Melody's Reading Corner

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang & LeUyen Pham

Melody

First Second | 9 January 2024 | 352 pgs

Source: Purchased

Gene Luen Yang, together with LeUyen Pham, collaborated on this graphic novel about a story of family, friendship and Iove set in the atmosphere of Lunar New Year.

Valentina Tran lives with her father since young and her favourite holiday used to be Valentine's Day but has given up on love after learning that her family is cursed with love for generations. Despite this, she spent her childhood days bringing love to her classmates by leaving them handmade Valentine's cards and befriending an imaginary friend in the form of Cupid. Sadly, her efforts aren't appreciated and as the time goes her imaginary friend morph from a good-spirited cherub to a ghoulish St. Valentine, taunting her about true love and giving her a year to find it or give up her heart to him so she'll never be hurt again. Then a chance encounter leads her to a pair of lion dancers and one of them sparks something in her. Could this be true love and is she able to break the family curse forever?

I enjoyed reading this graphic novel a lot! There's so much to love about this book, starting with the vivid illustrations and the cast of characters that drew me in. And of course I've to mention about the Lunar New Year setting since I read this during the festive holidays and the spirit and culture of lion dancing further adds a strong atmosphere of the holiday celebrations through the bold illustrations and I could imagine myself hearing the sound of the gongs and drums as I flipped through the pages.

While this is a story about love, there are also a few memorable moments about Valentina's friendship with her bestie as well as Valentina's interactions with her grandmother. Valentina's transformation is perfectly defined as we see her transcend from a phase to another through her growing experience. Overall it was a heartwarming and a moving story which will remain in my mind for some time and I hope to see more collaboration works by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham in the near future.

© 2024 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Graphic Novel, Young Adult 8 comments |

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim

Melody

Hodder & Stoughton | 29 August 2023 | 432 pgs

Source: Purchased

This is a spin-off prequel of the Six Crimson Cranes duology and having read them and enjoyed Elizabeth Lim's writing, I can now say that I'm a fan of her.

The setting of this story was different from the SCC duology but still there was a connection between a few characters. This is a story about two sisters who are polar opposite of each other yet their love for each other is boundless. Channi's world is turned upside down after the birth of her sister, who was born with a light in her chest. To save their mother's life, their father offers Channi as a sacrifice to the Demon Witch instead of Vanna, the beautiful and radiant newborn. In the midst of the chase, Channi is bitten by the Serpent King and thus her blood is poisoned. Angma, the Demon Witch then cast a curse on Channi with a serpent's face and vowed to get Vanna on her seventeenth birthday. While both girls are safe at the moment, Channi is no longer the same since she is now viewed as a monster. Despite Channi's appearance, Vanna is the only person who trust her and love her as who she is; alongside with Ukar, a snake whom Channi has become friends with (he's my favourite character among all).

When Vanna is approaching seventeen and is to be married off in a vulgar contest, Channi sees herself as Vanna's protector but the biggest threat lies in the inner light in Vanna's chest; for this will unleash a battle not only with Angma who's been eyeing for it since Vanna's birth but also the rightful owner of that radiant light.

I enjoyed this story and was impressed by Elizabeth Lim's writing and her storytelling once again. Her descriptive writing, her intriguing cast of characters and the plot drew me in as always. And in this book it also evoked an emotion in me as the author deftly weaves a story not only about loyalty and courage but also about sisterhood and unconditional love. Channi's narrative was engaging and I rooted for her from the beginning till the end. Her determination and her perseverance, as well as her love for Vanna never fail to amaze me and that last few chapters even had me teary-eyed. I'm sure fans of the SCC duology will appreciate this prequel and for readers who have not read any of this series, I think it'd be a good start to begin with this book.

Finally, I want to thank Lark for going through this fantastical journey with me (read her review here). Reading is fun, but it's a lone pleasure/experience to the reader herself and that's why we've buddy reads! Here's to another great (buddy) reading year, Lark!

