Can you believe we have hit the second half of the year? I have no clue what I will be reading or how much, given it is the end of term, but let’s go! I have definitely slowed down in my weekly reading, though. I am finding myself so tired at the moment, and maybe it’s end of term-itis… or that perimenopause thing, but I don’t like it, because it makes me lose precious time reading!
Well, eleven books isn’t too shabby, is it? And there are some stonkers in there, too! And, three make my Christmas in July complete, too!
More Confessions of a Forty-Something Fk Up: The WTF AM I DOING NOW follow up to the runaway bestseller by Alexandra Potter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
After thoroughly enjoying Confessions of a 40-Year-Old F*Up, I was thrilled to hear there was a sequel.
picking up around 18 months after the end of the first book, we are reintroduced to Nell, who seems to be settling into life better than she was before,
She is engaged to Edward, they are living together, and she has her trusted friendships, as well as her new best friend, Cricket, the octagenarian who she met in the first book.
The thing is, no matter how settled you think you are, life always has alternative plans, and Nell’s life is no different.
From that late urge to want motherhood to dealing with the beginnings of Perimenopause, friendships becoming fragile as everyone is dealing with their own issues and realising you might not actually have it all together, despite being closer to 50 than before.
I loved getting back in touch with Nell and her life, and though our situations are different, there was still plenty I could relate to, as a woman of a similar age.
And I just LOVE Cricket! Her character develops in a brilliant way, too, showing us that age should never be a factor that writes you off.
Fantastic sequel!¨C11CMany thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan for an ARC.
The Gingerbread Christmas Village: A totally uplifting and romantic seasonal read by Kiley Dunbar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Lovely Kiley will be with me around release date for a Book and a Brew, again, so I will save my review until them, but it is a wonderful book!
How (Not) To Have an Arranged Marriage by Amir Khan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have been looking forward to diving into this since I saw it on several social media channels, and having read the blurb, it felt like a story right up my alley.
And I was not mistaken.
A fantastic story rooted in Pakistani British culture.
Yousef is the golden boy. Born to Pakistani-born parents, he has been brought up to live a certain way and schooled to study a certain career in order to have the best chances in life afforded by his parents.
Dilemmas strike when he is finally independent and at university, meeting different folk from other backgrounds. But he doesn’t expect romance to be a factor in his study of Medicine.
Meanwhile, his sister is feeling the pain of being a daughter and a bit of a burden on her family.
Both are of marriageable age and that is when plenty of problems can arise…
I don’t want to go into this too much, but I can definitely say I loved this book.
There was the multi-generational POV which, as a British Asian myself, I can see as being key to those from different backgrounds needing, so they can understand the dilemmas faced by British-born Asians and understand a little about the familial pressures put upon us as well.
I could relate to so many situations, despite not being from a Muslim background. There are some embarrassments that are universally Asian, not just belonging to a certain religious background.
The fear of what others will say, competing with the other families, parents wanting the best for their children, despite not really knowing what might be best for them, illicit relationships, falling in love after marriage, and the dreaded falling for someone outside of your cultural background… So much to take in, and so well written.
It was entertaining, educational and relatable.
Can’t wait for more fiction from the Dr.!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
Better Left Unsaid by Tufayel Ahmed
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Now, you know me. I love a book centred around culture, and especially those books with Desi culture at its roots, so reading the blurb for Tufayel Ahmed’s Better Left Unsaid made me hit that ‘request’ button.
Three siblings, British Bangladeshi Muslims, and the fallout in their lives after losing both parents and suffering further upset after one of their own is targetted by a hate crime against women wearing a hijab.
Imran, Sumaya and Majid are brothers and sisters; however, all three have very different outlooks on life.
Imran, being the eldest, feels a sense of responsibility for his family since his parents died.
Sumaya broke the shackles of familial expectations and moved to a different country.
Majid is the youngest, seemingly unaffected by life and his family’s woes because he is so much younger.
The thing is, nothing is ever that simple.
Imran is in danger of losing his wife and job and already losing hold of the family left in his care.
Sumaya has been handed secrets and a huge promise to fulfil by her mother on her deathbed.
Majid – well, in many ways, he’s the only one living life as he should.
There is a lot to unpack in this novel. Cultural expectations, that ‘what will others say’ mentality that is embedded in the fabric of Asian society, gender-related expectations, the inability to just talk and be honest with one another…
I have to say I did not like Imran. But I am glad he had a change of heart by the end of the book.
Sumaya has her own difficulties, and yet, she does overcome them in a roundabout way.
I just feel that Majid needed more of a starring role. We don’t really get to know much about him until much later in the book, and considering I felt he was the catalyst for the shift in thinking, I wish we had learned more about him.
There is plenty of lamenting about being the one who had to look after parents and younger siblings by the older two, but there are so many other issues that could have held more importance.
Hidden sexualities, hate crimes, racism in workplaces.
It was a good read, though I feel there could have been a little more depth.
Many thanks to NetGAlley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.
Releasing 5th September, 2023
The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved The Keeper of Stories, so was so excited to read this second book by Sally Page,
The Book of Beginnings is a story of friendship tied up in grief and hidden histories.
Jo, who the story centres around, finds herself in London, looking after a quaint shop owned by her unwell uncle. As she settles into her temporary job, she meets fascinating people, neighbouring business owners, and interesting customers, some of whom become trusted and treasured friends.
