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deetour8's review
5.0
I mean, I don't think Menon could write anything I wouldn't love at this point. I read this in two days and loved it, obviously.
mari1532's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
#TheDiverseBaseline (learn more at: https://thediversebaseline.carrd.cocreated by @bookish.millennial & @themargherita.s (on instagram))
I read this audiobook through my library.
Brief Summary: Sweetie Nair is going to try new things, stick up for herself, and find her first love. Her quest to prove her haters wrong is something she and her friends dubbed the "Sassy Sweetie Project". Tired of being told what she cannot do and who she is because of her weight Sweetie has something to prove.
Ashish Patel is in a funk, like a basketball scholarship-ending kind of funk. Seen as a player both on and off the court Ashish is confronted by the fact he has never dated an Indian-American girl. However, when he meets Sweetie that seems likely to change.
Ashish is taken by Sweetie's love of life and positive outlook. Sweetie is intrigued by Ashish that doesn't play into the high school jock stereotype. It's a recipe for a beautiful love story, but not everyone is on board with their relationship.
Thoughts: I really liked Sweetie as a character. I thought she had such a youthful exuberance that made it clear she could adapt to any challenge. I also loved her interactions with her friend's group. They seemed so supportive and close that I wanted to be friends with them.
I think that Sweetie was definitely my favorite part of the book and I did like the arc of the story between her and her mother. I did not like Sweetie's mom by the end of the book, but I do think that there was some growth in her views about body image that were starting to change. However, for three-quarters of the book I just wanted to hug Sweetie any time the two of them had an interaction with one another. I understand her mother thought she was protecting her, but yikes.
The way that Sweetie also made Ashish come out of his shell was cute to watch. Her unapologetic embrace of her Indian heritage and the excitement she felt on each of their dates jumped off the page and just made you feel happy as a reader.
Ashish was a more interesting character to me than his brother from the first book. I just felt that he had a few more layers to his personality. Some of those layers were struggling with a bit of depression over a broken heart, but it was lovely to see navigating the loss of an idea to acknowledging a real thing on the page. Sometimes it feels like previous breakups in romances are very definitive (as in there is a clear villain) and the murkiness of Ashish's breakup shows that even though you break up with someone the love doesn't entirely go away.
If you want a fun read with teenage heartbreak, love and angst I would recommend this book.
I read this audiobook through my library.
Brief Summary: Sweetie Nair is going to try new things, stick up for herself, and find her first love. Her quest to prove her haters wrong is something she and her friends dubbed the "Sassy Sweetie Project". Tired of being told what she cannot do and who she is because of her weight Sweetie has something to prove.
Ashish Patel is in a funk, like a basketball scholarship-ending kind of funk. Seen as a player both on and off the court Ashish is confronted by the fact he has never dated an Indian-American girl. However, when he meets Sweetie that seems likely to change.
Ashish is taken by Sweetie's love of life and positive outlook. Sweetie is intrigued by Ashish that doesn't play into the high school jock stereotype. It's a recipe for a beautiful love story, but not everyone is on board with their relationship.
Thoughts: I really liked Sweetie as a character. I thought she had such a youthful exuberance that made it clear she could adapt to any challenge. I also loved her interactions with her friend's group. They seemed so supportive and close that I wanted to be friends with them.
I think that Sweetie was definitely my favorite part of the book and I did like the arc of the story between her and her mother. I did not like Sweetie's mom by the end of the book, but I do think that there was some growth in her views about body image that were starting to change. However, for three-quarters of the book I just wanted to hug Sweetie any time the two of them had an interaction with one another. I understand her mother thought she was protecting her, but yikes.
The way that Sweetie also made Ashish come out of his shell was cute to watch. Her unapologetic embrace of her Indian heritage and the excitement she felt on each of their dates jumped off the page and just made you feel happy as a reader.
Ashish was a more interesting character to me than his brother from the first book. I just felt that he had a few more layers to his personality. Some of those layers were struggling with a bit of depression over a broken heart, but it was lovely to see navigating the loss of an idea to acknowledging a real thing on the page. Sometimes it feels like previous breakups in romances are very definitive (as in there is a clear villain) and the murkiness of Ashish's breakup shows that even though you break up with someone the love doesn't entirely go away.
If you want a fun read with teenage heartbreak, love and angst I would recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Classism, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
depressionaradhnak's review
5.0
Will I ever read a Sandhya Menon book without it making me laugh and smile throughout? Nope! This was adorable, and I love Sweetie so much.
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
rlstrayer1's review
4.0
4 stars
Well I planned to finish this before the release date, since it was an ARC and all, but then my daughter decided to make her debut into the world earlier than anticipated and it was all I could do to function on a basic level. BUT I finally finished this!
Anyway, I really enjoyed Sweetie. It was cute, light, fluffy, and just what I needed to get through the many sleepless nights that come with a newborn. Sweetie is a fantastic protagonist, and I really enjoyed her relationship with Ashish. Looks are not everything, and there is much more to a person than meets the eye.
I am looking forward to more books from this author!
--------
ARC!
Also this cover is super cute =)
Well I planned to finish this before the release date, since it was an ARC and all, but then my daughter decided to make her debut into the world earlier than anticipated and it was all I could do to function on a basic level. BUT I finally finished this!
Anyway, I really enjoyed Sweetie. It was cute, light, fluffy, and just what I needed to get through the many sleepless nights that come with a newborn. Sweetie is a fantastic protagonist, and I really enjoyed her relationship with Ashish. Looks are not everything, and there is much more to a person than meets the eye.
I am looking forward to more books from this author!
--------
ARC!
Also this cover is super cute =)
deen734's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.25
books4susie's review
5.0
This companion book centers around Rishi's younger brother Ashish after his breakup with Celia that began in the first book. Not only does the author continue to focus on Indian American culture but body image and self-esteem as well. Down in the dumps over his break up, Ash decides that if his parents’ arranged relationship for his older brother has worked out, then he is willing to try it as well. When Sweetie’s mother turns down Ash’s parents’ request to date, Sweetie decided to take matters into her own hands and goes against her parents’ wishes. Once again, another sweet romance that also centers on the main characters coming into their own.
ericacoonelly's review
4.0
4.5 stars - A feel good story, I found myself smiling along while listening to the story, I just loved the characters- I wish this book had been around when I was in high school.