Unromance by Erin Connor - Book Review

Publication Date: 14th Jan 2025

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Has rom and com! 

Sawyer Greene is a bestselling romance writer and knows the genre. If only she could get over the writer’s block to create another story for the fast-approaching deadline. She hadn’t been able to write after her girlfriend Sadie broke up with her. 

Mason West might be a great actor but he doesn’t seem to be lucky with relationships. After yet another breakup that sends the tabloids into a TRP tizzy, he needs to stop himself from falling in love. 

A not-meet-cute between Sawyer and Mason ends up in an unexpected second meeting elsewhere. Maybe they can help each other? Mason wants Sawyer to ruin romance for him while he inspires her to write the next bestseller. If only life was that easy! 

The story comes in Sawyer and Mason’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, a book about romance tropes but to ruin them for one character. Who can resist the premise? 

The plotline is certainly cute and there’s a lot of humor in this rom-com. There is rom too and the spicy kind. Not all jokes appealed to me but taste is subjective, so you might them more (or less). 

Sawyer would be the grump with Mason being a cinnamon roll sweetheart. TBH, he was too good and too sweet. That meant I felt sad for him more than I felt for the FMC. 

Of course, as a fellow writer, I could connect with her stress about writer’s block, the frenzy of wanting to work on an idea before it vanishes, and the inherent talent of writing myself into a corner. The only difference is that I am not a bestseller (yet) or have an agent and editor rooting for me (got my darling friends, though). 

While the book deals with a few themes (lightly), the central plot is rather loose and thin. The characters also acknowledge this, so I can’t say much. It’s more like they feel attracted to each other and go with a crazy plan. 

The spice is close to 4. There’s a scene early in the book, which surprised me. The next one takes some time (small mercies). We get some sexy banter as well. 

The FMC is bi (with chaotic bi energy). I confess I’m not familiar with that tag but she is a mess. Sometimes, it gets a bit annoying as well. Still, I feel the bi part was done well instead of being an item on the checklist. 

I had to wait a long time to read about the dress on the cover. At least, it is in there, though the MMC’s suit colors are not the same. 

I wish the themes like parental interference and lack of family support were explored a little more. These have an important role in developing the character arcs and need some extra time. 

The pacing is on the slower side, something I didn’t expect. A few scenes were extended for no reason. The third-act breakup was expected. Still, I wish it was better handled. Necessary, yes; but not that way. 

To summarize, Unromance is an entertaining debut with a bunch of romance tropes mashed into a series of dates. It is fun but a one-time read. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing (Forever), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #Unromance

Planning 2025 Reads - Short Post

 Hello and Namaste, 

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year 2025. It's time to make an official post declaring my intentions about books and reading plans. 

PC: Generated on Bing 

This year, I plan to stay on schedule and try not to overdo requests or grab too many books at once (ha ha ha). Also, I want to read more Indic books. Hence, I started the year with Parva (Mahabharata retelling) by SL Bhyrappa. It's a big book of 950 pages and slow-paced but fascinating so far! I'm not rushing through it, so this could also be my longest-read book of the year. 

2024 didn't have many memorable reads, so here's hoping for a better reading year. 

What are your bookish plans? Let me know in the comments. 

And oh... I'm participating in the #TBRChallenge by Blogchatter. (This was the reason I made the post). 

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young - Book Review

Publication Date: 07th Jan 2025

Genre: Mystery, Magic Realism 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Lyrical and intriguing but with a few issues 

James (our FMC) and Johnny Golden are twins with a connection that lies in the supernatural realm. She can feel and experience what he feels, so when Johnny is killed, James knows it has happened and lives through it even before the news officially reaches her. 

Now, James is back in the rural town of Hawthorne, California, after twenty years to sort out her twin’s work and find out what actually happened. She soon realizes her brother is trying to communicate with her from wherever he is but it is too overwhelming. After all, James left the town after an incident that changed a few lives. Being back means she also has to deal with the past, especially her first love Micah, the man who has been with her brother’s friend all these years and might be the only one to help her connect the dots. 

The story comes in James’ first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is my first book by the author (I was declined the last time) and I can see why her works are popular. Though there are many elements I dislike, the writing style has a haunting quality. 

The atmosphere is next level. Most of the story is set in and around a dense forest, so it’s already my favorite place. However, this forest is not magical. It is dark, mossy, thick, suffocating, oppressive, and overwhelming. It closes in from all sides and traps you inside. But… it is still my favorite. For the FMC, the forest is a representation of what she has escaped but couldn’t let go. This is apparent on many pages. 

Since the story is in James’ first-person (don’t worry, she tells us right in the first chapter why she has a male name), there’s a lot of suppressed information. She doesn’t want to even think of it which means we go around in circles in the first half. Still, after the slow start, the momentum picks up. Little bits of information are scattered in the monologues. Collecting it is our responsibility. 

