srivalli's reviews
1559 reviews

 4.5 Stars

Seattle attorney Keera Duggan is back. This time, she is approached by her friend Jenna Bernstein, the CEO of a biotech company, accused of murdering her former partner and lover. This isn’t Jenna’s first touch with trouble. Keera’s father had handled a case for her three years ago and she knows just how manipulative Jenna can get.  

Still, Keera is determined to give a case a shot. As the investigation gets deeper, Keera must determine if her client is innocent or guilty. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Keera and Frank. 

After reading the first book, I hoped it would be a series. Keera was too good to be limited to a single book. Imagine my delight when I saw this one! 

While the plot and the courtroom drama are not as intense as in the previous one, there’s enough to keep the reader hooked. That’s why I read the book on a Sunday and finished it in two back-to-back sittings. 

There are also fewer references to chess moves, which worked just fine for me since I don’t know the game. The courtroom scenes, especially in part two, were fab. They were not filled with tension but more like a waiting game to see what she planned. 

The book relies heavily on the FMC. Keers does a great job of carrying the plot. The opening scene followed by how she dealt with the afterward shows her character. There’s a touch of ruthlessness in her which is exactly what one needs to do the job right but within the boundaries of the law. 

The family is less present but we get enough to remember how dysfunctional it is. Patsy also has a smaller role which allows the plot to move steadily without unwanted distractions. 

Frank Rossi is the second lead and a detective who gets the other half of the POV. Through him, we see the police procedural parts of the case. He is a reliable, stable, and rational narrator. While Frank and Keera don’t have many scenes together (they work on the opposite sides now), I like how there’s a lot of read-between-the-lines thing going on. The development is almost non-existent but I can see the foundation being laid. It will get interesting in the next books (can’t help it; I love a bit of romance as long as it is organic). 

I could connect the dots and guess the way things would turn over sometime in the second half. That didn’t affect my reading experience. For me, knowing I read the clues right implies the author planned well and kept the readers informed instead of wanting to surprise them with a ‘twist’ or by hiding crucial information. 

Did I want a little more exploration of Jenna’s psychology? Yes! A bit more of cat-and-mouse games; yes! Still, no complaints about what I got. 

Also, I love this new trend of introducing new white characters as white. Keep doing it. 

To summarize, Beyond Reasonable Doubt is without doubt a solid continuation of the series and sets the tone for what’s come. I can’t wait to read book #3 and meet Keera (& Frank) again. 

There’s no author’s note in this ARC. Wonder why? The one in the previous book was lovely! 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #BeyondReasonableDoubt 

 4.5 Stars

As the title suggests, the book contains a collection of stories, myths, facts, and folklore about seas and oceans. The content is divided into the following sections: 

There’s a detailed glossary at the end. 

A common theme we can see in the snippets of facts and tidbits from various cultures is the strong presence of nature in the lives of those associated with the seas and oceans. Respect for sea gods, respect for aquatic beings, and fear of mythical creatures ensured a balance and prevented the plundering of natural resources. It stopped many people from taking more than what was necessary. For example, the people of Ghana did not go fishing on Tuesday as was the day when the sea rested. In many cultures, offerings are given to the sea gods and animals, a sign to show that they gave something in return for what they took from the waters. 

A few stories have been included from different cultures. Most of us would know the one about Sindbad the Sailor. Of course, a book about seas and oceans has to talk of seabirds, ships (& superstitions), pirates, legendary voyages, and… ghost ships! There’s a section on boat construction as well. All the information is crisp and concise. Each fact/ myth is no more than 5 short lines. 

The book also covers a few submerged cities and continents. While it mentions the sunken pagodas around the Shore Temple, it missed the chance to highlight Dwarka, the submerged city built by Krishna in Dwapara Yuga (in modern-day Gujarat). 

The beauty and appeal of the book lie much in the vibrant illustrations. To align with the theme, the book has watercolor paintings in pastels on white, black, and colored backgrounds. This gives the illustrations a whimsical vibe. Perfect for the content. 

My only grouse is the chosen font type. It is cute, no doubt. However, the text is not easy to read even on the computer. Due to the style, the letter f needs extra space. So, words like often appear as of ten, which affects readability. Since the illustrations span the full pages (from left to right), reading this on Kindle can be a nightmare. Buy a physical copy instead. 

To summarize, Lore of the Deep is a fun and informative book about various lore related to seas and oceans. It can be a good addition to your bookshelves, especially if you like trivia. 

Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Quarto (Wide Eyed Editions), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
 

 3.5 Stars

When a young Jieun accidentally makes her family vanish, she is determined to find them no matter how long it takes. Yet, the process takes a toll on her. One night, she creates the Marigold Mind Laundry, where people can convert their painful memories into stains on clothes and wash them away. It’s a chance to find some peace and happiness as Jieun helps them by listening to their stories. Somewhere along the way, Jieun realizes there are some lessons she too needs to learn! 

The story comes in the third-person POV of multiple characters. 

It certainly helps to have the right expectations when starting a book. With the current GR rating at ~3.4 stars, picking this up after two 2-star books was a gamble. However, I needed something soothing, mellow, and gentle. 

In a way, the book is a bit similar to The Full Moon Coffee Shop. While I liked that one better, this did the job and eased my mind. 

There are many sayings in the book; too many of them, in fact, and all of them make this read like self-help. However, the magic realism and the undercurrent melancholy prevent it from becoming a boring book. 

The POV jumps are sometimes awkward, so I had to reread a sentence at a few places to follow the thoughts. Also, some dialogues are weird. Not sure if it’s due to translation or if the original was similarly written. 

The episodic style (yet with a bit of interconnectedness) ensures the narrative changes often. The overarching plot doesn’t have much progress, though there are many subtle hints (which I couldn’t always decipher). Every change in the episode/ story is clearly marked with the relevant character’s name and a B&W illustration (this was a surprise). 

While the book was almost 4 stars up to 85% or so, the last bit didn’t appeal much. I did guess two elements correctly but somehow the shift felt too abrupt. Though I like that the approach is realistic for the overarching plot, the other aspects lost the charm due to sudden change. Still, it does end on a hopeful note. 

The found family theme is quite strong in the second half and sustains until the last page, which is a bonus. 

To summarize, The Marigold Mind Laundry is a mood read that almost borders on self-help philosophical musings. While it won’t work for everyone, sometimes this is exactly what you might need. 

Thank you, Jordan Forney, NetGalley, and Random House (The Dial Press), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheMarigoldMindLaundry 

 3.7 Stars

The book begins with an introduction by the editors. It helped adjust my expectations as I thought this would be a murder mystery. While the stories do have ‘death’ in some form, the approach is varied and left to the author’s perspective. The settings are also varied – historical, contemporary, countryside, city, India, UK, Ireland, etc. Some stories are stronger than others, which is to be expected in an anthology. 

As always, I rated each story individually with comments written after reading the piece. 

What happens during a Christmas party at a bookstore? This is an interesting piece with a bit of chuckle and dry humor. The approach to murder is definitely different from what’s expected. A decent start to the collection. 

Set in 1898, the story deals with a pompous but clever businessman and his Christmas dinner. It is easy enough to guess the events but the writing keeps you hooked. 

What She Left Me by Tina Baker – 4 Stars 

The protag arrives at her childhood home after her mother’s death before Christmas. There’s a lot of trauma and grief to process. However, there also seems to be something else she needs to do. A heavy story where death features prominently and a reveal that may or may not be resolved. Though this is not a mystery, I rate it high for the narration. 

Gary and his girlfriend end up driving back home in a blizzard. Their arguments have soured things between them but the couple has a major concern to deal with when they are stranded in the middle of nowhere. Presented in Gary’s third-person POV, the plot builds slowly and reaches the final high. Though it is easy to predict for the fans of this genre, the setting is atmospheric and the narration gripping. 

The Edge House has a history, one, Yeats, the new owner, wants to use it to raise funds for renovation. However, when tragedy strikes, the mystery may remain unsolved forever. This is historical fiction set in Ireland. It is atmospheric and dark. 

This is a painful read of what a parent goes through when their kidnapped child doesn’t return for years. While it is not a mystery, it has death, so fits the anthology (according to the foreword). 

