I read 13 (!!!) books in May. If you’re wondering how this happened, I was on vacation for the first week and pretty much read a book a day. So let’s dive right in!
Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton
This is the final book in the Tiny Pretty Things series, which is also now a show on Netflix (no I have not watched it yet).
The book picks up pretty soon after the events that end Tiny Pretty Things and I’m not going to say much more other than places are swapped and there’s a very satisfying end.
If you were a fan of the 2000 “classic” Center Stage, you will like this series.
Overall grade: A-
Hana Khan Carries On: Uzma Jalaluddin
I’m a big fan of Uzma Jalaluddin’s writing. Her books are all set in the desi (South Asian) Muslim community in Canada but unlike a lot of stories of Muslim pain, these are joyful and romantic!
Hana Khan Carries On has been described as “You’ve Got Mail” set in competing halal restaurants, and it’s the most appropriate description.
Three Sisters Biryani Poutine is the only halal restaurant in the close knit Golden Crescent Neighborhood, and when a new restaurant is set to open, Hana and her family must fight to retain their clientele. Throw in Hana’s real passion - her career in radio and an aunt and cousin who come in from India for a surprise visit and you have all the makings of a really pleasant and amusing romcom.
Overall grade: B+/A-
Accidentally Engaged: Farah Heron
As the library gods would have it, I ended up reading two books about desi Canadian Muslims in a row, but the protagonists in Hana Khan and Accidentally Engaged are every different.
Reena Manji doesn’t love her career, her love life or her family meddling in her life - her real passion is cooking! When her dad moves his newest employee across the hallway from Reena, he’s hoping that Reena and Nadim fall in love.
To get her parents off her back, and to enter a couple’s cooking competition, Reena and Nadim agree to become fake-engaged. This is a romcom, so you know how this goes.
Read this if you like The Proposal and/or The Wedding Date.
Overall grade: B+/A-
Her Dark Lies: J.T. Ellison
Artist Clair Hunter is set to marry Jack Compton, heir to the wealthy Compton family fortune. Their destination wedding in Isle Isola off the Italian coast should be everything dreams are made of, except the shadow of Jack’s first wife surrounds them.
This was such a fun thriller - if this is a genre you enjoy, highly recommend this book. I read it in a day, and you probably will too!
Overall grade: B+/A-
The Ex Talk: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Shay Goldstein is a producer in public radio, but she’s been clashing with Dominic Yun, her new coworker that’s just off his journalism master’s program. When her struggling radio station is looking to drawn in a new audience, Shay pitches a show where exes will deliver relationship advice live on air.
Except that her bosses want Shay and Dominic to pretend to be exes and host the show together.
This book was so fun and charming - I was smiling nearly all the way through!
Overall grade: A
People We Meet on Vacation: Emily Henry
You’ve probably seen this cover all over Instagram, and for good reason. You should read this book.
Alex & Poppy are complete opposites, but they’ve been best friends since college. Each year they get together for one glorious week of vacation. Until 2 years ago when they had a disastrous trip where they ruined everything.
Poppy decides to convince Alex to take one last trip - will they repair what went wrong?
The book flashes back from the past to the present with each chapter, and honestly, just read this book. You won’t regret it. (FYI, this is a romance)
Overall grade: A
An Ember in the Ashes: Sabaa Tahir
Laia is a slave, Elias is a soldier - they both live in a Martial Empire that is never challenged. When Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, she decides to spy on the Empire in exchange for help from the rebels.
There, Laia meets Elias, the finest soldier in the Empire, and secretly, the most unwilling soldier.
Their destinies are entwined, except they don’t know it yet.
This is book 1 in a series, and it was EXCELLENT.
Overall grade: A
From Blood & Ash, A Kingdom of Flesh & Fire: Jennifer L. Armentrout
I’m combining Books 1 & 2 of this series in one review - you do have to read these in order.
Poppy is a Maiden living a solitary life - she’s not allowed to be touched, seen, interact with people or live free. But Poppy is a rebel and has secret powers that she uses to help people
Hawke is her guard, bound to protect her and ensure her Ascension.
Meanwhile, a fallen kingdom is rising and Hawke has to protect Poppy amidst their rising attraction for each other.
This is definitely not a PG 13 book but is incredibly fast paced. I would describe it as Game of Thrones x Twilight.
Overall grade: A
Much Ado About You: Samantha Young
Evangeline Starling’s life in Chicago is missing something. When she’s passed over for a promotion at work, she impulsively decides to take a sabbatical and spend 3 months in an English village, which includes a temporary stint at a bookstore called Much Ado About Books.
Evie is immediately drawn into life in the village, including Roane Robson, the sexy, flirtatious farmer. But Evie has sworn off men - how long can it last?
Overall, I enjoyed the plot of the book, but there was something about the writing that really annoyed me. For example, Evie keeps stopping to take pictures of things for Instagram - which is a real thing that happens in 2021, but has absolutely nothing to do with moving the plot forward and is SUPER annoying, especially because Instagram has nothing to do with the story at all (she’s not an influencer or a bookstagrammer or anything like that).
Read this if you liked The Holiday.
Overall grade: B- (because of the Instagram nonsense)
Serena Singh Flips the Scrip: Sonya Lalli
My biggest issue with most stories about the South Asian diaspora is that absolutely none of them are close to my experience. This book probably gets the closest in terms of traditions and cultural expectations.
Serena Singh loves her career - marriage and kids don’t factor into her plans at all. Her sister lives the opposite life - having recently been married in a big glamorous wedding. Realizing that her sister’s life is heading in a different direction, Serena decides to try and make new friends.
As Serena let’s new people in, she realizes that relationships really do make life better.
Overall grade: A
This book is not a romance, even if the cover suggests it might be. It’s more about a woman finding herself and creating beautiful platonic relationships.
The Switch: Beth O’Leary
Eileen is sick of being 79 in a village where she can’t find an eligible partner. Leena (Eileen’s granddaughter) is burnt out at work and forced to take a sabbatical.
Eileen and Leena decide to switch lives, with Eileen moving to London and Leena moving to a Yorkshire village.
I loved this book so much - it’s cute and funny and so charming.
Read this book if you enjoyed The Holiday.
Overall grade: A
Ghosts: Dolly Alderton
This book is not released as of this writing but is scheduled to launch on August 3rd 2021.
I loved this book (full review here) and I think it would be an excellent pick for any book club for later summer/fall. There are so many topics to talk about - aging parents, being single in your 30s, being a parent, or being unsure about wanting to be a parent, and so much more.
If you decide you want to read this, please pre-order it since it hugely helps authors. And if you can, pre-order it from your local bookstore!
Overall grade: A.
There you have it! Lots of great beach reads for the summer! Please let me know if you pick up any of them - tag me on Instagram (@bombaytaxiboutique) when you share those reads!
Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate which means that if you purchase any of these books using the links I’ve provided, I earn a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay in any way, and as always, all opinions are 100% my own. For my own reading, I mostly borrow books from my Public Library, and I also have a Book of The Month membership. If you’re interested in Book of the Month, you’re welcome to use my referral link here.