There were so many layers to this story, including a little love story or two that tugged at the heartstrings.
A great read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.
Releasing 28th September, 2023
Baby Does A Runner: The debut novel from Anita Rani by Anita Rani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love any book with British Asian characters at the helm, so Anita Rani’s offering appealed straight away.
Baby Does A Runner is a brilliant story about Baby, or Simran; a British-born Sikh woman who is single, in her 30s and struggling a bit with not getting the same opportunities in life as her male counterparts at work, and with the loss of her father.
A secret revealed during a trip home sparks the interest in a fact-finding mission back to the motherland, though it is labelled as a bit of an Eat. Pray, Love type trip.
Baby learns so much about her own feelings as an Indian abroad, as well as one whose family lost so much during the partition. The reason for her trip bears fruit she wasn’t expecting in many forms, with truths being exposed, as well as the possibility of a little romance along the way.
So many things dealt with here, but Anita has joined the wave of authors, bringing the voice of British-Asians to the literary front, giving us characters and situations we can relate to.
I thoroughly enjoyed this!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for an ARC.
Released 20th July, 2023
Match Me If You Can by Sandy Barker
It’s so exclusive that I don’t even have a cover, but the wonderful Sandy will be joining me near publication date for another Book & A Brew so I will share more details there!
Witch You Weren’t Here by Emma Jackson
Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ one I will be Book and Brewing with in October!
Love Me Do by Lindsey Kelk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Gotta love a Lynsey Kelk! Who doesn’t?
Phoebe Chapman is another typical hapless character Kelk has brought to us, filled with the woes of a life that isn’t going anywhere, a failed romance, and a job that used to ignite passion, but is now just bringing feelings of… meh.
She goes on holiday to visit her hight-flying sister in Hollywood Hills, is left to her own devices for a few days as her sister has to work, and ends up getting an eyeful from a possible pervert next-door neighbour, who turns out to be much the opposite, as well as rather hot!
Then the whirlwind that is Bel arrives, forging an instant friendship and declaring her undying love for the abovementioned neighbour.
Oh, talking of neighbours, Myrna Moore. She’s a reclusive octagenarian ‘faded’ film star who is a total character and a half, bringing all manner of different joys into Phoebe’s previously sheltered life!
But that other neighbour… Ren. Now he is hot in oh, so many ways. Physically attractive but also a genuinely nice guy. Caring, sympathetic, and not fake.
What a great match he would be for Bel.
Unless someone else finds themselves falling for someone they shouldn’t.
I won’t give anything more away, but it is a fantastic read. Definitely one for the beach hols, this summer!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins, UK for an ARC
Released 20th July, 2023
A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful story! Josie Silver, you made me shed an emotional tear or two at the end!
The story centres around Iris, a woman who has fled an abusive relationship in the UK, to New York, where she hopes to rekindle memories of her late mother and her time as a singer in a band there in her youth,
She finds a surrogate family in the guise of Bobby and his partner when she takes a job in his noodle restaurant and ends up with a little home for herself just above her workplace.
She finds it hard to get out and about, the emotional scars from her previous relationship proving too deep to heal quickly, even though there are thousands of miles between them.
A visit out and about in New York with Bobby sparks a moment of recognition when she spots a familiar door that is the catalyst for so much. The possibility of new friendships and maybe even love, but it all ends up built on a couple of lies that grow bigger daily in her mind.
Geo is a kind-hearted man, still mourning the loss of his wife seven years ago. He is navigating another loss in the form of his uncle’s memory. Santo is the only one with the secret family recipe for the vanilla gelato that is sold in Belottis, their age-old family gelateria, which is renowned for this very ice cream.
Iris could solve his dilemma, but not without recounting a tragic story from many years ago, that could fracture a solid family.
Somehow she becomes involved in helping Geo try to recreate the recipe and inadvertently becomes involved in his family and with him, too.
I don’t really want to go into too much, because I really need you to go and read this beautiful story, which ends with such heart. I wasn’t joking when I said I cried at the end!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK – Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business, Penguin, for an ARC.
Releasing 12th October, 2023
This Christmas: The most romantic love story since The Holiday by Emma Heatherington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Two souls suffering their own losses, craving moments alone and thrown together in a random situation. What could happen?
Rose can’t celebrate Christmas anymore. Not after a tragedy that left her alone and full of blame on Christmas Eve. All she wants is a few days on her own to reset, with no one expecting her to be all festive.
Off she heads to an extra special cottage in the middle of nowhere.
Charlie is in turmoil. After losing his daughter to another country, with her mum and new stepdad, Christmas has lost its sparkle… He needs to get away to wallow in his own misery.
A break suggested by his good friend in a secluded cottage in the back of beyond is arranged.
But the real tragedy is the fact that they are double booked into the same idyllic, isolated cottage. In the snow, where there is only one bedroom and no way for one of them to leave…
A recipe for disaster?
Both have their faithful pups with them, Max and George, who immediately become best canine buds. But the same can’t be said of their human companions, who fight to stay as disconnected as possible.
This is a classic case of forced proximity, as Rose and Charlie learn snippets about the other and, in tiny ways, begin to change, but are those snippets enough?
I read it all in a day. Loved the story and the little twists that really had you guessing what was really going on in Rose and Charlie’s personal lives back home.
Christmas is a time for love; this book showed it in spades.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House, UK, Cornerstone for an ARC.
So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!
But I Smile Anyway... 