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KLARA AND THE SUN BY KAZUO ISHIGURO

Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 Klara and the Sun tells the story of Klara, a companion robot (called an Artificial Friend “AF”). Told through Klara's eyes, the book opens with her in the store, waiting to be purchased. She eventually goes home with a teenage girl named Josie. Kazuo Ishiguro once again takes his readers into a dystopian society. This unique narrative perspective told through the eyes of futuristic technology created an entirely new reading experience for me. The topic covered in this book is complex and difficult yet the author managed to pen it down in simple and easy English. The tone throughout felt almost melancholy and poignant while the descriptions were vivid yet obscure. On another note, there was immense room for individual interpretation as many areas of the story had been intentionally left vague. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. 
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We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz

RATING: 3.8 / 5.0 We Were Never Here is a gripping, thought-provoking thriller about two ride-or-die best friends who meet up once a year for an epic travel adventure. ­­­­ Maybe I was drawn by the beautiful cover? Or maybe because it was a Reese’s Book Club pick? Either way, I was expecting more from the book. Don’t get me wrong, a read is still a read and I did enjoy the story overall but I have to rate this a 3.8 / 5.0, unfortunately. In terms of the writing, it is a simple and quick read. The storyline is somewhat good, somewhat predictable at times. I did enjoy the best friend thriller dynamics along with gaslighting. There are good twists and turns throughout that kept me guessing and to quote Reese herself, did keep me up way too late turning pages. There were numerous parts that I rushed through, solely due to continual repetition. That ending though? Made me rethink the entire book. If you have read it, let me know your thoughts on that ending. 

The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

  RATING: 3.0 / 5.0 After finding a trove of love letters from the 1960s, a journalist sets out to solve the mystery of a secret love affair.  This was a disappointing read. The storyline had it been better executed, could have made for a beautiful read. The book starts off strong with the first few chapters being especially inviting. I enjoyed the author’s take on the lives of wealthy stereotypicals during the 1960s. However, as the story progresses, there are notable inconsistencies in its delivery. The writing, like the protagonist, is inarticulate. The storyline is non-linear - moving back and forth making it a struggle to read. This, along with extremely vague backstories of characters made it difficult to take a liking to any of them nor did it allow me to sympathize with the protagonist. The protagonist came across as indecisive, weak and seen as stringing people along for her benefit. The book also appears to define the actions of the love affair as noble and just inst...

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, Tobias Iaconis

Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 A beautiful read.  This story follows friendships and suffering, love and agony as well as the cruelty of a disease. The main aim of this book is to create awareness towards the cystic fibrosis (CF) disease. CF is an inherited disorder found in children that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs of the body. This book was everything I was expecting it to be and more. It is exceptionally well written and the story flows perfectly. The writing is articulate, chatty and vivid. I found myself re-reading sentences and paragraphs - you know that feeling when you read a line that is so well written that you just need to take a minute to appreciate it. I loved everything about each and every character. The conversational repartee is top notch. The writers knew precisely when to give a little more and exactly when to hold back. I have no negative comments - I would not change a thing. Five Feet Apart is practically perfect and yet imperfect i...

Bridgerton: The Duke & I by Julia Quinn

Rating: 3.8 / 5.0 Just like everyone else last Christmas, I binged watched Bridgerton on Netflix! That said, I had to get my hands on a copy of this book. This is also the first time I am reading a full blown romance novel.  “In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince – while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable. . .but not too amiable.” As with any romance novel I presume, the plot was rather predictable. That said, the foundation of this book is built on the love and unbreakable bond of the Bridgerton Family. Julia Quinn took her time to equip each of the Bridgertons with strong personalities and traits. That, I believe, is why every reader will immediately fall in love with this family.  This first book in the series, centers ...

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Rating: 3.8 / 5.0 Brief Overview Being a fan of the Twilight Saga during my teenage years, I jumped at the chance to get my copy of Midnight Sun. The iconic "Twilight" is written from the perspective of a human girl (Bella Swan) who falls in love with a vampire (Edward Cullen). This outlook is maintained throughout the entire Twilight Series. Midnight Sun however finally provides readers with a different vantage point as narrated from Edward's slant. Stephenie Meyer's writing style remains unchanged. Quick side note: I hold Meyer's book dedication in high regard - it is the perfect welcome back after the 15 year gap since Twilight was first published. The same regard can be said for her acknowledgements. Review The plot remains unchanged as the entire book focuses solely on the events that took place within the first book itself (Twilight). The storyline has also been written in the exact same chronological order as Twilight, hence, there is barely any room for su...