It is about the last queen of Lahore, Jindan Kaur. The last queen of the ruler of India's Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The book is great with the facts and the story it gives as a whole but it lacks the writing style/lustre a story like this deserves. It is still a good book with decent story telling and a fast pace. However, I feel it would have been an amazing book, had it been written better.
Definitely a must read though!
4/5🌟

As amazing as the show (Killing Eve) based on this book is, the book is quite dull in comparison. It's really great to see how the makers of the show turned a not-so-great book into a totally binge-worthy show.
I am definitely gonna continue watching the show, but not the books.
Show - 5/5🌟
Book - 3/5🌟

Three foster sisters, Jessica, Norah and Alicia get together to solve the mystery behind a body, which is discovered at their childhood foster home.

A decent plot and well written. The before-after timeline worked really well for the plot. The characters were well written too and were quite relatable. The ending was also interesting and did not disappoint.
4/5🌟

Succession, but where a murder happens and the murderer has to guess who killed them.
I liked the premise and even the initial 30% of the book but it just kind of passed. It kept me guessing the entire time as to who the culprit was. However, the ending was so disappointing. A simple light read.
3.5/5🌟

Follows the lives of three sisters, Priya, Deepa, and Jamini. Entirely different personalities and dreams. It's interesting to read how their lives take a 360° turn with the events of a single night. It's also interesting to see how independence and the political unrest were characters in themselves. It has all the elements to become a great Bollywood movie but not that great of a book actually. I don't really like ending. Just unfair.
4/5🌟

This book centers around Natsu, her elder sister Makiko and Makiko's daughter Midoriko. The book is about the female body as much as it's about the female mind.
I really liked the characters and how the story was written. The pace was nice too. But, somewhere in between I felt a bit disconnected from the story. A great book but I think it could have been written better. Or the essence was kinda lost during translation.
4/5🌟

The ending made me go "WTF" and it wasn't a good WTF. The plot was great, the characters were super engaging and the buildup throughout the book was very exciting. But, why Stephen, why would you do that!?
2/5?
#fanofthepan

"I don‘t like to start with an apology—there‘s probably even a rule against it, like never ending a sentence with a preposition —but after reading over the thirty pages I‘ve written so far, I feel like I have to."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

I'm generally not a biography/autobiography person but having consumed so much of Trevor Noah's content, I knew I had to give this one a try.

It's just such a beautiful book. A great experience. It had me feeling so many emotions over a span of just few hundred pages. Would highly recommend.
4.5/5🌟

The story is about two best friends, Rachel and James and the time when Rachel falls in love with her English professor Dr Fred Byrne.

It's a coming of age story, about the reality of your life in twenties and a whole bunch of complications every day. I loved the book. It's wholesome, funny, relatable, and still thoughtful. A must read. I think I'll definitely be coming back to it after some years.
5/5🌟

The book revolves around Naina and Haree. Two young girls who have constantly faced challenges and are now facing challenges as big as child marriage, rape, and domestic violence. The story is about hope and sometimes the lack of it. It's about the power of the human spirit and the absence of love. The characters are well written. I was disappointed when Naina and Haree's stories connected and it just could have been so much better.
4/5🌟

The title is absolutely misleading and the author could have done so much better. However, the book is a fun read. The story revolves around immigrant punjabi widows in London who wanted to learn and write English from Nikki but somehow ended up writing erotic stories.
You would not believe the twists and turns such a simple plot could have. A definite page turner (especially when you skim through the stories) and a wholesome fun read.
4.5/5🌟

Remy left for the US long back. Years later, he decides to come back to India to adopt a baby and to see his mother before it gets too late. Slowly, as family secrets surface, relationships change like never before.
The book takes time to pick up the pace. I loved the author's writing style and how she just keeps you engaged throughout. I didn't like the characters that much but the story is worth reading. The ending also makes it worth it.
4/5🌟

I have read so many better written stories/books by him. This collection just didn't cut it. Not at all a 'must' read.

3/5🌟

I liked the premise and how the book started. Even the characters seemed interesting. But, the writing style was not for me. I thought I'd get used to it and that made me read like 40% of the book but it was simply annoying after that.
#hailthebail

Regan and Aldo meet in an art gallery and decide to have six conversations with each other. This is not a love story. This is not a story about happy endings.

There are parts I really liked and there are parts I didn't. I really liked how the bees and art and maths and love are intertwined together by the author and somehow it all makes sense. Not my most favorite romance book out there but easily a pick if looking for something different.
4/5🌟

I read 'The Push' by the author long back and I loved it! I have been excited for this one. It's a shame that this was not up to my expectations.
The story revolves around 4 women and something tragic that happened in their neighborhood. I can't believe the book was this bland. On to a better one!
#hailthebail

Told between two POVs: a teenager and an adult description of an affair between 15-year old Vanessa and her 42-year old English teacher.

