Category: Dramatic

Book Review- A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder

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A Good Girl's Guide to MurderAs you may or may not know, I love murder mysteries. I don’t read them very often, but when I get my hands on a good one, I become obsessively tangled in the lives of the characters and the mystery, and make no mistake, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is no exception.  It was funny and thrilling at the same time, and I felt really connected to the characters in a way that I haven’t felt in a long while. I shipped Pippa and Ravi with such intensity it was weird, and I literally said ‘YES!’ out loud when *MINI SPOILER ALERT* we find out that they start dating in the end.

Synopsis: Pippa is the heroine of the story, a nerdy teenage girl at the brink of a life-changing event- leaving for university. Pippa is nothing of not curious, so when the opportunity arises for her to investigate a murder that shattered her hometown five years previously, she jumps at it. Enter  Ravi Singh, the secluded brother of Sal, cut off from the rest of the town for fear of constant judgment. It’s only when Pippa approaches him that they embark on a dangerous and thrilling adventure that would change their lives forever. Also, let’s not forget their adorable little ship-worthy moments 🙂 Actually, that’s another thing that I appreciated- the fact that their chemistry wasn’t cringey or forced, and didn’t get in the way of the story; it was well-paced and full of banter.

Fun fact-  I was so obsessed, ahem, intrigued, that I actually wrote down all my theories and possible outcomes. So thank you, Holly Jackson, for reigniting my appreciation for a good whodunnit. I can’t wait to read more of your work.

This book in three words- Mystery-Murder-Justice

-Hawi 🙂

 

Book Review- Little Fires Everywhere

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lfeI am seriously in love with this book. It hasn’t been this good since Ethan’s Voice, and if you’ve been around for a while, you know that that’s saying something. I raved about that book here-  http://magicalbookworld.com/2016/10/26/book-review-ethans-voice/

It was so well-written, and handled politically and socially important topics both delicately and confidently. It was obvious as a reader that the book wasn’t just about a single mum who moved into a high-class town, but it juggled race, power and prejudice with astounding ease. I felt very much absorbed, and it had me absolutely hooked in the events of this chaotic masterpiece.

Synopsis- When the intrigued Elena Richardson lets single mother and passionate photographer Mia and her daughter Pearl rent a flat she owns in the meticulously organised and idyllic town of Shaker Heights, she doesn’t know that she has set off a chain of events that will change the lives of both the Richardsons and the Warrens forever. The Richardson children are inexplicably drawn to Pearl and Mia, but Mia’s past and blatant disregard for the town’s careful rules threaten to disrupt the peace.  The truths that will be unearthed will affect everyone in the tangled lives of the two households.

What I especially loved was that it was so different to mainstream YA plotlines. It’s the kind of book you think about, even way after you’ve finished it. The plot is just so relevant to so many modern issues.

This book in three words-  Politics-Family-History

Thanks for reading!

Book Review- Clean

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CleanIt’ s a dirty business getting clean.

Clean is just one of those books that grabs you, and doesn’t  really let go. I found myself thinking about the lives of the characters, and how messily and yet beautifully their lives intertwine, and patch into place.

Lexi doesn’t think she is a drug addict. She just does it for fun. Her brother Nikolai, however, doesn’t share the same opinion, and when she almost overdoses, she leaves him with no choice but to send her to Clarity, a discreet, secluded centre for addicts. As Lexi grows to feel comfortable there, she meets other inmates- a set of young adults who each have problems- and secrets- of their own, but still manage to create a lifelong friendship and aid each-other in recovery.

I thought that this book was so poignant and beautiful; I was very much attached to the various characters and how they moved forward, leaving their security behind them.

This book in three words: Self-Worth – Insecurity – Growing

#getCLEAN

Hawi xx

Book Review- The Princess Diaries

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I must foreword this by making a very clear statement- The Princess Diaries series is not a normal chick-lit series. It is AMAZING. Not only does it have romantic elements, but also is very educational. Mia Thermopolis and her friends are all very opinionated and well-spoken individuals, and defy stereotypes for being teenagers and geeks. She should be an inspiration to all girls. Additionally, her views are not just complaints; she used her publicity to make issues that mattered to her known, like the cruel system of American high school and animal rights.

I am thrilled that there are books like this in the world. Simple things that adults wouldn’t think about twice are highlighted as issues for very valid reasons. The women in the story are equal to the men and there are no mindless idiots meandering here and there with nothing on their minds but romance (even Tina Hakim-Baba thinks about other things. Sometimes.).

Mia’s world is a wonderful and unique place and I really invite you (whether you’re an adult or teenager) to come and join the club. The only bad part is when it finishes and you just wonder what you are going to do with your life from that moment forward. Other than reading it again.

So, in case you haven’t realised, I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WITH A BRAIN.

I hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for reading.

-Hawi