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onceandfuturereaders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
There were parts I liked - Tariq for the most part, Morag for the most part, Paris in therapy and his friendship with Joy, and most importantly the entire laser tag scene with Tariq’s family.
Overall this fell flat for me, despite loving the GBBO style story where I could easily envision how each weekend would go. I wanted to like this so much more than I did.
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Abandonment
mikaclapson'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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content
imds'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
3.5
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, Abandonment, and Mental illness
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Minor: Homophobia, Classism, and Toxic relationship
journey2's review against another edition
- 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
As a person who struggles with anxiety myself, Paris's struggles are a little bit difficult to read to be honest. I found the banter and comedy between Paris and Tariq to be hilarious and at times adorable. (Tariq is a sweet little cinnamon roll and must be protected at all costs.) Paris's "best friend", however is the bane of my existence and while at some point there is an attempt at reconciling her actions and words I'm not sure I completely buy it.
Paris is a work in progress. It was difficult to watch him struggle and have nobody there to support him, although Tariq tried, I will give him that. I truly appreciated Tariq's devotion to his faith and his standards and that he was respected for them.
In the end this book is funny and had a special sweetness to it and I was happy with the ending. I found it had a different energy to it than Alexis's other books.
I am also completely willing to meet Paris's parents on a field of battle LOL!
Minor: Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Gaslighting
noceur'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Homophobia, and Islamophobia
just_one_more_paige'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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, Islamophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Racism and Religious bigotry
Minor: Abandonment, Medical content, and Sexual content
foldingthepage_kayleigh'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
4.0
The beginning was so cute and laugh out loud funny, but it progressively got darker and harder to read as I went on.
Everything in this story was filtered through the lens of anxiety, and as someone who also has anxiety, this was hard to read. The obsessive thoughts and shame spirals are described effectively in an all encompassing way, which can make for a stressful read.
That being said, I did appreciate that anxiety was not glamorized and thought the portrayal was relatively realistic as how it hinders almost every aspect of your life.
Unfortunately though, the romance didn’t really do it for me. I found the couple hard to root for, as the main character Paris said and did some things that were completely out of pocket, regarding Tariq’s boundaries and religious beliefs.
Overall, the writing style was goofy and fun, but the drawbacks from this storyline prevented me from loving it as much as I thought I would.
Thanks so much to Forever Publishing, an imprint of the Hachette Book Group, for providing us with a copy of this book!
Graphic: Abandonment, Islamophobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia
jencolumb0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Racism
bobbiejowoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Do not go into this one expecting a funny, lighthearted RomCom.
I went in expecting this book to be more like its predecessor, and was surprisingly disappointed. I absolutely adored Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake and was looking forward to another light-hearted baking filled book. However, that is not what this one is. The baking aspect of this volume takes a back seat to drama and mental illness. While there were moments that left me laughing out loud, I was fully unprepared for how emotionally heavy this book was. Book one did have moments of seriousness but overall felt more lighthearted fun- which is what I went into this one expecting.
I think that the portrayal of GAD in this one was done really well and rightfully took center stage in this book, as it does in the lives of those that deal with this condition. I'm not entirely sure that I liked Paris or Tarik and I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this book in general. I wonder if I might like it more on a re-read knowing what to expect?
I am still planning to read the third installment.
Graphic: Racism and Panic attacks/disorders