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Publication Date: 14th June 2022
3.5 Stars
One Liner: A few hits and misses
West Australia, 1886 & 1896
Eliza’s family arrives in Bennin Bay for a new start away from London. The land is brutal, and so is the sea. The community might have people from several countries. The natives are treated like dirt and used for hard labor. After all, they dive into the deep waters to bring shells, and the owners sell the pearls to make money. Black market, corruption, slavery, abuse, and atrocities are a part of everyday life in Bennin Bay.
Eliza’s family seems to have a decent life, and her father is a fair trader. But when their boat arrives without him, Eliza has no choice but to find out the truth. Thomas, her brother, doesn’t seem to know much. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to speak yet.
Eliza knows she cannot sit idle, even if the community around her values women less than men. She is determined to get to the bottom of the truth. But what will this cost her? Can she find the truth about her father’s disappearance?
What I Like:
• I haven’t read a story set in this backdrop before. While I know what colonizers do to natives (as an Indian), the pearl diving community was new to me. I haven’t heard of them before.
• The descriptions of the settings are beautiful despite the grim and dark storyline. The metaphors got a little too much at times, but I got to ‘see’ a different land.
• Eliza and Min are well-etched. They are flawed people with good hearts. Their friendship has its own beauty. More of their childhood journey would make them even more real.
• The ending is satisfying and dissatisfying. Eliza’s character stays true to her arc, making me happy. A couple of characters get the closure.
• The author’s note at the end is detailed and informative. Without revealing spoilers, I’ll just say that the author created her characters and the setting from real people and places.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The pacing is slow. If I wasn’t lucky enough to get extra reading time, the book would have taken another day to end.
• Some of the scenes were a little too convenient. Despite the odds, Eliza doesn’t find it too hard to navigate through the male-dominated society.
• There isn’t enough information about the natives and their lives. We are they are treated worse than dirt, but we have very little insight into their daily lives, customs, and culture.
• Alex’s character never really took off. I wanted more depth to his character, considering the role he plays.
• The dissatisfying parts of the ending are the loose ends. Some are just left to the reader’s imagination. I’m not fully okay with the one that is connected to the central plot. The other satisfied me.
The central story is paper-thin. What makes this work (to an extent) is the setting. Deciding the final rating wasn’t easy! After much debating, I fixed the rating at the midway mark of 3 stars (rounded). This one has great potential, but the heavy prose swallows the plot.
To sum up, Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter has to be picked up for the historical setting and glimpse into the lives of pearl divers.
Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
*****
P.S: Despite the premise, this book is not a mystery. The publishers marked it historical and general fiction on NetGalley. The blurb calls it a feminist adventure. These sum up the book. Reading this as a mystery would disappoint the readers. There is no fantasy either.
3.5 Stars
One Liner: A few hits and misses
West Australia, 1886 & 1896
Eliza’s family arrives in Bennin Bay for a new start away from London. The land is brutal, and so is the sea. The community might have people from several countries. The natives are treated like dirt and used for hard labor. After all, they dive into the deep waters to bring shells, and the owners sell the pearls to make money. Black market, corruption, slavery, abuse, and atrocities are a part of everyday life in Bennin Bay.
Eliza’s family seems to have a decent life, and her father is a fair trader. But when their boat arrives without him, Eliza has no choice but to find out the truth. Thomas, her brother, doesn’t seem to know much. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to speak yet.
Eliza knows she cannot sit idle, even if the community around her values women less than men. She is determined to get to the bottom of the truth. But what will this cost her? Can she find the truth about her father’s disappearance?
What I Like:
• I haven’t read a story set in this backdrop before. While I know what colonizers do to natives (as an Indian), the pearl diving community was new to me. I haven’t heard of them before.
• The descriptions of the settings are beautiful despite the grim and dark storyline. The metaphors got a little too much at times, but I got to ‘see’ a different land.
• Eliza and Min are well-etched. They are flawed people with good hearts. Their friendship has its own beauty. More of their childhood journey would make them even more real.
