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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
This book was not what I expected. I expected this book to a funny take on "growing up". This was not the case, if that's what you are looking for, this is not the book for you.
It took me awhile to get into the book because initially I hated the family and the friends. I also could tell some of the plot twists from the beginning.
However, the family and friends actually turned out great and I enjoyed the second half of the book much more. It is an easy and endearing read for a relaxing weekend.
This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It took me awhile to get into the book because initially I hated the family and the friends. I also could tell some of the plot twists from the beginning.
However, the family and friends actually turned out great and I enjoyed the second half of the book much more. It is an easy and endearing read for a relaxing weekend.
This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was sweet! I appreciated Anu's inner turmoil. It felt like a very real wrestling with how to be genuine to yourself and also be a good wife, mother, and daughter. CW for purity culture, overdose/attempted suicide, racism/cultural appropriation.
When this started out, I was sure I’d give it 3 stars. But about a quarter or third way through, it got so much better. It seemed a little surface and flimsy in the beginning, but there was more depth after. The growth of the characters individually and in their relationships was realistic, and wonderful to hear.
Rate: 3.25/5
This was a cute read and I liked the representation in addition to the cultural issues that were talked about. I did not love where the plot went. It felt like the yoga plotline could have been more integral to the story, but it also could have been cut out. I sometimes had issues understanding Anu's actions and I hated the ending. I liked the side characters and really liked the relationship with her parents and how it evolved.
This was a cute read and I liked the representation in addition to the cultural issues that were talked about. I did not love where the plot went. It felt like the yoga plotline could have been more integral to the story, but it also could have been cut out. I sometimes had issues understanding Anu's actions and I hated the ending. I liked the side characters and really liked the relationship with her parents and how it evolved.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Anu is an adult, but she doesn’t really have life figured out. She is busy being a single mom and figuring out co-parenting with her soon-to-be ex-husband. She already endured telling her parents and in-laws that she and Neil were separating. Now she has to break the news that she is finally following her dream of opening up a yoga studio. With some bumps along the way, 30-year-old Anu begins to discover herself and figure out what she truly wants.
I wanted to love this story because it features an Indian-American woman in a contemporary romance, something I don’t often find in my reads. This could have been a really strong book, but I found myself getting lost a lot of the time. Anu was frustrating as a protagonist. I kept rooting for her, but it seemed like she just kept making impulsive decisions and hoping for the best. The time jumps in the book made it confusing. It wasn’t always clear why they were there, and they did not follow a singular pattern.
Despite those cons, it was a good story. I thought there was a bit too much extra stuff (like the countless impulsive decisions and time jumps) that made the story hard to follow. Had it been more linear, I would not have been able to put it down. Instead, I was trying to keep up with what is happening in the present, last year, eight years ago, and with several minor characters. I did enjoy the representation and diversity the story offered. With yoga becoming a mainstream activity, it was refreshing reading passages that call out the appropriation and issues with many studios.
If you are looking for a contemporary romance that features culture and representation, give this one a shot. I didn’t enjoy the timeline switches, but if you can look past that, then this may be the perfect read for you.
Anu is an adult, but she doesn’t really have life figured out. She is busy being a single mom and figuring out co-parenting with her soon-to-be ex-husband. She already endured telling her parents and in-laws that she and Neil were separating. Now she has to break the news that she is finally following her dream of opening up a yoga studio. With some bumps along the way, 30-year-old Anu begins to discover herself and figure out what she truly wants.
I wanted to love this story because it features an Indian-American woman in a contemporary romance, something I don’t often find in my reads. This could have been a really strong book, but I found myself getting lost a lot of the time. Anu was frustrating as a protagonist. I kept rooting for her, but it seemed like she just kept making impulsive decisions and hoping for the best. The time jumps in the book made it confusing. It wasn’t always clear why they were there, and they did not follow a singular pattern.
Despite those cons, it was a good story. I thought there was a bit too much extra stuff (like the countless impulsive decisions and time jumps) that made the story hard to follow. Had it been more linear, I would not have been able to put it down. Instead, I was trying to keep up with what is happening in the present, last year, eight years ago, and with several minor characters. I did enjoy the representation and diversity the story offered. With yoga becoming a mainstream activity, it was refreshing reading passages that call out the appropriation and issues with many studios.
If you are looking for a contemporary romance that features culture and representation, give this one a shot. I didn’t enjoy the timeline switches, but if you can look past that, then this may be the perfect read for you.
emotional
hopeful
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
emotional
funny
reflective
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