4.3 Stars

Iris Woodmore, Percy Baverstock, and Millicent Nightingale travel to Dawlish (on the coast of South Devon) for a holiday and to attend Iris’s father’s wedding to Katherine Keats. The trio explores Smugglers Cove on a private beach and stumble upon a dead body (rather skeletal remains). 

The police reveal that the remains belong to a smuggler who went missing a few years ago. However, Iris and her friends know the case has too many inconsistencies. Iris decides to investigate it herself. She can’t help but wonder how her would-be stepmother is tied to the case. When a new murder occurs, Iris knows she needs to find the truth and possibly save her father’s life. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Iris Woodmore. 

My Thoughts 

I can happily say that the series is getting better. While this one can be read as a standalone, it will work better when read in order (or at least after book one). One of the main themes of the book is how Iris deals with her father’s remarriage, and the context in previous books will help understand her emotions. 

The book uses the historical setting to enhance the main and the subplots. From bathing machines and swimming stockinettes for women to the changes brought by the railways, smuggling, the impact of war (WWI), the lives of Belgium and Dutch refugees, etc., are seamlessly incorporated into the plot. 

Iris’ character is growing well. She is a rebel but also someone still bound by societal restrictions on women. She cannot resist being inquisitive until she learns the truth. While this leads to some strained relationships, she does her best to balance the two. 

The case introduces new characters Iris knew in her past. This book has a lot of characters to track, but it won’t be an issue if you are familiar with the recurring ones. They already have distinctive personalities and are easy to remember. 

Despite the seriousness of the themes, the overall tone is light-hearted and suits the genre. The case throws a few twists and red herrings too. It took me a while, but I could figure out the mystery correctly. 

There’s a small revelation at the end, which seems like a surprise, but it does tie up with the contents until then. We just have to pay more attention. I don’t think this will have a huge impact on the coming books anyway. It might come in handy if necessary. 

True to the premise, the wedding is not the central point despite it being a crucial element. I like how everything works together cohesively so that the case is solved, new information is revealed, and there’s character development. 

In fact, this one gets better with the pacing too. It’s a few pages smaller than the previous books and has the right pacing. No dragging in the middle or going around in circles. I hope the same continues throughout the series. 

To summarize, A Killing at Smugglers Cove is an entertainer that deftly combines the historical setting and an intriguing mystery. I like that Iris is taking her stand about her love life without giving in to pressure from everyone around her. Looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #AKillingatSmugglersCove 

*** 

P.S.: the author’s note at the end is quite interesting. 

 3 Stars

Mrs. King isn’t a regular housekeeper. She has other talents in dealing with items, sellers, auctions, and buyers in the black market. When Mrs. King is dismissed from her position at the House of de Vries, the largest property in the region, she decides to pull off a heist of a lifetime. 

After all, the house is brimming with artifacts, art pieces, and all things precious. She recruits different women (and men) to play their parts and rob the house of every possession when the year’s most anticipated costume ball is happening downstairs. 

Mrs. King also has a plan of her own, an extension to the original, where she needs to find something and settle the scores. However, the house has too many dark secrets, and the elusive Miss de Vries may not be who she is. What’s more, the women she hired have secrets of their own that could expose their heist. 

Can the Housekeepers fight all odds to pull off the heist? What happens if they are exposed? 

The story comes from the third-person POV of multiple characters. 

The book has a great atmosphere- a gothic-like house with secrets, all characters with secrets, creepy vibes, complexities in abundance, and loads of things that could go wrong anytime with little margin of error. 

Even with the story having multiple POVs and many characters, it’s easy to track the backstories of all the leading ladies. The limited third-person POV choice keeps things smooth enough (though scene breaks are missing in the ARC). 

The book starts with a bang. The chapters start at the present, move to the past to present the events until the present, and shift between the past and present a few more times. However, I didn’t feel overwhelmed at any point. I didn’t have to go back to track the date. 

The Janes were possibly the best characters in the book. I’d have loved to read more of them. After all, their roles are so crucial to the plot. 

There are a few light moments and a couple of chuckles, with the rest of the book trying to be intense and heavy. The Victorian era is done well, though. Be it the reality behind marriage contracts or the balls, scandals, etc. 

The pacing is slow from start to finish. While it is necessary to establish the setting and characters in the first half, it gets boring in the second half. I started checking how much was left to read, especially when the heist began around the halfway mark. 

The book tries to be too many things at once. It is dark but not dark enough to make readers uncomfortable. It touches on many topics like revenge, greed, envy, money, power, manipulation, control, illegitimacy, loan sharks, abuse of servicewomen, (hinted) flesh trade and kinks, possible Sapphic inclinations, a sort-of romance, female friendships, etc. Except for some, the rest are only hinted at or used to add a twist to the plot. Finally, I ended up not really caring for anything or anyone. 

The heist is the central plot of the book. The reasons are just as important, of course. But if and how the women pull off the heist needs to be compact. While there are some dangers, none of them cause tension or anxiety. The whole thing feels a little too easy. Given the high stakes, it just doesn’t hit the mark. 

With complex characters, desperate times, and danger all around, the book could have been outstanding. It needed intricate plotting and execution. However, we get a mashup of too many things and writing that only skims the surface. The key conversation between Mrs. King and Miss de Vries should have been the highlight but is underwhelming. 

Even with the detailed backstories of the main characters, we don’t know much about them. It’s hard to connect to any of them. There are too many gaps left to the reader’s imagination. I can fill them myself, but that doesn’t enrich the characters. 

The ending fell flat for me. It’s surprising as I prefer such types of endings. However, here, I like only a portion of it. The rest feels a bit too neatly tied up. There’s an attempt to make the ending strong, which didn’t work for me. 

To summarize, The Housekeepers is a decent debut with a great premise that doesn’t reach its full potential. It reads like a debut. No denying the author’s talent, though. I’ll be happy to read more by the author.  

Thank you, NetGalley and Headline Review, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#TheHousekeepers #NetGalley 

 4.5 Stars

Pebbles is a cutie butterfly who loves numbers. One day, he gets bored of counting the flowers in his garden and decides to explore the world to find the biggest number possible. Thus begin his adventures across a desert, tropical rainforest, beach, snow-clad mountains, an observatory, and space! 

The book starts with single-digit numbers and ends with infinity. The journey is long, adventurous, exciting, and filled with facts. I’m no math geek (though I enjoyed calculus during my teen days), and I still loved the book for its content. Everything in the book is about numbers and scientific facts. This combo works great to teach kids about nature, science, and simple math all at once. 

We also get to experience different regions, weather conditions, and natural calamities. From a thunderstorm to an avalanche, the book has it all. And the best part is that the trivia or the math doesn’t get overwhelming. Of course, you can always read the book over a few days and tackle 2-3 pages a day. Subtle and cheeky humor is seamlessly woven into the content. Those were my favorite bits. 

I love how the metrics are presented in both scales (Celsius & Fahrenheit, Miles & Kilometers, Pounds, Kilograms, & Cups). This makes the book reader-friendly. However, the biggest number is presented only in the American numerical system. Makes sense with all those zeros as we reach octillion and nonillion (not telling you how many zeros these have!). 

I read kiddo books mainly for the illustrations (it’s an open secret). The illustrations in this one are vibrant, bright, colorful, and appealing. The animals, birds, and insects have cute expressions and detailing. The sizes are off, which is necessary since Pebbles is a butterfly. The book ends with a glossary and a summary of the numbers with grains of sand as the measurement scale. 

To summarize, Pebbles and the Biggest Number is a cute, informative, and highly useful book to help kids like math a little more and make it enjoyable. I wish it had a small activities section, but you can come up with something based on the content. 

My thanks to the author Joey Benun for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 4 Stars

Sadie Winters spent most of her life doing as she was told. Even at thirty-five, she is an invisible seamstress in her family shop controlled by her Aunt Ebony. The Cinderella Shop on Ever After Street is still her only home. 

When the aunt forbids her to attend the masquerade ball in the castle, Sadie is disappointed and dejected. However, she gets a chance to play Cinderella at the ball. Somehow, Sadie’s dreams of meeting Prince Charming also come true. 

Yet, midnight strikes, and she rushes back to her regular life. Sadie is shocked and hurt when her Prince Charming (Witt) doesn’t recognize her the next day when he visits their shop. But as days go on, it’s up to Sadie to decide if she wants to follow orders or make her own decisions. 

The story comes in Sadie’s first-person POV. 

I love the cover and the fairytale-ish setting. The premise is similar to small town-based books and makes for an entertaining read. 

Though the book is mainly romance, it focuses on many aspects, such as standing up for one’s self, following your dreams, making the right decisions, and healing from past trauma. The romance is clean, sweet, and cozy. 

Though Sadie is 35, her tone is more of someone in their late 20s. However, it suits her character arc. Her growth is gradual and feels realistic. She takes one step at a time and is still insecure about her abilities. She blanks out a little too often (which is annoying), though I blame it on the first-person POV. 

Witt’s character is just as good. He is awkward in many ways but without going overboard sounding rude. In fact, he is adorable for most of the book. I’d have loved it if the book had both their POVs (his in the third person). 

Scarlet is a cool character, though I wish we had a wee bit more of her. Aunt Ebony reads like a proper fairytale villain. Will she have a redeeming arc? Read and find out. I do wish this was better handled. The first-person POV prevents us from knowing things until they are revealed (which sometimes feels abrupt). 

The small town setting, other business owners, the popular progress vs. natural beauty (should the castle be destroyed to build a supermarket?), etc., make up for the other important threads in the plot. 

There are quite a lot of fairytale references, and get a tad excessive at times. If that doesn’t bother you, you’ll enjoy the book more. 

The pacing is slower than what I prefer for the genre. Also, I’m not fully convinced by Sadie’s idea of happy customers. There ought to be a balance between idealism and practicality. Sadie and Aunt Ebony fall on two extreme ends, and both aren’t helpful in the long run. 

There’s a third-act breakup, but the explanation and the climax are well done. And... if you wonder how he didn’t recognize her, trust your gut. There’s enough wordplay to support the reveal and your gut feeling. (Yeah, I was right, as always.) 

To summarize, A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street is a sweet and heartwarming (clean) romance for Hallmark and fairytale lovers. Pick it up when you want something light yet touching. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #AMidnightKissonEverAfterStreet 

With a tagline of Stilettos to Stethoscope: True Stories from Inside a Clinic, The Reluctant Doctor is a memoir of a practicing doctor's journey of thirty-eight years. As a newly married daughter of a rich businessman, the author dreams of accompanying her husband (a fellow doctor) in London and having the time of her life. 

However, her father sets up a small clinic for her in the dusty village of Kapashera (South West Delhi- NCT) to treat his farm laborers. Of course, she could walk away and join her husband anytime. Yet, destiny decides that she change the lives of hundreds of people in the region and go on a different journey, one that’s a total contrast to her dreams. 

I was torn when the author asked if I’d be interested in her book. I’m not into memoirs. However, this medical memoir spans many developments in the country. Finally, I decided to try, and I’m glad to say that it was the right decision. 

The author is honest about her dreams and desires and how much she resented having to ‘step down’ and work in a remote village. I truly appreciate this. There’s no pretense or preaching here. No taking a moral high ground about wanting to do seva (service). 

It’s refreshing to read a memoir that begins with a sulking twenty-five-year-old rich brat who grows into a mature woman who learns, unlearns, makes mistakes, saves lives, takes risks, loses loved ones, and becomes the most trusted and loved doctor in the region. The difference between the young and grown-up author is clear. 

The author’s doctoring journey began in 1982. We see a multitude of events that happen from then to 2014 (ish). They aren’t in chronological order but grouped based on the type of events and random details. While this leads to regular repetition, it also prevents the book from being a monotonous narrative. 

There’s no sugarcoating, nor is there any dramatization of real incidents. The author states them as she remembers them. Her feelings come across clearly, be it repulsion, revulsion, grudging acknowledgment, acceptance, determination, exasperation, fear, doubt, or vulnerability, she knows what she felt back then and has no qualms about stating them. Also, a recurring theme is about how the course program hardly equips a medical student to deal with real life cases, and how overwhelming a fresh doctor feels when facing the crowd. 

With the events oscillating from one extreme to another, the book is a rollercoaster ride almost throughout. One instant I’d be cringing about something horrible, and the next, I’d be tearing up about happy news. This may not work for everyone, but it did for me. It kept the overall narrative balanced and flowing until the last section, which is mostly horrifying (though we have been desensitized to a lot of it over the years). 

From quacks to domestic abuse to termination of unwanted pregnancies, incest, rapes, dowry, and desperate life-saving attempts, the book covers most cases a GP practicing in a rural village would have to deal with and more. As the progresses, we see how the author doesn’t limit her role to being a doctor but also becomes a counselor and does more than what she can educate the villagers about their health. 

She makes bold statements about the wide gap between policymakers and ground realities. A book with liberal social commentary could go either way. However, this one stays on its path to a major extent. The opinions come from personal experience and the exhaustion of having to handle them countless times over the years.  

One aspect I wish to add here is that incest, pedophilia, rape, and sexual abuse are global concerns. Many women prefer denial even when the victims are their dear ones. While the ‘big Indian family’ is definitely one reason for this in our country, it is not the only reason. As someone who has seen several posts in Tarot groups over a year, I can say this with definite authority. Things aren’t different around the world. 

A doctor knows the importance of accurate diagnosis. After all, the wrong medicine could lead to death. The same rules apply here. Why are women conditioned to put others and even ideology over themselves? On one side, we have the orthodox matriarchs sacrificing girls’ futures to ensure the men in the family have an unblemished reputation. 

On the other side, we have modern-day feminists shielding perverts and abusers, who they consider allies. Be it the activist-cum-author who protected her senior by not reporting sexual abuse as he has from the ‘lower caste’ or the young girl who chose to suffer rape (and eventually death) in the farmer’s protest because she didn’t want the ‘men fighting for a noble cause’ to suffer. Then we have women accusing a ‘privileged woman’ of being responsible for a poor man losing his job because she dared to complain about his perverted actions in a hospital. Where does the blame lay? 

  I would have also liked a glimpse at the author’s paintings (she’s an artist, too!). The ending is another part that could have been smoothened. Though realistic, it is abrupt and jarring. While it can be impactful, it is not how a professional memoir should end. A book that does its best to present events without sensationalizing should have a smoother ending. 

To summarize, The Reluctant Doctor is an honest memoir dealing with a person’s growth and the role of a determined GP in the rural community. It’s a worthy read despite the few issues with repetition and a bumpy beginning. 

My heartfelt thanks to the author, Balesh Jindal, for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

*** 

P.S.: Many events in the book can be triggering, even without excessive descriptions. 

 3.5 Stars

1873, London 

Mrs. Violet Wood is a popular Medium in Victorian London. She has a steady following among the elite and stands still as a genuine Medium even as others get exposed and are sent out of society for being frauds. 

However, with more American Spiritualists arriving in the city and promising fantastical visions, Mrs. Wood finds it hard to keep her audiences entertained. Then, the news of her crumbling finances turns her desperate. Mrs. Wood decides to train and launch a fresh face as her pupil, a certain nobody Miss. Finch, whom she finds outside her home. 

