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jainandsdiary's Reviews (310)
Book: I'm A Fan
Author: Sheena Patel
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Granta Books
Pages: 144
I'm A Fan by Sheena Patel was one of the most anticipated reads for me. Longlisted for the 2023 Women's Prize for Fiction, this debut novel sounds like something that could be relatable to many of us, because of the theme of social media!
This is the story of an unnamed narrator, who is not satisfied with her current relationship with her boyfriend, and so is dating someone whom she refers to as "The man I want to be with", who is married but not satisfied in his relationship as well. But he is also seeing a girl, a social media star, whom the unnamed narrator refers to as "The woman I am obsessed with" and she constantly stalks her on social media! As the book dives deeper, the layers beneath the relationships start emerging, making it quite an intriguing read.
I was quite fascinated with the book. The chapters are very short and the names of the chapters carry a significant meaning in themselves, which at first seems unrelated, but as the story moves forward, their importance seems to unfold.
The book's backbone is the themes it covers. The complexities of relationships, toxicity, social media, patriarchy, whiteness, the power of money, and the elite and their ignorance are some of the themes that the book depicts with full force and can blow your mind.
The social media perspective and the not-so-subtle views on whiteness mesmerized me and were the highlight for me, something which I'll remember for a long time. The title of the book is quite apt for the story and the unnamed narrator.
Although I was not able to connect with the story, to a large extent because of the writing. The first forty percent of the book was difficult to go through for me, as I was not able to connect and continue, but it picked up after that. The story at some points seems lost and feels like a rant, separated from the character. Although the last quarter of the book was mind-boggling, the author went into full force, driving the narrative through the themes thoroughly and making the characters' traits quite visible.
It was a book that's theme-driven and can excite a reader a lot and can leave a long-lasting impact. Although the book's name is I'm a fan, I'm not quite sure the same about the book as well. Overall, it was a short enriching book that can make the readers go through a range of emotions, although the poles of emotions would vary a lot. Pick it up to know on which side you are.
Author: Sheena Patel
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Granta Books
Pages: 144
I'm A Fan by Sheena Patel was one of the most anticipated reads for me. Longlisted for the 2023 Women's Prize for Fiction, this debut novel sounds like something that could be relatable to many of us, because of the theme of social media!
This is the story of an unnamed narrator, who is not satisfied with her current relationship with her boyfriend, and so is dating someone whom she refers to as "The man I want to be with", who is married but not satisfied in his relationship as well. But he is also seeing a girl, a social media star, whom the unnamed narrator refers to as "The woman I am obsessed with" and she constantly stalks her on social media! As the book dives deeper, the layers beneath the relationships start emerging, making it quite an intriguing read.
I was quite fascinated with the book. The chapters are very short and the names of the chapters carry a significant meaning in themselves, which at first seems unrelated, but as the story moves forward, their importance seems to unfold.
The book's backbone is the themes it covers. The complexities of relationships, toxicity, social media, patriarchy, whiteness, the power of money, and the elite and their ignorance are some of the themes that the book depicts with full force and can blow your mind.
The social media perspective and the not-so-subtle views on whiteness mesmerized me and were the highlight for me, something which I'll remember for a long time. The title of the book is quite apt for the story and the unnamed narrator.
Although I was not able to connect with the story, to a large extent because of the writing. The first forty percent of the book was difficult to go through for me, as I was not able to connect and continue, but it picked up after that. The story at some points seems lost and feels like a rant, separated from the character. Although the last quarter of the book was mind-boggling, the author went into full force, driving the narrative through the themes thoroughly and making the characters' traits quite visible.
It was a book that's theme-driven and can excite a reader a lot and can leave a long-lasting impact. Although the book's name is I'm a fan, I'm not quite sure the same about the book as well. Overall, it was a short enriching book that can make the readers go through a range of emotions, although the poles of emotions would vary a lot. Pick it up to know on which side you are.
