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A review by naika
Forbidden Promises by Synithia Williams
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Forbidden love trope? Ok. Forbidden love with your brother's best friend trope? Sure, why not? Forbidden love with your brother's best friend who also happens to be your sister's ex-husband...? Yeah, hmmm. I really tried to be ok with the last part, but I most certainly failed at that endeavor. I don't have a sister, but I am sure there's a sister code on this. But given the hot mess nature of damn near every character, why on earth did I expect a code to be followed?
Forbidden Promises was the very definition of soap opera drama: forbidden love; family drama; deceit; manipulation; the haves and haves not; money, politics, and power; cheating; must I go on? As someone who grew up religiously watching Passions, I am no stranger to this and surely do not mind the ridiculousness of it all. But this book just did not do it for me because none of the characters were relatable or connectable to me. Especially Grant; he is obnoxious and shameless and vile and we just do not recognize him. I will say I liked Ashiya, but she plays a minor role.
This books spends so much time building backstories and other storylines that the romance was overshadowed. I did not believe in or particularly care about India or Travis' relationship. They kissed once like 5 years ago and India soon after "ran away" in search for a life away from the family and essentially ghosted Travis. But apparently they were in love the entire time and pining for each other.
If we are being honest, this is more of an angsty family drama / women's fiction. If I had known, I would have picked this up later when I was more in the mood for it. Will I continue on in the series? Perhaps, though I would like for some of the pacing issues to be addressed and the soap opera drama to be be reworked a bit so that it is less overwhelming.
Forbidden Promises was the very definition of soap opera drama: forbidden love; family drama; deceit; manipulation; the haves and haves not; money, politics, and power; cheating; must I go on? As someone who grew up religiously watching Passions, I am no stranger to this and surely do not mind the ridiculousness of it all. But this book just did not do it for me because none of the characters were relatable or connectable to me. Especially Grant; he is obnoxious and shameless and vile and we just do not recognize him. I will say I liked Ashiya, but she plays a minor role.
This books spends so much time building backstories and other storylines that the romance was overshadowed. I did not believe in or particularly care about India or Travis' relationship. They kissed once like 5 years ago and India soon after "ran away" in search for a life away from the family and essentially ghosted Travis. But apparently they were in love the entire time and pining for each other.
If we are being honest, this is more of an angsty family drama / women's fiction. If I had known, I would have picked this up later when I was more in the mood for it. Will I continue on in the series? Perhaps, though I would like for some of the pacing issues to be addressed and the soap opera drama to be be reworked a bit so that it is less overwhelming.