![The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton) – A book review]()
review, Romance |
I don’t usually read Historical romances but with the hype from the Netflix series and the bookstagram, I had to pick The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, the famed Bridgerton series. How did that work for me? Read my book review to know more.
About The Duke and I
Book Name: The Duke and I (Bridgerton #01)
Author: Julia Quinn
Genre: Fiction – Romance, Historical
Characters: Daphne Bridgerton, Simon Basset
Setting: London, England, The UK
Plot Summary of The Duke and I
Set in the Regency London, Daphne Bridgerton is the fourth of eight siblings in a close-knit family and is ready to meet her suitors. While everyone likes her wit and kindness, no one actually adores her. She is too friendly with her young suitors to be a romanced.
Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings is new to the scene as he has just returned to England from his stay abroad. He is not interested in marriage nor progeny, but he is constantly paraded by the mothers and daughters as an eligible bachelor.
So when Daphne, Simon’s best friend’s sister offers him a way out he takes it. They fake court, so that Simon will deter the parade and Daphne will get more prospects to choose from.
The plan works well, until it goes wrong horribly. Does the Duke and Daphne understand the folly in their plan and do they end up in a HEA? Read The Duke and I by Julia Quinn to know more.
Book review of The Duke and I
The Duke and I was my first book set in Regency London and my first time reading Julia Quinn’s writing as well. And imagine my surprise when I flew through the pages in an afternoon.
Julia Quinn’s writingwas witty and hilarious. I loved the banters and the sibling’s taunts. Even if they followed a half of Julia’s dialogues in the Netflix version, I won’t be surprised at what a hit the Bridgerton series has been. (Yes, I haven’t watched it yet.)
I loved the Bridgerton family dynamic and the drama. I would definitely have to keep a watch out for the other books.
On the other hand, I didn’t like the female lead at all, not even before that ONE SCENE. Don’t even start me with the Duke. He was lying and manipulative as well. So made for each other I guess.(?)
I loved the book and had a merry time with it, until that one scene.
Yes, it was cringe-y, manipulative, non consensual scene that spoiled everything for me. I understand the book was written in early 2000s, the “rules were different” then (no, they weren’t) and blah blah, but I completely lost it after that. (I am hoping that Netflix guys changed this one.)
What worked for me
- The funny, witty banter sprinkled all through the book. I loved them. Julia Quinn made chuckle, grin, laugh and even snort at one point.
- I loved the Bridgerton family dynamics and the younger ones were funny as well. I want more of the Bridgerton world y’all!
What may have been better
- Both the leads were flawed, manipulative and lying. But given the time period it was set in, maybe it was normal I guess. Anyway, I was able to look past it.
- Why did I have to read a non consensual sex (rape?) scene. It spoiled everything for me.
Content warning
Non consensual sex, parental neglect
Bottom line
While I loved the writing, the character building and the Bridgerton world, there were things that put me off The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. But I will definitely read Julia Quinn’s other books and continue the Bridgerton series soon (assuming they were not problematic or off putting).
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![The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton) – A book review]()
Drama, review, Thriller |
I had been meaning to pick up My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite for a long time now, having seen the countless reviews and posts on bookstagram. But after hearing Ms Braithwaite speak (virtually) at the Emirates Litfest this year, I grabbed it immediately. Read my book review of My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite to know more.
About My Sister, the Serial Killer
Book Name: My Sister, the Serial Killer
Author: Oyinkan Braithwaite
Genre: Fiction – Thriller, Drama
Characters: Korede, Ayoola, Tade, Muhtar Yautai
Setting: Lagos, Nigeria
Plot Summary of My Sister, the Serial Killer
Set in the modern day Lagos, Nigeria, My Sister, the Serial Killer opens with Korede helping her younger sister Ayoola get rid of her latest victim’s body. Ayoola tells her it was a self defense, but Korede is not convinced entirely.
Korede, a sincere nurse with a crush on her coworker, the handsome doctor Tade. Her only “friend” is a patient in comatose, to whom she confides about her suspicions about her self absorbed sister, who might be a serial killer.
