FEARLESS
by M. W. Craven
I enjoyed this book, but it is the first I have read by the author so I might get over him like I got over James Patterson. Once you have read 10 James Pattersons, you have read them all.
The main character has some of the cliche action hero qualities but witty (in a non-cringe way) and realistic. The plot was interesting because it is not often that the bad guys accidentally kidnap the daughter of a powerful man in law enforcement. The bad guys' cover story and business was really believable, it had me questioning whether "we" were going after the right people.
GIRL, GODDESS, QUEEN
by Bea Fitzgerald
A coming of age story as told by Kore aka Persephone, goddess of vegetation and queen of the dead. It deals with complicated parental relationships with controlling mothers, self expression and confidence. Although it was jarring reading greek mythology where the characters speak in present day day language. I think the TikTokers will eat up, also because the author seems to be already TikTok famous.
STATELY PURSUITS
by Katie Fforde
A Katie Fforde book once in a while keeps the romance blues away. Of course it is set in the english countryside as all her books are, I think. This one is about a young girl who has just been dumped by her handsome self-obsessed boss in the most cruel way possible, so her mother sets her up to look after a big old dilapidated house. Things get interesting, she has to grow up a bit. There are tears, there are arguments and needless to say, a happy ending.
SECRETLY YOURS
by Tessa Bailey
Loved this book. It is your typical opposites attract and it is a source of frustration because they are so opposite and how would the relationship work since he is logical and OCD, and she is whimsical and fleeting. Also she has been so obsessed with the guy since she was like 15 and he ALMOST kissed her, so obsessed that she has never dated or kissed anyone since then.
ICE BREAKER
by Hannah Grace
Spiiiiice. Spice. That is it, that is the entire book. But it is fantastic, it is a great escapist book. It is an "enemies" to f buddies, with some very detailed scenes, to lovers story in a college setting. So of course there are parties and sex and more parties and teslas because these are rich college kids. But characters aren't all the superficial, the book does in passing touch on some more serious issues such as linking worth to achievement, healthy self regulation or lack thereof, boundaries and communication.
BENEATH THE LION'S GAZE
by Maaza Mengiste
I love historic African fiction. It teaches the history of other African nations (which I think South Africans lack a knowledge of). This book details the Ethiopian Revolution which dethroned the last Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie. It is written from the perspective of different narrators; the Emperor himself, different members of an affluent family that is dealing with family tragedy while grappling with their differing views of the uprising as it gains momentum throughout the city of Addis Ababa. It is a beautiful book that captures the moral confusion of being human.
If you enjoy reading this book and would like to expand your knowledge of African history through non-academic reading, also read
"Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
"Bite of the Mango" by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland
"What is the What" by Dave Eggers
THEIR VICIOUS GAMES
by Joelle Wellington
Well well well, what pleasant surprise. I almost did not read this book, initially I thought it was a cliche teenage mean girl drama. But these mean girls are deadly. This book deals with classism, old money entitlement and maybe racism (I am still not sure about this) in a modern and deadly way; Adina Walker enters a hunger games-eque competition in hopes of reclaiming what was rightfully hers. It truly is their vicious games, as one mega rich mega powerful family enjoys the spectacle of girls killing each other to get what they have.
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