Take a photo of a barcode or cover
geetanshtea's Reviews (361)
So, I'm definitely not one of the "gamer girls" that this book was inspired by, but wow--I absolutely loved it. Although the first couple chapters did give me very strong Ready Player One vibes and had me questioning the originality of the plot, as the story progressed, I forgot about that initial notion entirely. The story was well-paced, funny, exciting, sweet, and actually made me laugh out loud (Marie Lu's actually quite good at making me emotional, although this book didn't make me cry like Champion did). There was depth to many of the characters in the story, and hints of depth to others that I'm sure / really hope will be explored and revealed in the accompanying novels. As I hinted at earlier, something I really appreciated about this book was that I felt that I was able to fully enjoy it despite not being a gamer. Although the story was built around gamer culture and a VR video game, it was very well explained, and, knowing next to nothing about video game culture, I never felt confused (as I did in Ready Player One, which was chock full of obscure gamer references). There was a noticeable shift in the plot's pace as the story progressed, and the last ten or so chapters flew by much more quickly than the first half of the book, but that seems understandable given the necessary setup and foregrounding required at the beginning. I would have appreciated more detail about the occurrences of the last few chapters, and the timeline began to feel a bit fuzzy near the ending, but overall I think it was an adequately-paced plot. My one dislike in this novel was the romance--I had a feeling it was going to happen from the opening chapter, and it just felt very anticlimactic and dry to me. The relationship didn't seem to have any real basis, and the characters' time together was brief and unsettling, making the deeper conversations and physical interactions seem forced and off. Given the big reveal near the end, it's possible this was intentional on Lu's part, and played a role in the plot twist. Although I felt off about Hideo, I definitely didn't see the plot twist coming, and that's something I really appreciated, even though I had a strong dislike for the predictability of his and Emika's relationship.
There were so many times throughout this book that I stopped and reread a sentence, thinking "wow," or "yes!" or "this is too real." That's something I particularly love about fantasy and science fiction. Humanity and human nature remains constant, no matter the realism of the setting. Overall, this is a book I would recommend to anyone (but especially to those drawn to sci-fi and dystopian lit); the writing flowed seamlessly, and I had such a great time reading it after such a long time away from the genre and Marie Lu's writing.
There were so many times throughout this book that I stopped and reread a sentence, thinking "wow," or "yes!" or "this is too real." That's something I particularly love about fantasy and science fiction. Humanity and human nature remains constant, no matter the realism of the setting. Overall, this is a book I would recommend to anyone (but especially to those drawn to sci-fi and dystopian lit); the writing flowed seamlessly, and I had such a great time reading it after such a long time away from the genre and Marie Lu's writing.
This book was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year. I’ve been following Christine Riccio for a while now–I’ve been watching her Booktube videos since I was a sophomore in high school, and continue to do so today. She’s one of the most prominent members of the book community on Youtube, and not only that, she’s been taking her viewers through her writing process for a while now with her “Book Writing” series. Having seen so much of her, I was so excited to finally read something she had written. I went in without having read any reviews (not even checking the book’s rating on Goodreads, I swear!), and I was not disappointed. It definitely wasn’t the most amazing book I’ve ever read, and there are definitely some critiques I’ll get into later, but I do think it was a good book overall, and not at all a bad first novel.
Shane (the protagonist)’s parents want her to become a doctor because of all they’ve given up to provide her with so many amazing opportunities, but really, she just wants to be a writer. After her sophomore year, she realizes she doesn’t have any friends, and kind of wants a college do-over doing what she loves. Knowing her parents will never go for it, she signs up for a writing internship London Study Abroad program for the summer, but makes her parents a fake brochure for a Premed Track so they’ll let her go.
COLLEGE, TAKE TWO: STUDY ABROAD GOALS
1) Kick ass at internship—turn it into a paid summer job.
2) Make friends you like to hang out with and who like to hang out with you.
3) Kiss a boy you like. Stop kiss-blocking self.
4) Have adventures in the city you’re in. You’ve done nothing in New York City during the two point five years you’ve been there, you idiot.
5) Maybe try getting a little bit drunk. Don’t black out or anything, but find out what it’s like in a controlled, self-aware environment. You’re legally allowed to in the UK!
6) Start your great American novel. You’ve spent an absurd amount of time trying to think of the perfect first sentence. Stop it. Just write.
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
What I liked:
I haven’t really seen the theme of the journey of becoming a writer or a humanities major amidst being surrounded by people who think it’s stupid and worthless in YA, and it’s something I immensely appreciate because I think it’s something relevant to a lot of young adults (it definitely felt relevant to me), especially those who make up Riccio’s primary audience.
“Becoming a doctor? It’s so solid. There’s a blueprint; there’s a set path to follow.” I swallow. “Becoming a writer is like … being lost and just having to hope to god you stumble into your destination.”
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
Although it at times wasn’t very pleasant, I loved the complex family dynamic; there are too many YA novels out there where the parents are completely absent or insignificant characters, which seems a bit unrealistic to me given that they’re young adults.
“Where is this coming from? You’ve got straight A’s in all your math and AP science classes; you’re going to be a great doctor,” Mom pushed.
“Yeah, just, I took that creative writing elective last year and it was so fun. It got me thinking, maybe—”
“There is no maybe. We talked about how that class was just for fun. I’m not going to drop fifty thousand dollars a year for you to graduate with no job prospects. What are you tryin’ to pull here?” Dad said.
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
The representation of extroverted introversion was nice to see; the two aren’t black and white categories, and seeing a character who was definitely an introvert but could act extroverted when talking about things she was passionate about or around people she felt comfortable around was great to see (and something I personally related to).
“Am I allowed to share with the roomies?”
He shakes his head, smiling. “Go for it.”
“This is so exciting!” I don’t exactly skip, but my feet do a weird jumpy-dance thing.
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
The multidimensional characters. I especially appreciated Shane, who had so many interests (photography, writing, travel, journaling, blogging, The Beatles, etc.) and qualities I related to (being clumsy, making bad puns). It was great to explore the backgrounds of a lot of the other characters like Sahra and Babe later in the novel, and even Pilot.
The title! I thought I knew the significance behind the title after reading the plot summary, but it took on a whole new meaning at a specific point in the plot. I absolutely LOVE when there’s an a-ha moment of clarity regarding the title of a book partway through (especially near the ending), but this was even better because of its metaphorical and literal ambiguity.
What I didn’t like:
I have to say, though, I was NOT a fan of the romance in this novel. It was very uncomfortable, and pursuing it was definitely one of the most questionable decisions Shane made throughout the novel. Most of it felt so unrealistic, from the way Shane fell for him (love at first glance through a kitchen window) to how their relationship developed afterwards, and I just didn’t like their circumstances enough to want them to be together.
But, you know that feeling like light being circulated through your veins when you see someone cute, and all the sudden you explode all over with the thrill of said cute person noticing and acknowledging your existence as a human with whom they could potentially fall into a relationship with?
I can’t help it. My brain jumps right to:
GOAL 3) Kiss a boy you like.
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
Without giving any spoilers, I also wasn’t a fan of the risk this novel took with the major non-contemporary element (if you’ve read it, you know what I’m talking about). It was definitely effective in the creation of a shocking plot twist, but for me, it cheapened the more realistic elements of the story that I did enjoy. As much as we may want it, in the real world, there are no do-overs, and it would have been nice to experience a story that dealt with the real-world consequences of one’s actions and how to move forward from them if you’ve made some mistakes.
I’m not sure how I feel about…
The language: it was interesting, and I’m not sure if it was supposed to represent Shane’s antisocial tendencies or be reflective of her love of classic literature (which from what I recall, was not mentioned), but it only surfaced a few times at the beginning, and I’m not sure what to make of it. Personally, I do love classic literature and sometimes find myself speaking like this after reading a nineteenth century novel, but to me, it felt a bit strange for a contemporary. (Then again, this could also just be a result of my lack of exposure to a high percentage of the linguistic variation of English).
“Once off the plane, I was to collect my bag from baggage claim…”
“…I’m to buy a cheap plastic one like the fugitives do on TV.”
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
Overall
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a motivational story about finding your path as a young person in the world–especially as a college student. Overall, I think it was a well-written piece of young adult fiction that not only brought an important young adult point of view and struggle to light, but also made for an enjoyable read.
Shane (the protagonist)’s parents want her to become a doctor because of all they’ve given up to provide her with so many amazing opportunities, but really, she just wants to be a writer. After her sophomore year, she realizes she doesn’t have any friends, and kind of wants a college do-over doing what she loves. Knowing her parents will never go for it, she signs up for a writing internship London Study Abroad program for the summer, but makes her parents a fake brochure for a Premed Track so they’ll let her go.
COLLEGE, TAKE TWO: STUDY ABROAD GOALS
1) Kick ass at internship—turn it into a paid summer job.
2) Make friends you like to hang out with and who like to hang out with you.
3) Kiss a boy you like. Stop kiss-blocking self.
4) Have adventures in the city you’re in. You’ve done nothing in New York City during the two point five years you’ve been there, you idiot.
5) Maybe try getting a little bit drunk. Don’t black out or anything, but find out what it’s like in a controlled, self-aware environment. You’re legally allowed to in the UK!
6) Start your great American novel. You’ve spent an absurd amount of time trying to think of the perfect first sentence. Stop it. Just write.
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
What I liked:
I haven’t really seen the theme of the journey of becoming a writer or a humanities major amidst being surrounded by people who think it’s stupid and worthless in YA, and it’s something I immensely appreciate because I think it’s something relevant to a lot of young adults (it definitely felt relevant to me), especially those who make up Riccio’s primary audience.
“Becoming a doctor? It’s so solid. There’s a blueprint; there’s a set path to follow.” I swallow. “Becoming a writer is like … being lost and just having to hope to god you stumble into your destination.”
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
Although it at times wasn’t very pleasant, I loved the complex family dynamic; there are too many YA novels out there where the parents are completely absent or insignificant characters, which seems a bit unrealistic to me given that they’re young adults.
“Where is this coming from? You’ve got straight A’s in all your math and AP science classes; you’re going to be a great doctor,” Mom pushed.
“Yeah, just, I took that creative writing elective last year and it was so fun. It got me thinking, maybe—”
“There is no maybe. We talked about how that class was just for fun. I’m not going to drop fifty thousand dollars a year for you to graduate with no job prospects. What are you tryin’ to pull here?” Dad said.
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
The representation of extroverted introversion was nice to see; the two aren’t black and white categories, and seeing a character who was definitely an introvert but could act extroverted when talking about things she was passionate about or around people she felt comfortable around was great to see (and something I personally related to).
“Am I allowed to share with the roomies?”
He shakes his head, smiling. “Go for it.”
“This is so exciting!” I don’t exactly skip, but my feet do a weird jumpy-dance thing.
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
The multidimensional characters. I especially appreciated Shane, who had so many interests (photography, writing, travel, journaling, blogging, The Beatles, etc.) and qualities I related to (being clumsy, making bad puns). It was great to explore the backgrounds of a lot of the other characters like Sahra and Babe later in the novel, and even Pilot.
The title! I thought I knew the significance behind the title after reading the plot summary, but it took on a whole new meaning at a specific point in the plot. I absolutely LOVE when there’s an a-ha moment of clarity regarding the title of a book partway through (especially near the ending), but this was even better because of its metaphorical and literal ambiguity.
What I didn’t like:
I have to say, though, I was NOT a fan of the romance in this novel. It was very uncomfortable, and pursuing it was definitely one of the most questionable decisions Shane made throughout the novel. Most of it felt so unrealistic, from the way Shane fell for him (love at first glance through a kitchen window) to how their relationship developed afterwards, and I just didn’t like their circumstances enough to want them to be together.
But, you know that feeling like light being circulated through your veins when you see someone cute, and all the sudden you explode all over with the thrill of said cute person noticing and acknowledging your existence as a human with whom they could potentially fall into a relationship with?
I can’t help it. My brain jumps right to:
GOAL 3) Kiss a boy you like.
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
Without giving any spoilers, I also wasn’t a fan of the risk this novel took with the major non-contemporary element (if you’ve read it, you know what I’m talking about). It was definitely effective in the creation of a shocking plot twist, but for me, it cheapened the more realistic elements of the story that I did enjoy. As much as we may want it, in the real world, there are no do-overs, and it would have been nice to experience a story that dealt with the real-world consequences of one’s actions and how to move forward from them if you’ve made some mistakes.
I’m not sure how I feel about…
The language: it was interesting, and I’m not sure if it was supposed to represent Shane’s antisocial tendencies or be reflective of her love of classic literature (which from what I recall, was not mentioned), but it only surfaced a few times at the beginning, and I’m not sure what to make of it. Personally, I do love classic literature and sometimes find myself speaking like this after reading a nineteenth century novel, but to me, it felt a bit strange for a contemporary. (Then again, this could also just be a result of my lack of exposure to a high percentage of the linguistic variation of English).
