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rachcannoli 's review for:
The Reading List
by Sara Nisha Adams
Mukesh is a lonely widower still grieving the loss of his wife unsure of how to move forward and Aleisha is a young teen working at their local library trying to help her family financially while also getting some reprieve from them. After reading one of his late wife's favorite novels, Mukesh journeys to the library in hopes of expanding his book knowledge and that it'll help him feel closer to her. After an initially horrible interaction, Aleisha finds a mysterious list of books dedicated to any who may need it and decides to read through the recommendations and put them aside to Mukesh as an apology and olive branch. Through this shared connection they slowly start to form an unlikely bond as fiction helps these two troubled souls find solace in embracing the new and they help each other grapple with life's troubles and grief.
I really didn't know what to expect with this one, but it was genuinely quite sweet. I really enjoyed our leads and their odd friendship they form and I especially adored that it's forged over books, both of which were fully new to reading before this reading list. As an avid reader all my life, I FULLY understand the power of literature and especially fiction, the way falling into a book can transport your mind, heal wounds, or open your perspective, there's a reason I always have and will adore it and I try to read a decent range of genres so I can take in a lot. I also appreciated the attention to saving libraries and appreciating them. While I rarely visit my local library myself, I have MULTIPLE library cards so I can use them for my app and read as many books as possible, genuinely the entire premise of libraries is so wonderful and inherently allows this connection without the hinderance of money, it's so lovely.
I don't think the random characters who also found the titular list worked as well for me though. I was waiting for anything to come of them or for there to be some connection by the end. Or even for this to be some mystical list or sisterhood of the traveling list that somehow they all were touched by the same one, but that never really came to fruition and I don't quite understand what the point of those bits were. I also don't agree with all of the list's book choices and interpretations. While I appreciated none were overly spoiled, and I'm not going to lie I def added the ones I've never read to my TBR to check out if they're worth the hype, but I feel like they didn't all get the same attention and some of the opinions I just don't agree with. There's also one DEVASTATING thing that happens that genuinely shocked the shit out of me and I feel like was not given the full gravity of the situation, but I guess that's kind of the point with stuff like that? But oof. And I also don't fully understand Aleisha's mom and her whole thing and I guess I just never will, but yeah there were just those couple things that didn't fully land for me.
Otherwise I still quite enjoyed this. It's not at all what I expected and can be a bit too saccharine at times, but I think the messaging is good and the main dynamic was a sweet unique bond and a good story. I will say, massive trigger warning (view spoiler) , I'm not sure the latter was entirely necessary or handled the best, but oof rough. But otherwise a non typical love letter to the power and connection of books, which I think is nice.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
So like I said above I'm not quite sure the rando side characters finding the reading list really made sense or added anything to this book. I think it's later revealed that Naina, Mukesh's late wife, made multiple copies of the list and left them places for people to find, but I found that none of these people really came back around or added much. Like I think all or most showed up at the end for the library fundraiser, but for each of them to have a one chapter POV and then basically disappear into oblivion was very strange. If they were going to do it I kind of wish there was only one list so it'd somehow get passed from each person, but then when multiple people held onto the list, I knew that couldn't be the case. And then she put the specific letter to Mukesh in the back of the last book on the list that no one found until Aleisha, so then had no one ever finished this list before her? Is that even possible? I feel like it just gave me more questions than answers, and I don't really know if I needed it, the main plot of Aleisha and Mukesh was great, I didn't need or want the other stuff that just kind of went nowhere.
Then I still don't understand what's wrong with Aleisha's mom, I think it's some kind of mental disorder, but I don't really know? They keep saying she's getting worse, but not from what or how? One moment she's ok, but then she'll be screaming about the noise and she seems a lot worse with Aleisha than her other brother Aiden. And the mom used to work, but it seems only recently her condition got so bad that she's unable to and they're barely staying afloat with Aiden working two jobs and Aleisha doing her part time library stuff, it's crazy. And now with Aiden gone I genuinely have zero clue how they're supposed to survive?? Like her fam steps up, thank god, and there's hints that Leila is FINALY getting help so I don't know, maybe they'll be ok, but it was very strange and I just couldn't get a grasp on what was up with her.
And Aiden, oof, what a fucking gut punch of emotion, that was devastating. So I knew something was wrong with him and that poor boy was shouldering WAY too fucking much. I knew something had to give, but I really thought he was lining up this new, better paying/legit job, but it meant he'd have to leave home and couldn't take care of his mom to this level anymore, and truly who could blame him? I feel like they said he's only 25 which is so much to put on such a young guy, that's insane. And then I wondered if he'd ran away when he never came home and left his phone behind, but NEVER did I think he'd go so far as to kill himself, but holy fucking shit, I GASPED and burst into tears. I was just as horrified and baffled as Aleisha, I couldn't believe it. And once they said he was dead you knew that's what happened since he deliberately left his phone behind, but ugh, that just ripped at me. And then I think they did the realism of not even leaving a note or it feeling so inexplicable and poor Aleisha blaming herself for not seeing it. Like it was so clear he wasn't well, but I really didn't think it was at that point, but wow, that was so fucking sad. I do feel like it was a bit too neatly swept up by the end being all, for the library and we'll dedicate keeping it afloat to him, but I get the truth that they have to keep on living and something like this just fucking sucks and will never be ok, but you'll find a way. It also felt just so horrifically sad just to get a reaction out of me, and yeah, it worked, but it felt a bit cruel at the same time and I don't know how quickly everyone came around by the end, oof, that was just a lot.
I absolutely loved Mukesh though, his arc, and dynamic with Aleisha. He needed to find a way to keep going after losing his wife and I loved watching him step back into the world again and try new things. He got off on a really bad foot with Aleisha, but I adored how quickly they mended this relationship through books to the point of seeing each other outside of the library and always looking forward to discussing their reads. I bawled that he basically blackmailed her boss to get her address so he could go check on her because he immediately knew something was wrong. And with Aleisha having basically zero relationship with her real dad, I adored Mukesh stepping up for her and being there for her when she needed, even if he doesn't always say the right thing or know how to handle her emotional swings, I thought it was so beautiful. And I loved him forming a real bond with his late wife's best friend, Nilakshi, who'd also been through so much loss so they found friendship and solace in other another. I like that they never are dating or admit to wanting that, it's the companionship and someone else to be with that they need and I found that really lovely. Also that she also stepped up to help Aleisha, it was just so sweet, I really enjoyed all that. And Mukesh bonding with his granddaughter Priya over books and eventually passing on the reading list to her, especially when we found out that those were in fact his wife's favorite books, that just made my heart swell, it was so lovely. Truly that entire plot was just gorgeous.
I do have a bone to pick with the reactions to these books though, especially the Pride and Prejudice slander! So for every single one of these books, both characters go on and one about the virtues and how incredible they are and beautiful and deep. I don't really remember reading Rebecca, but from what I do I remember it being OUTRAGEOUSLY boring and so slow, all this talk of atmosphere and it being 'spooky' was baffling to me as I don't think I got ANY of that. But I can understand some books can just find you at the right time, and again I haven't read it in years, but straight up ever single book these two fucking loved and they were just gush about the symbolism and merits behind them, so great awesome. THEN they get to P&P and it's nothing but 'oh well, this is basically just a guilty pleasure read, I can't get into it, everyone is so dumb, this is nothing but fluff' etc!! LIKE WTF?!?!?! Is P&P a romance, for sure, but you're telling me you can't lose yourself to one of the best romances ever written!?! You're telling me you don't love the drama and seeing how clearly Darcy and Lizzie are in love with each other and all the misunderstanding to finally earn that fucking ending?!?! The yearning??!?! How our initial opinions can be so wrong and we have to learn not to judge others so harshly?! Like truly what the fuck?! Maybe I just love that book, which duh I do, but I was so beyond irritated how much love every other other book was given while this one was continually shat upon!! I get Mukesh didn't court his wife in this way, but you're telling me you can't relate to something?! Like Aleisha only slightly enjoyed it when she pictured her crush as Darcy, but you're telling me a strong as fuck female lead who is heavily flawed, JUST LIKE YOU GIRL, isn't someone to relate to?!? UGH!! Wow that annoyed me so much lol, that was such bullshit. But I will say, otherwise I do like the way the books are handled and it's made me want to read the ones on the list that I haven't read and re-read the ones I never gave a full chance to/may have been too young. Which is something!
