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A review by missjonesreads
Good Intentions by Kasim Ali
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
When I first found this book, I thought it was something completely different. Like an actual romance with an interracial couple where no one was white, and I was so excited! thankfully, my partner read the book before me and was able to save me from that big disappointment.
However, even knowing how the book was going to end, I found myself so involved and attached to these characters. Silently begging them to make different, better decisions. Well really just Nur. Damn, was he frustrating. But I was still able to root for him, to want better for him. The writing was so fun and beautiful that really I had no choice.
He did Yasmina so wrong, he did his family wrong too. But there is true beauty in a story without a happy ending, a story where a character learns the hard way. Where we all did.
Exploring the dynamics of racism and antiblackness within a relationship was very interesting and I enjoyed that aspect to. But more than that, this story was about getting in your own way, lying especially to yourself, and realizing when enough is enough.
This was not the happy ending I was hoping for, but I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to others, that may need to learn a thing or two.
However, even knowing how the book was going to end, I found myself so involved and attached to these characters. Silently begging them to make different, better decisions. Well really just Nur. Damn, was he frustrating. But I was still able to root for him, to want better for him. The writing was so fun and beautiful that really I had no choice.
He did Yasmina so wrong, he did his family wrong too. But there is true beauty in a story without a happy ending, a story where a character learns the hard way. Where we all did.
Exploring the dynamics of racism and antiblackness within a relationship was very interesting and I enjoyed that aspect to. But more than that, this story was about getting in your own way, lying especially to yourself, and realizing when enough is enough.
This was not the happy ending I was hoping for, but I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to others, that may need to learn a thing or two.