Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid

The book opens with enchanting descriptions of Malibu, particularly its picturesque coastline and rugged terrain, and the unpredictable fire incidents that have been a part of its history. The narrative comes full circle, culminating in a fiery climax. It’s a tale that’s not just significant, but truly epic in every sense. The story unfolds within…

None of This is True | Lisa Jewell

Alix Summer meets Josie Fair in a gastropub on an otherwise ordinary day by mere coincidence, except that it is the day of their forty-fifth birthday. As their birthday guests can see, there is little commonality between Alix and Josie besides their shared birthdate. Alix is a popular podcaster who conceptualizes, produces, and hosts a…

One of Us Is Lying | Karen M. McManus

The novel begins with a backstory about five high schoolers who were punished for behaving uncharacteristically foolish during a class which has led them to their current predicament. It’s neither a smooth starting nor the characters introduced are easygoing. Still, something about the humdrum beginning keeps the readers engaged to deliver a gut punch. The…

City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

The second novel by Elizabeth Gilbert is all about the memories; memories of one’s youth enjoyed and spent in repentance, memories of familial relationships built and nurtured, memories of friendships built and lost and memories of a city loved and admired for over a lifetime. The story begins in 1940s New York when Vivian Morris,…

Vinegar Girl | Anne Tyler

Vinegar Girl is a modern take on Shakespeare’s Taming The Shrew by Anne Taylor. Like the original source, this book also has a spinster at its heart who is a bit problematic for her father and then gets eventually ‘tamed’ (sort of) by an arranged suitor. However, unlike the original play, the entire plot line…

Mythos | Stephen Fry

Mythos written by Stephen Fry is a contemporary and concise retelling of Greek mythology but with a classical narrative. It doesn’t necessarily travel in a linear manner and sometimes we find similarly named people or places in more than one stories. Having said that, this retelling of classical stories with a relaxed timeline and emphasis…