Recent Reads- Persian-inspired fantasy, YA contemporary, and a grump x sunshine romance

alright, so here’s the thing-

I read 21 books in 2 months. That’s definitely lower than my usual. This has been kind of a trend lately, but honestly, it wasn’t realistically possible for me to read more than this because I was already pushing the limits of my parents and my teachers’ patience and hugely overestimating my capability to stay on top of school work and Ramadhan things.

BUT I am so happy with some of the books I read. I started a series that I had on my TBR for more than a year and fell completely in love with it. I also read some really fun and beautiful books that made me so happy. I also read a classic that wasn’t a part of my school syllabus and actually enjoyed it. So there’s that character development too. Thanks @ throneofpages.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

This Woven Kingdom is guilty-pleasure at its peak. I had such an incredibly fun time reading this. There’s a lot to love about this story, especially the kind-of self-aware fairytale tropes that it uses, along with a seemingly picture-perfect Prince. It feels like being in a fairytale, with lyrical writing and an almost-almost Cinderella-like story (but if Cinderella kicked the bad guy's ass and got herself out of all the trouble herself, and if the fairy godmother was literally the Devil himself. Two Devils, actually ; ) iuykuk

the writing is almost as if it’s been translated from Persian

I am learning how to do Arabic translations, and the sentence structure and the metaphors used in the author’s writing are so similar to the Persian/Arabic style of writing. I really appreciate that, because somehow it's this extra layer of detail added in that makes the experience feel so unique while reading, despite the slightly predictable plot.

I love the addition of the lore of Jinns, (and Jinns, not djinns). because I knew these stories and was a little over the moon seeing them in such a fantastic story. And I knew it was not a huge thing, but the whole aesthetic of the story, with the mosaic walls, dome-shaped palaces, with tiny rose-water pools felt so familiar and yet so new for a fantasy story. I loved that. (Also how cool is it to see a character perform ablution and not be a huge thing? Just something that’s part of his routine).

characters

Alizeh- I am LOVE with the character of Alizeh. She is a character so subdued in her strength. There’s nothing flashy about it, despite the things that happen around her- which we’ll get to in a second. Her strength lies not her in physical prowess or magic, but in her compassion and kind heart. She is also very smart. In an academic sense, as well as street smarts. For ex: we, as the readers know what the enemy is planning, so we can tell what's going to happen. But Alizeh is not far behind. It’s so satisfying when the main character is able to deduce the same danger the reader suspects because it tells you that they can put two and two together and are not just like, superficially smart.

Kamran- Then there’s Kamran, the love interest, who does his of being the love interest with dedication and gusto. It’s kinda insta-lovey, but I didn’t really mind. Kamran, the prince, is being forced by his shady grandfather that he loves and admires- to kill none other than Alizeh. Kamran is someone whose heart has been softened after seeing the horrors of war, and he is not ready to put an innocent girl to the sword when she has never done anything to incite trouble for the kingdom. But also because he is starting to fall in love with her unconditional generosity and forgiveness. He is perplexed by the kindness she shows people who treat her absolutely wretchedly, or even outright try to kill her.

The relations between the side characters are well fleshed-out. The relationship between Kamran and his grandfather, and Kamran and Hazan is really interesting. Hazan especially has become one of my favorite side characters. One of the side characters, Cyrus, was only present for like 30 pages only and he made such a huge impression on me.

overall thoughts

There were some twists that I didn’t expect, and the characters introduced made the story take an unprecedented direction. I was smiling, and somehow on the edge- of my seat throughout the second half. And that ending was definitely a holy-shit kinda ending. That whole chapter, actually. The burning chemistry, the writing, and the intrigue all made it such an entertaining and engaging story. (And the sequel gets better and nobody could’ve predicted what happened in that!)

Make Me Fall by Riley Nash

This book reminded me so much of Where We Left Off by Roan Parrish, and it was just as good, if not more. There are similar character dynamics with a sort of grump x sunshine; young, coming-of-age into adult life character x slightly older got-his-life-together, equation.

We follow our two main characters, Jonah and Gray, who couldn’t be more different from each other. Jonah is fresh out of college I think, while Gray is a very famous, cut-throat lawyer in a semi-well-adjusted adult life. They first meet on a plane ride where they hook up, expecting to never see each other again. BUT of course that’s not what happens (THANK GOD).

The chemistry between them is electrifying, and I loved when they gave in to that attraction. I feel so shame in admitting that I thoroughly enjoyed all the smutty scenes, and they were soo well well-written at that. This book made me feel so many emotions, ugh. I didn’t expect to get this attached to the characters. the soft kissing, the cuddling, the arguments even, all had me hooked with my heart in my throat. I was in love with Jonah’s obnoxious positivity and hope, and Gray just made me feel so grounded and warm.

They are adorable, your honor. I’ll lay down and they can step on me. (Also just Gray in lawyer mode ripping everybody to shreds is my new kink) (Men in black suits, come on).

"If I were taken back to the beginning again and again if I were offered all the choices in the universe, I would always choose each and every step that led me here, no matter how much they hurt."

Their contradictory personalities almost balanced each other out. Jonah has been literally described as “made of sunshine and wicked smiles, pure and breathtaking.” While Gray is described as stoic and very guarded. Despite their differences, there is no miscommunication or toxic behaviors’ by any one of them. Which I consider I should be grateful for these days.

Quite the opposite actually- Jonah and Gray are constantly supporting and praising each other. Whenever one of them starts hating on themselves or putting themselves down, the other-no matter what conversation they’re having will swoop in to make them stop doing that negative self-talk and hug them. They’re each other’s big cheerleaders, no doubt about that. They truly help each other grow, and it's a beautiful thing to witness.

