Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

8 reviews

lmcarr0314's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent

I Enjoyed this book just some things didn't connect

ohheyitskaitlin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, and Car accident

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Grief, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Misogyny

Minor: Medical content, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders

becca_w_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Bullying, Biphobia, Grief, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, and Drug use

internationalreads's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Abandonment, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

blackveilbeccy's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

I really enjoyed this second instalment! It was even better than the first. This had lots of tropes used well - tragic backstory, miscommunications, friends to enemies to lovers - plus the awesome ensemble cast of the first book. I liked the love interest in this one a whole lot and also loved the quirkiness of the geeky heroine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Car accident, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Addiction, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Medical trauma

sharyce's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Although the relationship that unfolds within this book is cute and loveable, the character of daisy is so annoying! She’s just too quirky to the point that it ruins a number of scenes of the story.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug use

allyhoo811's review

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

I am not usually much of a contemporary romance reader; however, I choose this book earlier this year a my Book of the Month pick. Prior to reading I learned that it was the second book in a series, so I proceeded to read the book "The Marriage Game" before picking up this one. "The Marriage Game" (the author's debut) was quite a disappointment to me (2.5 stars), but I saw potential in the author's humor and writing style -- so I decided to give this one a chance.

I was NOT disappointed. This book was such a treat. The humor and writing style that I loved from the author's debut were on full display, and most of the problems I had were much improved. This was leaps and bounds better!

What I liked:

1) No insta-love: This was a contemporary romance where the characters actually had a history together. It wasn't just boom meet cute and married a few weeks later.

2) The friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers combo tropes: You will understand if you read.

3) No ridiculous miscommunications: Sure there was some miscommunication (mainly from their past as teenagers); however, it wasn't overdone. For the most part the two main characters would talk out their problems and not let things fester.

4) The male lead wasn't crazy possessive: Sure Liam felt jealousy when other men flirted with the girl he liked, but he didn't immediately jump to wanting to pummel them into oblivion.

5) The family interactions: These are some of my favorite parts of Desai's novels.

What kept it from being a five star read?

1) Both books in the series seem to be trying to get away from the typical romance heroine "type", while appreciating diversity in women. This is great and one of the things that drew me to the series in the first place. However, I'm noticing a trend where in order to accomplish this goal women who would be considered conventionally attractive (blonde, blue-eyed, thin, etc.) are being portrayed in a very negative light (vapid, sexually inappropriate, petty, cruel). The overall vibe given is that women who look like this are bad people, who can't be trusted. We shouldn't have to build people up, by pushing others down.

2) Interestingly, the male protagonists in the novels are very much the traditional perfect male leads (tall, handsome, intelligent, wealthy, chiseled abs, etc.), and the female characters put down other less perfect men for their looks as not good enough.

Neither of these things are a good look when you are celebrating diversity in your characters.

Hope this changes in future books.

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Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I hope this author keeps improving. Will read more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Infidelity

kenziewol's review

funny lighthearted 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

3.5

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a fun light read. I’m a sucker for a fake dating trope so of course I loved that aspect. I loved the banter between Liam & Daisy. And I loved Daisys big crazy family! I genuinely enjoyed this book but there were a couple things that were off putting.

I don’t mind pop culture references, and for the most part I liked the ones included. But I just could not with the  

marvel hulk Ironman & captain America bras.

It was so cringey and I just absolutely hated it and one of the main reasons I’d docked it half a star. Like I got secondhand embarrassment every time they made their appearance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Car accident

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief