Conventionally Yours - Annabeth Albert

Date of Reading: 28/03/2020

Author: Annabeth Albert

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: June 2, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

When two "big name fans" go head-to-head at a convention, love isn't the only thing at stake.

Charming, charismatic, and effortlessly popular, Conrad Stewart seems to have it all...but in reality, he's scrambling to keep his life from tumbling out of control.

Brilliant, guarded, and endlessly driven, Alden Roth may as well be the poster boy for perfection...but even he can't help but feel a little broken inside.

When these mortal enemies are stuck together on a cross-country road trip to the biggest fan convention of their lives, their infamous rivalry takes a backseat as an unexpected connection is forged. Yet each has a reason why they have to win the upcoming Odyssey gaming tournament and neither is willing to let emotion get in the way―even if it means giving up their one chance at something truly magical.

Review:

       Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in . . .

I am slumped. How will you describe a book that you loved so much and no adjective is adequate to describe the feeling? Amazing, addictive, fast-paced, cute . . . it's everything and much more. The plethora of emotions this story arouses will leave you lightheaded for sure (in a good way, that is).

      Not many authors handle enemies to lovers trope really well and in that case, this book by Annabeth Albert, without a doubt, is a rare gem. The slow-burning romance involving two guys from different social backgrounds is dealt with an impeccable storyline; the cross-country road trip (I loved how four men team is eliminated to two), the Odyssey games and the family drama all produce an unrivalled emotional ambience. 
       Conrad and Alden have their own demons to fight. While the former is kicked out of home for being gay, Alden is battling the expectations of his super-academic family along with social awkwardness problems. Since both hide their problems quite efficiently, it takes some divine (or authorial) intervention to bring them together. And that makes one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read.
      The Odyssey game is an integral part of the storyline but you don't have to be a gamer to enjoy this. I hardly play any games, but reading this was like vicariously living through the characters. The thrill, dilemma, frustrations. . . you name it. And the Gamer Grandpa vlog is something to root for.
      All in all, a vibrant story that should not be missed. Thank you Sourcebooks for granting my wish through NetGalley. When everything is dark and gloomy outside, this was like getting your favourite dessert. 

Meet the author:

Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favourites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Alphabet Soup for Lovers - Anita Nair (Review & Summary)

Date of Reading: 21/03/2020

Author: Anita Nair

Publisher: Harper Collins

Year: 2015

Source: Nirmalagiri College Library

Rating: 4.5/5

About the book:

Lena Abraham knows that love can end in only one way - disappointment. Her marriage to KK is perfect precisely because she is not in love with him, and their life on a tea plantation in the picturesque Anamalai hills is idyllic. Then, one rainy morning, a man arrives to take up temporary residence in the homestay they run. Shoola Pani is south Indian cinema's heartthrob, an actor in flight from his own superstardom, and the last thing he is looking for is emotional entanglement. But when Lena and he meet, something flares between them that neither could have anticipated. She becomes his Lee and he her Ship, and the place they inhabit Arcadia. Told partly from the point of view of Komathi, whose own relationship with Lena is fraught with buried truths from the past, this searing tale of unexpected passion and adultery reaffirms the magical power of love in all our lives.

Review:

      I have this nasty habit of checking what others read. Quite irritating, I know. All the same, this is what brought this cute little story to my attention. The book was found on my colleague's table. Well, I am not a fan of 'Ladies Coupe' like many others, but Anita Nair's 'Mistress' is one of my all-time favourites. Understandably, I can't really pass this one, can I? Especially when it shares a remarkable likeness to 'Mistress'.

     The novel has a unique structure. Each chapter begins with a first-person narrative by Komathi and is titled with the name of a food or ingredient to make up an alphabet list. So instead of "A for Apple" we get "A for Appalam", the Tamil food item Komathi is familiar with. I was not familiar with all of them, but the way the author linked the events in the story to the food was quite remarkable. 

      The story revolves around the adulterous relationship of Lena with Shoola Pani, a famous South Indian actor. Both of them lead 'perfect' unhappy marriages and now a choice is given which will surely have consequences. Not a morally driven story in that respect, but which is better, living a lie or confronting the reality? I will leave that to your discretion.

     On the whole, this was a fast-paced, enjoyable read that had my brain wheels turning.

