How We Disappear: Novella & Stories by Tara Lynn Masih - Book Review

How We Disappear: Novella & Stories by Tara Lynn Masih

Publication Date: 13th Sep 2022

Genre: Short Stories, Literary Fiction 

4.3 Stars 

One Liner: Brooding and darkish; introspective without being too heavy

*****

How We Disappear is an anthology of short stories and a novella on the theme of disappearance. It encompasses stories from different regions, communities, and social structures. The writing is evocative without being dramatic. In fact, it seems matter of fact and yet delivers emotions with full force. 

The tone, POV, and narration change from one story to another. Some are in the first person, while some are in the third person. Each story is distinct, though not all make the same impact. 

While the overall theme of disappearances creates a sense of vagueness and haziness, some stories are a little too vague to understand. This is my first book by the author, and I’m totally impressed by her writing style. 

What You Can't See in the Picture: A story about a facial recognitionist and a missing girl with face blindness. A solid start to the book. Introspective police procedural with human emotions and bonding as an underlying theme.

Salt: Too short a story about a woman who chooses to disappear with a lover. 

Fleeting Gravity: Story of Brandy, a mixed race Cree. A melancholic tale about life, loss, acceptance, loneliness, and society. It is sad and peaceful at the same time. 

How Do You Thank a River: A story about a cowboy’s life and the famous Red river in the region. The ending is left open for interpretation. 

Delight: The story of a confectionary maker and a man who claims to be different from others. The hopeful ending might be a bit cliché to some, but it was perfect for me. We need a small ray of hope to keep living. 

Agatha: A Life in Unauthorized Fragments: My absolute favorite! It is Agatha Christie’s life story told in fragments- just like her mystery books. I love it.

Birdman: The story of an American woman’s journey to Belgium to find her father’s grave. It starts slow and reveals the layers in the plot through the woman’s thoughts and actions. A heartwarming story. 

Billy said this really Happened to Lucy: A little girl grieving the death of her mother and a mysterious snake that talks to her. A message about grief, mourning, and letting go. 

In a Sulfate Mist: Finding new love, mayflies, doubts, acceptance, and taking chances. Short yet impactful. 

Those who have Gone: A story about a New York woman who arrives in Arizona looking for a fresh start yet clinging to the past. A vivid story about life, relationships, and trusting oneself to make the right decisions. 

If You had Stopped: A fragment of a community’s life in the second person POV. The woman says it all without saying much. Deep, sad, and defeated acceptance. 

Notes to the World: A story about two different people who don’t meet but have a common point. Set in Russian winter, it is the story of resilience and determination. 

An Aura Surrounds the Night (novella): A bittersweet story of Mercy and Melody. It comes from Mercy’s POV, revealing her family dynamics and her life over the years. The story was a bit confusing as she refers to her parents as mother and father and by their names. It’s not entirely linear. From what I understood, the story takes a sort of U-turn to have an introspective ending. 

To sum up, How We Disappear: Novella & Stories is a collection of darkish, brooding, and melancholic stories with a few hopeful ones added to the mix. I’d love to revisit some of the stories one day in the future. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Press 53, for the eARC.  

#HowWeDisappearStories #NetGalley

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna - Book Review

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Publication Date: 23rd August 2022

Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Romance (Witchy Rom-Com) 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: So cute! Entertaining, enjoyable, and sweet 

*****

Mika Moon is a witch and a part of the secret society that meets once every three months. The rules are simple. Stay low, don’t call attention to your witchy magic, and stay away from other witches. 

Mika is used to the rules but yearns to talk about her witching abilities without exposing herself. A social media account seems like a great way to achieve it until she gets an offer to teach three young witches to control and use their magic. 

Nowhere House seems to be overflowing with magic, and Mika slowly realizes it is a home she never had. But she and the people of Nowhere House have to deal with a few issues before thinking about the future. Will Mika risk everything to protect a family she recently got to know? What about her future? 

The story comes in limited third-person POV of Mika (and Jamie). 

My Observations: 

The book has diverse characters, and some of them work well (read my note at the end for more but finish the review first). 

Some characters are basically tropes, but they still come alive on the page. The kiddos, Rosette (10, black), Terracotta (8, Vietnamese), and Altamira (7, Palestinian), are such little cutie pies! Each of them has a definite personality. 

The pacing is steady, though it slips a little in the last part. A lot happens too, but it works out pretty well overall.

Magic is an integral part of the story and blends really well with the setting and atmosphere. 

Mika is a lovely character and easy to root for. 

The attraction between Jamie and Mika is more of a slow burn and suits the storyline. It is a bit predictable, but that’s what this genre is about. The predictability is comforting. 

The book is all cutesy and sweet yet deals with important topics like family, relationships, loneliness, friendships, etc. 

The writing style is easy to read. It is lighthearted and filled with enough quirks to make you chuckle. 

