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theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
funny
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
5.0
A wonderful (almost) closed door romance with a great meet cute and a lot of character growth. Not just the flaws and growth of the MFC and MMC, but their families too! I look forward to reading more by Sonya Lalli.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Racism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, and Death of parent
fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book.
This was a really fun and cute read! While it's a typical contemporary romance, it also delves deeper in community identity, gender roles, and mental health. Many readers will identify a lot with Jasmine and her struggles with family and feeling like she's enough. This was such a surprising book!
This was a really fun and cute read! While it's a typical contemporary romance, it also delves deeper in community identity, gender roles, and mental health. Many readers will identify a lot with Jasmine and her struggles with family and feeling like she's enough. This was such a surprising book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
mishale1's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.25
Jasmine recently broke up with her boyfriend of four years. Her parents never liked him. And her parents hated that they were unmarried and cohabitating. They’re not the most sympathetic when the breakup happens.
Jasmine is not in a good place. She’s literally living down the hall in an apartment complex where her ex still lives in their old apartment. At first I couldn’t wrap my head around why, but it turns out that her friend Amber let her stay in her apartment which happens to be in the same place. And the biggest reason for staying close by is that Jasmine shares a dog with her ex. So, seeing her dog is much easier this way. But it sure makes it harder getting over her ex.
One day at work, she finds out she has to use or lose two weeks of vacation time.
This lines up with a strained conversation with her parents where they mention the cruise they’re going on and what great deals are available.
Jasmine decides to tag along. It’s almost as challenge because she doesn’t think her parents actually want her there.
When she winds up on the cruise, she finds out way too late that it’s a senior cruise. All of her parents friends, and some family, are there. Jasmine thought her old childhood friends would be there too but there’s only one other person there who isn’t a senior.
Enter Jake. Jake has decided to take this cruise with his father. He remembers Jasmine from when he was a little boy but Jasmine doesn’t recognize him. After all, it’s been decades and he was only 8. Jasmine was a teenager. And the last time they saw each other was actually during a turning point in her relationship with her parents. It’s when her parents started treating her like she had a bad reputation. She was 15 and they’d caught her kissing someone. This would set the tone for their relationship unfortunately.
Jasmine is well aware of how her parents, and their community, views her. She has “a reputation”. It’s really hard to wrap your head around a 33 year old woman who is being shamed because her and boyfriend lived together. I know this happens but not only was it awful that they treated Jasmine this way but it was even worse the impact it had on Jasmine.
This book does have a love story, sure, this book is about Jasmine and Jake and their potential relationship and all the bumps along the way to a potential happy ending. But this book in large part is about family issues and self esteem.
I enjoyed the story but I’ll admit that I enjoyed Jasmine’s sister’s story more. This isn’t exactly a series but I noticed a character name sounded familiar and looked into it. Her sister’s story is the book Holly Jolly Diwali. If you haven’t read that one, definitely pick it up!
Jasmine is not in a good place. She’s literally living down the hall in an apartment complex where her ex still lives in their old apartment. At first I couldn’t wrap my head around why, but it turns out that her friend Amber let her stay in her apartment which happens to be in the same place. And the biggest reason for staying close by is that Jasmine shares a dog with her ex. So, seeing her dog is much easier this way. But it sure makes it harder getting over her ex.
One day at work, she finds out she has to use or lose two weeks of vacation time.
This lines up with a strained conversation with her parents where they mention the cruise they’re going on and what great deals are available.
Jasmine decides to tag along. It’s almost as challenge because she doesn’t think her parents actually want her there.
When she winds up on the cruise, she finds out way too late that it’s a senior cruise. All of her parents friends, and some family, are there. Jasmine thought her old childhood friends would be there too but there’s only one other person there who isn’t a senior.
Enter Jake. Jake has decided to take this cruise with his father. He remembers Jasmine from when he was a little boy but Jasmine doesn’t recognize him. After all, it’s been decades and he was only 8. Jasmine was a teenager. And the last time they saw each other was actually during a turning point in her relationship with her parents. It’s when her parents started treating her like she had a bad reputation. She was 15 and they’d caught her kissing someone. This would set the tone for their relationship unfortunately.
Jasmine is well aware of how her parents, and their community, views her. She has “a reputation”. It’s really hard to wrap your head around a 33 year old woman who is being shamed because her and boyfriend lived together. I know this happens but not only was it awful that they treated Jasmine this way but it was even worse the impact it had on Jasmine.
This book does have a love story, sure, this book is about Jasmine and Jake and their potential relationship and all the bumps along the way to a potential happy ending. But this book in large part is about family issues and self esteem.
I enjoyed the story but I’ll admit that I enjoyed Jasmine’s sister’s story more. This isn’t exactly a series but I noticed a character name sounded familiar and looked into it. Her sister’s story is the book Holly Jolly Diwali. If you haven’t read that one, definitely pick it up!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer
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