TITLE: History Hunters: Chandragupta Maurya and the Greek Onslaught

AUTHOR: Shruti Garodia and Archana Garodia Gupta

PAGE EXTENT: 136

PUBLISHER: Hachette India

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What would YOU do if you found yourself in a whole new world 2,350 years ago?

All set to enjoy a picnic by a picturesque waterfall in Goa, four friends – Zoya, Noor, Ansh and Rohan – and their super-adorable elephant companion Elfu are suddenly flung back two millennia. Right into a bloody battlefield as Alexander of Macedonia marches into India! 

As a young man comes to their rescue and takes them to his teacher’s school in Takshashila, the flabbergasted foursome has no choice but to deal with non-stop challenges on the way, including villainous soldiers, deadly snakes and floating buffalo carcasses! 

Faced with surprises and dangers, how will the youngsters get away? Can they avoid getting lost forever in another era? Will they beat the ticking clock to return to their own times? 

Join the feisty and funny History Hunters on their first adventure in the thrilling – and sometimes chilling – world of Chandragupta Maurya, the future emperor, and Chanakya, the kingmaker. 

PLUS! 24-PAGE FACT TRACKER

Must-know information about the Mauryan period!

How would you feel if you woke up one day and realised you have been flung TWO THOUSAND years into the past? Do you think you’d survive without gadgets and the internet? I am pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to, hehe.

In the first instalment of the History Hunters series, we follow four friends: Zoya, Noor, Ansh and Rohan and one extremely adorable elephant, Elfu, who happen to walk into a cave during a game of cricket, only to end up time travelling to the time when Alexander the Great invaded India! And to top it off, they appear right in the middle of a battlefield! Yes, you heard it right! Thankfully, a young man comes to their rescue and takes them to his ‘Gurukul”. And guess who the man is? Chandragupta Maurya! Yes, that very King from Magadha! What follows is an adventure like no other, one you or the four friends won’t forget for a long “time”! Shhh, I won’t tell you more; you’ll have to read the book to find out!

I have always been a huge history nerd and history was probably one of my favourite subjects in school. When I heard about a series with a quirky take on Indian history, I KNEW I had to dive right in! And it didn’t disappoint one bit! The Middle Grade lover in me is squealing!

This series gives a glimpse into the lives of people during different periods in Indian history, right from the society and cultural practices to the manner of attire and food habits! The first instalment takes us to the time when Chandragupta Maurya was training under the great strategist, Chanakya, to go on to dethrone the Nandas and herald the beginning of the Mauryan dynasty! And if you’re wondering if this book is going to be fact-heavy, you couldn’t be more wrong! It’s full of adventure and heists and before you realise, you’re done with the book and you’re wanting for more!

There’s also a 24-page section full of fun facts for you history buffs out there!

This review would be incomplete without a shoutout to one of my favourite illustrators of all time: Priya Kuriyan! Her quirkily adorable illustrations make the reading experience so much better!

Are you still here? Well, time to pick up this book now! I’m off to read Book 2, hehe.

Are you a history nerd too? Let me know in the comments below!

TITLE: Gobi Goes Viral

AUTHOR: Vibha Batra

PAGE EXTENT: 116

PUBLISHER: Scholastic India

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Gopi loves studying at Primrose Academy. Alas, it looks like his days there are numbered. Luckily, his new friend, the cool, clever Pari, comes up with an exciting plan. Now all Gopi needs to do is unleash his talent and rap at the Talent Show. There’s just one teeny problem. He speaks English with an accent and his classmates make fun of him. Will he muster the courage to get up on stage and do what he really loves? Or will it be bye bye Primrose Academy?

Vibha Batra is one of my favourite Indian Middle Grade authors and needless to say, this one hit all the right notes! After having read Pinku Shergill and loved it(I am a huge sucker for books that discuss breaking stereotypes), I had a lot of expectations for this one and it lived up to each one of them!

Gopi is enrolled in Primrose Academy and his family is struggling to make ends meet. When things get tough and paying the school fees becomes an ordeal, Gopi decides to take matters into his own hands. And how? By doing what he does best: RAPPING! Will he succeed in winning the Talent Show, what with his heavily accented English and the constant bullying he faces at school? Or will things come crumbling down? Read the book to find out more!

One of the reasons why Middle Grade is my favourite genre: friendships play a huge role in these books and they are bound to leave a smile on your face! Gopi’s friendships with Pari and Seeti are essential to the story and you’ll want to jump into the book and give them all a hug!