What happens when Ayoola and Tade fall for each other, and her friend who knows all her deep and dark secrets, is no longer in a comatose? You have to read My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite to know more.
Book review of My Sister, the Serial Killer
I loved the plot and while not being original, I wanted to know more about the sisters and what happens to them. There are some flashbacks that talk about their childhood and their late father.
The chapters are quite short and you can race through the book in a sitting, like I did. But the short chapters made it seem like it was rushed and underdeveloped at places.
The small snippets about their abusive tyrannical father, which offer some glimpse into why Ayoola might be doing whatever she does. And the fact that we may never know the full story made it more interesting for me.
I wanted to like Korede, but unfortunately she seemed too passive about her situation and life in general. On the other hand, I loved reading the social commentary about the modern day Lagos and their inept and corrupt police force.
[wpdiscuz-feedback id=”cl9hemzmnn” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”0″]My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite is my first book set in Nigeria, is there any other Nigerian books that I should be reading?[/wpdiscuz-feedback]
What worked for me
- I loved the premise and it had me hooked from the first sentence.
- The short chapters with cliffhangers got me reading the entire book in a single sitting. My Sister, the Serial Killer is a perfect popcorn fun read!
- I loved reading about Lagos and Nigerian lifestyle and I will definitely watch out for the author as well.
What may have been better
- The short chapters made it seem like there was more to the story and it was rushed through.
- I wanted to like characters but sadly none of them had any character development to start with.
Content warning
Parental abuse
Bottom line
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite is a short fun read that may have not lived up to the hype for me. Nevertheless, it is still a good thrilling read that you can breeze through in an afternoon.
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![The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton) – A book review]()
review, Romance |
It has been a while since I have loved a book unconditionally and I am glad that I heeded to everyone raving about Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. Go on to read my book review to see what worked for me.
About Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Book Name: Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Author: Talia Hibbert
Genre: Fiction – Romance
Characters: Chloe Brown, Redford “Red” Morgan
Setting: Nottinghamshire, England, The UK
Plot Summary of Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Chloe Brown just had a close brush with death which made her reassess her life choices. She moves out of her loving family home and “get a life”. She makes a list of things that she wants to do, whatever her chronic pain and fibromyalgia might allow her to do.
Redford “Red” Morgan is done with all the posh and society life in London, and content with being a building superintendent and painting for himself. He is hurt and hesitant to let in anyone, especially those remind him of his ex.
When they two meet, they dislike each other almost immediately. They dislike what the other embodies and do not hesitate to show their disapproval.
Does Chloe get a life and do they give each other a chance form the rest of the story in Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert.
Book review of Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Get a Life, Chloe Brown is my first Talia Hibbert book and I enjoyed every page of it.
Chloe is an absolute delight to read about. She loves her family but is mildly annoyed that they are over protective. She understands her health issues and her shortcomings. But instead of letting it define her, she understands what works and what doesn’t for her.
Reading how harmful an emotionally abusive relationship can be, from a male’s point of view was eye opening. Seeing how it changed Red was heartbreaking and so well written and he has become one of my favorite fictional male leads in a long time.
I loved how the author made her characters equally vulnerable and strong. Most of adult romances make one of their leads strong and the other vulnerable, and they become codependent. But neither of them do that in Get a Life, Chloe Brown.
I can’t wait to read about the Brown sisters in Talia Hibbert’s other books.
What worked for me
- Both Red and Chloe have strong personalities and they are both hurt. I loved how independent, yet vulnerable they both were.
- Talia Hibbert’s witty writing had me laughing loud at so many places. And she was as sensitive and respectful when she handled the emotional issues. She will definitely be one of my favorite authors of the year!
- Representation matters. I do not have chronic illness, nor do I fall into any other category that these characters represent. But I have so many people on the Bookstagram and from the blogging world who say they felt represented.
What may have been better
- NOTHING. I LOVED THIS ONE.
Content warning
Chronic pain and fibromyalgia, Emotional abuse and gaslighting, PG sexual content
Bottom line
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert is a well written contemporary romance with wonderful characters that will stay with you even after you finish reading it. Plus one for the diverse (fat, Black) representations!
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“Find me on Twinkl’s Library Lover’s Campaign, to take part, visit their Library Lover’s Day 2021 blog“
![The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton) – A book review]()
Drama, review |
This year does seem to be good to me. But that might have something to do with me reading only books that have been on my TBR forever. And Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple was just one of those.
How did it turn out for me? You might have to read my book review to know more.
About Where’d You Go, Bernadette
Book Name: Where’d You Go, Bernadette
Author: Maria Semple
Genre: Fiction – Romance, Young adult
Characters: Bernadette Fox, Elgin and Bee Branch, Audrey and Kyle Griffin, Soo Lin.
Setting: Seattle, Washington, The USA
Plot Summary of Where’d You Go, Bernadette
Bernadette Fox is borderline anti-social and mildly agoraphobic. She is married to a Microsoft tech-wiz Elgin Branch, who is a workaholic and barely present father to their precocious teen daughter, Bee (Bala Krishna).
Bernadette delegates most of her problems to an online concierge Manjula, something Elgin disapproves of and ignores the snotty comments and activities of the her peers from Bee’s private school.
Shortly after Bee persuades them to take a family trip to Antarctica, Bernadette’s life goes into a spin. And she disappears without a trace.
Did Bee find her mother? Is there a happily ever after waiting for them forms the rest of the story in Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.
Book review of Where’d You Go, Bernadette
The first thing that will strike you when you start reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is that it is wacky and satirical. And that can be a make or break deal for you. You either love it or hate it.
Written mostly in an epistolary and correspondence format, it takes a bit to get used to. Understandably, the characters are so weird and such goofballs. While they may feel they are one dimensional, they work, most of the times.
AND I LOVED THEM ALL. Sure some of the things that happen are not so believable, but I found them HILARIOUS.
The Seattle rants and the “Victims against Victimhood” were particularly entertaining. The digs at the gnats and the private school culture were just perfect. I now have to see the Cate Blanchett starred movie adaptation soon!
I loved how the author spoke about mental illness without making it preachy or judging it and the effect it could have on the family as a whole.
The last few chapters felt a bit rushed and could have been more interesting. But I am gonna ignore that for now.
What worked for me
- One of the best satirical I have read in the recent times. It had several laugh-out-loud moments and I would reread this book, hopefully.
- The writing and the characters are zany and over the top, and I love that! Bernadette would be a character that you would love or hate, but she will be unforgettable.
- I love how the author dealt with mental illness and its effect on oneself and one’s family. And the social stigma attached to it.
What may have been better
- The last 50 pages turned out kinda less entertaining.
- The writing style and characters may seem over the top and if you don’t immediately connect to them, you may never.
Content warning
Parent abandonment, Mental illness and attempt to commit to psychiatric hospital.
Bottom line
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is highly entertaining and hilarious. If you have not read it already, you should do it already.
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Drama, review |
What better way to begin a year than a hyped book that recently secured a HBO adaptation deal? Is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett worth all the hype? Read my book review to know more.
About The Vanishing Half
Book Name: The Vanishing Half
Author: Brit Bennett
Genre: Fiction – Historical,
Characters: Desiree and Stella Vignes, Jude, Reese, Kennedy, Early
Setting: Mallard, Louisiana, The USA
Plot Summary of The Vanishing Half
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett follows the lives of the Vignes twins who decide to run away from their small town at sixteen. The identical twins are so light skinned that they could pass as “White”. When the opportunity presents one of them takes it.
Desiree Vignes always wanted to get away from her town, where skin color is all that mattered. But when she returns years later, with a black skinned kid in tow, she was sure she will get away again.
Stella Vignes did get away from their town once and for all. She has a well settled life and a family that will never know her previous life.
Do either of them regret their choices? Is passing as “White” worth losing your identity and past? Can the lives of these identical sisters ever reunite? Read more about them in The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.
Book review of The Vanishing Half
I am glad The Vanishing Half was one of the first books I read this year as it set such a positive hope for the year. I loved it and would keep recommending it to anyone who would listen.
Set in the fictional town of Mallard, Louisiana, The Vanishing Half deals with several intense themes like race, class, identity, internalized colorism, abuse, melancholy and motherhood. It made me question the narratives about race and caste passed on over generations by our families.
Despite the heavy themes, the author ensures to present a narration that is so gripping I never put it down once until I finished it. This is will be a wonderful pick for your next book club read!
While we might judge Stella for her internalized racism, bigotry and selfish decisions, it is hard not to sympathize with her loneliness and trying to find an identity for her new self.
What worked for me
- I loved how the author got me introspecting my own prejudice and issues with generations of conditioning about colorism.
- The Vanishing Half is not a plot oriented book, but it is just the author’s writing style kept me hooked until the end.
- I loved how each character was well written and had a part to play. From Early to Reese, I enjoyed the male characters as much as the strong female ones.
What may have been better
- I wish there were a bit more about Reese’s struggle as a trans guy in transition and passing himself as guy for years. I guess his life was not smooth as a trans man in the LGBTQ – drag circle in 1970s too.
- The second part moved a bit slower than the first. You might find yourself skipping a paragraphs.
- If you don’t like books with multiple POV, you might wanna watch out. But it did work spectacularly well for me.
Content warning
Racism (internalized and otherwise), Domestic abuse, colorism, running away from home, gender reassignment surgery.
Bottom line
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a must read historical fiction that deals with intense themes like racism, colorism, abuse and melancholy. Catch this hyped book out without hesitation!
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review, Romance |
I am a bit late to review this one. I read In a Holidaze during the holidays and this is my second book by Christina Lauren, so I had some expectations. Did the book meet my expectations? Read my book review of In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren to know more.
About In a Holidaze
Book Name: In a Holidaze
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Fiction – Romance
Characters: Maelyn and Miles Jones, Andrew and Theo Hollis.
Setting: Utah, The USA
Plot Summary of In a Holidaze
Twenty six year old Maelyn Jones is on her yearly Christmas vacation with her family and their friends. But this might be the last year for that tradition and she is heartbroken about her life.
Her job seems to be a dead end, she moved back to her hometown after her parents’ divorce, her 13 year long crush doesn’t reciprocate her feelings and her one happy place – their Christmas cabin of 17 years is about to be sold.
In a moment of desperation, she wishes that life would show how her how to be happy. And their car rams into another. AND she wakes up a week earlier to celebrate Christmas all over again.
Does she get what she wanted this time? Read In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren, a romantic Groundhog scenario set in a holiday background to know more.
Book review of In a Holidaze
As I mentioned already I really liked reading Christina Lauren’s other book, The Unhoneymooners and I knew what I was getting into. And that is exactly what I wanted for my holiday fervor.
In a Holidaze didn’t fail me on that. I loved their Christmas traditions. Also, I really like the Groundhog scenario in general and to do it on a holiday background made it more engaging.
I somehow thought Theo and Mae were the actual pairing initially and that he will have his redemption. And I never was able to change my mind about Mae-Andrew after that. So sadly, this friendship to love trope didn’t work well for me.
I liked Maelyn and her character was the only one fleshed out well. And the first 75 to 100 pages were really interesting and fun to read. But the middle part seemed dragging and too slow for a romance.
I love a large family, don’t get me wrong. But there were far too many characters to enjoy it and there was not just enough time for any sorta character development for each of them. All the adults kinda rolled up into one after a while.
What worked for me
- I loved that I read In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren during the holidays and it helped me stay in the holiday fervor for a longer time.
- The set up and the characters, especially one of the adults, reminded me of the Fuller house characters – in a positive way.
What may have been better
- There were too many characters in the family to actually like any of them in particular. I wished these characters were fleshed out better.
- I wish there was some explanation into why this groundhog/ time travel thing was happening to Mae out of nowhere.
Content warning
PG-13, Car accidents
Bottom line
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren is definitely a fun holiday read with a time travel element to it. Sadly the romance part and character development left me wanting for more.
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