Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Love Marriage by Monica Ali

6 reviews

bootsmom3's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Classism

Minor: Dementia

jazful's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

jennikreads's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Dementia

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Islamophobia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Lesbophobia

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-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

I struggled to rate this because, by and large, I did enjoy it. Ali has crafted a family saga for the ages, her characters distinctly drawn, their overlapping stories and struggles compelling. (I recall reading a review that compared it to a Dickens novel, which feels apt!) But I also found it incredibly slow to read -- the pace isn't entirely there, and I don't think the story warrants five hundred pages. Make of that what you will.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, and Medical content

Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, and Violence

bookmaddie's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

I suggested this as our  July book club pick, and it was chosen, but then none of us actually finished it. Oops!! But I finally got going in August, and wow—I really liked this one! I do think it would be a great book club pick.. maybe just when it's not summer and  when everyone has the time to devote to it.

Anyways! This book has the drama—it is so juicy! That alone will keep you reading, but Ali's writing is really approachable and encompassing. I was instantly drawn into the story, and could easily flip pages all afternoon.

This story follows Yasmin and her family just after she gets engaged to Joe, another doctor at her hospital. As time goes on, secrets are uncovered, deeds are done, and Yasmin is forced to confront herself—what she actually wants in life, and how she has misjudged those closest to her. It is a story about love, what we expect it to be, and the myriad of forms it takes in life.

I gotta admit that none of these characters are really likable, but I found them all intensely relatable—there are bits of all of these people in myself or my life. I especially enjoyed Yasmin's relationship with her mom. Ali excelled at showing how we can box people into certain roles rather than allowing them to be their whole selves (also kind of a theme of the whole book..). And while it was expediently clear to the reader that this was happening, it was really rewarding to watch Yasmin realize this throughout the story. Love some character growth!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, and Medical content

Moderate: Islamophobia and Pregnancy

sib_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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