The First Gentleman by James Patterson and Bill Clinton

Not bad at all. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised. While the plot may seem straightforward at first glance, it’s anything but predictable. Twists creep in when you least expect them, and before you know it, you’re racing through the pages. What I loved most was the brisk, fast-paced storytelling with short chapters that kept the momentum sharp. The courtroom scenes are absolutely gripping and thank god this is a standalone!

Set against a backdrop of political power plays, The First Gentleman dives deep into themes of corruption, dark money, sabotage, and jealousy. It all begins with two investigative journalists, Garret Wilson and Brea Cooke, working on a book that could explode into a national scandal. Their target was none other than the First Gentleman of the United States, Cole Wright.

Their investigation uncovers a chilling allegation that Cole may have been involved in a sexual assault seventeen years ago during his college days. His date that night, Suzanne Bonanno, mysteriously vanished and was never found. What starts as a search for truth and justice soon spirals into a dangerous political firestorm with death threats, actual deaths, and a relentless attempt to bury the past.

President Madeline Parson Wright, caught between loyalty to her husband and her position as the most powerful woman in the country, is unwavering in her belief in Cole’s innocence. But with every move Garret and Brea make, the stakes get higher and the enemies get deadlier.

The First Gentleman is a tightly wound political thriller that balances suspense with emotional depth. I couldn’t put it down. If you're into political intrigue, courtroom drama, and relentless suspense, this is a must-read. 4 ⭐

Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree

At first, Tomb of Sand caught me completely off guard. I expected something like magical realism but by the time I reached Part II, everything clicked into place.

The story centers around Chandraprabha Devi, affectionately known as Ma, an octogenarian woman drowning in grief after the death of her husband. In Part I, she seems surrounded by the love of children, relatives, and friends who constantly try to lift her spirits. But then, suddenly, Ma disappears. Her vanishing throws everyone into a spiral of sympathy and worry. When she’s found, nothing about her is the same again.

Part II is where Ma’s life takes a dramatic turn, and we see her forging new connections, particularly with her children, Bade and Beti, who’ve long been defined by their own roles and struggles. One of the most unforgettable characters is Rosie Bua, Ma’s hijra friend, who bursts into the story with wit, warmth, and a mysterious sense of urgency. She briefly steals the spotlight only to leave behind a lingering sadness when her life ends too soon. I couldn’t help but wonder about the deep story of their friendship.

Then comes Part III, the most powerful and moving section of all. Ma’s decision to cross the border with her daughter, Beti, is more than a physical journey. It’s an emotional and symbolic act of healing. The novel subtly delves into the complex history between India and Pakistan. But this isn’t a dry historical retelling. It’s intimate and raw, seen through Ma’s own trauma and memory.

This is exactly why Tomb of Sand deserves the Booker Prize. It takes on weighty themes such as grief, identity, aging, gender, and the echoes of history and transforms them into a poetic, experimental narrative. The third-person narration gives voice not just to people, but even to objects like cane, shadows, and crows which speak and reflect the surreal beauty of the story. And amidst all this, there are moments of humor and lightness, philosophical musings, and scenes that may seem trivial but linger in the heart. It’s not an easy book but it’s a beautiful one. And I’m grateful and reignited my love for translated literature most unexpectedly. 4.5 ⭐

Azab gigi bongsu

Azab weii cabut gigi kali ni.

Bius 4 kali pun macam tak function.

Habis pecah gigi bongsu aku.

Doktor pertama tu macam baru masuk keje kot.

Nak je aku suruh panggil doktor India minggu lepas.

Datang doktor kedua dia rendahkan sikit kerusi aku lepas tu cabut.

Sekali percubaan je.

Lepas tu dia nasihat doktor pertama, kalau susah nak cabut, rendahkan kerusi patient.

Ko rasa?

Aku punya overthinking teringat cerita jenayah sebelum ni, bekas peserta masterchef yang bunuh pembantu dengan cabut gigi²nya tanpa bius.

Fuck-up betul. 

Aku harap ini kali jelah aku cabut gigi bongsu ni.

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.

Second Afterlife by Michelle Grinsam

Julia is in her early twenties when she's dealt a cruel fate dying from brain cancer. But just when everything fades to black, a miracle pulls her back. She's been given a second chance at life. But nothing could have prepared her for what came after.

Charlie was a quiet soul who passed on before his time, with almost no memory of how it happened. He assumes it was just a tragic accident. Now, he’s trapped in a strange place between the living and the dead, a kind of waiting room that exists outside time. And because Julia and Charlie died at the exact same moment, their souls became unexpectedly connected.

Charlie begins to share Julia’s revived body, seeing the world through her eyes like a silent guest. At first, it’s unsettling and confusing. But as time goes on, a strange comfort grows between them. What began as an accident of timing slowly becomes something much more meaningful.

As Julia tries to rebuild her life and reconnect with distant friends, Charlie wrestles with the reality of being caught between worlds. But danger begins to creep into both their lives. And when the threats become real, they must rely on each other to survive. They don’t just share a moment in time but also a purpose, and maybe even something like love.

This novel is more than just a paranormal romance. It’s a tender exploration of grief, hope, and the unexpected beauty of human connection. While the subplot involving underground crime could use more detail, the emotional storytelling makes this a memorable and heartfelt debut.

Fox by Joyce Carol Oates

As a mother, this story hit me hard. The theme is deeply disturbing, and the writing is so vivid it made me feel physically ill at times. Predators who harm children deserve the harshest punishment. Topics like these are not only viral in Malaysia but are surfacing globally, felonies involving pedophilia and child exploitation that demand serious attention.

Fox by Joyce Carol Oates is a dark and unsettling novel wrapped in a whodunnit mystery. Though the pacing can be slow and the repetition slightly noticeable, it didn't detract from the impact for me. I still give it 4.5 ⭐ for its outstanding, fearless storytelling.

It all begins with a chilling discovery. A car wreck was found at the edge of a ravine near Wieland Pond. Human remains, partially devoured by animals, are recovered. The car is traced back to Francis Harlan Fox, an English teacher at the prestigious Langhorne Academy. Beloved by his students, Fox was known for making learning feel joyful and engaging, a beacon in the classroom.

But behind the charm lies a darker truth. Mr. Fox vanished after a school break, sparking rumors and emotional chaos among students. An investigation reveals he had been quietly dismissed from several teaching posts before joining Langhorne. The once-admired teacher becomes a central figure in a sinister puzzle.

As detectives comb through the wreckage of Fox’s life, they uncover unsettling patterns. Several of his former students are now acting out, some even harming themselves. The investigation moves forward with subtle momentum, led by a seasoned detective whose methodical style feels grounded and reliable.

While I wish the novel explored more of Fox’s childhood, the roots of his behavior—the emotional and psychological depth still lingers long after the final page. This book is not easy to digest, but it is necessary. It forces readers to confront horrors that too often stay hidden.