Micah is a nice guy; a bit intense but then the FMC is intenser (I know it’s not a word), and Johnny seems to be intensiest. We don’t directly meet the dead man but he is everywhere (to the point of possibly coming out of the Kindle screen as smoke). 

However, don’t expect to connect with any of them. At around 10% I realized this is a book where everything has a surreal tinge. The characters are no exception. If you can connect with them, good; if not, nothing to worry about. I don’t think we are meant to. 

Despite the FMC being 37, she acts like a late teen the majority of the time. That’s probably coz it was the age she left the forest town without a proper closure. When she returns, she falls into the same pattern despite thinking she should be an adult. Such a character would annoy me (did too), but it seemed to fit here. 

So, why the relatively lower rating? One, because of how the story goes in circles until 60%+, and then we get reveal after reveal in quick succession. Two, the sort of love triangle wasn’t necessary since the other guy barely had any active role. Three, quite a few questions remain unanswered, which dim the enjoyment of the epilogue. Fourth, it is easy to guess the secret. 

To summarize, A Sea of Unspoken Things has a great atmosphere and a few possible triggers. It was an intriguing read but not without flaws. I would be happy to read more books by the author. The prose is excellent! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine (Delacorte Press, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ASeaofUnspokenThings

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams - Book Review

Series: When in Rome #3 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 07th Jan 2025

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: This was fun! 

Emily Walker doesn’t like disruptions or changes. She also doesn’t like her nemesis, Jackson Bennett, her fellow second-grade teacher in the local school. 

When Jack left Rome, Kentucky, to live with his fiancée, Emily was delighted. Her loving hometown was free of him at last. She could focus on completing her secret romance novel. 

Jack returns to Rome after breaking off his engagement. He is happy to be back in the small town that charmed him even if Emily doesn’t want him around. He has his own secrets to keep and would do what he could to make Rome his home. 

When Emily mistakenly sends her manuscript to their school principal instead of a literary agent, she needs Jack’s help to steal back her manuscript. Their interactions soon show that they may not have hated each other for so long! 

The story comes in the first-person POVs of Emily and Jack. 

My Thoughts: 

This is my first book by the author. It is the third in the series and works as a standalone. One day, I’ll read the previous two. 

The book starts with a short note about triggers and the chapter numbers for those who want to skip spicy scenes. A clear idea indeed! 

We get the story from both POVs, though Emily’s is more than Jack’s. That’s fine since they cover the base pretty well. The first-person voices are distinct enough to not create confusion about who narrates the chapter (there are clear headers too). 

The little email and SMS interactions placed between the chapters not only add to the fun but also give more insight into the characters and their past. I enjoyed reading these. 

It took a while to warm to Emily but I liked her as I got to know her. Jack was easier to like (everyone in the book likes him too!). Emily’s family and her relationship with them were heartwarming and bittersweet. There’s some joint trauma there but much love too. 

The book deals with some heavy themes like parental loss, parentification of a child, toxic family, narcissistic parent, etc. These influence the main characters in many ways. There are some intense moments but the book stays true to the genre and keeps things from becoming too overwhelming. I prefer it this way. 

Writing is another part of the plotline. Some good insights are provided. I related to some of the emotions the characters feel when they write. 

One aspect I wanted more was the teaching part. They talk a lot about teaching, students, school, etc. but we don’t get to see them in the classroom or with their students. Yeah, it’s set during the holidays. Still, I needed at least one scene. After all, they take their professions seriously! 

The second half is slower than the first half, probably coz it packs more stuff. There’s a teeny epilogue but I admit I wanted more. Also, one important element has not been detailed, and I needed to see it after having to deal with such an annoying character. It should have been included in the epilogue. 

To summarize, Beg, Borrow, or Steal is an entertaining enemies-to-lovers story with good banter and interesting supporting characters. 

The next book will belong to Madison (the only unmarried Walker sibling). I hope she impresses me coz I’m already rooting for the guy (Team James). Excited to read it! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House (Dell), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #BegBorrowOrSteal

The House On Sun Street by Mojgan Ghazirad - Book Review

Publication Date: 03rd Oct 2024

Genre: Historical Autofiction 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Informative but with a few misses 

A six-year-old Moji loves spending time with her family in their house in Tehran. What’s better than listening to her grandfather narrating bedtime stories from One Thousand and One Nights? 

However, the Iranian Revolution disrupts their lives. The new regime brings Islamic laws, restricting women to their homes. Moji has to live through the changes, adjust to a new life in the US, and see her father detained by the Islamic Revolutionary Army, all the while growing up into an adolescent with new awareness, questions, and desires. 

The story comes in Moji’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

It’s my second book of the month dealing with a tough topic. However, the presentation is the opposite of Tali Girls. Those who want something less traumatic and triggering will find this easier to read. 

Iran didn’t go from monarchy to supposed democracy. It went from being a Persian culture to an Islamic one with the colors replaced by black chadors (or burqas) and multiple restrictions on women. A quick internet search about 'Iran then and now' will give you a clear picture of the changes.

More links: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy42vxd99po

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/irans-women-going-without-hijabs-as-2nd-anniversary-of-mahsa-aminis-death-approaches/article68641437.ece

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/armita-geravand-iran-hijab-death-mahsa-amini-101698475937481.html

In this book, the changes are recorded by a six-year-old Moji. We see the developments from her eyes. The first part is very strong despite the lack of detail. It presents the uncertainties, the shift from a carefree life to one filled with fear and anxiety, and how easy it is to get carried away by extreme ideas. We also see the racism and hatred little Moji faces during her short stay in the US. 

Family is the central theme throughout, it certainly stands out more in the first part. We also learn about the Parsi/ Iranian culture, the language, the region, etc. Moji’s grandfather is easily my favorite character in the book. 

The second part has Moji back in Iran but as a twelve-year-old. Things have changed already which soon becomes a background with her fascination for a teacher taking most of the space. I admit I lost interest as this became a bit too much. It is very common for young students to look up to their favorite teachers and develop a crush irrespective of gender. It’s a special feeling when a teacher you like spends more time with you (we’ve been there). But things here get a bit more uncomfortable at one point. No idea if it is a part of the autobiography part or if it is a fictional exaggeration. The age and power dynamics don’t show things in a good light even if I understand the reason for it. 

Moreover, I’m not sure if the afterword is by the author or if it should be read like an epilogue. There’s possibly a two-decade jump, where a lot of changes took place in Iran. We get almost no information about this. 

To summarize, The House On Sun Street is a worthy read dealing with some important topics. It is slow-paced with fewer triggers. However, I wish the second part was stronger. 

It may not even register for others, but the mention of infidels is a trigger for me. In the name of infidels and kafirs, countless murders (mass genocides) have been justified for centuries and continue to be even today. 

Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Blair, for eARC. 

The Examiner by Janice Hallett - Book Review

Publication Date: 10th Sep 2024 

Genre: Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: It was a fun ride! 

Gale Nathaniel is the head of Royal Hastings University’s new Multimedia Art course. She finds six people from diverse backgrounds to join the master’s program. This course has to be a hit or the university would take it off the list. 

Enter, a young Jem (an overachiever and clay sculptor), Jonathan (who runs his family art gallery and has limited knowledge), Patrick (a 50-something business owner who sells art supplies), Ludya (a single mother and small-time professional graphic designer), Alyson (an overqualified artist), and Cameron (a marketing executive who needs a hobby for stress-relief). 

The Examiner, the man hired to grade their final assignments finds something he shouldn’t. If his guess is right, someone on the course had died or could be in danger. 

The story comes in a collection of emails, text messages, essays, and notes. 

My Thoughts: 

So, this is my first book by the author though I have her works in my TBR. I was postponing it because of the page count (460+ pages) and since I was worried the pacing would be slow. 

Guess what? I was wrong. Considering the length, the pace is very good; much, much better than I expected. The use of chat, emails, and notes keeps the story moving. There are no chapters as much but headings we may or may not track. It doesn’t matter if you don’t track the heads as long as you figure things out. 

The characters are so distinct and easy to remember despite not knowing anything about them. We get only the basic information and yet, we can imagine them easily. Of course, whether or not our imagination aligns with the actual depends on the reveals. ;) 

My favorite is Jem (not because she’s an Indian… okay! A little because she is). She is a gem in many ways (remember that a gem has many definitions). She is the youngest in the team and her outspoken nature made the whole thing so much more interesting.

Naturally, important details are not revealed immediately. However, it is easy to see how the tensions and the hidden agendas (even if we don’t know what these are) affect the characters. The part about teamwork and credit is spot on! It is one reason I don’t prefer to work in teams (in college, I ended up doing everything and herding others to be there when they should. Ugh!). 

Things are not straightforward. Neither is the timeline. That shouldn’t matter if you follow the plot and can fill the gaps with your ideas. Mystery lovers will find it easier, I guess. The brain is wired for it, lol. 

The climax and reveal are OTT bordering on absurd. However, there’s a sense of crazy fun in it that makes the whole thing work somehow (for the reader). TBH, I’m not sure I’d have liked it as much if the format was different. Yeah, it is convoluted but entertaining nevertheless. 

Don’t ignore the author’s note and don’t read it first. Read it at the end. She makes some really great points. Also, makes me glad I opted for distance mode education for my MA in English Literature! 

To summarize, The Examiner is best enjoyed if you go with the flow, but also track a few plot elements that grab your attention. There’s a lot of drama, lies, secrets, etc., that can make the whole thing confusing but manages to deliver as a package. I won't postpone reading her next book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheExaminer