Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev

22 reviews

prisreadallnight's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

Sonali Dev's writing is truly masterful. This book has made me feel and change the way I see familiar relationships and friendships and how people change over the years. Her whole series is amazing but incense and sensibility really touched me in a way I wasn't expecting at all. I really enjoyed this book and it is my first 5 stars read of 2022. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape

Minor: Toxic friendship

eshdho's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

carlyoc's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-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

4.25

This book stands alone even if you haven't read the two preceding volumes in the series, although I'm sure they would add some context for several supporting characters whose stories were told in those installments. 
A slow start, lots of tension in the middle, and big rush of action at the end. 
India Dashwood is a yoga instructor and incense maker. Ten years ago, she shared a magical moment with Yash Raje, who then ghosted her and left her heartbroken. Now, he suddenly turns back up in her life. 
Yash is campaigning for governor of California. But when his bodyguard gets shot by a white-supremacist targeting Yash for bring South Asian, he finds himself unable to go back onstage to finish out his campaign. His family urges him to try yoga with India Dashwood, but he knows he wronged her many years ago. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, and Sexual assault

bookworm_leilani's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content

Moderate: Medical trauma and Sexual assault

kaylasonlyheart's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Sexual assault, Car accident, and Medical trauma

apoppyinthewind's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Car accident and Sexual assault

cindymarieo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, Suicide, Sexual assault, Rape, Homophobia, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

citymouse's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Racism, Islamophobia, Toxic friendship, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Homophobia, Rape, Lesbophobia, Alcoholism, and Acephobia/Arophobia

hbhentschel's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

Best of this series so far, which surprised me considering Sense and Sensibility is not a favorite of mine. I have mixed feelings about the not-quite-infidelity plotline, but I thought Yash's journey to process his past trauma was handled well.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

ehmannky's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

I felt this book had a kind of slow start and a really solid finish. India and Yash are so great together. I thought it would be hard to sell the whole "I can't be with you because I promised my childhood friend I'd be with her" in the modern day, but Dev really makes it work. ` 

I didn't love that Yash going through intense physical therapy after his accident is framed as "escaping his wheelchair." Like, it fits his character, but I wish someone had pushed back a little bit harder than India does that his life wouldn't have been over (she does point out that he was able to walk again mostly through luck and the good fortune of being born rich enough to have all of the required funds and time to work through this). I did like that we got into the PTSD Yash had over Julia's assault, and it felt like we finally named it as an assault rather than just a Bad Thing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, and Xenophobia