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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
This book was pretty funny at times. Unfortunately it just wasn't for me.
If you like reading about extremely wealthy people then you would probably like this. They are just so wealthy that it make it hard for me to relate to anything.
The organization was just too much for me. There are multiple POVs in each chapter that make it hard to keep up.
If you like reading about extremely wealthy people then you would probably like this. They are just so wealthy that it make it hard for me to relate to anything.
The organization was just too much for me. There are multiple POVs in each chapter that make it hard to keep up.
Tina, born and raised in America by her now-divorced Indian parents, travels with her family to India for her cousin’s wedding. This book has no distinguishable plot other than to capture the love lives of all of those encountered for the week of the wedding. While it’s a romantic book, it feels like more of a coming-of-age tale than a romance, despite all of the characters being over thirty. Each character is attempting to find out what makes them happy, whether that’s marriage, a lack of marriage, a new city, a new partner, or something else. The writing is unique, and switches perspectives often, capturing the thoughts of everyone from Tina and her family to their driver and the wedding planner. The amount of detail and way the stories are woven together into one book is truly fascinating, though the length makes it a bit of a slog, especially given the slightly stilted way things are phrased (I believe it’s a British English dialect, as opposed to American). Overall, the story is simply *interesting* to no end and if you hate one character there’s a dozen more to root for, making it a sure-fire enjoyable read. And don't forget to read the chapter titles...
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley. I am reading during quarantine times, so I was looking for a easy escapist novel! And this delivered! It's mainly about a young Indian American woman who goes to India for her cousin's super lavish stereotypical Indian wedding with her BFF and her divorced parents. Hilarity ensues. BFF has a crisis about her life and the status of her current relationships. Both parents explore a deeper relationship with their paramours and the main character dabbles in finding love and finding career fulfillment all the while dealing with the many dualities of India. I loved the author's first book, Windfall, and this book echos similar themes! This is the perfect beach read for if/when the beaches open up!
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The ideas and characters here are great, but the writing was really poor. The whole time I was wishing it was a movie or TV show so I could see it all acted out instead of having to slog through bad writing.
2.5/5⭐️
I loved the cultural representation, and the characters. I think a lot of the message was lost because there was so much focus on each person’s story/life.
Overall, I really liked the family dynamic and the sense of finding yourself and where you belong.
I loved the cultural representation, and the characters. I think a lot of the message was lost because there was so much focus on each person’s story/life.
Overall, I really liked the family dynamic and the sense of finding yourself and where you belong.
This story explores not quite fitting in the two worlds she inhabits and is a fun read. The idea of being stuck between worlds was really interesting to me. Tina was a character I enjoyed spending time with, although the plot was a bit slow and her growth was very slow. Marianne was a less fully developed character and could have been expanded but because I was enjoying the ride with Tina, it mattered less. Tina's parents and the people in their lives were really nice additions and added a nice touch about what it means to date again after divorce at an older age and interracial dating, I enjoyed those scenes more. There was a strong sense of place in this book, including some really delightful snippets of people in the background of scenes Tina was in (like a fruit seller in the market). Overall I give this one 3.5 stars (rounding up) because while the premise was great, I didn't always feel it was so compelling. I didn't want to pick it up and find out what happened next or read these characters again, but I enjoyed reading it while I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my review copy, all opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my review copy, all opinions are my own.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The vibe of this one is a little bit Crazy Rich Asians, with all the fantastical wedding things going on. That’s really just the side story because this book is actually about conflicting identities and finding your place in the world. And more seriously it is about class divides and wealth disparity, and what happens when these two worlds collide. All taking place against the backdrop of a lavish wedding in Delhi.
I think Radha is actually my favourite. I got the most out of her character arch and she felt the most well thought out. She was allowed her complexities. Tina annoyed me most of the time, and it was Radha that pointed out why:
“Stop seeing only what you want to see. You have to stop living this narrow life in which you’re the victim, the unrecognised star. That isn’t reality.”
I felt the same way about Marianne - I kept thinking can you please stop whinging about your nice life? You’re having an identity crisis because you’re bored. My god I could not with her woe is me attitude. She is absolutely that person who ditches someone because they think they can do better, discover they can’t, and just expects the other person to be waiting for them and for life to continue as if nothing happened.
All in all, it’s a vibrant social comedy and quite a fun read.
I think Radha is actually my favourite. I got the most out of her character arch and she felt the most well thought out. She was allowed her complexities. Tina annoyed me most of the time, and it was Radha that pointed out why:
“Stop seeing only what you want to see. You have to stop living this narrow life in which you’re the victim, the unrecognised star. That isn’t reality.”
I felt the same way about Marianne - I kept thinking can you please stop whinging about your nice life? You’re having an identity crisis because you’re bored. My god I could not with her woe is me attitude. She is absolutely that person who ditches someone because they think they can do better, discover they can’t, and just expects the other person to be waiting for them and for life to continue as if nothing happened.
All in all, it’s a vibrant social comedy and quite a fun read.