Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev

4 reviews

mycatmycatandme's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Like 30% of readers said this was lighthearted and funny according to the StoryGraph stats. The AI summary thing calls this a romantic comedy. Did we read the same book? The cover is cute, but the book is heavy! 

I liked it, but please don’t go in expecting a lighthearted romcom. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Suicide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent

Minor: Islamophobia, Abortion, and Vomit

the_wistful_word_witch's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

After reading the first book in the Raje Family series, I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into the next book. Recipe for Persuasion is oh so heartbreaking, but so full of the fragile hope of love and forgiveness. It's a perfect blend, just like one of Ashna's teas.

You don't see a ton of Ashna in the first book, so I was glad to get this deeper look at her life as a Raje cousin determined to save her father's failing restaurant while avoiding her estranged mother. So determined in fact that she makes the wild decision to participate in a reality TV show about cooking.

Which is where her old flame, Rico, comes into play. He's still not over Ashna, and it's clear she's still not over him. But life red-carded them. And they were both so young and so scared to share their secrets that they let those fears rip them apart and send them down completely unexpected paths. But now, he's stepping off the pitch and back into Ashna's life.

I also loved getting peeks into Ashna's and her mother Shoban's pasts, despite how tragic it all was. There are more secrets there, which just reinforces the message about open, honest, clear communication from the first book. Their estrangement really tugged on my heart strings as I am going though something similar, although for vastly different reasons. It helped me connect with Ashna even more.

Of course, my heart melted at the happily-ever-after ending, my tears of sorrow turning to tears of joy. This series just keeps getting better and better...

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Addiction, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

ticktock's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, and Suicide

alisanti's review

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Infidelity, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Abandonment

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault