Scan barcode
rchatterjee188's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cursing, Misogyny, Stalking, Medical content, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
jadeandherbunny's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-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
2.25
I hated the writing.
He fucking calls his penis Charlie.
I hope for him that he won't do it out loud because Kareena would not like it 💀
The eating competition was over the top
He fucking calls his penis Charlie.
I hope for him that he won't do it out loud because Kareena would not like it 💀
The eating competition was over the top
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Medical content and Violence
mari1532's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
#23for23 (learn more at:https://www.23for23.net/)
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death of parent, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Grief
nav26's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wanted to rate this higher bc overall I did really enjoy this book. I loved the representation of Indian diaspora culture, the accurate depiction of dating apps, and the food descriptions. But that being said, this book needed a better editor. I can usually get past a few typos/errors but this book had many and it really took me out of the story. They were small but still bothered me - stuff like "Johnnie Black Label" but it's Johnnie Walker Black Label, or getting a song title wrong in the Taylor Swift playlist at the end of the book, or inconsistencies like stating a character sits down even though, according to the page before, they were already sitting. Some of the writing also felt clunky to me, and I expect that to happen in the parts where diaspora culture is explained but I don't expect it to feel clunky in the romance aspect of the book. The resolution also felt very rushed. Overall an enjoyable read but could have been so much better
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Medical content
shadymist's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After this book being a recommended TIKTOK book. I figured I would give it a try. I can see the fuss for this one. It's witty, funny and tugs at the heartstrings.
Most definitely worth reading again and again.
Nisha Sharma is very talented and I look forward to her other books.
Most definitely worth reading again and again.
Nisha Sharma is very talented and I look forward to her other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Death, Cursing, Medical content, and Gaslighting
emmysforeverbooked's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
This book was the true definition of a rom-com to me. There was the perfect balance of spice and humor and emotion and I truly cannot wait to pick up the second book in the series. I think Nisha Sharma might've just turned into an auto-buy author for me!!
(little spoilery section about the spicy scenes below!!)
So, the only thing I really had qualms with in this book was the sex scenes. At certain times, they felt a little fanfiction-y to me. They weren't bad necessarily, it just felt kind of like I was reading something on Wattpad in a way. Oh yeah, also she named his d!ck for some reason? I will never look at another person named Charlie the same way again 🫣
(little spoilery section about the spicy scenes below!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Terminal illness and Alcohol
ecravens's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Medical content, Cursing, Body shaming, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief
claireafterall's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Sexual content
nyree42's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
3.25
What I enjoyed most about this book was all the mentions of Indian/Desi food. Yum.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent
bbygirl21's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I loved pretty much every character in this aside from Kareena's Dad, grandmother, sister, and two of Kareena's dates. the one that basically poisoned her with cinnamon when she specifically asked for no cinnamon because she's allergic, and he ignores that and gets her cinnamon anyway and all he could say was no normal person doesn't like cinnamon and she'll like it if she tried it, ugh just pissed me off, she was so lucky that Prem was there as she didn't have her EpiPen with her and Prem was able to rush her to a doctor, and then of course there's the misogynistic asshole that was the last date she had, saying she should lower her standards because of how she dresses and basically saying that she'd look prettier if she wore more makeup, just no absolutely not and I'm glad she held onto her standards and didn't settle for anything less than she deserves There was one date of hers that I really liked though, but they were definitely better off as friends.
Other than some of her dates and her dad, grandmother, and sister, I really liked pretty much everyone else. I absolutely loved Kareena's aunties, Kareena's friends, Prem's friends, Prem's mother, and I actually liked Prem as well, even if he's frustrating when it comes to his feelings most of the time.
There were a few things that pulled me out of the story a time or two, but it wasn't enough to get me to stop reading. It just brought my rating down a little bit.
I'd most likely recommend this if someone asked me about it. It was definitely an entertaining read overall.
Other than some of her dates and her dad, grandmother, and sister, I really liked pretty much everyone else. I absolutely loved Kareena's aunties, Kareena's friends, Prem's friends, Prem's mother, and I actually liked Prem as well, even if he's frustrating when it comes to his feelings most of the time.
There were a few things that pulled me out of the story a time or two, but it wasn't enough to get me to stop reading. It just brought my rating down a little bit.
I'd most likely recommend this if someone asked me about it. It was definitely an entertaining read overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Medical content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, Ableism, Cursing, Death of parent, Sexism, Death, and Chronic illness
Minor: Stalking, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Violence, Medical trauma, and Colonisation