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debirainbow's review against another edition
- 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
linda48's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Islamophobia, and Medical content
mags123456'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? Yes
4.5
I feel the story came to a neat end with all issues which were explored being resolved
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Islamophobia
danimcthomas's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
granolagrandma's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Physical abuse and Islamophobia
bootsmom3's review
- 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: 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
- 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
monalyisha'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
Note: TW for abuse (domestic, sexual, emotional). This is called “a riveting social comedy” but it isn’t. Not really. It’s about families, which means that it has its share of tenderness and ribbing but the trauma and struggle, for me, felt a lot more prevalent — even alongside the love. Despite the author’s clear wit, I don’t think this can properly be called a “comedy” without conveying a half-truth about tone.
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, and Islamophobia
Minor: Homophobia
ell_n'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Islamophobia
Moderate: Medical content
jennikreads's review
4.5
Graphic: Infidelity and Dementia
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Islamophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Lesbophobia