Summary:

      Komathi works as a servant on Anamalai Hills in the household of Lena. She had come to the family to look after Lena as a child. At that time she started calling her 'Leema', combining her original name with 'amma', as a term of respect.

     Now Lena lives with her husband KK and both of them are indifferent to each other. A new chapter begins in her life when a visitor comes to stay at the guest house they rent. The guest turns out to be Shoola Pani, one of the leading actors of Tamil cinema. In need of a break from the film shooting routine and his unhappy marriage, he has come to this place with a shaven head hoping that no one will recognise him. Most of the workers are from Assam or Jharkhand and so his plans worked to an extend. But Lena recognises him at the very first meeting itself and the two form an unlikely connection.

       The affair doesn't go unnoticed by Komathi who gets irritated with Lena because she is the one who spoiled her chance for happiness. Her lover Rayar is sent away from the household when Lena's mother noticed that her daughter is also interested in him. He never came back for Komathi.

      To ease Lena's guilty conscience, Shoola Pani goes to Pollachi to find Rayar. He is no longer with his wife and implies his willingness to accept Komathi. But Komathi refuses to seek him since he had already lived their dream with another woman. Still, she wants Lena to take some action to make herself happy.

      When Shoola Pani asks her to come with him, Lena shows reluctance. But a night's sleep clears her thoughts and she leaves with the actor. We will never know how their fates will play out, "But until they try it, how will they know?"

Favourite Quotes:

"Sometimes we tend to value things and people merely because they are inaccessible." - 16

"With the heart, you invest in another person. With your liver, you invest in yourself, and if you don't love yourself, how can you love someone else?" - 44

"I have often wished something would happen to bring her alive, inject some energy into their Dettol life. For that is how I see their lives - sterile, clean and dull." - (60 - 61)

Source: https://www.kveller.com/article/tomato-alphabet-soup/

"Sometimes we call a thing by a different name and tell ourselves it's something else even though we know the truth. We like to fool ourselves." - 69

"Sometimes we must make our own rules, depending on what works for us." - 123

"The thing about food, be it grain or vegetable or meat or fish, is that one must know what one can serve to whom. Every ingredient has a purpose and a message" -142

". . . we forget that we must make our lives to suit our taste, and not someone else's" - 190

"If you give it [regret] room, it will take over your life and poison your tomorrows" - 197

Meet the author:

Anita Nair is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of the novels The Better Man, Ladies Coupé, Mistress, Lessons in Forgetting, Idris: Keeper of the Light and Alphabet Soup for Lovers. She has also authored a crime series featuring Inspector Gowda.

Anita Nair’s other books include a collection of poems titled Malabar Mind, a collection of essays titled Goodnight & God Bless and six books for children. Anita Nair has also written two plays and the screenplay for the movie adaptation of her novel Lessons in Forgetting which was part of the Indian Panorama at IFFI 2012 and won the National Film Award in 2013. Among other awards, she was also given the Central Sahitya Akademi award and the Crossword Prize. Her books have been translated into over thirty-one languages around the world. She is also the founder of the creative writing and mentorship program Anita’s Attic.

To Lahore, with Love - Hina Belitz (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 19/03/2020

Author: Hina Belitz

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: March 19, 2020

Rating: 3/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

Addy Mayford has always struggled with her identity. Brought up in a household of stories, food and faith by her Irish mother and Pakistani Nana, she feels constantly torn between the two sides of her upbringing. Since the death of her father, she's found contentment cooking delicious recipes from his home city of Lahore, despite the protestations of her mother that being a chef is no career for a young woman. It's only with the love of her gorgeous husband, Gabe, that she's truly found happiness.

When Addy stumbles across a secret that shatters her world, she desperately needs to escape and is drawn to the sights of Lahore and the family she's never known. Waiting for her there is Addy's final acceptance of who she is, and a long-buried family secret that will change her life forever.

A truly feel-good and heartwarming novel for readers of Sofia Khan is Not Obliged, the Amir Sisters novels and Ruth Hogan

Review:

      Reading this book reminded me a lot of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's epic novel 'The Mistress of Spices'. Both share a central theme: food can work miracles, it can change a person's mood and even affect their decisions. The only thing to know is how to tap that power. Here is a piece of good news then; each chapter begins with a secret recipe which is helpful in tackling various life situations. They do have some cute names too, beginning with Commitment Cake to Amorous Chilli Chocolate and Calm-Making Cauliflower. So if you desire to enhance your culinary skills, this will surely appeal to the chef inside you and if you are a foodie like me . . . well, be prepared to appease your stomach some way.