• The ending is satisfying and dissatisfying. Eliza’s character stays true to her arc, making me happy. A couple of characters get the closure.
• The author’s note at the end is detailed and informative. Without revealing spoilers, I’ll just say that the author created her characters and the setting from real people and places.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The pacing is slow. If I wasn’t lucky enough to get extra reading time, the book would have taken another day to end.
• Some of the scenes were a little too convenient. Despite the odds, Eliza doesn’t find it too hard to navigate through the male-dominated society.
• There isn’t enough information about the natives and their lives. We are they are treated worse than dirt, but we have very little insight into their daily lives, customs, and culture.
• Alex’s character never really took off. I wanted more depth to his character, considering the role he plays.
• The dissatisfying parts of the ending are the loose ends. Some are just left to the reader’s imagination. I’m not fully okay with the one that is connected to the central plot. The other satisfied me.
The central story is paper-thin. What makes this work (to an extent) is the setting. Deciding the final rating wasn’t easy! After much debating, I fixed the rating at the midway mark of 3 stars (rounded). This one has great potential, but the heavy prose swallows the plot.
To sum up, Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter has to be picked up for the historical setting and glimpse into the lives of pearl divers.
Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
*****
P.S: Despite the premise, this book is not a mystery. The publishers marked it historical and general fiction on NetGalley. The blurb calls it a feminist adventure. These sum up the book. Reading this as a mystery would disappoint the readers. There is no fantasy either.
How can I not like a book with cats? When my friend and fellow reviewer, Roshni, reviewed this one, I knew I had to grab it. The comic strips can be used as a teaching guide for wannabe cat parents. While some illustrations might scare them, they still won’t be able to resist getting a little one home.
I watch kitty reels on Instagram to unwind and can vouch for many of the scenes in the illustrations. (No kidding!) There’s no story in this one. It’s just a collection of cat antics, one page after another. They are fun, too, more so because I don’t have a cat yet and don’t have to deal with some of the eww stuff (ref: poop).
To sum up, cat lovers will enjoy this compilation of illustrations and maybe even share inside jokes with their cats.
I have to add that women don’t usually wear heels and pencil skirts at home. Draw us in pajamas, please.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Magnetic Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#CatsCatsCats #NetGalley
I watch kitty reels on Instagram to unwind and can vouch for many of the scenes in the illustrations. (No kidding!) There’s no story in this one. It’s just a collection of cat antics, one page after another. They are fun, too, more so because I don’t have a cat yet and don’t have to deal with some of the eww stuff (ref: poop).
To sum up, cat lovers will enjoy this compilation of illustrations and maybe even share inside jokes with their cats.
I have to add that women don’t usually wear heels and pencil skirts at home. Draw us in pajamas, please.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Magnetic Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#CatsCatsCats #NetGalley
Publication Date: 14th June 2022
4 stars
One Liner: Heartwarming story about friendships and second chances
• Jessica- army vet; restless and tensed
• Risa- mom of twin teen girls (in the middle of a divorce)
• Mary Nell- kicked out by a loser boyfriend
• Haley- dealing with a family secret and unexpected change
• Wade- army vet; struggling to come to terms with his brother’s death
Jessica, Risa, Mary Nell, and Haley are cheerleaders and buddies from school. Wade was their senior, but it’s these four that share a deep bond with each other. They are back home in Texas after twenty years and find their lives at crossroads.
Jessica inherits an old church (that hasn’t been in use for years) and has no idea what to do with it. A chance meeting with her friends and Wade gives her a new project and a reason to put down her roots. They decide to turn the unused church into a grill and bar.
Of course, it’s not an easy job. Apart from the physical work involved, the friends have to deal with their personal lives and the opposition from the religious folk in the town. It’s up to them to stand with each other, make tough decisions, and rebuild their lives with love and friendship.
My Observations:
First things first. I wasn’t entirely sure about the idea of converting a church into a bar. But a quick search assured me that this has happened a few times before. I realized it wouldn’t be appropriate to compare different cultures (mine to others) and get things too tangled up for no reason.
