My Book Reviews

Category: Contemporary

This category contains any posts published in reference to books of Contemporary genre.

  • The Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan

    The Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan

    Me

    The Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan
    Release: January 1, 2019
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
    Source: Amazon

    ME



     

    The Me I Meant To Be Synopsis:

    Girl Code: Never date a friend’s ex.

    Willa Evans has no intention of breaking the code. So what if she’s always secretly loved her next-door neighbor Zach? As her best friend’s boyfriend, he was always off-limits and it needs to stay that way, even though they just broke up. Even though every time she turns around he’s there, tempting her…

    No keeping secrets from your bestie.

    Flor Hidalgo has a lot on her plate: her breakup with Zach, her dad’s new dating life, and her struggling grades. So why can’t she stop thinking about her hot, know-it-all tutor? At least she’s got Willa, her constant in the chaos.

    Breaking the code breaks friendships.

    Two friends find themselves tempted by love that defies the rules in this steamy romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Simone Elkeles.

     

    Review:

    Watch my video review of The Me I Meant To Be by Sophie Jordan!

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk4fM0ZHLDY[/embedyt]

    Honestly, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It is your typical teenage, contemporary, romance novel with quite a few twists and turns here and there. Willa and Flor are prominent main characters, and they have their own distinctive personalities and it was interesting to see how the plot progresses from their perspective.

    The author has also done a nice job in building the chemistry and maintaining the romance between the characters. I particularly liked Flor and Grayson’s relationship more than Willa and Zach. While I liked Willa more as a character, I didn’t really like her relationship with Zach because I thought he was a player and I really could not believe him when he said that he had genuine feelings for her. On the other hand, I really liked Flor and Grayson together. Even though he has a weird secret identity, I found it interesting and quirky and different from things we usually read.

    However, I felt that the author could have added a more details to a few things. The main one being that we really don’t get to know more about Grayson and Zach and what issues they have to behave the way they do. Especially Grayson, as he seems to be a very mysterious and interesting character, but we really don’t get to learn anything about him. In the same way I could not understand how Willa and Flor were besties. They seem like complete polar opposites who would not fit into each other’s social circles. Also, I felt that Willa’s sister was completely unnecessary who did not add anything to the plot.

    However, apart from all this, the plot was fast and interesting. What I particularly enjoyed about this story is that it shows how people make mistakes, and there is no right or wrong in a situation and it depends on a person’s perspective. I also liked how the author realistically shows how the girls handle their friendship when put to the test.

    Overall, “The Me I meant to be” is a breezy read with fun characters and interesting situations. I would give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

  • The Color of Lies by CJ Lyons

    The Color of Lies by CJ Lyons

    Color

    The Color of Lies by CJ Lyons
    Release: November 6, 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Blink, HarperCollins Publishing
    Source: Amazon

    Haunting



     

    The Color of Lies Synopsis:

    High school senior Ella Cleary has always been good at reading people. Her family has a rare medical condition called synesthesia that scrambles the senses—her Gram Helen sees every sound, and her uncle Joe can literally taste words. Ella’s own synesthesia manifests itself as the ability to see colors that reveal people’s true emotions…until she meets a guy she just can’t read.

    Alec is a mystery to Ella, a handsome, enigmatic young journalist who makes her feel normal for the first time in her life. That is, until he reveals the real reason why he sought her out—he wants to learn the truth behind her parents’ deaths, the parents that Ella had always been told died in a fire. Alec turns Ella’s world upside down when he tells her their deaths were definitely not an accident.

    After learning her entire life has been a lie, Ella doesn’t know who she can trust or even who she really is. With her adoptive family keeping secrets and the evidence mixing fact and fiction, the only way for Ella to learn the truth about her past is to find a killer.

     

    Review:

    Watch my video review of The Color of Lies by CJ Lyons!

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYx6uVmAH4o[/embedyt]

    The first thing that drew me to reading this novel is the concept of synesthesia. I had actually never heard of this term before, and I thought the author described the concept perfectly through the characters, where she mentions that it is not seeing words as colors, but it can also be triggered as a feeling or a touch. This book introduced me to synesthesia, and made me want to research more about it after reading it. Moreover, the book also maintained the suspense really well for the most part, and the author throws quite a few red herrings where you keep guessing as to what happened to Ella’s parents. The author also paces the storyline nicely, where we get to gradually see Ella starting to suspect everyone around her.

    However, there are a few parts of the book that I found unnecessary. The main aspect which I did not like was the instant love between Alec and Ella. The two fall in love as soon as they meet and it feels unnecessary. Even though the author does a good job in maintaining the suspense, I feel the romance could have been avoided. Another part I found to be a bit boring was the reveal of what happened the night Ella’s parents died. Since the story doesn’t have many characters, it really isn’t shocking when the killer is revealed. The book gets a little clichéd towards the climax where you know how things are going to pan out.

  • The Rule Breakers by Preeti Shenoy

    The Rule Breakers by Preeti Shenoy

    Rule

    The Rule Breakers by Preeti Shenoy
    Release: September 17th 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Westland Books
    Source: Amazon

    Rule



     

    The Rule Breakers Synopsis:

    There are two kinds of people in this world—those who follow the rules and those who do not think twice about breaking them.Studious, smart and sincere, Veda harbours big dreams for the future. But her parents arrange a marriage for her, and the twenty year old discovers that she has no say in the matter.

    Forced to leave behind an idyllic life in the hill town of Joshimath—filled with conversations and pleasurable times with her siblings, and her best friend, the handsome Suraj—she puts aside her ambitions and moves into a flat in Pune with an indifferent husband and a mother-in-law from hell.

    Though brought up to be quiet and obedient, Veda chafes at the meaninglessness of her existence and struggles to cope with the unexpected loneliness she is engulfed in. Then, amidst the dark clouds of stagnation and despondency, Veda carves out the unlikeliest of silver linings.

    How does she do this? By breaking the rules?
    Or by following them?

     

    Review:

    Watch my detailed video review of “The Rule Breakers” by Preeti Shenoy!

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuDjkUtsX60[/embedyt]

    I love Preeti Shenoy’s novels and I had high expectations for this book, which is probably why the book disappointed me. Her books are usually character driven, but this story became more plot driver in the second half. Also, the personalities of the characters are also not consistent so it was hard to connect with the protagonist. However, the first half is nice and the author talks about some key issues we face in the Indian society. Overall, this was an average book for me, and I thought the author had the potential to deliver something better.

  • I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall

    I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall

    Alive

    I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
    Release: July 24th 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Viking Books
    Source: Amazon

    Everlasting



     

    I Am Still Alive Synopsis:

    After
    Jess is alone. Her cabin has burned to the ground. She knows if she doesn’t act fast, the cold will kill her before she has time to worry about food. But she is still alive—for now.

    Before
    Jess hadn’t seen her survivalist, off-the-grid dad in over a decade. But after a car crash killed her mother and left her injured, she was forced to move to his cabin in the remote Canadian wilderness. Just as Jess was beginning to get to know him, a secret from his past paid them a visit, leaving her father dead and Jess stranded.

    After
    With only her father’s dog for company, Jess must forage and hunt for food, build shelter, and keep herself warm. Some days it feels like the wild is out to destroy her, but she’s stronger than she ever imagined.

    Jess will survive. She has to. She knows who killed her father… and she wants revenge.

     

    Review:

    Watch my booktube review on I Am Still Alive!

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXnP3OgJCc[/embedyt]

    I enjoyed reading “I am still alive” by Kate Alice Marshall! It was fast paced, was well written, and was realistically told. Moreover, I especially liked Jess’s interactions with her father and her reaction after he passes away. However, If the character development had been better, I would have loved it! The main thing I didn’t like about the book was how immature and silly Jess comes off as. Even after spending so many weeks in the wilderness, she’s still unfocused and clumsy. Overall though, it is a gripping, survival story and a good page turner. I loved Bo and he was the main highlight of the book for me.

  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

    Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

    Amal

    Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
    Release: May 8th 2018
    Format: Hardcover
    Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
    Source: Amazon

    Amal


    Amal Unbound Synopsis:

    Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal’s Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she’s busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when–as the eldest daughter–she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn’t lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens–after an accidental run-in with the son of her village’s corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family’s servant to pay off her own family’s debt.

