY strip club, complete with drugs, alcohol, and trashing their joint office). When Layla finds him there, he's alone in a room with a handsy stripper and fully disheveled, but two chapters later were supposed to believe he only wants to be with Layla? He never explains, never even pushes the woman off of him, but instead expects Layla to understand this is a necessary part of his job so he can enact his revenge. But two days later, he never wants any woman except Layla?
In under a week, we're lead to believe he's a different man with different priorities, that he's changed and will be a good man and husband, and somehow (off page) got the approval of her entire family? That all his years of trauma and vengeance can be healed and dismissed within a week because he lost her and missed her?
It takes until the end of the book for Layla to develop any backbone and personal growth, but NOW everyone trusts that she can choose a proper man? That she is "saving herself" by marrying Sam? Even when they have separated, she still plays games to make him jealous, and he still reacts with anger.
It's an emotional train wreck, their personalities flip and change on a whim, even the side characters change their minds based on whatever emotions fit that day. (Royce is a sociopathic jerk, until he randomly cares? Daisy hates Sam until he spends 2 days trying to undo the mess he made?) There is nothing real or meaningful, despite the characters repeating it. IMO, it's not worth the read.
These few positives count for next to nothing against the wave of messed up relationship drama that is supposed to showcase a real love and bond, strong enough to build a marriage and family. The majority of the book focuses on Sam and Layla's personal goals: Sam, to avenge his sister's injury and abuse by publicly outing her abuser, while Layla wants stability, through running her own business with the option to find a husband via arranged marriage (since she only chooses losers, a point repeated in the book).
They meet, they fight, they come up with a wager over the office they both have claim to: if Sam can help get Layla a husband, he can keep the office; if not, he leaves.
With 30% of the book left, Sam instead torpedos his growth
In under a week, we're lead to believe he's a different man with different priorities, that he's changed and will be a good man and husband, and somehow (off page) got the approval of her entire family? That all his years of trauma and vengeance can be healed and dismissed within a week
It takes until the end of the book for Layla to develop any backbone and personal growth, but NOW everyone trusts that she can choose a proper man? That she is "saving herself" by marrying Sam? Even when they have separated, she still plays games to make him jealous, and he still reacts with anger.
It's an emotional train wreck, their personalities flip and change on a whim, even the side characters change their minds based on whatever emotions fit that day.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, and Violence
arwombat's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Well, at least I can say I finished. I thoroughly hated this book at the beginning and just wanted to finish so I could rate it 1 star. However, I liked the ending more than I thought I would, thus the .5. (Nisha and John were cute.)
This book had several major failings. It advertises itself as a feminist Indian love story, but it's not. I was honestly impressed of just how many male characters in this book were completely sexist and misogynist. Honestly, the author really harps on it in the beginning, less so in the end, but it's still kind of upsetting. The way she gets so much sexism from every male character and just takes it and accepts it as normal was awful. For instance, she talks about being grateful that her father had lower expectations of her than her brother because she couldn't meet them. Her father literally said "I think girls are less capable so I have lower expectations" and she was grateful. I just don't get it. Also, the male protagonist is similarly sexist and also "protective" (but really possessive) to an extreme degree. Like an Edward Cullen degree. And she just finds it so hot that he does this. Also he talks about how bad he expects her driving skills to be, you know, the stereotype that women are worse drivers, as well as whole bunch of other sexist tropes. The other thing that bothers me is that Layla thinks of herself as an empowered feminist women and there's some performative stuff in there, where Layla talks about how she doesn't stand for sexism, when all of her actions point to the fact that she does.
Next, the suitors. This was so frustrating to me that every single suitor on the list was a) sexist (like I said, every guy in the book was sexist) and b) crazy/weird (all of them just had a deal-breaking trait about them, some more prominent than others). This was so annoying to me because it felt so unrealistic. Her father personally picked out ten men among thousands and they were all psychos? Does he even know his daughter? They seemed so unrealistic as characters as well.A random mob boss? A psycho who thinks he's a spy? The others were slightly more sane/normal, but still weird. It would be more compelling for Layla to meet a nice normal guy, and then realize they just don't have a lot in common, or have no chemistry. Or even, she could love him if she wasn't falling in love with Sam. Not that they have a perfect relationship either.
Also,it was kind of toxic of Layla to make Sam think she was getting married to someone else, just so she could have her Buttercup/Princess Bride moment. Don't play with other people's feelings like that. Also her whole family was in on it? Really?
So, those are my thoughts on this very regressive and frustrating book.
This book had several major failings. It advertises itself as a feminist Indian love story, but it's not. I was honestly impressed of just how many male characters in this book were completely sexist and misogynist. Honestly, the author really harps on it in the beginning, less so in the end, but it's still kind of upsetting. The way she gets so much sexism from every male character and just takes it and accepts it as normal was awful. For instance, she talks about being grateful that her father had lower expectations of her than her brother because she couldn't meet them. Her father literally said "I think girls are less capable so I have lower expectations" and she was grateful. I just don't get it. Also, the male protagonist is similarly sexist and also "protective" (but really possessive) to an extreme degree. Like an Edward Cullen degree. And she just finds it so hot that he does this. Also he talks about how bad he expects her driving skills to be, you know, the stereotype that women are worse drivers, as well as whole bunch of other sexist tropes. The other thing that bothers me is that Layla thinks of herself as an empowered feminist women and there's some performative stuff in there, where Layla talks about how she doesn't stand for sexism, when all of her actions point to the fact that she does.
Next, the suitors. This was so frustrating to me that every single suitor on the list was a) sexist (like I said, every guy in the book was sexist) and b) crazy/weird (all of them just had a deal-breaking trait about them, some more prominent than others). This was so annoying to me because it felt so unrealistic. Her father personally picked out ten men among thousands and they were all psychos? Does he even know his daughter? They seemed so unrealistic as characters as well.
Also,
So, those are my thoughts on this very regressive and frustrating book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident
gm_vak's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
rcpope's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
allyhoo811's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
2.5
Rating: 2.5 rounded down to a 2
I read this book because I picked up the sequel through Book of the Month and, even though I know it isn't usually required in romance series, I like to read my books in publication order. Contemporary romance is rarely my thing, so fans of this genre should take my review with a grain of salt.
Basically this book is a slightly spicier version of a Hallmark movie. Tropey characters, contrived plot that brings the two love interests together -- it wasn't anything special or revolutionary. The overall story was entertaining in a cheesy sort of way, and I didn't hate reading it, but I did have some major issues with the characterization of the two leads:
1) The instanta-attraction/lust/whatever you want to call it was ridiculous. These two people were supposed to be irritated/annoyed/pissed-off with each other, but their internal dialogue in the first conversation was just cringe-worthy objectification of each other's bodies. That's fine at a bar, but these two people were in an office, it didn't make sense in that scenario.
2) These 2 people were supposed to be late-20's, early-30's age adults. The conflict they had over the office was like 2 middle schoolers fighting over a seat in class. In real life, this one have been a non-issue: Layla would have realized she didn't have a legal right to be in the office or Sam would have been compassionate because her father was in the hospital or they would have just agreed to share until her father was on the mend and things could be worked out. The whole thing made them both look petty and ridiculous.
3) Sam's possessiveness (right off the bat to boot) was not attractive...It was weird at best and controlling at worst. I don't care what happened to his sister, he doesn't need to try to beat up every guy that talks to a woman he just met. He harped on how the men on Layla's list were all creeps who leered at her backside and yet his entire inner-monologue was about how hot she was. Hypocritical-much?
(Edited to add) 2 Additional Problematic Elements (for me):
The continuous portrayal of Sam's job in corporate restructuring/downsizing as evil and a reflection of his character flaws. It's fine to show someone not loving their job and leaving for something more fulfilling to them personally. It's also fine to portray characters who have lost their job as angry at the people who made the decision. It's not okay to portray corporate restructuring and those who work in that industry as evil SOBs out to get everyone. If a company is going bankrupt, cuts have to be made or the whole ship goes under. In a similar vein, it's not cool to portray every person who works in HR as mustache twirling, sex-crazed villains, who get their kicks by making people cry.
I did think the author wrote well and the second half of the book was much better than the first. The interactions the 2 main characters had with their families really saved this one for me. I did find this one entertaining enough, especially with it being a debut, that I will be still be reading the second installment in the series.
I read this book because I picked up the sequel through Book of the Month and, even though I know it isn't usually required in romance series, I like to read my books in publication order. Contemporary romance is rarely my thing, so fans of this genre should take my review with a grain of salt.
Basically this book is a slightly spicier version of a Hallmark movie. Tropey characters, contrived plot that brings the two love interests together -- it wasn't anything special or revolutionary. The overall story was entertaining in a cheesy sort of way, and I didn't hate reading it, but I did have some major issues with the characterization of the two leads:
1) The instanta-attraction/lust/whatever you want to call it was ridiculous. These two people were supposed to be irritated/annoyed/pissed-off with each other, but their internal dialogue in the first conversation was just cringe-worthy objectification of each other's bodies. That's fine at a bar, but these two people were in an office, it didn't make sense in that scenario.
2) These 2 people were supposed to be late-20's, early-30's age adults. The conflict they had over the office was like 2 middle schoolers fighting over a seat in class. In real life, this one have been a non-issue: Layla would have realized she didn't have a legal right to be in the office or Sam would have been compassionate because her father was in the hospital or they would have just agreed to share until her father was on the mend and things could be worked out. The whole thing made them both look petty and ridiculous.
3) Sam's possessiveness (right off the bat to boot) was not attractive...It was weird at best and controlling at worst. I don't care what happened to his sister, he doesn't need to try to beat up every guy that talks to a woman he just met. He harped on how the men on Layla's list were all creeps who leered at her backside and yet his entire inner-monologue was about how hot she was. Hypocritical-much?
(Edited to add) 2 Additional Problematic Elements (for me):
The continuous portrayal of Sam's job in corporate restructuring/downsizing as evil and a reflection of his character flaws. It's fine to show someone not loving their job and leaving for something more fulfilling to them personally. It's also fine to portray characters who have lost their job as angry at the people who made the decision. It's not okay to portray corporate restructuring and those who work in that industry as evil SOBs out to get everyone. If a company is going bankrupt, cuts have to be made or the whole ship goes under. In a similar vein, it's not cool to portray every person who works in HR as mustache twirling, sex-crazed villains, who get their kicks by making people cry.
I did think the author wrote well and the second half of the book was much better than the first. The interactions the 2 main characters had with their families really saved this one for me. I did find this one entertaining enough, especially with it being a debut, that I will be still be reading the second installment in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Car accident, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, and Vomit