Soon, Mrs. Wood finds that things may have gotten worse. But will she give up and surrender or show the world why and how she had survived to be the greatest Medium in London? 

The story comes from Mrs. Wood’s third-person POV. 

I love the premise and the setting. Mediums competing with each other and the ever-increasing demand for their services are intriguing themes. 

The setting (Victorian London) is wonderful. There’s no denying the research that went into the plot. The fascination with Spiritualism during that era and the role of women in promoting Mediums is very well done. 

Even the séances are well-described, without going into too much detail but providing enough to know how it works. The focus here is not on the paranormal elements. Instead, it deals with the tricks of the trade and the effort behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and entertaining séance. 

Though the book has many characters (a Medium needs clients, after all), it is easy to track who is who. The main characters are Mrs. Violet Wood, Miss. Sarah Newman (friend and assistant to Mrs. Wood), and Miss. Emmeline Finch (Mrs. Wood’s pupil). 

The atmosphere throughout the book is slightly heavy to suit Mrs. Wood’s situation. She sure has quite a few issues to deal with. It also aligns with the kind of setting needed for a séance. Even when the Mediums talk, laugh, and eat loads of cakes, the heaviness hangs on the edges, ready for the next step. This is an advantage and a disadvantage. 

However, the book is slow from start to finish. (I completed it in two days because I had a couple of hours extra time to spare.) The story actually starts at around 30%. The initial portion focuses on setting the stage and introducing the various elements that would later contribute to the central conflict. 

The book has very little action. Whatever action we see is buried under the atmosphere’s weight and struggles to shine through on its own. Even the crucial climax scene doesn’t get dramatic enough to elevate the story. In fact, it gets over too soon, even if there’s scope for a lot of intensity. 

The content could have been 30 pages shorter and crisper to make it more engaging. Of course, a little more exploration of Miss. Finch’s arc would be even better. 

Mrs. Wood’s character is a sort of paradox. It works to an extent, though I’d have loved it if we get a little more about her past. Most of it comes through her thoughts, and there’s quite a bit of repetition of the same and less of additional information that could add more layers to the arc. 

I do love epilogues and positive endings. However, this one doesn’t do justice to the plot until then. I don’t particularly like how it’s done. After going through so much, it could have been better. 

To summarize, The Other Side of Mrs. Wood is indeed an atmospheric novel with some interesting elements. However, it is mostly a mixed read taht doesnt fully reach its potential. I hope the final version has the author’s note (there isn’t one in the ARC). 

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, and Fourth Estate, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#TheOtherSideofMrsWood #NetGalley 

 3.7 Stars

Beatrice Steele isn’t the one to follow the etiquette written for a lady. She would rather solve crimes (murders) if she could. But living in Swampshire, a small English township, means she cannot risk things even if most people know she’s an oddball. 

With a prankster for a father and a determined mother, Beatrice decides to tone down her love for murders and help her younger sister Louisa make the match of the year by Mr. Edmund Croaksworth. However, the said most eligible bachelor falls dead in the middle of the ball. 

Stuck inside due to a raging storm, Beatrice suddenly finds herself doing what she always wanted to do- investigate a crime. Of course, she has to work with a grumpy detective, but Beatrice is determined to find the killer. 

The story comes from Beatrice’s third-person POV (mostly), with additional information through other means (letters, script, news articles, etc.) 

Well, this is a parody, a farcical take on the Regency Era and the ridiculous rules people had to follow. It exaggerates most elements to make them even more weird and silly. I liked a majority of it, though things get a little too OTT at times. 

The writing style, too, has a generous touch of absurdity. Something that’ll make you roll your eyes if you want serious stuff. Not sure if I would have enjoyed it as much on other days, but I picked this at the right time. 

I love the cover design and the elements on it. From the frogs (Swampshire is full of them) to the book, letter, sword, flowers, a vial, etc., everything finds a place in the story. 

