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belle13's review against another edition
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
4.0
❤️Wonderful representation of Indian culture and traditions
❤️Really fun supporting characters
❤️Laugh out loud funny
❤️Enemies to lovers vibes
❤️Sweet friendships
❤️Hilarious meddling aunties
❤️Ooops! He fell in love and now he’s grumpy
This was a lot of fun! The aunties were for sure my favourite part of the book but I also adored the sweet friendships, the feeling of being immersed in Indian culture and their fantastic sexual tension.
It was definitely a little too slow moving in parts and there were parts of it *ahem, calling his intimate parts ‘Charlie’* that were a bit cheesy or corny but I just laughed my way through it because it kind of just added to the hilarity of it all. I thought it was a fantastic read and I immediately picked up the next book. However, while reading I kept waiting for that ‘omg I’m obsessed with this’ moment which never came so although I enjoyed it a lot, it isn’t a five star read for me.
I would recommend it if you’re looking for a really fun, opposites attract romance that will make you laugh out of loud and is much steamier than you would expect.
Amount of spice:🔥🔥3-4 scenes
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️Open door & explicit
❤️Really fun supporting characters
❤️Laugh out loud funny
❤️Enemies to lovers vibes
❤️Sweet friendships
❤️Hilarious meddling aunties
❤️Ooops! He fell in love and now he’s grumpy
This was a lot of fun! The aunties were for sure my favourite part of the book but I also adored the sweet friendships, the feeling of being immersed in Indian culture and their fantastic sexual tension.
It was definitely a little too slow moving in parts and there were parts of it *ahem, calling his intimate parts ‘Charlie’* that were a bit cheesy or corny but I just laughed my way through it because it kind of just added to the hilarity of it all. I thought it was a fantastic read and I immediately picked up the next book. However, while reading I kept waiting for that ‘omg I’m obsessed with this’ moment which never came so although I enjoyed it a lot, it isn’t a five star read for me.
I would recommend it if you’re looking for a really fun, opposites attract romance that will make you laugh out of loud and is much steamier than you would expect.
Amount of spice:🔥🔥3-4 scenes
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️Open door & explicit
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
singingshooter's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
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
4.5
Love the insight into the culture! The Charles thing was a little cringey, but easy to skip over
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexism and Death of parent
estefanovich's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
brianna97's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
have to be honest - at first I genuinely disliked this book. I found Kareena to be extremely annoying and immature for a 30-year-old, and was most certainly #teamprem from jumpstreet. I understand that she has trauma, and I understand that she hasn’t processed it that well. The world isn’t black and white and I feel like her worldview was far more idealistic and fantasy-like than Prem’s following his trauma. I did grow to like her in the end, and I adored Prem’s consistency and authenticity throughout the book. He was unapologetically him until he was ready to accept the change necessary for him to become a more fulfilled version of himself. The spice?????? 20/10 alone. Jaw on the ground every single time. The shower scene was next level wild. I’m very glad the book ended the way it did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Kidnapping
bookishhcousin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
👍🏼 THUMBS UP FOR ME, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS FOR GOODREADS! 🌶️ SPICE IN CH: 14, 17, 22 & 26.
SPOILERS BELOW!
the chemistry between kareena and prem was to DIE for. absolutely enjoyed reading about them. they really made the book for me. i mean, come on, their conflict and differences is what drove the book home! sure, prem was kind of a jerk for some parts— but kareena needed to get out of her own head at times, too. neither character was perfect and that’s what i adored about it. if anyone knows anything about shakespeare, then, this book was DEFINIFELY shakespearean-esque! several parts were a bit cringe, though. like how her family were beating her down about her mother’s house and completely disregarding kareena’s feelings; or how that vikram guy trashed her during their virtual date. those were a bit difficult to read. i assume its a cultural thing? i’m latina/hispanic so the machismo and negating of someone’s feelings can also be common in our culture which i guess is why i cringed SO much!
an area of improvement: why did he name his 🍆 charlie? 💀 that’s literally it for me, lol.
all in all, i had fun reading it and that’s what matters the most to me. i am excited to read the rest of the series!
SPOILERS BELOW!
the chemistry between kareena and prem was to DIE for. absolutely enjoyed reading about them. they really made the book for me. i mean, come on, their conflict and differences is what drove the book home! sure, prem was kind of a jerk for some parts— but kareena needed to get out of her own head at times, too. neither character was perfect and that’s what i adored about it. if anyone knows anything about shakespeare, then, this book was DEFINIFELY shakespearean-esque! several parts were a bit cringe, though. like how her family were beating her down about her mother’s house and completely disregarding kareena’s feelings; or how that vikram guy trashed her during their virtual date. those were a bit difficult to read. i assume its a cultural thing? i’m latina/hispanic so the machismo and negating of someone’s feelings can also be common in our culture which i guess is why i cringed SO much!
an area of improvement: why did he name his 🍆 charlie? 💀 that’s literally it for me, lol.
all in all, i had fun reading it and that’s what matters the most to me. i am excited to read the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
roorooreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
A fun romcom where the hero doesn't believe in love and that is all the heroine is looking for other than wanting to keep her mother's house (which her dad is willing to sell put from under her 🤦🏼♀️). The fact that her immediate family basically cast her aside but was willing to use her when her little sister needed her was appalling. I understand there needed to be motivation for her to enter the fake dating relationship but my god I wanted to pull my hair out whenever she interacted with them. Her Aunties were hilarious though and I really enjoyed to romance. It was quite steamy as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
griet's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
onegalonelife27's review against another edition
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
4.25
We’ve got ourselves a really great story here! Prem and Kareena find themselves on opposite ends on love-Prem is convinced that love actually hurts while Kareena is seeking true love-a search sped up by her father selling her family home and he’ll only give her money she desperately needs if she gets engaged. And when they fight on his talk show-on air- over their views damages Prem’s reputation, it makes him desperate to take up on his mother’s offer to sponsor his community health center if he gets engaged. And Kareena’s four aunties are quick to stage an invention, pointing out their circumstances to one another and thus are perfect for one another much to the other’s horror.
An interesting point that happens next is that while Prem is perfectly fine with the tried and true with fake dating, Kareena is not. Kareena does want true love-just doesn’t want it with Prem. She tries the delights of internet dating, while Pram tries to convince her to go with his plan. Leading to some of the most competitive, and frankly adorable dates I’ve read.
I do feel like we’re made to dislike Kareena’s family a bit too much, not a good first impression. Though they do have their good sides. I do feel like they could have gotten a bit more time to shine and show they do care about Kareena.
I like how when we meet our leads, we learn what they want, backstory-nothing is a mystery to reader about these two. There’s no big dramatic reveal to us, but as they get closer they start to share more about themselves which I think is very tender and sweet.
For the “aunties” in the series, “If Shakespeare was an Auntie”, four aunties-friends of Kareena’s mom, are the matchmakers for the story, perhaps the rest of the series. While the four have distinct personalities, they are a well oiled machine, working together to get what they want-from staging an intervention/meeting with the couple to get them to date, to getting a ride to their local TV studio or taco bell.
All in all this is a book for those who like a twist on the classics. I’ll definitely pick up the next in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Alcohol
alsbap08's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
melli_sophie's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent