Honestly, this was a solid 2.5 if we’re being honest, but I’m rounding up because of the strength of Louisa as a the female lead. Simon? He can kick rocks.

Let’s go ahead and address the notes of white saviorism, and the white washing of the colonial subjugation of India, and painting the rebels as barbarians. I get it was 2006 and we were deep into our own imperial “war on terror” era, but it’s still incredibly jarring to read. Hated that, but I understand it was normal for the era. Still made my stomach churn.

Simon was incredibly condescending and paternalistic for 60% of this book. Sure, he grew and changed but not after having a conversation with his wife, but rather, after speaking to another man. Which, by the way, Lord Trusbut is the ONLY man I didn’t dislike in this book, and he’s even incredibly exhausting. Maybe I’m just a man hater, who’s to say? But, for Louisa, and Raji and his little birds, that’s where any and all stars come from for this one.