Scan barcode
idesofjaim's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
This one felt like such a step up from the previous for me, though it is very clear the theme of this family is “misunderstandings ruin our lives.”
Ashna and Rico have such complicated backstories, and I think the addition of chapters about Ashna’s mom really lends to a successful story. I am not as intimately familiar with Persuasion as I am P&P, but I would say this is a very loose retelling from what I do know. If you’re going into this wanting a true Persuasion retelling, you may leave disappointed.
Where I knock this one down is, from what I’ve seen, I feel like this series has been marketed as chicklit/romcom? And I could not disagree more, especially with this book. This one is H E A V Y. It deals with some very, very difficult themes, and while I found Dev to have written a good book here, this is not a light beach read. Definitely review trigger warnings before picking this one up.
Ashna and Rico have such complicated backstories, and I think the addition of chapters about Ashna’s mom really lends to a successful story. I am not as intimately familiar with Persuasion as I am P&P, but I would say this is a very loose retelling from what I do know. If you’re going into this wanting a true Persuasion retelling, you may leave disappointed.
Where I knock this one down is, from what I’ve seen, I feel like this series has been marketed as chicklit/romcom? And I could not disagree more, especially with this book. This one is H E A V Y. It deals with some very, very difficult themes, and while I found Dev to have written a good book here, this is not a light beach read. Definitely review trigger warnings before picking this one up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: Car accident
anni_banani's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
Loveeee this book!
Overall I love the Rajes series more than the original Austen books personally. The retelling work so so well and Dev pulls them off amazingly. I love listening to her discuss how she came to this series in interviews
What I love in this book
Overall I love the Rajes series more than the original Austen books personally. The retelling work so so well and Dev pulls them off amazingly. I love listening to her discuss how she came to this series in interviews
What I love in this book
- Intergenerational story rotating POV btw mother daughter and daughter’s love interest
- I related too much to Ashna wow. As much as I was frustrated with her sometimes, i completely understand where she was coming from
- I’m attracted to both love interests!
- Rico was a great man MC
- Ashnas character development, wow
- Women in pro sports
- Calling out martial assault and Islamophobia
- Chai mmmmm
- Women in solidarity
This is maybe my fave in the Rajes Series. Dev gives you so much more than you bargained for, a really true and deep character overhaul. Wow the healing in this book outbounds me and that’s why I’ve re read it. I’m a sucker for inter generational storytelling and this book does it so well. I loved Shoban !!
I was so satisfied by the end and will always cry when re reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Islamophobia
blahlicia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
This was a big improvement on the first in this series, which I did enjoy. It was a little hornier and the relationship between Rico and Ashna was better developed. It also dealt with some pretty serious topics in a way that felt respectful but also not too heavy. Still, some people may want a content warning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Rape
reading_christine's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Suicide
yannareads's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape
sb_bronza's review against another edition
sad
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
3.5
Slow start. Unlike the first book of the series, there are a lot of errors that made the slow beginning hard to get through. But once it gets going, it's a great story. I love Bram as a character and how his actions influenced so many characters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Suicide
mamacalidad's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
I bawled like a baby. So good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
chloewakham's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
I didn't think it was possible, but I actually enjoyed Recipes for Persuasion more than the first book in the series!
After meeting Ashna in Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, I was so excited to read her story. Her responsibility for her Father's restaurant, her relationship with her mother, and the rekindling of her love for Rico made for a compelling story. What I love about this series is that Sonali Dev doesn't try to match the Austen novels beat for beat, but rather patterns the characters hurts and motivations after the classic stories.
After meeting Ashna in Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, I was so excited to read her story. Her responsibility for her Father's restaurant, her relationship with her mother, and the rekindling of her love for Rico made for a compelling story. What I love about this series is that Sonali Dev doesn't try to match the Austen novels beat for beat, but rather patterns the characters hurts and motivations after the classic stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy
mycatmycatandme's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
Like 30% of readers said this was lighthearted and funny according to the StoryGraph stats. The AI summary thing calls this a romantic comedy. Did we read the same book? The cover is cute, but the book is heavy!
I liked it, but please don’t go in expecting a lighthearted romcom.
I liked it, but please don’t go in expecting a lighthearted romcom.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit, Islamophobia, and Abortion
milesandmiles's review against another edition
Do not judge this book by its cover or synopsis. It's not a cute romance.
A good chunk of the book is written from the MC's mother's POV. There's a tremendous amount of toxic family dynamics that are a huge part of the book but are not mentioned in the summary. From the ~1/3 I read, the emotional neglect and at times abuse within the MC's family is handled poorly.
This book couldn't decide if it wanted to be a romance or a family saga about intergenerational trauma and I quit when I got tried of yelling at the book to get the MC a therapist.
A good chunk of the book is written from the MC's mother's POV. There's a tremendous amount of toxic family dynamics that are a huge part of the book but are not mentioned in the summary. From the ~1/3 I read, the emotional neglect and at times abuse within the MC's family is handled poorly.
This book couldn't decide if it wanted to be a romance or a family saga about intergenerational trauma and I quit when I got tried of yelling at the book to get the MC a therapist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Misogyny, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment