Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

* * * * 1/2

From the author of Ayesha at Last comes a sparkling new rom-com for fans of “You’ve Got Mail,” set in two competing halal restaurants

Sales are slow at Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, the only halal restaurant in the close-knit Golden Crescent neighbourhood. Hana waitresses there part time, but what she really wants is to tell stories on the radio. If she can just outshine her fellow intern at the city radio station, she may have a chance at landing a job. In the meantime, Hana pours her thoughts and dreams into a podcast, where she forms a lively relationship with one of her listeners. But soon she’ll need all the support she can get: a new competing restaurant, a more upscale halal place, is about to open in the Golden Crescent, threatening Three Sisters.

When her mysterious aunt and her teenage cousin arrive from India for a surprise visit, they draw Hana into a long-buried family secret. A hate-motivated attack on their neighbourhood complicates the situation further, as does Hana’s growing attraction for Aydin, the young owner of the rival restaurant—who might not be a complete stranger after all.

As life on the Golden Crescent unravels, Hana must learn to use her voice, draw on the strength of her community and decide what her future should be.

Source: NetGalley; ARC generously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

I'd previously read Jalaluddin's, Ayesha At Last which was brilliant! Now with her follow up about a restaurant rivalry and an anonymous online friendship I knew I'd be in for a very interesting romance, indeed. 

Hana works at her family's restaurant while also working as an intern at a radio station. She has big dreams of developing her own show and discussing topics that are of interest to her. She has her own podcast that's been gaining traction and it's because of this podcast that she's struck up a friendship with a fan. As they remain anonymous in their communications they share personal dreams and goals with each other, oftentimes sharing advice and suggestions. In the meanwhile, problems arise when a new restaurant opens up that threatens to shut down Hana's family's restaurant which has already been struggling recently. Her family's livelihood becomes the center of her focus as she tries to save them, save her broadcast dreams and save herself from falling for her rival and recipient of all her ire, Aydin.

I easily fell into this story and I think mainly because it wasn't centered around finding a spouse. Instead it was firmly about Hana's desire to achieve her career goal of becoming a broadcaster which her parents fully supported. Admittedly, I took to this subplot because I worked in radio in my pre-kids days. A little detail that made me so happy and felt seen is that her fellow intern, Thomas is also South Asian, desi and Christian. Up until this I hadn't read of any desi character similar to me in that way and it felt great to see that representation even if he doesn't have a large role. Hana comes off as a wonderfully confident young woman who has a strong sense of self. Her rivalry and instant dislike of Aydin fuels a lot of the action in the story. And as much as she wants to all out dismiss him, learning of his backstory makes her sympathize with his situation. How he wears his face on the surface belies the turmoil he's reckoning with inside. After a horribly frightening and public racist encounter involving him, herself and her cousin, he shows a different side of himself to her which makes Hana stop to reconsider her actions towards him up until then. The racist incident is jarring and what results from it renews Hana's personal and professional missions.  

Even with the several subplots, I didn't think it was overwhelming nor did it feel like one was distracting from the other. They made sense and tied together, and I think Jalauddin struck a nice balance with all of them. I did think that Hana was a little naive sometimes like when she decided to sabotage Aydin's restaurant opening. It was childish and you could only shake your head at her. Come on Hana, you're smarter than this! With so many things coming to a head, she finds herself at an important juncture in her young adult life and we're witness to her character growth. The mysterious aunt who accompanies the cousin for a stateside visit provides well, the mystery. She's tight-lipped about the purpose of her visit but boy does she drop zingers on Hana. She really shakes up her thinking and gives Hana the inspiration at the very moment she's feeling lost. As for the cousin ... though he brings an outside-the-box kind of mentality, I personally would've preferred a dialed down personality. He was a little too much for me.

I liked Hana Khan Carries On tremendously even if it included heavier issues such as the scary racist encounter and the Islamaphobia that ensues. Hana's admirable journey to maturity during this wild duration of upending events is a big reason for my enjoyment of this book. She gets her happiness and fulfillment because she's determining what and who is important to her. This was a poignant read and I recommend that you add it to your list!

~ Bel

  

The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher

* * * 1/2

Have you ever been wrong about someone?

Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.

Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.

Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…

She shouldn’t get involved.

She really shouldn’t.

But this could be her chance to make a few things right.

Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too. 

Source: borrowed from HooplaAudio

Wow. Just wow. This was one head-scratching WTF-ery kind of a plot twist. This is one of those stories where no one appears redeemable, save for Samuel, Winnie and Nigel's teenage son. That's because he's either on the periphery or in the middle with events happening around him, but he is definitely not the creator of all the strife. The Wrong Family has this hybrid bitter-melancholy-edgy-desperate tone that only intensifies as it continues.

Without giving much away, Winnie and her husband Nigel are having marital problems. They're emotionally distant from each other and seem to be operating on different wavelengths. It's hinted that an incident years ago affected their marriage and it hasn't recovered since. Samuel is the only thing keeping them together. Winnie was initially a sympathetic character but she turns unreliable and even erratic at times. Juno, who provides the other POV seems pretty normal, at least compared to the Crouches but then that initial perception of her is turned upside down as the plot progresses. She's highly observant having been a therapist so she's able to analyze the Crouches' behavior and sees how it affects Samuel. During one of Winnie and Nigel's arguments that Juno overhears, something is said out loud that alarms Juno. 

I did not feel good as I read this. Everyone's behavior felt so icky and intrusive. If you're someone who's all about boundaries (I am that way), then you should be aware that boundaries are often crossed here. Part of me wondered if I really wanted to go on but I also wanted to see the story through. The plot descends into a deep, dark, nasty mess that leads to tragedy.

I will give Fisher this - she was good at setting out clues, and where Juno interpreted things one way, there'd be a rational explanation later from a different perspective. It just impressed upon me the danger in having only half the information and making assumptions from there. Juno's curiosity gets the better of her and with every intention of helping to right wrongs, she digs a little further, oblivious to the fact that in doing so she's setting off a sequence of events from which there's no turning back.

 

Would I recommend it? Sure, if you like the dark, twisty mysteries that unsettle you throughout. (I'm including CW/triggers at the bottom. In order to avoid spoilers, I've made it so that you have to highlight the section to see them.) 

~ Bel

Note: It's now been a couple days since I finished it and I've had more time to ponder some of the details. I liked how Fisher set things up and l liked how she left the breadcrumbs that seduced Juno's inquisitiveness which really propelled both the speed and sinister nature of the storyline. And I guess in the aftermath I feel more pity for Winnie and Juno. The Wrong Family is my first novel by Tarryn Fisher and I'd certainly read another one of her books in the future.

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Content Warning/Triggers (highlight to read):

- multiple miscarriages (Winnie's memories), wanting to get pregnant again, counseling runaways/drug addicts (Winnie's previous job), child abduction (Winnie's involvement with one of her previous cases), degenerative disease (Juno), homelessness (Juno), alcoholism and drug abuse (Winnie's brother), marital problems, almost infidelity (Nigel), murder, child death

You Have A Match by Emma Lord

 ****

A REESE'S BOOK CLUB WINTER YA PICK

A new love, a secret sister, and a summer she'll never forget.

From the beloved author of Tweet Cute comes Emma Lord's You Have a Match, a hilarious and heartfelt novel of romance, sisterhood, and friendship...

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents — especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby's growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.

Source: borrowed audiobook via HooplaAudio

You Have A Match is an absolute charmer. I enjoyed every moment I spent listening to it. DNA services are so popular now but it's the unintended and unexpected discoveries that result from them that have captured our attention. Our curiosity is piqued when it comes to pulling back the curtains on family secrets, unveiling the truth about legends passed down. I mean, we're all hoping to find a rich relative or a remarkable connection, right?

Abby wasn't quite expecting anything out of the ordinary when she agreed to do a DNA test along with best friend and long-standing crush, Leo. For Leo who's adopted, it's a chance to discover family and cultural connections from the Philippines.  When her result comes back it shatters everything she knows about her own family. Finding out she has a 100% match with an older sister who lives in the area is one thing. Finding out Savannah aka Savvy is a pretty big deal on social media? That's just extra. Despite their physical resemblance, they're nothing alike which intimidates Abby. Savvy is put together, photogenic and outgoing whereas Abby is more sporty, all scuffed knees and very low key about her interests. Savvy suggests that Abby join her at a summer camp so they can get to know each other and get to the bottom of their parents secret. She agrees, though hesitantly, and without her parents' knowledge.

I liked that Emma Lord didn't make the getting to you aspect easy. Abby and Savvy don't get along immediately. There's so much underlying suspicion between these two opposing personalities, and maybe guilt about how they ended up where they are. There are also some ridiculous shenanigans thanks to some campers with rebellious streaks. Lord takes in to account how intense things can feel at this age. In Abby and Savvy's case, the slightest deviation from what has always been taken at face value as the truth can tilt their worlds off axis. For Abby and Leo, admitting love to their first crush can be the scariest thing. I liked the reminders that all the "firsts" can be felt so intensely.  The friends and other supporting characters are also loads of fun.

All in all, listening to You Have A Match was time well spent for me. I truly enjoyed both Abby and Savvy as individuals, and also as newfound sisters getting to know themselves and each other.

~ Bel

Well-Behaved Indian Women by Saumya Dave

* * * *

From a compelling new voice in women's fiction comes a mother-daughter story about three generations of women who struggle to define themselves as they pursue their dreams.

Simran Mehta has always felt harshly judged by her mother, Nandini, especially when it comes to her little "writing hobby." But when a charismatic and highly respected journalist careens into Simran's life, she begins to question not only her future as a psychologist, but her engagement to her high school sweetheart.

Nandini Mehta has strived to create an easy life for her children in America. From dealing with her husband's demanding family to the casual racism of her patients, everything Nandini has endured has been for her children's sake. It isn't until an old colleague makes her a life-changing offer that Nandini realizes she's spent so much time focusing on being the Perfect Indian Woman, she's let herself slip away.

Mimi Kadakia failed her daughter, Nandini, in ways she'll never be able to fix---or forget. But with her granddaughter, she has the chance to be supportive and offer help when it's needed. As life begins to pull Nandini and Simran apart, Mimi is determined to be the bridge that keeps them connected, even as she carries her own secret burden

Source: ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


This is a compelling story about three generations of women who dealt with or are currently dealing with life in different ways. Nandini as matriarch of her family, feels the responsibility and pressure of making sure her daughter, Simran has a good life ahead of her. That means making sure she's marrying the right man and following all the family and religious traditions.  Simran has been with her fiance since they were in high school and strongly feels that he's 'the one'. While they're both facing stressful careers ahead, they're also committed to making their relationship work. Then Simran meets a journalist at a book signing who not only shares her love of books and writing but encourages her to look into it as a career. Everything that Simran has built her life around so far all of a sudden feels off to her. She begins questioning what she really wants and what's expected. This draws her into direct conflict with her mother who demands excellence and commitment. Nandini has always subscribed to putting family ahead of her own dreams so while she recognizes something of herself in Simran, she's hesitant to encourage Simran to be so reckless as she sees it.

This was hard for me at times. I couldn't help but get irritated every time outrageous expectations were placed on either Simran or Nandini. A lot of it has to do with some warped patriarchal thinking about what women can and should be allowed to do. A lot of it generational or cultural. Then there's the whole not wanting to care about what others think of them but then being painfully mindful of what the community does think about them. I am familiar with a lot of the sentiments conveyed in this novel (having lived some of it) which is why it was so hard on me. But what I do appreciate is how Simran and Nandini come in to their own and expand their perspectives. While mother and daughter might not come to a full understanding of each other, they do come to some sort of truce and it's a hard fought for one. What's important here is that these two women fight for what they believe in even if it means ruffling feathers and upsetting the status quo. They do so knowing that they can't be truly happy until they speak up and step outside the confines of their worlds.

Simran's grandmother, Mimi doesn't figure as prominently but she is a pivotal piece that helps to bridge the gap between her daughter and granddaughter. Call it a blessing of a long life but she has had the time to reflect on events to become the sensitive sounding board to Simran and Nandini, giving them the emotional support and nudge they need to come back to each other. She is easily one of the most precious women ever. 

Reading Well-Behaved Indian Women means getting your heart squeezed and wrung out a good number of times but by the end you're wrapped in a warm blanket that lets you know everything will be all right. I was glad to see this mother-daughter duo find their strengthand voice to demand that they can also be happy!

~ Bel

Recipe for Persuasion (The Rajes #2) by Sonali Dev

* * * *

From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors comes another, clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time, with a twist on Persuasion.

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen? 

Rico Silva, that’s what.  

Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster. 

FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn't too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he's definitely over her. 

But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce…and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico.  Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak—or a recipe for persuasion…? 

In Recipe for Persuasion, Sonali Dev once again takes readers on an unforgettable adventure in this fresh, fun, and enchanting romantic comedy.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


In this retelling of Persuasion, former couple Ashna, a chef and Rico, a retired elite footballer are reunited on a reality cooking show where she's forced to confront all the insecurities plaguing her.

I've never read Persuasion so I don't know how closely Dev's version follows it but on its own it's a turbulent family drama filled with heightened emotions and sad backstories. Ashna's father died years ago saddling her with the responsibility of running his restaurant, Curried Dreams. She never aspired to owning or running a restaurant but does it for the sake of her father's legacy, much to the detriment of her own health and happiness. Rico for all his success on the pitch is now searching for his next career move off of it so when he discovers that Ashna is doing the reality cooking show he gets the idea that he should go on it as well. He could then revisit their relationship and get the answers he needs about their breakup. Once he arrives, he realizes that he's not even sure what he wants out of this awkward reunion.

Dev's writing is, as ever, phenomenal. There's so much life in her descriptions that it's as if she's inserted you into those scenes. You can sense everything and it's a talent that's so magical, so hers. Perhaps it's because of that I had a difficult time with parts of the story, especially concerning Ashna's complicated relationship with her father and estranged mother. Ashna's pain touched me on such a personal level that I'd have to stop and take a few breaths before continuing. As if her story wasn't convoluted enough, her mother, Shobi's sudden appearance makes Ashna feel as if she's been ambushed. For reasons that are completely my own, I didn't like Shobi at first but as she got to tell her story in fragments, I gradually felt more empathy towards her, and it was all I could do not to holler at her and Ashna to just speak and listen to each other.

