Reviews with content warning for Police brutality - Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors

What a fun take on Pride and Prejudice. This book provides a completely new and original feeling story built off the tropes and plot elements of the original Jane Austen work. I did have problems with Trisha's attitude at certain points in the book, however as the "Darcy" character that is too be expected to a point. Overall this was a really great read and I can't wait to make it through the other books.

Content Warnings

harperhoney's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

Content Warnings

bookswithbront's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful medium-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

3.5

I thought this book was going to be a lighthearted rom com with some cheesy Pride and Prejudice references, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Somali Dev’s writing is gorgeous, the characters were fascinating, and I’m already so invested in the Raje family after just one book. At times, however, I did really struggle with this book. It did a great job and addressing certain complex topics like intersectional identities, class, and trauma, but I also felt like it yada yada’d some of the biggest issues its characters dealt with. Throughout the whole story, DJ’s biggest grievance with Trisha is that she said she wouldn’t be interested in a member of “the hired help,” something that is borderline unforgivable and that she never really apologizes for. Trisha and DJ both apologize for certain things, but the book acts as though the hurtful things they said to each other were equal, and I don’t think that’s the case at all. The book also made a bit of a straw man of the very complex issues of disability, the right-to-die movement, etc. While Emma’s case was unique, no one else acknowledged the validity of some of her perspective, treating it like a temper tantrum that needed to be resolved. However, I didn’t feel that Dev was pushing any sort of agenda on either of these complex topics, which would be difficult to address at a deeper level in a book like this. And though I was so frustrated by Trisha’s character, I’m hoping that’s a one-off, and I’m excited to read the rest of the Raje family series!

Content Warnings

lawsam's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.75

Content Warnings

thecuriousbean's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The author is very talented in writing but I despised the woman main character. I almost stopped reading halfway through but hate-read the rest of it just to see how it ended.

Content Warnings

taibreakfast's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

3.75

Fun retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in modern times, with the genders switched. The love birds are a guy and a girl, and the girl is the Darcy character this time (even though the guy is named Darcy, fooled ya!). She is the rich one with painful social skills and too much pride while he is the one from a working class background and prejudice against her because she's rich. The author does a good job of translating the plot to modern problems that convey just how life-ruining things could be. And it's very fun to have the story with an almost entirely POC cast of characters. Lots of fan service: some key scenes can almost be mapped directly, at least to the 2005 movie 😁. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for an easy but smart story. Check the content warnings though.

Content Warnings

brianaisgoingplaces's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Dang, when Ms. Dev takes her pen out, she puts her pen into it. She is a tough author to read for me, because a lot of the time, I truly DO NOT know what to expect. The very first book I read from her was quite lighthearted, and none of the others I’ve read have had that same light feel. So I guess by now, I do actually know a few things to expect: Indian main characters, family drama, deep emotions, and characters I become attached to.

I think what is truly shocking to me about this book is the fact that through a lot of the book, I REALLY disliked the main character. She’s self absorbed, spoiled, and a little annoying. The fact that by the end, I was coming around, though yes I still think she’s a little annoying, is AMAZING.

There’s always a lot of world building in her books as well, and this is no different. Even though I was groaning at the fact Trisha was constantly “saying things” when the next line would be “Of course I didn’t actually say that”, I understood where she was coming from, and though I’d like to think I wouldn’t make the same decisions, I could commiserate.

I wouldn’t categorize this as a romance novel, but I liked how the romance built up throughout. The story was more than Trisha and DJ, and I can appreciate that.

The biggest thing that made my stomach turn in this novel was <SPOILER>DJ’s run-in with the police. I don’t know that we needed to read that, and using it as a plot device to (what felt like) teach Trisha a lesson made me feel a little sick.</SPOILER>

All in all, I’m nervous and excited for the next books. I’d love to read more about the Rajes, but one thing about Ms. Dev is that she never gives us ANY crumbs. When I read hoping and praying that I’ll get something happy happening instead of something realistic, we ALWAYS get the realistic. Please spare us one time AT LEAST!!

When I was rating I think I wanted to give it a higher rating, but the fact that i didn’t like Trisha so much at the beginning (and that it felt like the beginning dragged) made me not give in.

Content Warnings

chelsearosales's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny tense 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

4.25

Content Warnings

More...