10 Things I Hate About Pinky - Book Review

 

10 Things I Hate About Pinky (Dimple and Rishi #3)

by Sandhya Menon

What is it about:

Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny-tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.

Samir Jha might have a few . . . quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.

Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house, but after listening to them harangue her about the poor decisions (aka boyfriends) she’s made, she hatches a plan. Get her sorta-friend-sorta-enemy, Samir—who is a total Harvard-bound Mama’s boy—to pose as her perfect boyfriend for the summer. As they bicker their way through lighthouses and butterfly habitats, sparks fly, and they both realize this will be a summer they'll never forget.

What did I think of it:

I was in need of an easy fluffy read, so I picked up this book from my local bookstore.

And this is indeed a perfect read if you're in the mood for something light and fun.

Pinky is sick of her mother thinking she can't make responsible decisions, so she tells her that she is dating a perfect boy even her mother would approve of. Enter her frenemy Samir who needs a summer away from his mother and a chance to get an internship at the law firm where Pinky's mother works.

As they fake their relationship for those around them, they discover they might just like each other more than they always thought.

I liked seeing Pinky and Samir getting to know each other better, and learning from each other. They're different, but there's enough they agree on to see they'd be a perfect fit if they would stop fighting over silly stuff.

All in all I very much enjoyed this book, which is perfectly readable as a standalone even though it is book three in a series. That said: I think I'll pick up the previous books if I run into them.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and entertaining YA read.

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The Wolf and The Water - Release Day Review

The Wolf and The Water (Deluge #1)

by Josie Jaffrey

What is it about:

Some secrets are worth killing for

The ancient city of Kepos sits in an isolated valley, cut off from the outside world by a towering wall. Behind it, the souls of the dead clamour for release. Or so the priesthood says.

Kala has never had any reason to doubt their word – until her father dies in suspicious circumstances that implicate the city's high priest. She's determined to investigate, but she has a more immediate problem: the laws of the city require her mother to remarry straight away.

Kala's new stepfather is a monster, but his son Leon is something altogether more dangerous: kind.

With her family fractured and the investigation putting her life in danger, the last thing Kala needs is romance. She would rather ignore Leon entirely, however difficult he makes it. But when she learns the truth of what really clamours behind the wall at the end of the valley, she faces a choice: share what she knows and jeopardise her escape, or abandon him to his fate along with the rest of the city.

If she doesn't move fast, then no one will make it out of the valley alive.

What did I think of it:

This is a really cool read.

The setting is based on Greek mythology and the way Jaffrey describes things I could easily picture everything.

Kala loved her father, so when he suddenly dies and her mother is forced to remarry Kala tries to investigate her father's death. What she uncovers is more than she bargained for,

I loved Kala. She had a hard life, even with a loving father and a more than loyal servant to stand by her. This makes that she keeps going even when things get difficult and dangerous. Her relationship with her servant Melissa was really touching to read. I think I even fell a bit in love with Melissa.

Then there's Leon and his sister. They were very interesting characters as well. I was invested in Kala discovering the truth and find a way to be happy and surrounded by people who love and support her.

All in all a suspenseful and atmospheric story that gripped me and wouldn't let go until I reached the end.

You bet I will get my trotters on the next book!

Why should you read it:

It's a suspenseful and cool YA Fantasy read.

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I Want It That Way - Book Review by Voodoo Bride (reread/repost)

 

I Want It That Way (2B Trilogy #1)
by Ann Aguirre

What is it about:
Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she's determined to make them come true—for her parents' sake as well as her own. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, she barely has time to think, let alone date. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B….

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can't risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, a social life is out of the question. The last thing he wants is for four noisy students to move into the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia's and Ty's paths cross, and soon they can't stay away from each other.

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can't know what you truly need until you stand to lose it.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I usually don't like Contemporary Romance: too much drama.

But then I heard Ann Aguirre had written a New Adult Contemporary Romance trilogy! I had to at least give it a try, because I love every book by Ann Aguirre that I've read. So when I got the opportunity to get an Advance Reader Copy you can bet I jumped on it.

And this is such a delicious read!

There's no sign of all the relationship drama that so often plagues Contemporary Romance. Instead this is a fun and addicting read about two people who feel drawn to each other, even though it might not be convenient.

The romance is light, hot and a delight to read. I was hooked from the start and couldn't stop reading. I even totally fell in love with Tyler's son, while I normally don't like kids in romance novels.

