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ashbah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
thepaige_turner's review against another edition
5.0
Very sweet and as always, I'm forever in love with Bhathena's writing style.
papertraildiary's review against another edition
3.0
Reading The Beauty of the Moment was like getting to know the teenagers I see on the bus. (Minus all of the squealing, swearing, and staring at phones reality.) It takes place in the next door neighbour to Toronto, Mississauga, so it felt very familiar and like a great representation of Toronto teens. Teens who come from all kinds of cultural backgrounds, who put on fundraisers for Syrian refugees, who are taking their driving tests, who are working part time jobs, who are trying to figure out what to do with their lives, who are trying to live up to their parents’ expectations… all the while just wanting to enjoy themselves.
This book is all heart. At the base of the story, you get a will-they-won’t-they out of Susan and Malcolm, but there’s so much to their family lives that you get to see. It’s not all beautiful. Susan has just moved from Saudi Arabia and is feeling like an outsider. She spends her time alone at school, and when she gets home, she is incredibly stressed by the demands from her parents, even though they aren’t setting a good example. All she wants is to apply to art programs at universities… and maybe gain the confidence to talk to boys. Malcolm is still feeling the heartbreak of his most recent relationship, the grief from his mother’s passing, and the pain from the aftermath with his father. But even with all of this hurt, he still has enough love to give to his friends, sister, and maybe this cute girl Susan. These two have a LOT on their plates, but they find each other. It’s a slow start for them, but it makes things so much sweeter. They complement one another so well, and their character growth is natural and satisfying.
The Beauty of the Moment felt incredibly authentic in such a gentle way. It doesn’t make drama more dramatic than it needs to be, it just is what it is. Despite all it tackles, it is a soft read, one that I think will resonate with a lot of people. I would have liked to get a bit more out of Susan’s passion for art and Malcolm realizing his talents with accounting, but I don’t want to ask even more of these kids!
This book is all heart. At the base of the story, you get a will-they-won’t-they out of Susan and Malcolm, but there’s so much to their family lives that you get to see. It’s not all beautiful. Susan has just moved from Saudi Arabia and is feeling like an outsider. She spends her time alone at school, and when she gets home, she is incredibly stressed by the demands from her parents, even though they aren’t setting a good example. All she wants is to apply to art programs at universities… and maybe gain the confidence to talk to boys. Malcolm is still feeling the heartbreak of his most recent relationship, the grief from his mother’s passing, and the pain from the aftermath with his father. But even with all of this hurt, he still has enough love to give to his friends, sister, and maybe this cute girl Susan. These two have a LOT on their plates, but they find each other. It’s a slow start for them, but it makes things so much sweeter. They complement one another so well, and their character growth is natural and satisfying.
The Beauty of the Moment felt incredibly authentic in such a gentle way. It doesn’t make drama more dramatic than it needs to be, it just is what it is. Despite all it tackles, it is a soft read, one that I think will resonate with a lot of people. I would have liked to get a bit more out of Susan’s passion for art and Malcolm realizing his talents with accounting, but I don’t want to ask even more of these kids!
tinynavajo's review against another edition
5.0
Life and love
This is a sweet book of life and love and how to find out what it is you need for yourself and now what your parents are trying to push on you.
This is a sweet book of life and love and how to find out what it is you need for yourself and now what your parents are trying to push on you.
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
There's nothing fresh or unique about THE BEAUTY OF THE MOMENT. It's a typical story about an Indian girl bucking against her parents' expectations and attempts to control her life as she tries to cope with straddling the line between being a traditional Indian girl and a modern Canadian teen. At its heart, it's a romance and the majority of the plot centers on her relationship with an Indian-Canadian boy who's trying to repair his rep after being labeled a troublemaker. I do like that their relationship builds slowly, realistically, and that it's based on an equal, tit-for-tat friendship. Even though the plot is kind of slow and the story goes on longer than it needs to, the novel isn't bad. It's a decent read, just not a super memorable one. I'd give it about a B-.
per_fictionist's review against another edition
5.0
Review : The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena is exactly the type of fluffy Young adult Rom-Com, delivering an important message we definetly want more of.
Susan, has just moved from Saudi Arabia to Canada with her mother to upstart her education carrer as this new country ptovides her varied opportunities. She has always been a brilliant student back home in Arab, and hopes to continue her streak. Life so far has been an easy ride for her, and while in Canada she expect nothing less.
Malcolm,on the other hand hasn't been offered a simple life. With the unfortunate death of his mother, battling his addiction and also with a non-existent relationship with his father, his only source of joy is his sister,Mahtab.
