A Wish in the Dark - Christina Soontornvat (Review & Summary)

Date of Reading: 14/1/2022

Author: Christina Soontornvat

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: March 24, 2020

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

A boy on the run. A girl determined to find him.

All light in Chattana is created by one man — the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. The wealthy dine and dance under bright orb light, while the poor toil away in the darkness. Worst of all, Pong’s prison tattoo marks him as a fugitive who can never be truly free.

Nok, the prison warden’s perfect daughter, is bent on tracking Pong down and restoring her family’s good name. But as Nok hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she uncovers secrets that make her question the truths she has always held dear. Set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world, and inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.

Review:

        The first thing that I thought after finishing the last page is 'Where did I come to know this book from?'. Is it GoodReads, Twitter or another book blog? I don't have the slightest idea. The book has been on my TBR for more than a month now and I am so grateful to whoever made me add this to my shelf. So here I am, passing on the baton hoping that 'A Wish in the Dark' will find a place on many more bookshelves.

        Most have categorised it as a middle-grade children's story, but I feel that this belong to the young adult. Intricately woven, the novel starts from Namwon prison to the monastery in the outskirts and back to Chattana assembling a plethora of characters uniquely crafted. What I loved the most about this book is the good feeling it projects, just like Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables'. As a huge fan of this classic (the abridged version that is), it is no coincidence that I fell completely for it.

        Pong might be the central character but the one that drew my attention was Nok. She reminded me a lot of one of my classmates, the daughter of a police officer, who supported the third-degree interrogation methods. Well, law and order need to be maintained, but that is not an excuse for being inhuman. I wish Nok had come to her senses even without that shocking reveal.

        Inspiring, poignant and dramatic -- yup, that is exactly what this story felt. A blessing in the darkest times.

Summary: 

        Pong is a nine-year-old boy born in Chattana’s Namwon prison. His mother died in childbirth but according to the prison rules the children of the prisoners can go out only when they complete their parent’s sentence or when they turn thirteen, whichever is earlier. With his closest friend Somkit, he dreams of that freedom. Chattana is governed by a man known as Governor after the Great Fire ravaged the city. Now instead of fire, the people use the magical orbs provided by the governor as the energy source. 

        Everyone admires the Governor and Pong is no exception. He longs to work for the great man one day. But these hopes are shattered when the Governor comes for a visit to the prison. While trying to save Somkit from the bullying of older inmates, he is noticed and humiliated by the Governor. He says, “Those who are born in darkness always return”. The words have shaken Pong and when a chance arises he escapes from Namwon.

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        As a fugitive, he cannot remain in Chattana. His prison tattoo can be easily recognised. He is caught stealing food from a monastery and the senior monk Father Cham takes him in and conceals his tattoo by using blessing threads. All his blessings, however irrelevant they may seem to be, come to pass. Four years pass. Pong, as a novice monk, feels secure that everyone must have forgotten him back in Chattana. Then the family of the former warden of Namwon pays a visit to the village and Nok Sivapan, the warden’s daughter recognises Pong.

        Nok is a diligent follower of the law and just like the governor believes that the light shines upon the worthy. She is born out of an affair her father had and her family is scared of the scandal that may come any time. They decide to leave her in the village. Nok vouches to capture Pong to redeem her family’s image and to secure her place with them. Meanwhile, Father Cham became bedridden. Before his death, he gives Pong a special blessing “May you find what you are looking for”. 

        To escape from Nok, Pong jumps off a cliff and nearly drowns. Accidentally saved by a boat, he reaches Chattana and coincidentally meets his friend Somkit. Staying with him he gets involved in a march against the Governor organised by Ampai. Pong later learns that she was a child once saved and blessed by Father Cham. With Somkit’s techniques, they manage to produce light from the globes through the absorption of sunlight. Pong helps to find the useless globes they need with his keen eyes.

       Nok is back in Chattana without the knowledge of her parents. While searching for Pong, she manages to hear about the planned march and warns the Governor. Contrary to her expectations he was already aware of this. He talks about her birth mother who was a criminal in Namwon prison. She was born there. This comes as a blow to her previous beliefs and finally, she can understand why Pong tried to escape.

        A fire breaks out before the march and Ampai dies saving the people trapped in it. Others still decide to go on with the march commemorating her memory. Somkit gets a permit for Pong so he can escape when everyone’s attention is drawn to the march. The freedom he longed for is within his grasp, but Pong feels empty. He gets a vision from Father Cham and realises that the Governor got his powers from Father Cham’s blessing. 

        Pong decides to go back and reason with the Governor, but it was too late. Governor has already cut off the lights from their district. Desperate he tried to cut off the Governor’s bracelet, representing the blessing he received, and the light passes to his body. From his hands, it spreads to the bodies of others. Governor has lost his power. He pushes Pong to the river but Nok comes to his rescue.

https://www.zerochan.net/

       Chattana starts creating its own light through Somkit’s methods and a new era has begun.

Meet the author:

Christina Soontornvat grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town with her nose stuck in a book. She is very proud of both her Thai and her Texan roots, and makes regular trips to both Weatherford and Bangkok to see her beloved family members (and eat lots and lots of Thai food!). Christina is the author of the fantasy middle grade series, The Changelings, and the early chapter book series, Diary of an Ice Princess. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, two young children, and one old cat.

Duvet Day - Emily Kerr (Review)

Finished Reading: 6/6/2021

Author: Emily Kerr

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: May 27, 2021

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

About the book:

Young lawyer Alexa Humphries’s one true love is her precious duvet, yet she is torn from its comforting embrace every morning while the foxes are still scavenging the bins outside and doesn’t get back until long after most normal people are already asleep. Worn down by the endless demands of her suspicious boss and her competitive, high-flying housemate and fellow lawyer, Zara, Alexa barely recognises herself anymore. This wasn’t how life was supposed to be.

But today is different. Today, Alexa just cannot get out of bed to face the world. Everyone deserves a duvet day, don’t they?

But what starts as a mini-rebellion against the tyranny of her job soon sees her locked out of the flat wearing nothing but a unicorn onesie and what’s left of her dignity. Desperate to track down a spare set of keys before her back-stabbing housemate finds out she’s pulled a sickie, Alexa sets off on a wild goose chase across London. Before long, she’s being blackmailed by an annoyingly handsome photo-journalist, forcing her to trail after him while the hours before she has to get home tick down.

As Alexa’s dreams of Netflix and self-care turn into the duvet day from hell, what’s starting to feel a lot like the beginning of a breakdown might actually be the making of her. Will she get home in time to keep her job … and does she even want to?

Review:

        It is not every day one is fortunate to find a book with Sophie Kinsella vibes -- a lot of self-deprecating humour, finding your way back in the world . . . you know the drill. Kerr's writing may not be as polished as Kinsella's but her heroine definitely is one of the best.

        Meet Alexa Humphries. A young lawyer in one of the top law firms in London. Top of her class and pride of her teachers. If only her work life is as happy as everyone believes it to be! Back to reality: she is struggling with the pressures at work, weary of her co-worker slash housemate, hasn't even met the third housemate and quite obviously, no friends in London.

        And one day all tides break loose. She had enough of it and in a daring moment, she never thought she was even capable of, she called in a sickie. But the hopes of having a duvet day with Nutella and Netflix is soon turned into a nightmare when she is left locked outside. There begins the journey to secure a key and also a journey to get back to her life that is lost.

        I loved this story this much because of Alexa. She is so down to earth and passionate about her career and there is no wonder people took advantage of her. She is a wolf in sheep's clothing who finally came to believe that she is also a sheep. Kerr has kept the romance element to a minimum which I loved (Sam is not really a likeable character, by the way). So if you are in need of an inspirational story during the pandemic where a young woman finally learns to stand up for herself, then look no further. Happy reading everyone!!!

Meet the author:

Emily Kerr has been scribbling stories on bits of paper ever since she learnt how to write. She works as a journalist and is based in Yorkshire.

She can generally be found with her nose in a book, or hunched up over her laptop typing away, though she has been known to venture outside every so often to take part in various running-based activities.

Emily loves to hear from readers. You can tweet her @EmilyKerrWrites or check out her Facebook page www.facebook.com/emilykerrwrites and website www.emilykerrwrites.com.

On the Hook - Francisco X. Stork (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 11/05/2021

Author: Francisco X. Stork

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: May 18, 2021

Source: Edelweiss+

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Colored Pages Tours)

About the book:

"You think you’re better than everyone else?

Listen to me, I’m going to kill you.”

Hector has always minded his own business, working hard to make his way to a better life someday. He’s the chess team champion, helps the family with his job at the grocery, and teaches his little sister to shoot hoops overhand.

Until Joey singles him out. Joey, whose older brother, Chavo, is head of the Discípulos gang, tells Hector that he’s going to kill him: maybe not today, or tomorrow, but someday. And Hector, frozen with fear, does nothing. From that day forward, Hector’s death is hanging over his head every time he leaves the house. He tries to fade into the shadows – to drop off Joey’s radar – to become no one.

But when a fight between Chavo and Hector’s brother Fili escalates, Hector is left with no choice but to take a stand.

The violent confrontation will take Hector places he never expected, including a reform school where he has to live side-by-side with his enemy, Joey. It’s up to Hector to choose whether he’s going to lose himself to revenge or get back to the hard work of living.

Review:

        Ah! This book . . . it has made me speechless and flabbergasted. Why did I ever sign up for this nerve-racking, utterly realistic, anxiety inducer? And why are my eyes constantly leaking? It is high time I dusted my room. My allergies are getting worse it seems.

        Let's talk about the story then. Hector is your typical smart ass nerdy student who is timid around girls but brutal on a chess board. He is all set for his future academic endeavours which can take him out of that shitty neighbourhood of drug dealers until everything goes down the drain when he is singled out by Joey. He is bullied and threatened to the point that the fear begins to consume him.

        Things begin to take a turn for the worse when his brother Fili is killed by Joey in his fight against Joey's brother, Chavo. Hector temporarily decapacitates Chavo and both of them are sent to a school for correction for six months. A lie could have saved Hector but he has an ulterior motive now: revenge. He needs to kill Joey.

        He could either go on with his life with the insurance money his brother has left or pursue revenge which will ultimately shut him permanently in a federal prison. So what is it to be? The agony had me glued to the kindle the entire time, sharing his pain, anger and guilt of watching his brother helplessly being killed in front of him. It could be my primitive animalistic nature speaking here, but I wanted Hector to kill Joey, the consequences be damned. Yes, Joey had his share of a tragic past, but does knowing that take away the pain of a loved one lost forever?

        Unfortunately the odds are stacked against Hector. This is no fantasy movie where the traumatised hero can be transformed into a vigilante overnight. How could one fight against someone good in street fighting? And with each opportunity lost where Hector gets humiliated, my anger rose to new levels. That is why I really appreciate the way author chose to end the story satisfying both the good and the bad.

        It goes without saying that this is one of the best books I have read this year. It has been a long time since I felt so close to a particular character as if he is a living breathing human being with emotions so real.

Favourite quotes:

"Courage was more than the willingness to take risks. . . It was composure under pressure, the ability to keep the mind alert and focused no matter what."

"I've watched my own cowardice with my mind's flashlight for many years. Looking at it doesn't make it go away. It just helps me live with it. As far as I can tell, that's what courage is, finding a way to live with our cowardice."

"Happiness is what you like to do, and duty is what you need to do. But what if the duty comes from love?"

Meet the author:

Francisco X. Stork was born in Mexico. He moved to El Paso Texas with his adoptive father and mother when he was nine. He attended Spring Hill College, Harvard University and Columbia Law School. He worked as an attorney for thirty-three years before retiring in 2015. He is married and has two grown children and four beautiful grandkids. He loves to discover new books and authors. His favorite books are those where the author’s soul touches his.

Strictly on Ice - Helen Buckley (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 7/4/2021

Author: Helen Buckley

Publisher: ChocLit

Publication Date: March 9, 2021

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

When falling in love comes with the risk of falling flat on your face ...

Former Olympic skating champion Katie Saunders is well known for her ‘ice queen’ persona in the press. On the face of it, perhaps Katie should have forgiven her former skating partner and ex-boyfriend, Alex Michaelson, for the accident that shattered both her ankle and their Olympic dreams – but she just can’t seem to let it go.

When Katie reluctantly agrees to take part in a new TV skating show, it’s only because she’s desperate for cash. What she didn’t count on is the drama – not only is she partnered up with infamous love rat rugby player Jamie Welsh, but one of the judges is none other than Alex Michaelson himself.

As the show progresses, will Katie be shown the hard way, once again, that romance on the ice should remain strictly off-limits?

Review:

        It is always a rare treat to meet a book that surprises you. Here I was, expecting a laid back romance and what did I find? A story so evocative and nerve-racking that I finished half of it pacing through my room, kindle on hand, everything else forgotten. As you have rightly assumed, this is no story for work nights.

        A seemingly innocent reality show and an opportunity for past lovers to reunite. What is there to go wrong? On one side, we have handsome, charismatic AlexMichaelson, the public's favourite and on the other, the clumsy Jamie Welsh, notorious for cheating his wife. Well, another lesson to not believe everything on the papers.

        What makes this novel special is the delicate and daring way the author handled the issue of domestic violence and the exploitation of a young girl that made it close to reality. I have heard of similar things happening with actresses, especially those who taste fame at a very young age. Well, maybe we don't have to look that far for instances, it could be anyone around us, trapped and dependent with no way out.

        From beginning to the very end, this had been an enlightening read and the narration which juxtaposed the present and the past only heightened the feeling that this is one of the best books I read this year.

Meet the author:

Helen Buckley lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and two sons. After working in the charity sector in the UK and abroad, she turned her hand to writing and her first novel, Star in the Shadows, was published in 2019. 

She writes any moment that she can, enthralled by stories of fame, romance, and happy ever afters. Apart from being addicted to writing and enjoying soft play with her sons, she’s an avid reader, action-movie fan, and chocolate addict.

Follow Helen on social media to find out more about her work or to get in touch:

Twitter: @HelenCBuckley

Instagram: @helencatherinebuckley

Facebook: @HelenBuckleyAuthor

Sign up to Helen's newsletter for the latest updates and exclusive content - http://eepurl.com/hs251H

A Pho Love Story - Loan Le (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 14/2/2021

Author: Loan Le

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: February 9, 2021

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4.5/5

(This review part of the blog tour organised by The Coloured Pages Tours)

About the book:

If Bao Nguyen had to describe himself, he’d say he was a rock. Steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. He works at his parents’ pho restaurant, and even there, he is his parents’ fifth favourite employee. Not ideal.

If Linh Mai had to describe herself, she’d say she was a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and fire. She loves art and dreams of pursuing a career in it. The only problem? Her parents rely on her in ways they’re not willing to admit, including working practically full-time at her family’s pho restaurant.

For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighbouring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.

But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember.

Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighbouring restaurants.

Review:

        There is no need to wonder why 'Romeo and Juliet' is still popular. Times might have changed but we have similar scenarios even now, apparently. And thus we have 'A Pho Love Story' . .  oh, don't worry . . . with a happy ending. After all, anything can be resolved if you can talk it out.

        I am neither Vietnamese nor American but anyone from Asian families can really relate to Loan Le's debut. The family rivalry is one thing and along with that is the pressing matter of following your dreams. Its all charming and inspiring, but by the end, it all comes down to one thing: economic security. Can we really blame their parents for looking out for their children?

        Reading the way Bao and Linh weave through this complex family situation was altogether rewarding and amusing. Linh is an aspiring artist and consequently bears the burden of her parent's expectations due to her talent in academics. Bao, on the other hand, is another story. He revels in being mediocre and that strategy eventually allowed him to walk on his chosen path without much family drama. Fewer expectations, fewer demands and more freedom. Isn't that clever?

        But my most favourite part is the Vietnamese food and culture referred throughout the story, like the right kind of spice to a curry. Struggles in a foreign country, racist remarks and language barrier all plays its part and one cannot but salute both these families. 

        And I cannot forget Chef Le, our 'little' meddler. He surely is a force to deal with and the parts he were in is the quite memorable ones. His life, in a way, represents the future that awaits our cute couple. Whether it is love or career, a little bit of courage can surely make a change.

Favourite Quotes:

"It's generally accepted that in families like ours, the older kids have it way harder. We're the guinea pigs in a real-world lab"

"I never thought I'd ever feel weak-kneed -- that is for damsels in distress or elderly people with low blood pressure -- but I guess it's the same for first kisses"

"The feeling of lying has become all too familiar. It's not the nervousness of hiding something now -- it's the shame that weighs me down, more and more."

"But in anything you love, isn't there always some bit of sadness, some essence of suffering? That, to me, is what makes art worth it"

Meet the author:

Loan Le is the youngest child of two Vietnamese immigrants hailing from Nha Trang. She holds an MFA degree in fiction from Fairfield University, also her undergraduate alma mater. A Pushcart Prize–nominated writer, her short stories have appeared in CRAFT Literary, Mud Season Review, and Angel City Review. Loan is an editor at Simon and Schuster's Atria Books imprint and lives in Manhattan. A Pho Love Story is her first novel. Visit her website at writerloanle.com and find her on Twitter @loanloan. 

 

The Midnight Library - Matt Haig (Review & Summary)

Date of Reading: 14/1/2021

Author: Matt Haig

Publisher: Viking

Publication Date: September 29, 2020

Rating: 4/5

About the book:

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe, there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

Review:

    This is not my first Matt Haig book. Though I can't say I love his works, he is not really on the hate zone either. And with all the hype surrounding it, how can I not select this one? Did I love it? Hmm . . . sort of, I guess.

    If you are into Paulo Coelho, then you will definitely love this book. There is a whole lot of philosophical stuff (in layman's terms) to wrap your head around, but many can identify with the story. After all, is there anyone without regrets, wishing for the road not taken? Some may dwell their remaining lives on it and Nora Seed apparently, is one of them. 

    She is constantly haunted by the failures of others which they attribute to her poor choices. Now finally she gets an opportunity to try out all of her options and learn from them. But is there really a perfect life where you can satisfy everyone? I think you know the answer, my fellow bookworms, even if you haven't read this story. Well, the book really puts it in an elegant way.

Summary:

    Twenty-seven hours before she decides to die, Nora Seed finds her cat dead on the road. The next day she loses her job as a salesperson in String Theory, a musical instruments store. With this comes the realisation that no one needs her anymore. She was good at swimming in school but didn't pursue it further for the great disappointment of her father. She joined her brother's band and wrote songs for them but the frequent panic attacks made her drop out of it. Her brother and his friend Ravi still blame her for the band's failure. Even her old neighbour doesn't need her anymore to bring his medicines. So she decides to die.

    But it looks like she cannot even do that properly. Instead of dying, she reaches the midnight library, a place between life and death. Someone who looks exactly like Mrs. Elm, her old school librarian is in charge here. The library, as she explains, offers Nora an opportunity to live the lives she might have lived with different choices in her root life. If she finds one life agreeable, she can choose to live as the Nora there or she can return to try another one.

Source: https://www.concrete-online.co.uk

    Her Book of Regrets is heavy since there are so many decisions that she regretted later on her life. She tried to undo it one by one. In one life she has married her ex-boyfriend and in others, she is an Olympics winner (in swimming), a famous musician, winemaker, animal shelter employee etc. When she takes the life of a glaciologist, she meets Hugo, who is also sliding through lives like her. In his case, it was a video store instead of a library. He has lived so many lives but cannot find happiness in any.

    Nora also plans to live sliding through the indefinite lives available to her. But when she chooses the life where she lives with Ash, the doctor with whom she should have gone for a coffee date, she finds herself liking it. But there are other things that have changed. People she used to lend a hand in her root suffers from the lack of her care. Still she tries to remain there, but in spite of all her efforts to fit in, she is taken back to the midnight library which has begun to fall apart since Nora wants to live now.

