Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron

14 reviews

amberinpieces's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Medical content, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Infidelity, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Death of parent

dizzybridge's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This was a wonderful adaptation of Emma, with changes that really added to the story and the overall message of the book. It tackles issues of abusive parents, sexism, mental illness, and how societies pressures impact us all differently, all while telling a fun and enjoyable familiar tale. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Sexism

helenareadsbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

4.5

Kamila Knows Best is the first book I’ve read by Farah Heron and I loved it! It’s a delightful and funny contemporary romance but it’s also so much more. This book is a nuanced character study that explores the factors that make us who we are, with a focus on the societal and parental pressures and expectations put on South Asian daughters. It’s also about finding people who see you for who you truly are and how the expectations other people place on you can cloud your own sense of self. Kamila is such a loving character with amazing friends, and it touched my heart to read about a group of people who are so compassionate and caring with each other. Rohan, the love interest, is the best and his chemistry with Kamila kept me smiling and laughing. 

 

This book also features queer relationships and mental health discussions, which made it even better. Pick this up for a lighthearted book with wonderful friendships, intriguing drama, a loving central romance, and of course, cute dogs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Car accident and Death of parent

emily_mh's review against another edition

Just not for me 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Alcohol, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism

Minor: fainting

thecuriousbean's review

funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

kfmcf's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I would say this book is less of an "Emma" retelling and more of a "Clueless" retelling (yes, I know it's based on "Emma," but there are differences). This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does fall a little flat in its characters. Also some of the Austen-isms felt a bit forced or stale. For example, Dane with the photo was nearly identical to Elton in "Clueless."

I didn't really feel the spark between Kamila and Rohan and had no real desire to see them together. Kamila was also a bit unlikable at times, but I don't think that was problematic (nor do I think FL should be likable all the time, no one is IRL).

Normally I am all about the side characters but I thought this one got a bit muddied by having too many. I think a smaller focus would have been stronger.

I did enjoy the prose of the book. The dialogue could have used a little tweaking to feel a bit more natural, but the words had a flow to them. 

Overall, I really just wanted something _more_ from this book and I don't know what that is exactly. It just lacked a certain sparkle.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Death of parent

beccaruthe's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Car accident, and Emotional abuse

cayleyreads's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Kamila loves hosting Bollywood parties, volunteering for the local dog shelter, supporting her small business accounting clients and setting her friends up. She loves being the fabulous friend that everyone wants around, including her longtime family friend, Rohan. He's her dog's favourite person and a buttoned up executive in Toronto, but she starts to see him as more than that, and then the hijinx of Farah Heron's writing begins! 

I love when dogs are part of the main focus of a book and the puppy prom and Potato were amazing storylines. I also really enjoyed reading about the side characters in this one - Kamila's dad was cute and her friends were fun. I think there could've been a little more character development, but they all helped move the story along. 

The second half's character arcs made me enjoy the book and I'm definitely glad I stuck around. I'm rating this one 3 stars as the book got off to a rough start. I didn't connect with Kamila and didn't see her and Rohan, though I think that was in part because the retelling of Emma was a bit forced. I needed a bit more room to breathe for the characters. Towards the back half of the book, I ended up loving them together and their love confession was drool worthy. 

Thank you Grand Central Pub for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Car accident

susanknights's review

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

Minor: Misogyny and Car accident

simpleexplorations's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Mental illness

Minor: Infidelity