This is my second book by the author and is slightly heavier than the first. But it is just as heartwarming with well-etched characters and good touches of humor.
There’s loads of food- pancakes, flavored waffles, ice creams, lemon pound cake, half a dozen types of cookies, and sigh! I’m drooling.
The relationship between the friends was the best part of the book. Even though the story didn’t seem to progress much in some places, the interactions make it worth reading.
The twin girls, Lily and Daisy, are such sweethearts. If only we had teens like them around! Despite the stress and family issues, the girls are not bitter, cranky, or grumpy. They are lively, confident, assertive, sassy, and sweet. I love them.
There’s slow-burn romance too, but the central plot is about the friends and their lives. I like Wade’s character. He is friendly, supportive, understanding, and compassionate.
There are some not-so-loving characters too. Grandma Martha and Grandma Stella compete for the most disliked character. They are similar as well- two people using religion and God as tools to control and dominate their own family members.
Oscar is such a fun person and the complete opposite of these ladies. This book doesn’t have the main lead. Instead, it has eight people trying to work things out for the best.
There are no major obstacles or hurdles for the group. Things pretty much go as per the plan (which rarely happens), but I wasn’t looking for realistic fiction. I enjoyed the story as it is.
The pace dips in the middle but picks up in the third part. The ending is sweet and, of course, has a HEA, which is all I want after reading 300 pages. The epilogue ties up things neatly (a little too neat, but who cares).
To sum up, Riverbend Reunion is a slightly heavy but heartwarming story about a group of friends looking to find a place to call home.
Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #RiverbendReunion
4 stars
One Liner: Heartwarming story about friendships and second chances
• Jessica- army vet; restless and tensed
• Risa- mom of twin teen girls (in the middle of a divorce)
• Mary Nell- kicked out by a loser boyfriend
• Haley- dealing with a family secret and unexpected change
• Wade- army vet; struggling to come to terms with his brother’s death
Jessica, Risa, Mary Nell, and Haley are cheerleaders and buddies from school. Wade was their senior, but it’s these four that share a deep bond with each other. They are back home in Texas after twenty years and find their lives at crossroads.
Jessica inherits an old church (that hasn’t been in use for years) and has no idea what to do with it. A chance meeting with her friends and Wade gives her a new project and a reason to put down her roots. They decide to turn the unused church into a grill and bar.
Of course, it’s not an easy job. Apart from the physical work involved, the friends have to deal with their personal lives and the opposition from the religious folk in the town. It’s up to them to stand with each other, make tough decisions, and rebuild their lives with love and friendship.
My Observations:
First things first. I wasn’t entirely sure about the idea of converting a church into a bar. But a quick search assured me that this has happened a few times before. I realized it wouldn’t be appropriate to compare different cultures (mine to others) and get things too tangled up for no reason.
This is my second book by the author and is slightly heavier than the first. But it is just as heartwarming with well-etched characters and good touches of humor.
There’s loads of food- pancakes, flavored waffles, ice creams, lemon pound cake, half a dozen types of cookies, and sigh! I’m drooling.
The relationship between the friends was the best part of the book. Even though the story didn’t seem to progress much in some places, the interactions make it worth reading.
The twin girls, Lily and Daisy, are such sweethearts. If only we had teens like them around! Despite the stress and family issues, the girls are not bitter, cranky, or grumpy. They are lively, confident, assertive, sassy, and sweet. I love them.
There’s slow-burn romance too, but the central plot is about the friends and their lives. I like Wade’s character. He is friendly, supportive, understanding, and compassionate.
There are some not-so-loving characters too. Grandma Martha and Grandma Stella compete for the most disliked character. They are similar as well- two people using religion and God as tools to control and dominate their own family members.
Oscar is such a fun person and the complete opposite of these ladies. This book doesn’t have the main lead. Instead, it has eight people trying to work things out for the best.
There are no major obstacles or hurdles for the group. Things pretty much go as per the plan (which rarely happens), but I wasn’t looking for realistic fiction. I enjoyed the story as it is.