Beatrice and Inspector Drake are interesting characters. Their banter is fun to read. It’s a sort of grumpy sunshine trope, but Beatrice is more of a summer storm. Drake is grumpy with proper justifications. I also like his background, which for a change, seems realistic for the given timeline. 

There is no explicit romance per se, but you get the chemistry to add to the atmosphere. There are other sort-of romantic plots, but it’s not the central focus. This works because we already have too many elements. 

The mystery was easy enough to figure out despite the revelations and twists. There’s one only way it could go, and that’s where it turns. Though Croaksworth doesn’t say adieu until 30%, once the investigation begins, it goes on at a decent pace. 

It combines family drama and closed-door mystery rather well. It’s the kind of premise that will either look great on the screen or make a mess of it. A middle road is unlikely and not preferred. 

Despite a few excessive elements, the humor is pretty neat and easy to read. It may not be funny all the time, but it’s not cringe. At the most, you’ll be bored with the silliness of it, though for me, it is entertaining enough to have a few chuckles. 

I’m all for ridiculous plot elements in satire. I like absurd stuff in my own way. However, a couple of things have no proper explanation and don’t fit in (yeah, I’m referring to Mary). 

Some elements are dealt with with a heavy hand, which takes away from the intent and reduces the impact. Even in such books, a bit of dry humor is necessary to balance out the OTT-ness. 

Mr. Grub is character readers will love to hate. That’s his sole purpose in the book. But I could do without all that snot. Eww! Captain Pete’s speech style (all his sea metaphors) and Daniel’s rhyming quotes are not really funny. 

To summarize, A Most Agreeable Murder is a satirical take on regency and mystery tropes. It is a funny, trope-y, and lighthearted novel to enjoy on a lazy afternoon. I hope this would be a duology or a trilogy to answer a few questions and give us more of Beatrice and Drake. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #AMostAgreeableMurder 

*** 

P.S.: Start the book with the right expectations. It’s not a Regency mystery (and there isn’t anything serious about it, though it provides some food for thought). It’s a parody of it, so things will border on ridiculous. I enjoyed the book more as I was prepared for this. 

Hattie Mole is stressed out by her family’s move to the countryside. Going to a new school and making new friends is terrifying. After what she thinks is a disastrous day at school, Hattie makes a scarecrow called Crow to protect her little den in the school playground. However, Crow soon has a life of his own and decides he needs to protect Hattie. 

Hattie realizes things have gotten out of hand. If she doesn’t sort them out, she may end up being alone with no friends. 

The story comes from Hattie’s first-person POV. 

The book’s premise is wonderful, and I had great expectations from it. It’s never easy for some people to make new friends. It’s even scarier for kids to relocate and fit into an established environment. Unfortunately... it goes downhill quickly.

Hattie is a little girl (probably around eight) with a pet, Sid the Rat. She has an older brother, Oliver, and a dad who’s a chef. While the brother and father have some roles, the book mainly deals with Hattie and her school life. 

The writing is easy to read and has simple language suitable for little ones. The font and print are children-friendly, as it’s a norm with the publisher’s books. 

I’m not sure if Hattie is neurodivergent or is simply struggling to express her emotions through the right channel, common for a child of her age . After all, we don’t have enough information to see if her father and brother have addressed her concerns instead of simply telling her everything will be fine. We know that doesn’t help. 

I like how the Crow makes things worse, and Hattie realizes things, but the tone doesn’t sit right. Hattie’s voice is a little off for almost 80% of the book. This could also be because the story is short, with little background information and basic character development. This one should have been a bit longer to establish Hattie’s fears, dilemmas, worries, etc., instead of making her sound rude. 

The vibes are off, especially as Katya is established as a friendly girl trying to help and make friends, and Struan is a jovial little kid. Also, no adult actually talks to Hattie about how things are going on. 

