Mixed Signals (Lovelight #3)

By: B.K. Borison
Published Year: 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 335

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Layla Dupree has given up on love.

She’s waded through all of the fish in the sea, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life—despite her best efforts. All she wants is a partner who gives her butterflies, not someone who ghosts her at dinner and leaves her with the check.

Good thing Caleb Alvarez has the perfect solution.

After saving Layla from another date gone bad, he has a simple proposition: One month of no-strings dating. He’ll do his best to renew her faith in men while she rates his dating game. It’s a win-win situation. All the benefits of dating, without the added pressure of feelings and unmet expectations.

But there’s one ingredient they haven’t considered. The chemistry between them is red hot and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla’s double fudge mocha brownies.

Will the heat between them boil over? Or will it be another case of mixed signals?

Mixed Signals is a sweet and steamy small-town romance. Our story features a bashful man who can rock a Hawaiian shirt, a hopeful and dreamy bakery owner, enough sweets to give you a cavity, and your favorite Inglewild residents. Mixed Signals is a standalone romance and the third book in the Lovelight series, a collection of interconnected novels.

First Impression

I’ve been wanting to read Layla’s story since the first novel. I was super excited to read the next instalment in the Lovelight Farms world. I adore all of the covers in this series. You can read my review of the first book here, and the second book here.

What I thought

Chef’s kiss.

Layla has been experiencing nothing but bad dates. On her most recent disaster, she runs into Lovelight Farms Deputy (who has made appearances in previous books) Caleb. He suggests they date each other as an experiment since he hasn’t had much luck dating either, but the truth is he has a huge crush on Layla. She decides to take a chance and break her no dating in town rule for one month.

Layla and Caleb were so perfect. I adored them together. Layla had her insecurities, but Caleb was honestly my perfect man. He was a nice guy and so understanding. I adored his family relationships and how when Layla would have her moment he was a solid presence to help calm her down. I also felt like a little bit of that banter was back that I loved so much in the first book.

Of course, we get appearances from the previous two Lovelight Farms couples. I liked Layla’s overall storyline to. She runs the bakery, but she went to school for something completely different. She struggles with feeling like she’s enough or like her bakery is enough. I liked seeing her growth.

I also liked that even though Caleb was painted as a nice guy and pushover, he was quietly confident. And his crush on Layla was so cute. It was obvious that he was kind of stumbling around her. He is also Latino and I loved how his culture played into the story. I do think this might have been the spiciest of the three, but it never felt forced or out of place.

Another perfect visit to Lovelight Farms. I wish I could visit for real. I will continue to read each and every book set in this town with these characters. I do wonder if I enjoy the stories with the female leads a little more than the male, but I am excited to see in the next book! If you like romance series, you will love this one. Hopefully I’ve convinced you of that by book 3.

The Wake-Up Call

By: Beth O’Leary
Published Year: 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Pages:

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for and honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this novel.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Two hotel receptionists--and arch-rivals--find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way.

It's the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel's front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through.

The hotel won't stay afloat beyond Christmas without some sort of miracle. But when Izzy returns a guest's lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management that this might be the way to fix everything. With four rings still sitting in the lost & found, the race is on for Izzy and Lucas to save their beloved hotel--and their jobs.

As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?

First Impressions

Beth O’Leary is one of my favorite authors. I’ve loved her stories every since The Flat Share. I didn’t even read what the summary of this was before adding it to my list. The cover is a bit meh to me. I don’t dislike it but I don’t know if I would’ve picked it up based off of the cover alone.

What I thought

This book was a little like the cover for me. I didn’t dislike it but I didn’t love it.

Izzy and Lucas work together at the front of the hotel. Or well, they purposefully don’t work together at the front of the hotel. Last Christmas Izzy wrote Lucas a card professing her love (or crush) and Lucas laughed at the card and then kissed her roommate under the mistletoe. Since then they have been only hate and haven’t been able to work the same shift. This Christmas however, in order to save the hotel they have to. While doing so, they decide to sell items that have been in the lost and found to raise money in hopes of saving the hotel. When Izzy finds some old wedding rings, she is determined to find out who they belonged to and give them back, while Lucas thinks it’s a waste of time.

Look, I love me an enemies to lovers story. And I did love Lucas and Izzy and their banter, even though their basis for hatred was a bit flimsy to me. I don’t know what it was about this book that didn’t grab me because on the surface I enjoyed it. I don’t have anything specific to say negative about it. It just took me a while to read it. I never got sucked in and it was easy to put down.

I liked the cast of characters. With the setting being a hotel, there’s always a fun and quirky guest hanging around. I also enjoyed the hotel owners even though they might not be the best business people.

This story is told in dual POV, so you get Izzy’s side of the story and Lucas’. It was cool to have a main character who was Brazilian and I lied how they brought his culture into the story. O’Leary’s novels usually have some heaviness to them so they’re not your typical romance novel. This one had some heaviness but nothing the same as her previous books.

This book is definitely more of a 3.5 star for me. It was enjoyable and Lucas and Izzy had good banter. The characters were enjoyable and I liked the story. I just wish there was something more, but I don’t know what the more is that I want. I would recommend The Flatshare and Road Trip before I recommend this one if you’re looking to get into O’Leary’s books, but if you want something a little lighter this might be a good spot to start for you. I  can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Murder & Mamon

By: Mia P. Manansala
Published Year: 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 304

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this book.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): When murder mars the grand opening for Lila Macapagal’s aunties’ new laundromat, she will have to air out all the dirty laundry in Shady Palms to catch a killer…

Lila Macapagal's godmothers April, Mae, and June—AKA the Calendar Crew—are celebrating the opening of their latest joint business venture, a new laundromat, to much fanfare (and controversy). However, what should’ve been a joyous occasion quickly turns into a tragedy when they discover the building has been vandalized—and the body of Ninang April’s niece, recently arrived from the Philippines, next to a chilling message painted on the floor. The question is, was the message aimed at the victim or Lila's gossipy godmothers, who have not-so-squeaky-clean reputations?

With Ninang April falling apart from grief and little progress from the Shady Palms Police Department in this slippery case, it’s up to Lila and her network to find justice for the young woman.

The Calendar Crew have stuck their noses into everybody’s business for years, but now the tables are turned as Lila must pry into the Calendar Crew’s lives to figure out who has a vendetta against the (extremely opinionated yet loving) aunties and stop them before they strike again.

First Impressions

I read and reviewed book 3 in this series, Blackmail and Bibingka in October last year. I enjoyed it and was excited to see another book in the series! I enjoy the bright pink of this cover and I think it makes a very strong first impression. You can pick this up without reading the other books in the series, but might have some confusion regarding the characters and their relationships.

What I thought

This book felt a little more serious than I remember the last one being, but I enjoyed it all the same.

Lila is back with the Calendar Aunties (her godmothers), her Lola Flor, Tita Rosie, and all of her friends at her Brew-ha café. When one someone targets her godmothers’ laundromat and someone windes up dead, Lila finds herself wrapped back up in a murder investigation. This time, her friends and boyfriend insist on helping her out.

I always laugh at these kinds of series because when you think about it, would you want to be friends with someone who keeps ending up with dead people around them? Or live in a town with multiple murders? But they make for such fun stories that I enjoy them anyway.

The best part of this series is Lila and all of her Filipino culture. She talks a lot about food and flavors and the culture in general. I did feel like sometimes it got to be a bit much in this book, but I understand why it’s essential to the story. It just seemed like every time they were at Brew-ha there was an intense description about what they were eating and why.

I enjoyed the Calendar Aunties in the last book, so it was interesting to see them become the center of the story. I have only read books 2 and 3, so it was interesting hearing about some of their past meddling and I wonder how much was in the first two books.

Of course, Lila’s friendships and family relationships are a strong point in the story and I loved how her boyfriend finally was like “girl, you need to stop doing these things by yourself. Just let me come meddle with you.”

I always rate mysteries a little harsher than other novels because I like to be surprised and I figured it out pretty early. That sais, this was still a fun and entertaining story with likable characters and a lot of good food. I’m happy to hear that this series is going to continue and I can’t wait to read the next one!

Birdie & Harlow: Life, Loss, and Loving My Dog So Much I Didn’t Want Kids

By: Taylor Wolfe
Published Year: 2023
Publisher: HarperOne
Pages: 272

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this novel.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): The funny and poignant story of one woman’s wonderfully codependent relationship with her dog – and what he taught her about chosen family and the reward of motherhood. Birdie & Harlow  is the story of a baby and a dog. But motherhood is never quite that simple. In Taylor Wolfe’s case, it’s a long, zigzagging and winding road. Meant to be a last-minute anniversary gift for her then boyfriend (and now husband), the highly-energetic and loud-mouthed Vizla puppy named Harlow turns out to be the best snap decision twenty-year-old Taylor ever makes—and the beginning of the most epic friendship she ever has. As Wolfe’s resistance to 9-5’s and traditional adulthood grows, Harlow becomes the perfect companion for her eccentricities in a world that thrives on conformity. Wolfe’s twenties—full of pitfalls and surprises, sad days and silver linings—led her to the realization that life is too short to spend your days in a crate (or a cubicle), that parks are meant to be enjoyed, and most importantly, she wants to be a mom. But  really, isn't she one already?  A charming and touching memoir,  Birdie & Harlow  is a tribute to the many expressions of modern motherhood, to both human and fur babies alike. Taylor’s story reminds all of us that life will surprise you and that families should come in every shape and size.

First Impressions

I have followed Taylor on Instagram for at least 4 years, so I’ve always been interested in her story. When she shared she had written a book I was hesitant to read it. Then I saw the title and the cover and was like oh man, I NEED to read this. So I requested to read it early for review and was very excited.

What I thought

This book made me sob. Which I knew it was going to before I read it. But still.

Taylor is in her 30’s and is technically an Influencer since she makes a living through Instagram. However, she does so more with making little comedy skits rather than brand sponsorships, though she does those too. She used to live in Chicago, which is when I started following her. She is married and this story is about her relationship with her best friend and first dog, Harlow, and learning whether or not she wanted to have children.

I have a very close relationship with my cat and also am very unsure about whether or not I want to have children. I’ve always related to Taylor in this way, and even though I knew a lot of what was going to happen since I followed her as it was happening, she shared more details than she had on her Instagram stories.

I enjoy her style of storytelling because it’s very straightforward. She’s a little weird and anxious and doesn’t hesitate to speak openly and bluntly about these traits. I think one of the reasons I loved this book was that it made me feel seen. I related to a lot of what she had to say and especially her relationship with her pet. I haven’t read a memoir similar to this one either. I could definitely see myself re-reading this when it comes out in audio to hear her tell the story.

So, spoiler alter, the loss is her dog Harlow. I knew this was coming. I was following her when he died about two years ago. And yet, the way she wrote it ripped my heart out. It felt fresh and I had to pause halfway through this part of the book to go find my cat and give him a hug. Losing a pet sucks. My favorite quote was when she said “Your grief is a lot because your love is a lot. You don’t get one without the other, and grief does not care who or what you loved. It simply knows that you did.”

This book is amazing. If you are someone who has ever loved a pet like you birthed it or if you’re unsure about having a baby and nervous about how that will change your life I would recommend this book. Even if you’re a new mom and just need some laughs and someone to relate to, read this book. Highly recommend and if you enjoy, follow her on Instagram. She’s just as fun there too.

Book Club September 2023- The Goddess Effect

By: Sheila Yasmin Marikar
Published Year: 2022
Publisher: Little A
Pages: 288

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): All she wants is to be her best self. Is she ready? Absolutely. Does she know what to expect? Absolutely not.

Anita is over her life in New York: her dead-end job, tiny studio apartment, self-obsessed friends, and overbearing mom. So she moves west to Los Angeles in search of a new career, enlightenment, and that nebulous target…wellness.

She discovers an elite workout class called the Goddess Effect, run by a lifestyle guru named Venus who’s the very definition of #goals. One look at her Lululemon-clad acolytes sweating out their demons while dripping with confidence and Anita’s all in. When one of the class regulars takes Anita under her wing, Anita’s sure she’s found her people.

But Anita’s not so smitten that she doesn’t wonder about a few things: an inexplicable invitation to a Goddess Effect retreat, a strange tradition of secret sharing, and whispers about “enhancements” that only Venus can provide. Anita is awakening to a terrifying epiphany: the Goddess Effect isn’t quite what it seems, and it may turn her world—and that of everyone around her—upside down.

What I thought

This was not one of my favorite book club picks. The main character was so unlikeable and it felt like a story I had read a thousand times before. It was short and a quick read, and I did end up enjoying the final 25%, but overall it kind of annoyed me.

Anita is a first generation India-American who decides to move from New York to LA about 6 months after her dad has died to start over. She doesn’t really have any friends, the few that she does are not very kind to her and vice versa. She doesn’t have a good relationship with her mom, and she has quit her job on a whim. She decided to move to LA to find herself and go after her “dream job” by moving into a commune. While in LA she discovers the boutique fitness studio, The Goddess Effect. She becomes invested but soon starts to feel like it might not be all it seems.

This is your standard “female run company is actually up to no good” story. Anita is sort of in media, but she doesn’t have a job so she works out twice a day at this new studio. She doesn’t really even start to investigate it or feel like something is off until 75% of the way through the book when a media company tells her to. And even then, it’s not until some random dude comes and tells her shit is weird. Up until that point, she’s still considering going to work for The Goddess Effect!

Anita annoyed me so much. She was obsessed with VSCO filters, posting her life on social media with the perfect caption and hashtag, and clavicles. So much commenting on people’s clavicles. She’s shallow and lazy and she drove me nuts. I did appreciate towards the end that she at least acknowledged these negative qualities within herself.

The final 25% of the book saved it for me. Up until then, I was leaning towards rating it 2-2.5 stars. But when it finally got to exposing The Goddess Effect and Anita doing some actual investigative journalism, I enjoyed it a lot. I felt like it was not longer Anita just walking around and complaining about her life without doing anything. I wish the epilogue had been a little bit better, but it did wrap it up slightly.

What Book Club Thought

Oh boy. This was a fun one to discuss. One of our book club members didn’t end up getting around to it so we all got to explain the insanity of what went on and it was a lot of fun. It also helped us to remember all of the crazy details that happened. It was funny because we would be like “oh yea! That happened too but wasn’t as crazy as XYZ so I forgot about that!”

We didn’t talk much about the social implications and maybe the take on society. And one of our book club member’s boyfriends asked if it was maybe a take on the NXIVM cult scandal. We discussed that for a little bit and it could have been a nod to that and a way for the author to express some thoughts.

If you do choose to read this book, I highly recommend doing so with someone. You are going to have a lot to discuss or else you will just end up hitting your head against your wall at the stupidity of the characters.

The Wishing Game

By: Meg Shaffer
Published Year: 2023
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 304

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

. . . You might just get it.

First Impressions

This book was given to me by a coworker. She said she had LOVED it and handed it off. The cover is cute but I don’t know if I would’ve picked it up off the shelf. She explained the premise as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but if Willie Wonka was a children’s author and I was in.

What I thought

This book was described to me as heart warming and good feels and that is 100% what it is.

Lucy is a teacher’s aid in a kindergarten classroom. She has been working with a young boy, Christopher, for two years now. He lost his parents and Lucy is hoping to foster and then adopt him but she doesn’t have the money, house, or car. When her favorite childhood author starts a contest for one person to win the only copy of his newest book (after no releasing anything for the last 6 years), she gets invited to participate in the contest on his magical Clock Island.

I honestly don’t think there’s any better way to describe this book as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There’s an older man who is rich, famous, and kind of reclusive who invites people to his magical world to participate in a contest. Yet the contest isn’t just what it seems with the different challenges. I am a huge Willie Wonka fan. It was one of my favorite movies growing up, so I was very into this premise. It does have a lot of similarities, so if that is going to bother you, then I wouldn’t recommend this book. I would also say that if you’re looking for something that is an unpredictable story this isn’t for you.

However, if you’re looking for a story that will make you feel good inside, pick this book up. I felt so warm and fuzzy after finishing the book. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I loved Lucy and how she was working through her own trauma to be a mom for Christopher. I loved how Jack, the author, worked his riddles ad magic to create this contest. And I loved Hugo, who even though he was supposed to be a tortured artist was a big teddy bear right from the start.

I guess, thinking on it, the only thing I would change would be some of Lucy’s trauma. It wasn’t until close to the end of the book that I truly understood it. Up until that point it seemed to me like she was making a big something out of nothing and I didn’t understand why it had impacted her as much as it did.

This book was so different from what I’ve been reading lately. An adult Willie Wonka full of books and riddles. The love in this story isn’t the romantic kind and it just filled me up. I completely understand why my coworker shoved this book at me and I will easily be recommending it to everyone I know for the foreseeable future. It’s short, quick, and just so satisfying.

Small Town Big Magic

By: Hazel Beck
Published Year: 2022
Publisher: Graydon House
Pages: 411

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): A witchy rom-com in which a bookstore owner who is fighting to revitalize a small midwestern town clashes with her rival, the mayor, and uncovers not only a clandestine group that wields a dark magic to control the idyllic river hamlet, but hidden powers she never knew she possessed.

Witches aren't real. Right?

No one has civic pride quite like Emerson Wilde. As a local indie bookstore owner and youngest-ever Chamber of Commerce president, she’d do anything for her hometown of St. Cyprian, Missouri. After all, Midwest is best! She may be descended from a witch who was hanged in 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials, but there’s no sorcery in doing your best for the town you love.
Or is there?

As she preps Main Street for an annual festival, Emerson notices strange things happening around St. Cyprian. Strange things that culminate in a showdown with her lifelong arch-rival, Mayor Skip Simon. He seems to have sent impossible, paranormal creatures after her. Creatures that Emerson dispatches with ease, though she has no idea how she’s done it. Is Skip Simon…a witch? Is Emerson?

It turns out witches are real, and Emerson is one of them. She failed a coming-of-age test at age eighteen—the only test she’s ever failed!—and now, as an adult, her powers have come roaring back.

But she has little time to explore those powers, or her blossoming relationship with her childhood friend, cranky-yet-gorgeous local farmer Jacob North: an ancient evil has awakened in St. Cyprian, and it’s up to Emerson and her friends—maybe even Emerson herself—to save everything she loves.

First Impressions

I went into the library to pick up a few books I had on hold and decided to make a pass through the romance section. This book immediately caught my eye on the shelf, so obviously made a great first impression. I love the cover and the title is super cute. It helps that we’re entering into fall so I enjoy reading more magical novels and that probably caught my eye.

What I thought

This book was so fun! I don’t know if I would necessarily categorize it as a romance but it did have some romance within it.

Emerson has lived in the same small town her entire life. Now, at 28, she runs the business commerce and lives in her family home with one of her best friends. She and the mayor have always had a rivalry, but when he tries to kill her with magical creatures, it goes too far and awakens the power within her. With this power awoken, she discovers that the town she has loved is a town of witches (including her friends) and that her mind was wiped at 18 when she didn’t show enough power. Now she has to learn how to be a witch, navigate her life in secret, and save the town.

Like I said, the romance side of it was a bit meh for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Emerson and Jacob. There was a lot of history that their connection was supposed to have been built on so maybe not getting that in the story made it harder to feel it in the present day. I didn’t mind them getting together and I didn’t mind their love story as it progressed, but it wasn’t one that jumped off the page and definitely felt secondary to everything else going on.

The Witchlore on the other hand I loved. I loved learning about the town and the way their witch government worked. Emerson rediscovering magic was so fun. I also liked the mystery of why Skip, the mayor, was trying to kill Emerson in addition to whether or not they’d be able to save their town. It’s this storyline that has me jumping to read the next one which comes out in late August.

The only other thing that had me sometimes annoyed was Emerson and her feminist views/language. I loved that she believed in strong women and that was essential to her personality and her strength. However, sometimes it got to be a bit much. Like, every comment she would make would be like “because of the patriarchy” or “what you think women can’t do that?” I just wish it had been edited down a tiny bit.

This is a solid 3.5 stars for me. I loved the witchy storyline, felt a little meh about the romance story line. I also felt like it was simultaneously too long and too fast. I would’ve preferred if the final conflict had been given a little bit more time than some of the slower stuff in the middle. I immediately put the next book on hold at the library and am curious to see what happens next!

The Bandit Queens

By: Parini Shiroff
Published Year: 2023
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 352

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Geeta's no-good husband disappeared five years ago. She didn't kill him, but everyone thinks she did--no matter how much she protests.

But she soon discovers that being known as a "self-made" widow has some surprising perks. No one messes with her, no one threatens her, and no one tries to control (ahem, marry) her. It's even been good for her business; no one wants to risk getting on her bad side by not buying her jewelry.

Freedom must look good on Geeta, because other women in the village have started asking for her help to get rid of their own no-good husbands...but not all of them are asking nicely.

Now that Geeta's fearsome reputation has become a double-edged sword, she must decide how far to go to protect it, along with the life she's built. Because even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry.

First Impressions

This colorful cover immediately caught my eye. The summary made it sound like a fun mystery about a group of older, underestimated women in an Indian community taking down the abusive men. I saw this book all over online, and it made a very strong first impression, jumping to the top of my 2023 TBRs.

What I thought

Um, well, this book wasn’t quite as lighthearted as the cover makes it seem.

Geeta has been a “widow” for 5 years. Her abusive, alcoholic husband disappeared, but her community believes that she murdered him. When one of the other women in her community comes to her to ask for help to kill her own husband, Geeta is thrown off and finds herself sucked into a world that she never wanted to be a part of.

I feel like this book didn’t get goofy enough. I don’t know if it was the fact that Geeta was just kind of dumb and whiney, or if it was the seriousness of the abuse that happens within the Indian state and community, but it just felt darker and heavier than I expected. At first, Geeta’s naiveté with Farah is a little silly, but then it continues and just got annoying.

I liked seeing Getta realize that she needs her friends and then women in her community to be a stronger person. A lot of how she ended up where she was, was due to isolating herself. It was a struggle to read about the reality of the different Indian caste systems, even though I think it was important and eye opening to read.

There are parts of this book I enjoyed because I felt there were a lot of important lessons within this book. But then sometimes it still felt like it was supposed to be goofy and funny and it took away from some of this seriousness.

Overall, I think this book didn’t know what it wanted to be. On the one hand, I think it wanted to be a mystery/thriller, on the other, I think it wanted to be a contemporary fiction teaching about the Indian communities and their struggles. Unfortunately, I think it just ended up being a bit blah by falling in the middle. I didn’t mind the story and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it. however, I think the writing is a bit lackluster, so I don’t think I’d read more by Shiroff in the future.