Rico's story isn't all sunshine and roses either but he seems to have found some measure of peace in the years gone by. To be honest, I was super grateful that Rico was more put together than Ashna and Shobi. He was a good counterbalance to their combined grief. Any more and it would've been too overwhelming for me. The moments when Rico and Ashna shine are during the cooking competition when they manage to set aside their awkwardness to create amazing, mouthwatering recipes. Those moments become a sweet respite from the heaviness permeating the rest of the story. I was curious about some of the recipes they concocted and even looked up a few that I might try on my own.

Recipe for Persuasion evoked many feelings in me and that is certainly what I expect from an incredible story - something that makes me react, feel and question. As I said at the beginning, I've never read Persuasion so I don't know how it compares. To me it's about healing as all the characters in Dev's retelling are confronting their feelings, as distressing as they are, opening up to their vulnerabilities as they've never done before. It's frightening and risky but they all come through. To that effect, I also think that what romance there is between Rico and Ashna is overshadowed by Ashna's longstanding pain, and Shobi's story arc. I didn't take it as a romantic comedy in the way of whimsy but rather as an intense and earnest story, written from the heart, that will affect each reader differently.

~ Bel 

⚠️ Recipe for Persuasion contains sensitive themes; content warnings are listed below. In the interest of avoiding spoilers, highlight to see them. ⚠️

alcoholism (memory - Ashna of her father, Shobi of her husband) , suicide (memory -Ashna's father), finding a parent dead (memory - Ashna finding her father after his suicide), parental estrangement (Ashna's mother who was away for most of her childhood), rape (memory - Shobi's), parents' accidental death (memory - Rico's parents),  forced marriage (Shobi and Ashna's father), panic attacks (Ashna), a visit to an abortion clinic (memory - Shobi's), mention of family's death in a plane crash (relative of Ashna, a side character's backstory)

Perfect Betrayal by Season Vining

* * *

To the outside world, Taylor Hudson has it all: beauty, money and social status. But Taylor's privileged life is far lonelier than it appears.

Levi is the inside man on a job to steal fifteen million dollars from one of the town's wealthiest families, putting him on a crash course with Taylor. Neither of them believe in love, but lust. . . that's undeniable.

Now they're locked in a wicked game of seduction and it's unclear who is playing who. But neither of them expected the affair to lead to the deepest connection they've ever experienced. Because beneath Taylor's perfect exterior lies a need for love that mirrors Levi's own.? As the heist approaches, how can Levi protect Taylor from the truth? Is he willing to give up everything to save the one girl who's made him want to be a better man?

On the surface, Taylor is every rich-girl cliché you can think of. She has the looks, the boyfriend she’s using, and equally shallow friends. She can have anything at her fingertips except for loving, involved parents. Underneath her mean, bitch attitude is a little girl who wants so much for her parents to take an interest in her. When Levi shows up as the new head of maintenance, she sees a guy who’s unlike any other she’s had. She makes a game of seducing him so that she can toss him away.

Levi is as gritty and serious as they come. He’s lived through some hard times and this current gig as head maintenance guy is his one last time to score some major cash and then fall off the radar permanently. He doesn’t count on Taylor being a distraction. At first he sees her as a spoiled brat though he can’t deny that physically she’s a specimen to die for. He knows that she’s working hard to get him to notice her so tries to ignore her advances and limit their run-ins.

Taylor doesn’t give up easily and well, you can guess where this all leads. Both Taylor and Levi eventually have mixed feelings about what they’re doing with each other but they can’t stay away. Levi's feelings are complicated by the fact that he still has a job to do and it’s not just his fate on the line but also that of his fellow cohorts. No matter what the outcome, someone will get hurt and it will inevitably be Taylor.

If there’s anything to glean from this is that what’s on the surface is not the whole story. Taylor is both wild and a jumbled up mess thanks to her parents. While it explains why she is the way she is, I still could’t help but be a little cool towards her. I have to hand it to her though because she does do some growing up when she learns of all the lies and secrets. Levi is a surprisingly sensitive guy who loses himself in poetry. Seriously, that is one mega turn on! He doesn’t want to hurt anyone, most of all Taylor but he’s made a commitment to get things done and people are depending on him.

It’s quite a predicament they get themselves into. In the end, it’s not the money on the line but their hearts and what they’ll decide moving forward to find happiness. I enjoyed Season Vining’s previous book, Held Against You, and I’ve enjoyed Perfect Betrayal just as much. She’s good at giving her characters depth, even the ones who may be slightly unlikable. Despite my reservations about Taylor, I still wanted her to be happy as much as I wanted it for Levi. And you’ll just have to read it so see how things turn out for them!

~ Bel