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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.
ashkowapizzi's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 100 pages. I normally love Sonya’s books but I found Jasmine to be insufferable. I was trying to be sympathetic for her family dynamic and understanding the source of her anger, but her snap judgement of Jake and how she treated him was pretty awful. I know it turns around at some point but tbh I didn’t find her likeable enough to try.
chaotic17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
fringebookreviews's review against another edition
3.5
This one did some very interesting things regarding growth and right person wrong time. I can’t say it made for the most interesting book ever, but it was an enjoyable experience. I’d previously really loved Holly Jolly Diwali, and I can definitely say now that I love Lalli’s heroines. I found myself really relating to Jasmine. She wasn’t perfect, but she embraced who she was and actively worked on being okay with herself.
I’d say both books are more general fiction esque, but this one especially felt like Jasmine’s personal growth arc with a subplot of romance. Jake felt like a side character for most of the book, but he was real fine and wasn’t afraid to get vulnerable. I don’t think Holly Jolly Diwali even mentioned the characters having sex (if it did it was BRIEF), which I really enjoyed because the fade to black here definitely HURT. I’d rather not get anything than get teased, but that’s a personal preference.
So while I really appreciated that Jasmine took her time to really know herself until getting in the relationship, the snail’s pace of their dating just didn’t make for an engaging last third of the book. Especially with the only sex scene being fade to black. In the SHOWER. Robbery, my lord.
As an overall experience though, I really loved the audiobook narration!! The narrator was super emotive and I just love when you can hear the smile in someone’s voice 🥰 I also just really enjoyed the cruise ship setting, and the premise of being stuck on a seniors’ cruise was so much FUN. It was a very mellow and cozy book, so I think it was more of a nice drifting along read rather than a rocking the boat one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️*/5
*The characters have sex at the end, but it’s pretty immediately fade to black. He gets pretty serious with footsie which was fun, but it doesn’t go anywhere.
Thanks so much to PRHaudio for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.
I’d say both books are more general fiction esque, but this one especially felt like Jasmine’s personal growth arc with a subplot of romance. Jake felt like a side character for most of the book, but he was real fine and wasn’t afraid to get vulnerable. I don’t think Holly Jolly Diwali even mentioned the characters having sex (if it did it was BRIEF), which I really enjoyed because the fade to black here definitely HURT. I’d rather not get anything than get teased, but that’s a personal preference.
So while I really appreciated that Jasmine took her time to really know herself until getting in the relationship, the snail’s pace of their dating just didn’t make for an engaging last third of the book. Especially with the only sex scene being fade to black. In the SHOWER. Robbery, my lord.
As an overall experience though, I really loved the audiobook narration!! The narrator was super emotive and I just love when you can hear the smile in someone’s voice 🥰 I also just really enjoyed the cruise ship setting, and the premise of being stuck on a seniors’ cruise was so much FUN. It was a very mellow and cozy book, so I think it was more of a nice drifting along read rather than a rocking the boat one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️*/5
*The characters have sex at the end, but it’s pretty immediately fade to black. He gets pretty serious with footsie which was fun, but it doesn’t go anywhere.
Thanks so much to PRHaudio for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.
cloudydoudy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
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
4.5
lucyslumos's review against another edition
3.0
Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat
Happy publication week to this Alaskan adventure! Thank you to the #joyfulchaosbookclub and @berkleypub for this ARC!
Jasmine sets off on an Alaskan cruise with her parents, only to realize it’s a cruise for seniors with the South Asian community she felt judged by growing up. There’s only one other young person on the boat - a childhood acquaintance, Jake, who immediately rubs her the wrong way. However, you can only get so far away when you’re trapped on a boat!
Check this one out if you’re looking for:
Happy publication week to this Alaskan adventure! Thank you to the #joyfulchaosbookclub and @berkleypub for this ARC!
Jasmine sets off on an Alaskan cruise with her parents, only to realize it’s a cruise for seniors with the South Asian community she felt judged by growing up. There’s only one other young person on the boat - a childhood acquaintance, Jake, who immediately rubs her the wrong way. However, you can only get so far away when you’re trapped on a boat!
Check this one out if you’re looking for:
book_dragon88's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
drops_everything_and_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Huge thank you to Berkley for an advance copy via NetGalley as part of a #JoyfulChaosBookClub buddy read!
Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat is a lovely, fun book about two younger people (late 20s/early 30s) who find themselves on an Alaskan cruise as part of a senior's group, which includes their parents, aunts and uncles, and other members of their extended Sikh community. The book is told from Jasmine's POV.
Jasmine has just broken up with her long-time boyfriend for the third time and despite being broke, goes on the trip to spite her parents who prefer to spend time with Jasmine's younger sister than their oldest 'bad girl' daughter. On the cruise, she reunites with Jake, whom she had known years before, and is on the cruise with his father.
Over the course of the cruise, Jasmine and Jake spend a lot of time together, first by accident and then because they are growing more and more attracted to each other. However, Jasmine desperately wants to get her life back in order, and Jake has a bit of growing up to do as he vacillates between being a 'bro boy' and a thoughtful man who has just graduated law school. Both of them need to figure out some things before they can even think seriously about acting on their mutual attraction and date each other.
Overall, I really liked this book. The author did a great job of showing the messiness of being an adult, that we don't all have our sh!t together, and that it takes work to be different and not repeat destructive habits.
There was lots of humour sprinkled throughout, which helped to balance out the more serious discussions that took place. I was laughing at various scenes, especially when both Jasmine and Jake were in on the joke.
This is definitely a slow burn book, with Jasmine and Jake taking their time before committing to being in a romantic relationship with each other. I think this approach really serves the story well and allows for their individual growth, and for Jasmine in particular to nurture her relationship with her parents.
I will definitely be seeking out other books by the author to read after enjoying this one so much!
Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat is a lovely, fun book about two younger people (late 20s/early 30s) who find themselves on an Alaskan cruise as part of a senior's group, which includes their parents, aunts and uncles, and other members of their extended Sikh community. The book is told from Jasmine's POV.
Jasmine has just broken up with her long-time boyfriend for the third time and despite being broke, goes on the trip to spite her parents who prefer to spend time with Jasmine's younger sister than their oldest 'bad girl' daughter. On the cruise, she reunites with Jake, whom she had known years before, and is on the cruise with his father.
Over the course of the cruise, Jasmine and Jake spend a lot of time together, first by accident and then because they are growing more and more attracted to each other. However, Jasmine desperately wants to get her life back in order, and Jake has a bit of growing up to do as he vacillates between being a 'bro boy' and a thoughtful man who has just graduated law school. Both of them need to figure out some things before they can even think seriously about acting on their mutual attraction and date each other.
Overall, I really liked this book. The author did a great job of showing the messiness of being an adult, that we don't all have our sh!t together, and that it takes work to be different and not repeat destructive habits.
There was lots of humour sprinkled throughout, which helped to balance out the more serious discussions that took place. I was laughing at various scenes, especially when both Jasmine and Jake were in on the joke.
This is definitely a slow burn book, with Jasmine and Jake taking their time before committing to being in a romantic relationship with each other. I think this approach really serves the story well and allows for their individual growth, and for Jasmine in particular to nurture her relationship with her parents.
I will definitely be seeking out other books by the author to read after enjoying this one so much!
birdabouttown's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Charming if not particularly memorable rom com — two young Indian Americans find each other on a seniors cruise. Closed door
thatsoneforthebooks's review against another edition
4.0
✨ Review ✨ Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat by Sonya Lalli
This book was super sweet and I really enjoyed it. Jasmine sets off on a cruise to Alaska with her not-so-close parents, finding out once on board that it's a seniors cruise. Jake is the only other young person on board and they run hot and cold -- friends to enemies to friends to lovers maybe to enemies and back again. They both have lots of things they're working through on their path to becoming the people they want to be and it was really lovely how that all came together here.
While I'd normally use "sweet" to describe romances of a quainter variety, the characters are anything but innocent flowers, and yet, maybe because of their own personal growth along the way, that's the word I'm stuck with. I really enjoyed this not only for the romance but also for the friendships, family relationships, and other personal growth throughout the book!
The audio narration was enjoyable and definitely brought some extra fun to the experience!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: Seattle and an Alaskan cruise
Pub Date: out now!
Read this if you like:
⭕️ reading about cruises and cruise experiences
⭕️ romances with lots of personal growth
⭕️ a wild assortment of aunties and uncles
Thanks to Berkley, PRHaudio, and #netgalley for an advanced copies of this book!
This book was super sweet and I really enjoyed it. Jasmine sets off on a cruise to Alaska with her not-so-close parents, finding out once on board that it's a seniors cruise. Jake is the only other young person on board and they run hot and cold -- friends to enemies to friends to lovers maybe to enemies and back again. They both have lots of things they're working through on their path to becoming the people they want to be and it was really lovely how that all came together here.
While I'd normally use "sweet" to describe romances of a quainter variety, the characters are anything but innocent flowers, and yet, maybe because of their own personal growth along the way, that's the word I'm stuck with. I really enjoyed this not only for the romance but also for the friendships, family relationships, and other personal growth throughout the book!
The audio narration was enjoyable and definitely brought some extra fun to the experience!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: Seattle and an Alaskan cruise
Pub Date: out now!
Read this if you like:
⭕️ reading about cruises and cruise experiences
⭕️ romances with lots of personal growth
⭕️ a wild assortment of aunties and uncles
Thanks to Berkley, PRHaudio, and #netgalley for an advanced copies of this book!