Such Quiet Girls- Book Review

Such Quiet Girls

Check Gooodreads to add this to your reading list

Published date:- April 29th 2025

Publisher:- Dynamite Books

Author:- Noelle W. Ihli

No. of pages:- 352 pages

Genre:- Thriller

Quick review:- A well written novel based on true story about the children and the driver being kidnapped and held for ransom. Gripping and intriguing

Rating:- 4 stars.

– Domestic abuse

-About Alzheimer’s disease

-Child abuse

Ten children, abducted in broad daylight—and buried alive.

Sage and her sister won’t make it home from school today. Neither will the other children on Bus 315. But that’s only the beginning of the nightmare.

New bus driver Jessa blames herself for what happened. She couldn’t protect the kids she was supposed to deliver to daycare, just like she couldn’t protect her own daughter three years ago. But this time, everything will be different. It has to be.

Trapped in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground, Jessa and the children do their best to stay calm. The kidnappers insist that if everyone behaves, they’ll be freed when the ransom is paid. But Sage isn’t sure they’ll last that long. Neither is Jessa. It’s dark and cramped, and with every passing minute it’s getting harder to breathe.

With time—and air—running thin, Jessa and the children must find a way to outsmart their captors, or face an unthinkable fate.

Such Quiet Girls was inspired by actual events.

Although this is a work of fiction, the story is loosely based on the real life events that took place in Chowchilla, California in 1976

Sage and Bonnie as usual takes a school bus to their day care. Sage is the oldest in the bus and she couldn’t wait until she didn’t have to take the bus anymore although her mother had instilled responsibility to look after Bonnie. The bus driver, Jessa is a thirty-something year old woman who recently got released from prison. She is working under a different name and had lied in her CV but Jessa is earning and trying to save money so she could reunite with her daughter Soph. Their normal routine changes when two men abducts the bus, forces the children and Jessa into the shipping container buried twenty feet underground. While the kidnappers are trying to come up with a plan to what to do with the money, Sage and Jessa are finding ways to escape from the container before they all die in the underground.

I like reading Noelle Ihli’s novels and this is the fifth book I have read from her, and the second book that is based on true events (the first book None Left to Tell, which is based on true story). She writes books with emotions and feelings and make you also feel like you are also the part of the story. In Such Quiet Girls, you have POVs of Sage, Jessa, Sheena who is Sage’s mother and who receives the ransom note from the kidnappers), Ted one of the kidnappers. We see Sage is a determined and courageous girl who thinks of herself as Harriet the Spy who will save and solve a crime. We see Jessa who becomes vulnerable as she remembers about the past but then end up saving the children with Sage. The ending was emotional however.

However, even though I liked this book, this book wasn’t as great as her other books. Nonetheless, I liked this book based on the fact that it is based on true story.

Overall 4 stars.

If you want to know more about the true story of Chowchilla Kidnappings, click the link

Amazon Blackwells

Not My Sister – ARC Book Review

Not My Sister

Check Goodreads to add this to your reading list

Publishing date:- 4th March 2026

Publisher:- Bookouture

Author:- Rosie Walker

No. of pages:- 367 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Quick review- Gripping and makes you feel like you are on the edge with an unpredictable ending.

Rating:- 4.5 stars

-siblings

-mental health

– abuse (mostly parental)

-mental health awareness

-sickness relating to allergies

A girl stands on the doorstep, her hands tremble and her eyes glisten with tears. My sister has finally come home after six long years.

I gasp in disbelief when I meet my younger sister’s gaze. I can’t believe I’m looking at Lydia’s sweet face again. We’d been so close as children. Then one day she didn’t come home from school, and she disappeared without a trace.

Having Lydia back at home is the best thing that’s happened in years. Only I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. She doesn’t remember any of the stories I tell about our childhood, she’s even forgotten her long bouts of illness. When I ask about the day she vanished, she says she doesn’t recall what happened.

I want to be close to my sister again more than anything. But when I find a strange message hidden in her room, I begin to suspect the girl who came home isn’t my sister at all. Who is she? And what really happened to Lydia?

I’m convinced I’m living with an impostor. And I will stop at nothing to expose the truth…

An absolutely gripping and addictive psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages until late into the night. If you love The HousemaidGone Girl or The Other Daughter, you’ll adore Not My Sister.

This is a book with a setting of a tense atmosphere that talks about the relationship between mother and daughter and possibly parental favoritism and abuse.

After many years, Lydia, Wendy’s youngest daughter returns back home. Lydia refuses to tell anyone about the ordeal she went through and doesn’t want the police to get involve, citing she wasn’t ready to face the drama. Wendy, who has doted on Lydia more than on her oldest daughter Annabel did not want to lose Lydia again that she would do anything to keep Lydia by her side. Meanwhile, Annabel, refuses to believe that Lydia is back as she noted some strange things about the newcomer. And Annabel knew that whoever this person is, is actually not her sister but someone else entirely. Annabel is determined to expose this out.

The story is written in two POVs–Annabel and Wendy. From the start of the story, you notice that Wendy and Annabel do not really have a good mother daughter relationship with each other. As a reader ( to me) I mostly felt sympathizing with Annabel’s character more than Wendy. I feel Wendy is not really a good parents, showing off favoritism–treating her two daughters in different ways. We are also painted with an image that Annabel can somewhat be a mentally disturbed person and that she almost killed her own sister. However, tension arises as you read through the book, the relationship between Annabel and Wendy deteriorates further and further and Wendy literally would do anything to prevent Lydia from disappearing again. The whole story is fast paced, that will keep the reader at the edge. There are twists and turns but the biggest twist comes at the end of the book. It was actually a completely unexpected twist and didn’t really see that twist coming. It was unputdownable and I actually liked this thriller.

Overall this book is worth 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Amazon Blackwells

The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach – ARC Book Review

The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach

Check Goodreads to add this into your reading list

Publishing date:- 7th March 2026

Publisher:- Boldwood Books

Author:- Revecca Raisin

No. of pages:- 335 pages

Genre:- Romance/Chick Lit

Quick Review–set in the island of Seychelles, the story is filled with laughter and at the same time enjoyable to read.

Rating:- overall review 4.5 stars

– Bookstagram

-Beach romance

-Grumpy Sunshine romance

-Cyberbullying

A wildly romantic, escapist summer romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Eliza J Scott, guaranteed to make you feel like you’re on vacation already! 🏖️👣☀️💖 We need a bookseller for the Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach… apply here!

When Harper sees an ad for what must surely be the most idyllic job in the world, she’s almost tempted. But she can’t possibly leave her bookshop job in London, or her burgeoning career as a successful Bookstagram influencer… That is, until a casual remark about a debut author lands her in deep trouble.

So she applies. After all, now she’s got nothing to lose. Except maybe her heart, she realises, as she lands on the beautiful island of Ésperé in the Seychelles and finds herself seemingly surrounded by beautiful men. Including the hotel owner, moody but heartbreakingly-handsome Xavier.

But inter-staff relations are strictly forbidden. And Harper has enough on her plate, with a member of staff missing and a wily band of expats to contend with. Plus, she’s determined to make the bookshop and new start the success they deserve to be… Even if – under the blazing sunshine – the romance novel superfan in her can’t help but hope the boss of the hotel might not be quite the grump he seems…

The most romantic story you’ll read this year, with an unforgettable cast of characters that includes a giant tortoise living in a bookshop. Don’t miss it! 📚🐢🇸🇨

Harper Lee is a popular bookstagrammer and a staunch fan of romantic novels. When she accidentally live feed about her opinions about a new debut book, saying that she believed that the book is written by an AI, instantly, Harper becomes one of the most hated person on the internet and she gets fired from her job at Paddington Books. But then by chance, Harper comes across an add about hiring a manager for a bookshop named the Barefoot Bookshop located in Seychelles. Harper, determined to start all over again believes that this is a sign–she applies for the job, gets the job and then flies to Seychelles for her new job. While there, Harper meets lots of cute and handsome fellas, including grumpy Xavier who happens to run the resort in Seychelles. The bookshop is located in the resort. Determined to prove that she can run the bookshop and prevent Xavier from closing the bookshop, Harper instantly starts working but at the same time harboring feelings towards the certain grumpy manager…

I love reading Rebecca Raisin’s books and she is one of my favorite romance novels. Harper is a loyal fan of romance books and as a book reader and a book reviewer you can completely relate to Harper’s feelings and emotions when you realize that this so called book is robotic and might be an AI. You can almost feel as if you are in the beaches of Seychelles, when reading this book. I also like that Harper has a community of loyal friends both back in London and in Seychelles, where she befriends Mariola and three women who names are Lucy. I also like the background story of the sea turtle. The chemistry between Xavier and Harper is great and you almost root for the couple. There are some funny parts in the book.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read and I cannot wait to read Rebecca Raisin’s next novel–worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for the ARC. Thank you Boldwood Books for inviting me to review this book. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Blackwells’ Amazon Barnes and Nobel

Rose Hill Series – Overall Book Review

Author:- Elsie Silver

Dates published:-

Date published:- April 9th April 2024

No. of pages:- 455 pages

Couple :- Ford and Rosie

Rose Hills Book 1

She’s been driving him wild for years.

The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild.

But mostly, the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend’s little sister and knowing you can’t have her.

Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World’s Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he’s her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend’s sister, Rosie Belmont.

After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm’s length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat.

Ford knows damn well he shouldn’t cross this line. But shouldn’t and can’t are two very different things.

And the only thing he truly can’t do is resist her.

My rating on Goodreads – 4 stars

Date published:- September 3rd 2024

No. of pages:- 464 pages

Couple:- West and Skye

Rose Hills Book 2

A rugged mountain town seemed like the perfect escape from a life in shambles.
But on day one, she ran full tilt into the world’s hottest single dad, and now all her plans are ruined.

As a chart-topping country singer with a recent streak of bad press, it’s hard for Skylar Stone to find any peace. But she finds it in Rose Hill. With a little boy and a little girl who steal her heart just as thoroughly as their dad.

Weston Belmont.

The man is a shameless flirt. He oozes confidence and masculinity in a way that’s downright distracting. And in bed? He’s addictive.

Everything with him is wild and impulsive, and Skylar is desperate to regain some control.

But no one has supported her like West does. And no one has ever made her feel as loved as he does either.

So, while Skylar’s brain says settling down with a small-town horse trainer is impossible…her heart says she’s right where she belongs.

Still, her life as a celebrity haunts her. It has the power to pull her and West apart.

She can see in his eyes that he wants her to stay. And she wants that too.

But she knows better than anyone that you don’t always get what you want.

My Goodreads rating:- 4 stars

Date published:- March 4th 2025

No. of pages:- 464 pages

Couple:- Rhys and Tabitha

Rose Hills Series Book 3

I’d always dreamed of my wedding day. But not like this. Not looking into the eyes of the man who betrayed me.

But when my nephew’s guardianship is contested, I decide I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises—ones he won’t talk about. In fact, we barely talk at all.

Which would be fine, except when he’s not talking, he’s staring. And the way he looks at me is borderline indecent.

The tension between us has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.

I swore I would never forgive him. But that was before I knew the man behind the mask. The one who’s fierce and protective. The one who’s gentle and patient. The one who shows up for us when we need him most.

He’s not at all who I thought he was.

And that makes hating my husband so much harder… and loving him just a little too easy.

My Goodreads Rating:- 3.5 stars

Date published:- September 9th 2025

No. of pages:- 464 pages

Couple:- Bash and Gwen

Rose Hill Series Book 4

Sebastian Rousseau is a grumpy, hot as hell fire pilot who is too damn good with his hands.

It’s the perfect combination. But unfortunately for me, he’s also my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

A chance meeting brought us together and a missed connection has kept us apart.

One year later, a stroke of fate has us living under the same roof—which makes everything between us downright messy.

Because even after all this time, he’s still the man I think about when I fall asleep. The one I can’t get over no matter how hard I try.

He’s working on mending a fragile relationship with his son and we both know acting on these urges would be the ultimate betrayal.

But I see the heat in his eyes. That look of need that never fails to send a shiver down my spine.

The mutual longing is borderline unbearable and the simmering heat between us is downright palpable.

We both know there are rules when it comes to situations like this.

But then again…following the rules never has been my strong suit.

Good reads rating:- 4 stars

Overall Thoughts

Pros

– I enjoyed reading this Rose Hill series and can’t believe that I actually finished a series in romance

– My favorite of out of the four books is Wild Card which was the last book of the series.

– There is always some event that is going on in each book that would make the reader intrigued to read the book.

Cons

-if you are not into reading spicy scenes, then avoid these series. At least there are five chapters in each of the book dedicated to spicy scene

-predictable and happy ending as it should in most romance novels.

Will recommend the book if you like reading spicy scenes.

The Girls Who Disappeared- Book Review

Title:- The Girls Who Disappeared

Author:- Claire Douglas

Date published:- September 15th 2022

No. of pages:- 392 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5 Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4.5/5

Three missing girls. A twenty year mystery. A woman on the verge of discovering the truth . . .

In a rural Wilshire town lies The Devil’s Corridor. A road which has witnessed eerie happenings from unexplained deaths to the sounds of a child crying at night.

But nothing more puzzling than the Olivia Rutherford case. Four girls drove home but after their car crashed only Olivia was found.

Twenty years later, journalist Jenna Halliday is covering the case. But the locals aren’t happy with this stranger’s arrival. Least of all Olivia.

Jenna soon starts receiving threatening notes and it is clear someone wants her out of this town before she suffers a dark fate . . .

The Girls Who Disappeared talks about a mysterious event that happened in 1998 and a journalist coming to this small town twenty years later to do a podcast about this event.

Jenna is a podcaster who takes this opportunity to do a podcast about three girls who disappeared mysteriously in 1998 in an accident. The only survivor was Olivia who is living with a survivor’s guilt. Jenna knew that there are some supernatural rumors spreading in this small town and that the girls’ disappearance may have been related to that supernatural rumor as there is no trace of their disappearances. However someone doesn’t want Jenna to investigate into their cases.

This was actually a fast paced thriller. Claire Douglas knows how to capture the reader’s attention and make the reader feel like the part of the story. I also like the supernatural element in the backdrop of the story. The story is told in the POVs of Jenna and Olivia and there is a small backdrop of a group of friends holidaying in Thailand. You will only realize the connection between the background story that is happening in Thailand towards the end of the book–so there is suspense in the story.

Anyway, this was an intriguing and fast paced thriller which I enjoyed it very much–worth four and a half stars.

It’s Not What You Think – ARC Book Review

Title:- It’s Not What You Think

Author:- Clare Mackintosh

Date published:- will be published on 26th March 2026

Genre:- Thriller/Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5 Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating;- 5/5

He has a secret. She knows he’s lying…

YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs.

She’s been here before.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST

When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS

But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can’t explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…

Jamie is dead.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

Nadeeka is convinced that Jamie is having an affair. Nadeeka drives back to her home to confront her partner Jamie, almost getting a speeding ticket on the way. But as she reaches her house, there was a police car and her house has officially become a crime scene–Jamie was murdered, dead. Nadeeka is devastated and upset although she is convinced that Jamie is having an affair. But as she starts digging further, she realizes that there’s more to Jamie’s death that she has ever experienced.

I have read Clare Mackintosh’s books, and all her books are fast paced psychological thrillers packed with twists and turns. This book is no exception. From the start of the book to the end, it was fast paced, with so many different twists and turns. You believe or maybe this happened but in the next minute, you are being misdirected and another twist follows after that. The story is told in multiple POVs–Nadeeka, Lauren, Jamie, Fraser. The book is unputdownable, and a page turner where you will feel like you are at the edge of the seat while reading the book. So far, I have to say, this might be one of the best books I have read written by Clare Mackintosh in my opinion (my favorite was I Let You Go). The whole book felt like you are watching an action thriller that you couldn’t turn it off and that you really want to know what is going to happen in the end–that’s exactly how it happened. It was engaging and was impossible to put the book down.

I actually liked the fact that the main character–Nadeeka Prassana is a Sri Lankan–I am a Sri Lankan so it kind of gave me an excitement to read a book where one of the main characters is a Sri Lankan-British. Both Nadeeka and Lauren are courageous and brave heroine that as a reader you could root for.

This book will be published in March and I highly recommend if you could pre-order a copy of this book now! Worth five stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Mrs. Sidhu’s Just Desserts – ARC Book Review

Title:- Mrs. Sidhu’s Just Desserts

Author:- Suk Pannu

Date published:- will be published on 12th February 2026

No. of pages:- 387 pages

Genre:- Cozy Mystery/Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5 Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

In this twisting and richly sauced mystery, will the proof be in the pudding?‘Perfect for fans of Richard Osman’ Guardian

‘Slough’s answer to Miss Marple’ S.J. Bennett

‘A dollop of cosy crime goodness’ Vaseem Khan

It’s the most glamorous event of the yearWhen Mrs Sidhu is hired as the caterer for the opening of Berkshire’s swankiest new art gallery, she can’t believe her luck.