Tanaz Bhathena has crafted two very contrasting and likeable protagonists that we can easily fall in love with. The characters are multi-layered and even though the book classifies as a rom-com it doesn't only deal with their relationship but rather they tackle their problems together. Malcolm, as a charcater became indeed really close to my heart and seeing his relationship bloom with Susan, definetly was my my favorite part.
The Beauty of the Moment is a story about second chacnces, of doing what makes you happy and keeping your loved ones close. The already strained relationship between Susan's parents hits the ivceberg when her father decides to separate to them. Susan and her mother is devastated, but it was so beautiful to see how Susan deals with the problem later on, as she learns that separating from someone doesnt' mean you stop loving them. There were many themes like this that were some highlights of the story.
Malcolm's confrontation with his step-mom that corrected their bitter relationship was an added lesson to be learnt. How miscommunication ruined the tie between Malcolm and his father after the death of his mother, that leads to an unhealthy and abusive relationship between the two is straightrmedn just by a heart to heart conversation.
Culture also plays a prominient part in her new release and it is always mesmerizing to watch Bhathena's way with words. This coming of age story stands out from its counterparts also in terms of shedding light to career decisions that are rather a challenge for people just out of highschool and how you should always opt for something that you are sure you would put your full heart to.
Susan, has just moved from Saudi Arabia to Canada with her mother to upstart her education carrer as this new country ptovides her varied opportunities. She has always been a brilliant student back home in Arab, and hopes to continue her streak. Life so far has been an easy ride for her, and while in Canada she expect nothing less.
Malcolm,on the other hand hasn't been offered a simple life. With the unfortunate death of his mother, battling his addiction and also with a non-existent relationship with his father, his only source of joy is his sister,Mahtab.
Tanaz Bhathena has crafted two very contrasting and likeable protagonists that we can easily fall in love with. The characters are multi-layered and even though the book classifies as a rom-com it doesn't only deal with their relationship but rather they tackle their problems together. Malcolm, as a charcater became indeed really close to my heart and seeing his relationship bloom with Susan, definetly was my my favorite part.
The Beauty of the Moment is a story about second chacnces, of doing what makes you happy and keeping your loved ones close. The already strained relationship between Susan's parents hits the ivceberg when her father decides to separate to them. Susan and her mother is devastated, but it was so beautiful to see how Susan deals with the problem later on, as she learns that separating from someone doesnt' mean you stop loving them. There were many themes like this that were some highlights of the story.
Malcolm's confrontation with his step-mom that corrected their bitter relationship was an added lesson to be learnt. How miscommunication ruined the tie between Malcolm and his father after the death of his mother, that leads to an unhealthy and abusive relationship between the two is straightrmedn just by a heart to heart conversation.
Culture also plays a prominient part in her new release and it is always mesmerizing to watch Bhathena's way with words. This coming of age story stands out from its counterparts also in terms of shedding light to career decisions that are rather a challenge for people just out of highschool and how you should always opt for something that you are sure you would put your full heart to.
popthebutterfly's review against another edition
2.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Beauty of the Moment
Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: February 26, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 354
Synopsis: Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since.
Susan’s parents are on the verge of divorce. Malcolm’s dad is a known adulterer.
Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her.
Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.
Review: Had to DNF at 23%. The story is great and so fun, but the trope-y plot is not interesting to me and I don't really like bad boy/good girl stories.
Verdict: It was good, but trope-y
Book: The Beauty of the Moment
Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: February 26, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 354
Synopsis: Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since.
Susan’s parents are on the verge of divorce. Malcolm’s dad is a known adulterer.
Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her.
Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.
Review: Had to DNF at 23%. The story is great and so fun, but the trope-y plot is not interesting to me and I don't really like bad boy/good girl stories.
Verdict: It was good, but trope-y
sofiamarielg's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet YA read about a girl’s many firsts. While I enjoyed it, it seemed to me as if Bhathena felt obligated to solve her characters’ family troubles at all costs, which came off as artificial. Her depiction of navigating Canadian culture as a foreigner, however, was earnest and completely on point.
booksandladders's review against another edition
4.0
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
See my full review as part of the blog tour on April 12, 2019!
This was so good! It was a little slow to start but once it got going, I really enjoyed it. It looked at the trials and tribulations that immigrants have coming into Canada and I loved the realism to it. The look at the new girl/bad boy relationship was actually really sweet and I loved seeing the nuances in culture, family, and relationships in general. Bhathena's writing is amazing, as always, and I highly recommend this.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
See my full review as part of the blog tour on April 12, 2019!
This was so good! It was a little slow to start but once it got going, I really enjoyed it. It looked at the trials and tribulations that immigrants have coming into Canada and I loved the realism to it. The look at the new girl/bad boy relationship was actually really sweet and I loved seeing the nuances in culture, family, and relationships in general. Bhathena's writing is amazing, as always, and I highly recommend this.