Scan barcode
debirainbow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This is a strange book, the chapters are short and there are a lot of characters. Good descriptions of Bengali household & the author’s description of cooking and food. It explores the mixing of different cultures & parent child relationships. I liked the chapters set in the hospital wards, felt Ali described those really well - the issues with elder care & the pressures of geriatric care.
Spoiler : If she had focussed on that - the love triangle & maybe left Joe’s therapy sessions in, it would have been less of a chore to finish. Didn’t really care for Harriet’s chapters, raised a lot of issues which were not followed through ie her relationship with her dad!!! - the author had a lot to say and opinions about Brexit & Islamophobia which is great, but made the book muddled and dragged a bit towards the end.
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Islamophobia, and Grief
radfordmanor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Alcohol
lauren_may_reads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Alcoholism, Incest, and Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape
jazful'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Colonisation
rworrall78'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Addiction, Incest, and Rape
Minor: Death
lhodgson26'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? It's complicated
3.0
This was a very intense book to read with a lot of conplex character history all entangled in two families. Yasmin and Joe were first protrayed to be this perfect junior doctor couple heading into marriage but that soon shattered when Joe admitted his infidelity and then Yasmin did it first out of revenge but then multiple times again. It was then revealed that Joe had more serious problems with his relationship with sex and his mother. Finally in the end it was revealed his mother had been sexually abused by her own father which played some role in her relationship with her son. On Yasmins side there were more deep rooted issues with her mothers sexual assault being revealed at the end and the deal her father had done to marry her mother. Added in the complexity of Flame and her Father's infidelity and disapproval of her brothers relationship and child. In addition to improtant themes of race, identity and gender being discussed this book really had everything. Although it almost felt like too much at points and I was disappointed that it seemed to be left open that she may eventually get back with Joe rather then both move on as they clearly weren't right for each other.
Graphic: Incest, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Islamophobia
kimberlyallen011's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Infidelity and Islamophobia
Moderate: Incest and Rape
hila_ad's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Incest and Rape
sib_reads'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
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity and Islamophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Abandonment