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sarong party girls book review books diaryofdifference diary of difference blog blogging blogger asian cheryl lu-lien tan author readersfirst Sarong Party Girls by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan
Book Review · Books

Sarong Party Girls by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

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sarong party girls book review books diaryofdifference diary of difference blog blogging blogger asian cheryl lu-lien tan author readersfirst

★★★

A quick Chick-Lit, written in Singlish, an English-based patois that Singaporeans speak to each other. It was interesting and unique, and given the fact that I haven’t read anything like this before, I genuinely enjoyed the writing. This is my first book from Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan. 

Our main heroine in this book is Jazzy, a 27-year-old, born and living in Singapore. In her mind, she is getting old and her time to get married is running out. 

But Jazzy doesn’t want to just marry anyone, especially not the Asian boys she keeps seeing in the clubs, or the ones that are so traditional and bring her mum soup in the mornings. She wants to marry an English Man, become rich, move abroad and have his babies. 

To achieve this, Jazzy and her friends make a deal to start going into clubs and places and meet their perfect English men. They become Sarong Party Girls, and from chapter to chapter we read about new adventures and troubles that Jazzy gets herself into. 

This book is unique in many ways, there are a lot of immoral scenes that teach us moral lessons. There is so much culture in this book and it’s nice to see how people tolerate moral levels differently in another part of the world. 

I didn’t like Jazzy, and I didn’t agree with almost anything she was doing. From chapter to chapter she kept making stupid decisions, and even though she learnt a little bit in the end, she was still clueless at so many things, which I find annoying. 

As much as I loved the refreshing taste of culture this book gave me, I also didn’t enjoy the main character at all, and am struggling to give it anything more than three stars. 

It is an amazing book, with quality writing that I am sure represents Singaporeans well, culture a plenty and many scenes that trigger discussions. But if you are looking for your perfect character, you won’t find this is Jazzy. You won’t find it in Sarong Party Girls. 

Thank you to ReadersFirst and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
| Amazon UK |Amazon US |

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down the tbr hole post book review books blog diary of difference diaryofdifference ivana reads reading goodreads tag booklovers Down The TBR Hole #43 | Down The TBR Hole Tag
Books · Down The TBR Hole Tag

Down The TBR Hole #43 | Down The TBR Hole Tag

innah965 Comments

down the tbr hole post book review books blog diary of difference diaryofdifference ivana reads reading goodreads tag booklovers

Welcome to the 43rd edition of my Down The TBR Hole Posts.

This weekend I have interesting selection to go through with you…

How Down the TBR Hole works: 

❤ 1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
❤ 2. Order on ascending date added.
❤ 3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
❤ 4. Read the synopsis of the books.
❤ 5. Time to Decide: keep it or should it go

Here’s the next patch:

down the tbr hole romance book blog goodreads netgalley love diary of difference diaryofdifference tomi adeyemi children of blood and bone children of virtue and vengeance isabel sterling these withces don't burn marie lu legend warcross sofia khan ayisha malik

➥ The Disappearance of the Girl by Blake Verone

I am not sure how I have this on my TBR list, but it’s not a book I would pick up now.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Spehen King

A book from Stephen King. I would love to read all his books, but the next one I will read from him is IT, so this one will go for now.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ Sofia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik

I actually think I removed this book once, and then re-added it, and now here I am, about to remove it again…

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ The Named by Marianne Curley

It seems intriguing and interesting, but I am trying to get away from these type of fantasy mysteries right now.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ Darkfever (Fever, #1) by Karen Marie Moning

I am usually screaming after paranormal fantasies with a romance theme, but I don’t know why this one doesn’t appeal to me?

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by Jesophine Leslie

A classic romance that I think I will keep – only because I love the old-fashioned writing styles and romance, how slow it was and not as predictable.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

➥ The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

Interesting story and synopsis – but I think I will pass on this one, the only reason being I don’t think I will connect on personal level with the characters or the story.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy

Honestly, I am not sure I will enjoy this at all…

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ Legend (Legend, #1) by Marie Lu

Marie Lu? Yes, please.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

➥ The Iron Tree (The Crowthistle Chronicles, #1) by Cecilia Dart-Thornton

It seems like a great story I would’ve enjoyed a few years ago. Not today.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

flower-divider-flower-dividers-clip-art-flowers-line-divider-stock-vector-illustration-of-elegantI removed 8 books this time. Great progress! 

This is how my TBR list looks like now.

Which books would you keep or remove? Let me know in the comments.

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nightingale point luan goldie books book review diaryofdifference hq hqstories harper collins publishers arc copy london UK england bestseller Nightingale Point by Luan Goldie
Book Review · Books

Nightingale Point by Luan Goldie

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nightingale point luan goldie books book review diaryofdifference hq hqstories harper collins publishers arc copy london UK england bestseller

★★★★★

One ordinary day. One extraordinary event. Their lives changed forever. 

Nightingale Point is a book that shows the aftermath of a terrible disaster. A story about many people’s lives, how this event changed them and their recovery and grief.

BEFORE

The book starts with giving us a brief description of people living in two neighboring buildings. We get to know their daily routines, their worries and hopes. We get a glimpse of their everyday lives and start to care for them.

We meet Mary, who has moved from the Philippines into the UK to persue her career as a nurse. Her husband is always away and her children are distant.

We meet the brothers Tristan and Malachi – they have a tragedy of their own, and Mary is like their mum. Tristan is the naughty 16-year-old and Malachi is the older, more responsible brother.

Then we meet Pamela, a 16-year-old who loves running and falls in love with Malachi. However, her racist dad forbids her to see Malachi and locks her inside the building,

We see Elvis as well, who has learning disabilities and lives with his carer. He gets bullied by Tristan one day when Tristan spits in his face.

AFTER

On 4th May 1996, a plane crashes into these two buildings at Nightingale Point and everything changes.

Every resident that lives on Nightingale Point has a before and after story. The ones that survived, but also the ones that didn’t.

This is a story about how much one event can turn your life upside down, how it can change you and also how much little things mean in life, but we forget them so often.

I found it amusing that we had different chapters from different people’s perspectives, and each character had its own different writing style and life to it. This was amazingly done by the author. I found the chapters with Elvis especially refreshing, as they were so heartwarming.

Based on real tragic events – the crash in Bijlmer, Amsterdam and also the fire in Grenfell Tower, the author did a wonderful job in showing the readers the true pain, trauma and the battle of moving forward when a tragedy happens.

Guys, if you haven’t read this book, please pick it up. It will be a hit and it will change your life. Every time I look at this book, I will remember how much little things matter in life and will always call my dad and ask him how he’s doing. Because it matters.

Thank you to the team at HQ for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
| Amazon UK |

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down the tbr hole post book review books blog diary of difference diaryofdifference ivana reads reading goodreads tag booklovers Down The TBR Hole #42 | Down The TBR Hole Tag
Books · Down The TBR Hole Tag

Down The TBR Hole #42 | Down The TBR Hole Tag

innah96Leave a comment

down the tbr hole post book review books blog diary of difference diaryofdifference ivana reads reading goodreads tag booklovers

Welcome to the 42nd edition of my Down The TBR Hole Posts.

This weekend I have interesting selection to go through with you…

How Down the TBR Hole works: 

❤ 1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
❤ 2. Order on ascending date added.
❤ 3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
❤ 4. Read the synopsis of the books.
❤ 5. Time to Decide: keep it or should it go

Here’s the next patch:

down the tbr hole romance book blog goodreads netgalley love diary of difference diaryofdifference tomi adeyemi children of blood and bone children of virtue and vengeance isabel sterling these withces don't burn

➥ The Quaker (Duncan McCormack #1) by Liam McIlvanney

I have this as an e-ARC copy. I love the mystery around it, and I think I will enjoy reading it and finding out the entire truth.

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

➥ In a Time of Monsters: Travels Through a Middle East in Revolt by Emma Sky

I am excited about this read, as it’s out of my comfort zone, and I am wondering whether I will be bored or intrigued.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

➥ Eternal Love by Karimah Colden

The sequel of Karimah Colden’s series. I enjoyed the first book – Eternal Soul, even though I had a few issues here and there. I will read the second book as well, only to find out if it ends better…

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

➥ Days of Wonder by Keith Stuart

A beautiful synopsis, of a story I know I will adore and cry. A father-daughter relationship that I can’t help but compare to the relationship I have with my father – which is so unimaginable and precious to me. I can’t wait to read this book.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

➥ Singapore Boxer (Ash Carter #3) by Murray Bailey

Even though a third book of a series, it can be read as a standalone. A mystery (which I love) that involves a bit of martial arts (which I also love). I think this is a win-win situation.

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

➥ Improvement by Joan Silber

I still don’t know what this book is about, but I was said to not read any synopsis and just dive straight into it. I would not usually pick this type of book in the shop, but I do own it and all books I own deserve a chance.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

➥ Senlin Ascends (The Books of Babel, #1) by Josiah Bancroft

This book is here today because of the one and only Melanie from MelToTheAny. I have been wanting to read this for a while now, and I still haven’t bought it. I should do that soon.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

➥ Taliesin (The Pendragon Cycle #1) by Stephen R. Lawhead

Even though it does seem interesting, I think I will pass on this one for now.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ Sorry by Zoran Drvenkar

It seems like a mystery I might enjoy, but I already own so many mysteries and can’t justify buying more until I get my mystery TBR pile low.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

➥ Don’t Turn Out the Lights by Bernard Minier

I think the same applies here…

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

flower-divider-flower-dividers-clip-art-flowers-line-divider-stock-vector-illustration-of-elegantI removed 3 books this time. Not great, but still a progress.
This is how my TBR list looks like now.

Which books would you keep or remove? Let me know in the comments.

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Book review blog blogging netgalley goodreads books reading reader summer's end kristy brown young adultt ya romance fantasy Summer’s End by Kristy Brown
Book Review · Books

Summer’s End by Kristy Brown

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Book review blog blogging netgalley goodreads books reading reader summer's end kristy brown young adultt ya romance fantasy

★★★

Summer’s End is a Young-Adult romance, with a fantasy twist – an interesting and unique book I didn’t expect to read.

First of all – let’s all take a minute to cherish the cover. It is so pink and shiny, and I admit it, it was the first thing that made me read this book. Gorgeous cover!!!

Summer wakes up in a hospital, but she doesn’t remember anything from her past. They tell her she was in a fire accident and barely survived. Before she is ready, she starts going to uni with her two best friends who are helping her remember the past. But when she gets near this one boy, she feels something she has felt before…

Dooney has been training his whole life to kill her when the time is right. She is dangerous and he knows this. He has been trying to locate her for a long time now. And when he finally knows where she is, she makes him feel other things than hatred.

A very quick-paced book with lots of dialogues and quick chapters. Summer’s End make me turn pages constantly, until I finally got to the end. It was very captivating.

The beginning was great, it lured me in instantly, getting me hooked to both character’s lives. However, I didn’t quite enjoy the romance between the two. It felt too fast, too pushed and over the top. This is because of all the repetitive scenes where Summer would faint when he is near and they would always feel each other’s presence. It just didn’t feel real to me.

Saying this though, the ending was amazing and the romance got a bit better at the very end.

Apart from a few plot holes and the romance, I did enjoy this book a lot. If you love YA, I do recommend that you check this book out!

Thank you to the author, Kristy Brown, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
| Amazon UK | Amazon US |

Social Media:
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest