The Night Lagoon by Jo Morey

Laelia Wylde isn’t the easiest character to like. After a rough patch in her life including a failed marriage and losing her chef job in London, she heads to a remote lodge recently bought by her estranged father. What follows is a story layered with emotional tension, family secrets, and unexpected revelations.

At first, it seems like the perfect escape. The kids are happy, she’s starting to enjoy the slower pace of life, and there’s Aidrian, who brings some light back into her world. But things shift when her father suddenly collapses, possibly from a stroke. As Laelia adjusts to this new life, she begins to suspect that both her father and Aidrian might be hiding something. The peaceful paradise she thought she’d found becomes much more complicated.

Admittedly, I struggled with Laelia as a protagonist. Her denial, toxic relationship patterns, and self-destructive choices made it hard to root for her. But oddly enough, that frustration kept me turning the pages. Her flaws are raw and real, and while it was difficult to connect with her emotionally, it added a layer of complexity that made the story feel more authentic.

This isn’t a tale of perfect redemption or simple healing. It’s about messy growth, family tensions, and finding unexpected joy even when life is uncertain. Even without personally relating to Laelia, I was invested, if only to see whether she’d finally break the cycle or fall deeper into it. If you enjoy atmospheric stories with layered characters and slow-burning revelations, this book is definitely worth a try.

Run For The Hills by Kevin Wilson

Madeline Hill was just nine years old when her father, Charles, vanished from her life without a word. Twenty-three years later, a stranger named Reuben appears at her door, claiming to be her half-brother. With information from a private investigator, Reuben reveals not only the existence of other siblings, but also the possible whereabouts of the man who abandoned them all. 

What begins as a hesitant reunion soon unfolds into a cross-country road trip to meet their half-siblings, Pepper and Theron, each living in different states. But as the journey progresses, confronting the man who both shaped and shattered their lives becomes inevitable.

Charles Hill is a character I genuinely despise. He represents the kind of man who walks away from responsibility without remorse, who leaves behind scars without ever acknowledging the pain he caused. And yet, Wilson doesn't let him be a one-note villain. He explores how even an absent, deeply flawed father can leave behind good and bad memories that continue to shape his children long after he’s gone.

This story is a slow burn of psychological reckoning. The siblings’ journey is not just across states, but through grief, longing, anger, and healing. There’s a raw beauty in how they confront the past, not to forgive it, but to try to understand it.

They say we can't choose our parents. But Run For The Hills reminds us that we can choose how we carry them in our memories. This novel delivers a quiet emotional punch with a bittersweet, satisfying ending. A compelling, character-driven narrative, I give it a solid 4.5 stars.

Cabut gigi

Seperti biasa kisahnya aku sakit gigi. 

Berdenyut-denyut macam nak tumbuk orang.

Aku buat appointment dekat mysejahtera selepas lama aku uninstall. Heheh.

Hari Isnin dengan beraninya aku pergi.

Yes.

Dua tempat kiri dan kanan geraham aku kena cabut.

Tapi tak boleh cabut serentak sebab kata doktor nanti susah nak makan.

Jadi doktor cabut gigi geraham bongsu yang tak sakit.

Gigi geraham yang sakit kena cabut minggu depan.

Terpaksalah aku tahan lagi seminggu.

Staf dan doktor gigi terbaik.