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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [BOOK REVIEW] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling [BOOK REVIEW]

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 766

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★★

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My Thoughts:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the largest book in the series. With the movies, you will notice how with every movie, the theme gets darker and darker. For the books, it starts with the Goblet of Fire, and continues into the Order of the Phoenix. The dangers they are in are getting graver by the second and death is looming in every corner.

I have realised that the older I get, the more I love this book. This is the book where we meet Luna Lovegood, a character that is impossible to forget. She lives in her own little weird world, unaffected by others, and I love that so much.

“Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure”, said Luna in a singing voice.

We also find out more mysteries inside Hogwarts, such as the Room of Requirement – a place that will become incredibly important to Harry, Ron and Hermione. A place that will serve as the starting ground to a group Harry will create – called Dumbledore’s Army. I couldn’t help but admire their togetherness. Everyone in the DA was there for the same reason, all of them practising magic spells and getting ready for an inevitable battle that no one wants to be part of, but seems imminent.

We also get to see the dark side of things – Voldemort now gaining power and blindly going for what he wants. We also get to meet another horrible person – yes, you guessed it – Dolores Umbridge. I think it’s impossible to find a Potterhead that doesn’t hate the guts of this woman, and I am no exception. The challenges Harry goes through in this book are extremely hard. He faces danger, pain, huge loss and the constant reminder that he’s being chased by the same person who killed his parents.

I feel like this is the book in which we see Harry really mature as a person.

After Cedric’s death and Voldemort’s comeback, something in Harry changes greatly and we can instantly notice it. The ending is incredibly sad and I felt for Harry and the whole crew. However, a lot of things became clearer in the story and I am looking forward to seeing what the next one brings.

On a lighter note, I will leave the below excerpt from the ever-funny Mr. Weasley. It never gets old:

“Third regurgitating public toilet reported in Bethnal Green, kindly investigate immediately.” This is getting ridiculous…

“A regurgitating toilet?”

“Anti-muggle pranksters,” said Mr. Weasley, frowning. “We had two last week, one in Wimbledon, one in Elephant and Castle. Muggles are pulling the flush and instead of everything disappearing – well, you can imagine. The poor things keep calling in those – pumbles, I think they’re called – you know, the ones who mend pipes and things.”

“Plumbers?”

“Exactly, yes, but of course they’re flummoxed. I only hope we can catch whoever’s doing it.”

About the Author:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling [BOOK REVIEW]

J.K. Rowling is a British author born in Yate, England, on July 31, 1965, who gained worldwide fame for writing the Harry Potter series. After conceiving the idea for the series on a delayed train in 1990, she wrote the books while on public assistance in Edinburgh, Scotland. The first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was published in 1997. She also writes the Cormoran Strike crime fiction series under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

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Heart the Lover by Lily King [BOOK REVIEW] Heart the Lover by Lily King [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Heart the Lover by Lily King [BOOK REVIEW]

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Heart the Lover by Lily King [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Heart the Lover by Lily King [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 256

Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★

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My Thoughts:

“You knew I’d write a book about you someday.”

I adored “Heart the Lover” for multiple reasons. The first one is reading the book as a readalong. Thanks to the team at Adventures With Words, around 20 of us read the book over a week and discussed it as we went on. I would definitely recommend this book as a book club pick! The second reason was the writing itself. Even though I didn’t always agree with our narrator, the story was so beautifully written. It was emotional, raw and lyrical and I kept wanting to read more after reading the daily pages. 

“And still, there is this sense that I could express it all in just one nonexistent word and you would understand exactly what I mean.”

We don’t know the name of our female narrator, but she is very honest and vulnerable with us. At moments, it felt like I was reading someone’s diary. It also pained me to see how gullible and too trusting she was in certain situations. 

I liked the other characters as well.

Sam maybe not so much. I didn’t like his actions and behaviour, but I liked his depth and how good of a friend he was to Yash. When it comes to Yash, I liked him from the very beginning, but started to lose trust later on. I liked his funny, caring and polite sides to him. The relationship our narrator has with them is very complicated and tangled. It annoyed me that the lack of communication seemed to be a common theme in the book and the biggest downfall. 

“I couldn’t trust you again with my heart.”