“Once off the plane, I was to collect my bag from baggage claim…”
“…I’m to buy a cheap plastic one like the fugitives do on TV.”
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
Overall
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a motivational story about finding your path as a young person in the world–especially as a college student. Overall, I think it was a well-written piece of young adult fiction that not only brought an important young adult point of view and struggle to light, but also made for an enjoyable read.
I was so excited to read 100 Days of Sunlight because it came highly recommended from one of my best reader friends. And I have to say, it did not disappoint. It was a cute contemporary romance with a unique premise, and featured some very lovable characters. Although the plot initially seemed a bit dark, the sunlight came beaming in as the novel progressed. It was a heartwarming story of learning how to move forward after tragedy strikes, and emphasized an important lesson for us all: that human compassion can change lives.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
The story centers around Tessa Dickinson, a sixteen year old poetry blogger who has just been in a car accident with her grandmother–an accident that the doctors say will leave her blind for the next (you guessed it) 100 days. She’s feeling pretty depressed because, you know, she can’t see, so her grandparents think it would be a good idea to hire someone her age who can help her continue writing poetry on her blog. Things get a bit crazy from there, and the situation leads her to meet a guy named Weston who wants to help. He wants to be there to help Tessa be optimistic about her new life until her sight returns, but with one condition: Tessa can never know what makes him different. The thing is, Weston’s not just a regular kid Tessa’s age. Well, he is, except for the fact that he’s missing a pair of legs. As Weston helps Tessa see the light in the dark, he’s able to experience something he hasn’t been able to in a long time: meet someone who sees him as he truly is, not as someone with a disability.
WHAT I LIKED:
The overall theme of the book. I feel like a lot of times I need stories to remind me that no matter how hard it is or how insignificant I feel, my actions and the kindness I attempt to show through them can really have an impact on the people around me. This was definitely one of those.
I liked that there was depth to the plot in the sense that it wasn’t all cutesy romantic scenes; the scenes of her continuous struggle with blindness were so impactful, along with the flashbacks to Weston’s journey with his amputation.
The family dynamic. It was nice to have a young adult character whose family (even if it wasn’t immediate) was an integral part of her life, especially because it’s something that isn’t seen too much.
The poetry. Tessa’s perspective was written so well; I really believed that I was in the mind of someone who was a poetry blogger, because that’s how I imagine a poet might think. I loved how Emmons included Tessa’s poems in the book as they were quite enjoyable to read and made Tessa’s passion for writing much more striking.
I loved all of the light and dark metaphors! I’m sure some people might have thought they happened too frequently and became a bit cheesy, but there were some really beautiful moments like this one, and I personally love flowery metaphors 😀
“Besides, no one has ever seen the light by being told there are darker places out there.”
100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Weston’s introduction: I wasn’t really a fan of the way Weston was introduced. I loved his character and all, but he seemed a bit overeager and suspiciously invested at first, and Tessa’s grandparents’ immediate acceptance of him was, in my opinion, a bit unrealistic. They let him go into a room alone with their blind granddaughter moments after they met him…I just don’t see that happening in today’s world, or at least anywhere I’ve lived.
Weston’s character depth: Although we got to know Weston a good deal more than other contemporary love interests as a result of the flashbacks, I would have loved to see more of his flaws. It was obvious he was struggling with how people saw him which led to one of the conflicts at the end of the novel, but other than that he seemed to be unrealistically perfect in every way.
The homogeneous writing style. The story was told through both Weston and Tessa’s perspectives, but both were written in the same poetic style so much so that I don’t know if I would be able to tell who said something between the two if I was given a random quote. I mean I loved the sentence “my brothers were like individual rays of sunshine,” but it sounded like something Tessa would say, not Weston.
I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT:
There seemed to be a big emphasis on making sure we knew Tessa was different and special because of certain qualities she possessed (being a poetry blogger, not wanting to post about her life on the internet, etc.). The thing is though, everyone’s different and special in their own ways.
OVERALL
An inspirational example of the impact of human compassion, 100 Days of Sunlight comes out on August 7th of this year, and I highly recommend putting it on your TBR if you’re in the mood for a sweet & different contemporary romance 🙂
<3, g
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
The story centers around Tessa Dickinson, a sixteen year old poetry blogger who has just been in a car accident with her grandmother–an accident that the doctors say will leave her blind for the next (you guessed it) 100 days. She’s feeling pretty depressed because, you know, she can’t see, so her grandparents think it would be a good idea to hire someone her age who can help her continue writing poetry on her blog. Things get a bit crazy from there, and the situation leads her to meet a guy named Weston who wants to help. He wants to be there to help Tessa be optimistic about her new life until her sight returns, but with one condition: Tessa can never know what makes him different. The thing is, Weston’s not just a regular kid Tessa’s age. Well, he is, except for the fact that he’s missing a pair of legs. As Weston helps Tessa see the light in the dark, he’s able to experience something he hasn’t been able to in a long time: meet someone who sees him as he truly is, not as someone with a disability.
WHAT I LIKED:
The overall theme of the book. I feel like a lot of times I need stories to remind me that no matter how hard it is or how insignificant I feel, my actions and the kindness I attempt to show through them can really have an impact on the people around me. This was definitely one of those.
I liked that there was depth to the plot in the sense that it wasn’t all cutesy romantic scenes; the scenes of her continuous struggle with blindness were so impactful, along with the flashbacks to Weston’s journey with his amputation.
The family dynamic. It was nice to have a young adult character whose family (even if it wasn’t immediate) was an integral part of her life, especially because it’s something that isn’t seen too much.
The poetry. Tessa’s perspective was written so well; I really believed that I was in the mind of someone who was a poetry blogger, because that’s how I imagine a poet might think. I loved how Emmons included Tessa’s poems in the book as they were quite enjoyable to read and made Tessa’s passion for writing much more striking.
I loved all of the light and dark metaphors! I’m sure some people might have thought they happened too frequently and became a bit cheesy, but there were some really beautiful moments like this one, and I personally love flowery metaphors 😀
“Besides, no one has ever seen the light by being told there are darker places out there.”
100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Weston’s introduction: I wasn’t really a fan of the way Weston was introduced. I loved his character and all, but he seemed a bit overeager and suspiciously invested at first, and Tessa’s grandparents’ immediate acceptance of him was, in my opinion, a bit unrealistic. They let him go into a room alone with their blind granddaughter moments after they met him…I just don’t see that happening in today’s world, or at least anywhere I’ve lived.
Weston’s character depth: Although we got to know Weston a good deal more than other contemporary love interests as a result of the flashbacks, I would have loved to see more of his flaws. It was obvious he was struggling with how people saw him which led to one of the conflicts at the end of the novel, but other than that he seemed to be unrealistically perfect in every way.
The homogeneous writing style. The story was told through both Weston and Tessa’s perspectives, but both were written in the same poetic style so much so that I don’t know if I would be able to tell who said something between the two if I was given a random quote. I mean I loved the sentence “my brothers were like individual rays of sunshine,” but it sounded like something Tessa would say, not Weston.
I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT:
There seemed to be a big emphasis on making sure we knew Tessa was different and special because of certain qualities she possessed (being a poetry blogger, not wanting to post about her life on the internet, etc.). The thing is though, everyone’s different and special in their own ways.
OVERALL
An inspirational example of the impact of human compassion, 100 Days of Sunlight comes out on August 7th of this year, and I highly recommend putting it on your TBR if you’re in the mood for a sweet & different contemporary romance 🙂
<3, g
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Oh my goodness. THIS. BOOK. WAS. AMAZING. EXCEPTIONAL. EXTRAORDINARY. I don’t say that about a lot of books. I also don’t give a lot of books five stars. But this one most definitely deserves it. It might be the best YA Fantasy I’ve ever read. I flew through it more rapidly than any other book I’ve read this year, and that’s saying A LOT because I haven’t been in a fantasy mood for a long time (I definitely am now, though). It was so beautifully crafted, and it managed to bring something new to the table of fantasy books based on prophecies, which I was not expecting. It had so many twists and turns, and although the five POVs were quite intimidating at first, they were spectacularly interwoven to simultaneously pave way for the exhilaration of the building suspense and the shocking plot twists. I would honestly recommend this book to anyone reading this, because I, who would not say fantasy is one of my favorite YA genres, absolutely LOVED it and wouldn’t hesitate to call it the best book of 2019 so far. Without further ado, let’s get into the synopsis and a more detailed (but spoiler-free!) review:
What I liked:
Um…everything? Sorry, here it goes:
The world building – I kind of didn’t notice it was happening but at the same time I wasn’t confused about what was going on…I have no idea how Katy managed to pull that one off, but she did. Little bits and pieces were interwoven throughout the book, and I never felt like there was a whole section of facts and descriptions about the fantasy universe being thrown at me, which is something I really appreciate in a fantasy novel.
The multiple POV storytelling style: To be honest, I didn’t think this was something I was going to appreciate at the beginning because five different characters and their own story lines seemed a lot to keep track of alongside learning about a different universe, but like I said earlier, it was beautifully done and now I can’t imagine the story being told in a similar level of intricacy any other way.
The characters – even though I got quite annoyed at a few of them throughout the course of the novel, I loved that all of their back-stories were explored and each of their hopes, dreams, and insecurities revealed. They all had flaws, and I’m not even sure all of them are going to end up being on Team Good, but Katy gave me enough to feel for each of them and understand their motives.
The plot twists – this book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. It lulled me into a false sense of security, and then BAM, hit me with a huge plot twist (even though I should’ve seen that false sense of victory coming!!!). There were quite a few of them too, and each of the revelations was just perfect.
What I didn’t like:
I actually have nothing. That’s the only way you get a five star rating out of me.
Oh my goodness. THIS. BOOK. WAS. AMAZING. EXCEPTIONAL. EXTRAORDINARY. I don’t say that about a lot of books. I also don’t give a lot of books five stars. But this one most definitely deserves it. It might be the best YA Fantasy I’ve ever read. I flew through it more rapidly than any other book I’ve read this year, and that’s saying A LOT because I haven’t been in a fantasy mood for a long time (I definitely am now, though). It was so beautifully crafted, and it managed to bring something new to the table of fantasy books based on prophecies, which I was not expecting. It had so many twists and turns, and although the five POVs were quite intimidating at first, they were spectacularly interwoven to simultaneously pave way for the exhilaration of the building suspense and the shocking plot twists. I would honestly recommend this book to anyone reading this, because I, who would not say fantasy is one of my favorite YA genres, absolutely LOVED it and wouldn’t hesitate to call it the best book of 2019 so far. Without further ado, let’s get into the synopsis and a more detailed (but spoiler-free!) review:
What I liked:
Um…everything? Sorry, here it goes:
The world building – I kind of didn’t notice it was happening but at the same time I wasn’t confused about what was going on…I have no idea how Katy managed to pull that one off, but she did. Little bits and pieces were interwoven throughout the book, and I never felt like there was a whole section of facts and descriptions about the fantasy universe being thrown at me, which is something I really appreciate in a fantasy novel.
The multiple POV storytelling style: To be honest, I didn’t think this was something I was going to appreciate at the beginning because five different characters and their own story lines seemed a lot to keep track of alongside learning about a different universe, but like I said earlier, it was beautifully done and now I can’t imagine the story being told in a similar level of intricacy any other way.
The characters – even though I got quite annoyed at a few of them throughout the course of the novel, I loved that all of their back-stories were explored and each of their hopes, dreams, and insecurities revealed. They all had flaws, and I’m not even sure all of them are going to end up being on Team Good, but Katy gave me enough to feel for each of them and understand their motives.
The plot twists – this book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. It lulled me into a false sense of security, and then BAM, hit me with a huge plot twist (even though I should’ve seen that false sense of victory coming!!!). There were quite a few of them too, and each of the revelations was just perfect.
What I didn’t like:
I actually have nothing. That’s the only way you get a five star rating out of me.
I was pretty skeptical, but also intrigued, when I first read the plot summary. My parents had an arranged marriage, but that was back in India and seemed like a thing of the past to me. I couldn’t imagine what that would look like in modern day America. I have to say though, although I can’t relate to my parents trying to arrange my marriage, Sandhya Menon made the characters (especially Dimple, Rishi, and Rishi’s brother) funny, relatable, and easy to grow attached to. The writing was beautiful, and the story was wonderfully paced and equal parts exciting, aggravating, heartbreaking, and romantic. If you’re looking for an adorable and completely unique YA romantic comedy that teaches you a thing or two about Indian culture, this is definitely the book for you.
This book was really hard for me to get through. Not because it was bad (at ALL), but because it was so relatable and unlike anything I had ever read before that I had to consistently pause to keep my emotions in check. It’s really strange reading about your own culture when you haven’t done it before. Even saying that feels unbelievable. I’ve read hundreds of young adult novels, and yet somehow not a single one before this one has featured an Indian-American protagonist. This was also the first YA novel I’ve read by an Indian-American author.