    Life at the opulent Khan estate is full of heartbreak and struggle for Amal–especially when she inadvertently makes an enemy of a girl named Nabila. Most troubling, though, is Amal’s growing awareness of the Khans’ nefarious dealings. When it becomes clear just how far they will go to protect their interests, Amal realizes she will have to find a way to work with others if they are ever to exact change in a cruel status quo, and if Amal is ever to achieve her dreams.

     

    Review:

    I just finished reading this gem of a book in one sitting, and am writing this review while the story is still fresh in my mind.

    The book takes inspiration from Malala Yousafzai’s life. The story deals with the harsh realities that we still face in countries like India and Pakistan. Being an Indian, I know that there are still many rural areas where these sort of incidents do occur. Families wish to have only boys to avoid spending on dowry, carrying the family name after marriage, etc. Amal is lucky in the story because she is born into a nice family with loving parents. Even when Amal faces her harsh new reality, she still has a decent job working for Nasreen Baji. In reality, children get physically abused and tortured when they fall into the wrong hands. However, since this is a middle grade novel, I liked the fact that it had a bit of a fairy tale like feel towards it and doesn’t get too gruesome.

    Reading such stories remind me of how lucky and thankful I am for being fortunate to live a content life. True, it is not perfect in any way, but it could always be worse. There are people who steal children from the streets and sell them for slavery in the Far East. Parents disown their children and send them to orphanages just for being born as girls. People kill people just because of their skin color, race, religion or sexuality. While these things are not going to change overnight, stories like this do bring it one step closer towards raising awareness. It is important for everyone to have an education and become aware to treat others with equality and respect.

    Anyway, coming back to the book, Aisha Saeed has done a wonderful job in beautifully portraying a serious issue in a simple yet compelling manner that would attract readers of all ages, not just children. Personally, I was hoping for a little more drama toward the climax where things don’t go according to her plan, just to make the story more interesting. However, I still loved reading this book! On a side note, the cover design is AMAZING as well! It has a wonderful contrast of colors and a beautiful henna of the world in the palm of Amal’s hands. I initially picked out this book without even reading the synopsis, just for the cover. Overall, “Amal Unbound” is a beautiful middle grade novel, and I feel should be a staple book read in schools.

  • The Heart Between Us: Two Sisters, One Heart Transplant, and a Bucket List by Lindsay Harrel

    The Heart Between Us: Two Sisters, One Heart Transplant, and a Bucket List by Lindsay Harrel

    Heart

    The Heart Between Us: Two Sisters, One Heart Transplant, and a Bucket List by Lindsay Harrel
    Release: March 13th 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Thomas Nelson
    Source: NetGalley

    Heart



    The Heart Between Us Synopsis:

    Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. She spent her entire childhood in and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s still working as a library aide in her small Minnesota hometown and living with her parents, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks.

    When her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey. She’s thrown for a loop when Crystal offers to join her for reasons of her own, but she welcomes the company and the opportunity to mend their tenuous relationship.

    As Megan and Crystal check items off the bucket list, Megan fights the fears that have been instilled in her after a lifetime of illness. She must choose between safety and adventure and learn to embrace the heart she’s been given so that she can finally share it with the people she loves most.

     

    Review:

    A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me a copy of “The Heart between Us: Two Sisters, One Heart Transplant, and a Bucket List” by Lindsay Harrel in exchange for my review. “The Heart between Us” is a very sweet heart-warming book. The two main aspects I liked about this book is the characters and the travel log.

    Lindsay Harrel has defined the characters wonderfully well and they are all likable. The author has written their development in such a smooth and moving manner. I love how Megan progressively transforms and gain the courage and confidence to fulfill Amanda’s dreams. Not only this, the author also focuses on the relationship development between the two sisters, with her parents and with her loved ones, giving equal importance to all of them. Megan and Crystal’s personalities and story-lines are unique, yet, the author does a good job in blending them at times. I loved how both the sisters are fighting their own battles, but seek help from each other to overcome them. More than Megan and Crystal, my favorite characters in the book were Amanda’s parents. The way they remain so positive and hopeful for Megan even after losing their daughter is touching and inspiring.

    Although I enjoyed reading both Megan and Crystal’s journey, I felt more emotionally attached towards Crystal’s story-line. This is mainly because I could relate to the difficulties she faces in managing her personal and professional life. From whatever I have experienced, it is not possible to allot equal time if you want to progress in both. I hoped the story would show that she can achieve all her goals (personal and professional) in a positive light. Unfortunately, Crystal has to choose between one over the other. The story also doesn’t become too preachy or religious even though it is termed as a Christian Fiction book.

    Moreover, the author has vividly highlighted some gorgeous locations in this book. Ms Harrel has described these places so beautifully that I felt I was experiencing it with Megan. Whether it’s Paris, London or Egypt, the author has showcased all the important highlights worth visiting. After reading this book, I want to do the scavenger hunt in London and run with the bulls in Pamplona. I have longed to see some of these places and hope to tour them sometime.

    The only reason I gave this 4 out of 5 stars is because the book seemed a bit predictable. It was also a bit monotonous at times. During the first half of the book where the sisters travel to a new destination, nothing really much happens other than Megan gaining her confidence. It is only towards the end of their travels that the story-line progresses. However, apart from this, I loved everything about this book! Overall, this is a charming, heart-felt book that I would recommend reading if you are in the mood for one.

  • See All the Stars by Kit Frick

    See All the Stars by Kit Frick

    Stars

    See All the Stars by Kit Frick
    Expected Release: August 14th 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: McElderry Books
    Source: NetGalley

    Stars



    See All The Stars Synopsis:

    It’s hard to find the truth beneath the lies you tell yourself.

    THEN They were four—Bex, Jenni, Ellory, Ret. Electric, headstrong young women; Ellory’s whole solar system.

    NOW Ellory is alone, her once inseparable group of friends torn apart by secrets, deception, and a shocking incident that changed their lives forever.

    THEN Lazy summer days. A party. A beautiful boy. Ellory met Matthias and fell into the beginning of a spectacular, bright love.

    NOW Ellory returns to Pine Brook to navigate senior year after a two-month suspension and summer away—no boyfriend, no friends. No going back. Tormented by some and sought out by others, troubled by a mysterious note-writer who won’t let Ellory forget, and consumed by guilt over her not entirely innocent role in everything and everyone she’s lost, Ellory finds that even in the present, the past is everywhere.

    The path forward isn’t a straight line. And moving on will mean sorting the truth from the lies—the lies Ellory has been telling herself.

     

    Review:

    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I…
    I stumbled upon this book and was mesmerized!

    A BIG Thank You to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing me a copy of “See All the Stars” by Kit Frick in exchange for my review.

    Before I get into the details, I LOVED reading this book and managed to finish most of it in one sitting.

    The story is written in a beautiful way where each chapter shifted between what’s happening NOW vs what’s happening THEN. Even though the setting changed between the chapters, the pacing remained consistent and kept me invested in the story. Throughout the book, the author cleverly integrates topics of friendship, breakups, and betrayals masked with a level of suspense. Furthermore, the ending completely threw me off. I am not going to spoil it, but I did not see that plot twist coming at all! I had to go back and re-read a few passages to see if it all fit, and it did! It’s one of those books that made me sit in awe after finishing, just to grasp it all in. That in itself makes this such a memorable read.

    Coming to the characters, the author has written them realistically that the reader can easily relate to. They are complex, have issues, make mistakes and act impulsively; in other words, they behave like teenagers. Moreover, I loved the analogy the author used to connect each character to a planet/star to describe their bond. Ellory is the main character and the person whom I could relate to the most. When she reminisces over her friendship with Ret, it made me recall about my past friendships and how they fell apart. Ret is a character you just love to hate. She oozes confidence and attracts people to be her friends for her own advantage. More than Ret, I think I despised Jenni. Even though she doesn’t appear much, I hated her attitude towards Ellory whenever she appeared.

    Kit Frick has done an amazing job in her debut novel and I have instantly become her fan! When I think about it, the story is nothing new and has been done countless times before. However, the way the author has weaved the words and described the story is so captivating that feels fresh. There was never a moment where I got bored and felt like skipping a few pages. Now that I have finished reading “See all the stars”, I am already anxiously looking forward to her next book release. Overall, I loved “See All the Stars” and highly recommend others to give it a chance and read it.

  • It’s All in the Planets by Preeti Shenoy

    It’s All in the Planets by Preeti Shenoy

    It's All in the Planets 

    It’s All in the Planets by Preeti Shenoy

    Release: September 15, 2016
    Format: Paperback
    Publisher: Westland
    Source:  Amzon
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible

    __

    __

    Meet Aniket, Twenty-seven, techie, Mr. Average. His best friend is Subbu, a nerd who breathes, thinks and lives code. Aniket cannot believe his luck when he starts dating Trish – a stunning, sexy model, who is totally out of his league. But Trish has a list of things she wants him to work on, beginning with his pot belly and his geekiness.

    Then there’s Nidhi, thirty-two, who has quit her corporate job to follow her passion. Her engagement is with Manoj, Mr.Perfect – except for one aspect.

    Aniket and Nidhi meet on a train, a chance encounter, and she agrees to become his ‘relationship coach’. It’s a decision that sets into motion a chain of events that will have a profound impact on the lives of all involved.

    One man, two women, and the trap called Destiny.Some things, they say, are all in the planets.

    About the Author:

    Preeti Shenoy, among the top five highest selling authors in India, is also on the Forbes longlist of the most influential celebrities in India.. Her work has seen translations in many languages. She is India’s most loved author, on life and relationships.

    India Today has named her as being unique for being the only woman in the best-selling league. Brands Academy awarded  her the ‘Indian of the Year’ award for 2017   for her contribution to Literature. She has also received the Academia award for Business Excellence by the New Delhi Institute of Management. Preeti has given talks in many premier educational institutions such as IITs and IIMs and corporate organisations like KPMG, Infosys and Accenture. She is also an artist specialising in portraiture and illustrated journalling.

    Various magazines have published her short stories and poetry such as Conde Nast and Verve.  BBC World, Cosmopolitan, The Hindu, Verve, Times of India and many more have featured her  publication.

    She has a very popular blog and also wrote a weekly column in The Financial Chronicle for many years. She has a massive online following. Her other interests are travel, photography and yoga. Her books include A Hundred Little Flames, It’s All In The Planets, Why We Love The Way We Do, The Secret Wish List, The One You Cannot Have and many others.

    Website | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook

    It’s All in the Planets Review:

    “When it comes to relationships, how many of us are certain? How can we be sure of the person we are marrying? So many things can change. The person we marry might change, we might change. There are no guarantees in life, more so in relationships and there is always some uncertainty. And yet, we all want to get married. We want a happily-ever-after. We see relationships around us breaking up all the time. And we say, ‘No, but we are different. That won’t happen to us.’ Isn’t it strange?”

    This is the first book I read of Preeti Shenoy, and I love her style of writing. The story is simple yet compelling; the characters are charming; and there are some surprise twists and turns that makes the book hard to put down.  Each chapter is written from the point of view of Aniket or Nidhi, the two main leads, so it was interesting to read how the same situation is interpreted from both their perspective.

    The main protagonists, Nidhi and Aniket, are sweet, quirky and down to earth that we can relate to. Even the supporting characters like their parents, Trish, Manoj, Subbu and Darshita are fun to read. In fact, I thought Trish was a very interesting and complex character, and would have loved to have some chapters from her perspective as well to see why she behaved that way. Even though this is considered as romance fiction, there is actually not much romance in it, as most of the book is about the strong friendship developed between Aniket and Nidhi (that doesn’t involve any romance), which is what made this such an enjoyable read. The author also provides some interesting tidbits on relationships such as life-mates vs. soul-mates, compromises etc. through Nidhi’s blog entries, and overlays the story-line with her thoughts on the fates and destiny.

    Overall, this is a fun, easy read that manages to touch on human emotions, and I loved it!