The pace dips in the middle but picks up in the third part. The ending is sweet and, of course, has a HEA, which is all I want after reading 300 pages. The epilogue ties up things neatly (a little too neat, but who cares).
To sum up, Riverbend Reunion is a slightly heavy but heartwarming story about a group of friends looking to find a place to call home.
Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #RiverbendReunion
Little Tractor lives on the Big Oak Farm with daddy tractor and farm animals like chicken, duck, pig, and horse. One day, Little Tractor goes out with daddy tractor to run down the hill in the rain.
Little T doesn’t like it and refuses to come out of the shed because it’s still raining. But the chicken and her chicks are in danger. The river is overflowing, and they might drown if no one saves them. Can Little T get over his fear of slipping in the mud and rain to rescue the chicken?
This is a cute little story about being brave and conquering fear. The illustrations are full-scale and vibrant. The Little TY has round eyes (oops, headlights) and is painted a vibrant red. I love the mood of the illustrations. The scene where the pig hands over teeny cups of drink to wet chicks is super cute. Imagine little chicks drinking from tiny cups!
To sum up, Little Tractor Is Brave is a short and attractive book for little ones. The part about the little tractor growing up isn’t logical, but hey, this is a kiddo book. ;)
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#clavispublishing #NetGalley
Little T doesn’t like it and refuses to come out of the shed because it’s still raining. But the chicken and her chicks are in danger. The river is overflowing, and they might drown if no one saves them. Can Little T get over his fear of slipping in the mud and rain to rescue the chicken?
This is a cute little story about being brave and conquering fear. The illustrations are full-scale and vibrant. The Little TY has round eyes (oops, headlights) and is painted a vibrant red. I love the mood of the illustrations. The scene where the pig hands over teeny cups of drink to wet chicks is super cute. Imagine little chicks drinking from tiny cups!
To sum up, Little Tractor Is Brave is a short and attractive book for little ones. The part about the little tractor growing up isn’t logical, but hey, this is a kiddo book. ;)
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#clavispublishing #NetGalley
This is the third book in the series, and having read the previous two, I knew I had to grab this one. Set in summer, the illustrations are warm and even humid at times. Yeah, you can feel the season on the pages.
There are very few dialogues in this one. The story is narrated in sounds, expressions, actions, and a couple of dialogues. We have two grumpy old men (an owl and a toad) in this book. The kiddo animals (fox cubs and foxes) are playing water basketball (if that’s even a game), and the noise they make annoys the grumpy men. How Mr. Owl and Mr. Toad learn to relax and have fun is the crux of the story.
The story arc is heartwarming and sweet. I love the ending and am looking forward to the next in the series. The illustrations are lively, cute, and grumpy at the same time. Grab this book to enjoy the playful story and illustrations.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Magnetic Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#BeneaththeTreesAFineSummer #NetGalley
There are very few dialogues in this one. The story is narrated in sounds, expressions, actions, and a couple of dialogues. We have two grumpy old men (an owl and a toad) in this book. The kiddo animals (fox cubs and foxes) are playing water basketball (if that’s even a game), and the noise they make annoys the grumpy men. How Mr. Owl and Mr. Toad learn to relax and have fun is the crux of the story.
The story arc is heartwarming and sweet. I love the ending and am looking forward to the next in the series. The illustrations are lively, cute, and grumpy at the same time. Grab this book to enjoy the playful story and illustrations.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Magnetic Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#BeneaththeTreesAFineSummer #NetGalley
Do I really need to say anything? He hits it out of the park. ;)
3.5 Stars
Little Bunny is a single child and loves it most of the time. But one day, he feels lonely. He doesn’t want to sleep on his own. He decides to go to his friend’s place for a sleepover. He moves from one house to another, the squirrel to skunk to porcupine, bear, and owl.
None of the places are comfortable for different reasons. Finally, he gets back home and realizes that his bed is the best place to be.