       The story deals with Addy's journey of self-realisation; brought up by her Irish mother and Pakistani nana, she is truly a product of east and west. With her cooking powers, she manages to get Gabe to propose to her but now that safely guarded marriage is crumbling. With Nana and best friend Jen, she undertakes a journey to Lahore in search of the answer to something everyone asks: Why did this happen to me? All our religions say that everything happens for a reason, but will we ever accept it without proof? Will Lahore change her life? That's all the story is about.

      Apart from the rushed ending where so many things happened which are not completely relevant to the plot, this novel had me glued to the kindle. The pages just flew by and before I know it, ninety percent of the story is over. I loved the way Lahore came alive in the novel, thanks to the author's brilliant writing skills. Altogether an engaging and powerful read, that left me with a growling stomach. 

Meet the author:

HINA BELITZ is an author and renowned equal rights lawyer. Born in Pakistan to an Indian father and a mother of Iranian, Afghan and Indian descent, Belitz was brought up in Hampshire – a place starkly different to her parent’s home city of Lahore, and where she was the only Asian person in her school. Her debut novel, SET ME FREE, was critically acclaimed and led to her being interviewed by Morgan Freeman and starring in a National Geographic documentary about love. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications including the Guardian and the BBC.

A lot of the narrative in TO LAHORE, WITH LOVE has its roots in Hina's own life experience. She writes pieces on: Normalising Asian stories, food and identity, diversity in literature, careers and women, surviving heartbreak, fertility and growing up in the English countryside, amongst other topics. Follow Hina on Twitter: @Hina_Belitz

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill - Abbi Waxman (Review & Summary)

Date of Reading: 10/03/2020

Author: Abbi Waxman

Publisher: Berkely

Publication Date: July 9, 2019

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.

1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)

2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).

3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

Review:

       I don't think any book lover alive fail to relate to this book as one or other way Nina Hill represents some of our quirky character traits. Thanks are due to my book club for selecting this as the BOTM; looks like that was the only incentive I needed to transfer it from my TBR pile. And so glad I did.

      As you must have gathered from the blurb, the story revolves around Nina Hill, a bookworm who prefer books to reality. Aren't we all? Her days are meticulously arranged with a planner and all these come tumbling down when the father she never knew suddenly died, leaving behind a large family. This is a precarious situation. Now she is forced to get her head out of books, and mingle with actual people. Sounds familiar guys?

       With lots of bookish references, dry humour and a whole set of endearing characters, this book proves to be a light-hearted and engaging tale from beginning to end. So bookworms of the world unite in reading this; after all, this is your story.

Summary:

       Nina is the daughter of a single mother who is a world-famous travelling photographer. Due to her mother’s frequent travels, she is practically raised by her nanny, Louise. Now at the age of twenty-nine, she is happy with her job in the bookstore, her trivia team and the company of her cat, Phil. Everything changes with the visit of a lawyer who informs her that her father, William Reynolds, is dead. Though she knew that her mother is not Virgin Mary type, she was not expecting to hear about the father figure in her life. To make matters worse, her father has married three times and consequently, she has four siblings and a bunch of nephews, nieces, grandniece and grandnephews.
       Her nephew Peter comes forward to introduce the family and soon Nina learns that genetic plays a great role in creating similarities. Even with Archie, her brother whom she thought will be resentful, she finds a comradeship since both share anxiety issues. But Lydia, her grandniece refuses to accept her and considers her as a gold digger.
         Meanwhile, Tom, the leader of their opposite trivia team (You’re a Quizzard Harry) is interested in Nina. They are put together in many situations quite ‘coincidentally’ thanks to the matchmaking skills of both their friends. Nina is not comfortable with surprises or changing her schedule but with Tom, she feels a sense of security. Same goes with her family since she feels no qualms about changing her plans for her youngest sister, Millie, who is also heavily invested in books. But her anxiety problems come as a villain again and cracks begin to appear in her relationship with Tom. The news of her bookstore about to get closed causes a panic attack, but instead of taking the help of Tom, she prefers to spend her time alone as her usual habit. But unlike earlier times, wrapping herself in a cocoon fails to give much comfort.
      Finally, the anticipated will reading occurs with the huge wealth of William Reynolds divided among his legitimate children and grandchildren. Nina is left with her father’s favourite car (a1982 Pontiac Trans Am). She is asked to drive it at least once even if she chooses to sell it. With the help of Moltres, the garage keeper, Nina manages to learn driving and inside she finds letters addressed to all children and grandchildren. 
         From the letter addressed to her, she learns that her father was keeping track of her life even though he was not allowed to meet her. He confesses to the mistakes he has made and asks her to learn something from his experience. He has left more than two and a half million dollars to her but his real gift is her newly acquired family. Nina delivers her father’s letter to Lydia and finally, both of them realizes their bond. Lydia, it seems, is quite brilliant with trivia. 
    Nina goes to Southern California Quiz Bowl Final because Tom’s team has reached the final round. When a question is posed to the audience, in typical cinematic fashion, Nina makes her feelings public and apologizes to Tom. The lovers patch up their differences and there begins their happily ever after. Nina buys the bookshop with her money and intends to spend her whole life with books.

Meet the author:

Abbi Waxman, the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, Other People’s Houses, and The Garden of Small Beginnings, is a chocolate-loving, dog-loving woman who lives in Los Angeles and lies down as much as possible. She worked in advertising for many years, which is how she learned to write fiction. She has three daughters, three dogs, three cats, and one very patient husband.

Someday, Someday - Emma Scott

Date of Reading: 13/03/2020

Author: Emma Scott

Publication Date: November 24, 2019

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

How long would you wait for love?

Max Kaufman was kicked out of his home as a teen and his life has been an uphill battle ever since. From addiction and living on the streets to recovery and putting himself through nursing school, he’s spent the last ten years rebuilding his shattered sense of self. Now he’s taken a job as a private caretaker to Edward Marsh III, the president and CEO of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Max soon learns Marsh’s multi-billion-dollar empire is a gold and diamond-encrusted web of secrets and lies.

The longer Max works and lives with the Marsh family, the tighter the secrets tangle around him. And his heart—that he’s worked so hard to protect—falls straight into the hands of the distant, cold, and beautiful son of a dynasty…

Silas Marsh is set to inherit the family fortune, but his father is determined his heir be the “perfect” son. Before Silas can take over the company and end its shady business practices, he must prove himself worthy…and deny his true nature.

Silas must choose: stand up to his father by being true to himself and his undeniable feelings for Max. Or pretend to be someone he is not in order to inherit everything. Even if it means sacrificing a chance at happiness and real love.

Review:

     Wow! Wow! Wow!!!

      I postponed writing this review to give my overactive heart some respite. Still, I am not sure how much coherent I could be. Telling that this had been an emotionally overwhelming read is an understatement. I laughed, wept (being both happy and sad), got angry . . . yes, I am practically an emotional mess now.

      Emma Scott has dedicated this book to "everyone still fighting for the basic human right to love who you want to love without prejudice, censure, or torment". She says this is her small contribution to this end and in my eyes, her voice had been heard loud and clear. The story deals with a lot of issues: homophobia, drug addiction, conversion therapy and PTSD are to name quite a few. There is even one character with Asperger's. 

         Writing a novel addressing all these issues is quite a challenge but Scott has done it splendidly. Everything had its place and nothing felt unrealistic. The love story links all the details with precision, making the author's crafting skills shine throughout. Afterall a Cinderella story where both the protagonists are in benefit will melt even an iron core heart.

      Max and Silas, our gorgeous Greek God level leading characters have gatecrashed into my heart from the very beginning; I don't think they are planning to leave anytime soon. The way they were helping each other, tackling their emotional baggage . . . makes one happy to know them. I couldn't leave Eddie from this either, the eldest Marsh boy living in the Dickensian era. I say, my good man, you are the best big brother anyone can hope for.

      Yup, that's it. I am going to read this again. So if you love m/m romance look no further; this, without a doubt, is one of the best.

Meet the author:

Emma Scott is a USA Today and Wall St. Journal bestselling author whose books have been translated in five languages and featured in Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, New York Daily News and USA Today’s Happy Ever After. She writes emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy her novels.

Defy the Sun - Jessika Fleck (Blog Tour & Giveaway)

Date of Reading: 08/03/2020

Author: Jessika Fleck

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Publication Date: March 10, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 3/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Expresso Book Tours)

About the book:

Civil war has come to the island of Bellona. Veda Adeline believes in the Night. She’s joined the underground revolutionaries, led by Dorian Winters, and they're determined to overthrow the ruling Imperi and find justice for her people.