There’s no backing for the magic (except a possible hint through Oliver). Kids wouldn’t bother with such details, of course. But as an adult, if a book has elements of magic, I do like them present throughout or explained in some way. Maybe it’s a town where such things are common. How fun would that be! 

The illustrations are messy-cute. That’s not a word, but it is now. The pencil sketches have rough lines and resemble children’s drawings, albeit with more details. I like that they suit the storyline and the POV. Hattie’s hair is the best. I always love kids with messy pigtails. Who has a super neat hairstyle as a kid anyway? The scarecrow is the cutest, even when he is busy trying to be scary… boo! 

To summarize, Crow is a short story about relocating, making friends, and understanding that friendship is a two-way thing (or it could have been). I wanted this to be a lot better, though. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Barrington Stoke, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#Crow #NetGalley 

 3 Stars

The older Rachel hears about professor Dr. Fred Byrne from her undergrad days and shares her story of the past days. A 20-year-old young Rachel has lived in Cork all her life. She is an art student working part-time in a bookstore. She meets her colleague, James, and soon they decide to become housemates. He is her best friend and a partner in crime. 

What starts as Rachel’s crush on him leads to some surprising developments. Soon, the lives of Rachel, James, Dr. Bryne, his wife, and a few other characters are entangled with the economic recession and women’s rights in Ireland. 

The story comes from Rachel’s first-person POV. 

The book is much more than the blurb (especially the GR version, so don’t be disappointed that it doesn’t play the central role in the plot). 

How much you like the book will depend on how well you take to Rachel. As you can see, it’s a fairly mixed read for me. I like it in bits and pieces, but as a whole, the book reminds me why I’m so wary of this style of storytelling. 

The writing has a charm. It presents the MC very well, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Still, it’s the kind of writing you can sink into, even if the narrator isn’t appealing or interesting. 

We’ve been 20 at some point in our lives and might relate to Rachel in one or another or none at all. Yet, the age is where we’d usually make at least one stupid decision, big or small. So, I was curious to see how Rachel’s life would grow and change as she navigated through a vulnerable age range. However, after finishing the book, I’m not really sure about the changes. Oh, there’s potential, alright! 

Having an older Rachel talk about her past with the nostalgia and wisdom (?) of a grownup is an interesting concept. Though, here most of it comes as foreshadowing. ‘I didn’t see it that way…’ ‘That wasn’t how it was, I know that now.’ These work only to an extent as somehow the adult version doesn’t feel much different from the younger version. 

While I enjoyed the dynamics between Rachel and James (her gay best friend and housemate), it was stereotypical, which soon went into the toxic co-dependency category. That’s fine since the point here is about the mess and not perfection. However, we don’t really know James except what Rachel thinks he is. This does him a grave injustice as he is slotted into a category and pretty much works within its boundaries. I’m sure I’d have liked the book more if it came from his POV. He would be so much more than ‘the gay bestie I can’t live without’. 

It’s not until the actual Rachel Incident happens that things pick up pace. That’s when we see the characters being something other than passive about their own lives. But it’s too late, as this doesn’t occur until after the halfway mark. What could have possibly been the central premise begins too late. I was bored with the whole thing by then.   

Even the main side characters, Carey, Dr. Byrne, and Dennie, are neatly slotted into their respective roles. Only one of them gets another chance, which I saw coming. After all, the plot was already following a tried and tested approach by then. The events after the Rachel Incident are plot-driven, a sudden shift from being character-driven, but I was more than happy to go with the flow. 

The book deals with a few difficult topics (check out the TW at the end). Yet, in moments where I should have had my heart broken for the characters, I ended up feeling very little for them. The story doesn’t linger when it should. It moves on to other events and a couple of time jumps. The point where Rachel actually learns to let go of her dependency on men and focuses on her life moves at 4x speed. This makes it even harder to see the new version of Rachel as we get too much of the older one. 

I don’t give a damn about what stupid things Rachel does. Even though she acts like a sulking petulant child at times, she gets cornered when she’s not really at fault. She does what she has to do, which may or may not be right. However, I do wish the plot didn’t take a predictable turn after that. As much as I hate to say it, a certain traumatic incident is simply a convenient plot development. 

I’m not Irish, but I’m not new to Irish fiction (though I haven’t read Sally Rooney). I don’t come from a small town, but I fit the age range perfectly. My having nothing in common with Rachel isn’t a problem, as I rarely relate to any of the MCs in the books I read. My issue is that inconsequential things get a lot of space while important issues are breezed through in comparison. 

To summarize, The Rachel Incident should have been a book I loved, but it is something I could like only in parts. All my GR friends (until now) have loved the book, so check out their reviews before you decide. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheRachelIncident 

 4 Stars

Cecily Marsden finds herself lost when her master, an aging con artist, dies in an unexpected accident. Cec tries to survive and make sense of her powers, fearing that she is somehow to blame for Arter’s death. 

Eadie Carleton is a talented early filmmaker struggling to run her family photography shop and make a mark in the male-dominated world. She has a lot to deal with and some very important decisions to make. 

George Perris is a young magician struggling to create the best act for his special show. He is fascinated by the motion pictures and sees their potential. However, he needs to convince Eadie to help him combine magic and motion pictures to achieve his dreams. 

Valentin knows he needs to return to Bristol and face his past to find peace. He soon becomes a part of the magic show as all these people come together. 

However, the group has to deal with several attacks and sabotages to find success. 

The story comes in the limited third-person POV of Cec, Eadie, George, and Valentin. 

I confess I haven’t paid attention to the cover until I read the book. The colors aren’t bright enough for my liking, but I love the detailing. It’s perfect for the premise and includes important elements in the plot. 

Though the book has many characters and multiple versions of their names, it isn’t hard to track them once we get into the flow. I didn’t refer to my notes even once. It also helps that the story comes from the third-person POV of the four main characters. We get more insights into their backstories and the setting. 

Most of the characters (except for Skarratt) are layered and relatable. They have their flaws, say things they regret, make a few wrong decisions, and learn to move on. None of it goes overboard. 

The pacing is quite decent, though the story tends to drag in the middle. It picks up pace after 60% and brings a lot of action. The last section is easily the highlight of the book. Everything comes together and gets elevated to the next level. 

The central elements of the plot are very well done (not a surprise, based on the author’s note). The magic shows are detailed but not overly so. The concept behind motion pictures is explained but not in excess. This ensures that the focus stays on the characters and the plot. 

The plot includes quite a few themes like love, found family, regrets, loss, etc. These are seamlessly woven with other elements to create a cohesive story. There’s drama, action, romance, magic, intrigue, suspense, danger, and a HEA. 

The book has itsy-bitsy pieces of magic realism. I was excited to see more of it, but it ends up as a plot device than an independent entity. While the author’s note answers why (the book was supposed to be about magic tricks, motion pictures, and theatre), I still feel the touch of real magic could have been more. 

The same goes for the teeny elements of dark magic. We get hints of it in Skarratt’s scenes, but it all ends up fake. I sure wouldn’t mind if some of it was real (even if the guy didn’t know it was). It would have added more personality and depth to his character (which is possibly the weakest in the cast, given how typically villainous he is). 

I still can’t point out what, why, or how but something’s missing from Cec’s character development. I’ve tried hard to identify it, and the closest I can get is that her arc is restrained and held back to suit the plot. Cec is a strong character on many fronts (and her being a teen only adds to it). However, she gets to bloom only in the second half (in the last quarter, to be precise). 

To summarize, The Illusions is a wholesome entertainer that blends different elements with ease. It takes time at the beginning but is worthy read in many ways. This is my first book by the author, and I’d love to read her future works. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK, and Manilla Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheIllusions