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andrea_author's review against another edition
5.0
Jasmine's vacation with her parents takes a wrong turn when she discovers it's a seniors' cruise with other members of the Indian community. Among the sometimes judgmental aunties and uncles she's known since birth, she runs into childhood acquaintance Jake. Can their newfound relationship survive beyond the cruise?
This is a whimsical novel with an eclectic cast. Jasmine has never felt she fit in with the expectations of her community, but Jake makes her feel like she's just fine the way she is. It's a fun and sometimes emotional read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a whimsical novel with an eclectic cast. Jasmine has never felt she fit in with the expectations of her community, but Jake makes her feel like she's just fine the way she is. It's a fun and sometimes emotional read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
jjsbookcase's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun reverse age gap vacation fling between two of the youngest members stuck on a seniors Alaska cruise. Initially Jake and Jasmine butt heads but eventually they mend fences and bond over a shared love of Outlander and some funny past history.
Great on audio and with a lot of emotional depth, I liked how Jasmine had to work through her reputation issues, growing up considered the 'fast girl' in her very conservative South Asian community. The cruise was a unique opportunity for her to mend fences with her parents and take steps toward a more positive self-image.
Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for complimentary digital copies in exchange for my honest review. This was definitely my favorite book by Canadian author Sonya Lalli!
CW: slut shaming
Great on audio and with a lot of emotional depth, I liked how Jasmine had to work through her reputation issues, growing up considered the 'fast girl' in her very conservative South Asian community. The cruise was a unique opportunity for her to mend fences with her parents and take steps toward a more positive self-image.
Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for complimentary digital copies in exchange for my honest review. This was definitely my favorite book by Canadian author Sonya Lalli!
CW: slut shaming
illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review against another edition
3.0
In the middle of another break in her on-again-off-again, longterm relationship and forced to take vacation time away from work, 33-year-old Jasmine Randhawa makes a rash, last-minute decision to join her parents on an Alaskan cruise with other members of the South Asian community. The South Asian community of aunties and uncles who judged and gossiped about her and her bad reputation growing up. The South Asian aunties and uncles who are still judging Jasmine, despite her attempts to project a put-together and highly successful image.
And, as it turns out, the cruise is for seniors. The only other young passenger on the boat is 28-year-old Jake Dhillon—hot, handsome, cocky, about-to-become-a-lawyer, favorite son Jake Dhillon. And their first encounter on the boat does not go smoothly. Nor does their second. And so on.
As the two spend more time together, however, they learn that they may not be so different after all, and those enemies vibes from early in the cruise start to turn into something else entirely.
I enjoyed the chemistry and sizzle between Jasmine and Jake—especially during the cruise—and appreciated the family reconciliation aspects of the novel and the depiction of the disparity between how males and females are treated and the expectations placed upon them in the South Asian community.
If you pick this one up, be aware that Jasmine has a lot of growing up to do, and she is just starting to realize that—at age 33. And while we do see character growth in the novel, there are definitely growing pains.
Overall, I appreciated the deeper themes but did not always enjoy or connect with Jasmine, her behavior, and her choices—even with the knowledge of the history and culture that shaped her.
I received an advance copy from Berkley and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.
And, as it turns out, the cruise is for seniors. The only other young passenger on the boat is 28-year-old Jake Dhillon—hot, handsome, cocky, about-to-become-a-lawyer, favorite son Jake Dhillon. And their first encounter on the boat does not go smoothly. Nor does their second. And so on.
As the two spend more time together, however, they learn that they may not be so different after all, and those enemies vibes from early in the cruise start to turn into something else entirely.
I enjoyed the chemistry and sizzle between Jasmine and Jake—especially during the cruise—and appreciated the family reconciliation aspects of the novel and the depiction of the disparity between how males and females are treated and the expectations placed upon them in the South Asian community.
If you pick this one up, be aware that Jasmine has a lot of growing up to do, and she is just starting to realize that—at age 33. And while we do see character growth in the novel, there are definitely growing pains.
Overall, I appreciated the deeper themes but did not always enjoy or connect with Jasmine, her behavior, and her choices—even with the knowledge of the history and culture that shaped her.
I received an advance copy from Berkley and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.
thedamwife's review against another edition
2.0
I genuinely would not have finished this book if it wasn't an audiobook. It had a couple good parts and I almost gave it 3 stars but the ending dragged soo long that it dropped a star for me.
I have a hard time with books where the MC is super annoying and falling apart so I'll be honest I didn't really like Jasmine and Jake was kind of annoying.
I also hate the trope where someone's life is falling a part and them they date someone who makes them want to be a better person so they break up to fix there life and then we have to wait 3 chapters while they get their life together enough to actually date. Like just get your life together while you date
I have a hard time with books where the MC is super annoying and falling apart so I'll be honest I didn't really like Jasmine and Jake was kind of annoying.
I also hate the trope where someone's life is falling a part and them they date someone who makes them want to be a better person so they break up to fix there life and then we have to wait 3 chapters while they get their life together enough to actually date. Like just get your life together while you date
mojatta's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmmmmm. This was nice to read but kind of boring. I actually really liked both of the main characters but the plot fell a little flat — interesting stuff about conflict with individuality and community but it didn’t create enough tension (imo) to keep me engaged
_basicbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
When Jasmine agrees to join her parents on their Alaskan cruise after a breakup, the last thing she expects is for the cruise to be a seniors cruise. However, there is one other young person on the cruise, and he is very attractive. But then she realizes Jake is the boy she babysat at an event years ago, and to make it worse they cannot stop butting heads. Being on a cruise, they can’t help but spend time together, and as they do, they realize they may have more similarities than they first expected.
First, let me start by saying this book made me want to go on an Alaskan cruise. The descriptions of the setting were incredible! While the romance in this one wasn’t my favorite, I really enjoyed the family dynamic in the story. The large extended family added a lot of character and fun to the story, as well as a commentary on sexist standards that women face. Overall, this was an enjoyable read!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the advance copy and to @berittalksbooks and @dg_reads for the buddy read!
First, let me start by saying this book made me want to go on an Alaskan cruise. The descriptions of the setting were incredible! While the romance in this one wasn’t my favorite, I really enjoyed the family dynamic in the story. The large extended family added a lot of character and fun to the story, as well as a commentary on sexist standards that women face. Overall, this was an enjoyable read!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the advance copy and to @berittalksbooks and @dg_reads for the buddy read!
shankl's review against another edition
2.0
Jasmine and the Jake Rock the Boat is more a coming of age than romance. Jasmine is a lot to take in this story, and her level of immaturity wore on me at times. And, she was just mean. I often wondered at times "why" Jake was trying so hard to be with her. Unfortunately, this story did not work for me.
Thank you Berkley Publishing for the complimentary copy.
Thank you Berkley Publishing for the complimentary copy.