Contemporary Reads

Reviews & recommendations of contemporary books.
Literary Fiction, Thrillers, Feel Good Books, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction & more…

The Maid’s Diary

The Maid's Diary | Explained | Book Review |

So have we found our first exceptional read of 2023? I guess so. For Loreth Anne White has for us here a scintillating psychological thriller in it’s truest form. The Maid’s Diary is the sort of book that makes one realise why thrillers have such a huge pull as a genre. For when you come across a genuine, fast-paced, action-packed thriller like here, it gives you a different high all together.

The Maid’s Diary is engaging from the word go. It begins in a very 90’s movie feel – a couple making out in a car in a secluded spot and unwittingly witness to a horrendous crime. Thus, the book serves you some raunchy, steamy stuff to start with – which actually wrong foots …

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Prettier If She Smiled More

Prettier If She Smiled More | Book Review

An extremely free flowing, fluent & easy to read pick. Welcome back the Schnabel family that enthralled us with wit, humor and wackiness last year, and is all set to repeat here. Prettier If She Smiled More instantly draws you in with it’s simplistic & light-hearted vibes which assure it to be a feel-good read.

While Dinner With The Schnabels had Tansy’s family (Simon and the kids) in the thick of things, this time round we have her sister Kylie taking limelight. It’s always good when a sequel gives a supporting character of the past, a chance to be the main lead. It starts with Kylie having a disastrous week with 3 disasters coming her way one after …

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The London SĂ©ance Society

The London SĂ©ance Society | Book Review | Sarah Penner

A much anticipated read from the author of the runaway success The Lost Apothecary, this book had a lot to live up to. Getting straight to the point, though I hate to say so, it has been a disappointment. There are several reasons for it which we shall see as below.

The London SĂ©ance Society is set in 1873, with Sarah Penner sticking to the historical fiction genre – which she completely owned in her debut novel. The book here bases it’s theme around sĂ©ances & communicating with the dead, in the process trying to uncover the mysteries behind their death. To start with, it is an intriguing subject with dark, gothic vibes which draws you in. But sadly, …

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Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun

Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun | Book Review | Elle Cosimano

Let me begin by saying that I love the characters of Finlay Donovan & Vero – what a swashbuckling team they make! And add to it the two little monsters Delia & Zach! This is what the Finlay Donovan Series has treated us to till now – a stunning mixture of suspense, thrill and humor! No wonder, expectations were high from this much anticipated read of 2023.

But as soon as you pick this 3rd version, you quite easily can sense something amiss. Something lacking in the book right from the beginning. It has a slower than expected start. Valuable time is squandered in reintroducing characters here and there. Yet, they were not easy to recall. I strongly felt the need …

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The Housemaid’s Secret

The Housemaid's Secret | Book Review | Freida McFadden

Millie – is back! And how! The second book in The Housemaid Series is all set to emulate the success of it’s prequel and better it. The latest book from Freida McFadden sees the return of the two main characters, Millie – the housemaid and her beau Enzo, finding themselves caught in another mystery, another adventure.

What is immediately noticeable about The Housemaid’s Secret is the stark similarity with the first edition in the style of narration & settings that it follows. One of the main characters sitting in a room with the author dropping just enough hints to pique the curiosity of the reader and create an eerie air of suspense and fear. And thereon, it eases into the flashback to …

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Someone Else’s Shoes

Someone Else's Shoes | Jojo Moyes | Book Review

Someone Else’s Shoes is a lovable story with a unique & original plot that makes for a light, enjoyable read. It has two stories running in parallel – revolving around the lives of the two protagonists, Sam & Nisha – which converge together resulting in some utmost funny & boisterous situations.

Sam Kemp is a middle aged woman, leading a mundane middle-class life – never quite free from worrying about bills, job, boss and so on. Her husband Phil has lost his job and going through a rough patch of depression. As a result, she is compelled to run the household single handedly.

Nisha Cantor on the other hand is quite the opposite. Married to a rich man Carl, she was leading a luxurious …

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