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cnjg88's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The ending was really good. I feel like the plot twist was done well, and using news articles to give the aftermath was an interesting choice that I think fit well with the theme of the book. I really want a book focusing on Astrid. I loved Rachel and Nick's story in the first book, but Astrid's POVs were the main reason I kept reading through the first half of the book. With that in mind, Rachel was as classy as ever, and her argument with the final antagonist was excellent.
The format was also fun. Kwan rotates the conversation medium in addition to the POV in a way that I personally enjoy. It's like if the emails, texts, and news bits from 50 Shades was done well.
That said, there were some topics that I think could have been handled better. I'm not Jewish, so I don't know if the use of the term "Nazi" being used to describe loyal employees is okay when a character you are meant to loathe uses it. I am autistic though, so I do feel comfortable saying that I wish the conversation about r-slur babies had either gone differently or if other characters that we are supposed to like had one discussing eugenics and ableism. I think that the author's goal was to make them seem out of touch and shitty, similar to how he uses classism and racism, but I think it could have been executed better. The were also some casually ableist comments from the MCs about schizophrenia and OCD that felt weird.
All in all, 3 out of 5. It's overall a good book, political/social commentary is almost always my jam, the format was very unique in the best possible way. My main issues were pacing and some questionable handling of sensitive topics
The format was also fun. Kwan rotates the conversation medium in addition to the POV in a way that I personally enjoy. It's like if the emails, texts, and news bits from 50 Shades was done well.
That said, there were some topics that I think could have been handled better. I'm not Jewish, so I don't know if the use of the term "Nazi" being used to describe loyal employees is okay when a character you are meant to loathe uses it. I am autistic though, so I do feel comfortable saying that I wish the conversation about r-slur babies had either gone differently or if other characters that we are supposed to like had one discussing eugenics and ableism. I think that the author's goal was to make them seem out of touch and shitty, similar to how he uses classism and racism, but I think it could have been executed better. The were also some casually ableist comments from the MCs about schizophrenia and OCD that felt weird.
All in all, 3 out of 5. It's overall a good book, political/social commentary is almost always my jam, the format was very unique in the best possible way. My main issues were pacing and some questionable handling of sensitive topics
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Classism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Ableism, and Misogyny
Minor: Excrement, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Drug use, Blood, Child abuse, Vomit, and Alcoholism
noeandnovels's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Car accident, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
sop17hie's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Lots of characters! Great book if you like to keep changing character chapters. Check content warnings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Medical trauma, Violence, Medical content, and Car accident
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder
laurajordensharris's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, Medical trauma, Car accident, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Domestic abuse
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I wanted to read this book because I really enjoyed the film and when I found out it was based on a book, I had to read it. I had mixed feelings on the first book and this one was the same.
On the eve of her weeding to Nicholas Young, heir to one of the greatest fortunes in Asia, Rachel should be over the moon. She has a flawless ring, a wedding dress she loves more than anything and a fiancé who will willing to sacrifice his entire inheritance in order to marry her. But Rachel still mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won’t be able to walk her down the aisle. Until a shocking revelation draws Rachel into a world of Shanghai splendour beyond anything she could ever imagine. There she meets Carlton, a Ferrari-crashing bad boy known for his Prince Harry like antics and Colette, a celebrity girlfriend who is chased by fevered paparazzi and the man Rachel has spent her entire life waiting to meet – her father. Meanwhile, Astrid Leong, is shocked to discover that there is a downside to having a newly minted tech billionaire husband. It is a fiction romance adult fiction novel.
Okay, let’s start with what I liked about this book: Nick and Charlie – they saved this book! Charlie’s just being hung on his first love that he is willing to do anything and be friend zoned over and over again just to be in her life was so sweet, but he also has a meddling side that I wanted to see more of, and we did get a little peak in this novel. I also still love Nick, he is so charming and yet so protective, I would have loved to read some more from his point of view.
The issues I have with this novel is the writing. It was a very slow book, it dragged. But I don’t think the multiple parts helped – I don’t mind a book split in parts but at least carrying on the chapters as normal. When it hit part 2 and started again at Chapter 1 – it sort of confused me, I thought it was three books rolled into one. Another thing is usually, I like multiple POVs but with this book, the chapters say start with the place there are at and who’s POV it is but then it will just switch in the middle of it either the person will change or it’s like they went on a plane and BAM new location. I didn’t like the storyline being around Kitty Pong – I think mainly because she is a side character in the first book and then from the beginning it’s like she’s back and married and spending all this money as if it’s something new.
Overall, I am really disappointed with this book. I gave this book 3 stars because of how slow-paced and confusing it was. I don’t know if I’m going to read the final book in the series, but we will see.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Medical trauma
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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: Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Y'all this book was so good! I loved the new characters. Especially Carlton. There were so many twists in this one that I loved and so much drama! I just love these stories and characters!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
egmamaril's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Kidnapping
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