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forever__rain's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a pretty standard pride and prejudice adaptation, with a little bit of flavor. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s anything groundbreaking, but if you’re looking for something quick and entertaining this is definitely up your alley.
teresa_a's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
k_cole's review against another edition
3.0
DNF… loved the premise of a riff on Austen, but the plot dragged on too much for me. If the entire book were condensed, I think I’d have finished and enjoyed it more.
kmbpoinen's review against another edition
3.0
Despite the criticism that will shortly follow, I was pleasantly surprised that this was readable, for the most part enjoyable and not eye roll-worthy trash. That being said, inviting comparison to Austen is courageous and unlikely to end well.
The characters had better texture and depth than most romance novels, with the exception of a very standardly two-dimensional Wickham. Trisha in particular felt like a person that could exist, whereas DJ was often swallowed up by the trope of unreasonably hating someone for there to be a plot. There was such a tantalizing reach beyond stereotypical romance devices, which made their inevitable and lazy use all that more tiring. I will gladly start the petition to permanently remove "worry", "awareness" and "core" from romance author's vocabularies. Gag gag gag gag, automatic skim.
In addition, some parts tried too hard to prove that they were checking off every single box of being culturally and socially relevant to today. No, you don't not have to address racism AND class conflict AND MeToo AND sexismAND child abuse. It just made it overstuffed, artificial and grasping at times.
I'll give the next book in the series a shot and see if I end up skimming as much or more of it as this one.
The characters had better texture and depth than most romance novels, with the exception of a very standardly two-dimensional Wickham. Trisha in particular felt like a person that could exist, whereas DJ was often swallowed up by the trope of unreasonably hating someone for there to be a plot. There was such a tantalizing reach beyond stereotypical romance devices, which made their inevitable and lazy use all that more tiring. I will gladly start the petition to permanently remove "worry", "awareness" and "core" from romance author's vocabularies. Gag gag gag gag, automatic skim.
In addition, some parts tried too hard to prove that they were checking off every single box of being culturally and socially relevant to today. No, you don't not have to address racism AND class conflict AND MeToo AND sexismAND child abuse. It just made it overstuffed, artificial and grasping at times.
I'll give the next book in the series a shot and see if I end up skimming as much or more of it as this one.
afjakandys's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book frustrated me so much and I keep going back and forth on how to rate it, but I think I'm going to leave it as is. I will admit that the payoff at the ending of this extreme slowburn was ultimately pretty satisfying, but the journey there was too clunky for me to properly appreciate it.
What I liked:
- There is some really solid character development in this book. Not only do we get to watch Trisha and DJ confront their own biases in true P&P fashion, but Dev also took the time to flesh out the side characters and bring everyone to life. Emma's journey was a highlight for me.
- This book isn't what I would consider a traditional romance. While DJ and Trisha are a focal point, their romantic journey isn't the true focal point until the last third of the book. Prior to that, Dev spends a lot of time building up their personal journeys and fleshing them out as characters.
- Charming side characters. I liked Emma and generally liked the other Rajes siblings as well.
What I didn't like... oh boy.
- The miscommunication in this book is insane. I know that a core point of the original P&P is how biases can unfairly color your judgment, but the conclusions Trisha and DJ draw about each other with almost no provocation would put Elizabeth and Darcy to SHAME. The choices that each of them made were frustratingly irrational, and Trisha's actions from early in the book just seem bizarre. She works with terminally ill patients and seems to have a pleasant doctor/patient relationship with Emma, and yet I'm supposed to believe that she can't muster up any sort of cordiality or professionalism when speaking with DJ? That some random man she hardly knows just drives her THAT insane? It just felt so out of place. Not only that, but both she and DJ seem intent on willfully misunderstanding each other by drawing the harshest, most irrational conclusions ever. The mental hoops they each jumped through regarding the other made me want to rip my hair out.
- Trisha's family is insufferable. They ostracized her for fifteen years, poked fun at her "meltdowns," and constantly ridiculed her for her supposed incapability as though she isn't both a wildly successful neurosurgeon and a grown woman living on her own who has (mostly) managed her life well. Even her older sister uses Trisha's "meltdowns" as an excuse to help keep a secret—an excuse everyone else seems to buy without issue—and there's basically no acknowledgment of how shattered Trisha's confidence has been because of it.