The story is simple and cute. Little B gives his reason for not being able to sleep at the friends’ places and moves to another. He says please and thank you too. Just one part I didn’t like was when he yells in the owl’s house. You don’t do that, kiddo. But then, he was tired from constantly moving around when he should have been sleeping. Anyway, parents can explain it to the kids.
The illustrations are very well done. The detailing is pretty, and the color scheme sets the tone of the book. Kids will enjoy this one.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and NorthSouth Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#LittleBunnysSleeplessNight #NetGalley
Little Bunny is a single child and loves it most of the time. But one day, he feels lonely. He doesn’t want to sleep on his own. He decides to go to his friend’s place for a sleepover. He moves from one house to another, the squirrel to skunk to porcupine, bear, and owl.
None of the places are comfortable for different reasons. Finally, he gets back home and realizes that his bed is the best place to be.
The story is simple and cute. Little B gives his reason for not being able to sleep at the friends’ places and moves to another. He says please and thank you too. Just one part I didn’t like was when he yells in the owl’s house. You don’t do that, kiddo. But then, he was tired from constantly moving around when he should have been sleeping. Anyway, parents can explain it to the kids.
The illustrations are very well done. The detailing is pretty, and the color scheme sets the tone of the book. Kids will enjoy this one.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and NorthSouth Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#LittleBunnysSleeplessNight #NetGalley
Publication Date: 07th June 2022
2.8 Stars
One Liner: More misses than hits!
Mille Ward has been laid off from her PR job. She feels like a failure, not able to hold on to a job and settle down in life (according to her parents). Her parents blame it on her ADHD, but Millie knows that’s not the reason. She decides to visit her best friend Quincy in a small Bay town in California.
Quincy and her folk of influencers work overtime to promote the laidback town, and Millie decides she could try a hand at becoming an influencer herself. Not to mention, she also gets to crush on Pete, Quincy’s brother, from close quarters.
Her other two besties, Kate and Bree, help her with the move and encourage her to wear their magical black dress. It never failed them before, after all. Millie is doubtful she would fail the dress but wears it.
When Millie has to convince Pete to be her Instagram Husband to promote her profile and his hotel business, things get a little complicated for them. Can their fake relationship lead to something real? Can the influencers save the town? Can Millie get her career back on track?
The story is written in Mille’s first-person POV.
What I Like:
Millie is a decent character when she doesn’t go overboard (which happens more often during the second half).
The setting was beautiful. I liked the scenes about surfing. Got to learn something from it, so that’s always a plus. Not that I intend to surf or anything.
Pete is a really cool character (it also helps that he is super handsome). I feel bad for him, thanks to Millie’s stupidity. Not that he was faultless, but still.
We see different types of working women, and each of them goes through ups and downs. I don't like Alana’s idea of perfection, but I can understand her fear of losing followers and risking everything they built from scratch. That doesn’t excuse her interference in others’ lives.
The story has potential and made me chuckle a few times. I also didn’t have to stress my grey cells, which is another plus. But it could have been so much better.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
This is a case where the reader can see that Pete is in love with Millie, but she doesn’t see it (she is the narrator). She is determined to remind him that their relationship is fake at every possible opportunity. I started checking how many pages were left each time this happened.
While the title makes the black dress a prominent part of the book, the storyline somehow loses track of it. There’s a scene towards the end that feels patchy and unnecessary (only to somehow do justice to the title). The book could’ve been the same even without that dress. Not to mention that the same dress fits four different women.
Since when did an invitation to an interview imply a job? If that was the case, the unemployment rate around the world would never shoot up. Getting a job isn’t that easy. Millie getting kicked out of hers on the first page of the book is enough indication of the market conditions.
A major part of the book is about the life of social media influencers. It sure is damn hard to create an Instagram-worthy perfect life and hide the rest from the world. But that shouldn’t come at the cost of personal, especially kids’ future.
Alana’s character is a contradiction throughout. I still don’t know who she really is.
Millie is almost an instant success on Instagram. She has like 75K followers in around a month. How does that happen to non-celebs or people without no previous accounts or recognition on social media? (I’m a content writer, and digital marketing is one of my niches.)
