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angelfireeast24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
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
noellelovesbooks's review
3.5
Content Warnings: Gun violence, public shooting, blood/injury, racism, sexism, toxic masculinity, ableism, PTSD, and queerphobia.
Mention of: being drugged and raped, injury due to getting hit by a car, depression, mention of losing a loved one/partner, and anxiety.
Having been emotionally devastated and restored by the first two books in this series…I took my time getting around to book three. This was a book I’m pretty sure I pre-ordered and then left sitting on my shelf because I wasn’t prepared to deal with the emotions Sonali made me feel in the first two books.
I wouldn’t classify this book as a romance so much as adult fiction as the element of romance was so small in comparison to everything else the book dealt with.
The book starts with an attempt on Yash’s life when he’s set to speak at a political rally. His friend and bodyguard is critically injured when he tries to jump in the way of a bullet meant for Yash. Having his friend in the ICU with no idea if he’ll ever wake up, let alone recover, Yash is in shock. Yash has always been great in front of a crowd but after the shooting anytime he attempts to speak at a public gathering he’s overwhelmed with panic and anxiety.
Yash is close to 40 and has years of unresolved trauma that had deeply affected his life and the way he handles things. I really wish the book would have shown Yash getting professional help to process his trauma rather than just talking with India and mentioning that he’s set up an appointment. Trauma is such an important thing that needs to be addressed and I understand it taking years for him to come to terms with needing help…I just wish we were able to see him getting more help than just India.
We spend so much of the book seeing Yash acknowledge how much trauma has shaped and dictated his life and I just needed more of the after, if that makes sense. Maybe I’m just not in the right mood to be reading this book but I felt like there was so much sadness and although he does find love and he’s finally opening up to his family…I just felt like the negativity and sadness outweighed the happiness. I just needed to feel more of a win than what I felt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Death
izmc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I think this might be my favorite book in the whole series. I loved it so much, and I completely see myself rereading it again and again.
Two points of note:
1. I absolutely hated how a majority of the characters treated Yash’s rape. In fact, I don’t think they actually used the word rape. I truly loathed how it was handled, I wish that there would have been a bit more insight into how the character’s dismissal of the sexual assault truly impacted Yash.
2. This point also has to do with how the other characters dismissed the sexual assault. This quote left me reeling:
“"This is how you treat your friend? I've been here for you, Yash, always. I've taken care of you. Have you forgotten what happened when you trusted another woman? You ended up drugged and caught on tape
fucking an underage intern. Even then I was there for you. I didn't bat an eyelid. Through all your trust issues I was there making sure you were okay, working around it, tiptoeing around all your physical issues.”
This complete and utter dismissal of the trauma he went through was horrific. What’s worse is that it is never addressed again. That would be moderately okay if Nisha and her words were written in a more negative light. However, I just looked and she is going to be the heroine in the next book in the series. I honestly think that because of this quote I won’t be able to read the next book at all. I have loved this series so much, but I just don’t think I can tolerate reading and attempting to root for a character like that.
Overall, I loved the book.
Two points of note:
2. This point also has to do with how the other characters dismissed the sexual assault. This quote left me reeling:
“"This is how you treat your friend? I've been here for you, Yash, always. I've taken care of you. Have you forgotten what happened when you trusted another woman? You ended up drugged and caught on tape
fucking an underage intern. Even then I was there for you. I didn't bat an eyelid. Through all your trust issues I was there making sure you were okay, working around it, tiptoeing around all your physical issues.”
This complete and utter dismissal of the trauma he went through was horrific. What’s worse is that it is never addressed again. That would be moderately okay if Nisha and her words were written in a more negative light. However, I just looked and she is going to be the heroine in the next book in the series. I honestly think that because of this quote I won’t be able to read the next book at all. I have loved this series so much, but I just don’t think I can tolerate reading and attempting to root for a character like that.
Overall, I loved the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexism, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
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