Sebenarnya Ilusi by Paksa Tulis

Muhammad Seth hampir diculik oleh sindiket menjual organ kanak-kanak semasa kecil. Penyelamatnya mati dipukul oleh penculik. Walaupun peristiwa itu berlaku 22 tahun lepas, Seth mengalami post-trauma yang menjejaskan hidupnya. Dia merasakan yang kematian penyelamatnya dulu dan perpisahan ibu bapanya sebagai punca permasalahan hidupnya.

Orked pula berjuang mendapatkan phd. Melakukan pelbagai kerja dalam satu masa bagi menampung kehidupan dan komitmen disebabkan dia tidak dapat menamatkan pengajian seperti yang ditetapkan hingga terpaksa merahsiakan masalah dari ibu bapanya di kampung.

Mereka dipertemukan dalam grab yang dipandu Orked. Dan dari situ hubungan mereka mula berputik. Nampak klise tapi bagi aku topik depresi yang dialami Orked betul-betul memberi kesan. Ditambah pula cerita ini berdasarkan pengalaman penulis sendiri. Beberapa kali juga aku lap air mata ni. Apa yang aku boleh katakan walaupun kita di kelilingi keluarga dan sahabat, namun jangan ambil mudah depresi dan kesihatan mental. Sila dapatkan rawatan dari pakar! Terima kasih penulis kerana menghadiahkan naskhah realis ini sempena giveaway di X. Semoga impian penulis untuk melihat karya ini di kaca tv tercapai. 4 ⭐️

The House In The Pines by Ana Reyes

For nearly 7 years, Maya Edwards believed that Frank Bellamy was responsible for the death of her friend, Aubrey West. She witnessed the incident firsthand, but it was later classified as a 'sudden unexplained death' by the medical examiner. Her inability to provide evidence hindered her from explaining how he had managed to do it. Consequently, she was diagnosed with a brief psychotic disorder.

The sight of a video showing a dead girl resurfaced her trauma, surprisingly when she realized the girl was with Frank. Despite the emotional toll, she was determined to return to the place where it all began. Predictable but provides an interesting insight story, mainly about her father's book and Frank's cabin.

In this debut, Maya is portrayed as complicated, flawed, and unlikable. Something was off with her even before all that happened. But I find myself drawn to her behaviour patterns. 4 ⭐️

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

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#donereading #thehouseinthepines by #anareyes #igbooks #igreads #emabaca #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #malaysiamembaca 

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Twenty-year-old Frances Grace McGrath saw her older brother, Finley, as a role model. After he graduated from the Naval Academy and was dispatched to Vietnam, she felt inspired to pursue a similar path and join The Army Nurse Corps. However, he was killed in action and Frances was torn between her commitment to the army and staying with her parents to grieve and be safe. 

During her time in Vietnam, Frances befriended other female volunteers and formed a close sisterhood. As a seasoned nurse, she played a crucial role in saving the lives of locals and American soldiers. However, the reality of Vietnam was pain, death, and destruction. It was a constant struggle to not be scared all the time. The main focus of the first part of the book centres around Frances and how she copes with her emotions during her time in combat, friendships, and romantic entanglements.

The second half of the book is about her homecoming, where she experiences PTSD and overcomes the stigma that women don't fight in wars. Betrayal, pain, and humiliation almost brought her down, but she managed to overcome these obstacles. The author has done a great job of remembering women who served in the Vietnam War and stepped outside of conventional gender roles.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing and Izah for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store

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#donereading #TheWomen by #KristinHannah #igbooks #igreads #emabaca #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagram #letsgetreading #definitelybooks #malaysiamembaca 

2054 by Elliot Ackerman

By looking at how we live today, the futuristic typography of 30 years later does not very differ significantly. Despite not being a fan of sci-fi, the scientific concepts are articulated in a way that is easily understood by all. The second instalment of the '2034' series delves into a political crisis in the US and its impact on technology within the nation.

The chain of events starts with the assassination of the American president, leading to a period of political turmoil. The world is in shock as they witness the first-ever remote assassination, sparking a catastrophic war between the United States and China, just as it did twenty years ago. The premises are fine but not character-driven. The result of biological and technological integration is a bit confusing which led to a vague ending. It jumps around too much and doesn't quite make sense. On top of that, this isn't a book where the world changes itself unless human activities cause damage either directly or indirectly. Humanity is paying the ultimate price.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai

In 1995 Thalia Keith died on the campus. She was a star in musical theatre and tennis. Her body was found in the campus pool. Although the cause of death was drowning, she had open fracture wounds on the back of her skull and bruising on her neck as if she'd been strangulated.

