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rworrall78's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
It took me too long to get into the characters. It was very London. But I did stick with it and I loved the ending, in the last 70 pages I finally found myself really wanting to pick it up and not want to put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Incest, Addiction, and Rape
Minor: Death
jennikreads's review
emotional
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Infidelity
Moderate: Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Lesbophobia
sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Yasmin Ghorami is engaged to fellow doctor Joe Sangster, loving families merging together. Yasmin and her brother Arif brought up by Baba the patriarchal Doctor father and their mum Anisah. Arif and Baba have a strained relationship, which deteriorates when it's found out his girlfriend Lucy is pregnant. Joe has a difficult relationship with his overbearing mother, Harriet, and is in therapy for his secret sex addiction. Secrets, lies, race, class, gender, faith, sexuality, clashing cultures, relationships, and family rifts are at the heart of this book. It is a messy story of strained family dynamics. A great compelling read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Addiction, and Islamophobia
kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Infidelity
Moderate: Rape
ukponge's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Infidelity, and Child abuse
bella_cavicchi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I struggled to rate this because, by and large, I did enjoy it. Ali has crafted a family saga for the ages, her characters distinctly drawn, their overlapping stories and struggles compelling. (I recall reading a review that compared it to a Dickens novel, which feels apt!) But I also found it incredibly slow to read -- the pace isn't entirely there, and I don't think the story warrants five hundred pages. Make of that what you will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, and Medical content
Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Violence, Alcoholism, and Death
kimberlyallen011's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Infidelity
Moderate: Rape and Incest
bookmaddie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
I suggested this as our July book club pick, and it was chosen, but then none of us actually finished it. Oops!! But I finally got going in August, and wow—I really liked this one! I do think it would be a great book club pick.. maybe just when it's not summer and when everyone has the time to devote to it.
Anyways! This book has the drama—it is so juicy! That alone will keep you reading, but Ali's writing is really approachable and encompassing. I was instantly drawn into the story, and could easily flip pages all afternoon.
This story follows Yasmin and her family just after she gets engaged to Joe, another doctor at her hospital. As time goes on, secrets are uncovered, deeds are done, and Yasmin is forced to confront herself—what she actually wants in life, and how she has misjudged those closest to her. It is a story about love, what we expect it to be, and the myriad of forms it takes in life.
I gotta admit that none of these characters are really likable, but I found them all intensely relatable—there are bits of all of these people in myself or my life. I especially enjoyed Yasmin's relationship with her mom. Ali excelled at showing how we can box people into certain roles rather than allowing them to be their whole selves (also kind of a theme of the whole book..). And while it was expediently clear to the reader that this was happening, it was really rewarding to watch Yasmin realize this throughout the story. Love some character growth!
Anyways! This book has the drama—it is so juicy! That alone will keep you reading, but Ali's writing is really approachable and encompassing. I was instantly drawn into the story, and could easily flip pages all afternoon.
This story follows Yasmin and her family just after she gets engaged to Joe, another doctor at her hospital. As time goes on, secrets are uncovered, deeds are done, and Yasmin is forced to confront herself—what she actually wants in life, and how she has misjudged those closest to her. It is a story about love, what we expect it to be, and the myriad of forms it takes in life.
I gotta admit that none of these characters are really likable, but I found them all intensely relatable—there are bits of all of these people in myself or my life. I especially enjoyed Yasmin's relationship with her mom. Ali excelled at showing how we can box people into certain roles rather than allowing them to be their whole selves (also kind of a theme of the whole book..). And while it was expediently clear to the reader that this was happening, it was really rewarding to watch Yasmin realize this throughout the story. Love some character growth!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical content, and Rape
Moderate: Pregnancy and Islamophobia
katgent's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, and Kidnapping
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
Love Marriage opens with Yasmin getting ready to take her parents to meet the mother of her fiancé Joe. Yasmin’s nervous - her parents are conservative, Muslim and migrants from India. Joe’s mother Harriet is white, upper-middle class and a staunch feminist famous for a provocative nude photo. The meeting goes better than expected but tensions and sometimes surprising relationship cracks develop nonetheless.
At times I really enjoyed this book; it certainly has much to recommend it. I often enjoy a good complicated family story and this book has two that are intertwined. It explored a number of serious topics including parental expectations and generational clashes, feminism, the issues faced by second generation migrants, Islamophobia, cross-cultural understanding, racism, toxic parenting, and the health system particularly geriatric care. Yet there was also humour and many lighter notes. The characters were all flawed but mostly likeable, and virtually all showed considerable growth over the course of the novel. I want to give the author kudos for not shying away from the messy realities of period sex. I also appreciated getting to see therapy sessions from the therapist’s perspective.
Yet I have some reservations. At times my attention wandered and I felt the book could have been shorter. Some issues felt like they played out over and over, while others, including a key reveal towards the end, felt rushed and didn’t get the attention they warranted. There are a lot of characters and some felt a little flat, almost stereotyped caricatures and I wanted depth and nuance. I recognise the contradiction of wanting more while also wanting less. I guess I would have preferred a narrower focus - possibly fewer characters, plot points and issues - but more depth within that.
At times I really enjoyed this book; it certainly has much to recommend it. I often enjoy a good complicated family story and this book has two that are intertwined. It explored a number of serious topics including parental expectations and generational clashes, feminism, the issues faced by second generation migrants, Islamophobia, cross-cultural understanding, racism, toxic parenting, and the health system particularly geriatric care. Yet there was also humour and many lighter notes. The characters were all flawed but mostly likeable, and virtually all showed considerable growth over the course of the novel. I want to give the author kudos for not shying away from the messy realities of period sex. I also appreciated getting to see therapy sessions from the therapist’s perspective.
Yet I have some reservations. At times my attention wandered and I felt the book could have been shorter. Some issues felt like they played out over and over, while others, including a key reveal towards the end, felt rushed and didn’t get the attention they warranted. There are a lot of characters and some felt a little flat, almost stereotyped caricatures and I wanted depth and nuance. I recognise the contradiction of wanting more while also wanting less. I guess I would have preferred a narrower focus - possibly fewer characters, plot points and issues - but more depth within that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Rape