    She manages to reach back her root life and gets timely medical help. The message she leaves behind before her suicide attempt brings back her brother to her side. Nora realises that she is capable of doing all the things that she has done in her other lives and decides to live this life instead of running away.

Meet the author:

Matt Haig was born in Sheffield, England in1975. He writes books for both adults and children, often blending the worlds of domestic reality and outright fantasy, with a quirky twist. His bestselling novels are translated into 28 languages. The Guardian has described his writing as 'delightfully weird' and the New York Times has called him 'a novelist of great talent' whose writing is 'funny, riveting and heartbreaking'.

Favourite quotes:

"The only way to learn is to live" - 105

"Because too often our view of success is about some external bullshit idea of achievement - an Olympic medal, the ideal husband, a good salary. And we have all these metrics that we try and reach. When really success isn't something you measure, and life isn't a race you can win." - 106

"To be a human was to continually dumb the world down into an understandable story that keeps things simple" - 136

"Minds can't see what they can't handle" - 136

"I think it is easy to imagine there are easier paths . . . but maybe there are no easy paths. There are just paths" - 163

". . .  a pawn is never just a pawn. A pawn is a queen-in-waiting" - 171

Source: inews.co.uk

". . . where there are books, there was the temptation to open them" -177

"Fear was when you wandered into a cellar and worried that the door would close shut. Despair was when the door closed and locked behind you" - 194

"What sometimes feel like a trap is actually just a trick of the mind" - 241

"But it is not the lives we regret not living that are the real problem. It is the regret itself. It's the regret that makes us shrivel and wither and feel like our own and other people's worst enemy" - 246

More Than Just Mum - Rebecca Smith

Date of Reading: 26/10/2019

Author: Rebecca Smith

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: December 7, 2019

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

Hannah Thompson loves her family beyond words… but sometimes, just sometimes, she wishes she could be recognised as more than just ‘mum’.

Eldest son Dylan is soon to be flying the nest, sixteen-year-old Scarlet keeps asking about penalties for worryingly specific crimes, they’ve forgotten world book day and Benji absolutely will not be Where’s Wally again, and it’s at least two days before she and hubby Nick can sit down for Wine Wednesdays… and even longer until Fizzy Friday.

Determined to find herself a job that she loves, earn a whole lot of money and to have her teenagers respect her as ‘Hannah’ as well as ‘mum’; it might sound like a tall order, but she’s a mum on a mission.

A laugh-out-loud read of self-discovery, family chaos and love. Perfect for fans of Gill Sims, Fiona Gibson and Nick Spalding.

Review:

       I can't remember the last time I laughed so much reading a book. From the very first page to the last this novel was absolutely hilarious and so real. And what surprised me most that I was not able to guess where this story was heading at. The book features the day to day life of Hannah Thompson who is struggling with . . . well, practically everything.
     Rebecca Smith for sure is a gifted writer finding humour even in tragic situations. If you are a mother, you are going to find yourself in here. If you are a daughter like me, then you will feel a new appreciation for your working moms. If you are a teacher (again like me), you are going to find a comrade here, exclaiming loudly "Yes, that's what it feels like" (mimicking Loki of course).
        Hannah is your everyday mother trying hard to make ends meet with her part-time teaching job. At school, she is tortured by her class nine children and back at home, she needs to finish this marathon with three children who in my opinion talk too much. Her husband is supportive and helpful, but sometimes nothing is enough. Her life, on the whole, is pitiful and at the same time, outrageously funny.
       So pick this book to lighten up your moods and if not Hannah, you definitely will like the children; Scarlet with one 't' is my favourite but it is hard to choose. Surely a must-read!

Favourite quotes:

"We are all women who have been relegated to the status of 'someone's mum' from the moment that our children started making friends with other kids" - Loc 718

"Call me names at your peril. I am a woman. My bite is infinitely worse than my bark" - Loc 1623

"This is what I really love about writing, actually. The power. The ability to create personalities and bring forth new lives with only a few taps of the keyboard. When I am sitting at my laptop, dictating actions and deciding outcomes for these characters, I feel like a mighty deity." - Loc 3264

"It's good to know your areas of weakness, apparently. This whole experience has probably been really useful and self-improving. Even if it feels more like character assassination than character building" - Loc 3909

Suddenly Single - Carol Wyer (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 10/04/2019

Author: Carol Wyer

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: April 8, 2019

Source: NetGalley

My Rating: 4.5/5

About the book:

When bestselling romance author Chloe Piper’s marriage implodes a week before Christmas, she flees her cheating ex and the village gossips for the solitude of the newly built Sunny Meadow Farm and the company of her hapless dog, Ronnie.

But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew – headed up by charming Alex – and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself in a whole new world of chaos…

This enthralling romantic comedy of self-discovery and new beginnings is perfect for fans of Kirsty Greenwood, Colleen Coleman and Marian Keyes.

My Review:

      I have just finished this amazing novel and whooping around with excitement, so please excuse me if this review comes out to be incoherent. This is Wyer's second book that I have taken up (no, I didn't read her detective novels) and is surely going to be on my favourite shelf. More than fiction, I will categorise this under self-help which is made genuinely interesting with the inclusion of a story.

       Our protagonist, Chloe Piper, is not just shy, she is suffering from social anxiety disorder. She is afraid of facing people and her knees buckle whenever she is confronted with too much attention; she even avoids supermarkets, scared of mingling with a crowd. She is a character I could pretty much identify with and that is not because I have this anxiety disorder (not that I have checked). But extreme shyness is equally horrible and the worst thing is there is only one cure: confront your fears and stop running away, as Chloe demonstrates. Help is sure to be at hand when you are ready to help yourself. Yes, this is one of those stories which perfectly portrays the message of Paulo Coelho.

      I am not fond of novels which include a lot of brooding, but here it felt completely natural. Since Chloe is not that talkative and keeps on thinking about the same things, the novel it seems has cleverly reflected her character. And the singleton group . . . I have only one word for you guys, AWESOME! 

        On the whole, this story has reminded me a lot about what I need to do. Because in spite of all the New Year pledges, I still run a mile if I am asked to be on the stage. So, Chloe, I know you are not real, but you are an inspiration to each introvert in this planet. I might be making a wild guess here, but it is possible that the author is also talking about her own writing experience through Chloe, and if that is the case, there could be someone who inspired this heroine.

      So what are you waiting for? I hope this review has given you enough incentive to run to the library. Another fabulous gem from Carol Wyer that should not be missed.

Meet the author:

As a child, Carol Wyer was always moving and relied on humour to fit in at new schools. A funny short story won her popularity, planting the seed of becoming a writer. Her career spans dry cleaning, running a language teaching company, and boxercise coaching. Now writing full-time, Carol has several books published and journalism in many magazines.

Carol won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015), and can sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.

For Once in My Life - Colleen Coleman

Date of Reading: 09/03/2019

Author: Colleen Coleman

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: November 20, 2018

Source: NetGalley 

Rating: 4.5/5

 

About the book:

 

Twenty-nine-year-old Lily Buckley planned to be happily married and in her dream job by now. Instead, she’s been single since being left at the altar three years ago, and works at her local paper, writing about giant vegetables at the village fete and a dog who looks exactly like Chewbacca.

Not quite what she was dreaming of.

So when Lily’s given the opportunity to write her own column it’s exactly what she’s always wanted – except what she has to write about. She has to do one thing every week that scares her.

With encouragement from her sexy colleague – and adrenalin-junkie – Christopher, Lily agrees. From sky-diving to haunted houses, Lily is going to be pushed to her limit. And since heartbreak has left her afraid of falling in love again, her growing feelings for Christopher might just push her past it…

But then her mum has a crisis, her column is the only thing keeping her – and her colleagues’ – jobs afloat, and Christopher’s ex arrives with her sights set on a romantic reunion.

Suddenly jumping out of a plane is the least of Lily’s problems… Can she save her family, her friends, and her heart – or will Lily let her fears hold her back?
An uplifting, feel-good story about friendship, romance, and finding the hero inside yourself. 