(TW: kidnapped child) 

Sean takes his aunt/ mom Edie to a small town to help solve a case. Edie is known for her puzzle-solving talent and helped many investigations. Can she crack this one too? How will this Christmas end? A proper murder mystery with clues, police, and some deaths. I’ll have to check if the Edie is part of any series. Would love to read more books with her. 

This is a short and funny dangerous story about a Christmas party and something that goes wrong. Not much detail or backstory but it is not necessary. The writing has a humorous note, which lightens up the story and turns it into a semi-farce. 

Upon a Midnight Clear by Tom Mead – 3 Stars 

This is a standalone mystery with the lead detective, Joseph Spector, who has a mystery series to his name. The historical setting, the possibility of a ghost, and the Christmas party are well done. However, due to the word limit, I believe, the info dump at the end is too much. I’ll check out the series, though. 

A widowed woman, her daughter, and teeny granddaughter go to their family’s favorite hotel for Christmas to follow the same tradition. However, this one leads to interesting developments. A nice story with a mellowed narration; suits the main character. 

Joseph Snow gets an email about being on the Naughty List. Is it a prank, scam, or something sinister? This is more of a thriller than a cozy mystery. It sustains the suspense with enough tension and delivers a strong ending. 

A classic locked room mystery featuring Inspector Persis Wadia of the Malabar House series (I need to read it). How did the sixty-year-old Harriet die in a locked room? Who killed her, and why? The mystery is kept simple which works for the word count. The writing style is fun to read. 

What happens when a Christmas card comes with something extra? Tilly knows what it is but she has some decisions to make. Well, I like the story and the tone, though I wanted a little more at the end. 

Snow, isolated cabin, and a blood trial do make a good start for this genre. Ellen might just find something after all! Well! Another thriller-ish story with death during Christmas. The themes are predictable but I like the ending. 

A Deadly Gift by Angela Clarke – 4 Stars 

A locked room mystery where Miriam has to solve the case before she gets arrested. The progress is slow but steady with teeny bits of chuckles thrown into the mix. And there’s a surprise too! Really enjoyed this one. 

What happens when Gary’s determination to not mess up the Secret Santa gift brings more trouble? Told from Gary’s third-person POV, we see a range of emotions and thoughts, leading to the finale. This reads like a semi-thriller. A good one. 

Marley’s Ghost by Sarah Hilary – 4 Stars 

Ninna and Kim go to visit her family for Christmas. It sure would be fun. Right? This is a twisty story but also straightforward. It rests on Ninna’s shoulders and Kim’s eyes. I like it. 

A super short story about a statue and toxic relationships. This was too short to feel anything for anyone. Wonder why they put this at the end. 

To summarize, Death Comes at Christmas combines cozy mystery, suspense, thriller, and slow-burn narratives to create a collection of stories where a death occurs during Christmas. Not all of them have a resolution. Read no more than one or two per day to get the maximum enjoyment out of the book. 

The rating averaged 3.69, a decent number for an anthology with as many stories. The author bios are provided at the end. 

Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Titan Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 2.5 Stars

Cemmy’s life is always under threat. The only safe space for her is the In-Between, the Gray where neither the Council nor the Church can kill her. With her mother’s health failing, Cemmy becomes a thief. However, her latest project lands her and her friends in bigger trouble. 

Cemmy has to work with Chase (and others) to steal an ancient relic hidden by the Church. One wrong step could kill them and the path is filled with twists, landmines, and dead ends. Can she do it? 

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

With a cover and premise like that, I couldn’t resist requesting the book knowing it is YA. Serves me right I suppose! 

The author’s note is at the beginning, which I appreciate. It helped me understand the story to an extent. We also get a short list of the colors and their magic but a detailed list would have been helpful. This magic system is kinda complex without a reference. 

We know how important the beginning is for any book. This one has a great first page until the MC starts to talk to herself too often and provides too many details at once. The first two chapters were heavy, slow, and annoying. Instead of making me feel for Cemmy, I ended up being irritated by her. Easing some weight off these chapters should provide a smoother reading experience. 

Too much data about the magic system (especially when the initial chart isn’t enough) made it a laborious read in the first quarter. I was constantly pairing up colors to determine where the Hues fit and all that. I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of reader. Still, it wasn’t easy. 

