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taroroot's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
this book was okay. i liked Kamila Knows Best so much better. i enjoyed learning about the East African, Indian, Muslim community and their history and food but other than that i felt that the representation was a bit suspect and lackluster. while i found some parts of Reena's story and character relatable, i still found this story to be quite confusing. there were a lot of secrets and i felt like a lot of plotlines never got resolved and instead were just brushed away by her sudden 'development'. Nadim never felt fleshed out as a character other than that he had a 'strange' past and has a foot fetish. which like okay congrats i guess? but he never feels real. i liked Reena's relationships with Amira and Saira better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism
dominic_t's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
The end of the book was so good that I teared up a bit. "You're crying over the foot fetish book?" my wife asked.
Yes, this is a romance novel with recurring references to a foot fetish. Feet are frequently lovingly described, but the related sexual content is alluded to, not described. I don't know if anyone was asking for good representation for foot fetishists, but they sure got it.
This was an absolutely beautiful book. The romantic love story unfolded in a way that I found really sweet and believable. I also really liked that each conflict between different characters was new; so many books rely on the characters having the same fight 4 different times before the happy ending. The main couple, Reena and Nadim, were so well-developed and sympathetic, and it was easy to root for their love story. I also loved the plot device of the cooking competition. Is it realistic? No. But it was a great device for moving the plot forward, and the scenes were so vivid and charming. It added so many interesting scenes, and it gave me something to look forward to other than the love story.
I am also a sucker for romance novels that explore love stories outside of the romantic relationship. I absolutely loved watching two other love stories unfolding: the love story between Reena and her family and the love story between Reena and...herself. Reena spends the book learning to intrinsically value herself instead of seeking external validation through accomplishments and the approval of others.And part of that is learning to physically take care of herself. At the end of the book, she quit drinking because she realized she was using alcohol to stop feeling pain, and she didn't want to use it as a coping mechanism anymore.
Her family is also super dysfunctional, and they are all keeping secrets from each other. Reena feels like none of them know her or value her outside of her accomplishments; she doesn't trust them to love her and truly support her if she doesn't live up to their version of material success. She has a bitter rivalry with her sister and is completely antagonistic towards her parents. Over the course of the book, they build trust with one another and learn to bring out the best in each other. It is truly beautiful to see, and it is just as rewarding as the romantic plot.She and her sister each have food related side hustles. They go from actively opposing one another to partnering with each other to open a restaurant and write a cookbook. It might seem a but unrealistic, but they were rebuilding their relationship for most of the book. It felt like a well-earned payoff to me.
This book is just great. I highly recommend it. I'm giving it a 10 out of 10--one for each toe.
Yes, this is a romance novel with recurring references to a foot fetish. Feet are frequently lovingly described, but the related sexual content is alluded to, not described. I don't know if anyone was asking for good representation for foot fetishists, but they sure got it.
This was an absolutely beautiful book. The romantic love story unfolded in a way that I found really sweet and believable. I also really liked that each conflict between different characters was new; so many books rely on the characters having the same fight 4 different times before the happy ending. The main couple, Reena and Nadim, were so well-developed and sympathetic, and it was easy to root for their love story. I also loved the plot device of the cooking competition. Is it realistic? No. But it was a great device for moving the plot forward, and the scenes were so vivid and charming. It added so many interesting scenes, and it gave me something to look forward to other than the love story.
I am also a sucker for romance novels that explore love stories outside of the romantic relationship. I absolutely loved watching two other love stories unfolding: the love story between Reena and her family and the love story between Reena and...herself. Reena spends the book learning to intrinsically value herself instead of seeking external validation through accomplishments and the approval of others.
Her family is also super dysfunctional, and they are all keeping secrets from each other. Reena feels like none of them know her or value her outside of her accomplishments; she doesn't trust them to love her and truly support her if she doesn't live up to their version of material success. She has a bitter rivalry with her sister and is completely antagonistic towards her parents. Over the course of the book, they build trust with one another and learn to bring out the best in each other. It is truly beautiful to see, and it is just as rewarding as the romantic plot.
This book is just great. I highly recommend it. I'm giving it a 10 out of 10--one for each toe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Several references to foot fetishjenn_reads's review
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Mental illness and Alcohol
Food talk, awful but not quite abusive parents, dysfunctional family dynamicsunwise_samwise's review against another edition
emotional
fast-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
5.0
Don't read when you are hunggry but this will make you hungry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Mental illness
Moderate: Eating disorder, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Incest, Biphobia, and Body shaming
writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Incest and Infidelity
hanz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Mental illness
Minor: Addiction, Incest, and Biphobia
ukponge's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Infidelity
penna_nomen's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.75
So much to love in this romance! Cooking and food -- makes me hungry just thinking about those scenes. An adult romance that isn't overly explicit. Family that is both supportive and exasperating. Meddlesome matchmakers and a couple who fall in love while trying to outsmart the matchmakers. It was the perfect level of humor and entertainment.
If there's a downside, it's probably how the main couple could have cleared things up sooner if they'd asked each other a few more questions. Some readers might get exasperated at the heroine going through multiple rounds of trusting and then distrusting the hero. The rounds of distrust were resolved fast enough -- and the hero was sweet enough -- that it didn't bother me.
If there's a downside, it's probably how the main couple could have cleared things up sooner if they'd asked each other a few more questions. Some readers might get exasperated at the heroine going through multiple rounds of trusting and then distrusting the hero. The rounds of distrust were resolved fast enough -- and the hero was sweet enough -- that it didn't bother me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Racism
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