"What is the path that leads to love? What strange nights and wrong turns and what mysteries? What is the moment you open your eyes and find your heart split into two where it was once whole."

This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang

I had been craving some light fun romance at the time I started this book, and it was such a perfect fit for that. We follow the story of Eliza Lin, a young teenager who is an aspiring journalist. We follow her story as she joins a new high school in Beijing, and gets embroiled in a fake-dating scheme that goes from a simple lie to an entertainment scandal.

plot

The plot is a little bit unrealistic, but also so realistic at the same time. Like its hard to explain. Some of the things that happen seem very unlikely to just coincidentally happen in real life, but the consequences and how the characters deal with them are very real. You just have to accept what happens in those first few 25 to 50 pages, no matter what your rational sense says. And then you are good for the rest of the ride!

characters and themes

Through the character of Eliza, we get an insight into a young Chinese girl who is complex and relatable. Her mom is a prolific businesswoman, so she has moved tens of times all over the world since she was a child. She struggles with making long-term friendships.

Friendship, as it happens, is one of the main themes of the story, which ties into the subplot of Eliza and her best friend. Eliza is terrified of getting too attached to people and then losing them when she has to eventually move again. She has gone through fading friendships many times, and every time it gets more painful. She only has one best friend that’s stayed with her throughout jumping states and countries, but life happens and this time around she just might lose that one precious friend too. Eliza holds this relationship very dear, and all her fears and anxieties about this are so, so relatable and I appreciated the emphasis on platonic friendships so much in this story.

Another aspect was her passion for writing and journalism. Whenever she would talk about her dreams of becoming a writer or joining a particular magazine, I felt so seen.

The other main character, Caz, is a famous teen actor. He is not just a one-dimensional love interest. Rather, opposite of the arrogant and self-absorbed person you might think he may be. when we get a closer look, we discover his insecurities and vulnerabilities that remind us that he is still almost a child. Eliza sees him as someone whose life is perfect: he never has any problem making friends, he is extremely popular and good-looking, yada, yada, yada… But piece by piece, the author breaks down that misconception and he is revealed to be a very lovable, sweet, and caring person.

And what comes as a surprise to no one, except Eliza obviously, is that his apparent effortlessness and confidence come through a lot of effort. He dedicates time to caring for things like his hair and his skin (because his whole career kinda needs those two things to be a certain way) and we get a glimpse of how he feels insecure about his appearance despite everybody thinking he is so flawless. He has a strained relationship with his parents who are medical professionals that aren’t home most of the time. He feels alienated from his peers because of how different and demanding his life is. He is used to not asking others for help, but since he is not very good at writing, he and Eliza, the MC, make a deal where she helps him with his college applications, and in return, he will pretend to be her boyfriend so that she can sell that story for an internship at a magazine.

overall thoughts

I think the best kind of romance book is where you fall in love with both the characters as their separate selves and as a couple- and this book did that spectacularly well. The book has just the right amount of angst and it’s almost a slow burn with the romance. It doesn’t feel rushed. The author gives enough time for the characters to have an emotional connection with each other, and resist a bit even after that so that the payoff is even more satisfying. (there’s an uhm- interesting arguing in the rain scene). There are cute scenes, emotional scenes, and funny and wholesome scenes. You get great chemistry and incredible character development. It’s a quintessential perfect YA rom-com IMO and a perfect summer read!

Brighter than the Sun by Daniel Aleman

This book is such an unassuming yet powerful story. There is quiet resilience and patience in our main character, Soledad. She is someone who is so patient and hard-working and responsible, and even though she’s not the oldest sibling, she gives firstborn daughter.

This book gives the readers a very close look at the effects financial difficulties can have on a family. How difficult it is to be in a situation where you have to face a devastating personal loss and yet keep working hard to just make ends meet. Soledad, or as we refer to her “Sol”’s, family lives in Tijuana, a town right at the Mexican-American border. Since she was the only one who was technically born as a US citizen in her family, she had been able to get a better education in the US.

plot

At present, because her family is struggling financially, she has to get a part-time job in the US so she can help them out. She also has to temporarily move in with her best friend’s family. We explore how that separation from her family after losing her mother is so painful for her. But at the same time, it provides her with this much-needed emotional distance she needed from the pervasive sadness and negativity that had started to take root in her household.

Her life working a late-night job, no matter how much freedom she has now, is physically exhausting and mentally taxing. That feeling of tiredness seeps through the pages to your hands, as if you’re going through this time with her. She has a younger brother who is in middle school, and she acts almost like a mother figure to him. Both of them are really close, and seeing their relationship get through this distance where she is not able to protect him and be there for him as much is heartbreaking. It's one of the most heart-touching, adorable bonds that I’ve read about in a while.

There is also a subplot about a fellow Mexican-American student who gets in trouble because he got into a fight in school, which adds more weight to the precarious position of non-white students in America who are one toe out of the line away from deportation.

gushing, basically

It’s such a good book for a YA audience because it is immensely relatable and inspiring. The feeling that you take away after reading this is of so much strength and hope and love. I think it hits all the beats. It talks about important thematic issues, it focuses on character development and her relationship with the side characters. It is so well-rounded. It also shows us how even though we focus on how difficult and exhausting life has become for Sol, it acknowledges that there are people in more difficult situations than her too. I think this book is a lesson in empathy and hope.

time to chat!

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you all liked this new style of posting. I'm truly trying to be sincere with all the reviews I have to write. I have been reading some great books lately and I would be even more glad if you all would share your writing updates with me. Find me on any of my socials!