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bellamb3 's review for:
From Twinkle, with Love
by Sandhya Menon
Overall, this book was fairly average. It definitely contained aspects that I loved and hated, but mostly it was just average.
The beginning of this book was painful to read. It was incredibly cringy and everyone acts like they are ten years old despite being seventeen. I acknowledge that seventeen year olds can still be immature, but I think it was overdone. I found it to be overly clique and full of high school stereotypes. The way the characters talk and the dramatic kisses goodbye to their friends in class was too much for me.
I also had a lot of problems with Sahli’s character. He was in “love” with Twinkle before he even actually knew her, which feels really shallow and fake. I cannot stand the insta love trope. Also there was a scene in the book when Sahli randomly and awkwardly interjects himself into a conversation so he can join their film project. This event was written so unnaturally it physically hurt to read. Sahli is also in film and has zero interest in making movies, but then says movies are his “thing.”
Additionally, the book's predictability of who "N" was diminished the potential suspense that could have made the story more engaging.
On the positive side, I thought Dadi (the grandma) was an amazing character. I adored her wisdom and her analogy on page 297 of the hardcover edition, where she explained the interconnectedness of souls using powders. Her insight and guidance added depth to the narrative. Here is the section:
"We humans think we exist like this." Dadi gestured to the powders in their individual bowls. "Apart. Single. Beautiful and vivid, but alone." She looked calculatingly at me. "But on the other side, on Dada's side, he can see that we are like this in reality." She upended the two bowls into the center of the larger container, and the powders came together. They were mixed somewhat, but still in their separate piles for the most part- red on the left and orange on the right. "Then," Dadi continued, "with each interaction with another soul, we begin to change." She put a finger into the pile of powders and began to stir gently. The powders mixed more the longer she stirred, red mingling with orange, losing its distinct form. "We take pieces of them, and they take pieces of us. It's not bad. It's not good. It just is." By now the powders were completely mixed together, indistinguishable from each other. "Our best friends, the ones we love the most, are the ones who can hurt us the most. Because look." She pointed down to the powders. "We have had so many interactions with them, deep, meaningful interactions, that we cannot separate their pieces from ours. And if we try, we would only be getting rid of some of the best parts of ourselves." She brushed off her fingers and put one hand under my chin.
In the end, I gave this book three stars because it did improve as the story progressed, and I was able to complete it.
The beginning of this book was painful to read. It was incredibly cringy and everyone acts like they are ten years old despite being seventeen. I acknowledge that seventeen year olds can still be immature, but I think it was overdone. I found it to be overly clique and full of high school stereotypes. The way the characters talk and the dramatic kisses goodbye to their friends in class was too much for me.
I also had a lot of problems with Sahli’s character. He was in “love” with Twinkle before he even actually knew her, which feels really shallow and fake. I cannot stand the insta love trope. Also there was a scene in the book when Sahli randomly and awkwardly interjects himself into a conversation so he can join their film project. This event was written so unnaturally it physically hurt to read. Sahli is also in film and has zero interest in making movies, but then says movies are his “thing.”
Additionally, the book's predictability of who "N" was diminished the potential suspense that could have made the story more engaging.
On the positive side, I thought Dadi (the grandma) was an amazing character. I adored her wisdom and her analogy on page 297 of the hardcover edition, where she explained the interconnectedness of souls using powders. Her insight and guidance added depth to the narrative. Here is the section:
"We humans think we exist like this." Dadi gestured to the powders in their individual bowls. "Apart. Single. Beautiful and vivid, but alone." She looked calculatingly at me. "But on the other side, on Dada's side, he can see that we are like this in reality." She upended the two bowls into the center of the larger container, and the powders came together. They were mixed somewhat, but still in their separate piles for the most part- red on the left and orange on the right. "Then," Dadi continued, "with each interaction with another soul, we begin to change." She put a finger into the pile of powders and began to stir gently. The powders mixed more the longer she stirred, red mingling with orange, losing its distinct form. "We take pieces of them, and they take pieces of us. It's not bad. It's not good. It just is." By now the powders were completely mixed together, indistinguishable from each other. "Our best friends, the ones we love the most, are the ones who can hurt us the most. Because look." She pointed down to the powders. "We have had so many interactions with them, deep, meaningful interactions, that we cannot separate their pieces from ours. And if we try, we would only be getting rid of some of the best parts of ourselves." She brushed off her fingers and put one hand under my chin.
In the end, I gave this book three stars because it did improve as the story progressed, and I was able to complete it.