ALL THAT SIZZLES BY SAKSHAMA PURI DHARIWAL

 Print length: 272 pages

ISBN-10: 0143464566

Buy on Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/0143464566/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_in-21&linkCode=as2&camp=3626&creative=24790.

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

My thoughts on the book:

'All That Sizzles' by Sakshama Puri Dharwal is a steamy romantic comedy chick-lit book, which is the third installment in a series but can be enjoyed on its own. The story revolves around Tanvi Bedi and Nik Shankar.

Tanvi, a wedding planner at Iris Wedding, needs to convince Chef Nik Shankar to create the menu for a wedding reception, even though he usually avoids catering for weddings. They make a pact for mutual benefit: Tanvi will pretend to be Nik's fiancée so that he can secure his inheritance from his grandfather, and in return, Nik will design the menu for the wedding.

Things heat up when Nik and Tanvi arrive at Nik's grandfather's haveli and find themselves attracted to each other. Nik is caring, observant, and keeps his emotions guarded, as he navigates through his inner turmoil and conflicts with his grandfather. On the other hand, Tanvi is professional, direct, and has a no-nonsense personality and I loved how Nik could see through her.

I was immediately captivated by the book. The plot, characters, their adorable banter, and Nik's references to Tanvi with food were all amazing. Tanvi's hot temper and constant talking, paired with Nik's calm demeanor and attentive listening, perfectly exemplify the concept of opposites attracting.

I really enjoyed the strong sibling bond, the tight-knit group of friends, and the clever naming of GPS and VPS (iykyk). The book not only focuses on romance but also emphasizes the importance of mental health, therapy, and society's acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.

The best part of the book is its Indian essence. Reading it feels like sipping hot chai on a rainy day – heavenly! Sakshama Puri Dhariwal has written a delightful tale filled with humor and romance. 'All That Sizzles' is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and anyone seeking a heartwarming and entertaining story. This novel will leave you smiling, swooning, and eagerly anticipating more from this talented author.

THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP BY ASHLEY POSTON

 

Print length: 352 pages

ISBN-10: 0008566593

Buy on Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/s?k=The+Seven+Year+Slip&i=stripbooks&creative=24790&tag=x_gr_w_bb_in-21&ref=x_gr_bb_amazon.

My review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

My thoughts on the book:

"The Seven Year Slip" by Ashley Poston is a captivating novel that revolves around the main characters Clementine West and James Iwan Ashton. This book explores themes of grief, love, pursuing one's passion, and moving on from the past. The writing is beautiful, and I was drawn to both the book and the characters.

Clementine West, a book publicist, has her life meticulously planned. However, the tragic loss of her aunt, Analea, leaves her shattered, and she relocates to her recently inherited apartment in New York City. Her aunt always claimed that the apartment was magical and had the power to transport people back in time, but Clementine never believed it until she found a stranger in her kitchen and realized that she had been transported back seven years.

Clementine finds herself seven years in the past, while Iwan is seven years into the future. This creates complexity in their relationship. Despite her aunt's rule of not falling in love, she falls in love with the past Iwan, and destiny has a way of weaving them together.

Iwan is a budding chef, who started by renting her aunt's apartment seven years ago. He is incredibly passionate about his dreams, and we can envision him as a Michelin-star chef opening his own restaurant after seven years. He has a vibrant personality, is charming, calls her lemon, and gradually brings her out of her shell.

Clementine is not a perfect character, but her struggles and flaws make her who she is. Throughout the book, we can see her grieving the loss of her aunt. The pain and grief written by the author are raw and real. Every corner of the apartment brings memories of her late aunt and shatters her even more. Her character development is very well written; she realizes that one need not be perfect, and one's self is not defined by their job.

The chemistry between Iwan and Clementine is incredible and feels genuine. Their story reminds us that love isn't always easy; it's messy, complex, and intense. The way they encourage and support each other's dreams and lifestyles is heartwarming. Reading this book felt like a warm embrace that stayed with me until the final pages.

Favorite quotes:

"I loved how a book, story, a set of words in a sentence organized in the exact right order, made you miss places you've never visited, and people you've never met."

"It's never a matter of time, but a matter of timing."

"You only live once. If you do it right, once is all you need."

"Nothing lasts forever. Not the good things, not the bad. So just find what makes you happy, and do it for as long as you can."

"You will be happiest when you're on your own adventure. Not Analea's, not whoever you're dating, not everyone who thinks you should do what you're supposed to do-yours."

 

"Because the things that mattered most never really left.

The love stays. 

The love always stays, and so do we."

ZEN BY SHABNAM MINWALLA

Print length: 608 pages

ISBN-10: 0143459902

Buy on Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/Zen-Shabnam-Minwalla/dp/0143459902/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

My review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

My thoughts on the book:

'Zen' by Shabnam Minwalla is a captivating novel against the enchanting backdrop of Mumbai. The story seamlessly switches between two eras, following the lives of Zainab Essaji in 1935 and Zainab 'Zen' Currimji in 2019. The way the author intertwines these two stories is truly mesmerizing. The present is narrated in the third person from Zen's perspective while the past is written in diary format by Zainab Essaji.

The 19-year-old Zainab Essaji is a young Bohra woman in Bombay and finds it a suffocating thing to be a respected one. Despite being engaged to a man her parents chose, she falls in love with another. Meanwhile, her brother Faizullah and his wife Asma are involved in clandestine activities and participate in the Swadeshi movement, much to their father's dismay. She faces many restrictions from her parents and conflicts with her sister Fatima, but she becomes entangled with the activities of the freedom movement, with Mister K and is least frightened of her needs.

While the 17-year-old Zen is intelligent, sensible, and content with being invisible, she loves music and sticks to her small group of friends. However, things change when she meets a pompous NRI at a wedding who encourages her to try new things and they get to explore city together for his thesis. Reluctantly, she joins an anti-CAA debate due to her friend in school which lands her in an awkward situation.

 

I enjoyed how the book depicted the connections between the two Zainabs who were related by blood, lived as neighbors, and navigated the streets of Mumbai at different times. I especially appreciated the parallels, such as Zen wearing her great-grandmother Zainab's white saree, the unfinished peacock tail embroidery by Zainab framed in Zen's room, and how the past influenced the present. Additionally, I liked the chapter names based on different colors, each starting with a quote or lyrics from a song.

I really enjoyed the way the author described the city and how its colonization shaped the present-day city we live in. The details in the book, from Zainab's recipes in her diary to Zen's posters, were amazing. I appreciated how the book incorporated elements like messages, phones calls, the mystery black pages, and details of the city, and handled sensitive topics like CAA.

The book is a perfect blend of history and contemporary fiction. It includes elements of politics, history, mystery, grief, and romance. To find out the impact of Zen's involvement in the anti-CAA debate, the development and resolution of Zainab's romantic conflict, and more of Zen's interaction with the NRI, dive into the book right away!