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raingirl's review against another edition
2.0
I read Tanaz Bhathena’s debut book A Girl Like That a month or so ago, and that book is still so sharp in my mind. Everything about that book was sharp and soulful, angry and sprinkled with little, barely-there joys. That book made me feel.
Unfortunately, her latest book, The Beauty of the Moment that I read approx 48 hours ago, has already faded into hazy phrases and colorless images. I guess comparisons shouldn’t be a thing and I should review the book as a standalone. But when the first book made us readers happy and craving for more, the second book is, frankly, a disappointment.
And I feel confused about this book. Its like the book isn’t even by the same author. Sure, we have mentions of Qala Academy in Saudi, and hints of life there, and little bits about Parsis. We have dystopian family lives and missing parents. And we have a love story. We even have the hero save the girl, yet again.
But it doesn’t have the fire, the boldness that was there previously. The characters aren’t as fleshed out, even with their exhaustive background stories.
Its a story about two teenagers, Susan Thomas and Malcolm Vakil. In the beginning, they both seem completely different. But as the story progresses, we realise they are quite the same. Susan is a (Malayali) girl who gets the best grades and doesn’t put a toe outside the line to keep her parents happy. Her family has just moved from Jeddah to Canada, though her father hasn’t moved yet which leads to its own complications. Malcolm is a “born-and-brought-up-in-Canada” Parsi boy (yay for much needed diversity) who is supposed to be the bad boy. But other than the superficial forcedness of this trope, its clear to even the most inattentive reader that he is just your boy-next-door, and has long ago given up on the rebel phase. They both become friends, albeit slowly, and then the friendship blossoms into romance, albeit slowly. The characters go through the usual teenage angst, rebelling against parents, trying to get over broken hearts and tragically broken homes all the while studying as hard as possible. There’s constant action in The Beauty of The Moment and I think that makes it lengthier and stilting than necessary.
Verdict: Okay-ish
Unfortunately, her latest book, The Beauty of the Moment that I read approx 48 hours ago, has already faded into hazy phrases and colorless images. I guess comparisons shouldn’t be a thing and I should review the book as a standalone. But when the first book made us readers happy and craving for more, the second book is, frankly, a disappointment.
And I feel confused about this book. Its like the book isn’t even by the same author. Sure, we have mentions of Qala Academy in Saudi, and hints of life there, and little bits about Parsis. We have dystopian family lives and missing parents. And we have a love story. We even have the hero save the girl, yet again.
But it doesn’t have the fire, the boldness that was there previously. The characters aren’t as fleshed out, even with their exhaustive background stories.
Its a story about two teenagers, Susan Thomas and Malcolm Vakil. In the beginning, they both seem completely different. But as the story progresses, we realise they are quite the same. Susan is a (Malayali) girl who gets the best grades and doesn’t put a toe outside the line to keep her parents happy. Her family has just moved from Jeddah to Canada, though her father hasn’t moved yet which leads to its own complications. Malcolm is a “born-and-brought-up-in-Canada” Parsi boy (yay for much needed diversity) who is supposed to be the bad boy. But other than the superficial forcedness of this trope, its clear to even the most inattentive reader that he is just your boy-next-door, and has long ago given up on the rebel phase. They both become friends, albeit slowly, and then the friendship blossoms into romance, albeit slowly. The characters go through the usual teenage angst, rebelling against parents, trying to get over broken hearts and tragically broken homes all the while studying as hard as possible. There’s constant action in The Beauty of The Moment and I think that makes it lengthier and stilting than necessary.
Verdict: Okay-ish
jkristine's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
pussreboots's review against another edition
4.0
The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena is a YA set in Toronto. The novel alternates between the points of view of Susan, recently moved to Canada from Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Malcolm has lived most of his life in Toronto and he's earned a bad reputation and has pretty much given up on school.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comments_05/beauty_of_the_moment.html
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comments_05/beauty_of_the_moment.html
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
yahairareads's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
merlinereads's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up this book on whim while I was at Barnes & Noble. I read the first two lines in the 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—
…and immediately abandoned my magical readathon TBR to read this.
I love a good good girl/bad boy/forbidden love trope and this book delivered in such a mature way. This book follows two characters, Susan and Malcolm. Susan recently moved to Canada and has a lot going on with her family. Malcolm is still processing his mother’s death, his relationship with his father, and a recent breakup. We follow them as they handle these issues until eventually their paths cross.
I loved the romance in this book. It was so cute and fluffy. There were times when I thought the author was going to make this super cliche, but most things were handled well (except for the jealous ex subplot). I also liked that this book was more than just a cute story. It tackled important topics like immigration, refugees, heartbreak, and more. After I finished this book, I wished it had been longer because I wanted more of Malcolm and Susan. Definitely keeping an eye out for more cute romcom books from this author.
Blog // Instagram // Twitter // Tumblr
“Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—
…and immediately abandoned my magical readathon TBR to read this.
I love a good good girl/bad boy/forbidden love trope and this book delivered in such a mature way. This book follows two characters, Susan and Malcolm. Susan recently moved to Canada and has a lot going on with her family. Malcolm is still processing his mother’s death, his relationship with his father, and a recent breakup. We follow them as they handle these issues until eventually their paths cross.
I loved the romance in this book. It was so cute and fluffy. There were times when I thought the author was going to make this super cliche, but most things were handled well (except for the jealous ex subplot). I also liked that this book was more than just a cute story. It tackled important topics like immigration, refugees, heartbreak, and more. After I finished this book, I wished it had been longer because I wanted more of Malcolm and Susan. Definitely keeping an eye out for more cute romcom books from this author.
Blog // Instagram // Twitter // Tumblr
amy_harboredinpages's review against another edition
4.0
Are you a fan of Degrassi High? Do you like coming of age teen romance that takes place in the final year of High School... Do you like innocent "New Girl" from another country falls for misunderstood resident "Bad Boy" in a leather jacket? This may be your book.
Tropes and triggers for substance abuse, child abuse, loss of a parent, parental separation, bullying, and "mean girl" EXgirlfriends. ... and forgiveness for being a poophead.
Tropes and triggers for substance abuse, child abuse, loss of a parent, parental separation, bullying, and "mean girl" EXgirlfriends. ... and forgiveness for being a poophead.
libscote's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this one. It's a contemporary romance with interesting main characters. One is a Malay Christian born in India, raised in Saudi Arabia going to an all girls boarding school, who then immigrates to Canada with her mother while her father stays behind. The other is Zoroastrian Parsi whose mother died of cancer and has a complicated relationship with his father, a troublemaker trying to reform. I would have liked to learn more about what the Zoroastrian religion is like, but maybe it was fine that there wasn't too much, after all, Christianity doesn't affect my life on the regular. Good.