Suspicion soon settled on Omar Evans, who worked as a head athletic trainer. He became an easy target for an inexperienced and racially biased investigator looking to wrap up the case. He was convicted and sentenced to 60 years. 

After twenty-three years of tragedy, Bodie Kane visited her alma mater to teach the film class, a two-week course. She was Thalia's roommate but not really her clique during their time. As her student expresses interest in creating a podcast about Thalia Keith, it's almost like her older self, reflecting on the past with a newfound understanding and a changed viewpoint. She believed that Omar was wrongly convicted.

The author does a great job through the deep POV of the main characters. It was definitely my kind of book that was intricately plotted and wonderfully written. It reminds me of The Shards by Bret Ellis and Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll. The list of all the suspicious people, motives and opportunities around the timeline has made a convincing empirical and moral case for the appropriate closure.  I give 4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing and Izah for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store

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#donereading #ihavesomequestionsforyou by #rebeccamakkai #emabaca #igbooks #igreads #bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #definitelybooks #malaysiamembaca 

Every Move You Make by C. L. Taylor

The new law in Malaysia has officially been implemented, giving victims of stalking the ability to seek legal protection from their stalkers. Stalking is now a crime whether it's done physically or online. The author's personal account of dealing with stalking at the end gave the whole reasoning behind this book.

Natalie Beare stumbled upon a closed forum for the survivors of stalking. One of the London-based survivors decided to create a WhatsApp group. The group also consisted of Alexandra, Lucy, River, and Bridget. Each of them is being stalked and seeking refuge in one another like a survival alliance. Sadly, Natalie was killed by her ex-boyfriend/stalker.

As they mourned Nat's passing at the funeral, they were given a wreath and card that contained a chilling warning. The ominous note declared that one of them would meet their end in ten days. In a state of panic, they immediately began strategizing to keep themselves out of harm's way. What follows is a cat and mouse and I did not figure out the culprit until the very end which leaves us with red herrings and possible suspects. Although the story was a bit slow at the beginning, it was entertaining but dragged at times, and some of it just wasn't plausible. By this time, I figured out the author's writing style yet if it has any indication, it's better than The Guilty Couple. 🤷‍♀️

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

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#donereading #EveryMoveYouMake by #CLTaylor #igreads #igbooks #bookstagram #goodreads #bookreview #bookrecommendations #emabaca #malaysiamembaca 

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is something I am greatly looking forward to, especially considering it was published posthumously and won Sweden's Glass Key Award in 2006 for best crime novel of the year. While the storyline is certainly gripping and the themes are thought-provoking, I still have mixed feelings about it.

Henrik Vanger, a renowned industrialist from Sweden, approached Mikael Blomkvist to assist in writing his autobiography. Blomkvist, a financial journalist, is well-versed in exposing corrupt practices and shady dealings within the corporate sector. Simultaneously, Vanger commissioned him to uncover the truth behind Harriet Vanger's disappearance thirty-six years ago. Harriet is his brother's granddaughter and he has reason to believe that there was a suspected mole within their family.

Blomkvist enlists the help of a proficient researcher for this assignment, and Lisbeth Salander proves to be the ideal candidate. With her impressive skills in hacking and remarkable intelligence, their investigative approach yields a satisfying mix of emotion, passion, and intrigue. The dynamic duo embarked on a perilous adventure, filled with facts and evidence, to track down a notorious serial killer. Despite a few unanswered questions and loopholes, I hope the sequel holds the promise of providing closure. 4 ⭐️

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#donereading #TheGirlWithTheDragonTattoo by #StiegLarsson #igbooks

#igreads #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookreview #emabaca #malaysiamembaca #kindlepaperwhite 

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

The story revolves around the disappearance of Adam Parson, a stay-at-home dad who went hiking with his son Eugene, who has autism and a rare genetic disorder. The plot thickens when Eugene returns alone, causing a minor accident and becoming the prime suspect in his father's disappearance. 

His family found out about Adam's obsession with the happiness concept and how he applies his principles of living to raise Eugene. It raises awareness about communicating with a nonspeaking child, racial superiority, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a slow-moving yet amusing read. I enjoyed the mystery through Mia's perspective. She's a messed up character, but understandable. The thing about some disappearances is that there's no closure until all that's left is a void. 4 ⭐️

The review copy was provided by @times.reads and @putrifariza, and the opinions shared are entirely my own. You can find the book at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as their online stores.