Book: A Second Chance
Author: Subhashini Prasad
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Locksley Hall Publishing LLP
Pages: 260
A Second Chance By Subhashini Prasad is a Contemporary Fiction that explores the life, relationship, and love of Padma Rajagopalan and Narendra Rathore. Padma and Narendra meet at their grandchildren's school meet-up, both carrying the burden of life and longing for their partners, imagining how their present could have been if they were alive. But when they both meet, something changes in them, a change that cannot be ignored and a change that can complicate the relationship of everyone around them. To know what happens to them and their story, read the book.
I am a big fan of the romance genre. But you don't come across finding love in their 60s regularly. And so when I came across this book, I knew I would read it.
Giving life and love a second chance is not easy, especially when you feel yourself in between polar emotions, where one wants to encourage you to explore life and look out for love and another reminds you of what you have and the dilemma of betraying it. And the author showed contrasting emotions beautifully.
The book beautifully depicts the generation difference and how the dynamics at home change with time as parents grow older. Their relationship with their son and daughter-in-law individually mirrors what the situation is in society. And the connection they share with the grandchildren provides so many funny, innocent, and heartwarming anecdotes.
The book elegantly shows us how our older generations try to learn new things. Using WhatsApp, Google map, taking selfies, and all of these things are new for them, and they have their opinions about using them or not, and the goof-ups they make while learning and the friction that arises in the family because of it, all of these things that we see and feel in real was there, making the story more grounded and relatable.
The book got the ending that I was expecting and I am so happy with the way it's written. Although I felt that in between, the story became a little slower, and it took me time to keep going, and I wished it would pick up soon, I also understood that it's how life is- slow, taking time, and thus it felt real.
There are so many things that I liked about this book, but I feel that if I talk about everything here, you might miss the experience of reading them by yourself because you will expect it to come. So I'm just keeping it up for you now to pick it up and see how real the story and the people in it are!
Pick up this book to read something that we don't read and think about often and something which will make you realise a lot about yourself and the people close to you.
Author: Subhashini Prasad
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Locksley Hall Publishing LLP
Pages: 260
A Second Chance By Subhashini Prasad is a Contemporary Fiction that explores the life, relationship, and love of Padma Rajagopalan and Narendra Rathore. Padma and Narendra meet at their grandchildren's school meet-up, both carrying the burden of life and longing for their partners, imagining how their present could have been if they were alive. But when they both meet, something changes in them, a change that cannot be ignored and a change that can complicate the relationship of everyone around them. To know what happens to them and their story, read the book.
I am a big fan of the romance genre. But you don't come across finding love in their 60s regularly. And so when I came across this book, I knew I would read it.
Giving life and love a second chance is not easy, especially when you feel yourself in between polar emotions, where one wants to encourage you to explore life and look out for love and another reminds you of what you have and the dilemma of betraying it. And the author showed contrasting emotions beautifully.
The book beautifully depicts the generation difference and how the dynamics at home change with time as parents grow older. Their relationship with their son and daughter-in-law individually mirrors what the situation is in society. And the connection they share with the grandchildren provides so many funny, innocent, and heartwarming anecdotes.
The book elegantly shows us how our older generations try to learn new things. Using WhatsApp, Google map, taking selfies, and all of these things are new for them, and they have their opinions about using them or not, and the goof-ups they make while learning and the friction that arises in the family because of it, all of these things that we see and feel in real was there, making the story more grounded and relatable.
The book got the ending that I was expecting and I am so happy with the way it's written. Although I felt that in between, the story became a little slower, and it took me time to keep going, and I wished it would pick up soon, I also understood that it's how life is- slow, taking time, and thus it felt real.
There are so many things that I liked about this book, but I feel that if I talk about everything here, you might miss the experience of reading them by yourself because you will expect it to come. So I'm just keeping it up for you now to pick it up and see how real the story and the people in it are!
Pick up this book to read something that we don't read and think about often and something which will make you realise a lot about yourself and the people close to you.
Book: Caste As Social Capital
Author: R. Vaidyanathan
Genre: Non-fiction
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 162
Caste As Social Capital by Professor R. Vaidyanathan provided the perspective of caste from the lens of business, economics, and entrepreneurship and its importance in finance, markets, and the workforce. The author provides a qualitative view of caste and represents the age-old institution of the caste system in a new light of representation.
Through the help of various data, surveys, research, census, reports, and examples, the author shares his views, observations, and suggestions on various topics, including reservation, creamy and non-creamy layer, employment, its social capital role, service sector, and of course politics.
The author through the support of literature, presents a perspective of caste that many people do not want to see and acknowledge. Its importance increases in the present scenario because all the policies that we have work on the data that were collected decades ago, neglecting the ever-changing situation of society. Thus, the perception of caste through the lens of caste becomes important, which is rightly shown in the book.
Although I was not able to understand a few topics and at some points, the data was overflowing. Also, caste is very dynamic and complex, and thus understanding it through a particular lens can ignore the other aspects, as it doesn't work in a vacuum. As Nandini Bhatia rightly said in the review of the book in Business Standard, "Balancing financial security across castes and classes may be important, but it cannot exist in isolation without achieving social security of castes and classes." And I cannot express it better than that.
Author: R. Vaidyanathan
Genre: Non-fiction
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 162
Caste As Social Capital by Professor R. Vaidyanathan provided the perspective of caste from the lens of business, economics, and entrepreneurship and its importance in finance, markets, and the workforce. The author provides a qualitative view of caste and represents the age-old institution of the caste system in a new light of representation.
Through the help of various data, surveys, research, census, reports, and examples, the author shares his views, observations, and suggestions on various topics, including reservation, creamy and non-creamy layer, employment, its social capital role, service sector, and of course politics.
The author through the support of literature, presents a perspective of caste that many people do not want to see and acknowledge. Its importance increases in the present scenario because all the policies that we have work on the data that were collected decades ago, neglecting the ever-changing situation of society. Thus, the perception of caste through the lens of caste becomes important, which is rightly shown in the book.
Although I was not able to understand a few topics and at some points, the data was overflowing. Also, caste is very dynamic and complex, and thus understanding it through a particular lens can ignore the other aspects, as it doesn't work in a vacuum. As Nandini Bhatia rightly said in the review of the book in Business Standard, "Balancing financial security across castes and classes may be important, but it cannot exist in isolation without achieving social security of castes and classes." And I cannot express it better than that.
Book: Faf Through Fire
Author: Faf Du Plessis
Genre: Autobiography
Publisher: Penguin eBury Press
With the ongoing Cricket World Cup and the craze of the sport, I started reading the autobiography of one of the cricketers whose presence on the ground was cherished by cricket lovers. Faf Du Plessis is a name that every cricket fan is aware of. But what we all have seen was only a side of him, a side of him on the cricket ground. But there's a lot more than that, and this book tells that story.
Faf Through Fire by Faf Du Plessis is this account from his childhood days to playing the domestic and then for the Proteas, and his long journey from debuting in ODIs to Tests, playing in IPL, World Cup, and experience with Dhoni, CSK, and RCB!
But what appealed to me the most was his relationship dynamics with his parents and his wife- Imari and how much impact they have in his personality. He describes his relationship with AB de Villiers and other players in detail as well, in a very raw and honest way.
It showed how team leadership, management, and environment are vital for the players, and provides a detailed perspective about it through his experiences.
The book shows the psychological aspects of the player and how it impacts and gets impacted by the personal life and the people around us. Although the book gets a little repetitive at times and loses the grip, it was overall an interesting read, that keeps hooked till the end.
