Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev

10 reviews

lachaussette's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-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

3.0

Some parts of the book are heartbreakingly good. A lot of the drama is fueled by people refusing to have conversations with each other, which is frustrating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, and Abandonment

Minor: Blood and Abortion

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Vomit, Islamophobia, and Abortion

instalovewithbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

4.75

Dev is an amazing author. I wasn't sure if I was going to love this one as much as I loved book 1 - but my god, this book was so good. 

I really loved learning more about Shobi, Ashna's and Rico's backgrounds, I think the only thing I would recommend for Dev to change is putting names on the chapters & it being "before" or "now" kind of thing cause sometimes it was a bit of whiplash. 

I knew in book 1 Bram was an awful person, but book 2 solidified it. 

I can't wait to see what book 3 brings me!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Minor: Rape, Sexism, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

katemch's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy

taibreakfast's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

I liked this even better than the first in the series! This one deepened the story of Persuasion by adding a multigenerational element and adding the [familial] love story between the protagonist and her mom. And that actually is just as important as or even more important than the primary romance story, although that is still good!

I also appreciate that the Louisa subplot didn't carry out entirely faithfully to the original because that is truly so rough every time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Vomit, and Abortion

annchmn's review against another edition

sad 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

2.0

I wish I had read a content warning before reading this book… 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy

allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-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

3.0

It still amazes me returning to this series how much heart and angst and life Sonali Dev can pack into a romance novel. She takes on heavy, relevant topics and Jane Austen retellings all in one book, navigating multiple perspectives and conflicting emotions to weave a masterful story. On that note, I want to mention some significant content warnings for the book before getting into the review: suicide, emotional and physical abuse, rape, grief and loss of a parent, abandonment, PTSD, panic attacks, depression, alcoholism, sexism.

This take on Persuasion has all the heart-wrenching second chance material you could ask for. The trope is handled so well, providing well-timed flashbacks to give us a sense of Ashna and Rico's teenage relationship and why it could haunt them twelve years later. Following the precedent set in the first book, family relationships are just as important to the story. Loyalty and unconditional love continue to be cornerstones of the Raje family, but this book also dives into some of the more twisted, uglier relationships. Flashbacks to Ashna's semi-estranged mother explain the tension in their relationship in 360°, inviting readers to dive deep into the complexity and understand why both characters are hurting. It makes seeing their journey that much more satisfying.

My only complaint has to do with pacing. The majority of the book is very fraught with minimal emotional progress as Ashna refuses overtures from both Rico and her mother to let go of the guilt and misery that define her existence. The pacing fit the gravity of the situation, and I respected the tone although the absurdities of the reality cooking show felt out of place to me in contrast (a personal first; I live for that shit). After all the pushback and struggle, I was surprised how quickly everything then resolved itself at the end and in totality. While I was certainly ready for things to progress, it was a bit of a shock to my system after the journey so far.

The Rajes hold a special place in my heart, and I love returning to this series. Second chance is not my favorite, but I think this take on Persuasion managed the characters' and my emotions beautifully. This is a weighty story, and I appreciate its unflinching look at important issues. I can't wait to read the next book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Sexual content, Vomit, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Classism

baearles's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism and Classism

Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

ashhearddwrites'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

4.25

this is another series where i (accidentally) started on the second installment, however i didn't feel like i was missing anything, all the characters were introduced well

it's a modern adaptation of jane austen's persuasion. in some ways it does a good job with that modernization, particularly in rico and ashna's relationship mirroring captain wentworth and anna, but otherwise i didn't really see many parallels and didn't really *feel* like an adaptation of persuasion. it also quoted persuasion (rico commenting on how "altered" ashna was felt like a word for word quote) BUT they also reference the book, as a thing that exists in their world that rico himself has read and enjoys (but will genuinely quote it without realizing???)

i enjoyed the story and characters, and would recommend the story on its own merits, but it feels a bit muddled in its intent as an adaptation. also mind the tags.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent

krisrow's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape and Vomit