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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Longest Eat, Pray, Love finding yourself mid-life crisis which could have been solved with communication. I enjoyed other books from this author, but OOF. This one was rough.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really was uncertain whether this was appropriately categorized as a romance for half of the book. The cartoon cover hides a book that I found to be very sad for much of the time. I found Anu/sh/a pretty unsympathetic, even as I could acknowledge some of her struggles. I did appreciate the exploration of cultural & family expectations and how that evolved over the book. The ending was satisfying, but overall this one fell short for me.
Steam level: đś
Steam level: đś
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity, Abandonment
Anu marries the first guy she really dates at a young age, pressured by her family to be a 'good Asian girl' and ends up separated in her 30s with shared custody of her young daughter. Anu struggles to deal with her new role and her parents disapproval at leaving her husband and what she wants.
My main problem with this was Anu and her decisions. I understand the general thinking, she's young and she doesn't have a lot of experience outside her marriage, but even not having experience outside of her marriage shouldn't affect some of the more questionable decisions and the reasonings she gives for them.
Most of the characters (even Anu tbh) didn't have a lot of depth or character.
That said it was an easy and fun read which I didn't want to duck out of at any point, so I will give it it's dues, just don't expect anything too groundbreaking.
My main problem with this was Anu and her decisions. I understand the general thinking, she's young and she doesn't have a lot of experience outside her marriage, but even not having experience outside of her marriage shouldn't affect some of the more questionable decisions and the reasonings she gives for them.
Most of the characters (even Anu tbh) didn't have a lot of depth or character.
That said it was an easy and fun read which I didn't want to duck out of at any point, so I will give it it's dues, just don't expect anything too groundbreaking.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Well, this book had me crying as I finished it. Not tears of sadness but tears of joy and hope. Although technically this book ends with a HEA or at least an HFN, I definitely would say this is womenâs fiction as the main focus of the book is on Anuâs journey of finding herself.
When we meet Anu sheâs been separated from her husband roughly a year and sheâs struggling to find out who she really is as a person. After years of playing the roles of wife and mother, sheâs desperately trying to find out who she is outside of them. We get flashbacks of when she first met her husband, got married, and had their daughter all during her current time of self-discovery.
Did she make a mistake marrying the first man she ever kissed? Was it smart to marry so young? What happened to the things she used to love to do, her hobbies and dreams outside of motherhood and being a wife? Is she happy with the path her life has been on?
I felt this book was so relatable for anyone whoâs struggled with big life changes. After I had my son I focused so much on being the best mom I could be that I ignored a lot of other aspects of who I was as a person. It took a few years for me to finally find the balance between my different roles. As mothers, I feel like thereâs so much guilt that society, family, and even we individually put on ourselves to be the best that we can lose vital parts of who we are. We can still be amazing mothers and have a life outside of motherhood which I think the world seems to forget. Honestly having a life, and hobbies, outside of motherhood is how we can be the best mothers and partners.
This story was so beautifully written. I loved all the characters that Anu was surrounded by and how they all loved her and tried to support her even when they didnât agree with her. So many lessons in life are only learned when weâre forced to face them ourselves and I love that her family and friends, although they didnât always agree, let her come to some of those realizations on her own.
Anu makes a lot of mistakes in her journey to discover who she is and what she wants going forward. Although mistakes are made Anu doesnât regret them because they were able to show her what was really important to her. Sometimes it takes a new perspective to value what, and who, we have in our lives. It can also take making mistakes to realize that your parents, or friends, have gone through struggles of their own and though they seem perfect and content nowâŚthey had to do a lot of work to get there.
When we meet Anu sheâs been separated from her husband roughly a year and sheâs struggling to find out who she really is as a person. After years of playing the roles of wife and mother, sheâs desperately trying to find out who she is outside of them. We get flashbacks of when she first met her husband, got married, and had their daughter all during her current time of self-discovery.
Did she make a mistake marrying the first man she ever kissed? Was it smart to marry so young? What happened to the things she used to love to do, her hobbies and dreams outside of motherhood and being a wife? Is she happy with the path her life has been on?
I felt this book was so relatable for anyone whoâs struggled with big life changes. After I had my son I focused so much on being the best mom I could be that I ignored a lot of other aspects of who I was as a person. It took a few years for me to finally find the balance between my different roles. As mothers, I feel like thereâs so much guilt that society, family, and even we individually put on ourselves to be the best that we can lose vital parts of who we are. We can still be amazing mothers and have a life outside of motherhood which I think the world seems to forget. Honestly having a life, and hobbies, outside of motherhood is how we can be the best mothers and partners.
This story was so beautifully written. I loved all the characters that Anu was surrounded by and how they all loved her and tried to support her even when they didnât agree with her. So many lessons in life are only learned when weâre forced to face them ourselves and I love that her family and friends, although they didnât always agree, let her come to some of those realizations on her own.
Anu makes a lot of mistakes in her journey to discover who she is and what she wants going forward. Although mistakes are made Anu doesnât regret them because they were able to show her what was really important to her. Sometimes it takes a new perspective to value what, and who, we have in our lives. It can also take making mistakes to realize that your parents, or friends, have gone through struggles of their own and though they seem perfect and content nowâŚthey had to do a lot of work to get there.
hopeful
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
Anu feels like she doesnât know who she is anymore. She always wanted her parents to think she was a good daughter but now sheâs struggling with the idea of whether she can be âthe good Indian womanâ and still be happy.
She feels like a good Indian woman is a good wife and mother. She tried to be that. She got married young and had a child. She started working less too spend more time with her daughter. She picked a responsible job and a good neighborhood to live in.
But she feels disconnected from her husband Neil. She feels like he takes her for granted and doesnât try hard enough.
She starts to feel like she got married too young and that it was to make her parents happy. She thinks maybe her and Neil would have just moved in together if they had been making the decision entirely for themselves.
The book starts with Anu planning to divorce Neil. They have been separated for a year. Sheâs dating someone sheâs sure her parents wonât like. When her relationship ends, she gets even more upset. She makes some major decisions on a bit of a whim. First she buys a yoga studio (she has always wanted one) and then she leaves the country.
I didnât always like Anu but I found her journey interesting. I can tell you that I was very sure how I wanted the story to end and was very grateful that I got the ending I wanted :)
I found Anuâs relationship with her parents to be incredibly interesting and her relationship with Neil as well.
Iâd rate this 3.5 stars if we had half star ratings on NetGalley. I thought this was a very unique take on a story that might feel familiar. Anu felt like her decisions hadnât always been her own, but this is not the story of an Indian woman pushed into a marriage. This is a story about a woman hitting 30 and trying to figure out what actually makes her happy. Did society expect her to work a certain job and be a perfect wife and mother? Or did she do that to herself? Interesting stuff. Definitely good for thought.
She feels like a good Indian woman is a good wife and mother. She tried to be that. She got married young and had a child. She started working less too spend more time with her daughter. She picked a responsible job and a good neighborhood to live in.
But she feels disconnected from her husband Neil. She feels like he takes her for granted and doesnât try hard enough.
She starts to feel like she got married too young and that it was to make her parents happy. She thinks maybe her and Neil would have just moved in together if they had been making the decision entirely for themselves.
The book starts with Anu planning to divorce Neil. They have been separated for a year. Sheâs dating someone sheâs sure her parents wonât like. When her relationship ends, she gets even more upset. She makes some major decisions on a bit of a whim. First she buys a yoga studio (she has always wanted one) and then she leaves the country.
I didnât always like Anu but I found her journey interesting. I can tell you that I was very sure how I wanted the story to end and was very grateful that I got the ending I wanted :)
I found Anuâs relationship with her parents to be incredibly interesting and her relationship with Neil as well.
Iâd rate this 3.5 stars if we had half star ratings on NetGalley. I thought this was a very unique take on a story that might feel familiar. Anu felt like her decisions hadnât always been her own, but this is not the story of an Indian woman pushed into a marriage. This is a story about a woman hitting 30 and trying to figure out what actually makes her happy. Did society expect her to work a certain job and be a perfect wife and mother? Or did she do that to herself? Interesting stuff. Definitely good for thought.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
DNFing at 70%. I wanted to like this book so much, but I just didnât. đ˘ It was kind of cringey and unrealistic.