Author: Faf Du Plessis
Genre: Autobiography
Publisher: Penguin eBury Press
With the ongoing Cricket World Cup and the craze of the sport, I started reading the autobiography of one of the cricketers whose presence on the ground was cherished by cricket lovers. Faf Du Plessis is a name that every cricket fan is aware of. But what we all have seen was only a side of him, a side of him on the cricket ground. But there's a lot more than that, and this book tells that story.
Faf Through Fire by Faf Du Plessis is this account from his childhood days to playing the domestic and then for the Proteas, and his long journey from debuting in ODIs to Tests, playing in IPL, World Cup, and experience with Dhoni, CSK, and RCB!
But what appealed to me the most was his relationship dynamics with his parents and his wife- Imari and how much impact they have in his personality. He describes his relationship with AB de Villiers and other players in detail as well, in a very raw and honest way.
It showed how team leadership, management, and environment are vital for the players, and provides a detailed perspective about it through his experiences.
The book shows the psychological aspects of the player and how it impacts and gets impacted by the personal life and the people around us. Although the book gets a little repetitive at times and loses the grip, it was overall an interesting read, that keeps hooked till the end.
Madam Commissioner: The Extraordinary Life of an Indian Police Chief
Meeran Chadha Borwankar, Meeran Chadha Borwankar
Madam Commissioner is a memoir by Meera Chadha Borwankar where she revisits her experience and journey of being a woman officer of the Indian Police Service. She started narrating her journey from the time she graduated from the National Police Academy as the sole woman of the 1981 batch!
This book narrates how she carved the path for herself on the road not taken, becoming Maharashtra’s first female district police chief as well as its first Woman Police Commissioner. But it had not been easy as one can easily understand, as making a name for oneself in the male-dominated service, especially at that time. But as she narrates her story, she tells how when one has the power of truth, and intention to serve for the interest of people rather than oneself, one can achieve anything and everything.
The chapter on the Jalgaon sex scandal was one of the most emotionally moving chapters, where one can see the human emotions at the core, where the dynamics of humanity and administration meet, and no matter what the challenges come, one can find a way for the truth. The chapter on the executions of Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon is a memorable one and I'm going to remember it for a long time and will revisit it. The differences in the process of both the execution and the precision needed to implement, and taking care of the law and order were interesting to know and tell us the things that go behind the scenes of what we can attribute to as one of the most popular incidents of the largest democracy.
The author also talks about the imprisonment of Sanjay Dutt and the accusations posed by the media and the reality, cases revolving around Haseena Parkar and Chhota Rajan, jewellery heists worth crores, highway dacoits, port thefts, communal riots, violence and the corruption in the services, with many other things.
In this book, the author also talks about how the integrity of the administrative services declined over time, especially in the 90s and the reforms needed in the services, and how things can work in the best manner when there is a collaboration of the public and people in uniform, citing various examples throughout the book, making it a book that not only talks about one's life but can be of interest of anyone interested to know more about the Khaki and the things that go behind which is neglected if seen from the surface.
As a person who rarely reads non-fiction, this book was a breath of fresh air, giving deep insights into the Administrative Services and the challenges and steps ahead in it through first-hand experience. I'll give it 4.65/5 stars.
This book narrates how she carved the path for herself on the road not taken, becoming Maharashtra’s first female district police chief as well as its first Woman Police Commissioner. But it had not been easy as one can easily understand, as making a name for oneself in the male-dominated service, especially at that time. But as she narrates her story, she tells how when one has the power of truth, and intention to serve for the interest of people rather than oneself, one can achieve anything and everything.
The chapter on the Jalgaon sex scandal was one of the most emotionally moving chapters, where one can see the human emotions at the core, where the dynamics of humanity and administration meet, and no matter what the challenges come, one can find a way for the truth. The chapter on the executions of Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon is a memorable one and I'm going to remember it for a long time and will revisit it. The differences in the process of both the execution and the precision needed to implement, and taking care of the law and order were interesting to know and tell us the things that go behind the scenes of what we can attribute to as one of the most popular incidents of the largest democracy.
The author also talks about the imprisonment of Sanjay Dutt and the accusations posed by the media and the reality, cases revolving around Haseena Parkar and Chhota Rajan, jewellery heists worth crores, highway dacoits, port thefts, communal riots, violence and the corruption in the services, with many other things.
In this book, the author also talks about how the integrity of the administrative services declined over time, especially in the 90s and the reforms needed in the services, and how things can work in the best manner when there is a collaboration of the public and people in uniform, citing various examples throughout the book, making it a book that not only talks about one's life but can be of interest of anyone interested to know more about the Khaki and the things that go behind which is neglected if seen from the surface.
As a person who rarely reads non-fiction, this book was a breath of fresh air, giving deep insights into the Administrative Services and the challenges and steps ahead in it through first-hand experience. I'll give it 4.65/5 stars.
Book: Once Upon A Regret
Author: Shilpa Suraj
Genre: Romance
Format: E-book
Pages: 232
Once Upon A Regret by Shilpa Suraj is the third book in the Il Cuore series. The first book focused on the story of Maya and Yash, while the second explores the story of Kanak Shourie and Aakash Thakkar. The third book, that is this one shows us the story of Aayushi Thakkar and Ved Kashyap. When Aayushi and Ved meet after their tangled past, death, ego, and misunderstanding, will they be able to survive themselves?
Aayushi and Ved were the characters that created a lot of interest in me while reading the previous books and I was excited to see how their story will go ahead.
Ved's past, his family background, problems and issues and how it impacted and created his personality was the highlight of the book for me, for how well written it was. Aayushi's dilemma, thoughts and her actions and again, how her family dynamics shaped her was well written.
The friendship of Ved, Maya, Kanak and Karam was as always a treat to read and Aayushi's and Aakash siblings'bond gave some heartwarming moments.
It was probably my first read where a pig- Masha was a pet and it was enjoyable to read, for how much it was an active part of the story.
The story advocates the issue of Mental Health very actively, gracefully and with good representation, by breaking stereotypes and myths around it.
I wished to see more of the protagonists past, and what happened to them in a little more detail which could have provided more emotional connectivity with the characters and their actions. Also, the story needed more interaction of Pakhi with Aayushi, which I felt was underdeveloped.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and this book comes at a rescue again when I was not feeling well. Feels like Shilpa Suraj's writing is becoming synonymous with my medicines(saying drugs would raise so many eyebrows
Author: Shilpa Suraj
Genre: Romance
Format: E-book
Pages: 232
Once Upon A Regret by Shilpa Suraj is the third book in the Il Cuore series. The first book focused on the story of Maya and Yash, while the second explores the story of Kanak Shourie and Aakash Thakkar. The third book, that is this one shows us the story of Aayushi Thakkar and Ved Kashyap. When Aayushi and Ved meet after their tangled past, death, ego, and misunderstanding, will they be able to survive themselves?
Aayushi and Ved were the characters that created a lot of interest in me while reading the previous books and I was excited to see how their story will go ahead.
Ved's past, his family background, problems and issues and how it impacted and created his personality was the highlight of the book for me, for how well written it was. Aayushi's dilemma, thoughts and her actions and again, how her family dynamics shaped her was well written.
The friendship of Ved, Maya, Kanak and Karam was as always a treat to read and Aayushi's and Aakash siblings'bond gave some heartwarming moments.
It was probably my first read where a pig- Masha was a pet and it was enjoyable to read, for how much it was an active part of the story.
The story advocates the issue of Mental Health very actively, gracefully and with good representation, by breaking stereotypes and myths around it.
I wished to see more of the protagonists past, and what happened to them in a little more detail which could have provided more emotional connectivity with the characters and their actions. Also, the story needed more interaction of Pakhi with Aayushi, which I felt was underdeveloped.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and this book comes at a rescue again when I was not feeling well. Feels like Shilpa Suraj's writing is becoming synonymous with my medicines(saying drugs would raise so many eyebrows
After reading and loving "The Wedding Setup", a short story by the author Sonali Dev earlier this year, I wanted to read a novel by her and when this latest release by her came up, I went all in for it.
The author wonderfully showed the story of three interlocking protagonists and how each action of them affects each other, directly or indirectly. The twisted past, the messy present, and the possibility of a tormented future give the story a strong base and a dominating factor in the story.
For me, the benchmark of the story is the friendship of Rani and Vandy, and how with time it evolved, changed, rusted, and yet, had a connection. The differences in family and economic background, parenting, upbringing, surroundings, and people around them were visible in their relationship and gave deep insights into their character development.
The story also sheds light on how parenting affects children deeply, making them make choices they wouldn't have thought of and do things they haven't imagined, consciously or subconsciously. Also, it shows how childhood trauma can impact your whole life.
The relationship of Vandy and Vir, and Mallika and Rex was written beautifully and showed again, how the relationship of parents with each other as partners affects children's relationship with their partners.
The story is very filmy when it comes to the competition between Pinky and Tinku, Vandy’s two sisters-in-law, and all the dance drama, which of course I enjoyed!
Although the ending was very well built up, for me, it was very predictable. I think the blurb gave away too much of the story and with the little slow narrative and pace, it takes away the interest in between. I would have loved to see more of Mallika's relationship with her cousins, especially Amey, and maybe with Aarav as well.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book because of the engaging writing style and the storytelling and I would like to read more by the author for sure.
The author wonderfully showed the story of three interlocking protagonists and how each action of them affects each other, directly or indirectly. The twisted past, the messy present, and the possibility of a tormented future give the story a strong base and a dominating factor in the story.
For me, the benchmark of the story is the friendship of Rani and Vandy, and how with time it evolved, changed, rusted, and yet, had a connection. The differences in family and economic background, parenting, upbringing, surroundings, and people around them were visible in their relationship and gave deep insights into their character development.
The story also sheds light on how parenting affects children deeply, making them make choices they wouldn't have thought of and do things they haven't imagined, consciously or subconsciously. Also, it shows how childhood trauma can impact your whole life.
The relationship of Vandy and Vir, and Mallika and Rex was written beautifully and showed again, how the relationship of parents with each other as partners affects children's relationship with their partners.
The story is very filmy when it comes to the competition between Pinky and Tinku, Vandy’s two sisters-in-law, and all the dance drama, which of course I enjoyed!
Although the ending was very well built up, for me, it was very predictable. I think the blurb gave away too much of the story and with the little slow narrative and pace, it takes away the interest in between. I would have loved to see more of Mallika's relationship with her cousins, especially Amey, and maybe with Aarav as well.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book because of the engaging writing style and the storytelling and I would like to read more by the author for sure.
Book: Happenstance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Genre: Romance Comedy
Publisher: Piatkus
Pages: 288
Happenstance by Tessa Bailey is the story of Elise Brandeis, who wants to work as an actual reporter at Gotham Times but instead is delivering sandwiches there. And so to get there, she is trying to find a story that can impress the managing editor Karina Grazer. A story that took her to Roosevelt Island and got her stuck in a cable car with three strangers- Gabe Gatlin, a construction worker; Banks Pearson, an uptight rugby coach; and Tobias Atwater, a former adult film star. What started with the feeling of being rescued from that car to being connected with the three people she met there, things changed! For better or worse, read the book!
I was very excited to read Tessa Bailey's book because of all the hype her books got on Instagram. So although I haven't read the author before this book, I have had some high expectations.
The book started well and kept me hooked and I was enjoying it. The book is spicy and has a lot of smut scenes, and it won't be wrong to say that it dominates the book and the story. Some fun moments were there that gave good elements to the story.
This is not the first time I read a story where a character has multiple partners, but I feel it needs to give enough time and space to make it promising, sadly that's not the case here. The story has some elements that give it an emotional touch, but they were not developed enough and the characters needed a little more depth, time, and conversations to evolve more.