ADHD and autism are both a part of the book, but neither gets justice. And no, Millie can’t blame her stupidity on ADHD. I disliked how the kid (Quincy’s son) hardly got any space in the book. Nope. He deserved better.
To sum up, Four Ways to Wear a Dress is a lighthearted book with some laughs and annoying moments if you don’t mind an overload of the influencer stuff. Oh, a generous amount of the F-word.
Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
*****
P.S: The book has steam (level 3-ish, I suppose). Readers, be warned. ;)
*****
P.P.S: I think I’m officially entering the black list of the publishers, lol. My acceptance rate is almost zero as it is. (Got this book and [b:The Summer of Christmas|59531499|The Summer of Christmas|Juliet Giglio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635967268l/59531499._SX50_.jpg|93761362] when these were Read Now on NG).
2.8 Stars
One Liner: More misses than hits!
Mille Ward has been laid off from her PR job. She feels like a failure, not able to hold on to a job and settle down in life (according to her parents). Her parents blame it on her ADHD, but Millie knows that’s not the reason. She decides to visit her best friend Quincy in a small Bay town in California.
Quincy and her folk of influencers work overtime to promote the laidback town, and Millie decides she could try a hand at becoming an influencer herself. Not to mention, she also gets to crush on Pete, Quincy’s brother, from close quarters.
Her other two besties, Kate and Bree, help her with the move and encourage her to wear their magical black dress. It never failed them before, after all. Millie is doubtful she would fail the dress but wears it.
When Millie has to convince Pete to be her Instagram Husband to promote her profile and his hotel business, things get a little complicated for them. Can their fake relationship lead to something real? Can the influencers save the town? Can Millie get her career back on track?
The story is written in Mille’s first-person POV.
What I Like:
Millie is a decent character when she doesn’t go overboard (which happens more often during the second half).
The setting was beautiful. I liked the scenes about surfing. Got to learn something from it, so that’s always a plus. Not that I intend to surf or anything.
Pete is a really cool character (it also helps that he is super handsome). I feel bad for him, thanks to Millie’s stupidity. Not that he was faultless, but still.
We see different types of working women, and each of them goes through ups and downs. I don't like Alana’s idea of perfection, but I can understand her fear of losing followers and risking everything they built from scratch. That doesn’t excuse her interference in others’ lives.
The story has potential and made me chuckle a few times. I also didn’t have to stress my grey cells, which is another plus. But it could have been so much better.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
This is a case where the reader can see that Pete is in love with Millie, but she doesn’t see it (she is the narrator). She is determined to remind him that their relationship is fake at every possible opportunity. I started checking how many pages were left each time this happened.
While the title makes the black dress a prominent part of the book, the storyline somehow loses track of it. There’s a scene towards the end that feels patchy and unnecessary (only to somehow do justice to the title). The book could’ve been the same even without that dress. Not to mention that the same dress fits four different women.
Since when did an invitation to an interview imply a job? If that was the case, the unemployment rate around the world would never shoot up. Getting a job isn’t that easy. Millie getting kicked out of hers on the first page of the book is enough indication of the market conditions.
A major part of the book is about the life of social media influencers. It sure is damn hard to create an Instagram-worthy perfect life and hide the rest from the world. But that shouldn’t come at the cost of personal, especially kids’ future.
Alana’s character is a contradiction throughout. I still don’t know who she really is.
Millie is almost an instant success on Instagram. She has like 75K followers in around a month. How does that happen to non-celebs or people without no previous accounts or recognition on social media? (I’m a content writer, and digital marketing is one of my niches.)
ADHD and autism are both a part of the book, but neither gets justice. And no, Millie can’t blame her stupidity on ADHD. I disliked how the kid (Quincy’s son) hardly got any space in the book. Nope. He deserved better.
To sum up, Four Ways to Wear a Dress is a lighthearted book with some laughs and annoying moments if you don’t mind an overload of the influencer stuff. Oh, a generous amount of the F-word.
Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
*****
P.S: The book has steam (level 3-ish, I suppose). Readers, be warned. ;)
*****
P.P.S: I think I’m officially entering the black list of the publishers, lol. My acceptance rate is almost zero as it is. (Got this book and [b:The Summer of Christmas|59531499|The Summer of Christmas|Juliet Giglio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635967268l/59531499._SX50_.jpg|93761362] when these were Read Now on NG).
Hop, the teeny blue tadpole with a teenier tale, joins his brothers and sisters to learn swimming. He is the smallest of all and has a hard time learning how to swim properly. Hop learns despite the mishaps and surprises himself with an unexpected dive! He earns his swimming diploma while having loads of fun. So what if he didn’t become an expert swimmer? He can swim and enjoy it.
The book is for little swimmers aged 4 and up. The writing suits them perfectly. Different swimming styles and mentioned and illustrated. Kids will feel less scared to swim (in case they are hesitant about getting into the water) after reading this one.
Now, the illustrations. My friend, Roshni, was 100% sure I would love the illustrations. She was spot on (obviously). The watercolor paintings are so vibrant, colorful, and full of life. The detailing is amazing. Hop is easy to identify in blue, while the rest of the frogs are green. The floaties, flowers, and ladybugs are so cute! Hop’s expressions are perfect in every scene.
To sum up, Hop at Swimming Class is a super cute book for kiddos and adults. You are never too old to read about frogs learning to swim. ;)
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#clavispublishing #NetGalley
The book is for little swimmers aged 4 and up. The writing suits them perfectly. Different swimming styles and mentioned and illustrated. Kids will feel less scared to swim (in case they are hesitant about getting into the water) after reading this one.
Now, the illustrations. My friend, Roshni, was 100% sure I would love the illustrations. She was spot on (obviously). The watercolor paintings are so vibrant, colorful, and full of life. The detailing is amazing. Hop is easy to identify in blue, while the rest of the frogs are green. The floaties, flowers, and ladybugs are so cute! Hop’s expressions are perfect in every scene.
To sum up, Hop at Swimming Class is a super cute book for kiddos and adults. You are never too old to read about frogs learning to swim. ;)
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#clavispublishing #NetGalley
Rainbow fish meets Humbert, a new fish, and becomes friends with him. But he is not sure about the tales Humbert tells day after day. Rainbow fish and his friends soon stop believing Humbert.
Humbert is now sad that no one wants to talk to him. Rainbow fish and his friends come up with a plan to cheer up Humbert. After all, Humbert is a storyteller. Why not ask him to tell them happy and entertaining stories instead of scary ones?
The story has a similar theme to The Boy and The Wolf but with a cute twist. Humbert is the boy here who spins false tales. But he redeems himself by becoming a storyteller for the other fish.
The illustrations are beautiful. The fish are cute and squishy. The aquatic background and blend of colors make the illustrations pleasing yet colorful.
However, the text seems to be a bit hard for little ones. The first sentence is two and a half lines long. Some dialogues are longish for kids.
Nevertheless, Rainbow Fish and the Storyteller is a sweet and cute book with a moral lesson, some entertainment, and lovely illustrations.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and NorthSouth Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#RainbowFishandtheStoryteller #NetGalley
Humbert is now sad that no one wants to talk to him. Rainbow fish and his friends come up with a plan to cheer up Humbert. After all, Humbert is a storyteller. Why not ask him to tell them happy and entertaining stories instead of scary ones?
The story has a similar theme to The Boy and The Wolf but with a cute twist. Humbert is the boy here who spins false tales. But he redeems himself by becoming a storyteller for the other fish.
The illustrations are beautiful. The fish are cute and squishy. The aquatic background and blend of colors make the illustrations pleasing yet colorful.
However, the text seems to be a bit hard for little ones. The first sentence is two and a half lines long. Some dialogues are longish for kids.
Nevertheless, Rainbow Fish and the Storyteller is a sweet and cute book with a moral lesson, some entertainment, and lovely illustrations.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and NorthSouth Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#RainbowFishandtheStoryteller #NetGalley