Ghosted by Rosie Mullender

Emily Blott had worked hard to form relationships with some glamorous friends and seek out a successful partner. She is determined to become a new Emily. During a dinner party she hosted for her new friends, she unexpectedly finds herself playing Ouija board with a message written: Andy. Andy Atkin was the only one she had known and dated, but he had suddenly vanished a year ago. She had a great time on their first date, but now it appeared she had misread the situation. Instead of ditching her, Andy had died in a mystery fall from a building according to an article she found. By using Ouija, Andy comes back from the dead. Yeah, right. There was a rational explanation for everything. Emily's mission is to bring him back to where he came from since he has no memory so the sensible way is for her to investigate Andy's death and achieve a sense of closure.

Even though it may be a cliché happy-ending love story, I can't help but adore this charming romantic comedy. The focus on the characters and their heartwarming friendship is what really makes it special.

This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

What I am afraid of being old is not being capable of remembering my past, and my loved ones. It's our responsibility to know the history. This is a long journey of Cassar's spanning from 1940 to 2010. The story starts with Gaston Cassar, a native of Algeria, a former French colony. His family was compelled to flee their homeland around 1940 due to the German invasion of France, while he served as a naval officer defending the country. They lost the war. The new France is not the same. They struggled and never lived in Algeria again. The aftermath influenced his children, François and Denise. The scars of wartime displacement, both physical and emotional, continued to haunt them, leading to feelings of strangeness and isolation, a constant reminder of their humble origins and genteel poverty.

This book is an unmistakably resonant lesson for our times. Reflecting on their origin story at the end of the book evoked a variety of emotions. Moreover, it leaves some uncertainties. Worrying about seeing someone struggling as they get older and the thought of dementia or having a stroke scares me so much.

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

Lies & Weddings by Kevin Kwan

I'm not sure when I last delved into a romantic comedy novel. Reading Kevin Kwan for the first time has been a delight. The storyline is straightforward, and the short chapters make it easy to follow.

Some of the contemporaries' novels depict Asian-American mothers in a way that includes mocking and racist tones, yet they accurately capture scenes from the modern world. What I like the most is the friendship between the main characters proving that good deeds are all that matter.

It's about Augie, Bea and Rufus Leung Gresham, the British-Chinese who made up the noblest family in the country and were raised alongside their best friend, Eden Tong, a girl next door. No one had any inkling that behind stories of glamorous Gresham rose a mountain of debt. Arabella Gresham, their mother's extravagant ambitions of expenses only made things worse. The only way to solve the problem is to exploit her children to marry for money. Filled with a luxurious lifestyle that I never knew existed, and humorously tragic situations when things don't go according to plan. Money cannot buy love, but money increases the chances of finding true love. The ending was kinda of pretentious but it was a fun read.

The Secret by Andrew Child

Well, another story about a hero who puts himself in danger to save America. Jack Reacher is smart, strong, proficient in hand-to-hand combat and also has strong deduction skills and is known as an exceptional investigator. It began with secret government research that happened in India in 1969 that involved a program to make antidotes against chemical and biological weapons. The incident had caused a thousand death toll of innocent people. Of course, the American government could be embarrassed if the revelations were out.

Yet there are numbers of retired scientists who had worked in 1969 had been murdered. To stop the chaos, Reacher digs up another evidence of brewing up the sabotage. It is a standard cliche in the world of one's action-hero figure but a fun read. The Secret is the twenty-eighth book in the Jack Reacher series btw.

A Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson

This book is one of my favourite reads of the year. It follows the story of Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a young girl researching a school project on a missing girl, Andie Bell, who disappeared five years ago. Her blood was found in the trunk of her deserted vehicle, leading to enough evidence to incriminate her boyfriend, Sal Singh. However, Sal was discovered dead from suicide.

Despite Andie's body never being found, Pippa remains hopeful that her investigation will reveal evidence proving Sal's innocence. She is convinced that the police made a mistake by prematurely closing the case. Her interviews with family and close friends revealed widespread speculation about the truth behind Andie Bell.

I was drawn to the concept of the protagonist being an amateur sleuth who keeps stumbling upon new information related to the two major tragedies that shaped her life.

The Winner by Teddy Wayne

Conor O'Toole, facing challenges in seeking an actual job and balancing bar exam studies, seized the chance to teach tennis in a gated community during the pandemic. A friend, John Price generously offered the use of his guesthouse in exchange for a tennis lesson. 

Little did he know, that teaching Catherine Remsen would lead to a flirtatious encounter. He also became acquainted with Emily, Catherine's daughter. Entangling himself with both a mother and her daughter seemed like a complicated situation from tennis to infidelity.

To be honest, I found myself getting a bit bored halfway through the book due to slow-paced but things became more complex and engaging as it progressed. It may not be a perfect murder mystery, but it's still quite thrilling. Without giving away any spoilers, I can guarantee that the culprit will be apprehended in time.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for this uncorrected proof copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

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

The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer

Around two decades ago, Sadie Jones decided to leave her husband and daughter, Judith, to focus on her career as an actress and a provocative feminist. She insists her experience is valid and important to shape the direction of life. 

After several years, she tried to reconcile with her estranged daughter. She sees her daughter's organized life as mundane and has never felt like she belonged in social circles. The story unfolds through the alternating viewpoints of Sadie and Judith, delving into the complexities of their mother-daughter relationships as they revisit the past, ultimately leaving Judith deeply affected. At the same time, both characters are unlikeable but understandable. You know what I mean? Hehe. They were nothing alike temperamentally but difficult the same. The ending appeals to me. It's clear that both parenthood and relationships require a considerable amount of time, sacrifice, and understanding. 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 

The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher

I absolutely loved the main character's portrayal in the book! Florence Butterfield is such a remarkable lead, full of charisma and charm. Despite her age and disability, she's incredibly observant and insightful, and I couldn't get enough of her. The setting of Babbington Hall Residential Home and Assisted Living provided the perfect backdrop for the mysterious accidents and Flo's determination to solve the mystery. 

While it took me some time to get into the book at first, I soon found myself thoroughly enjoying the author's writing style. The friendship between Flo and Pinky, her seventy years of secret, and her life after divorce are delightful and add an extra layer of intrigue to the story. This book beautifully captures the essence of melancholy in a way that surprised and intrigued me. It's a slow-paced but poignant tale of desire and dread, centred on friendship, family and search for love that truly warmed my heart. 4.3 ⭐️

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