Nico Denali, Veda’s childhood friend and maybe-something-more, is one of those ruling Imperi, and he’s just been named heir to the most powerful man above ground.

As the war intensifies, Veda and Nico are leveraged against each other: Veda is above as a hostage of the Imperi and Nico is below, taken by the Night. There's no way Dorian is letting such a valuable hostage go.

The island will burn unless Veda and Nico can come together to rip everything apart. But Nico and Dorian will never trust each other, and Veda's heart might be the biggest casualty.

The stakes are all or nothing in this second and final book in the BEWARE THE NIGHT duology.

Review:

       Book two in the series takes off directly from where the last book ended. And there is one plus point: we get to hear the voice of Nico this time along with Veda. Except for the love triangle part, I had loved the first book and 'Defy the Sun' doesn't disappoint either.

       Things escalate as the two heirs are taken captive which also gives them an opportunity to sway the enemy to their side to create a unified front. Nico as always is my favourite: his irrevocable love towards Veda, the driving force behind all his actions is quite admirable. Veda, on the other hand, is not that great on the constant part but I am glad that she made a decision at the end.

      Some characters like Poppy is particularly missed even with the others trying to fill the gap. I loved Nico's mother particularly, even with her small but relevant part. The conclusion, I felt, could have been drawn out a bit more with added amounts of anxiety. There are some deaths, but we get the happy ending we waited for: ad astra. Altogether, an engaging and enjoyable read!

Meet the author:

Jessika Fleck is a YA & MG author, unapologetic coffee drinker, and knitter — she sincerely hopes to one day discover a way to do all three at once. Until then, she continues collecting vintage typewriters and hourglasses, dreaming of an Ireland getaway, and convincing her husband they NEED more kittens. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beware the Night - Jessika Fleck

Date of Reading: 04/03/2020

Author: Jessika Fleck

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Publication Date: March 12, 2019

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 3/5

About the book:

When her world divides, pitting light against dark, Veda must join a dangerous revolution to save her grandfather and fight against injustice...even if it costs her the boy she loves.

On the island of Bellona, life is peaceful--as long as the citizens dutifully worship the Sun, which protects them from all harm. Seventeen-year-old Veda knows that keeping the Sun happy will protect her and her grandfather from the Night, the dangerous people who snatch innocent citizens from their beds under the cover of darkness, never to be seen again. As long as Veda follows the rules, she will be safe.

But when Veda's grandfather is offered up as the next sacrificial offering to keep the Sun's favour, she starts to see that the safety she's been promised comes at a dangerous price. Maybe there is more to fear above than there is below.

With a mysterious young man, Dorian, at her side, Veda has to figure out if the scary bedtime stories she grew up hearing are real--or dangerous lies.

Review:

        I do love a good forbidden romance with all the class clash going around and so selecting this book was a no brainer. Set in Bellona, an island country where people worship the sun and is asked to be afraid of the night, the first book in this duology creates all the necessary angst and thrill for an adventure about to begin.

       Let me start with the good bits. The staunch rivalry between the followers of Sun and Night (Moon) is quite appealing, owing to the brilliant narrative style which is a combination of legend and real life. The division prevalent between the imperial Doggio and oppressed Basso is vividly portrayed through the lives of our star crossed lovers, each belonging to separate strata of the Bellonian society. Mysteries unfold in regular intervals and there is no dull moment in this story. . . well, except for the lengthy part where Veda takes her time to think everything through.

       Now to the parts didn't really work for me; actually, there is only one in the hate list -- the love triangle. And drove me mad is the fact that while the two boys after Veda is completely faithful to her, Veda, on the other hand, encourages both of them quite shamelessly (not just in words, but through kissing). Sure, she is confused with all the sudden changes in her life, but this is cutting it too far. In the end, I resorted to ignoring her to enjoy the story better. I just really hope the next book won't continue this romantic drama.

Meet the author:

Jessika Fleck is a YA & MG author, unapologetic coffee drinker, and knitter — she sincerely hopes to one day discover a way to do all three at once. Until then, she continues collecting vintage typewriters and hourglasses, dreaming of an Ireland getaway, and convincing her husband they NEED more kittens. 

The Magnolia Sisters - Alys Murray (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 01/03/2020

Author: Alys Murray

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: March 5, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by the publisher)

About the book:

Harper Anderson has a to-do list longer than the Colorado River, and fields of tulips to tend to at her family’s flower farm in Hillsboro County, California. It’s her dream to run the business with her sisters when their father retires, keeping up traditions that began with her great-great-grandmother.

That is if there’s a farm left to run. Rich out-of-towners looking for a slice of country living are hiking up the prices in town and it’s putting her family out of business. So she has no time for the arrogant LA tech mogul who makes her an offer to use their farm as his sister’s wedding venue. No amount of money could make up for the destruction it would wreak on next season’s crop. The sooner Luke Martin is on his way, the better.

But Luke isn’t willing to go. He’s been looking out for his sister ever since their deadbeat parents left them to fend for themselves, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy. So when Harper’s newest farmhand leaves her in the lurch, he sees an opportunity to strike a deal. He’ll work on the farm for free if she’ll give him the chance to change her mind.

Harper and Luke each expect the other to crack first. What they don’t expect is the chemistry that sparks between them as they work side by side among the budding roses. But Luke’s presence is turning over more than the earth, and just as Harper is starting to let her guard down, he stumbles upon a secret that could spell disaster for the entire Anderson clan.

With her family’s happiness at stake, can Harper put her trust in a man who is worlds apart from everything she knows? 

Review:

      I must probably be living under a rock or why didn't I hear about this author before? So here I go with nothing but the blurb as my guide and what I find is a modern version of 'Pride and Prejudice'. Did you hear a scream? Yes, that's me jumping up and down in excitement. If you want to know, that happened pretty much throughout the reading process. Had my sister worried.

       So what is that glued me to the kindle? Everything -- vibrant and funny characters, the language that flows off the page, a storyline that makes you tingle . . . well, the list goes on. A kickass heroine prejudiced against the city dwellers, a socially awkward billionaire uttering all the wrong words -- that surely is a killer combination proved and tested from the classic times onwards. And it has ticked all the boxes for me: enemies to lovers, siblings love, and to top it all a sassy narrative that engages you throughout.

        Anderson family is similar to the Bennetts in most ways including a mother who is socially humiliating (in the perspective of Harper, anyway). The flower farm setting, if you borrow the term from Indian aesthetics, just adds to the rasa. I loved the way the bond between Harper and Luke developed slowly, thanks to some sisterly meddling from both sides. I don't want a single thing to be changed about this book, it's going straight to my favourite shelf.

        A sweet romance that will cheer you up and comfort you like a gift of flowers. Highly recommended!!!

Meet the author:

Alys Murray is an author who writes for the romantic in all of us. Though she graduated with a degree in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a Master’s in Film Studies from King’s College London, her irrepressible love of romance led her to a career as an author, and she couldn’t be happier to write these stories! Currently splitting time between her home state of Louisiana and London, she enjoys kissing books, Star Wars, and creating original pie recipes for all of her books. Tobey Maguire is her Spider-Man.  

Tweet Cute - Emma Lord

Date of Reading: 15/02/2020

Author: Emma Lord

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Publication Date: January 21, 2020

Rating: 4/5

About the book:

A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.

Review:

        This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 and the expectations were not unfounded. For one, it didn't really go the way I expected. Happy ending? Yes. Family drama? A bit over the top. The complete role reversals at the end took me by surprise and that is what I loved about this story. Who would have guessed? I am bursting here to tell you who the good party is but reining in so your reading won't be spoiled.

       Now to the parts that could have been improved. Since this is centred around high school I was hoping for more banter and snarky tweets. Somehow the twitter war didn't go well with me, but the Weazel app Jack built brought back the fun. Emma Lord discusses some of the prominent issues faced by any high schooler especially the desire for parental approval, student rivalry and mounting anxiety levels. Well, this is one of those occasions where I felt completely glad to be out of high school.

        Overall, a refreshingly beautiful read that many in the new generation can identify with. One final warning before I wrap up. Make sure to stock your fridge before starting on this one. You are bound to get hungry . . . a lot.

Meet the author:

Emma Lord is a digital media editor and writer living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn’t writing either running or belting show tunes in community theatre. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. She was raised on glitter, grilled cheese, and a whole lot of love. Her sun sign is Hufflepuff, but she is a Gryffindor rising.