The Council and Church part was a little easier. It is similar to religion vs. politicians, church vs. nonbelievers, etc., thingy. Think of something set in ancient Europe. That should give you an idea. 

Some of the side characters are cool. I like Novi; she is spunky, sassy, and a no-nonsense person. Eve and Ezzo are nice. The other girl is also nice. Though we are told there’s a found family trope, the dynamics aren’t really there. Also, lies, secrets, and repetitive wrong decisions are used to advance the plot. 

Chase, is well, supposed to be the hero. He tried. I have to admit that the poor guy tried to be the kind of hero readers would appreciate – morally gray with hidden secrets, a sad past, powerful, handsome, etc. I did like him okay. 

If you haven’t guessed by now, my issue is with the narrator and heroine, Cemmy. Thank god, her self-talk reduced considerably as the story progressed but it was too much in the beginning. I can see why it was necessary but, honestly, that girl cannot carry this plot on her whiny shoulders. Girl’s bi, so that’s the queer angle. For more than half the book, she has a thing for someone but suddenly feels attracted to the MMC. However, this ‘romance’ didn’t feel organic nor did they have much chemistry. 

There are dark elements here. Some of it can make you squeamish. That said, older teens should be able to read it. The ‘romance’ is not detailed either. 

There are a few plot holes, which raise some questions about the whole thing. I wish there was more detail about the world-building, the magic system, and the hierarchy in general. The ending is more HFN, which does align with the overall vibe. 

To summarize, Until We Shatter has an ambitious plot that rests on an angsty teenager and a group of ‘misfits’. You will like it better if you connect with the FMC. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #UntilWeShatter 

 2.5 Stars

1817 

Margaret Arden would rather be known as a famous author than become a dutiful wife. However, her family needs money, and she needs to marry well to provide for her widowed mother and two younger sisters. Yet, Margaret cannot give up on her dream. She even dares to approach a publisher with her latest manuscript only to be insulted. 

Captain Bridger Dryden is starting over as a publisher after his days in the war. With a wayward rogue for a younger brother, a father suffering from illness, and a crumbling estate, he has much on his mind. When he finds a stray paper with a fragment of a story, he is determined to publish it. Turns out, it was written by none other than the woman he insulted a prior. 

With Margaret and Bridger attending the same wedding at Pressmore Estate, can they find a truce or will things get worse? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Margaret (Maggie) and Bridger. 

Based on the premise and cover, I had some expectations about a young woman trying to establish herself as a writer and finding love along the way, with some drama, of course! However, the drama part took over and diluted the rest of it. 

The beginning should get a solid 4 stars. It establishes the FMC’s situation and character. Though it doesn’t show the MMC in a good light, I was hoping for a good enemies-to-lovers romance and some banter. 

However, too many elements enter the plot – the rascal brother (the MMC’s), an annoyed ex, a dear one sabotaging the new bride’s life, and more drama! While the end lessons are important, they come at the expense of the main characters. 

I could never really feel the hero and heroine’s relationship. It seemed to progress, but I felt nothing. Bridger wasn’t the kind of grump I like, though he ticked all the boxes. I just couldn’t connect with the developments. 

Despite this, I loved the scenes with Violet and Whinny. The book would have been even more boring with them and Ann. 

As an Indian, I appreciate Ann’s backstory. However, I’d have liked it if she and Lane got their own book to explore the details. This wasn’t the book to make a subplot take over the main theme. 

Unfortunately, we don’t get more than a surface-level detail of the hardships faced by women writers to publish their pieces. I don’t need a thesis, but I would have liked it more if the MCs had a short discussion about the process. Even when they actually discuss poetry, we are told they spoke about it. 

There are a couple of love scenes (moderately graphic). Since I didn’t connect with their romance, these scenes didn’t really feel emotional. 

One thing I did like was how the aunts were depicted. Yet, the person who was responsible for all this doesn’t even get a single word! Where is Margaret’s mother? What does she have to say to her daughters? Does she agree with her ‘savior’ sisters? Does she want her daughters to be happy? Is she conflicted and guilty? We know nothing. We only hear the aunts bashing the poor woman because she married for love and was left penniless after her husband’s death. Her active presence would have enhanced the story a lot. That was more important than the scandal and drama. 

A good thing is that the book is fairly easy to read. I finished the majority of it in one sitting. Also, there are tiny quotes from Shakespeare’s works at the beginning of each chapter and many mentions of his plays. Enjoyed those! 

To summarize, Much Ado About Margaret has a great premise but ends up underwhelming with a bigger subplot than the main plot. It’s a small book, so that’s something. 

NGL, I’m surprised that a book by a bestselling author reads like a rough first draft (I know this is uncorrected proof but both are different). Maybe coz this seems to be her first lighthearted romance (GR shows dark historical fiction on her list of works) and the shift in genres wasn’t smooth? 

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine| Dell), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #MuchAdoAboutMargaret 

 4 Stars

Leovander Loveage aka Leo is a scriver, the latest generation of the long-standing Loveage family (gentry). However, he is more comfortable with minor charms, any type of alcohol, and frolicking around; anything to stay away from powerful magic. 

Sebastian Grimm is Leo’s opposite in every way. Belonging to a farming background, he had to and is fighting for his position among the powerful. He doesn’t have time for fun. 

However, when they end up using forbidden magic (unknowingly), Leo and Grimm have to find the counter spell fast. They need someone to do it. This takes them into the dangerous Unique Wood. Leo and Grimm have to work together to dissolve the curse. Can they do it? 

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

Fun Fact: When I first read the blurb, I saw ‘curmudgeonly rival’ and assumed this was a slow-burn love story of 50-something magicians. Surprise, surprise! This is NA. The MCs are 21+. 

It is the first book in the trilogy, so there’s more to come. The book ends more like an episode, so there isn’t a huge cliffhanger or suspense but there’s enough to make us want to know more. 

This a cozy romantasy with a super slow burn, so we see the MCs bickering almost throughout. There really isn’t much romance, which is more than fine for me. Given their ‘relationship’, I’m glad it is taking time to shift gears. Romance can happen in the next book. 

The world-building is just right – not extensive but not so pale that we cannot imagine the setting. Think of something like old England with the rich vs. poor, Oxford or Cambridge with a handful of guys from underprivileged backgrounds, etc., but where magic is an integral part of the system. However… why do we not a have map for this? 

The magic system is explained well. Whether or not we like it, depends on us. I like the concept which seems to be a sort of distribution of power. 

Leo as a narrator can be entertaining and annoying. He is meant to be flawed, so if you keep that in mind, the story will be enjoyable. Lemme tell you that he can get on your nerves more than a few times. Also, I have grave concerns about his liver. The amount of alcohol he drinks can fill an ocean (or three). 

Grimm is your typical grump – handsome, brooding, talented, etc. He is very particular in following rules but is of course not perfect. I alternated between being annoyed at Grimm and Leo, so methinks the balance is good overall. 

A few side characters are interesting but don’t have much space due to the change in plot development. I hope to meet them (especially Agnes and Sybilla) in the next book. 

The pacing is a bit uneven. The plot does progress even if we tend to go in circles about a certain important aspect. I can see why it had to be kept a secret until the end. 

There’s some humor, and as with many books, it is not always funny. But then, humor is subjective. I found some antics childish and had to remind myself I’m not exactly the target audience (NA fantasy rarely works for me). 

The last quarter is quite interesting. I like the music concept and its appeal on… shhh! No spoilers! 

To summarize, Sorcery and Small Magics is a good debut and reads fairly well. Thanks to the low stakes, most of the book is easy to read. I would be happy to read the next book to see what’s in store for Leo and Grimm. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group (Orbit), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #SorceryAndSmallMagics 

 3 Stars

One Liner: Okay! Liked the first book better

Millicent Whittenburg has been secretly training as one of the Queen’s ladies to join a deadly mission and find the gang trafficking young women to France. However, she needs to first get out of the horrible betrothal finalized by her evil stepmother. There’s only one way – seduce a man who hates marriage.

Major General Beaufort Drake has scars on his body and a rock for his heart. While the war gave him the scar, his then fiancée’s betrayal made him hate women and stay away from matrimony. However, Millie’s attempts to escape her fate stir a few feelings in him.

With both on the same secret mission, a marriage of convenience might benefit them, even if they realize their hearts are at risk of loving the other.

The story comes in the third-person POV of Millie and Beau (Drake).

My Thoughts:

The book works as a standalone though the characters have met in the earlier one. Reading that is not mandatory but could help see that the MCs had a couple of conversations (banter of sorts).

This series is predominantly steamy romance (~4). The mystery and danger are a subplot and take center stage only in the last quarter. The writing has a contemporary flavor as most books in this genre tend to be.

There’s quite a lot of drama in this one – evil stepmother, shitty exes (jealousy and all that), a struggling relationship (or the lack of it) between the main characters, the mystery of the gang, etc. Some of it works.

For me, the bright spot was Billy Bright, the young lad from book one. Boy, the kid brightened up the scenes whenever he was around. Lady Phillipa, once again, makes her presence felt. I hope she gets her own book.

While the previous book also had a dark backstory for the FMC, the chosen track in this book did not appeal to me. A certain scene, especially around 15% was unexpected. What made sense in the previous book doesn’t work here since the characters and the resolutions are different. Just look at that yellow cover and the flowery design on it. I didn’t expect something this triggering to happen. What’s worse is that the person responsible doesn’t even pay for their actions. No justice! Also, after a point, the issue isn’t even discussed again.

There’s one more random piece of information about a different character that’s revealed and left hanging. Possible that it will be tackled in the next book. Since I did guess a bit from the earlier scene, I knew what the trigger would be. It might affect other readers, though.

Quite a few issues are supposed to be presumed as settled (sorted off page). This doesn’t make the ending as satisfying as it should be. I wanted a more comprehensive approach to tying up at least the major subplots. Only one gets a sort of resolution.

To summarize, A Lady's Lesson in Scandal has its moments but doesn’t appeal to me as much as the previous book in the series. I had high hopes for this since I liked both characters, but the execution wasn’t great. Hopefully, things will be better in the next book. Fingers crossed!

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley
 

 3 Stars

Catherine Lipton is a type-A mathematician who needs lists, a schedule, and an orderly life. Being early for her meetings is her idea of being on time. After living a free-spirited and unpredictable life in her childhood, Catherine clings to order to stay sane. That’s why Luca Morelli, the handsome but casual doorman of her apartment, annoys her. He doesn’t seem to understand the need for order and structure. 

However, when Catherine somehow disappears from the government records and doesn’t seem to exist, her world spirals out of control. With her new teaching position at stake and no one to believe her, Catherine has to take Luca’s help to sort out the problem. Soon, she realizes that her missing identity is helping her find the ‘real’ Catherine. 

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

The premise was interesting, and I expected something similar to Miranda in Retrograde but with a touch of magic realism. While the beginning was good, the book skimmed the surface almost throughout despite having enough elements to add depth. 

Catherine was well done, and I did identify with her need for lists, plans, and the desire to not be late for important events. Her vulnerabilities and the instability of her childhood give a clear idea about her personality. Her yearning to connect with the other parent and know more also comes across well. 

However, the other characters don’t do enough to enhance any of this. Luca, for all his charm and helpful nature, ends up without much depth. He needed to be complex to support the FMC’s growth and introspection. Instead, it felt like the choice had to be between this and that. Life rarely works so! The aim should be to highlight the importance of balancing order with flexibility and self with community. For this, Luca had to start simple but become someone capable of proving to Catherine that she could have both. 

Let’s be honest. Catherine wasn’t really off the mark. Help is what we do beyond our work, not instead of it. Some basic responsibilities have to be taken care of at some point. 

I liked how the book showed the difference in attitude when a person’s identity proof is threatened. In a world where we are who we claim to be only when the documents (despite so many fake IDs) support the claim, it can be a nightmare for a genuine person to be considered a fraud. 

That said, the chemistry between the lead couple wasn’t great. I knew they were meant to be, so I went with the flow. Apart from that, I didn’t really feel the urge to root for them. Not much banter either. At least the romance was pretty much closed-door, so that was an advantage here. 

The last quarter also could have been a lot better. A lot is revealed in a few pages, which doesn’t give enough time for everything to sink in. Need more interaction between Catherine and the parent, more heartfelt conversations, and a sustained realization on her part that the choice was either/ or and she could have all of it with some slight adjustment. Simply put, the story is missing nuance which elevates good to great. 

Lastly, why is the western society intent on wiping out our identities and replacing them with a convenient blanket term ‘South Asia’? If Luca is Italian and not Mediterranean or European and the other characters are Americans rather than North Americans, why reduce others to vague terms? Would it hurt to use a specific identity? Couldn’t Dr. Gupta be an Indian? Couldn’t Radhika be a Sri Lankan or a Bangladeshi Hindu? The Indian subcontinent is not South Asia just because some ‘academics’ hate us. 

And oh, I hope the timeline mess has been sorted. The days, weeks, months, etc., none of it seem to give a clear picture of the duration. The puzzle pieces are out of place! 

To summarize, Wish I Were Here has some worthy moments but lacks the depth or nuance to enhance the plot. I wish it was better executed. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #WishIWereHere 

 4.3 Stars 

Lady Theodosia Balfour aka Theo is out of options. Her stepsister, Beatrice, the newly crowned princess who married Prince Duncan is telling everyone that Theo, her sister, and her mother are evil. Though Theo knows this isn’t the entire truth, she can do nothing as her life becomes a mess. Her mother forces her betrothal with an aging and pompous Duke to save them from bankruptcy. 

A desperate Theo does the only thing she can – summon a fairy godmother to help her. If a fairy can help her stepsister, she sure can help Theo, right? However, the fairy (Cecily) is less of a godmother and more of a stunning vision in yellow with a cunning attitude. The fairy is willing to help Theo, but only after seeing the proof of Theo’s goodness. With assistance from the fairy’s assistants – Phineas, a flirty human-turned-mockingbird, and grumpy Kasra, a fox shapeshifter, Theo has to complete three tasks and prove she is worthy of the fairy’s help. 

Well, it should be easy enough, right? 

The story comes in Theo’s third-person POV. 

I knew I had to read this the moment I saw the cover. The premise made me even more curious to find out how the author spun Cinderella’s plot and enhanced it.  

For me, a retelling/ spin-off loses merit when it simply flips the good as bad and vice versa or when the so-called evil characters are made squeaky clean, and whitewashed beyond recognition. A good re-creation should add depth to the characters and freshness to the plot while retaining the essence of the original. Though this book sometimes straddles the line, it settles comfortably on the right side, thanks to the FMC. 

I guessed the book would have a slower pacing and adjusted my expectations. The first quarter is indeed slow as we meet the characters and explore the settings. However, it picks up pace once the fairy enters. 

The highlight of the book is how it sustains sassy humor (even if it feels a bit excessive at times but necessary for the character arc). Theo is a lot of things and though she is supposed to be the wicked stepsister, I could see her vulnerability almost from the beginning. She is a flawed character learning to become a better person as she has new experiences. 

The book deals with themes like toxic family relationships (mother & sister, between sisters), bullying, societal expectations, presumptions, greed, jealousy, main character syndrome, etc. 

This works well as a cozy fantasy, though I wouldn’t have minded a little more detail about the fairy world. The tone borders on YA (probably coz Theo is a teenager). There isn’t much romance as such, though we do see some ‘moments’. 

Cecily is a terrific fairy. Need more of her in the next book! The supporting characters are pretty much one-dimensional but do the job. Maybe some of them will get more depth in the next book. 

A few dialogues are longish, though we can see these are necessary and have to be said. The last 20% packs a punch with more reveals, twists, and developments. It also shows how the plot had been planned and structured to reach the desired endpoint (I won’t be surprised if the author worked it in reverse). A couple of triggers too. 

While I didn’t expect the story to continue in the next book (I hoped it would be standalone spinoffs), I can’t complain. The book ends just the way it should – a good conclusion to the first part but leaving out enough to wonder where it would go from here. 

To summarize, How to Summon a Fairy Godmother is a solid debut and an entertaining read with many introspective moments. Can’t wait to read the sequel (please don’t keep me in suspense for long). Just hope there won’t be any triangles (or if present, they are handled well). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #HowToSummonAFairyGodmother