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slowburnsrus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Minor: Gun violence, Medical content, and Kidnapping
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
2.0
I can see why a lot of people took issue with this book. I'm not Muslim, but I know what is haram and what isn't, and saying "technically" to skirt the rules doesn't mean you're not absolutely skirting them... The fact that a number of things were mentioned to be haram in the first place, but still done by the FMC baffled me. I understand why the author had that note at the beginning because I know that the way this story is put together would definitely be scandalous to a lot of Muslim people. I'm going to let other voices shine here, because I'm not own voice, but I will say the amount of touching and kissing in this book was a surprise to me.
I am also disappointed by the infidelity element of this story. Both characters had no regard for her engagement and it was frustrating. Beyond that, it felt entirely against type for anything to go so far with two character who are seemingly devoted to their religion and beliefs. It felt like a betrayal on multiple levels and made me respect both of them a lot less.
The two standouts were her therapy sessions - yay for positive POC therapy sessions - and the beautiful descriptions of their travel. Unfortunately, this book as a whole though was a miss for me.
TW: infidelity, vomit, robbery/kidnapping; mentions divorced parents, divorce.
Plot: 1/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 2/5
ARC gifted by HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review.
I am also disappointed by the infidelity element of this story. Both characters had no regard for her engagement and it was frustrating. Beyond that, it felt entirely against type for anything to go so far with two character who are seemingly devoted to their religion and beliefs. It felt like a betrayal on multiple levels and made me respect both of them a lot less.
The two standouts were her therapy sessions - yay for positive POC therapy sessions - and the beautiful descriptions of their travel. Unfortunately, this book as a whole though was a miss for me.
TW: infidelity, vomit, robbery/kidnapping; mentions divorced parents, divorce.
Plot: 1/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 2/5
ARC gifted by HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Vomit
Moderate: Kidnapping
tenderbench's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Minor: Gun violence
lunarcatbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Maya thinks she is cursed, not just in life but in love. The universe just had it out for her but no one will believe her. She wants a life and can't do that under her family's culture and religion, so she agrees to an arranged marriage to get away from her mother. On her way to her wedding in Pakistan she meets the rudest man and he ends up shouting next to her. Then her plane has to make an emergency landing in Switzerland and the airline lost her luggage. She gets sick and her card is declined, but the rude passenger comes to her rescue. As they are heading to the same place they travel together and the beginnings of feelings start to form as their journey gets more and more difficult.
Honestly, I don't know why I finished this book. Had this been a general Pakistani romance out might have gotten 3 stars, but they made the FMC and MMC Muslim and the whole story and every song thing is forbidden in their religion. No touching, no traveling, no kissing, no shared beds. All done in a regular romance, but not if the characters are Muslim.
Also the description of the FMC vomiting was so unnecessarily graphic, I honestly should have stopped reading then.
Honestly, I don't know why I finished this book. Had this been a general Pakistani romance out might have gotten 3 stars, but they made the FMC and MMC Muslim and the whole story and every song thing is forbidden in their religion. No touching, no traveling, no kissing, no shared beds. All done in a regular romance, but not if the characters are Muslim.
Also the description of the FMC vomiting was so unnecessarily graphic, I honestly should have stopped reading then.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
justcallmeemily's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
5.0
Thank you MIRA for sending me an ARC of this book.
From the very start I knew I was going to love this book. I don't know how Alina Khawaja did it but she may be the reason I start reading romance novels more often.
I loved every second of this book, from the humor to the immersion it gave me. I couldn't put this book down until I would get tired and then I would continue reading the very next day to do it again.
I also loved how it's not just about romance, but also family, culture, and personal growth. I aspire to grow as a person just like Maya does in this book. (And also find love like her, though hopefully not through being stranded in a completely different country)
From the very start I knew I was going to love this book. I don't know how Alina Khawaja did it but she may be the reason I start reading romance novels more often.
I loved every second of this book, from the humor to the immersion it gave me. I couldn't put this book down until I would get tired and then I would continue reading the very next day to do it again.
I also loved how it's not just about romance, but also family, culture, and personal growth. I aspire to grow as a person just like Maya does in this book. (And also find love like her, though hopefully not through being stranded in a completely different country)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Sexism, and Kidnapping
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