 

Fans of Marian Keyes, Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella will love Colleen Coleman!  

 

My Review:

 

          I am kicking myself for not reading this sooner. Well, you know what they say . . . better late than never. But one thing is for sure; Colleen Coleman has got a very devoted fan.

        So what are the bits I loved? Absolutely everything -- the language, story, characters and the inspiration that emits from each and every page. Seriously, if you are on a writing slump, this book will surely guide you back to your desk. As Lily takes charge of her life and also her role as the new editor of the newspaper with each article, we feel that itch to transfer something to the paper along with her. Her columns are great by the way. They are funny, personal and evocative of the challenge she has gone through.

         While Lily encounters her past demons with each challenge set as inspirations for her columns, it is hard not to be uplifted. In spite of all the misfortunes she has suffered, fate is finally offering her a chance. So pick it up guys, to know how she meets it head-on.

 

Something to ponder . . .

 

"And that's the funny thing about beginnings, you often don't realise that they've already started"

 

"Because we can't control how others treat us, sometimes we don't get what we deserve, but it's how we respond that really defines us."

 

"I feel this is what my story was meant to be all along. I want to go wherever life leads me, without fear. And this time, I know I'll be strong enough"

 

Meet the author:

      Colleen Coleman is an Irish- Canadian novelist. She is the winner of the much-coveted Novelicious Undiscovered People’s Choice Award which launched to find the next ‘chick-lit star’. She spent over ten years working as a teacher of English and Philosophy before finally taking a deep breath, scrunching her eyes shut, putting her pen to paper and vowing not to lift it again until she wrote the words The End. As a result, her first novel was born. Colleen lives between London, Ireland and Cyprus with her very patient husband and very chatty twin daughters.  

It's a Wonderful Night - Jaimie Admans (Blog Tour & Giveaway)

Date of Reading: 03/10/2018

Author: Jaimie Admans

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: October 5, 2018

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Neverland Blog Tours)

About the book: 

One night will change their lives forever…

Georgia Bailey is closing up her little charity shop in Oakbarrow when she gets a mysterious late night call from a stranger, threatening to jump off the town’s bridge.

Something about the man’s voice is faintly familiar but all she can do is stay on the line and, after talking for hours and losing the sense of time passing, coax him back from the edge.

The next morning, Georgia walks to work, buys a festive latte from Leo (who she’s had a crush on for months!) at the local coffee shop, and is shocked when she suddenly recognizes the voice from last night…

A heartwarming festive love story that reminds us that even in the darkest of times, hope is always just around the corner!

My Review: 

       This is, without a doubt, the best Christmas story I have read in 2018. Well, that says it all and this would probably be the shortest review I am going to write. When you love something so much, it is hard to put those fragmented but intense emotions to words. This book will forever be associated with Christmases and angels for me.

       The title, as you can guess is inspired by the famous Christmas movie, 'It's a Wonderful Life'. The novel follows a similar pattern and follows the lives of Leo and Georgia as the latter decides to play the role of his fairy godmother or the guardian angel. Together they bring back life and the rejuvenating spirit of Christmas to their market street. It is inspiring, imaginative and shows us how a little human kindness can bring heaven on earth. After all, the birth of Christ is the promise of peace to the virtuous. 

       Truly, a wonderful book and I can't wait to see what this incredible writer is capable of creating next. A story I never wanted to end . . .

Meet the author:

Jaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots. She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.

She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters, The Little Wedding Island, It’s a Wonderful Night, and Kismetology and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.

Giveaway:

It's a Wonderful Night Goodie bag, includes:

*It's a Wonderful Night notebook

*It's a Wonderful Night fridge magnet

*A signed postcard of the cover

*A copy of It's a Wonderful Life on DVD because this is the inspiration behind the story.

*An invisible spine Paris notebook because it's where Georgia wants to go more than anywhere in the world.

*A light-up Christmas tree pen, because who doesn't need a light-up Christmas tree pen at this time of year?!

UK Only

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