Hey bestie! Here’s a quick wrap up of five books I’ve recently read – in all sorts of genres as usual.
Lost In The Moment And Found by Seanan McGuire
Lately I have just been reading the random books that come in the mail because they are short and also to get them off the shelf and into the hands of others. Lost In The Moment And Found by Seanan McGuire arrived randomly one day. I picked it up so quickly because it was under 150 pages and I’d heard really good things about McGuire. I’ve only read McGuire’s book Feed that she wrote as Mira Grant. Lost In The Moment And Found is a portal fantasy about Ansty who is 7 years old and in danger from her stepfather. So, one day she runs away and finds herself in a shop with Doors that lead to other worlds, only there is a price to be paid.
I’m not sure if I’d call this one cozy fantasy/sci fi, but it sure felt like it. Yes, the beginning is kind of stressful. But then once Antsy is traveling to other worlds, she’s pretty much just going to different market places. It felt just calm and low-key. In fact, the other two main characters are a magpie and an old woman. Eventually we find out about the price to be paid and what is really happening when she travels through the doors. McGuire’s Lost In The Moment And Found is beautifully written novella that just gives off comfort vibes, even during the sad parts. I loved this book and can’t wait to check out the others in the series — apparently there’s seven other books that I am going to now try and make my way through.
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed is STUNNING. Yes, stunning. I said what I said. This book follows three, nearly four, different storylines centered around wishes. You see, in the world of Shubeik Lubeik the world is basically just like the one we live in except you can buy wishes. There are three different classes of wishes. Third class wishes are illegal because they often backfire. First class wishes are very expensive and only available really to the upper class. Aziza, Nour, Skorry each come into possession of a first class wish – or rather are each the focal point of the different storylines.
I loved this book. The art is both color and black and white. It’s beautifully done and flows so perfectly. The story is unique and kept my attention. I probably could have read this in one sitting if I didn’t have all my current responsibilities. Shubeik Lubeik is stunning and probably will be one of my favorite books read this year. I am SO glad I said yes to reading this book and then prioritized it. I LOVED it.
Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin
Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin is a romcom about Drew Young, a Black woman who has inherited a book store from her grandmother. Drew doesn’t really care for reading, however, The Book Nook was home to her. She grew up so close to her grandmother that she wants to follow her wishes and keep the bookstore going, even if books are not her wheelhouse. Things are going okay until this event with author Jasper Williams who is a romance author. Drew and Jasper hit it off and all of a sudden Drew is Jasper’s tour guide to Colorado while he’s trying to give her recommendations that will convince her books aren’t so bad. Oh and it turns out, their romance may just be better than fiction.
I thought that Alexa Martin’s Better Than Fiction was cute. I do not ever see myself rereading this book. However, I very much enjoyed the time I took with it. I especially enjoyed the Dirty Birds which is a book club run by old ladies. They stole every scene. Additionally, Drew’s best friend and her half sister were great characters as well. This was a quick read and just a good stress reliever. I’m glad I read it, even if I don’t see myself picking this one up again.
The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
I absolutely adored The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim. This young adult book is about Zahra Khan who lives in New Jersey with her mom and siblings. Her father passed away. Allegedly her family is Bangladeshi royalty but they’ve fallen on hard times. So, Zahra works hard to contribute to family finances by working at a local tea cafe. She dreams of writing someday. Her mother tries to set her up with Harun, who is from a wealthy family with a good future ahead. Unfortunately, the two aren’t a love match. However, they scheme and fake date and are trying to convince their parents they aren’t a good match. Meanwhile, there’s a new employee at the cafe who may be perfect for Zahra, Nayim.
When is the next book by Priyanka Taslim out? Seriously, I had such a good time with The Love Match. Zahra is a wonderful character. Her friends are a delight to read about. The romance was sweet and while yes I did see who she would end up with coming — I enjoyed the journey to get there. Truly, this was SO great. Also, it nails what being financially insecure and struggling is like. Oh and also, when things would work out for Zahra I would find myself just cheesing because I was so happy and invested in her character.
The Three Lives Of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester
The Three Lives Of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester really scratched that itch for a good historical fiction for me. This story is about a woman named Alix St. Pierre who is working in PR for the designer Christian Dior in Paris post World War II. As the story unfolds, we find out that during World War II, Alix worked in Intelligence for the US in Switzerland. There we see tragedy unfold in Switzerland. The timelines alternate, in the post-WWII timeline, Alix and an unexpected ally end up trying to take down a former Nazi who was at the heart of a tragedy that took the life of Alix’s finance among others.
This is the second book I’ve read by Lester and honestly I want to read more. I really enjoyed learning more about Dior. Also, Alix is such a unique character — one who you can’t just put into a box and expect to act like the traditional woman. She relishes her independence and freedom. I also found the setting and her career so interesting. The pacing is excellent — this book moves along at a really good clip where I was invested, not bored, but not feeling breakneck either. If you’re looking for a really good historical fiction with dual timelines, you can’t go wrong with The Three Lives Of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester.
@aprilbooksandwine What I Read This Week Books Mentioned: The Three Lives Of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub How To Succeed In Witchcraft by Aislinn Brophy @penguin_teen @penguinaudio #readingwrapup #aprilbooksandwine #booktokover30 #momsofbooktok
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