A review by lizanneyoung
Almost Maybes by Anna P.

3.0

 

⭐⭐⭐

TROPES

🍩 Age Gap

🍩 Found Family

🍩 Golden Retriever MMC

CW

🟪 Discussions of domestic abuse + biphobia

🟪 Scene depicting significant racism

Almost Maybes has a great story and wonderful characters, especially in the FMC Oleander. Raised in a traditional Indian American family, she’s cut from a different cloth and wants something different than just an arranged marriage or a boring job. However, previous trauma and experiences have really forced her to cut herself off from love, even though she does hope to have it one day. And maybe she can find it with Jackson, a guy that is head over heels for her from day one.

Despite liking the story and finding Oleander’s mind a fun one, I found this book a bit of a slog. I can’t pinpoint if it is the writing style or just the order of events, but the pacing just felt very slow to me even when things were moving at a seemingly normal pace. The book isn’t too far off the length of most books I read, so I’m forced to think it might’ve just been the writing style. 

A third act conflict/breakup is not for everyone, but this is one of the few instances where I think it needed to happen. Usually, it’s just miscommunication and it could be avoided, but it really couldn’t be here. Oleander maintains her strength and sense of self, which is part of what I love about her, during a rough time. The breakup was needed and forced Jackson to consider his privilege in the world. The catalyst was something that was likely to happen at some point in their relationship because of the world we live in, and I’m glad it was depicted on the page.