It’s the biggest pay cheque of her career, a glitzy evening, and a chance to take her cooking to the next level in front of the local crème de la crème.

But there’s trouble on the menuThen the gallery’s star painting is stolen. And worse than that, Mrs Sidhu’s best and sweetest waitress – with her whole life ahead of her – is found dead.

Mrs Sidhu wants answers. As she casts her eye over Berkshire’s art scene – the murderously competitive collectors, critics and creatives – she uncovers a dastardly knot of greed and deception, obsession and revenge.

Can she crack the strangest case of her career and unmask the murderer, so they can meet their just desserts?

An exceptional cosy crime mystery from Suk Pannu, creator of BBC Radio 4’s Mrs Sidhu Investigates

If you are fans of Richard Osman’s thrillers then maybe this book is for you.

Not very familiar with BBC Radio 4’s Mrs. Sidhu’s Investigates but this is the first book I have read from this author.

Mrs. Sidhu is hired as a caterer to provide desserts for a glamorous art event in Berkshire. While at the event, the most talked of painting was stolen and Mrs. Sidhu’s beloved waitress was murdered and her own boss was found drugged. Mrs. Sidhu is now determined to find the perpetrator behind this so she could solve the robbery and murder even though she is putting her own life and career at risk.

This book is perfect for cozy mystery lovers. I like the diversity of the book as well–the main character Mrs. Sidhu is of Indian origin. Not only that–the whole book was unputdownable. There were twists and turns and so many suspects that one of them could be responsible for what happened. There were some funny parts in the book that will make you laugh out loud. It was also fast paced and I was literally hooked into the story, unable to put the book down.

I didn’t also realize that this was the second book of the series so I am actually looking forward to read more from Mrs. Sidhu’s series. Overall worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

The Cherry Crush Flower Shop – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Chery Crush Flower Shop

Author:- Harper Graham

Date published:- will be published on 10th February 2026

No. of pages:- 330 pages

Genre;- Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5 Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Their relationship is fake… The chemistry is not! 🔥

A small-town girl with a secret crush and flowers in her hair. A dark, rugged veteran with scars only she can see. With spring fever all around, could fake dating turn into happily ever after? Gilmore Girls + Friends to Lovers + Spice = ❤️‍🔥

🌼🌼🌼

Zoe Hart is right where she in her cozy Maple Falls flower shop with her cat Whiskers. But her oldest friend (and secret crush) Jackson is back in their small town too. And most of all, she longs to be in his strong arms. So when her hopelessly romantic mom bets on them being Couple of the Year at the Spring Festival, Zoe finds herself fake-dating the friend-zoned guy she’s always wanted…

When Jackson returns from military service, even working on his llama sanctuary can’t heal him. But Zoe is the only person who can truly make him smile. He’d do anything for her… even pretend to be dating for the Spring Festival. There’s nothing fake about his feelings as he crushes his lips to hers. But there’s no way she’d really want a broken man like him, would she?

All eyes are on them as the town prepares to vote for Couple of the Year. But when a hidden wildflower meadow becomes their escape, real passion blooms amid falling cherry blossom. Will the magic of spring turn their make-believe romance into true love forever?

The Cherry Crush Flower Shop is the third book of the Maple Falls series. I have read the first two books although I haven’t given the reviews on them so this is the first time I am reviewing this book.

This book actually bore some similarities of Laurie Gilmore’s Dream Harbor series. Set in a small town up in Maine, where everyone knows every body and their businesses, so if you have read Dream Harbor series, then try reading Maple Falls series as well. I also couldn’t help but notice that plot lines could be a bit similar to the books in the Dream Harbor series. I know there’s no original plot and there is always a copycat books that bore eerie resemblance to another story. So nonetheless, this did not deter me from reading the Maple Falls series.

Harper Graham’s writing is flawless and she really did a good job of hooking the reader into the story. The detailed descriptions of the surroundings, (as this story takes place during the spring time) takes you to the spring season in the small town. Also, despite the romance themed book, there is some serious topics that is discussed in the book. Zoe’s infertility and Jackson’s PTSD were too sensitive topics and I have to say, the author managed to handled these topics very well. Also the small adventure between Zoe and Jackson of finding an extinct flower in the woods was a major backdrop of the story, besides all the romance background. If you are into spicy romance, there are some spicy scenes in the book.

Overall, this is a great book and I am looking forward to read the next book of the Maple Falls series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang – Book Review

Title:- A Midnight Pastry Shop called Hwawoldang

Author:- Lee Onhwa

Date published:- December 11th 2024

No. of pages:- 240 pages

Genre:- Magic Realism/Contemporary/Asian/Korean

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5 Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

For readers of Before the Coffee Gets ColdThe Dallergut Dream Department Store, and The Midnight Library, a sweetly magical and uplifting novel about a young woman who inherits an enchanted bakery that spirits visit on their last stop before the afterlife.

Twenty-seven-year-old Yeon-hwa has inherited a neighborhood bakery from her grandmother. Curiously, her grandmother’s will spells out two conditions: Yeon-hwa must keep the shop going for at least another month and only open it to customers from 10 PM until midnight. Yeon-hwa is hesitant at first; her grandmother was always distant, raising Yeon-hwa after her parents died in a car accident. But she agrees to the terms, hoping that running the bakery will help her to finally understand her grandmother after all these years.

Yeon-hwa soon learns that the Hwawoldang—the name means “flower moon temple” —is not an ordinary dessert shop. The customers who arrive late at night are spirits, there to attend to unfinished business before being reincarnated. The sweets they crave hold some deep significance in their earthly lives, and they expect Yeon-hwa to meet their requests, as her grandmother did.

With each customer who arrives, Yeon-hwa learns which special desserts live in their memories and will help them on their way. Aided by the shop’s resident black cat, Yeon-hwa learns how to find closure for her customers—and begins to unravel her own family’s secrets as well.

Yeon-Hwa inherits the pastry shop from her grandmother after her death. The shop has unique opening time–it opens at 10 pm and closes around midnight. Yeon-Hwa meets customers who had died and who comes to the store asking for a special sweet that reminds them of their loved ones. Yeon-Hwa then immediately transports to the time when these customers were alive and how they lived before their death.

Basically, all stories in the book dealt with the customers, their lives before their death and their loved ones to whom they dedicate those sweets too. Many comment that this book is similar to Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookstore, a Japanese fiction book which I still yet to read. To me, I felt this was a unique story and each of these customer’s lives before their death was interesting as well as heartbreaking, emotional as well. The fact that their loved one is deeply sad about the loss also makes it heartbreaking.

It was interesting and a good magic realism book. Overall, I rate this book as four stars.

House of Glass – Book Review

Title:- House of Glass

Author:- Sarah Pekkanen

Date published:- August 6th 2024

No. of pages:- 341 pages

Genre:- Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5 Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they built the perfect lie.

A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?

Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny – in the midst of her parent’s bitter divorce – and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella’s mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help.

From the moment Stella passes through the iron security gate and steps into the gilded, historic DC home of the Barclays, she realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she feared. And there’s something eerie about the house itself: It’s a plastic house, with not a single bit of glass to be found.

As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny’s murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny’s boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella’s supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?

Stella is a lawyer, specialized in representing the children whose parents are going through the divorce and helping them with the custody battle. Stella’s mentor and father-like figure, Charles asks Stella to take on an unusual case–a nine-year-old girl named Rose Barclay had witnessed her nanny’s death and has been silent since then. Her parents are getting divorced and her nanny, Tina has been having an affair with Rose’s father Ian. Stella is a bit hesitant to take over the case as Rose reminded her of her own childhood and past–Stella was seven-years old when her mother overdosed to death. Stella reluctantly takes over the case. As Stella spends more time with the Barclays and Rose, she notices an unusual thing–there are no glass items in or around the house, even the windows are made of plastic. Rose also seem to be having a habit of picking up short objects and hiding them in her room. As Stella dwells deeper, is Rose a disturbed child and maybe responsible for her nanny’s death?

This book to me was a page turner. The entire story is told in Stella’s POV and while investigating and helping Rose, she revisits her own traumatic childhood. Reading this book reminds me of Lizzie Borden case–a child who killed her own parents and Rose is an extremely gifted child while at the same time a disturbed child. All the characters except for Stella are unrealistic characters. The final twist at the end was little bit unexpected.

Overall, this was an entertaining read, and worth four stars.