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A review by a_ab
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
2.0
1.5* rounded up for good intentions - giving it the benefit of the doubt here.
Too much silliness and sex, not enough substance, but not for lack of trying. The author tried to be edgy and relevant by bringing up trending issues, but from the way she handled them, it is clear that it's just a marketing ploy.
Yes, raising awareness is important, yes, showing solidarity and support for the victims is important, but here it felt very fake and insincere. (I very much hope that the reason for such impression was the author not having any first hand experience with her subject matter. And I am not suggesting she was insincere, it's just the impression I got from the book.)
Unfortunately, with the edgy subjects not panning out the way they were intended, the book has nothing left to stand on. We have 2 characters in inexplicable insta-lust with each other. They act on it. Repeatedly. The end. Presumably a happy one, although I didn't quite get that impression either. I saw nothing drawing them together aside from the aforementioned lust.They are supposedly successful adults in their late 30s, but they behaved and thought like hormonal teenagers. I couldn't buy any of it.
The idea was good and noble and that's the reason I finished the book - I kept hoping that it would improve for the sake of the correct sentiments it expressed. But, unfortunately, the execution completely flopped for me. I am especially disappointed because I came to this after reading a polar opposite book: a very well written one with horrible sentiments and most toxic behaviors upheld and presented as good and normal.
I admit my current bias, but right now it seems like a very common dichotomy: either books with good ideas terribly written, or books well written, but rotten to the core. And all I want is a good well written book about a really solid healthy contemporary romantic relationship. At least one! Why is it so impossible to find?
Too much silliness and sex, not enough substance, but not for lack of trying. The author tried to be edgy and relevant by bringing up trending issues, but from the way she handled them, it is clear that it's just a marketing ploy.
Yes, raising awareness is important, yes, showing solidarity and support for the victims is important, but here it felt very fake and insincere. (I very much hope that the reason for such impression was the author not having any first hand experience with her subject matter. And I am not suggesting she was insincere, it's just the impression I got from the book.)
Unfortunately, with the edgy subjects not panning out the way they were intended, the book has nothing left to stand on. We have 2 characters in inexplicable insta-lust with each other. They act on it. Repeatedly. The end. Presumably a happy one, although I didn't quite get that impression either. I saw nothing drawing them together aside from the aforementioned lust.They are supposedly successful adults in their late 30s, but they behaved and thought like hormonal teenagers. I couldn't buy any of it.
The idea was good and noble and that's the reason I finished the book - I kept hoping that it would improve for the sake of the correct sentiments it expressed. But, unfortunately, the execution completely flopped for me. I am especially disappointed because I came to this after reading a polar opposite book: a very well written one with horrible sentiments and most toxic behaviors upheld and presented as good and normal.
I admit my current bias, but right now it seems like a very common dichotomy: either books with good ideas terribly written, or books well written, but rotten to the core. And all I want is a good well written book about a really solid healthy contemporary romantic relationship. At least one! Why is it so impossible to find?