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amypurple's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Drug use
pianokeys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol
millaay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction and Drug use
lishreadsx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use
kristenjiannotti's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
sooz_767's review against another edition
3.0
Nita's storyline, which I already disliked purely for the fact she left her 6 year old "to be an <i>artiste</i>" 🙄, became predictable and I really couldn't feel much beyond distaste for her.
I liked Sophie's storyline much better but that poor girl just could not catch a break! Abandoned, robbed, everyone dies, it was just one thing after another.
The best part of this was the people she met along the way and how they impacted her life. I actually teared up hearing about Simon, and he was only a side character!
All in all, it was an interesting read but personally I found I just couldn't get on board with Nita's side of the story, but this likely won't affect others.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Abandonment
sizzlesteaks's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Car accident
way2sweet2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Abandonment
onceinabluemoon88's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy
jasminegalsreadinglog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I liked the part where the author tries to highlight the part where the narrative talks about the mental illnesses not discussed enough. Nita's turmoil about leaving her family is written well. But that's where my liking for this novel ends.
I am probably one of those people who is going to be critical about this novel. Nita and Sophie are stuck in patriarchal society I agree but some of their actions just doesn't add up. Nita is an educated person but without doing any research moves to a different country just because she wants to pursue art and is fed up with her privileged life. Same with Sophie. An accountant goes to Paris without looking up hotels, something called as Uber and Paris of this age doesn't have Indians? I get it that patriarchal society is prevalent in India but writing these women characters as dumb doesn't make sense. And since when does having pets in India not common.
Can Indian American authors please stop projecting India as this backward country where everything is about poverty, street animals and gossiping aunties? Please look at other diverse authors who try to incorporate their culture positively too and highlight the wonderful community they have. Sadly this novel disappointed me.
CW: Child Abandonment, addiction, drug usage, Infidelity, sexual assault
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Alcohol