This novel is about a young Muslim woman who is a well accomplished lawyer and estranged from her father who is the leader of a crime network. She holds him accountable for tragedies in her life . As she is drawn into his underworld, she has a better understanding of his empire and will she be able to take over the reins in a patriarchal world.. more a family saga , with many parallels to the Godfather, this was a riveting read

I cannot recommend this book enough.. the author describes growing up homeless and with a mother battling mental illness . Initially relieved to be put in foster care, his happiness was short-lived as he moves from home to home, facing abuse and separated from his siblings. However he has a vision and with grit and determination he works towards his goals and attends college.. a powerful, haunting and incredibly inspiring!

A dark psychological drama set in Ireland and New Zealand . Sally Diamond is a quirky character who has lived a very isolated life. As she opens herself to the world and finds friendships and connections, she comes to terms with her dark history. This book is dark but unputdownable. It is funny, and has heart and soul despite the hard themes and many trigger warnings in this book!

This is such a bingeable read but with a lot of substance.. It is relatable, reads so easily and I loved it! This is about three women who have been wronged by one man. It is a story of motherhood, marriage, misogyny, and so much more.

I am a huge fan of his books especially Lanny, which is a dear favourite of mine.. the writing is spectacular .. I always enjoy his lyrical and structurally complex style! Shy is a troubled , misunderstood teenager and we get in his head to experience all his internal thoughts.. I liked it ..just didn‘t love it like I expected but it is such a short book which I will reread and hope to love it more!

Pure entertainment, you will be sitting at the edge of your seats for this one ..completely bingeable but probably won‘t recommend to read this one on the plane! A plane crash causing the plane to the bottom of the ocean and a very ambitious rescue plan with no room for a single misstep. Would love this as a movie !

Such a visceral and poignant read on what life looks like living with Parkinson‘s disease. Elena‘s life is dictated by the timings of her pills as she can only move for a few hours after that.. A story of how parent- child relationships evolve over time and the complexities of it. Despite her physical limitations, Elena js a determined and strong character whom I loved .. a wonderful book, highly recommend!

I loved The Mountains Sing and I loved this even more! This is about the children born as mixed to American GIs and left behind during the Vietnam war. Dan revisits Vietnam in hope of finding his abandoned child and girlfriend. Phong, who has faced a lot of prejudice due to his mixed heritage desperately in search for his father and Trang , a girl who makes difficult decisions due to poverty has her life changed forever.. beautiful read!

Such intelligent legal fiction! I would say this is a mash up of legal crime plus family drama. A father is the main suspect in his wife‘s disappearance and the case is taken up again when her remains were found decades later. How does a family stay together when one of them is the main suspect even if there is no evidence .. so intriguing and I couldn‘t put this book down!

This is a story of two best friends who never intended to have children. Alina changed her mind and she is faced with an extremely complicated pregnancy. Laura, on the other hand still firm in her decision becomes close to her neighbour‘s son.. this is such a wonderful book on motherhood and learning to deal with the cards we are dealt with .. absolutely loved this book in translation!

A light, breezy book that does make you ponder about wealth and the impacts of children growing up in a bubble where they have so much money, it starts affecting their perspectives and decisions. Class differences in a marriage were also a major theme which I enjoyed reading about! Overall entertaining , might not be the mist memorable but perfect timing to read this during a crazy weekend!

This was not shortlisted for the international booker prize but t is a strong read on the prejudices and atrocities of the caste system in rural India. Sad to see how cruel the women can be especially as I always feel if there in unity amongst women, there will be more hope.. it did feel like it was a little one-note and the ending ambiguous but I think the purpose of the book was for it be a real eye-opener to the cruelty of the caste system.

What a talented writer McEwan is ! A different book to atonement, this book explores a childless marriage and a lawyer contemplating legal, religious and ethical issues. So much packed in a novella!

Vivid and colourful, a strong debut about a young girl looking for love and belonging in a cruel and dangerous world she finds herself in. Always has her mother‘s voice within her and navigating life with music in her blood, she finds true love until tragedy strikes. Loved this book but it did take a while to get into and then I was hooked!

Good legal drama featuring a strong female lawyer defending a Murdoch-esque family.

A compelling, plot-driven financial thriller that kept me reading well past midnight! Loved the strong female protagonists who were central to the investigation and the story is set in the most gorgeous settings! Plus there are characters resembling real life politicians and families which I always love in my reading!! Great investigative journalism!

The first half of the book was super fun and the budding romance between an unlikely couple was enjoyable and un- cringey .. however the second half lost me and It became very predictable .. plus I wished the main character was more confident.. a great read between some heavier reads for me though

Set in NZ, this book is about a guerilla gardening group that illegally grows crops on unused land. The founder of the group Mira, finds an abandoned farm after a landslide cuts off the town. Money is tight and so when she meets billionaire Leonine who is purchasing the land near the landslide, she is excited there could be a mutually beneficial business deal, however, can she really trust him? A bit slow to start but picked up pace quickly!!

Set in present-day Singapore, this book highlights the mistreatment of migrant domestic workers and the cruelty they face at the hands of their employers. The three main protagonists work in the lavish homes of the elite and encounter varying treatments. When one of their fellow maids is accused of murder, they are determined to prove her innocence. I found the actual mystery a little lacklustre,but the themes are important.

A powerful read about abuse of children by priests and the consequential ripple effects that will haunt you in adulthood. Set in Ireland, the main protagonist Tom Kettle, a retired policemen, reflects on his love for his wife June, also a victim of abuse but they both hoped for a luckier fate with life with their children. Tom is asked to help on a case that brings back memories hidden away and we learn his harrowing story. Hopeful but sad read..

Set in 1940s Trinidad, this is compelling historical fiction exploring class, privilege and injustice. Maree and Dalton Chagoor live exuberantly in a mansion overlooking the village and extreme poverty. When Dalton disappears, Maree offers a generous stipend to Hans, a poor labourer, to serve as her watchman and this sets the plot for the story.

I love crime fiction set in a campus setting.. I really enjoyed the structure of this novel. This book explores wrongful incarceration, racism and the power of rumour. I could not put this book down.. it‘s compelling and the 90s nostalgia was cherry on the top!

Crazy plot and compulsive writing.. I was in for the ride until the 60% mark where it all got wacky! If you just ignore the craziness, this can be a light read with good pace! Not sure if this is for me..

This book is set just after the siege of Sarajevo takes place. Zora, an art professor, is separated from her family and as the war worsens, there is shelling around her and shortage in essential supplies including water and electricity. This book is a confronting read on the realities of war from the perspectives of civilians. Like the cover, there is colour splashed throughout the story giving us hope and showing strength of unified community.

I am so late to the party but I really enjoyed this one! A book about a young girl alienated by her parents and wanting to be seen. The book explores teenage angst and inspired by the Manson murders and the culture around the cult. Love her writing!!

A little over the top but it was unputdowneable .. a psychological thriller with rich people behaving badly which is the perfect book in between some heavier reads .. interested to know what the other opinions are on this book?

My March reading recap…

Always love to be in the company of Elif Shafak‘s writing..She can craft a story so well, keeping it compelling but providing a great commentary on social issues. A coming-of-age story of a young Turkish girl that is caught between her mother‘s strong cultural beliefs and her father‘s beliefs on how education can be used as escapism from the dire political situation they are faced with in Istanbul.. beautiful and riveting!

A must read for all women.. we have so much progress to go but this books gives us hope and optimism!

Could this be my best book of the year so far? Inspired by Little Women, an all-time favourite of mine, this is a book on family loyalty and forgiveness. It deals with hard emotions but so poignant and the writing is stunning. I was so immersed in this beautiful multigenerational family story! I urge everyone to read this! #bookrecommendation#2023reading#hellobeaitiful#bibliophile

This book opens up with the Aberfan disaster and decribes the kindness a group of embalmers show as they work to present the bodies of the victims in their best forms to their heartbroken families... but this book is really a coming-of-age story of a young boy with a troubled childhood , his complex relationships, his time as a chorister and how he returns to music for healing after the trauma he has faced. A beautiful book! #2023reading

This was a fun chick lit novel about starting over, friendships and hardships. It is about walking in someone else‘s shoes literally and experiencing the other side of life that we have never experienced! I liked the women friendships in this story but overall didn‘t enjoy it as much as her other books especially the second half which dragged out a little for me!

I have a love/ hate relationship with this author. I haven‘t been a fan of her last few books but I really enjoyed this one. It was well-crafted, carefully plotted , a slow-burn mystery with great characters. This is about a family that seems so perfect when the book starts but as we delve in further, there are secrets and never as idealistic as the facade presents..

I really liked this family drama/ wealthy people behaving badly story set in NYC but there were more deeper themes of how it is like to be a child of a very successful parent, in this case an author.. also it gave great insight into the publishing world.

Independence, the latest novel from , is a historical fiction book done well set during the time of India's partition. This is a story of three sisters, all different from each other, and how their lives were touched and scarred by events around them. I really enjoyed this story on how the sisters balanced their love of family with their own aspirations. This story is so complex and was unputdownable!

