Scan barcode
queensaru's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
3.0
I have no doubt that many of Samira Ahmed’s fans will enjoy her latest. But it’s frustrating when a book that could have been really good is offered in mediocre form. In this story of modern-day Khayyam, whose life becomes intertwined with that of Leila, a nineteenth-century Muslim woman, Ahmed seems to be going for a theme of women being able to star in, and tell, their own stories. But she doesn’t give her readers enough credit, choosing instead to dumb things down by telling rather than showing through awkward, artificial dialog. And the contrived plot twists and convenient discoveries of documents and letters.... Whew!
Ahmed tackles big issues. I hope that as she continues to write YA lit, she’ll have a little more confidence in her readers and their ability to navigate nuance.
Thank you, NetGalley and Soho Teen, for the advance readers copy.
Ahmed tackles big issues. I hope that as she continues to write YA lit, she’ll have a little more confidence in her readers and their ability to navigate nuance.
Thank you, NetGalley and Soho Teen, for the advance readers copy.
lxmns's review against another edition
I didn't have enough time to read it, although I did think it was good and I hope to pick it up again at some point
talkativetaylor11's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
1.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review
I was super excited for Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know because I absolutely loved Love, Hate, and Other Filters. However, this book just didn't do it for me.
I can't even provide a comprehensive summary of this story because most of the text left my brain immediately after I read it. There really wasn't anything I cared about: the characters, the plot, the writing style, the dialogue, the contemporary and historical perspectives, the romance--nothing. I was extremely disappointed because Samira Ahmed's writing has definitely made me feel intense emotions and has made me feel a strong liking towards her characters, but I felt nothing but bored while reading this novel. I struggled to finish and felt like I still didn't exactly know what Ahmed's goal was by the time I reached the last page. The romance and mystery, which drove this story, never caught my attention at any point. I can't even remember the characters' names even though I finished the novel a few minutes ago.
Overall, I found Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know to be terribly disappointing--however, I'll be looking out for future works by Samira Ahmed because I know she's capable of so much more!
I was super excited for Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know because I absolutely loved Love, Hate, and Other Filters. However, this book just didn't do it for me.
I can't even provide a comprehensive summary of this story because most of the text left my brain immediately after I read it. There really wasn't anything I cared about: the characters, the plot, the writing style, the dialogue, the contemporary and historical perspectives, the romance--nothing. I was extremely disappointed because Samira Ahmed's writing has definitely made me feel intense emotions and has made me feel a strong liking towards her characters, but I felt nothing but bored while reading this novel. I struggled to finish and felt like I still didn't exactly know what Ahmed's goal was by the time I reached the last page. The romance and mystery, which drove this story, never caught my attention at any point. I can't even remember the characters' names even though I finished the novel a few minutes ago.
Overall, I found Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know to be terribly disappointing--however, I'll be looking out for future works by Samira Ahmed because I know she's capable of so much more!
laylavreads's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
barnesbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the premise of this book. Women amplifying other women's voices? Yes please!
Much like with other fiction novels that relate to real life people and events, I kept wondering what was real and what was fictionalized. I'm glad Ahmed clarifies that in the end (and includes a bibliography)
The one thing i didn't like as much was the romantic drama. The conflict of the two boys seemed ridiculous to me as one was clearly better for her than the other, at least in my opinion.
I would love to see a sequel of Kayyam continuing to find, uplift, and protect women's stories.
Much like with other fiction novels that relate to real life people and events, I kept wondering what was real and what was fictionalized. I'm glad Ahmed clarifies that in the end (and includes a bibliography)
The one thing i didn't like as much was the romantic drama. The conflict of the two boys seemed ridiculous to me as one was clearly better for her than the other, at least in my opinion.
I would love to see a sequel of Kayyam continuing to find, uplift, and protect women's stories.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A summer in Paris. A girl with her life crumbling around her. A boy with a secret and a famous ancestor. A woman with raven tresses--but was she even real, or purely fictional? A painting that may or may not exist. A biracial French writer. A series of letters. And the Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know Lord Byron himself. What do they all have in common? A nearly two century old mystery.
Khayyam Maquet is many things--sometimes too many things: Indian. French. American. Muslim. Biracial. A budding art historian. In Paris for her annual vacation with her parents, Khayyam is recovering from the stinging blow and potential end to her art historian career before it even begins after a failed entry to an essay contest; to make it worse, the boy she has been dating is refusing to put a label on their relationship, and posting selfies of himself with another girl. So when she bumps into a boy whose name is--100% legitimate--Alexandre Dumas, she finds herself accompanying him all across Paris to solve a mystery.
Did Alexandre Dumas receive a painting from painter Eugene Delacroix? And what does it have to do with the Byron poem, "The Giaour", a poem that Delacroix created a painting based off of? And who was the woman with raven tresses? What is her story?
Ahmed weaves a masterful story in two different time periods, with two different strong female protagonists--who are perhaps not as different as they seem. A delightful mystery that leads the characters--and reader--to go deeper, question more about life, love, art, and literature set in a glorious backdrop of the City of Lights (and Love). Grab some French pastries and curl up with "Mad, Bad, & Dangerous to Know!"
A summer in Paris. A girl with her life crumbling around her. A boy with a secret and a famous ancestor. A woman with raven tresses--but was she even real, or purely fictional? A painting that may or may not exist. A biracial French writer. A series of letters. And the Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know Lord Byron himself. What do they all have in common? A nearly two century old mystery.
Khayyam Maquet is many things--sometimes too many things: Indian. French. American. Muslim. Biracial. A budding art historian. In Paris for her annual vacation with her parents, Khayyam is recovering from the stinging blow and potential end to her art historian career before it even begins after a failed entry to an essay contest; to make it worse, the boy she has been dating is refusing to put a label on their relationship, and posting selfies of himself with another girl. So when she bumps into a boy whose name is--100% legitimate--Alexandre Dumas, she finds herself accompanying him all across Paris to solve a mystery.
Did Alexandre Dumas receive a painting from painter Eugene Delacroix? And what does it have to do with the Byron poem, "The Giaour", a poem that Delacroix created a painting based off of? And who was the woman with raven tresses? What is her story?
Ahmed weaves a masterful story in two different time periods, with two different strong female protagonists--who are perhaps not as different as they seem. A delightful mystery that leads the characters--and reader--to go deeper, question more about life, love, art, and literature set in a glorious backdrop of the City of Lights (and Love). Grab some French pastries and curl up with "Mad, Bad, & Dangerous to Know!"
carelime's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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
3.5