There were moments in the book when I thought the story could get a little space and make me connect with it, but it was taken over by the smut scenes and left me with little to no connectivity with the characters. I like reading spicy books but the story, if not more, needs to be a little strong enough and give a good base and connectivity.
Although I didn't enjoy the book, I can see why it worked for a lot of people. So if the blurb fascinates you, you can check it out for yourself.
Author: Tessa Bailey
Genre: Romance Comedy
Publisher: Piatkus
Pages: 288
Happenstance by Tessa Bailey is the story of Elise Brandeis, who wants to work as an actual reporter at Gotham Times but instead is delivering sandwiches there. And so to get there, she is trying to find a story that can impress the managing editor Karina Grazer. A story that took her to Roosevelt Island and got her stuck in a cable car with three strangers- Gabe Gatlin, a construction worker; Banks Pearson, an uptight rugby coach; and Tobias Atwater, a former adult film star. What started with the feeling of being rescued from that car to being connected with the three people she met there, things changed! For better or worse, read the book!
I was very excited to read Tessa Bailey's book because of all the hype her books got on Instagram. So although I haven't read the author before this book, I have had some high expectations.
The book started well and kept me hooked and I was enjoying it. The book is spicy and has a lot of smut scenes, and it won't be wrong to say that it dominates the book and the story. Some fun moments were there that gave good elements to the story.
This is not the first time I read a story where a character has multiple partners, but I feel it needs to give enough time and space to make it promising, sadly that's not the case here. The story has some elements that give it an emotional touch, but they were not developed enough and the characters needed a little more depth, time, and conversations to evolve more.
There were moments in the book when I thought the story could get a little space and make me connect with it, but it was taken over by the smut scenes and left me with little to no connectivity with the characters. I like reading spicy books but the story, if not more, needs to be a little strong enough and give a good base and connectivity.
Although I didn't enjoy the book, I can see why it worked for a lot of people. So if the blurb fascinates you, you can check it out for yourself.
Under The Mistletoe & Other Stories by Manali Desai is a collection of 12 short stories and 6 poems that share the love of festivals and the joy and hope they bring.
From hosting the Secret Santa in the office and the chaos and calmness it brings; revisiting the school where you studied now as an inspecting officer and soaking in all the changes and finding the similarities; creating a list of nice and naughty things you did to convince Santa for the gift; being invited for the Christmas by an unexpected guest; being stuck on the airport and missing the family but meeting some people who can change you, and many more stories, this collection offers a wide range of experiences yet binds them all through the theme of festival.
I finished this book in less than a day and what a beautiful and delightful book it is. The stories have a sense of calmness and comfort and offer the readers a sense of belonging, optimism, familiarity, and companionship.
My favourite story was "At the Stroke of Midnight" for the reason that it shows a perfect meet cute romantic moment that one wants in life and it gives us comfort, even if it's in fiction! "Under The Mistletoe" was another story that stood out well while "Touch Me Not" was a story that shook me. Although the stories were my favourite, I didn't feel much connected with the poems, maybe because I have read and loved two poetry collections by the author already and have more expectations. Also, I wished there could have been more poems in the book.
It's a perfect book for the festive season or any such season for that matter that can provide you with comfort, warmth, and the feeling of love, longing, and happiness. As usual, Manali Desai brings a book that has become one of my comfort reads. This is a book that I highly recommend.
From hosting the Secret Santa in the office and the chaos and calmness it brings; revisiting the school where you studied now as an inspecting officer and soaking in all the changes and finding the similarities; creating a list of nice and naughty things you did to convince Santa for the gift; being invited for the Christmas by an unexpected guest; being stuck on the airport and missing the family but meeting some people who can change you, and many more stories, this collection offers a wide range of experiences yet binds them all through the theme of festival.
