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sagebrush_'s review against another edition
reflective
sad
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
3.75
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first 60% was a chore to get through, but once I had a connection and understanding of the characters I enjoyed it. It takes a long while for some of the characters to make progress with their issues.
The audiobook includes a performance of the fictional song Dava by Tom Buck.
Consider skipping this book if:
-you greatly prefer plot driven books
-you don’t have patience for a lot of characters and backstories
-you really don’t care to hear about the emotional troubles of millionaires
The audiobook includes a performance of the fictional song Dava by Tom Buck.
Consider skipping this book if:
-you greatly prefer plot driven books
-you don’t have patience for a lot of characters and backstories
-you really don’t care to hear about the emotional troubles of millionaires
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity and Medical content
sleeson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Suicide, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Death of parent
youshouldreadthisif's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Am I glad I read this? Yes. While there are POVs from other members of the family that provide insight into family dynamics through their eyes, this book is as good as it is because of how well Ramisetti constructed Dava's character. She's "unlikeable" and sometimes difficult to sympathize with; she's deeply ambitious to the point of fixation, dismissive of her children, bordering on narcissistic, obsessed with her legacy, controlling, incredibly demanding, and, frankly, unrepentant about all of that. (Though this begs the question of whether we'd call this character unlikeable if she were instead a he, doesn't it?) And that's exactly why I like her character so much. My favorite part was Dava's POV about Tom Buck - she makes, and keeps making, an incredibly selfish and potentially devastating decision. And while my romantic heart hated it, I also understood it. So don't read this book for the juicy secrets revealed; one of them's not all that shocking, anyway. Instead, read it for the incredibly complicated family matriarch and the insight into her choices and how they affected her family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Suicide, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity
valerie_roller's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book is well written. I loved the diverse characters. The story itself dragged, which is why I didn’t rate this book higher. I just wanted the story to move along.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
lklitup's review against another edition
The characters were awful people, and I didn’t care what happened to them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
leahrosiee's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy
katyisreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Death, and Death of parent
ashleysbookthoughts's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really didn’t like this book at first. I thought it was kind of boring and that the characters lacked depth. BUT! About 100 pages in, the narrative shifted away from the present and into Dava’s past, giving tons of insight into her business, her relationships, and her flaws. And she was so damn relatable. I adored this part of the book, where I got to really be in Dava’s life and experience the ups and downs through her eyes.
Up until the last 100 pages or so, I was always less invested in the present timeline with Dava’s adult children. They took a long time to get fleshed out and often felt a little one dimensional to me. Though part of me wonders if this was intentional, as until late in the book the siblings really don’t know each other.
By the end, though, the characters learned important truths about each other and themselves, resulting in an emotional, heartwarming read.
All in all, though it has its flaws, this is a solid debut. I’ll definitely check out whatever Ramisetti writes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer and Emotional abuse
soobooksalot's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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
3.5
Dava Shastri's Last Day is a entirely different slant on a Christmastime novel.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy for review.
Dava Shastri is one of the richest women in the world, having carved out a name for herself in the music tech world. She is a well-known philanthropist and holds her share of secrets from her storied life.
Her five children and extended family gather for Christmas at her estate on her private island, and are presented with news - Dava is dying of a brain tumour and the public announcement of her death precedes her actual death.
She wishes to control not only how she passes, but how the world presents information about her from past and present.
Readers are treated to the portrait of this unique and strong woman of colour, in a story with tinges of humour and many a pop culture reference. It's of a life lived, a life about to be lost, and a legacy left.
The one element I didn't quite feel was necessary was the setting of the story in the year 2044.
Regardless, debut author Kirthana Ramisetti has created a detailed, well-crafted world of characters. I look forward to reading her future work. Recommended!
Released on Nov. 30.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy for review.
Dava Shastri is one of the richest women in the world, having carved out a name for herself in the music tech world. She is a well-known philanthropist and holds her share of secrets from her storied life.
Her five children and extended family gather for Christmas at her estate on her private island, and are presented with news - Dava is dying of a brain tumour and the public announcement of her death precedes her actual death.
She wishes to control not only how she passes, but how the world presents information about her from past and present.
Readers are treated to the portrait of this unique and strong woman of colour, in a story with tinges of humour and many a pop culture reference. It's of a life lived, a life about to be lost, and a legacy left.
The one element I didn't quite feel was necessary was the setting of the story in the year 2044.
Regardless, debut author Kirthana Ramisetti has created a detailed, well-crafted world of characters. I look forward to reading her future work. Recommended!
Released on Nov. 30.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Medical content
storieswithsonya's review against another edition
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and Cancer