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A review by drumtowndg
I Miss You, I Hate This by Sara Saedi
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was such a treat to read omg!! I started reading this on Jan 1st, 2023 and having eyed it for a while, I'd jumped in without reading the blurb, as I usually do. And slowly by the end of the first chapter, I was already hooked. The writing is simple and effluent, just the combination I adore very much 🤌🏽 It flows very nicely, and I'm glad the chapter was so welcoming. Let's also talk about the cover for a moment... 👀. This time, I approached the book with a change, taking my time to visit the book cover after I finished reading the first chapter; and the cover gave me an inkling of the environment the book was set in. The elaborate and spacious balcony Parisa lived in and the beat-up, beloved balcony Gabriela lived in.
After the first few chapters, I was weary abt the turn the book was taking tho; the book is set against the backdrop of the pandemic, and I didn't want to read that, tbh. I kept reading though, almost picking at my wounds and waiting for the shell to fall off, but the book was kind in its progression and it gave me a peek into the life of the characters, their lives and struggles amidst the privilege and disparities they lived in.
One thing I must mention: even tho it was the pandemic and the book also routinely kept Gabriela and Parisa at the forefront with chat messages, not once did I feel as if I'm reading an online conversation. The love and care they have for each other flowed so deeply through their conversations that it was only towards the end of the book did I actually realise that oh yes oh shit these guys were quarantined until now right??? It was very lovely yet painful reading about Parisa's struggles with her anxiety, love and life and friendship, along with Gabriela's side of the story, trying to keep up with basic survival, one that I heavily empathised with. It showed the class disparity for what it was, while together giving an opulent cultural portrayal through their conversations and lives.
The book gets a four, and a bit more, cause the way the third act conflict played out, while very heart-warming, got resolved in a very 'I've-been-telling-you-this-since-the-beginning' way, and I would have loved to see their friendship endure the hit of that conflict, in spite of the circumstance that served as a blocker to it, eventually allowing the characters to overcome it. I guess friendships usually do heal by themselves in some way, given the time, but it would have been nice to see a bit more of the effort that went into manually disentangling that mess.
But otherwise, solid book! Loved it so, so much. Thank you for writing, Sara!! <3
After the first few chapters, I was weary abt the turn the book was taking tho; the book is set against the backdrop of the pandemic, and I didn't want to read that, tbh. I kept reading though, almost picking at my wounds and waiting for the shell to fall off, but the book was kind in its progression and it gave me a peek into the life of the characters, their lives and struggles amidst the privilege and disparities they lived in.
One thing I must mention: even tho it was the pandemic and the book also routinely kept Gabriela and Parisa at the forefront with chat messages, not once did I feel as if I'm reading an online conversation. The love and care they have for each other flowed so deeply through their conversations that it was only towards the end of the book did I actually realise that oh yes oh shit these guys were quarantined until now right??? It was very lovely yet painful reading about Parisa's struggles with her anxiety, love and life and friendship, along with Gabriela's side of the story, trying to keep up with basic survival, one that I heavily empathised with. It showed the class disparity for what it was, while together giving an opulent cultural portrayal through their conversations and lives.
The book gets a four, and a bit more, cause the way the third act conflict played out, while very heart-warming, got resolved in a very 'I've-been-telling-you-this-since-the-beginning' way, and I would have loved to see their friendship endure the hit of that conflict, in spite of the circumstance that served as a blocker to it, eventually allowing the characters to overcome it. I guess friendships usually do heal by themselves in some way, given the time, but it would have been nice to see a bit more of the effort that went into manually disentangling that mess.
But otherwise, solid book! Loved it so, so much. Thank you for writing, Sara!! <3