I finished this book in less than a day and what a beautiful and delightful book it is. The stories have a sense of calmness and comfort and offer the readers a sense of belonging, optimism, familiarity, and companionship.
My favourite story was "At the Stroke of Midnight" for the reason that it shows a perfect meet cute romantic moment that one wants in life and it gives us comfort, even if it's in fiction! "Under The Mistletoe" was another story that stood out well while "Touch Me Not" was a story that shook me. Although the stories were my favourite, I didn't feel much connected with the poems, maybe because I have read and loved two poetry collections by the author already and have more expectations. Also, I wished there could have been more poems in the book.
It's a perfect book for the festive season or any such season for that matter that can provide you with comfort, warmth, and the feeling of love, longing, and happiness. As usual, Manali Desai brings a book that has become one of my comfort reads. This is a book that I highly recommend.
The Maharaja’s Fake Fiancée by Alisha Kay is the first book in the Devgarh Royal Series. It is the story of Nivy Sharma who is an actress and lived in Mumbai before coming home to Devgarh, where she meets Veerendra Singh, the Maharaja of Devgarh, again, after five years. When her mother tries to match her up with a man approved by her, and Veer is being sighted by the Princess of Tejpur whom he can't stand, they both propose a fake engagement. What will happen when the 'fake' does not seem that fake anymore? Will they be able to give a second chance to each other or will their past come in their way? Read the book to know more.
This is my third book by the author this year and I am in love with her writing. I read the third book in the series "The Price And The Runaway Bride" earlier than this, and after reading it, I knew I needed to read the earlier parts of the series as well, and "Bad Girl Gone Good" is definitely one of my favourite reads of this year, so I have had high hopes with the book, and thankfully it didn't disappoint!
I loved reading the banter between the protagonists' and the names that Nivy gave to "His Highness". The book has a very fast pace and there is a lot of drama and things happening. The book gave a lot of Bollywood vibes and it was very filmy and entertaining.
The characters have their share of problems and the family dynamics play a key role in the book. Nivy's relationship with her parents is quite complicated and so does with her brother Aryan. At the same time, Veer finds himself quite comfortable with her family, and the contrast gives a beautiful perspective to the story.
Although I felt that the ending was a little rushed and if given a little more time, it would have been more connective. Also, I would have loved to see more of the protagonists' character development with each other and their families. And I can't wait to see more of Rani Ma, hopefully in the next part of the series. The characters of Jessie and Aryan were quite intriguing and I am excited to read about them in the next part.
It's a book that can easily be finished in a day and something that can uplift your mood and recuse you from your reading slump, in case you have! Overall, it was a fun, humourous, fast-paced rom-com that can entertain you.
This is my third book by the author this year and I am in love with her writing. I read the third book in the series "The Price And The Runaway Bride" earlier than this, and after reading it, I knew I needed to read the earlier parts of the series as well, and "Bad Girl Gone Good" is definitely one of my favourite reads of this year, so I have had high hopes with the book, and thankfully it didn't disappoint!
I loved reading the banter between the protagonists' and the names that Nivy gave to "His Highness". The book has a very fast pace and there is a lot of drama and things happening. The book gave a lot of Bollywood vibes and it was very filmy and entertaining.
The characters have their share of problems and the family dynamics play a key role in the book. Nivy's relationship with her parents is quite complicated and so does with her brother Aryan. At the same time, Veer finds himself quite comfortable with her family, and the contrast gives a beautiful perspective to the story.
Although I felt that the ending was a little rushed and if given a little more time, it would have been more connective. Also, I would have loved to see more of the protagonists' character development with each other and their families. And I can't wait to see more of Rani Ma, hopefully in the next part of the series. The characters of Jessie and Aryan were quite intriguing and I am excited to read about them in the next part.
It's a book that can easily be finished in a day and something that can uplift your mood and recuse you from your reading slump, in case you have! Overall, it was a fun, humourous, fast-paced rom-com that can entertain you.