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sabrinaboyk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Gun violence and Domestic abuse
thewairimu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racism, Chronic illness, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Sexual content, Rape, Sexism, and Grief
thaliareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved how despite their instant connection, things weren't instantly easy, and that they had to put in work to get themselves individually to a point where they could support a healthy relationship with each other.
Graphic: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy
The SA/Rape incident occurred prior to the events of the book, but are discussed as an important part of them healing and being comfortable in a relationship. Pregnancy is of a side character, mentioned occasionally.aesantiago's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, and Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Hate crime, and Medical trauma
harperhoney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Gun violence
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual violence, Car accident, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Hate crime
Minor: Stalking, Racial slurs, Alcohol, and Chronic illness
sultrytartreviews's review
- 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
2.5
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Active shooting situation, survivor's guilt, PTSD/social phobia, refusal to seek help for mental healthrbash2391's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Turns out, Yash and India have known each other for ten years, although that is the last time they saw each other and had a heated, romantic moment. In the last ten years, however, Yash has been in a fake/PR relationship with a woman named Naina, who runs her own non-profit helping disadvantaged women around the globe. Yash and Naina are strictly "together" for the public's sake, but they have a hands-off, non-intimate relationship. Yash was drugged, sexually assaulted, and video footage was used to blackmail him in the past, so he has an aversion to physical intimacy to say the least.
Yash wants to call off his relationship with Naina but she resists him, insisting that their false relationship helps their public images independently and it would be too close to the election to have a public breakup or admit to their lie. Even though the book covers the span of a few months, the "too close to the election" argument is used throughout the book and eventually Yash does end their relationship and admit during a public presser to having lied to the public. Turns out, that only hurts his lead slightly and he does end up winning.
The book is mainly character driven. Not a lot happens after the first few chapters of action where Yash gets shot. The characters are likable. I think India had a hard time even admitting to herself the attraction and love she felt for Yash, so we didn't really see that through the narrative until the end when Yash admits his feelings publicly without revealing her identity. Both Yash and India feel safe only with each other, and the reader feels that too. India is like an emotional conduit for Yash; he's numb entirely until he can see her and then all of his feelings, good and bad, rush up. He's able to process them in her presence, however, and she's consented to helping him do that. We are always waiting intently for them to spend time together, and it's peaceful and relaxing when they do, even though the moment is actually tense in more ways than one. They have physical attraction but also this fraught history of not being honest with each other. Yash has other demons from his past to contend with that influence how he approaches his anxiety attacks during the campaign, and India is the one to help guide him through that. She does keep good boundaries as a professional, but she does this work for him because she cares about him and I liked that balance.
Yash's family seemed to annoy him the entire book, and said some things that were hurtful and dismissive of his experience. His father especially was only focused on him winning the election, and all of their behavior was excused as the ulterior motives of wanting Yash to be governor so he could make good changes in the world. After he confesses his love for India to his parents, they (especially his mother) realize that for him to do the things he wants to do for the public, he has to correct the private issues that are holding him back. I liked the way his sisters and mother helped plan and usher in Yash's public "come clean" and sat with India while she watched him give the presser live, or so she thought. Until she finds out the presser had been taped 30 minutes prior, and the sweet but stinky pug Chutney who loves Yash is barking at the window and she realizes Yash is standing outside waiting for her. That was super romantic and made up for the slow burn of the book for me.
Their announcement of their relationship, and Yash's lie, only did so much to hurt him in the polls and he ended up winning with a very close margin. The romantic stakes were very high throughout the book but that fizzled out once they chose each other. I think that is my main complaint, as I prefer a plot-driven story, rather than characters tugging back and forth until someone gives and then all the problems vanish once they do.
Overall this book is vibes. We have the contrast between India's world which is close-knit, plush, colorful, and peaceful, and Yash's family's estate that is massive and shows us that he is from a legacy family. Despite their varied upbringing and lives, the families have similar values and are supportive of Yash and India even if it means him possibly losing the election. As long as they are living in truth, it's better than lying to get what you want.
Graphic: Gun violence, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Racism, Lesbophobia, Rape, Car accident, Xenophobia, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
buttermellow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Gun violence, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
Moderate: Medical content and Religious bigotry
Minor: Car accident
hngisreading's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical content, Racism, Rape, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Car accident, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia