Friday, March 1, 2024

Ayisha Malik - The Movement

 



Ayisha Malik - The Movement 

2⭐

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Feminism, Literary Fiction 

Format: E-Book

Publisher:  Headline

Date Published: 21st July 2022


 

Book Blurb: 

With words come power. But do you speak out or shut up?

Everywhere Sara Javed goes - online or outside - everyone is shouting about something. Couldn't they all just shut up? One day she takes her own advice.

At first people don't understand her silence and are politely confused at best. But the last thing Sara could anticipate is becoming the figurehead of a global movement that splits society in two.

The Silent Movement sparks outrage in its opposers. Global structures start to shift. And the lives of those closest to Sara - as well as strangers inspired by her act - begin to unravel.

It's time for the world to reconsider what it means to have a voice.

A sharply observed novel, charged with compassion and dark wit, that will spark important conversations about how we live, relate and communicate now.

My Review: 

The Movement follows Sara Javed, an author who became famous due to writing a book about her experience as a minority female, however, as time moves on she realises that everyone is talking about something and all these voices are just getting mixed up together creating chaos. In her mind words are losing meaning, thus she decides to stop talking and stop communicating. Her silence quickly grows into a movement called Non-Verbalism, and it all suddenly becomes very political. However, Sara’s choice to become silent doesn’t only affect her, it affects millions of other people, including those of Grace and Zeinab.

The premise of this book intrigued me so much and honestly, I had quite high hopes for it. It just sounded so unique and unusual, so I had to pick it up…The story and characters had so much potential to be explored in depth, however, sadly that didn’t happen, at least for me. The author, instead of exploring characters in the story in more depth, chose to talk more about politics and societal implications surrounding the so-called ‘Non-Verbalism Movement’ that the main characters in this book partake in. Although all of the social and political commentary in the book on important issues, such as feminism, freedom of speech, and oppression is very important to talk about and to explore, it made me not care about the characters and their stories. I felt that if that social and political commentary were more intertwined with certain characters or communicated by them, then the book would’ve been 5 stars for me.

The writing however was brilliant, the book flowed very well and it was quite a quick read. I also liked how the book didn’t shine away to show how we as a society are interconnected and how someone’s even the smallest decision can affect us all. Characters in this book also reveal how much we are dependent on technology and communication in the 21st century and how much our lives would be different if those changed.

In terms of the characters, I wanted more from the main character Sara. With her, it just didn’t feel like she grew as a character, and from the very beginning there were times when she was quite insufferable. That said, the other characters, especially Zeinab and Grace, had amazing character development and even though I wanted more depth in their stories, their character development was brilliant.

Overall: Very intriguing premise and idea, excellent writing and issues discussed, but, for me, the book felt flat. However, if you like books with in-depth political and social commentary then I would recommend this book, as it does discuss quite a few important and controversial topics of the 21st century. 


About the Author:

Ayisha is a British Muslim, lifelong Londoner, and lover of books. She read English Literature and went on to complete an MA in Creative Writing (though told most of her family it was an MA in English Literature – Creative Writing is not a subject, after all.) She has spent various spells teaching, photocopying, volunteering and being a publicist. Now, when she isn’t searching for a jar of Nutella in her cupboards, she divides her time between writing and being managing editor at Cornerstones Literary Consultancy.

Ayisha is one of WH Smith's Fresh Talent picks, Winter 2016.

https://twitter.com/Ayisha_Malik

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Taylor Jenkins Reid - Evidence of the Afair

 



Taylor Jenkins Reid- Evidence of the Affair 

4⭐

Genre: Romance, Fiction, Short Story, Contemporary

Format: E-Book

Publisher:  Amazon Original Stories

Date Published: 20th September 2018


 

Book Blurb: 

The repercussions of an illicit affair unfold in this short story by bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Dear stranger…

A desperate young woman in Southern California sits down to write a letter to a man she’s never met—a choice that will forever change both their lives.

My heart goes out to you, David. Even though I do not know you…

The correspondence between Carrie Allsop and David Mayer reveals, piece by piece, the painful details of a devastating affair between their spouses. With each commiserating scratch of the pen, they confess their fears and bare their souls. They share the bewilderment over how things went so wrong and come to wonder where to go from here.

Told entirely through the letters of two comforting strangers and those of two illicit lovers, Evidence of the Affair explores the complex nature of the heart. And ultimately, for one woman, how liberating it can be when it’s broken.

My Review: 

I was reading my way through the TJR back catalogue and found that she wrote a short story called Evidence of the Affair. Honestly, I didn’t think I would enjoy this as much as I did, as I am not a fan of short stories. Yet this story was unique, captivating and explored so much in so few pages.

The story follows a woman in Southern California who finds out that her husband is cheating on her. She decides to send a letter to a woman’s husband and tell him about the affair that his wife and her husband are having. That’s how we see Carrie Allsop’s and David Mayer’s friendship and story developing, through letters that they send each other…

I love the premise and idea of this book and the fact that it's all in letter format. However, through those letters, we learn so much about both Carrie and David, as well as their marriages, the affair that their spouses are having and their growing friendship in a time of betrayal. This short story packs so much in so few pages and explores love, grief, betrayal, relationships, friendships, and loyalty. The only thing I didn’t like about this story is the mention of Mick Riva…Other than that this story is great!

Overall: Short, sweet story that explores so much in less than 100 pages. Recommend if you are a fan of TJR, but we are aware that this story will leave you wanting more. It did that to me! 

About the Author:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times bestselling author of Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as four other novels. She lives in Los Angeles.

https://taylorjenkinsreid.com/

Monday, February 26, 2024

Livia Blackburne - Clementine and Danny Save The World

 



Livia Blackburne - Clementine and Danny Save The World 

4⭐

Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance 

Format: Paperback Proof 

Publisher:  Harper360YA

Date Published: 18th July 2023


Huge thank you to Harper360YA for sending me a copy of this book. 

 

Book Blurb: 

You’ve Got Mail gets a YA twist in this rom-com that spotlights the power of activism and community organizing in the face of gentrification.

Clementine Chan believes in the power of the written word. Under the pseudonym Hibiscus, she runs a popular blog reviewing tea shops and discussing larger issues within her Chinatown community. She has a loyal, kind following, save for this one sour grape named BobaBoy888.

Danny Mok is allergic to change, and the gentrification seeping into Chinatown breaks his heart. He channels his frustration into his internet alter ego, BobaBoy888, bickering with local blogger Hibiscus over all things Chinatown and tea.

When a major corporation reveals plans that threaten to shut down the Mok’s beloved tea shop, Clementine and Danny find themselves working together in real life to save this community they both love. But as they fall hard for this cause—and each other—they have no clue that their online personas have been fighting for years.

When the truth comes to light, can Danny and Clementine still find their happily-ever-after?

My Review: 

Although it took me a while to get into this book, it was so good and cute. It had such a great set of multidimensional characters, and excellent plotlines, as well as discussed so many important issues, such as activism, minority groups, gentrification, class, identity and community, to name a few. It is a YA book, but has so much depth and even some romance (enemies-to-lovers, which is my favourite). Honestly, super glad I read this book!

The story follows Clementine and Danny, who both are enemies on the internet but become friends in real life. Clementine doesn’t know that Danny is the person who keeps commenting negative things on her blog and Danny doesn’t know that the girl who runs a blog that he despises is Clementine. The Chinatown they live in is threatened by gentrification and by big corporations moving in and buying all the smaller businesses to open a big shopping complex. Because of this both Clementine and Danny become friends, and they start community movements against gentrification and to save their favourite place in the world. During that time, they also slowly fall in love with each other and learn a lot about themselves…Will the effort that they put into saving their community and building their friendship be ruined by the truth about Clementine and Danny’s alter egos online?

I loved how raw and realistic this book is, it delves deep into the experiences of two Chinese-American teenagers, their culture, upbringing, opinions, thoughts and community spirit. They both have different reasons why they want to save their community but despite those differences, they ignite a very strong friendship and start amazing movement for a positive change. Both Clementine and Danny grew up so much during this book, even though from the very beginning they were so well fleshed out. I was rooting for them both, in their romance and their activism. I also adored how this book shows that teens can make a change and that their voices can be heard, especially if they are from minority groups. I feel that more of these themes and conversations need to happen in YA books. I loved the romance too, and enjoyed that it didn’t take the main stage but was perfectly intertwined with the main storyline and message of this story.

Overall: Amazing set of characters, excellent plot, great discussion of important topics and course cute enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine romance all in one. One of the best YA books I have read this year!

 

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne wrote her first novel while researching the neuroscience of reading at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since then, she’s switched to full-time writing, which also involves getting into people’s heads but without the help of a 3 Tesla MRI scanner.

She is also the author of MIDNIGHT THIEF (an Indies Introduce New Voices selection), DAUGHTER OF DUSK, and ROSEMARKED (an Amazon best book of the month and YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee).


Monday, February 19, 2024

Kate Robb - This Spells Love


Kate Robb - This Spells Love 

4 ⭐

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary, Fiction 

Pages: 352

Format: Paperback Proof 

Publisher:  Penguin 

Date Published: 5th December 2023 


Huge thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy.

 

Book Blurb: 

A young woman tries to heal her heartbreak by casting a spell to erase her ex from her past, but she wakes up in an alternate reality where she’s lost more than she wished for in this witty, whimsical friends-to-lovers debut.

What if one little wish changed everything?

When Gemma gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend, she reacts the way any reasonable twenty-eight-year-old would: by getting drunk with her sister, kooky aunt, and best friend, Dax. After one too many margaritas, they decide to perform a love- cleansing spell, which promises to erase Gemma’s ex from her memory. They follow all the instructions, including a platonic kiss from Dax to seal the deal.

When Gemma wakes up, she realizes that this silly spell has worked. Not only does it seem that she never dated her ex, but the rest of her life is completely unrecognizable. The worst part: Dax has no idea who she is.

To reverse the spell and get back to her old life, Gemma must convince her once-best-friend-now-near-stranger to kiss her. But as she carries out her plans, she finds herself falling for him—hard. Soon, Gemma begins to wonder whether she even wants to go back to the way things once were. What if Dax was The One all along?

My Review: 

This Spells Love was such a cute romance with fantasy and magical realism elements. I consumed this book in less than a day because it was so addictive. A comfortable read and perfect for any season, however, I do recommend reading it during Autumn as it has that Autumn magic vibes. Also, it is best friends to lovers and although it might not be my favourite trope, in this book it just worked so perfectly!

The story follows Gemma, who healing from a very recent breakup from a long-term relationship. She starts questioning whether she wasted years on a relationship when she was actually in love with her best friend Dax…Gemma wishes that she could go back in time and start all over again, but this time to also make things right. Her wish might be granted by an old spell book, a drunk girl's night in and a kiss…

I loved how witty and cute this book was. I also adored the main characters, even though at points Gemma’s chaotic energy was a bit too much. The chemistry between Gemma and Dax was also undeniable, yet all the funny and awkward situations they got into were just as captivating and entertaining. The book has two timelines that were fleshed out quite well in comparison to the Rom Coms that I have read before.

My only negative about this book was that I wanted to get to know Dax in the present timeline, as most of where we see him was in the other timeline, in which he was supposed to be ‘different’. Plus there were times when Gemma was chaotic, annoying and selfish, which led her to some very cringe-worthy situations.

Overall: Very unique, cute and captivating romantic comedy with fantasy and magical realism elements as well as that ‘What If?’ element. If you want something cosy and easy to read, yet at the same time entertaining, well-written and funny, then this book is that. 


About the Author: 

Kate Robb is the author of This Spells Love. She dated a lot of duds in her twenties (amongst a few gems) all providing excellent fodder to write weird and wild romantic comedies. She lives just outside of Toronto, Canada, where she spends her free time pretending she’s not a hockey mom while whispering “hustle” under her breath from the bleachers, a Pinot Grigio concealed in her YETI mug. She hates owls, the word “whilst”, and wearing shorts and aspires to one day be able to wear four-inch heels again.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2280786/kate-robb/

Friday, February 16, 2024

Matt Haig - The Humans

 



Matt Haig - The Humans 

4⭐

Genre: Fiction, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Contemporary 

Pages: 285

Format:  Paperback

Publisher:  Canongate Books 

Date Published: 9th May 2018


A huge thank you to Canongate Books for sending me a copy of this book. 

 

Book Blurb: 

When an extraterrestrial visitor arrives on Earth, his first impressions of the human species are less than positive. Taking the form of Professor Andrew Martin, a leading mathematician at Cambridge University, the visitor wants to complete his task and return home to his planet and a utopian society of immortality and infinite knowledge.

He is disgusted by the way humans look, what they eat, and the wars they witness on the news, and is totally baffled by concepts such as love and family. But as time goes on, he starts to realize there may be more to this weird species than he has been led to believe. He drinks wine, reads Emily Dickinson, listens to Talking Heads, and begins to bond with the family he lives with, in disguise. In picking up the pieces of the professor's shattered personal life, the narrator sees hope and redemption in the humans' imperfections and begins to question the very mission that brought him there--a mission that involves not only thwarting human progress...but murder.

My Review: 

This is my second Matt Haig book and I must say I enjoyed it much more than the How To Stop Time. It was so well written and easy to read, with very multidimensional characters and a captivating storyline. I also loved how societal issues that we as humans face are presented by someone who is an outsider, which makes a reader look at them from an outsider's POV, too, to see them differently. I enjoyed the issues discussed in this book and how they were presented together with humour and wittiness. Although for some the plot might feel unrealistic, the book itself is entertaining, funny and yet full of important lessons to learn and philosophical statements and thoughts that are important to address, especially in the 21st century.

The story follows an ET from a faraway planet who was sent to Earth on a mission. His mission is to kill a famous mathematician Professor Andrew Martin from Cambridge University and delete all of the breakthrough work that Andrew worked for throughout his career. The knowledge that Andrew uncovered might tell humans too much about other planets in the universe and the planets from which ET is, cannot allow that to happen. Thus ET takes over Andrew’s body and slowly learns about human nature, the way they talk, dress, love, and communicate. For him, all of these emotions and societal rules are very weird and rather disgusting. However, he meets some people who slowly start to change his opinion and he realises that humans aren’t as bad as he once thought.

Overall: This review is short because I don’t want to spoil anything from the book, and I will do so if I start discussing it in depth. However, it is a very well-written, unique funny, and at times silly book, with loads of important issues discussed in a very simple and entertaining way. My favourite of Matt Haig’s so far! 

About the Author:

Matt Haig is an author for children and adults. His memoir Reasons to Stay Alive was a number one bestseller, staying in the British top ten for 46 weeks. His children’s book A Boy Called Christmas was a runaway hit and is translated in over 40 languages. It is being made into a film starring Maggie Smith, Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent and The Guardian called it an ‘instant classic’. His novels for adults include  the award-winning How To Stop Time, The Radleys, The Humans and the number one bestseller The Midnight Library.He has sold over three million books worldwide.

http://www.matthaig.com/

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Mona Awad - Rouge

Mona Awad - Rouge

3⭐

Genre: Horror, Gothic, Fiction, Thriller, Contemporary, Literary Fiction 

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback Proof 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 

Date Published: 12th September 2023


Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy.


Book Blurb: 

From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny comes a horror-tinted, gothic fairy tale about a lonely dress shop clerk whose mother’s unexpected death sends her down a treacherous path in pursuit of youth and beauty. Can she escape her mother’s fate—and find a connection that is more than skin deep?

For as long as she can remember, Belle has been insidiously obsessed with her skin and skincare videos. When her estranged mother Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle finds herself back in Southern California, dealing with her mother’s considerable debts and grappling with lingering questions about her death. The stakes escalate when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, offering a tantalizing clue about her mother’s demise, followed by a cryptic video about a transformative spa experience. With the help of a pair of red shoes, Belle is lured into the barbed embrace of La Maison de Méduse, the same lavish, culty spa to which her mother was devoted. There, Belle discovers the frightening secret behind her (and her mother’s) obsession with the mirror—and the great shimmering depths (and demons) that lurk on the other side of the glass.

Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in this surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters. With black humor and seductive horror, Rouge explores the cult-like nature of the beauty industry—as well as the danger of internalizing its pitiless gaze. Brimming with California sunshine and blood-red rose petals, Rouge holds up a warped mirror to our relationship with mortality, our collective fixation with the surface, and the wondrous, deep longing that might lie beneath.

My Review: 

This book was quite disturbing but at the same time quite interesting. It is one of those books where I don’t know whether I liked it or disliked it.

The book follows Belle, who since very young again, influenced by her mother's beauty, is obsessed with her appearance, especially her skincare. One day, her mother Noelle mysteriously dies and Belle has to face her past, first by coming home to Southern California. At home, she realises that her mother is in debt, which prompts her to start asking questions about how her mother died. Her suspicions grow even more when she meets a strange woman in red who invites her to a secret spa and club, which her mother was a member of. There Belle slowly discovers herself, and truths about her mother's past but also faces her demons from the past.

I liked the beginning of this book. It gripped me and captivated me, however, the more I read the more cryptic and confusing the story became. In the end, I was confused as to what was going on and what this story was supposed to be about. At first, I thought it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but looking from 21st-century eyes, and our obsession with skincare, always looking young and putting on a ‘fake façade’, as well as, how social media and companies make us part of the ‘cult’ when it comes to beauty, skincare products and focusing on the impossible beauty standards. At least that’s what I took from the book. However, I also felt that there was more, which I might not understood or didn’t get whilst reading this book.

Not going to lie, the writing was beautiful, but I felt that some parts of the story were not necessary and rather repetitive. I thought this book would have read much better if it was a shorter novella. There were also times when I didn’t care about Belle as she was quite insufferable and naïve. I also didn’t care about the in-depth exploration of Noelle’s and Belle’s relationship as for me that wasn’t the main point of the book, and it also took away from exploring the beauty and unattainable beauty standards. I didn’t connect to their relationship at all…

Overall: Very mixed opinions about this book. Part of me liked it a lot but there was part of me where I didn’t like it. This book gives a lot of food for thought, especially about the beauty industry in the 21st century but at the same time delivers those thoughts in a very cryptic and crazy way. 


About the Author: 

Mona Awad is the author of BUNNY, ALL'S WELL and 13 WAYS OF LOOKING AT A FAT GIRL. 13 WAYS won the Amazon Best First Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Giller Prize. Her second novel, BUNNY, was a finalist for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror, the New England Book Award, and won the Ladies of Horror Fiction Best Novel Award. It is currently being optioned for film with Bad Robot Productions. ALL'S WELL was a finalist for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror. Her new novel, ROUGE, is forthcoming in September 2023 with Simon & Schuster.

She earned an MFA from Brown University and an MScR in English from the University of Edinburgh where her dissertation was on fear in the fairy tale. In 2018, she completed a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literary Studies at the University of Denver. She currently teaches creative writing at Syracuse University and lives in Boston.

http://mona-awad-grou.squarespace.com/

Monday, February 12, 2024

Sylvia Day - So Close (Blacklist #1)


Sylvia Day - So Close (Blacklist #1) 

3⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 374 

Format: Paperback Proof 

Publisher:  Penguin Michael Joseph 

Date Published: 28th March 2023


Huge thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me a proof copy.


Book Blurb: 

You can’t believe all of them, but can you trust any of them?

Widower Kane Black is still ruinously married to his late wife, Lily. Grief has hollowed him… until he sees a woman with his wife’s inimitable beauty on the streets of Manhattan. He whisks her up to his towering penthouse, protectively under guard, nestling her in dark opulence where Lily’s memory is a possessive beguiling force.

Aliyah, Kane’s mother, deals in science. There are too many questions, too few answers, and too much at stake. “Lily” has dangerous control over Kane and there can be only one queen on the throne.

Amy, Kane’s sister-in-law, has been bloodied by deceit and betrayal, and she’s devolving into murderous rage. She’s paid too high a price and now intends to claim what she’s owed.

Three women, linked by buried secrets, circle the man who unquestioningly accepts the return of his beloved long-dead wife. Kane is happier than he’s ever been, and he’ll do anything to stay that way.

Propulsive and sly, So Close is a lushly gothic novel of domestic suspense with the emotional intensity, scorching sensuality, and complex exploration of female trauma that are the hallmarks of multimillion-copy international bestseller Sylvia Day.

My Review: 

What did I just read? This book was so weird, yet captivating and intriguing, yet I am still confused as to what is going on in this book. It is very well written, as it managed to draw me in from the very first page and didn’t let me go until the very last. However, I am not sure I know what is going on with the characters or where the plot is going. The is so much going on, yet not much is revealed, and so many unanswered questions are left open.

Kane Black is a widower. His wife Lily disappeared 5 years ago, however, one day he sees someone just like her on a street in Manhattan. He takes her in and learns that his wife might still be alive. Kane’s mother enjoys seeing Kane unhappy as she never liked his wife, Kane's sister-in-law, however, wants to be with him. What follows is the story of three women fighting for Kane, Kane's love, wealth and attention…

I liked and disliked that during the whole book, we have POV of the most important females in Kane's life, his mother, his sister-in-law and his lover. However, we don’t get his POV, so what we learn about him is from others, yet we don’t know who he is exactly and that itself is very intriguing but at the same time frustrating as I want to know why he is so important.

I did like the drama and mystery in this book, all the secrets and backstabbing that is happening between the three females in Kane's life. However, the plotline is so confusing as so much is happening and there was a huge revelation near the end of the book which made me even more confused and made me question everything that I have read so far in this book. The revelation at the end of the book wasn’t realistic for a contemporary romance book, although quite shocking, Also, part of this book reminded me of 50 Shades but with much better writing, and with characters that are so morally grey and unlikable.

Overall: Very weird and confusing book, that left me with more unanswered questions at the end than I had at the beginning. It is very well written and has a mystery and suspense element that draws you in and doesn’t want to let you go, yet something is missing. I wanted more and I know that the premise of this book could have delivered much more. I do want to read the sequel, just so some of the questions (hopefully) get answered, however, I don’t have much high expectations for it. 


About the Author: 

Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Globe and Mail, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels, including ten New York Times bestsellers and thirteen USA Today bestsellers. She is a number one bestselling author in twenty-nine countries, with translations in forty-one languages and over twenty million copies of her books in print. 
www.sylviaday.com