So yeah, not perfect and I don't thing everything was handled with the deftest hand that I wanted it to be, but I still enjoyed the book overall quite a bit. Clearly I can very much relate to the power of fiction and the community and connection you gain with others from it, duh, you can tell from the amount of damn books I read that I very much believe this. So I found the overall messaging quite successful and I loved this unique little dynamic nestled within, it was a sweet journey overall, even if there was some true emotional bitch slaps as well.
I really didn't know what to expect with this one, but it was genuinely quite sweet. I really enjoyed our leads and their odd friendship they form and I especially adored that it's forged over books, both of which were fully new to reading before this reading list. As an avid reader all my life, I FULLY understand the power of literature and especially fiction, the way falling into a book can transport your mind, heal wounds, or open your perspective, there's a reason I always have and will adore it and I try to read a decent range of genres so I can take in a lot. I also appreciated the attention to saving libraries and appreciating them. While I rarely visit my local library myself, I have MULTIPLE library cards so I can use them for my app and read as many books as possible, genuinely the entire premise of libraries is so wonderful and inherently allows this connection without the hinderance of money, it's so lovely.
I don't think the random characters who also found the titular list worked as well for me though. I was waiting for anything to come of them or for there to be some connection by the end. Or even for this to be some mystical list or sisterhood of the traveling list that somehow they all were touched by the same one, but that never really came to fruition and I don't quite understand what the point of those bits were. I also don't agree with all of the list's book choices and interpretations. While I appreciated none were overly spoiled, and I'm not going to lie I def added the ones I've never read to my TBR to check out if they're worth the hype, but I feel like they didn't all get the same attention and some of the opinions I just don't agree with. There's also one DEVASTATING thing that happens that genuinely shocked the shit out of me and I feel like was not given the full gravity of the situation, but I guess that's kind of the point with stuff like that? But oof. And I also don't fully understand Aleisha's mom and her whole thing and I guess I just never will, but yeah there were just those couple things that didn't fully land for me.
Otherwise I still quite enjoyed this. It's not at all what I expected and can be a bit too saccharine at times, but I think the messaging is good and the main dynamic was a sweet unique bond and a good story. I will say, massive trigger warning (view spoiler) , I'm not sure the latter was entirely necessary or handled the best, but oof rough. But otherwise a non typical love letter to the power and connection of books, which I think is nice.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
So like I said above I'm not quite sure the rando side characters finding the reading list really made sense or added anything to this book. I think it's later revealed that Naina, Mukesh's late wife, made multiple copies of the list and left them places for people to find, but I found that none of these people really came back around or added much. Like I think all or most showed up at the end for the library fundraiser, but for each of them to have a one chapter POV and then basically disappear into oblivion was very strange. If they were going to do it I kind of wish there was only one list so it'd somehow get passed from each person, but then when multiple people held onto the list, I knew that couldn't be the case. And then she put the specific letter to Mukesh in the back of the last book on the list that no one found until Aleisha, so then had no one ever finished this list before her? Is that even possible? I feel like it just gave me more questions than answers, and I don't really know if I needed it, the main plot of Aleisha and Mukesh was great, I didn't need or want the other stuff that just kind of went nowhere.
Then I still don't understand what's wrong with Aleisha's mom, I think it's some kind of mental disorder, but I don't really know? They keep saying she's getting worse, but not from what or how? One moment she's ok, but then she'll be screaming about the noise and she seems a lot worse with Aleisha than her other brother Aiden. And the mom used to work, but it seems only recently her condition got so bad that she's unable to and they're barely staying afloat with Aiden working two jobs and Aleisha doing her part time library stuff, it's crazy. And now with Aiden gone I genuinely have zero clue how they're supposed to survive?? Like her fam steps up, thank god, and there's hints that Leila is FINALY getting help so I don't know, maybe they'll be ok, but it was very strange and I just couldn't get a grasp on what was up with her.
And Aiden, oof, what a fucking gut punch of emotion, that was devastating. So I knew something was wrong with him and that poor boy was shouldering WAY too fucking much. I knew something had to give, but I really thought he was lining up this new, better paying/legit job, but it meant he'd have to leave home and couldn't take care of his mom to this level anymore, and truly who could blame him? I feel like they said he's only 25 which is so much to put on such a young guy, that's insane. And then I wondered if he'd ran away when he never came home and left his phone behind, but NEVER did I think he'd go so far as to kill himself, but holy fucking shit, I GASPED and burst into tears. I was just as horrified and baffled as Aleisha, I couldn't believe it. And once they said he was dead you knew that's what happened since he deliberately left his phone behind, but ugh, that just ripped at me. And then I think they did the realism of not even leaving a note or it feeling so inexplicable and poor Aleisha blaming herself for not seeing it. Like it was so clear he wasn't well, but I really didn't think it was at that point, but wow, that was so fucking sad. I do feel like it was a bit too neatly swept up by the end being all, for the library and we'll dedicate keeping it afloat to him, but I get the truth that they have to keep on living and something like this just fucking sucks and will never be ok, but you'll find a way. It also felt just so horrifically sad just to get a reaction out of me, and yeah, it worked, but it felt a bit cruel at the same time and I don't know how quickly everyone came around by the end, oof, that was just a lot.
I absolutely loved Mukesh though, his arc, and dynamic with Aleisha. He needed to find a way to keep going after losing his wife and I loved watching him step back into the world again and try new things. He got off on a really bad foot with Aleisha, but I adored how quickly they mended this relationship through books to the point of seeing each other outside of the library and always looking forward to discussing their reads. I bawled that he basically blackmailed her boss to get her address so he could go check on her because he immediately knew something was wrong. And with Aleisha having basically zero relationship with her real dad, I adored Mukesh stepping up for her and being there for her when she needed, even if he doesn't always say the right thing or know how to handle her emotional swings, I thought it was so beautiful. And I loved him forming a real bond with his late wife's best friend, Nilakshi, who'd also been through so much loss so they found friendship and solace in other another. I like that they never are dating or admit to wanting that, it's the companionship and someone else to be with that they need and I found that really lovely. Also that she also stepped up to help Aleisha, it was just so sweet, I really enjoyed all that. And Mukesh bonding with his granddaughter Priya over books and eventually passing on the reading list to her, especially when we found out that those were in fact his wife's favorite books, that just made my heart swell, it was so lovely. Truly that entire plot was just gorgeous.
I do have a bone to pick with the reactions to these books though, especially the Pride and Prejudice slander! So for every single one of these books, both characters go on and one about the virtues and how incredible they are and beautiful and deep. I don't really remember reading Rebecca, but from what I do I remember it being OUTRAGEOUSLY boring and so slow, all this talk of atmosphere and it being 'spooky' was baffling to me as I don't think I got ANY of that. But I can understand some books can just find you at the right time, and again I haven't read it in years, but straight up ever single book these two fucking loved and they were just gush about the symbolism and merits behind them, so great awesome. THEN they get to P&P and it's nothing but 'oh well, this is basically just a guilty pleasure read, I can't get into it, everyone is so dumb, this is nothing but fluff' etc!! LIKE WTF?!?!?! Is P&P a romance, for sure, but you're telling me you can't lose yourself to one of the best romances ever written!?! You're telling me you don't love the drama and seeing how clearly Darcy and Lizzie are in love with each other and all the misunderstanding to finally earn that fucking ending?!?! The yearning??!?! How our initial opinions can be so wrong and we have to learn not to judge others so harshly?! Like truly what the fuck?! Maybe I just love that book, which duh I do, but I was so beyond irritated how much love every other other book was given while this one was continually shat upon!! I get Mukesh didn't court his wife in this way, but you're telling me you can't relate to something?! Like Aleisha only slightly enjoyed it when she pictured her crush as Darcy, but you're telling me a strong as fuck female lead who is heavily flawed, JUST LIKE YOU GIRL, isn't someone to relate to?!? UGH!! Wow that annoyed me so much lol, that was such bullshit. But I will say, otherwise I do like the way the books are handled and it's made me want to read the ones on the list that I haven't read and re-read the ones I never gave a full chance to/may have been too young. Which is something!
So yeah, not perfect and I don't thing everything was handled with the deftest hand that I wanted it to be, but I still enjoyed the book overall quite a bit. Clearly I can very much relate to the power of fiction and the community and connection you gain with others from it, duh, you can tell from the amount of damn books I read that I very much believe this. So I found the overall messaging quite successful and I loved this unique little dynamic nestled within, it was a sweet journey overall, even if there was some true emotional bitch slaps as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Suicide