PUBLISHER: Duckbill Books (Penguin Random House India)
GENRE: Picture Book
MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Are you a Smartypants? Do you ask a lot of questions? Like— Can you see an animal cell? Does a Golgi body need exercise? How many cells does a cat have? If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book. It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!
Do you have a young biology whizz in the family? Or are you a biology whizz yourself? Have you always been fascinated by the cell theory and how our body works at the microscopic level? In that case, you’re in the right place!
Having been a fan of biology since middle school, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of this new instalment in the Smartypants series! Needless to say, Anushka Ravishankar doesn’t disappoint one bit!
Not only does this book make cell theory easy and fun, it also makes the experience super hilarious! While the author teaches a cat about the different cell organelles, you can’t help but giggle at how the cat never gets the point!😂
This review would be incomplete without a shoutout to Pia Alizé Hazarika’s quirky illustrations!
This is one of my favourite series for young readers and I will pick up all future books in this adorable picture book series!
Are you a fan of biology? What do you find most fascinating about the subject? Let me know in the comments!
PUBLISHER: Duckbill Books (Penguin Random House India)
GENRE: Picture Book
MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Are you a Smartypants? Do you ask a lot of questions? Like― Can a set have a bicycle and a banana? Can there be a set with nothing in it? Do cats like tuna or chicken? If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book. It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!
Oh, how I wish I had this book when I learnt set theory in middle school! Math isn’t one of my strong suits and I have constantly struggled to grasp anything math-related. (Yes, I use a calculator for basic calculations even now. Hehe.)
If you’re curious to know what set theory is or have learnt it in a way you couldn’t ever wrap your head around, don’t worry! This book is the perfect fit for you!
With super cute and easy-to-understand examples featuring some adorable cats, the author has managed to perfectly depict the concept in the simplest way possible! Pick this book up and you’ll never forget set theory!
How is a review of a Smartypants book complete without mentioning how amazing Pia Alizé Hazarika’s illustrations are! Illustrations are vital to a picture book and Pia has definitely knocked it out of the park with this one!
So, what are you waiting for? Grab a copy of this book for yourself and you miiiight not find math all that hard anymore!
Are you a math whizz? Does math intrigue you and pique your curiosity? Let me know in the comments below!
PUBLISHER: Duckbill Books (Penguin Random House India)
GENRE: Picture Book
MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Are you a Smartypants? Do you ask a lot of questions? Like― What makes a rocket take off? What is a satellite? Can you take off like a rocket if you eat a lot of beans? If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book. It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!
Rocket. Satellite. Thrust. Escape velocity. Do these words ring a bell? Have you ever wondered what goes behind launching a satellite into orbit? How much speed has to be generated to prevent the satellite from flying away into space? I have always been intrigued by space exploration and rockets, but it has always been “rocket science” to me. Haha, see what I did there? 😉
If you have wanted answers to these questions but have been afraid of not being able to understand them, fret not: you’re in the right place!
As someone who struggled with physics in school and got all the concepts jumbled in my head, I wish I had this book to help make learning fun and easy! Anushka Ravishankar has taken a pretty complex science topic and explained it in a way that’s palatable for readers, both young and old(but young at heart, of course!)
Pia Alizé Hazarika’s illustrations definitely take the cake! The conversations between the author and the cat have been illustrated in a super quirky and hilarious manner and will have you giggling from time to time!
So, if you’ve always wanted to figure out how rockets work but never got a chance to, consider this a sign!
Have you read books about space and astronomy? If yes, which ones? Let me know in the comments!
SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What happens when one goes from obscurity to celebrity, overnight?
Thirty-year-old Arya Alvarez is a travel manager at Isle Z, a luxury travel company in Singapore where she creates bespoke trips for celebrities and influencers. Discretion is her specialty at work and personal life: Few people know that she’s fled her home city, Manila, to get away from the scene of a devastating break-up.
When she travels to Svaneti, in the Republic of Georgia, Arya briefly encounters the mysterious Dave in a remote village high up the Caucasus mountains. Intrigued, she posts his photos on Instagram―which goes viral the very next day. Turns out, Dave is Davit Nadibaidze, a famous yet reclusive artist who’d retreated from the public five years ago and Arya is the first person to see him since he disappeared.
In less than twenty-four hours, Arya gains hundreds of thousands of followers. She’s deluged with invitations to talk shows, influencer parties, and celebrity junkets, all as her social media apps overflow with DMs, tags, and comments, both nice and nasty. Men are suddenly vying for her attention, including her ex, Jake.
Did I spend an awful amount of time on Google and YouTube looking up all the countries mentioned in this story? Did I end up getting a horrible case of wanderlust at the end of this book? Do I have an intense urge to hop on a plane and take a trip to Southeast Asia? Yes, yes and yes! I have always had a thing for books that take you on a trip around the world and if you are someone who has a penchant for travel, this book is right up your alley!
Arya Alvarez has been working for a luxury travel agency, Isle Z in Singapore for over two years after fleeing her hometown of Manila to escape the aftermath of a devastating breakup. She gets to make fancy itineraries for their influencer clients and travel the world with them! (What I wouldn’t give to live this life, haha.) On one such trip to Svaneti, Georgia (Yes, this is on my bucket list now as well) she posts a picture of a local artist at work without realising he’s one of the biggest names out there! What follows is instant fame and a roller coaster of emotions and influencer parties and being ripped apart on social media platforms, the likes of which you can’t imagine! Will Arya crumble under all that pressure, or will she manage to wriggle herself out of this mess? And what will she do when her ex suddenly makes an entry into her life again? Read the books to find out!
If you’re looking for a realistic and refreshing, fast-paced read without a boring moment, replete with sojourns in Greece, South Africa, Japan and a lot more, you’re in the right spot! You can’t help but want to go on a back-packing trip with Arya!
I am a sucker for books with great character arcs and Arya’s growth over the course of the story is commendable! Her character goes on to show the one main aspect of relationships we tend to forget: you solve problems by addressing them and NOT running away at the first chance you get; and how letting it fester can be detrimental in the long run. Kudos to the author on this realistic portrayal of relationships.
In the current era where social media is the “it” thing, with most of us living our lives online way more than we wish to, we tend to forget its not-so-great side as well. Viral social media fame can be a double-edged sword and the author hasn’t shied away from discussing the brutality of it.
However, I do wish the romance between Arya and Jake had been explored more. While the book addresses the consequences of a disastrous breakup, it would have been great to get more than just a glimpse into the relationship as well.
I am all for women friendships in books and the friendship between Arya and her flatmate-turned-bestie Nhi was definitely one to cherish! Yay for the casual queer rep as well!
Well, if I’ve convinced you enough to pick this book up, go grab a copy for yourself right away! In the meantime, I shall Google more about Palawan, Philippines and Da Nang, Vietnam!
Have you read books by Southeast Asian authors? Let me know in the comments!
SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Effy has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad – a beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.
Effy’s tattered copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at her prestigious architecture college. So when the late author’s family announces a contest to design his house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.
But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favourite author is a fraud.
As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them – and the truth may bring them both to ruin.
Guys, THE HYPE IS REAL! This was one of my most anticipated titles of 2023 and having heard nothing but amazing things about this book, I was a bit apprehensive getting into it for fear of ending up not liking it but BELIEVE ME, THIS WAS SO SO GOOD! THERE IS NO SMIDGE OF DISAPPOINTMENT WHATSOEVER!
We follow Effy Sayre, the only woman student at the architecture college, who jumps at the opportunity to design the house of her favourite author, Emrys Myrddin. Angharad, the most famous work of Myrddin has been a constant in her life and what better opportunity than to design Hiraeth Manor! But when Effy turns up at Saltney, the birthplace of her Myrddin, things are not what they seem and there’s more than what meets the eye. To make matters worse, she meets Preston Héloury, a student from the literature college, and they go on a quest to discover the truth. Before I divulge the entire plot, please pick up this stunner of a book and find out for yourself!
This is probably the MOST atmospheric read of the year. You can’t help but get transported to the town of Saltney in Llyr and Hiraeth Manor on the hilltop and don’t be surprised if you end up shivering in between! Haha! Creaky stairs, sand in your hair, mist on your cheek and a mansion that’s crumbling down: what more do you need than an eerie, gothic setting to sweep you off your feet!?
Romantasy is a genre I’m beginning to love and I’m a sucker for slow-burn romance! The blossoming of love between Effy and Preston over the course of the story is super tender and realistic and your eyes are bound to well up with tears! Preston is obviously on my list of book boyfriends now!
This book highlights what I consider an extremely essential issue: institutional misogyny. It is rampant in our world as well and goes on to show how academia is not what it seems. This is a story of breaking through those barriers, not accepting the fate men decide for women, and having the power to make the decision for yourself! A trigger warning for sexual assault is apt here.
Books about books have a special place in my heart and I love how the entire story hinges on the tale of Angharad. And if you’re someone who enjoys massive plot twists, you’re going to encounter a lot of them, hehe.
I don’t usually talk about covers on my reviews but this edition is so beautiful it deserves a shoutout! The end papers are GORGEOUS too!
Do you need more reasons to pick this book up? I’m sure not!
Are you a fan of Romantasy? What are your favourite books?
SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
In this clever and swoonworthy new novel from the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.
Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious ‘Kingkiller’ Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.
Nolan’s loss to an unknown rookie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist…
As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent… and infuriating…)
I have read a ton of romances but what was this?! ROMANCE ON STEROIDS?! I don’t know what Ali infuses into her writing, but it’s nothing short of magic! You can’t help but root for her characters and you’re hurtling through the pages at breakneck speed in your quest to find that happy ending!
Mallory, who is a chess prodigy, has steered clear of the game for four years since it shattered her life. When she reluctantly agrees to play one last time for charity, she wins the game against the World Champion, Nolan Sawyer! What follows is a whirlwind of tournaments and emotions and a budding romance that will make you want to start playing chess right away! If you’re someone who loved Queen’s Gambit, this is right up your alley!
I have probably played 5 games of chess in my life and have been checkmated in all of them! 😂🙈 The game has always intrigued me and when I read about a romance centred around chess, I KNEW I had to get my hands on a copy! I picked it up the moment I received it and flew through it in one sitting!
This book addresses grief and how people have different ways of processing it. The portrayal of loss of a family member was realistically done and the author doesn’t shy away from packing them punches! The chronic illness representation was a plus too!
The romance between Mallory and Nolan was chef’s kiss. The slowburn romance had me constantly anticipating and I can’t help but blush and giggle at how it all panned out in the end!
Female friendships play a huge role in my life and I’m extremely grateful for them and the one between Mallory and Easton was once again realistic and depicted in a way most of us can relate to. The side characters had their own time to shine and I love me a book that does its side characters justice!
Financial struggles are a part of life and the sacrifices one has to make sometimes in order to make ends meet added a poignant element to the story. The power of the unconditional love of family shines through the pages and it had me sniffling! 🥺
If you haven’t already given in to the hype and want to do so after reading this review, please go ahead and pick the book up right away! You will not be disappointed, I’m sure!
Are you a fan of chess? Do you play often? Let me know in the comments!
A SUPER WHOLESOME AND FEEL-GOOD STORY: Are you in a reading slump you’re struggling to get out of or are you feeling low in general? Then you’re in the right place! You can’t help but fall in love with Iona and the unlikely friends she makes on her train commute and you’ll end up wanting to be a part of their gang! This is one of those books that are better experienced and I don’t want to give away much of the plot! It’s unique, it’s refreshing, it’s heartwarming and so much more!
GLORIOUS QUEER REP: Being an out-and-proud queer person myself, books with queer protagonists always have a special place in my heart. Iona is a proud lesbian and her relationship with her long-time partner, Bea had me smiling from ear to ear! Their struggle with homophobia during their prime and how they endured through it all made me want to give them a hug! 🥺
A HUMBLING NARRATIVE: Have you ever wondered how we’re a small part of the vast universe and there are so many people around us going through their lives and living in their own tiny part of this world, no matter how oblivious we might seem to it? We are indeed tiny specks on a massive ball hurtling through space!
ADDRESSES AGEISM: I haven’t come across a lot of books that address this very essential topic! When Iona faces ageist discrimination at work, people jump to her aid and I couldn’t help but beam with joy!
UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS: Who would have thought that one near-death experience would bring strangers together and not only make them close to each other, but close to your heart as well? You will subconsciously start rooting for every single one of them and before you know it, they would have carved a place for themselves in the chambers of your heart!
Nobody speaks to strangers on the train. But what would happen if they did?
Every day at 8:05, Iona Iverson boards the train to go to work. Every day, she sees the same people and makes assumptions about them, even giving them nicknames. But they never speak. Obviously.
Then, one morning, Smart-but-Sexist Surbiton chokes on a grape right in front of Iona. Suspiciously-Nice-New-Malden steps up to help and saves his life, and this one event sparks a chain reaction.
With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don’t match reality. But when Iona’s life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most?
What are some of your favourite feel-good books? Drop in some recommendations!
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!
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!
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!
