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rchatterjee188's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cursing, Misogyny, Stalking, Medical content, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
mari1532's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
I listened to the audiobook from my library.
Brief Summary: A modern retelling of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Kareena Mann wants an epic love story, just like her parents, but modern dating is making that hard to achieve. Rather than waste her time on dating apps Kareena spends her time working and repairing her mom's old car. However, her life quickly begins to unravel. Starting with her baby sister demanding her assistance with her ever more elaborate wedding, finding out her father is selling her childhood home, and getting being one half of a disagreement in a now-viral video.
The other half of the viral video, Dr. Prem Verma is having his own issues. Mainly he wants to leave his popular television show Dr. Dill on a high so he can get funding from some large local donors to realize his dream of opening a community health center. However, his fight with Kareena causes his donors to get nervous and pull out at the last second.
When an opportunity presents itself that just might help Kareena and Prem solve their biggest problems they set aside their differences. However, by setting aside their conflict to reach a shared goal, they begin to discover that things might be more than fake between them.
Thoughts: Sharma's writing is incredibly entertaining and light-hearted. I finished this book feeling content with the love story that unfolded between Prem and Kareena. That being said this wasn't my favorite romance or Shakespeare retelling. While I really, really, liked Kareena as a character and found her dynamic and entertaining, I did not really like Prem so much. His backstory did make him a little more endearing, but he did feel a bit like one of those guys in your college class who has decided that he is right and thinks your use of contradictory evidence is simply cute not based on research/facts. I just didn't like him so that made it a bit hard to root for him and Kareena to get together. That being said I do think that Sharma provided some nice moments between the two of them and had more than one very sweet romantic gesture.
Another reason I think I didn't like this book is because I hated Kareena's sister. I think that Sharma was trying to make her simply annoying with her writing, but Sharma's writing is too powerful because she came off as super spoiled and then with what happens at the end of the book. It was a no-go for her as likeable.
Kareena's friends and aunties were a delight throughout the book, however. I definitely cannot wait to see them make further appearances in the sequels of this series.
If you enjoy romance novels and/or retellings I think you will enjoy this book. Sharma's writing is great and will leave you with that joyous feeling you want when you are done reading a romance novel.
Graphic: Medical content, Death of parent, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Grief
annahamburger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Religious bigotry
amberinpieces's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Toxic relationship
nyree42's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent
ell_n's review
- 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
Graphic: Toxic relationship
pippamillerxoxo_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
chronicacademia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexism, Stalking, Medical content, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
daisy1_f's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Sexism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse
amanda_reads13's review
- 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 really enjoyed reading about the friendships (both male and female) and think they were one of the best parts of the book. I also really liked how we got the flashbacks to the first night they met and the banter of the aunties.
I found Prem to be really immature. When he was admitting to himself that he loved her, but wouldn't say it outloud, it was akin to him having a temper tantrum. I felt like the author tried to show growth in his character too fast, and it just fell a little flat.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content