You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Okay it was a cute romance but there are a few things I really didn't like:
1. Kiran's parents being conservative and narrow-minded isn't "culture" because who's culture is that? Not mine for sure. Her parents just have a shitty way of thinking and it's not called "culture".
And I think Nash can criticize her parent's mindset because it is affecting him too in this case, he's not criticizing anyone's culture like be for real now.
2. Kiran's entire personality is being Indian and Nash just seems too unrealistic. I couldn't connect to them and their relationship much. I don't know why but I just didn't feel much passion between them.
1. Kiran's parents being conservative and narrow-minded isn't "culture" because who's culture is that? Not mine for sure. Her parents just have a shitty way of thinking and it's not called "culture".
And I think Nash can criticize her parent's mindset because it is affecting him too in this case, he's not criticizing anyone's culture like be for real now.
2. Kiran's entire personality is being Indian and Nash just seems too unrealistic. I couldn't connect to them and their relationship much. I don't know why but I just didn't feel much passion between them.
the story had its cute moments, but the writing style did not pull me in.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
This book was okay. There was a lot of family drama that was sort of frustrating to get through. The romance between the two main characters also didn’t really do a lot for me.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Contents of this book hit way too close to home so felt like a difficult read. The writing style didn’t allow for the same connection to the characters as a first person POV would have.
emotional
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:
Complicated
The Chai Masala Club series by Annika Sharma, which begins with Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words, has a lovely premise. Four South Asian friends with various backgrounds are living in New York City. They're all in their thirties, and decide to edit and start to fulfil the bucket lists that they originally wrote down when they were in college.
In further installments, we'll follow the other folks in the group, but in this book we follow Kiran. Kiran is an engineer who was born in a smallish village in India but went to college (and still lives) in the States. She generally avoids dating because she's expected to marry an Indian man.
Nash just moved to New York City from Nashville, TN to live near his college best friend. He is a psychologist who wants to help kids who are in similar situations to his own childhood. His dad left when he was young and his mother dealt with an addition to drugs. He avoids connecting with others because he worries about being left alone. But oops, he moved into Kiran's building and they strike up a friendship that evolves into something more.
I received an advanced audiobook copy of this book for review via NetGalley, but all opinions contained herein are my own. The narrator was very pleasant to listen to. I appreciated the diversity in this book, and the fact that it is #OwnVoices. The romance is a very cute slow-burn neighbors/friends-to-lovers with a tinge of forbidden love. Both of our leads, neither of whom are NYC-natives, enjoy a romance with the city itself as well.
In further installments, we'll follow the other folks in the group, but in this book we follow Kiran. Kiran is an engineer who was born in a smallish village in India but went to college (and still lives) in the States. She generally avoids dating because she's expected to marry an Indian man.
Nash just moved to New York City from Nashville, TN to live near his college best friend. He is a psychologist who wants to help kids who are in similar situations to his own childhood. His dad left when he was young and his mother dealt with an addition to drugs. He avoids connecting with others because he worries about being left alone. But oops, he moved into Kiran's building and they strike up a friendship that evolves into something more.
I received an advanced audiobook copy of this book for review via NetGalley, but all opinions contained herein are my own. The narrator was very pleasant to listen to. I appreciated the diversity in this book, and the fact that it is #OwnVoices. The romance is a very cute slow-burn neighbors/friends-to-lovers with a tinge of forbidden love. Both of our leads, neither of whom are NYC-natives, enjoy a romance with the city itself as well.
I was a bit disappointed with this. I really didn't see the appeal between Kiran and Nash (I mean, she's cute, but what's so special about him?) I thought it was disappointing how Nash didn't really have a grasp on Indian culture- he even says something like "you're in America now" to explain how her family's/culture's traditions are silly. Gross. Also, he's treated at the end like he saved her Dad's life, which was weird, right? He's a child psychologist, and yet a line is thrown in about how he talked to some friends in the U.S. to make sure her dad is getting good care. For his heart condition. It felt kind of white-man-savior-y to me, and I didn't like it. I appreciated that Kiran's family drama didn't involve honor killings or other stereotypical stuff; but it felt very... specific, if that makes sense.
Also, his name is Nash and he's from Nashville. Not a nickname, to my knowledge. That bothered me. Okay, now I'm nitpicking and I'll stop. I did really appreciate the Chai Masala Club, itself- how each member has a different relationship to their culture. They are pretty good friends- I would have preferred the book to have been more about them.
Also, his name is Nash and he's from Nashville. Not a nickname, to my knowledge. That bothered me. Okay, now I'm nitpicking and I'll stop. I did really appreciate the Chai Masala Club, itself- how each member has a different relationship to their culture. They are pretty good friends- I would have preferred the book to have been more about them.
medium-paced