milahill's review
3.0
This book has so much potential but capitalizes on so little of it. The trope is one that I really enjoy (starting in the middle of the relationship/getting back together) but there was so much that kept me from blowing through it. The dialogue is really rough and even though the plot mechanizations are interesting, the author doesn’t do anything fun with them. I really wanted to love this but I think part of reading POC romance is holding them to the standard that I would hold everything else. That being said the cultural impacts on Preeti and Daniel are great parts of the book, but I wish that their story was as carefully written as those impacts. (2.5/5)
rjayasankar01's review
funny
relaxing
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
3.5
nerdynatreads's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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5 by 5: Second Chance Romances || 5 Romance Reads and Reviews
y’all, right out of the gate I was loving this, with meddlesome friends setting these two up in an awkward situation, forcing them to finally talk about their past and the TENSION because of it!! So dang good. In fact, that’s one of the biggest highlights in regard to the romance, the tension.
This book is only in Preeti’s POV, meaning we get a lot of depth around her and I feel like she’s a very well-fleshed-out character, from her relationships with her friends and family, discussions of her mental health, and the stigmas that affect her because of it, her strengths, her insecurities. All of it is so well done. But Daniel, by comparison, is pretty bland and too perfect. Sure, we see he has an independent streak that rattles his father, but apart from that, he doesn’t have much personality. And unfortunately, this never really changed. I loved that he knew Preeti and respected her, but I really think if he was more built up as a character, they would have been even more convincing as a couple.
An extremely important factor in second-chance romances is whether the two leads actually feel like they have a history, and thankfully, these two do! Particularly in the little moments, Daniel knowing how to handle Preeti’s panic attacks, callbacks to funny moments from their relationship, and Daniel’s grandparents absolutely adoring Preeti. Along with the tension, this makes me even more invested in their eventual reuniting. However, it’s pretty clear as soon as they interact that they’re still both in love. They sort of just… fall back into dating? There didn’t feel like their relationship was repaired back to that point.
There’s also a serious side plot, regarding the community Preeti’s family is in, the same as the first book. However, this time, due to Daniel being black, it’s specifically looking at racism and issues that arise from dating outside both Preeti’s race and religion, plus slut shaming. Really loved this whole situation eventually boiling over, but you can see how that’s going to happen from a mile away.
The biggest issue I have is miscommunication. Preeti never told Daniel why she dumped him when they were younger and it was dragged out longer than really necessary. Just talk, for christsake. It shouldn’t be that difficult, since you two were so in love and clearly still are. They only really laid out everything after they were sort of forced to because of other people getting involved. I get the slow burn for tension and drama, but I also want to see their relationship growing and building off of their previous mistakes. I just don’t think we really got that.
5 by 5: Second Chance Romances || 5 Romance Reads and Reviews
y’all, right out of the gate I was loving this, with meddlesome friends setting these two up in an awkward situation, forcing them to finally talk about their past and the TENSION because of it!! So dang good. In fact, that’s one of the biggest highlights in regard to the romance, the tension.
This book is only in Preeti’s POV, meaning we get a lot of depth around her and I feel like she’s a very well-fleshed-out character, from her relationships with her friends and family, discussions of her mental health, and the stigmas that affect her because of it, her strengths, her insecurities. All of it is so well done. But Daniel, by comparison, is pretty bland and too perfect. Sure, we see he has an independent streak that rattles his father, but apart from that, he doesn’t have much personality. And unfortunately, this never really changed. I loved that he knew Preeti and respected her, but I really think if he was more built up as a character, they would have been even more convincing as a couple.
An extremely important factor in second-chance romances is whether the two leads actually feel like they have a history, and thankfully, these two do! Particularly in the little moments, Daniel knowing how to handle Preeti’s panic attacks, callbacks to funny moments from their relationship, and Daniel’s grandparents absolutely adoring Preeti. Along with the tension, this makes me even more invested in their eventual reuniting. However, it’s pretty clear as soon as they interact that they’re still both in love. They sort of just… fall back into dating? There didn’t feel like their relationship was repaired back to that point.
There’s also a serious side plot, regarding the community Preeti’s family is in, the same as the first book. However, this time, due to Daniel being black, it’s specifically looking at racism and issues that arise from dating outside both Preeti’s race and religion, plus slut shaming. Really loved this whole situation eventually boiling over, but you can see how that’s going to happen from a mile away.
The biggest issue I have is miscommunication. Preeti never told Daniel why she dumped him when they were younger and it was dragged out longer than really necessary. Just talk, for christsake. It shouldn’t be that difficult, since you two were so in love and clearly still are. They only really laid out everything after they were sort of forced to because of other people getting involved. I get the slow burn for tension and drama, but I also want to see their relationship growing and building off of their previous mistakes. I just don’t think we really got that.
tenaw's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
juanitamfm's review
1.0
I HATED this book…I almost DNF it because it was so annoying. I really liked the first book, Pretti seemed like a strong support character in that book, but in this one she was nauseating. Being in her mind was torture. Daniel seemed like a whiny brat every time he talked about Yuvan. His dad being the reason they broke up seemed dumb. The whole living together in the apartment was so unbelievable…like I don’t want to do this…I can’t keep my hands off…this is never going to work…we’re sleeping in bed together…we were together for a couple years…we’re just now taking a shower together…it was roughy throughout the whole book…luckily it was a pretty short book.
jxnareads's review
5.0
I loved trouble with hating you, and I was so excited to read this one as preeti and daniel situation was mentioned a bit in the first book so I was curious to know what happened between these two and i’m so happy there was a book about them, it didn’t disappoint ☺️
ugh I just enjoyed it so much and found myself smiling at certain bits but also emotional! definitely recommend:)
ugh I just enjoyed it so much and found myself smiling at certain bits but also emotional! definitely recommend:)
adangerouscreature's review
3.0
Spoilers! So many spoilers.
This was a really hard book to rate because I was torn. First things I loved:
Daniel, oh Daniel! How I love your Jackson Avery energy.
The bff time. Preeti’s girls are where it’s at.
Grandma and Grandpa were
This was a really hard book to rate because I was torn. First things I loved:
Daniel, oh Daniel! How I love your Jackson Avery energy.
The bff time. Preeti’s girls are where it’s at.
Grandma and Grandpa were
kamie_feagle's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
5.0
samjgrasso's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
3.5
khines213's review
3.0
I downgraded this from what would have been a four star review at the time of finishing to a three star review because now that I'm trying to remember what the book was about...I can't. Not being able to remember the bulk of the plot just a couple months after reading it isn't a good sign for how memorable the story was. BUT I do remember enjoying it immensely as I was reading it.
If I recall correctly, this book made me equally want to cringe and felt represented at the same time. I resonated on a level with Preeti because I also don't really like to be touched. But having that touch aversion just happening to go away with your true love felt a little too pat for me.
I don't remember enough else about the book to really comment on it. But I do remember enjoying this continuation of the series following this group of friends enough that I'll want to continue reading to find out what happens to the rest of the friend group.
If I recall correctly, this book made me equally want to cringe and felt represented at the same time. I resonated on a level with Preeti because I also don't really like to be touched. But having that touch aversion just happening to go away with your true love felt a little too pat for me.
I don't remember enough else about the book to really comment on it. But I do remember enjoying this continuation of the series following this group of friends enough that I'll want to continue reading to find out what happens to the rest of the friend group.