Vibha’s books always highlight social issues and this one addresses bullying and financial struggles in a way that’s not too harsh on young minds, all the while making sure the story is palatable! Books like these are necessary in today’s scenario as they not only address these problems, but also show young readers how it’s possible to solve them too!

Shamika Chaves’ illustrations are adorable as usual and make the reading experience more fun!

What are you waiting for? Pick up this adorable read right away!

Have you read books that discuss breaking stereotypes? Let me know in the comments!

TITLE: To Have and To Heist

AUTHOR: Sara Desai

PAGE EXTENT: 416

PUBLISHER: Berkley (Penguin Random House)

GENRE: Romance, Thriller

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️💫

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

To exonerate her best friend, one woman must mastermind a jewelry heist during the wedding of the season in this hilarious romantic-comedy caper from the author of The Dating Plan.

Simi Chopra is on a bad-luck streak. She’s lost yet another job, her student loan debt won’t stop growing, her basement apartment is a certifiable flood zone, and now her best friend has been accused of stealing a multimillion-dollar diamond necklace. To put it lightly, she’s desperate for a break—that’s right when Jack waltzes out of the bushes and into her life.

Jack is just as charming as he is mysterious. When he offers to help her find the missing necklace and steal it back, Simi jumps at the chance to clear her friend’s name and collect the substantial reward. But every good heist needs a crew. All she needs to do is transform a ragtag group of strangers into an elite heist crew, infiltrate a high-society wedding and steal the necklace from a dangerous criminal before the happy couple say “I do.” Meanwhile the bride is keeping secrets, a detective with a slow-burn smile keeps showing up at her door, and the ultimate robbery might not be the wedding con, but the way Jack is stealing her heart.

PURE. ADRENALINE. RUSH. That’s exactly what this book is! Do NOT pick this book up unless you have a solid 3-4 hours of undisturbed reading time, because you CANNOT put it down! I had to read this book in multiple sittings, thanks to life being life, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it and was super eager to find out what happens next! Friendly word of caution: do not put yourself through the ordeal of curiosity and read the book in one go! Haha! 😂

When Simi’s best friend, Chloe gets wrongly convicted in a robbery she didn’t commit, Simi takes it upon herself to clear Chloe’s name, no matter what! And how exactly do you return a stolen piece of jewelry that’s worth millions of dollars?! You guessed it right: steal it back from the thief himself! What follows is a high-octane thriller where a gang of unlikely friends infiltrate a rich wedding, replete with scenes that will keep you on the edge of the couch and will have you biting your nails in anticipation! Add a hot, broody man to the mix and make things more topsy-turvy! Trust me, nobody is who they seem to be! You wouldn’t expect it but there’s an elephant in this heist! Pick this book up before I lose the smidge of self-control I possess and spill all the beans!

There are so many thoughts swirling around in my brain right now and I am finding it super hard to articulate them into a well-worded review! I guess that’s what a good book does to you, hehe!

Being South Asian myself, the Indian family dynamics were portrayed with sheer perfection! The nosiness of relatives and family friends, Indian parents’ obsession with law, engineering and medicine, their extremely high expectations of marriage and penchant for match-making, and calling everyone ‘auntie’ even though they are technically not your aunt, were so so relatable they had me giggling! Takes one to know one, I guess?

I am all for non-toxic adult friendships that go way beyond just hanging out or going for a drink. The unbreakable friendship between Simi and Chloe and the extent they would go to for each other shone through the pages and I most definitely emulate them! If isn’t wholesome, I don’t know what is! I couldn’t help but laugh every time Chloe’s daughter, Olivia threw some solid sass!

You wouldn’t believe how the universe has a tendency to bring together the most unlikely people you can imagine and make them stick together through thick and thin! Who knew an ex-priest, an Uber driver, a male escort, an international thief, an 80-year-old theatre artist, a geek and a hacker would carve a nook out for themselves in a corner of my heart? I love every single one of these characters and I can’t wait to read more about their capers in the sequel! The best heist gang ever, with some hilarious bickering! 😂

And if you’re worried about there not being any romance, fret not! You get to see the blossoming of not one romance, but two! Simi and Jack share a complicated love story and I can’t wait to see where it goes! And the other romance: that’s a surprise!

While the book is all thrills and chills, it does shed light on some of the more serious aspects such as domestic violence and emotional abuse. It was deftly handled and gave everybody the closure they deserved! Phew!

If you’ve read right up to the end, I hope I’ve motivated you enough to pick this book up RIGHT NOW!

What was your last novel featuring a heist? Let me know in the comments below!

TITLE: Liar’s Beach

AUTHOR: Katie Cotugno

PAGE EXTENT: 320

PUBLISHER: Penguin Books

GENRE: YA Mystery

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

WE WERE LIARS meets GOSSIP GIRL – this YA thriller with a splash of dark academia is full of secrets, lies, privileged teens and beach parties. The perfect summer read.

A body in the pool. A friend who might be an enemy. A vacation they’ll never forget . . .

Linden has always felt like an outsider and spending the summer at his best friend’s vacation house, surrounded by money and privilege is doing nothing to lessen his imposter syndrome. But he soon has bigger concerns than fitting in – there’s a body in the pool and everyone’s a suspect – including him.

If you’re in the mood for a YA mystery set over the summer at Martha’s Vineyard, full of teenage angst and some expert sleuthing, you’re in the right place!

Linden has always struggled to fit in at his private school. When he gets an opportunity to go to his best friend Jasper’s vacation house over the summer, he takes it up in an effort to blend in better. But what he doesn’t expect is a body on the pool steps, right after a night of partying at the Kendricks’ place. What was supposed to be a vacation by the sea turns out to be a chase for the killer, and a rekindling of friendship with a long-lost friend!

I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting! After a long and hectic week at work, this book was the respite I didn’t know I needed! I picked it up on a whim and wasn’t expecting to be glued to it! Before I realised, I was flipping through the pages at breakneck speed and I was done in a span of 3 hours! What a fast-paced, well-executed plot!

Okay, let’s get to the nitty gritty bits. You might be wondering why I gave this book a 3-star rating even though I happened to love it. Hear me out: while the book was entertaining and fun, it didn’t really bring anything new to the genre. It read like every other YA murder mystery with rich kids being rich kids, ignoring their privilege and misusing it. I can think of atleast 10 other mysteries with a similar plot line. This might be the author’s first foray into the genre and I am not saying it isn’t a good book, it just wasn’t anything different or unique. While it is an interesting story, don’t expect to be blown away by it. It might not be your next obsession, but it is definitely a good one-time read!

The romance between Linden and Eliza was lacklustre and not something that made me want to care enough. The romance felt a bit unnecessary at places and the plot would have held its ground without the romance too.

Holiday is undoubtedly my favourite character! The blooming of friendship between Linden and Holiday after years of being out of touch was something that made my heart swell up with warmth. I am someone who values friendships a LOT and I always have a soft spot for books that feature some great ones! Holiday’s personality was just like her name: a holiday! Fun, excited and always looking out for the next adventure! That girl’s got some mad sleuthing skills!

Is a review of a murder mystery even complete without a word about the mystery itself? The mystery element was seamlessly done and had me guessing right up till the end! And I ended up guessing it all wrong, haha! You know it’s a good mystery when there were strategically scattered breadcrumbs along the story which all start to make sense finally and make you go “oooooh”!

If you want to read a fun mystery with some amazing backdrops and cute cafes, make this your next read!

What was your most recent YA mystery/thriller read? Let me know in the comments!

TITLE: The Chhau Champ

AUTHOR: Vibha Batra

PAGE EXTENT: 80

PUBLISHER: Duckbill Books (Penguin Random House India)

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Shubha wants to learn Chhau. But her father wants to only teach her brother Shayon. How will Shubha persuade him that she too deserves a chance?

Here’s the thing I love about Vibha Batra’s books: she takes a social evil and churns it up and makes it palatable for young readers in an impeccable manner! Having read quite a few of her books in the last one year(and loved them, of course) I jumped right in when I got my hands on a copy of this book!

In this cute and short read, we follow Shubha, who wants to be a Chhau dancer but her father, who happens to be a Chhau ustad himself, thinks it’s an art form for men (ugh) and vehemently refuses to teach her. With her family struggling to make ends meet, her passion for the dance form, and her brother’s love for football, will things go haywire? Read the book to find out!

Vibha’s books always manage to leave me with a contented smile on my face! Shubha’s sass and swagger had me giggling! Shubha and Shayon are the perfect example of sibling rivalry, complete with their bouts of bickering and babbling, and yet somehow being there for each other come what may!

Misogyny is rampant in the world, even more so in the Indian society. Women are invariably assumed to be the weaker sex and are not allowed to go to work in most parts of the country even to this day. Books like these not only help instil the right thoughts in the minds of young readers, they also show young girls how they can achieve everything they set out to, and all they need is passion and determination! Gender is never the bar!

This review would be incomplete without giving a shoutout to Priya Kuriyan, who is one of my favourite illustrators ever! Her adorable and quirky illustrations are the best!

What are you waiting for? Pick this one up right away and read it from cover to cover in one sitting just like I did!

Are you a dancer? If yes, which dance form are you trained in? Let me know in the comments!

TITLE: Murder Most Unladylike

AUTHOR: Robin Stevens

PAGE EXTENT: 352

PUBLISHER: Puffin Books

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️💫

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The first gripping, Agatha Christie-style mystery starring a brilliant new double act: feisty, funny schoolgirl detectives, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong.

When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up their very own deadly secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they struggle to find any truly exciting mysteries to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia’s missing tie. Which they don’t, really.)

But then Hazel discovers the Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym. She thinks it must all have been a terrible accident — but when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now the girls know a murder must have taken place… and there’s more than one person at Deepdean with a motive.

Now Hazel and Daisy not only have a murder to solve: they have to prove a murder happened in the first place. Determined to get to the bottom of the crime before the killer strikes again (and before the police can get there first, naturally), Hazel and Daisy must hunt for evidence, spy on their suspects and use all the cunning, scheming and intuition they can muster. But will they succeed? And can their friendship stand the test?

Wow! What a perfectly crafted murder mystery! This series has been on my TBR since forever and I finally got a chance to pick it up! I read this book in one sitting over a span of two hours and I had to pause my read of Arsenic for Tea(Book 2 in the series) to write this review!

We follow Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, third formers at Deepdean School for Girls, a boarding school in England, as they set up a Detective Society, with Daisy as the President and Hazel, the Secretary. What starts off as a fun pastime between two girls takes a turn for the serious and sinister as Hazel discovers the body of their Science Mistress, Ms. Bell in the gym! And she she returns with Daisy to show her discovery, the body has VANISHED! Now, not only do they have to prove that it was a murder, they also have to prove that the crime was even committed in the first place!

This was the perfect starter to what I imagine can be only one of the best Middle Grade series out there! A boarding school with hidden tunnels and secret passageways and teachers with ulterior motives is the perfect place to commit a crime, and get away with it! Hold that thought. This does NOT happen when we have two of the best brains at work!

These two young detectives have the perfect modus operandi! As you solve the case alongside the girls, you can’t help but wonder at their meticulousness. While you get to see their suspects list get updated from time to time, you also get to read about how they became friends and how the society was formed. Hazel’s arrival in England and what she goes through as a person of Asian origin gives you something to think about. This book doesn’t shy away from talking about the insecurities of teenagers and the intricacies of friendships.

If you’re in the mood for a cosy murder mystery that you can get through in one sitting on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon, snuggled up on the couch with a cup of hot coffee: here’s your next pick!

Are you a fan of murder mysteries? Which ones are your favourites?

TITLE: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods

AUTHOR: Rick Riordan

PAGE EXTENT: 288

PUBLISHER: Puffin Books

GENRE: YA

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Percy Jackson has saved the world multiple times – battling monsters, Titans, even giants – but these days the modern-day son of Poseidon is hoping for a regular final year at school.

Too bad the Greek gods have other plans, and three new quests for Percy to complete.

First up: the cupbearer of the gods, Ganymede, is missing his golden chalice. Not only is this embarrassing (why do the gods keep losing their magical items?), it’s also potentially disastrous. One sip from the cup will turn any mortal into a powerful god. And the old gods do not take kindly to newbies.

Can Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover find the chalice before it falls into the wrong hands? And even if they do, will they be able to resist its awesome power. . .?

If this isn’t nostalgia, I don’t know what is! I read the Percy Jackson series way back in high school (circa 2012) and instantly fell in love with it! So, when I found out that we are returning to the Percy Jackson world with Percy, Annabeth and Grover going on quests again like the good ol’ days, I KNEW I had to get my hands on a copy and read it right away! And of course, Uncle Rick doesn’t disappoint one bit!

In what appears to be a new trilogy, we follow the original trio as they go on quests for the Gods who have to write Percy letters of recommendation to help him get into New Rome University. Ugh, when have the Gods ever made it simple for their demigod children? Ganymede, the cupbearer of the Gods, uses this timely opportunity and enlists Percy to find his missing chalice, which also happens to grant immortality and can prove to be utterly disastrous if it falls into the wrong hands! Will Percy succeed in returning Ganymede’s chalice before things go haywire(which they almost always do, haha) or will he fail to impress the Gods? I am not spilling the beans!

This book was a total roller coaster! The stakes are low, but the adventure and sarcasm are super high! Trust me, if Percy was a sarcasm amateur in the original series, he’s a PRO now! Uncle Rick’s humour is on point, as usual, and had me falling into fits of laughter time and again! And if you’re worried about having to read all the books in the Percy Jackson before getting to this one, fret not: because you don’t have to! This book reads like Percy Jackson #6 and if you’re read the first five books, you’re good to go!

We fell in love with Percy and Annabeth almost a decade ago and we get to fall in love with them all over again! #Percabeth shines through the pages and you can’t help but wonder how they compliment each other so perfectly! And let’s not forget Percy’s best friend in the whole wide world, GROVER! He’s the smartest, goofiest and funniest! Percy’s family dinners got me all emotional too! 🥺

Though this one is a fast read, I would recommend picking it up when you can get through the book in one sitting, because that is exactly what you’ll end up doing! You can’t help but read the book from cover to cover and encounter murderous chicks(hen babies, I mean😂), a God in a man-bun who also happens to be a Yoga instructor, a rainbow granny who sends Percy and his friends on a cleaning errand and a grandpa in a loincloth with strength you can’t imagine! Now that I’ve told you enough to get you going, what are you waiting for? Pick up the book, admire the gorgeous cover, and dive right in!

What is your favourite series in the Percy Jackson universe? Let me know in the comments!

TITLE: Beach Rivals

AUTHOR: Georgie Tilney

PAGE EXTENT: 297

PUBLISHER: Penguin Random House India

GENRE: Romance

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

One bookshop in paradise. Two bitter rivals. A whole summer to get through…

Clare thought that by now she would have her life figured out. Instead, she’s living with her parents, working a job she hates and has absolutely no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life.

When she sees a viral job advert for a three-month bookseller position on a Bali beach, she jumps at the chance. But it’s not until she arrives in Bali that Clare realises she won’t be working in the bookshop alone.

Instead she’s sharing the bookshop – and a flat – with a handsome but infuriating American man. Jack is Clare’s opposite in almost every way, and it’s not long before they’re driving each other crazy. But fighting with Jack is also the most fun Clare’s had in years, and it’s only a matter of time before their relationship turns less than professional…

Beach Rivals is an escapist, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers rom com – the ideal summer read!

A book about books set in a bookstore where two book lovers fall in love amidst books? Sign me up already! This is a booknerd’s dream come true! I jumped into this book with a ton of expectations and needless to say, it didn’t disappoint one bit! And if that’s not enough, it’s set on a beach in Bali and will have you itching to go there on your next international trip!

Clare is stuck in life. She doesn’t know what her passion really is. She’s been jumping from one temporary job to another with no real goal. When she comes across a job listing for a bookseller on the Internet, she applies for the 3-month job on a whim hoping to have a great time on the pristine beaches of Indonesia and get things back into perspective. When she arrives, she is not expecting the bookstore to be in a dilapidated condition and she takes it upon herself to restore the bookstore to its once-renowned glory! Add a charming American boy to the mix and things will definitely get a bit more complicated!

This was book a breath of fresh air! It is exactly the book you need to get out of burnout or a reading slump! This was my first time reading a book centred around books and this was an experience I didn’t know I needed! It left me with a huge, satisfied smile on my face and an intense urge to work in a bookstore!

This book not only talks about books but also describes the intricacies and effort that goes into running a bookstore, while also providing inputs on author events and bookstore decorations that had me wanting to become a bookseller and help people pick up books that will change their lives and also help them meet their favourite authors! Trust me, this book is a dream for every book lover out there!

I am all for books that focus on character development. Clare’s growth from being a person stuck in the limbo of life to someone who discovered her true passion and embraced it with all her heart is something that is bound to leave you content and sighing with relief!

And how is it a perfect fun read without a dash of romance? Oh wait, heapfuls! Clare and Jack start off as roommates who wish they were anywhere but around each other and what follows is a blossoming of friendship and romance (with some superbly dramatic moments) and sizzling chemistry! Jack is a character with multiple layers and surprises and I want you to discover that for yourself! You can’t help but root for #Clack! (Yes, I just came up with that terrible ship name 😂)

Books with queer rep always have a soft spot in my heart and this book let its queer characters shine! The love story of the bookstore owner, Adam and his wife, Celestina(who happens to be a trans woman) is one to cherish! And my, Celestina is a queen!

So, what are you waiting for? Pick up the book now! In the meantime, I will watch some YouTube videos of Bali and its beaches and plan my next trip!

What is your favourite summer romance? Let me know in the comments!