The book is often said to be a modern retelling of Lolita. I found myself scoffing at the book a lot of times but I guess that's what the author intended. TWs should be read before starting. The book is quite disturbing and difficult to read and even more difficult to form an opinion about. Still a pick.
4/5🌟

Jane moves to a new town. She meets Eddie, who is handsome, rich, and above all single. As time passes, Jane is intrigued by the legend of 'Bea' Eddie's ex-wife who died in an accident. Turns out, everyone has not so pleasing secrets.
As interesting as the premise is, the book was pretty flat. It felt a bit stretched out too. There wasn't any character development. A classic whodunnit!
3/5🌟

51% through. Legit 51% through the book and still much didn't happen. I have generally seen good reviews for this one and it was a weird feeling to read this much and still not like it. Mean girls but housewives edition, and still worse.
#hailthebail

I've been meaning to read this for years and finally got the time (read will) to.
Laia and Elias are both victims of circumstance and their choices will decide the course of the entire Empire.
I loved how the story unfolds, how it developed, how new characters got introduced with their roles defined. Above all, I loved how it ended. How the premise for the next book was set.
It's a beautiful book and I can't wait to see what happens next.
4.5/5 🌟

Shay Miller's life takes a complete turn when a young woman leaps in front of a train and the Moore sisters enter her life. Are these events related? Is everything actually how it seems?
The book overall is decently paced, keeps you hooked but actually gets unrealistic at some points. It had good twists and turns but I kinda expected all of them in advance. I feel there was a lot of potential wasted.
3.5/5🌟

I've been meaning to read this book for so long and finally managed to. And to say it is a must read, would be an understatement. Although I didn't like a few chapters and it got deviated a lot from the actual topic. I would pick a book on Black history if I wanted to read so much of that.
Keeping that aside, it's a great book. Roxane did a wonderful job and I would definitely be picking more from her.
4/5🌟

"There is something animalistic about the way the middle-aged adults size each other up while feigning friendliness in the backyard of the most expensive house on the street."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

An average teen summer read. I do not think there's anything special about this one.
Teenage girl from a somewhat broken family, going through a “break,“ meets a new cool guy, life changes, and now gotta choose between the two.

I think there are too many good books out there to take out time for this one.
2/5🌟

Dystopia - The women are allowed only 100 words a day. And if they don't comply, it could be FATAL.

Having read “The handmaid's tale,“ I think it's difficult to beat that. But it's wrong to compare too. I still feel Vox is well written and interesting too. It made me think, it made me angry, just what the author wanted and what an amazing closing line it was!
Definitely a pick, although there was a lot that could have been done.
4/5🌟

Disappointment is all I feel after finishing this. The book had it all, great plot, good characters, a serial killer at loose, gory MO, double digit victims, and it still ended being such a disappointment. There was so much scope and it just had to end bad.
Also, the author takes sooo much time to actually build it up. I feel the book could have easily been 100-150 pages shorter.
3/5🌟
Feel free to recommend anything by Karin Slaughter?

About 20% through and it already got so dull. I decided to go and check the recent reviews and they convinced me in a minute to just DNF it.

"Two hearts are beating inside me.
One is dying slowly, the other is learning to breathe.
Thousands of worlds I'll bring, thousands I'll kill,
And all those times you couldn't live,
I'll live!"

Drop in your Goodreads account handles.?
PS: Add me on Goodreads: Anshika Goyal

Eliza Caine is haphazardly recruited as a governess to two children after her father dies. However, she discovers that she is the sixth governess in a row within the year. What went wrong?

I anyday prefer psychological horror more than the in-your-face horror. Interesting plot but too obvious for me by the end. However, I really enjoyed the writing style. A quick page turner and an engrossing read.
4/5🌟

Rosemary died a year ago but her husband George thinks she was murdered and it wasn't a suicide. There are 6 people thinking about Rosemary for different reasons and one of them could be the murderer.

I'm a huge Agatha fan but I didn't particularly enjoy this one. I am yet to understand what exactly was the issue, but it is what it is. To better murders and better books hopefully.
2.5/5🌟
PS - Good thriller recommendations, please?🤭

Imagine a coffee shop that lets you go back in time with a few (read many) rules to follow.

As interesting as the premise was, the book was pretty bland. I understand some essence being lost because of this being a translation. Expected a bit too much I guess, DNFing after the second story.

The holocaust and the events through the POV of a tattooist working in Auschwitz. It's a tale of survival, of hope, of courage, of loss and above all, of love.

I have read and watched a lot of content related to the holocaust in general. I think I expected too much, so for me personally, the book isn't the best out there but still it's a great book. It's nicely paced, good story and decent characters. Do give it a try.
4/5🌟

Four friends. Two couples. One missing husband.
Something happened. No one knows.

The premise was strong as the book started, became too stretched out in the middle and towards the end it just became silly. The twist in the end was decent but I guessed it long long back, if only it was done better. It became more about the characters' monologues, than the actual plot.
Any good recommendations by the author?
2.5/5🌟

What if the virtual home assistant designed to help you turns against you and is on to something very sinister?
'Electra' the home assistant is after Jo, or is this all her imagination?
As interesting as the synopsis was, the book was pretty average to read actually. Will definitely creep you out about the technology and the ease it comes with.
3/5🌟
Any other suggestions by the author?

"If you want to know how poor somebody was growing up, ask them how many windows they had."

@ShyBookOwl
#FirstLineFridays

Probably my first picture here on litsy.
Major updates:
1. Have been in a major reading slump after I finished 'A little life.'
2. Getting back my reading pace finally, and hopefully.
3. Settling into a new job (read: first job).
4. Trying to add a little more personalized touch here.
Thank you for reading through my updates.

Three women. One man.
Three dates. One occasion.
Siobhan. Miranda. Jane. And Joseph Carter.
A romantically confusing and confusingly romantic story about Joseph Carter who apparently stood up three women on a single day. Is everything as complicated as it seems or is just super simple?
My second book by Beth. Quick paced, simple, yet an interesting story about how particular events shape our entire lives. A short and sweet no brainer book.
4/5🌟

When writing a book, it's hard to top a book that's so well written. The writer has done such a brilliant job at every aspect of it. Clearly one of my favourites, and a must must read.
It continues exactly where the first part ended, and brings us to the end of Vladek and Anja's sad sad story.
5/5🌟

For my first graphic book ever, it was wonderful. It has been on my TBR for so long and I just happened to pick it up after watching some stuff on the holocaust.
Coming to the book it has amazing illustrations, loved that the writer used different animals to depict the hierarchy of people involved. I can't even begin to describe the atrocities, but I'd like to mention how good are the minute details, which are easily missed in a sec.
↩️

For all the people who've read it -
I finished this book like an hour back and I didn't even wonder about how sad can this book make me?
But, then I realise something super freakin' weird.
It is 12th June today.

PS - Will probably take some time before reviewing it here.

This is the most accurate description of me reading 'A little life' rn. There's so much that has happened, there's so much that's gonna happen. And it's a huge ass book. Also, wtf is wrong with Caleb!?😑

It has been on my TBR since so long, but I never knew this to be a non-fic. The writer follows the events (special focus on sex life) and life of three women namely Sloane, Maggie and Lina.
I expected so much more, considering the fact the author did 8yrs research for it. Also, I expected the book to be more feminist, but contradictory to the title their lives are majorly controlled by the men in their lives. An average read, sadly.
3/5🌟

A weird title to read in public, even weirder if your family reads the title.
I Iove me a slightly psychopathic protagonist, and it definitely has that. Simple language, page turner (I was gliding through them), decent plot, overall a super fun read.
It has some great twists, especially the biggest one towards the end. A bit disappointed by the ending though. I still have to make my mind about it, if it was utterly brilliant or silly.
4/5🌟

"When my mother was a young woman, a man used to follow her to work every morning and masturbate, in step behind her."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
PS - Doing first line friday for the first time, on a friday. ?

Discussions about sex are a taboo in general in many societies, India being one of them. And I feel so happy and proud to say that times are changing.
A great attempt at sex education, with topics ranging from human anatomy to various contraceptives available and their pros/cons.
Simple language, decent medical insight by a professional and overall a quick read.
Great book for beginners as well as teens.
4/5🌟

A super rare occurrence for me, where the movie was actually done better than the book. Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Nolan, etc. What do you expect from a movie that has them all - you're right, absolute magic.
One of my all time favourite movies to watch and I've shamelessly done that quite a lot of times.
Coming to the book, everything was great, the premise, the characters, the rivalry, the secrets, ⬇️

Just focus on the above horizontal image. It reads:
'All 12 of our household were given now to live in two and a half small rooms.'
Behind it on the board:
'REWARD - For every unregistered Jew you find : 1 kilo of sugar'.
That was a single life's worth then. History has been through a lot of dark times and this surely has been one of the darkest.

I started this book yesterday before going to bed and literally had to force myself to sleep somewhere like 60% in. Otherwise I'd have had completed it then only. It had been in my TBR since so long.
PS - Quite ironic, came through this quote today. Beautiful analogy 😍
Gotta finish 'Maus I'.

It's a funny story how I got into this book. I really enjoyed the Amazon show 'Modern love', through that I got to know about the podcast, then the episode by Terri and then finally her book. Bipolar disorder has interested me for various reasons and honestly it's a really good account of her experience. A vivid and overwhelming account of something that is so common yet unknown to people.

As for the book, I definitely liked it.
4/5🌟