What does someone feel when they don’t see someone they look like in the books they read? I can’t speak for everyone, but for me, it felt like my experiences weren’t worth sharing, that it wasn’t possible for my life to be as full of adventure and romance and LIFE as my peers’.
I’d never read a book about a South Asian girl my age dealing with the same issues as the typical American teenage girl–stories about dysfunctional friendships and families, romances, academic troubles. But growing up in the same environment, I’ve been facing the same struggles. I just felt invalid or wrong for facing them because I thought I wasn’t meant to. It was wrong for me to have a crush on someone because, according to my family, I was too young and it wasn’t appropriate (until I was twenty five, apparently). And it always felt wrong, because it’s not like I saw girls like me having relationships and liking boys in the books I read.
Reading this book, it made me feel like it was okay. And it is. It’s not fun to constantly be judged by different standards everywhere you go, but it’s part of life when you’re part of a family that’s immigrated to a different country. People don’t say it enough, but it’s really tough when your parents grew up in a different environment and culture than you. It’s more than the fact that they grew up in a different time; it’s that they grew up in an altogether different society. There have been so many times in my life–whether it be regarding academic or personal aspirations, friendships, relationships, etc.–when something I’ve wanted or talked about has received praise from my friends and/or teachers, and faced negative reception from my parents because it was something that wouldn’t have been a great thing in the society they grew up in (e.g. majoring in the humanities, thinking about having romantic relationships in late high school/college). This made it really confusing for me to distinguish between right and wrong, and it got easier when I went away to college and could figure out what my own beliefs were and abide by them without being constantly judged under the standards of a society that I myself have not grown up in. This isn’t to say that I think my beliefs are more correct than my parents’. Our beliefs and opinions of the world are culminations of our experiences, and what my parents experienced in India growing up is completely different from what I have experienced growing up in America. How could it not be?
That’s the American part of me. But there’s also the Indian part. And that matters too. I’m not just an American, I’m an Indian-American. And I’ve talked about how it’s hard to see eye to eye with my parents sometimes because of my American side, but it’s more difficult for me to let the Indian side of me shine through when I’m with my American friends. Kids can be so much more mean and judgmental than parents. I remember being in fourth grade, enjoying a bus ride home while listening to a compilation of Hindi music my dad had compiled for me on an old mp3 player. I remember a girl who lived in my neighborhood yanking my headphones out of my ear, putting them in hers, and sneering at me, “what is this music you’re listening to, anyway?” I hadn’t listened to American music before that incident, but it incited me to get some Kidz Bop CDs from the library and start loving Taylor Swift. After a while, when I had no friends to talk about Hindi music with, I stopped listening to it altogether. I tried to be as American as possible at school.
It’s been over eight years since then, and now, being away from home has made me so much more comfortable in being an Indian-American. A lot of that is because of the diverse community I have around me in college; people are excited about me sharing my culture with them, and I don’t feel awkward when I wear traditional clothes to Indian events on campus (something I really admired about Dimple, by the way; I’m not brave enough to wear Indian clothes on a daily basis like she was).
It’s still really hard to talk to my friends about some of my beliefs, and in a bigger sense, my family’s beliefs. According to many of my friends’ values, some of my cultural values are “so last century” and “outdated.” It’s hard to share my perspective and talk about my struggles with culture clash with them and be honest, while also simultaneously trying to not make them think of the culture I come from as inferior or incorrect. And that is one of the biggest reasons why I think it’s so important, along with giving the members of the community something that they can see themselves in, that books portray members of all different cultures. It normalizes the idea of values and ideas from those cultures and gives those who don’t belong to them a way to understand them in a way that can’t easily be explained in a conversation.
Not to say that a single book can capture all of the cultural values of a community, or the people who belong to it. Everyone’s different. Not all Indian-American families hold the same ideals. My parents are basically the opposite from Dimple’s in one major regard – instead of the whole “you need to find a husband” and backhanded arranged marriage plot as soon as she graduates high school, my parents are more “no thinking about boys until you get you have a job and you’re all settled,” two completely different ends of the dating spectrum. However, despite these key differences, it was so nice to read about a character who I knew looked like me. A girl who came from a similar cultural background as me, and was trying to find her way in the world–in America–like I am.
This book was really hard for me to get through. Not because it was bad (at ALL), but because it was so relatable and unlike anything I had ever read before that I had to consistently pause to keep my emotions in check. It’s really strange reading about your own culture when you haven’t done it before. Even saying that feels unbelievable. I’ve read hundreds of young adult novels, and yet somehow not a single one before this one has featured an Indian-American protagonist. This was also the first YA novel I’ve read by an Indian-American author.