*****

Note: 

I saw some reviewers tagging the book as Indian rep (and a few more relevant tags). Mika is an Indian raised and bought up in Britain by a Britisher. Now Mika is as Indian as Aavakaya is British, which is a big fat zero. 

I have no issues with this because the story justifies it. But Mika is not an ‘Indian’ Indian. It didn’t even occur to me that she was Indian despite the hints strewn in the first half. I imagined her more as a mixed-race Britisher at the most. 

If the Indian rep is important to you, this book doesn’t deliver in that category. But if you just want a super cute witchy story, you’ll enjoy it a lot more. Forget the rep and imagine Mika any way you want. 

*****

To sum up, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a sweet book with loveable characters. It’s a perfect read for a lazy afternoon. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for the eARC. 

*****

P.S: Aavakaya is a spicy raw mango pickle made in Andhra Pradesh (South India). 

#NetGalley #IrregularWitches

The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh - Book Review

The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh

Publication Date: 04th August 2022

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming but slow 

*****

The Glen Carrick House in Scotland has a family of a widowed mother and her three sons. Eighty-eight-year-old Mimi lives in her past as a carefree dancer and stage performer. Her sons, Finlay, Angus, and Hamish, love her to bits but are dealing with issues of their own. 

Jess Oliver, a fifty-nine-year-old, is on a short trip to Scotland. Her new house is under renovation, and life has offered her another chance to live to the fullest after her amicable divorce. She is mesmerized by the beauty of Scotland and loves it there. 

When life brings Jess and Mimi together, it is a chance for both of them to look at the future instead of focusing on the past. With Isabella, Heather, and others playing their part, can the women make the most of their future? 

The story comes in the third person POV. 

What I Like: 

The book mainly deals with family, relationships, and emotions. Aspects like love, loss, grief, past, happiness, freedom, etc., are an integral part of the plot. Scotland is a part of the story, and some descriptions are lovely. 

The two main ladies, Mimi and Jess, are well-etched. They are strong yet vulnerable and beautiful in different ways. The men aren’t fully etched, but Angus is well-developed of them all. 

I love how the sons absolutely love their mother. They have loads of issues in their lives and have different coping mechanisms. But when it comes to Mimi, they do everything they can to keep her happy. Indulging in her eccentricities is not at all easy, but they do it because they love her. 

Jess’s role in The Glen Carrick House grows from being a caregiver to a part of the family because of her genuine admiration and affection for Mimi. The relationship between the men and Jess is presented wonderfully. It doesn’t feel awkward or weird at any point. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

The book is quite heavy despite the antics of Mimi and Isabella. It’s not something as light or cheerful as the cover suggests. It’s not overwhelming but is still heavy. 

The pacing is slow and drags in some places. There’s some repetition, too, probably because Mimi loves to talk about her past. It sometimes feels like the story is going nowhere.

I’m not sure if the title fits the story. The alliteration sure caught my attention and is the reason I requested the book. But after reading the story, it doesn’t seem enough somehow. Not a major issue, considering I make a mess of my story titles. 

To sum up, The Highland Hens is a heartwarming book about second chances, love, life, friendships, family, and self-love. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#TheHighlandHens #NetGalley 

The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley - Book Review

The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley

Genre: Rural Mystery, Police Procedural 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Elaborate but engaging 

*****

There has been a death at the Fleat House in St Stephen, a private boarding school in Norfolk. The Chief gets Detective Inspector Jazmine (Jazz) to work on the case. Jazz takes up reluctantly. After all, she has just moved to Norfolk and pretty much left her job with the Yard. 

The case should have been easy but isn’t as things start to happen around them. More suspects join the list as Jazz and her Sergeant Miles try to fill the gaps. Life gets complicated when personal issues force Jazz to divide her attention between her life and the case. It doesn’t help that she has to deal with some pricks from her near past. 

With so much happening, can Jazz uncover the truth and find the killer before it’s too late? 

The story comes in third person POV. 

The author wrote the book in 2006. It was published posthumously in May 2022. 

My Observations: 

I’ve read only one book by the author but understood that she liked elaborate plots. This one is no different. Multiple tracks run in parallel, though some are not connected to the main plot. 

The pacing is slow to medium, with no progress in some places. Things happen on and off, which is probably because the book wasn’t thoroughly edited (as mentioned in the foreword). 

Jazz is a great character, and it saddens me to think she may not have more books. I love the multiple shades in her arc.

The story is set in 2005/ 2006 and uses modern technology but has a historical feel to it. It suits the laidback Norfolk setting and keeps things authentic.  

This isn’t exactly a cozy mystery or fully police procedural. It’s a blend of two, which I find very interesting. 

I guessed most of the twists (including the murder), but I like books where my guesses are correct, so that’s a bonus. It means the plot is logical (or as much as it can be). ;) 

To sum up, The Murders at Fleat House is an engaging mystery with an elaborate plot and a capable main lead. I enjoyed this one. 

Thank you, NetGalley and AuthorBuzz, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley 

A Line in the Sand by Teri Wilson - Book Review

A Line in the Sand by Teri Wilson

Series: Turtle Beach #2 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 02nd August 2022

Genre: Rom-Com, Contemporary Romance

3 Stars 

One Liner: Cute Cover; Fast-paced; Time Pass Read 

*****

Molly Price is a mermaid at the Turtle Beach Aquarium. She loves her job, the laidback small town community, and her puppy, Ursula. 

Max Miller, a marine biologist, is the new arrival in Turtle Beach town. He has the huge responsibility of reviving the Turtle Beach Aquarium and preventing it from shutting down. 

Sparks fly with Molly and Max meet, but their relationship is more strained than happy. They are at loggerheads with each other, despite having the same goal of saving the aquarium. The community is right with them to help in any way they can. 

When a chance event makes them realize that Ursula the puppy can sniff out turtle nests in the sand. Will this be enough to save the aquarium? Will Molly and Max find love in each other? 

My Observations: 

The book is a quick read with a fair sprinkling of well-known tropes. The cute cover with a super cute pup is a definite bonus. 

The setting is lovely. The side characters are quirky, nosy, funny, and a bit annoying. This made the whole thing charming and cute. 

Now, Molly and Max are the main characters. While sparks fly from their first meeting, the characters feel undeveloped.

Molly is supposed to be a sweet, naïve, capable, and sweetheart. Yet, she comes across as whiny at times and acts more like a teen. 

Max is supposed to be the nerdy, serious guy who would learn to loosen up and live life. But he alters between being rude and sappy. 

The romance is supposed to be a slow burn, I guess (they don’t kiss until towards the end). But it doesn’t really give the slow burn vibes or anticipation. 

If the romance in a romcom is underbaked, it needs something else to keep the reader hooked. Here, it should have been the saving of the aquarium, but even that falls flat in the end. 

All those ‘supposed to be’ is where my issue is. The book has all ingredients for an engaging rom-com but doesn’t fully deliver. 

While I love Ursula, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, I don’t need to be reminded of the breed multiple times. 

The saving grace is that the story moves at a good pace and doesn’t require any brain work. 

To sum up, A Line in the Sand is a cute story if you want a familiar read. It is good but in no way great. 

Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley 

*****

*Rant Time*

Alright. I’m pretty much used to the misappropriation of yoga by the Western world. But it is not funny to name yoga asanas with comical English versions. Renaming asanas to Murder Victim Pose, Peeking over the shoulder into the phone (whatever!) is not funny. 

I get that the character wants to make yoga entertaining (and, of course, the other character finds it strange). But yoga is not entertainment. The spirituality is already lost. Please don’t mess it further. I’m sure some people will find it funny, but I didn’t. Just call it a workout session or give it a new quirky name. It is not yoga. Period. 

*****

P.S: This is the only book by the publisher I was approved for, and there goes my 0.0001% of getting approved again. 

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer - Book Review

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer

Series: Enola Holmes #8 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 06th Sep 2022

Genre: YA Historical Cozy Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Fast, entertaining, and light-hearted 

*****

Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes (yes, one and only), is back in action with the eighth book in the series. Like the previous one, this can be read as a standalone. 

Enola lives in the Professional Women's Club, where women who share interests in various subjects and domains pursue classes and have intellectual discussions without the men disturbing or ordering them about. 

It turns out that Lady Cecily, Enola’s friend, needs help yet again. Enola has rescued her twice from her nasty father and sets about doing it for the third time. However, Lady Cecily has disappeared after the rescue mission.

 Enola is frightened about what could happen to her and is determined to find her at any cost. After all, Lady Cecily has a dual personality which can put her in difficult situations. Victorian society is no place for girls or women without male support. 

Teaming up with Sherlock is just another inconvenience Enola has to survive to accomplish her mission. 

The story comes in the first person POV for Enola Holmes. 

My Observations: 

I read Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche last year and loved Enola’s character arc. This book is just as entertaining if you like a young adult heroine who tends to run headlong into trouble and somehow manages to land on her feet every time. 

Enola is easy to like. She is witty, adventurous, daring (to the point of being stupid at times), and is her own master. She is also a trustworthy friend. Being Sherlock’s little sister gets her brownie points. 

This book has less than 250 pages and can be read in a couple of hours. The writing is easy and smooth. Various themes from the Victorian era are seamlessly woven into the story without resorting to preaching or drama. 

The banter between Enola and Sherlock is such a treat. I enjoyed these scenes the most. However, the parts about Enola being alone and stuff got a little repetitive. She’s got her family now, so maybe they could learn to live with each other. 

The setting comes alive and makes it easy to visualize the story. The descriptions are just enough to provide information for imagination. 

There really isn’t anything deep in the book, though it does show the life of women in that era. The book is meant purely for entertainment purposes.  

To sum up, Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade is a lighthearted and fast-paced addition to the series. Pick it up when you want something witty and fun to help you relax. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley