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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
I feel like I am not at all informed about other cultures and this book brought that to the forefront but in a way that discomfort is how I can learn and grow. Growing pains as it were. I struggled with being sympathetic to the characters plight as an American I am not sure how much of that is based on my culture of origin.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
**This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.**
4 stars
A feel-good, wholesome book, total fantasy and yet comforting in that chai-on-a-cold-day feeling. All of the main characters were emotionally intelligent enough to both communicate with one another and examine their own feelings; while not without flaws, they weren’t tortured in their attempts to improve themselves.
I have two gripes with this book. One is that it over-explained its Indian references for a white American audience. The Hindi could have gone without constant translation, the Bollywood movies could have gone un-summarized. Secondly, Nash, despite being from Nashville—a city with some excellent Indian food—has apparently never met an Indian person or experienced even the slightest bit of Indian culture before in his life.
The story is a bit saccharine, but it’s what I want from my contemporary romance. The drama has to do with the choices and compromises of two individuals, not a conniving villain or a boatload of annoying extras. Kiran’s friends are pillars of support, each with their own unique personality, and I very much hope they each get books of their own. Nash, the hero, is a bit bland, but watching him truly learn how to be a supporting white boyfriend of an immigrant WoC is refreshing; he’s neither a totally ignorant asshole nor a woke angel, but he’s trying his best and he’s immediately chagrined when he messes up, never pinning the blame on her for being offended. [Note: I am a white American reviewer; YMMV].
For me, this book was just a success on all fronts in what it was trying to do. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
4 stars
A feel-good, wholesome book, total fantasy and yet comforting in that chai-on-a-cold-day feeling. All of the main characters were emotionally intelligent enough to both communicate with one another and examine their own feelings; while not without flaws, they weren’t tortured in their attempts to improve themselves.
I have two gripes with this book. One is that it over-explained its Indian references for a white American audience. The Hindi could have gone without constant translation, the Bollywood movies could have gone un-summarized. Secondly, Nash, despite being from Nashville—a city with some excellent Indian food—has apparently never met an Indian person or experienced even the slightest bit of Indian culture before in his life.
The story is a bit saccharine, but it’s what I want from my contemporary romance. The drama has to do with the choices and compromises of two individuals, not a conniving villain or a boatload of annoying extras. Kiran’s friends are pillars of support, each with their own unique personality, and I very much hope they each get books of their own. Nash, the hero, is a bit bland, but watching him truly learn how to be a supporting white boyfriend of an immigrant WoC is refreshing; he’s neither a totally ignorant asshole nor a woke angel, but he’s trying his best and he’s immediately chagrined when he messes up, never pinning the blame on her for being offended. [Note: I am a white American reviewer; YMMV].
For me, this book was just a success on all fronts in what it was trying to do. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book started out cute but turned into a slog around 65%. I really appreciated reviews written by Desi individuals and I will not be commenting on the approach to Indiana culture this book took because it’s not my place. I did need feel any chemistry between the two characters and I also don’t know why it was decided to do dual POV when the story felt very focused on Kiran. Nash was a very underdeveloped character and mostly felt there for plot development than on hjs own right. I skimmed the epilogue because it felt unnecessary.
This book didn't work for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters. There was to much dialogue and not enough connection to the characters.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
slow-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