There are some obstacles of course which keep Nadia and Ty apart, but it never was frustrating. I rooted for them both to find a way to be together without having to sacrifice the things that were important to them.

I also really enjoyed reading about Nadia's friends, and knowing some of them will be lead characters in the upcoming books makes me eager to get my hands on the whole trilogy.

All in all this was a very enjoyable, fluffy, addictive, sweet, romantic read that makes me hungry for more. I will most certainly read the other books in this trilogy as well.

Why should you read it:
This book is candy for your brain!

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Teaser Tuesdays - Cold Storage

 

She looked up at him, not understanding. "What else am I supposed to do?"

"Leave it. We've got to burn this place."

(page 34, Cold Storage by David Koepp)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Our Wayward Fate - Book Review

 

Our Wayward Fate

by Gloria Chao

What is it about:

Seventeen-year-old Ali Chu knows that as the only Asian person at her school in middle-of-nowhere Indiana, she must be bland as white toast to survive. This means swapping her congee lunch for PB&Js, ignoring the clueless racism from her classmates and teachers, and keeping her mouth shut when people wrongly call her Allie instead of her actual name, Ah-lee, after the mountain in Taiwan.

Her autopilot existence is disrupted when she finds out that Chase Yu, the new kid in school, is also Taiwanese. Despite some initial resistance due to the they belong together whispers, Ali and Chase soon spark a chemistry rooted in competitive martial arts, joking in two languages, and, most importantly, pushing back against the discrimination they face.

But when Ali’s mom finds out about the relationship, she forces Ali to end it. As Ali covertly digs into the why behind her mother’s disapproval, she uncovers secrets about her family and Chase that force her to question everything she thought she knew about life, love, and her unknowable future.

What did I think of it:

I loved American Panda, so I had to give Chao's next book a try.

And although this book didn't grip me as much as American Panda it is still a great read!

I could relate with Ali who is the outsider at her school and just learned to keep her head down and stay silent when people say and do ignorant things. Then Chase shows up and Ali is forced to look at her life.

I loved seeing the two of them connect and challenge the people around them. Then Ali's mother interferes and her meddling leads the story in a different direction.

I can't say too much about what happens next, but I was surprised by the twists in this story and had to read on to see how everything would end. 

All in all a cool read and I'll definitely will get my trotters on the next book by Chao as well.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and cool YA read. 

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In my TBR Pile - A Natural History of Dragons

 Anyone read this book and can tell me if I need to bump it up on my TBR Pile or just discard it?

A Natural History of Dragons (The Memoirs of Lady Trent #1)

by Marie Brennan

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one's life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever. 

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The Psychology of Time Travel - Book Review

 

The Psychology of Time Travel

by Kate Mascarenhas

What is it about:

In 1967, four female scientists worked together to build the world’s first time machine. But just as they are about to debut their creation, one of them suffers a breakdown, putting the whole project—and future of time travel—in jeopardy. To protect their invention, one member is exiled from the team—erasing her contributions from history.

Fifty years later, time travel is a big business. Twenty-something Ruby Rebello knows her beloved grandmother, Granny Bee, was one of the pioneers, though no one will tell her more. But when Bee receives a mysterious newspaper clipping from the future reporting the murder of an unidentified woman, Ruby becomes obsessed: could it be Bee? Who would want her dead? And most importantly of all: can her murder be stopped?

What did we think of it:

As some of you might know I'm a sucker for time travel stories, so when Gilbert saw this book he immediately thought of me. The only problem with time travel stories is that a lot of them have ridiculous and unbelievable time travel theories.

In this book the time travel theory used was very interesting and even though not possible it worked really well for the story. We were able to suspend disbelief in favor for the story. 

Even though set in this world the time travel makes this story an alternate history and next to it being a thriller it also explores what it would do to people if they are able to time travel and go back and forth along their own timeline. 

There are multiple viewpoint characters and as the story unfolds it becomes clear what all of them have got to do with each other.  That some of these people can time travel makes the story intricate and intriguing. Who is the dead woman? Can events be changed by time travel? I was on the edge of my seat to find out what was going on and if my favorite characters would get a happy ending.

Overall this is a really cool and satisfying story. You bet we'll read more by Mascarenhas in the future.

Why should you read it:

It's a really cool and intriguing time travel thriller.

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