As the time goes on and years pass, the book becomes way more emotional. All the feelings people have seem to come to the surface at one time and they cannot run away from them. Without revealing too much, I will only say that the mood shifts significantly and the pages ooze with nostalgia, regrets, secrets kept and truths left unspoken. 

“You have your regrets and I have mine. I sit on the porch step for a while, thinking about life’s tricks, the ones we see, the ones we don’t.”

“Heart the Lover” is a beautifully written book that will take you on an emotional journey and make you nostalgic about your college days. Get your tissues ready and give this book a go!

About the Author:

Heart the Lover by Lily King [BOOK REVIEW]

Lily King is the award-winning author of six novels. Her most recent novel, Heart the Lover was published on September 30th, 2025. She has also published a collection of short stories, Five Tuesdays in Winter. Her 2020 novel, Writers & Lovers, won the New England Society Book Awards and was a New York Times Notable Book and chosen as a top-ten best book of 2020 by The Washington Post, NPR, People Magazine, and The Los Angeles Times. Her 2014 novel Euphoria won the Kirkus Award, the New England Book Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award. Euphoria was named one of the 10 Best Books of 2014 by The New York Times Book Review. It was included in TIME’s Top 10 Fiction Books of 2014, as well as on Amazon, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, and Salon’s Best Books of 2014.

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Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW] Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]

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Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 369

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format I read it in: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★

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My Thoughts:

Paul Sheldon is the writer of the bestselling series that has Misery as the main character. And he’s finally done with the series and kills her off for good. He’s gone out to celebrate this relief. Misery made him money, but he was bored of writing about what fans wanted to read. But then a car accident happens, and he wakes up splintered and in pain, in the remote mountain home of his rescuer, Annie Wilkes. 

The great news is that Annie was a nurse and has painkilling drugs. The bad news is that she has been Paul’s number one fan. And when she finds out what Paul has done to misery, she doesn’t like it. Oh, no, she doesn’t like it at all…

I found this story so fascinating and thrilling. It goes without saying that it captivated me instantly. Stephen King has this remarkable ability to take you in some deep waters, where you freak out before you are able to fully admire his work. Because there is so much more to this story than just a psycho fan with a para-social relationship.

How about we start with Paul first?

His relationship with his character, Misery. He hates writing about her and he dreads writing those book series. The relief he felt when he finally finished the series. The excitement that he can now start focusing on another book in a completely different genre. And yet, with Misery he found success. Misery is all the fans want to hear about. And the most incredibly disturbing thing happens. In captivity, in such abuse, with so much pain – writing another Misery novel is something that makes him escape reality. Talk about human psychology, eh?

“But both discovered that good advice was sometimes easier to give than to receive.”

So many aspects of this book captivated me. Annie’s history and Paul slowly discovering everything. His close calls and his punishments. His thoughts about the book and the moment he made a certain decision (at the end of the book). The aftermath of everything and how it was all wrapped up… Stephen King didn’t disappoint again and I cannot wait for the next trauma I’m willingly about to accept by reading another one of his masterpieces.

About the Author:

Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]

Stephen King is a prolific American author, born in Portland, Maine, in 1947, best known for his horror, supernatural fiction, and fantasy works. He began his career in the 1960s, with his first novel, Carrie, published in 1974. A hugely successful and influential writer, King has sold hundreds of millions of books and is a recipient of numerous awards.

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW] Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 406

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Romantasy

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★★

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My Thoughts:

When I truly love a book, I keep a note of my favourite quotes, and “Throne of Glass” was no different. Sarah J. Maas has that ability to instantly transport you into a world full of magic and wonder.

In this case, we were transported to Erilea and our main character is the incredible assassin lady, Celaena Sardothien. Captured and in prison, she is visited by the Crown Prince, who makes her an offer she cannot refuse. If she wins a competition, she will be free. But the competition in question involves killing twenty-three warriors, killers and thieves, a fight until death to become the king’s champion.

As soon as I started reading, I was hooked and intrigued. I have read the prequel, “The Assassin’s Blade”, prior to reading Throne of Glass, so I was aware of Celaena’s past, but I liked the fact that it didn’t impact this story and it could be read independently. 

I loved her connection with the Crown Prince.

Her reservation, the mystery surrounding her past and the events that kept occurring added to the slow burn romance. I am really eager to see how this develops in the next books.

I also loved the competition itself, and Sarah J. Maas is known for making a worthy competition. The different tasks and stages were very entertaining. I didn’t quite enjoy the mystery part though. It felt rushed, and then everything happened at once, all to end with a cliffhanger. But then, as I am writing this, I remember it’s Sarah J. Maas we are talking about. Of course it will all kick off in the last 30 pages. And of course we are left with a cliffhanger. I can’t even be mad about it. And of course, I’ll be there, always eager to read the next book. I just hope it’s as good as this one.

Favourite Quotes:

“He found her beautiful, if a bit strange and sour. It was something in the way that her eyes sparked when she looked at something lovely in the landscape. He couldn’t understand it.”

“Guards are of no use in a library.” Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas – perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”

“Celaena smiled as she watched the Crown Prince of Adarlan lead the Princess of Eyllwe through the basic steps of fencing. He was charming, she supposed. In an arrogant sort of way. But someone with his title could have been far, far worse. It made her uneasy how he’d made her blush. In fact, he was so attractive that she had difficulty not thinking about how attractive he was, and again wondered why he wasn’t married.”

“Damn him for being so handsome.”

“The notes burst from her fingers, staggering at first, but then more confidently as the emotion in the music took over. It was a mournful piece, but it made her into something clean and new. She was surprised that her hands had not forgotten, that somewhere in her mind, after a year of darkness and slavery, music was still alive and breathing. That somewhere, between the notes, was Sam. She forgot about time as she drifted between pieces, voicing the unspeakable, opening old wounds, playing and playing as the sound forgave and saved her.”

“He didn’t know why, but seeing her made him feel like a man. She was something out of a dream – a dream in which he was not a spoiled young prince, but a king.”

“We all bear scars, Dorian. Mine just happen to be more visible than most.”

About the Author:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages. She lives in New York City with her family.

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW] Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]

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Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 304

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★★

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My Thoughts:

“Drowning” took me on a journey and gave me all the feels. I really wish I could read this book sooner. It starts with a plane struggling as soon as it lifts off. Very soon, it becomes obvious that their only option is to ditch. 

“The term “last-ditch” is used to describe an effort that is made at the end of a long line of failures. It is the final attempt and is not expected to succeed. In aviation, the emergency landing of an aircraft on water is called a ditching.”

When I think of ditching, the successful attempt in the Hudson River always comes to mind. But it’s scary to think that the Hudson River ditching was the lucky exception, and this kind of emergency landing usually ends up with a lot of casualties.

I cannot reveal too much of the plot, because I don’t want to spoil anything. But during the evacuation, whilst the aircraft is under water, the engine explodes and starts flooding the plane. Those that are still alive are forced to close the doors, but despite this, the plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers still trapped inside. What used to be a plane has now essentially become a submarine, and a team of divers is working to launch a rescue mission and save the people trapped. 

To make things more intriguing, one of the professional divers is Chris. And she happens to be Shannon’s mum and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife. And both Shannon and Will are – you guessed it – trapped inside the plane, two hundred feet underwater. This was the only part that I didn’t really like. I mean, come-on, what are the chances? But I went with it, and enjoyed seeing the stakes being raised because a diver had someone they cared about in there. I would also like to note that if this wasn’t the case, the outcome at the end of the book would have been very different. 

Aside from that issue, the book delivered in every possible way.

As a thriller, it had all the intensity and fast-pace that I could ever want. Then, on top of that, the book was quite emotional. It made me cry so many times. Ruth and Ira, I am looking at you! I also surprisingly enjoyed all the technical details. The mission planning and the team brainstorming ideas with the resources and time restraints they were facing. The multiple plot twists also came at perfect moments. I really enjoyed the idea of the book and it delivered every expectation I had. It satiated my thirst for plane crashes – I’m that person that watches all the plane crash documentaries and podcasts. Now I’ll probably start watching submarine documentaries too. If this book sounds like it might be your cup of tea, I am 90% certain hat it will be, and urge you to give it a go.

About the Author:

Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]

T.J. NEWMAN is a former bookseller and flight attendant whose first novel, Falling, became a publishing sensation and debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list. Her second novel, Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 was an instant New York Times bestseller. Both books made a number of best book of the year list, are published in thirty-five countries and will soon be major motion pictures after selling in two separate headline making seven-figure deals: Falling with Universal Pictures, and Drowning with Warner Brothers. T.J. lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

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