Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel

37 reviews

milkcarton's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-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

4.5

Picked it up, and read it cover to cover. 
Well-written characters with flaws that weren't an obnoxious trait to justify being an asshole. Filled with cute moments that make you kick your feet and squeal. To moments of pure rage, anger, and deep emphathy that made me cry endlessly for their pain. 
I don't know what other people rate it, but for me it had a little bit of everything.

<3<3<3<3 much love for the characters, book, and author

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, Death, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny

theotherboleyn's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Racism

mo_za11's review against another edition

emotional funny sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Bullying, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

casey_sunshine's review

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

It fades to black, which they should have to tell you up front. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Medical trauma

kristakp's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

icarusfallstan's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-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

4.0

touched my heart as a first gen 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

aesantiago's review against another edition

reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexism, Violence, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny

zabeishumanish's review

emotional hopeful medium-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

4.75

This book caused Emotions™️. One of the most satisfying book endings I’ve read. Probably the most satisfying ending possible for someone who has survived SA. The conclusion for the parallel plot was just as satisfying as the conclusion for the romance. Liya is such a fantastically independent woman I was afraid that a HEA for the romance would quash that, and I am happy to report it did not. Jay is one of the most responsible and considerate book boyfriends I’ve read. 

Check trigger warnings! There are some super heavy themes here, personally, I think they were all handled responsibly and with care. 

This isn’t a great escapism book, or it wasn’t for me, just because of how emotionally heavy parts of it can be a lot. While I wouldn’t call it great for escapism it hits the spot in a whole other delightful way. Still has that big romance HEA, just with a kick-ass bit of social justice on the side. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual violence

Minor: Violence and Alcohol

jackiepreston's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

donnicakelsey's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This is difficult for me. If this was my first read from an Indian author, my takeaway about Indian culture would be about its conservatism, nagging aunties, and I'd also be able to name several dishes.

However,  this isn't my first book centered around Desi culture. I love (and highly recommend) Sonali Dev, Sara Desai, and Nisha Sharma. Overall, I was a little disappointed at how negatively Indian culture is portrayed at times.

So on to the plot:

Liya Thakkar is a successful biochemical engineer, happily defying conservative Indian traditions. Jay Shah, is a lawyer, and dedicated brother and son, holding on tightly to his grief. After a terrible first meeting, they begin working together. 

In a classic hate to love, with an arranged marriage twist we follow these main characters as they navigate working together and confronting their pasts. Both characters bring their trauma to how they interpret each other's actions, which leads to some good banter, but some extremely frustrating scenes. 

My other issue is that both Liya and Jay are both kind of unlikable. Liya is obsessed with material things and mentions her Louboutins and other expensive accessories (along with the price) many times. 

Jay can be sweet and protective, but low key somewhat of a misogynist. He was surprised she could cook because she was a feminist, disregards Liya's boundaries,

forces her almost rapist to buy her flowers and apologize… bruh why should that man be around her? 😤

and blamed her for wanting to go to Dallas for her DREAM JOB.  And his gift? No, just no, but also her reaction was also a big no for me.  

I liked the female friendships & Shah family were fantastic. Mama Shah might seriously be my favorite character in the whole book. 

2.75 stars

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Grief, and Physical abuse