What does someone feel when they don’t see someone they look like in the books they read? I can’t speak for everyone, but for me, it felt like my experiences weren’t worth sharing, that it wasn’t possible for my life to be as full of adventure and romance and LIFE as my peers’.
I’d never read a book about a South Asian girl my age dealing with the same issues as the typical American teenage girl–stories about dysfunctional friendships and families, romances, academic troubles. But growing up in the same environment, I’ve been facing the same struggles. I just felt invalid or wrong for facing them because I thought I wasn’t meant to. It was wrong for me to have a crush on someone because, according to my family, I was too young and it wasn’t appropriate (until I was twenty five, apparently). And it always felt wrong, because it’s not like I saw girls like me having relationships and liking boys in the books I read.
Reading this book, it made me feel like it was okay. And it is. It’s not fun to constantly be judged by different standards everywhere you go, but it’s part of life when you’re part of a family that’s immigrated to a different country. People don’t say it enough, but it’s really tough when your parents grew up in a different environment and culture than you. It’s more than the fact that they grew up in a different time; it’s that they grew up in an altogether different society. There have been so many times in my life–whether it be regarding academic or personal aspirations, friendships, relationships, etc.–when something I’ve wanted or talked about has received praise from my friends and/or teachers, and faced negative reception from my parents because it was something that wouldn’t have been a great thing in the society they grew up in (e.g. majoring in the humanities, thinking about having romantic relationships in late high school/college). This made it really confusing for me to distinguish between right and wrong, and it got easier when I went away to college and could figure out what my own beliefs were and abide by them without being constantly judged under the standards of a society that I myself have not grown up in. This isn’t to say that I think my beliefs are more correct than my parents’. Our beliefs and opinions of the world are culminations of our experiences, and what my parents experienced in India growing up is completely different from what I have experienced growing up in America. How could it not be?
That’s the American part of me. But there’s also the Indian part. And that matters too. I’m not just an American, I’m an Indian-American. And I’ve talked about how it’s hard to see eye to eye with my parents sometimes because of my American side, but it’s more difficult for me to let the Indian side of me shine through when I’m with my American friends. Kids can be so much more mean and judgmental than parents. I remember being in fourth grade, enjoying a bus ride home while listening to a compilation of Hindi music my dad had compiled for me on an old mp3 player. I remember a girl who lived in my neighborhood yanking my headphones out of my ear, putting them in hers, and sneering at me, “what is this music you’re listening to, anyway?” I hadn’t listened to American music before that incident, but it incited me to get some Kidz Bop CDs from the library and start loving Taylor Swift. After a while, when I had no friends to talk about Hindi music with, I stopped listening to it altogether. I tried to be as American as possible at school.
It’s been over eight years since then, and now, being away from home has made me so much more comfortable in being an Indian-American. A lot of that is because of the diverse community I have around me in college; people are excited about me sharing my culture with them, and I don’t feel awkward when I wear traditional clothes to Indian events on campus (something I really admired about Dimple, by the way; I’m not brave enough to wear Indian clothes on a daily basis like she was).
It’s still really hard to talk to my friends about some of my beliefs, and in a bigger sense, my family’s beliefs. According to many of my friends’ values, some of my cultural values are “so last century” and “outdated.” It’s hard to share my perspective and talk about my struggles with culture clash with them and be honest, while also simultaneously trying to not make them think of the culture I come from as inferior or incorrect. And that is one of the biggest reasons why I think it’s so important, along with giving the members of the community something that they can see themselves in, that books portray members of all different cultures. It normalizes the idea of values and ideas from those cultures and gives those who don’t belong to them a way to understand them in a way that can’t easily be explained in a conversation.
Not to say that a single book can capture all of the cultural values of a community, or the people who belong to it. Everyone’s different. Not all Indian-American families hold the same ideals. My parents are basically the opposite from Dimple’s in one major regard – instead of the whole “you need to find a husband” and backhanded arranged marriage plot as soon as she graduates high school, my parents are more “no thinking about boys until you get you have a job and you’re all settled,” two completely different ends of the dating spectrum. However, despite these key differences, it was so nice to read about a character who I knew looked like me. A girl who came from a similar cultural background as me, and was trying to find her way in the world–in America–like I am.