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Buddy Read, Fantasy, Young Adult 5 comments |

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

Melody

Penguin Books | 8 August 2023 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

57-year-old Iona Iverson works as a magazine therapist and although she enjoys her job, she feels she's racing against time as well as the threat of today's social trends as her (younger) editor feels that they need to concentrate more on digital offering and pull in a younger audience. These days, she enjoys her time more on the train commute to and from work since they're reassuringly predictable and what's more, she could people-watch.

Due to her daily commute routine from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station, Iona sees the same people and she even give some of them a nickname, such as Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader, Impossibly-Pretty-Bookworm and Terribly-Lonely-Teenager. Likewise, those commuters who recognise Iona give her a few nicknames too, like Crazy Dog Woman (because she's often seen accompanied by her dog, Lulu) or Magic Handbag Lady and even The Woman on the Train. Then one morning, Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader chokes on a grape and this single event leads to a chain reaction as an eclectic group of people, who sees one another everyday but knows nothing about anyone, begins to connect and gradually become friends as the days go by.

Aside from Iona's narrative, there are four other characters who play a part in Iona's life. They are: Piers, who is Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader. Sanjay, an Indian nurse who saved Piers and a kind-hearted man in general. Emma, who is Sanjay's secret crush and finally, Martha the Terribly-Lonely-Teenager. Iona's commute is no longer the same after she's known these group of people; she's learned more about themselves and give them advice should they need it. And through their friendship, Iona learn more about herself, too.

This is a heartwarming story about humans connection and friendship with a few life topics thrown in for some thoughts and drama. Iona was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading her inner thoughts. This story also shows us that our first perception of others may not always be true and that understanding and communication remain the key to a better relationship in every aspect. Charming and inspiring, I'd recommend this book to anyone and the more you should read it if you commute by public transport.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Contemporary Fiction 9 comments |

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

Melody

Ballantine Books | 28 November 2023 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

Our protagonist, Molly Gray, was first introduced in The Maid in which we see her as a diligent and a meticulous individual who's not afraid to speak up her mind when circumstances arise, although some might portray her behaviours or her speech a little odd but this might be a sign of her being a neurodivergent, though it was not clearly specified.

In this book, Molly had promoted to Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and she's living happily with her boyfriend, Juan Manuel, who's currently visiting his relatives in Mexico. Everything seems to be working well in Molly's life until J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, is found dead at the hotel's tea room prior to his big announcement during a press conference.

Detective Stark, who's in charge of the investigation, feels a sense of déjà vu considering there was a murder case at the hotel a while back. And as it happens, Molly is at the center of the predicament (just like the previous investigation) as Grimthorpe is later found to be poisoned by a cup of tea. Molly, who's perplexed and alarmed by the allegation, is determined to find out the truth and to unveil the identity of the murderer. But who'd it be? There're a few people in Molly's mind, including the new Maid-in-Training, the author’s secretary and even the hotel’s beloved doorman, who's considered to be a dear friend of Molly. Well, Molly has some secrets of her own too that revolved around her childhood days during her presence at the Grimthorpe mansion and she has to revisit the past memories for clues pertaining to the quirky and mysterious Mr Grimthorpe.

I enjoyed reading The Maid so I was thrilled to see Molly Gray's appearance in this latest book by Nita Prose. As much as I liked Molly as a character and reading about her working life and her past relationship with her grandmother, for some reason I couldn't find myself engaged in this book as much as compared to The Maid, although I enjoyed the backstory how she come to stay at the Grimthorpe mansion with her grandmother. I think my greatest disappointment was that the motive didn't deem strong and convincing enough; plus it seemed there wasn't enough actions surrounding the investigations and there're repetitiveness surrounding Molly's thoughts and her perceptions. That said, it was good seeing Molly Gray again and I hope a series is in order in the near future.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Mystery, Suspense 11 comments |

Top Ten Reads of 2023 | Random Musing

Melody

I didn't complete my Goodreads reading challenge in 2023. Only 45 out of 60 books read. Hopefully this year will be a better reading year for me. Also, I want to try to read more of the other genres (such as literary fiction, fantasy and/or romance) aside from suspense and thriller.

Here's my top ten favourites in no particular order. While some of the books didn't get a 5-star review, they left a deep impression on me.

- The One by John Marrs

- The Magistrate by Brian Klingborg

- The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White

- The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

- The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by Indian Holton

- The Couples Trip by Ulf Kvensler

- Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

- Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

- The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

- I'm Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Honorable Mention:

- Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess

So, the following question has got nothing to do with the above but simply out of curiosity. Do you mind a sad/bittersweet ending? (Especially in a romance?) Recently I watched a K-drama and while I don't usually get emotionally invested into them, this particular drama really left an impact on me (kept thinking about it for weeks; and listening to the OST didn't make it better). The plot wasn't new but it was realistic, inspiring and dealt with many topics which we often face in society and in real life (maybe that explains the realistic of that sad ending? But still...). The characters were flesh-out and relatable, too, and they were the ones that stood out the most in the story, in particularly the two leading characters. But that ending, sigh, just made me so sad just thinking about it. Dare I say the title and spoil the fun of you watching it? I suppose not. (I think anyone who watched this may have guessed it.) But it was such a good, beautiful story in my opinion (definitely a 5-star!), but I'm not sure if I want to rewatch it at some point and go through that emotional roller coaster again.

Labels: General, Musing, Reading, Top Reads 13 comments |

Books Read in 2023

Melody

Here is the list of books I read in 2023. The list is sorted out in alphabetical order according to the authors' last name for easy reference.

B
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

The Hollows by Daniel Church

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

The Last One by Will Dean

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

The Bones of the Story by Carol Goodman
Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths

Don't You Dare by Jessica Hamilton

The Dark by Emma Haughton

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by Indian Holton

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard

Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

K
The cage by Bonnie Kistler

Wild Prey by Brian Klingborg

The Magistrate by Brian Klingborg

The Couples Trip by Ulf Kvensler

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin

The One by John Marrs

The Passengers by John Marrs

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

The Second Woman by Louise Mey

The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda

Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess

When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

A Death at the Party by Amy Stuart

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

I'm Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Ghost 19 by Simone St. James

The Honeymoon Trap by Peter Swanson

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

T
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

A Sliver of Darkness by C. J. Tudor

The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Dead-End Memories by Banana Yoshimoto

Labels: General, Reading History 6 comments |

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard | Happy 2024!

Melody

Blackstone Publishing Inc | 1 August 2023 | 270 pgs

Source: Library

One year ago, Nicki went missing after she left a pub in Dublin. She is the third woman who vanished without a trace and till present the police couldn't find any clue about their disappearances nor the perpetrator. Their cases remain unsolved and it was only one of the victims who received the most attention due to her racial and her young age. Nicki, on the other hand, is deemed as a free-spirited woman so there're speculations that she might have run away on her own. But Nicki's sister, Lucy, is certain that Nicki has no reason to run away and with the agony of not knowing what happened continues to torment Lucy, she decided to take matters into her own hands, by putting herself in dangerous circumstances and hoping to lure the perpetrator into giving her a ride. Just like what Nicki was last seen doing.

Angela is a civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Persons Unit, but her goal is to be a member of An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force. So when she receives a physical evidence by chance that may link to one of the victims' disappearance, she begins to raise the issue with her superior who happens to know the detective who handle the cases. And of course, Angela wouldn't stop there and she'd try every means to get involved in the investigations.

On the other end, a nameless man reflects on his past actions and "accomplishments" without being caught by the law. His narrative, without a doubt, is the most intriguing considering he's THE serial killer and he's telling us, the reader, how he chooses and abduct his victims.

Part police procedural and part thriller, this was an unputdownable book in my opinion. The author has crafted an interesting premise of a serial killer and a daredevil woman who's not afraid of the danger she's putting herself into. Angela was another great character to read; and I admired her determination and her perseverance in getting the cases solved. There are twists and turns, of course, but there's also that ending which I didn't see coming and think it might lead to some readers being unsatisfied. Truth be told, I think it kind of worked for me. And I want to reiterate this before ending this review, NEVER get into a stranger's car no matter how harmless the driver appears to be. As the saying goes, you can never judge a book by its cover.

