bookish_afrolatina's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Solid fun romance mixed with the Hangover type storyline and a generous serving of parental abuse. So if you want a good mix of emotions, this is good for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
nikspandya's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.5
First, I need to shout out the incredible narrators of this audiobook, Soneela Kankani and Shahjehan Khan. If you do pick up this book, I highly recommend listening to the audio because of these two. I'm definitely going to look into their full audiographies.
This book is super entertaining! The first thing that stood out to me from the start of this book was that I really enjoyed Alisha Rai's plotting style. She gave you just enough to establish characters, but not so much that there isn't more to discover about them as the story went on. I found Mira and Naveen to be compelling characters and I was invested in their stories pretty much immediately.
I liked how they kept reaching dead ends in their high stakes quest, it didn't frustrate me at all. In fact, it really built up my excitement on the conclusion of this story. Which is why, once we got to the resolution and big reveal, I was quite let down. Without spoilers, I'll say that she uses certain storytelling devices way too many times and close together. It really felt like this ending was fumbled. Too many reveals and not enough hints or clues that would make it feel like "of course it was that person!"
Ending rant with spoilers:
Now besides my disappointment in the third act, I am definitely going to dive into Alisha Rai's other books. I think she gets me really excited for characters and that doesn't often happen with contemporary characters. Pick up this book if you're a lighthearted romance reader!
This book is super entertaining! The first thing that stood out to me from the start of this book was that I really enjoyed Alisha Rai's plotting style. She gave you just enough to establish characters, but not so much that there isn't more to discover about them as the story went on. I found Mira and Naveen to be compelling characters and I was invested in their stories pretty much immediately.
I liked how they kept reaching dead ends in their high stakes quest, it didn't frustrate me at all. In fact, it really built up my excitement on the conclusion of this story. Which is why, once we got to the resolution and big reveal, I was quite let down. Without spoilers, I'll say that she uses certain storytelling devices way too many times and close together. It really felt like this ending was fumbled. Too many reveals and not enough hints or clues that would make it feel like "of course it was that person!"
Ending rant with spoilers:
Spoiler
what the fuck was that ending with her sister and aunt? They both just fuck off and then come back and then fuck off again? The only reason I can consider that would make sense for Sejal to have no strength or courage to actually reconnect with her sister, is that she has her own book coming. Mira and Sejal's mom being Cobra was also just so...I dunno, it was such a let down. I thought it was going to be Sunil Uncle. Also why was Sunil helping so much and then he just fucks off too?? With all the build up of emotional development in this story, I would have expected something a little more...well though out for the ending. It felt like this author ran out of pages.Now besides my disappointment in the third act, I am definitely going to dive into Alisha Rai's other books. I think she gets me really excited for characters and that doesn't often happen with contemporary characters. Pick up this book if you're a lighthearted romance reader!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
angelfireeast24's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Addiction, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
jazhandz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the first 80% of the book. The plot kind of falls to shreds towards the end but the romance was enjoyable and the characters were fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Minor: Body shaming and Infidelity
Details about the emotional abuse:Spoiler
Mira’s father was a conman who used her in his schemes when she was a child.decklededgess's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trigger warnings: kidnapping, alcohol, infidelity, violence, physical injury, emotional neglect, abandonment, sexual content, gun violence
This is like The Spy Who Dumped Me but like a thousand times better. It’s a wild ride from start to finish with such cool plot twists!!!!
Mira and Naveen are so adorable. I loved both of their back stories and the way their history fed into the people they were in the start of the book plus how as they understood each other’s past they began to fall for each other again. Beautifully done.
Naveen’s sobriety was represented with a lot of respect as was Mira’s anxiety and PTSD. A lot of tense and sensitive emotional topics in regards to fraught family history was also done super well but the tone of the book still was relatively light and adventurous.
And of course, can’t forget the smut scenes. Two strategic there’s only one bed moments WITH a cunnilingus scene. This book ate. Literally 😏
Alisha Rai continues to be one of my favourite authors of all time.
This is like The Spy Who Dumped Me but like a thousand times better. It’s a wild ride from start to finish with such cool plot twists!!!!
Mira and Naveen are so adorable. I loved both of their back stories and the way their history fed into the people they were in the start of the book plus how as they understood each other’s past they began to fall for each other again. Beautifully done.
Naveen’s sobriety was represented with a lot of respect as was Mira’s anxiety and PTSD. A lot of tense and sensitive emotional topics in regards to fraught family history was also done super well but the tone of the book still was relatively light and adventurous.
And of course, can’t forget the smut scenes. Two strategic there’s only one bed moments WITH a cunnilingus scene. This book ate. Literally 😏
Alisha Rai continues to be one of my favourite authors of all time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Fatphobia, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Violence
bookwormbullet's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Blood
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