Go As a River is an exquisite debut novel that is in my top reads of the year so far. Set in Colorado in the 1940s -1970s, the book provides a sense of place, of what it is like to be a woman, what it is to be a coloured person, a political backdrop, and a wonderful sense of nature. This book was such an immersive reading experience for me, the scenery was stunning and the writing was beautiful. It was poignant, charming and heartbreaking!!

This book is a visceral read about three siblings who left Vietnam on a boat not long after the American troops left. The book looks at grief, loss and the effects on generations as a result of migration. The story is told from multiple perspectives and it is complex but in just under 250 pages, we experience the journey of a refugee leaving their homeland to a place they may never belong or feel wanted.

A story of three women, set apart by centuries who are somehow connected by their bond to the natural world and their magical gift to use nature to heal, sustain and create. All incredibly powerful but they constantly faced abuse and were taken advantage of by men. Their stories are connected and this is part of the mystery of this book. I was invested in all three women equally and in their stories. A book on the power of women and nature!

Set against the beautiful backdrop of Mauritius, the book exposes the country‘s history of white privilege. A young girl, raised in the slums quits school to help her mother who works as a servant for a wealthy, white family. She feels trapped in the same lives as her ancestors. This book explores racism, colonialism and heartbreak.. so atmospheric and compelling, I read this novella in just one evening!

What an incredible debut!! A coming-of-age story of a young girl who is the main caretaker for her father who has Parkinson‘s. I was so incredibly moved by this book and I just inhaled it.. Maddie, the youngest in her family feels like the most responsible..This book is about grief, loss, guilt, family, work aggression , romance and friendship.. one of my 2023 favourites already!

I loved Burial rights and this has been on my list for so long. Beautiful and immersive writing of a community travelling across the world on an arduous journey. This story chronicles the hardships the community experienced and a love story of two young women. Heartbreaking and atmospheric. I really enjoyed this and I will read anything Hannah Kent writes !

A bit late to the party I know, but so glad I read it.. I loved the flawed protagonist.. it really shows that we do not always have things figured out as we get older.. we can still have insecurities and baggage from the past. Loved the characters and small town vibes.. I have read her other series, my name is Lucy Barton including Lucy by the Sea and I will read anything Strout writes as I love her writing!

An introspective story of a young couple who chose to leave Dublin to quieter surroundings to find a home away from the busy world, family and friends.. content in their solace, it is a thought provoking read on what we truly need in life.. loved the writing but just felt distant to the characters .. maybe that was the point.. but a worthwhile read!

This incredible story is told through a young girl, who is 16 years old and she lives with her four brothers and her parents in Jaffna, Sr Lanka. She yearns to be a doctor but this is not easy as the war erupts and there are multiple displacements. The family suffers grief, loss and extreme adversity. I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the politics of Sri Lanka, the plight of the Tamils and wants an authentic voice.

A stunning and introspective story of a girl travelling through Japan with her elderly mother. A trip to find connection with each other lead to reminiscing about the past and their stories. Can the bond of a parent and child transcend generational and cultural differences? Our desires might be different, our vision on contentment might be different.. such a contemplative and meditative book! Beautiful imagery of Japan too! #2023reads #japan

Excellent crime fiction set in Auckland, NZ, the author examines the injustice of colonisation and the long-term effects on future generations of the Maori people. An impressive protagonist, a villain with a cause who you can sympathise with, a family story and a tensely plotted story made it all such a compelling read that I finished it in less than a day. #bibliophile#litsylove#alwaysreading#crimefiction#newzealand

This has been on my TBR for so long and I really wanted to like it.. if not for the murder mystery, I would have probably bailed on it.. the writing was great and I liked parts of it.. I did want to read it to get to the bottom of the mystery but not my favourite read

This is a book that exceeded my expectations.. a book about family and a coming-of-age story in one. Ballet plays a central part in the story and the bond in the family. There is a betrayal and it made a compelling read to find out the cause/ what happened as the story switches back and forward in time. It is set during the AIDs crisis but very much a backdrop in the story. A beautiful character- driven novel with wonderful writing. #readinglife

rene Nemirovsky is becoming one of my favourite authors. This is the third novel that I have read written by her and it did not disappoint. The writing is lyrical once again and it develops slowly into what becomes a compelling read. It is evocative and thought-provoking. What we may think of idyllic, might not be what it seems behind closed doors. A great, quick read! #fireintheood#irenenemirovsky#bookrecommendation#biblioplhile

A harrowing read but powerful and ultimately hopeful in the end. This is a story of a feisty 40-year-old, Alethea, who has faced abuse in many forms all her life and is trapped in traumatic relationships. She is very much a loner and an avid reader. As she starts to make some meaningful bonds with some of her past connections and learns to make meaningful friendships, she slowly starts to make decisions to turn her life around.