In fact, the blame gets shifted back to her a lot: "When did we stop inviting you?" How about when you didn't put her in the group text that EVERYONE ELSE in the family is in and has been in for years? Or when you treated her as though she was inept for not being able to take on extremely time-consuming tasks related to her brother's campaign whilst also working 14 hours days as a doctor? Or "you haven't said a word to me that wasn't sorry in fifteen years" and you never reached out either?? Or when she asks her mother why she has never stood up for her and instead of properly answering that, her mother shares a heartbreaking story about her past instead and everything is suddenly magically fixed? For a Mr. Darcy stand-in, Trisha has no backbone and basically lets her entire family treat her like shit until they magically realize she's been capable all along and start showering her with praise.
- Trisha and DJ's chemistry was nonexistent. Their interactions were cringeworthy to the point that even their eventual get-together was difficult to appreciate.
- The food porn also just did not do it for me; a little too over the top.
This was a wild ride.
What I liked:
- There is some really solid character development in this book. Not only do we get to watch Trisha and DJ confront their own biases in true P&P fashion, but Dev also took the time to flesh out the side characters and bring everyone to life. Emma's journey was a highlight for me.
- This book isn't what I would consider a traditional romance. While DJ and Trisha are a focal point, their romantic journey isn't the true focal point until the last third of the book. Prior to that, Dev spends a lot of time building up their personal journeys and fleshing them out as characters.
- Charming side characters. I liked Emma and generally liked the other Rajes siblings as well.
What I didn't like... oh boy.
- The miscommunication in this book is insane. I know that a core point of the original P&P is how biases can unfairly color your judgment, but the conclusions Trisha and DJ draw about each other with almost no provocation would put Elizabeth and Darcy to SHAME. The choices that each of them made were frustratingly irrational, and Trisha's actions from early in the book just seem bizarre. She works with terminally ill patients and seems to have a pleasant doctor/patient relationship with Emma, and yet I'm supposed to believe that she can't muster up any sort of cordiality or professionalism when speaking with DJ? That some random man she hardly knows just drives her THAT insane? It just felt so out of place. Not only that, but both she and DJ seem intent on willfully misunderstanding each other by drawing the harshest, most irrational conclusions ever. The mental hoops they each jumped through regarding the other made me want to rip my hair out.
- Trisha's family is insufferable. They ostracized her for fifteen years, poked fun at her "meltdowns," and constantly ridiculed her for her supposed incapability as though she isn't both a wildly successful neurosurgeon and a grown woman living on her own who has (mostly) managed her life well. Even her older sister uses Trisha's "meltdowns" as an excuse to help keep a secret—an excuse everyone else seems to buy without issue—and there's basically no acknowledgment of how shattered Trisha's confidence has been because of it.
In fact, the blame gets shifted back to her a lot: "When did we stop inviting you?" How about when you didn't put her in the group text that EVERYONE ELSE in the family is in and has been in for years? Or when you treated her as though she was inept for not being able to take on extremely time-consuming tasks related to her brother's campaign whilst also working 14 hours days as a doctor? Or "you haven't said a word to me that wasn't sorry in fifteen years" and you never reached out either?? Or when she asks her mother why she has never stood up for her and instead of properly answering that, her mother shares a heartbreaking story about her past instead and everything is suddenly magically fixed? For a Mr. Darcy stand-in, Trisha has no backbone and basically lets her entire family treat her like shit until they magically realize she's been capable all along and start showering her with praise.
- Trisha and DJ's chemistry was nonexistent. Their interactions were cringeworthy to the point that even their eventual get-together was difficult to appreciate.
- The food porn also just did not do it for me; a little too over the top.
This was a wild ride.
mayazgibson's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
3.5
hplatter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
3.75
sara_p's review against another edition
3.0
When there is a character named Julia Wickham… you are just waiting for the other shoe to drop
snarls's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
An easy read, but also a wholesome read. I’m still unsure how I feel about the main character but at the same feel protective of her? A hard one! But I did enjoy the book and I will read the others in the series
lizstonehi42's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not a huge romance person but I really enveloped this one! A bit of a Jane Austen riff, well-developed characters that you root foe, humor and taking on some race issues. Well played and look forward to reading the others in the series.