I can't believe Year 2023 is coming to an end and I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy New Year! I hope 2024 brings you lots of love, good health and joy!

© 2023 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 10 comments |

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood | Random Musings

Melody

G.P. Putnam's Sons | 7 November 2023 | 368 pgs

Source: Purchased

I've not read Ali Hazelwood's books until now and what a delightful read this book is!

18-year-old Mallory Greenleaf has been playing chess since young but after the sport led her family apart four years ago (the truth is later revealed in the book), she's sworn off playing chess and focus on taking care of her (sick) mother and her two younger sisters as she works as a car mechanic to pay the bills. Although she's given up on playing chess, a chance request eventually led her to play in one last charity tournament and she begrudgingly agrees to it. Little did she know that she'd be playing against Nolan Sawyer, the notorious "Kingkiller"/current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.

After she beat Nolan which shocked and rocked the chess world, Mallory is offered a fellowship that allows her to play professionally. Torn between a battle between financial and her sentiments towards playing chess, she finally decides on a practical approach by accepting it.

Mallory gradually finds her momentum and her passion back the more she play, and she also can't help feeling drawn to Nolan, who appears to be cold and aloof but is actually a reserved and a considerate person behind that mask. As Mallory practises hard for the next tournaments, she'll soon find out that changing the misogynistic attitudes in a chess world mostly dominated by men is as challenging as the sport itself. Would she be able to change the perspective as she reconcile with what happened four years ago?

I've to admit I know nothing about chess and this book has been an eye-opening experience to me. Through Mallory’s journey I learned a lot about chess and that it isn't simply about your opponents and strategies but there's also a lot of hard work involving analysing, studying and well, more studying. Of course patience plays an important part, too! I loved Mallory as a character; and all the more as how responsible she was being the eldest sibling. My heart ached for her considering how she acted so much matured as compared to the others of the same age.

Onto Nolan Sawyer. I liked how he was protective towards Mallory, although he wouldn't say it out loud but his actions said everything especially during the interview. And, I loved the interactions between him and Mallory; and his teammates too. Ali Hazelwood has captured the cast of characters well and I enjoyed seeing the characters grow as the story gradually come to an end, in particularly Mallory. This brilliant girl. . . I rooted for her all the way from the beginning till the end and I'm glad she didn't disappoint. This book warmed my heart and well, you can bet I'll be looking forward to reading more books by this author in future.

I've been slacking in my blog updates, blog hopping and commenting lately and I apologise for that. I think procrastination and watching K-dramas also play a part in that too, although I enjoy doing the latter and don't want to feel guilty for doing that, LOL.

So what've I been watching lately? Vigilante and Memorist. Both are crime thrillers and while the former has a dark superhero vibe, the latter has a supernatural element (imagine a detective who could scan others' memories through touching). Both are great dramas in my opinion, but I felt there are too many suspense layers and red herrings in Memorist that I felt disconnected at times. And who wouldn't love a superhero who takes justice in his own hands in Vigilante? All the more that actor Nam Joo Hyuk is eye-candy dressed in police uniform!

Finally, I'll be taking a short break off of blogging and I hope you've a wonderful Christmas holidays ahead! 🎄

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Contemporary Romance, Crime Thriller, Korean drama, Musing, Young Adult 14 comments |

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

Melody

Bantam | 12 September 2023 | 288 pgs

Source: Library

Most people will avoid buying a haunted or a murder house, but not Sarah Slade. A self-help writer and therapist, she believes that renovating Black Wood House will give it a new life and not to mention that it might help to boost her fame both for her blog and her book. However, her husband thinks otherwise but Sarah's mind is set. This decision further put a strain on their already rocky marriage but Sarah is adamant.

After they've moved into the house and begins the renovations, they start to experience a lot of strange occurrences. Such as, the contractor injured himself while doing the plumbing (an unfortunate accident?) or unexplained footsteps in the attic when no one is around (spooky!). Granted, it's an old house but Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that she's also being watched. On top of that, her neighbours and the community shun her like a plague and Sarah started to feel frightened after finding threatening notes meant only for her. Despite everything, Sarah wants to find out about the murder that happened in her house and if it is connected to the threatening notes she's been receiving lately.

I've to confess I've mixed feelings about this book but let's start off with the things that I liked first. I loved the spooky, atmospheric element. A haunted/murder house usually draw me into the story and all the more with the main character being unreliable and harbour secrets and a dark past. Now onto the things that gave me doubts. I'm not sure if this book is leaning towards the horror genre or the psychological suspense genre; and ultimately a reader who chose either one might be left feeling a tad disappointed, depending on one's expectations. Well, at least this reader was.

Finally, Sarah. I did not understand her behaviours and actions at times and if there's one thing which made me dislike her more, that is she's stolen someone's (who's close to her) boyfriend and made him her husband. That said, the ending was a surprise (which led me to question some issues) but overall I enjoyed the author's writing.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 6 comments |

I'm Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Melody

Berkley | 22 August 2023 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Jane is a midlist writer who's not happy with her life - her stagnant writing career, the house mortgage and even her marriage, too. There's only one person on earth who could keep her alive but they've lost touch. Thalia, her best friend and classmate during their Creative Writing days at Oxford, had disappeared from her life since that fateful night a decade ago. Jane thought she's lost Thalia for good, until she sees her name at the top of the New York Times bestselling list.

Jane begins her stalking journey on Thalia from following her social media feeds to attending a book convention in NYC where Thalia will be promoting her book, "A Most Pleasant Death". Jane is sure Thalia is writing about their story after reading the blurb, and she couldn't wait to meet her in person. She goes to great lengths in fulfilling her mission, too. She deceives her husband and even her book agent so that both are convinced that she has a reason to be at the book convention. And when she finally did meet Thalia in person, all the past memories and what happened on that fateful night come flooding back.

I liked reading about the dynamics between Jane and Thalia. Besties or frenemies? They've so much emotional tug of war between them; at times I feel like watching a cat and mouse chase. Jane's narrative was so honest and well descriptive that you're afraid to get into her head sometimes, because they could be dark and disturbing and yet you couldn't tear your attention away. The first half of the story was slow, but it was a good introduction of Jane as well as her friendship with Thalia during the flashbacks; the second part was exciting after they meet and this is where the games really begin. Overall it was a great riveting read and I'd never have thought that this is the same author who wrote the Aunties series and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. I look forward to reading more of her suspense books in the near future.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 10 comments |

Two Novellas by Peter Swanson | A Perfect Deal

Melody

MysteriousPress.com/Open Road | 6 December 2022 | 55 pgs (e-book)

Source: Library

This novella by Peter Swanson is part of the Bibliomysteries series. So it begins when Henry and his wife, Alice, go for their honeymoon trip and stay in a New England lake house. Upon their arrival, Henry is immediately struck by a sense of déjà vu. After all, it reminds him of their house with shelves full of midcentury-American crime novels. However, there's one book that's caught his attention. The Honeymoon Trap is the title; and the more he reads it, the more he finds that the story has uncanny similarities with his own situation. Such as, the two characters in the book are newlyweds on a honeymoon after a whirlwind romance, just like Henry and Alice. And like the female character in the story, Alice is seen acting suspiciously and Henry soon become obsessed with their whereabouts both in the fiction world and in reality; eventually leading him to believe that murder might be the only way to get out of the trap which he believes he's in.

This has a great premise. A story within a story, but what was that ending? It left me confused, and a bit perplexed because it made no sense to me. If you've read it, please let me know what I'd missed.

(3 stars)

William Morrow | 17 October 2023 | 112 pgs

Source: Library

This is another novella by Peter Swanson which I feel works great for a novel too with more in-depth plots and characterisations.

In part one of the story, Ashley Smith is spending her time alone on Christmas Day and stumble upon a diary which she'd written thirty years ago in 1989. She was an American Art student studying in London then and was invited to spend the Christmas holiday with her classmate and her family at Starvewood Hall in Clevemoor. Ashley was impressed by Emma Chapman's manor house but most of all, she was attracted by Emma's twin brother, Adam. But there's something secretive about Adam; and Ashley was quite unsettled when she was told that she resembled a local girl who was murdered.

The second part of the story is the present day in which Ashley reflects on the events happened thirty years ago and this is where the truth unravel and will make you gasp in surprise. I loved that ending; and not to mention the Gothic atmosphere of the English village in Clevemoor. An extraordinary festive read if you don't mind a little thrill to it.

(4 stars)

Recently I watched this K-drama (The Perfect Deal) about a staged kidnapping case that gone wrong. Three friends (starring Yoo Seung Ho, Kim Dong Hwi and Yoo Soo Bin) met up for a drink after having not seen each other for a while. Two of them faced financial problems and after seeing the other drunk, they decided to "kidnap" him for ransom since his family is rich. But things didn't go well for them and their situation become complicated and even dangerous as the case involves more people and the secrets they're all trying to hide. By the time the two friends have realised their mistakes, they've already reached the point of no return.

I couldn't recommend this drama high enough. Though short with only eight episodes, it captured the dynamics between the trio and show how desperation could drive one into choosing an unethical decision. Though what the two friends did are wrong and unforgivable, I felt sorry for them for the difficult (financial) situation they're in. If only they've chosen a better and a wiser route, perhaps their fate would've been different.

(4.5 stars)

Labels: 3 stars, 4 stars, 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Korean drama, Mysteries, Psychological Suspense 8 comments |

The Passengers by John Marrs

Melody

Del Rey | 30 May 2019 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

After reading John Marrs' phenomenal The One and loving it, I decided to check out his other books and came across this book. The blurb read: "Eight self-drive cars set on a collision course. Who lives, who dies? You decide." Sounds absolutely intriguing, isn't it?

So it begins with the backstory that manual cars would be abolished under the UK laws and replaced by self-driving cars (also known as autonomous cars) that's capable of travelling without human intervention. They could perceive the environment, monitor important systems, and control, including navigation. Drivers are now referred as the passengers; and although accidents still do incur under circumstances, choices made by the autonomous car are often weighted according to the victim's contribution and importance to society (e.g. an ordinary citizen versus a mayor, you get the picture.) This is a grey area and thus has sparked many people questioning about the moral issue though there's no official addressing to it.

It then took someone to hack into the systems of eight self-driving cars and set them on a fatal collision course for worldwide attention. Each of these individuals carries a different role and secrets and it is up to the jurors, amongst them is Libby (who's one of the narratives and is not a believer of autonomous cars) to decide who should die or survive.

This was an intense and a fast-paced read, so to speak. I was in awe of John Marrs' creativity of concocting a different take of autonomous cars in this thriller, although the reading journey was dark and a scary one. While there are thrills and somewhat a cinematic entertainment to the story, there are parts that allow the reader to think deeply about the morality issue and how terrifying that would be if it happened in reality. I find that the decisions/actions driven by keyboard warriors and mob mentality especially in social media was well written and thought-provoking, too. Overall it was a great read; and as much as I was impressed by the technology in every aspect, I think having no manual control of the car is terrifying and I'd think twice about taking a ride.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 6 comments |

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

Melody

Berkley | 1 August 2023 | 400 pgs

Source: Purchased

Lauren Fox and Asa Williamson work at Cold World - a winter wonderland located in Orlando, Florida. Lauren is a bookkeeper while Asa's work range from managing the gift shop to helping out at the skating rink. He's been working at Cold World for ten years and although the career advancement seems a bit stagnant, he doesn't really mind because he just enjoy working there. He's also easygoing, friendly and helpful so it's no surprise that everyone working at Cold World likes him, well except for Lauren who thinks he's a bit of a goof.

Lauren, on the other hand, is practical and an organised person. She's also quiet and reserved and doesn't have many friends, but that may be her coping mechanism after she was abandoned by her mother when young. While Asa is easygoing, he finds it difficult to get along with Lauren. He has the notion that she's a loner and she's too uptight. So what are the odds that these polar opposites work together? Possibly none until their boss ask them to propose ideas of raising more revenue for the park. As if this isn't enough, their boss's son, Daniel, is also tasked to brainstorm any ideas and his involvement creates quite a havoc between Asa and Lauren. Lauren has a secret crush on him while Asa thinks he's simply a charmer who could get anything done through his authority.

As Asa and Lauren try to think of ideas to beat each other, unexpected circumstances arise along the way that make them get to know each other better and gradually change the perspective they've of each other. But there are also obstacles that come between them, such as self-doubt and miscommunication and of course, the fact that Cold World may have to go if there's no solution of saving it.

Ah, I loved how this romance gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling despite the cold setting (never mind if it's artificial). I enjoyed reading everything about the two lead characters; from their differences to their interactions and watching their relationship grow as the story progresses. There's also a topic about parental abandonment which I thought written with sensitivity without being too heavy. And the secondary characters about Asa's roommates and their interactions added some entertainment to this story. Overall, it was a great and a heartfelt rom-com fit for holiday reads. Last but not least, I want to thank Lark (read her review here) for reading this book with me for our buddy read. 😊

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Buddy Read, Contemporary Romance 6 comments |

Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Melody

HarperCollins | 25 May 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Corazon, Angel and Donita are Filipino domestic workers who work in Singapore. Generally, domestic workers have a wide range of job responsibilities and they could range from cleaners, maids or even caregivers. Corazon and Donita work as maids to wealthy families, while Angel is a caregiver to a family member who's a wheelchair user.

Each of them has their own backstory - Corazon is an experienced worker who's returning to Singapore under mysterious circumstances and her purpose will soon shed to light as the story unravels. Donita, on the other hand, is her first time being in Singapore and as fate would have it, she's hired by a fussy Mrs Fann who has nothing but complaints about her. Donita longed for a relationship but it seems that her Indian construction worker boyfriend thinks otherwise, especially his family wants a daughter-in-law who comes from their own countryside. Angel is satisfied with her job as a caregiver, until her employer's son starts eyeing her and hire a new Filipino nurse, leading her to wonder if she'd be her friend or a threat to replace her.

As these three women carry on their life with their own worries, one of their acquaintances is accused of murder of her employer. While they may not know Flordeliza Martinez well, they do know about their status and how they're often deemed as liars or even thieves in others' eyes, but to be accused as a murderer is another matter. Either out of loyalty or a sense of justice to clear their friend's name, they decided to do a bit of their own investigation to find out what went wrong within Flordeliza's employer's family and if Flordeliza is indeed the murderer.

This was a slow-burn read which in my opinion leaning more towards a cozy mystery and focus a lot more on the general aspect of Filipino domestic workers' working and navigating life in Singapore. While we may have read many stories about the domestic workers from the employers' perspective, rarely do we hear about the former's stories and their voices so this offers an interesting insight with a mystery to boot.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Literary Fiction, Mystery 4 comments |

The Bones of the Story by Carol Goodman

Melody

William Morrow| 11 July 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Twenty-five years ago, a female student went missing within the compound of Briarwood College. Thereafter, the death of a Creative Writing professor shocked the college community after he was found dead while searching for that missing student. Back to the present, a college President is bringing together the faculty, the donors, and alumni to honor the victims that happened from all those years ago.

But it isn't an ideal proposal, as Nell Portman, the Dean, thought. Aside from the weather forecast about the upcoming winter storm, Nell isn't comfortable about the thought of the alumni gathering. After all, bad memories linger in her mind as she thought of the recriminations and the competitiveness amongst the group of alumni; in which many of them were assigned to write about their fears for their writing projects and then bad things happened. And as the winter storm descends and it's a bit too late for the guests to leave, the group soon find themselves trapped on their ex-college campus and as an alumna died in a similar way as her story she had written for the writing projects years ago, followed by another alumna, and another; the group begin to question themselves if someone has decided to break the silence and to avenge the crimes of the past.

Alternating between Then and Now, this was an atmospheric story about secrets and rivalries within the old college. I've enjoyed many Carol Goodman's books in the past, and this book sounded wonderful with the locked-room element set amid a winter storm but alas, I'd had a hard time following the story because it was slow-paced and there're too many characters to keep straight and on top of it, most of them are unlikeable. While there're still some good twists and turns, I think one has to suspend disbelief at some point. Although my reaction to this book was lukewarm, overall I did like the academia and the atmospheric setting.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 4 comments |

When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham

Melody

Sphere | 24 June 2021 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

Philomena McCarthy has a complicated dark background. Being the daughter of a notorious London gangster and her uncles are ex-prisoners, one would think that her characteristics and her upbringing would be as bad, but ironically Phil's job is the polar opposite of her family's doings. She works as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police and it's actually a childhood incident which prompted her to follow this career path. A female police officer saved Phil from a bus bombing and from there onwards her life changes.

Given her family background, it's no surprise that Phil is often judged by her peers and superiors, but this doesn't deter her until a domestic assault case landed her job in jeopardy. Phil and her partner are called in to assist a woman who's believed to be abused by her boyfriend. The abuser turns out to be a decorated police detective and is widely known for his heroic act in a saving attempt years ago. Once again, Phil finds herself being discriminated and worst of all, being threatened to drop the case and eventually the incident is hushed up and put away. Phil didn't just let this go; she befriends Tempe Brown, the victim, so that she could find out more about DS Darren Goodall. Tempe and Phil soon become good friends, but the former keeps interfering into Phil's personal life. Phil's once peaceful life becomes chaotic ever since her involvement of the domestic assault case; it is apparent that Darren Goodall has several powerful friends within the police force and as more sinister incidents crop up, Phil has no one to turn to except her estranged family.

This book was a page-turner and the author has captured the tension and the atmosphere well, especially the male-dominated police force, its hierarchy and how a "clique" within the police force could be quite menacing once any one of their authorities is being questioned. And then, there's the toxic relationship between Tempe and Darren, and the obsessive friendship between Tempe and Phil which overall made this a compelling read. Phil was an interesting character, but I wasn't enamoured by her reckless behaviours and how gullible she could be at times, but I understand this is part of the portrait of who she is. This is my first Michael Robotham book and definitely not my last.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Psychological Thriller 9 comments |

The Couples Trip by Ulf Kvensler

Melody

Hanover Square Press | 6 June 2023 | 400 pgs

Source: Library

This book is named "Shortlisted for the Crimetime Award 2022" and "Swedish Academy of Crime Writers' Award Best Debut of the Year". And with the story set in the wilderness of Sarek National Park in Sweden, I knew I've to read it.

Anna, Henrik and Milena always make it a point to go for their hiking trip once a year. Anna and Henrik are a couple and the three of them have known one another for some time. This year, however, is different from their annual hiking trip as Milena is bringing her new boyfriend, Jacob, along. Anna and Henrik have had some disagreements amongst themselves since they hardly know Jacob but in the end Henrik gave in.

Jacob happened to be a seasoned hiker and while this comes as a relief to the others, Henrik isn't pleased that Jacob suggested a different hiking route; one which they haven't hike before - Sarek. On top of it, Jacob made a few arrangements beforehand and this adds tension to the group. But it is a bit too late to reverse their trip so they could only move forward to their destination. But uneasiness begin to set in as they wander deeper into the vast wilderness and further away from civilization, as Anna begin to question herself if bringing Jacob along might be a mistake after several circumstances that put their safety at risk. Jacob seems like a person who couldn't take no for an answer and his attitude annoys both Anna and Henrik. Milena, on the other hand, is too meek to point out anything probably she doesn't want to make matters worse. But, the situation gets worse as they progress and things start to go terribly wrong.

This was a wild ride and I enjoyed the thrill and intensity throughout my reading journey. The dynamics among the four characters and their hiking journey are the highlight of the story alongside the various challenges imposed by Mother Nature; but the biggest surprise of all is learning that things aren't as straightforward as what they're seemed to be. I like twisty ending and while this book has it, I felt that there are still some knots left untied and it took away that reading satisfaction and the perfection I'd had in mind initially (perhaps there's a sequel? Please say yes, Mr Kvensler! Otherwise that ending was a bit of a letdown.) That said, I'll read all future works by this author as his writing is captivating.