as told by zaheerah

Review: Something in Between

July 6, 2018June 29, 2018by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

Jasmine de los Santos is the perfect student. Working hard to please her parents, hoping to get a full college scholarship to her dream college. But the dream is shattered when she is rewarded an award she can’t accept. Her entire family is residing in the U.S. illegally after their visas expired years ago. Now Jasmine’s breaking out and falling in love with the charming son of a Republican congressman. Time is running out, and Jasmine needs to find a way to stay.

I think Something in Between is a fantastic book about identity and one of the many experiences of undocumented immigrants. A significant theme of Something in Between is how children of immigrants are stuck between two worlds, two cultures, and figuring out how to identify when they clash with each other. Jasmine struggles, and her story shows the exploration of cultural conflict and how she learns that neither have to conflict with the other and you can be proud of both.

I enjoyed the dynamics and interactions between Jasmine and her family mainly. There’s a lot of diversity in this book that was really relatable. I wasn’t a huge fan of the drama that occurred within Jasmine and her friends, but I appreciated how in the end they worked it all out and rather than separating, all of them work out their issues and it’s realistically resolved.

The romance between Jasmine and Royce was initially quite sweet and adorable. It starts off with mutual respect between both of them and they slowly learn more about each other. It was later sort of ruined by miscommunication issues. Most of their problems could’ve been solved in seconds if they had just spoken more clearly. The whole ‘Are we still dating? We’re still dating.’ Thing got pretty old really quick. I didn’t hate Jasmine as a lead, but her personality tended to be very dramatic, and I wished the story focused a bit more on her actual family rather than the typical YA drama. She’s quite headstrong, and I liked that. But her family were the stronger aspects of the book, and I wished it was showed more.

There were some aspects that I didn’t enjoy, and one of them was how the Republicans were portrayed a bit too nice. Royce’s father does some terrible things, but they do help Jasmine’s family at one point, but I feel like they were a bit too nice to them when in the book they’re seen dismissing and alienating immigrants in the book.

Overall, it’s quite a good read. This is a very personal story about immigrants and finding out where we belong in a country that doesn’t want you and how the world can be terrible to them. I would definitely recommend it.

GOODREADS | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | AUTHOR SITE

books, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult/ Teen

Review: Want

July 3, 2018June 29, 2018by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

In a world divided by the rich you and the poor mei, advanced tech is needed to survive the polluted air that covers the city of Taipei. Angry at his city’s corruption which allows the rich to survive while the poorest are left at nature’s mercy, Jason Zhou along with his friends infiltrate the lives of the wealthy yous in order to destroy Jin Corp which manufactures the suits to survive.

Within the very first chapter, I was hooked. Pon has created a story that is fantastic. We’re introduced to the overcrowded smoggy city of Taipei and you’re in with Pon’s vivid imagery and writing. The wealth disparity isn’t so different from real life and this story tackles so many important topics. It is such a compelling read that will satisfy anyone looking for a thrilling and fast-paced read. And it’s cast of characters are so memorable and amazing. I don’t know how many times I can say how spectacular this was to read and experience.

I was so drawn to Zhou as the novel’s lead and his band of friends as they attempt to complete this ambitious mission. Each and every character is vital and the chemistry between them all is so good. They are such a diverse bunch of people and can’t wait to read more about them. The scenes of them just living their lives were really sweet and some of the best scenes in the book.

I did have an issue with the pacing, there were moments where it goes way too fast and then suddenly goes at a snail pace, especially in the middle of the book. And the romance between Jason and Daiyu deserved more time to develop. They’re very quickly pushed together that just needed more time to work better.

Overall, Want reads like a movie we all deserve to see on the big screen. And I loved it. A story about a group of friends infiltrating a corporation with hidden identities, spy actions and damn amazing group dynamics. A futuristic heist story that everyone needs to read.

GOODREADS | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | AUTHOR SITE

books, Lifestyle, Monthly Rewind

Monthly Rewind: May & June 2018

July 1, 2018July 1, 2018by Zaheerah4 Comments

I missed out on doing a May rewind because I was very mentally exhausted from finishing my first year of university that I didn’t even do much blog wise but I feel like I’ve jumped back from that dull feeling and I feel like I’m doing much better now! So I’ve quickly tacked on my May reads and music just so its documented.

B O O K S

M A Y

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi | Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope | Skylarks by Karen Gregory

J U N E

There’s a big difference between me in a bad mood and a good mood and it can really be seen here. Haha.

Continue reading “Monthly Rewind: May & June 2018” →

books, Other

#1KBE wrap up

June 30, 2018July 1, 2018by Zaheerah1 Comment

I’m actually quite impressed with myself. For once I completed a reading a challenge with loads of time to spare. (Granted, it was only four books but I actually started late and I also read other books in the same time) I could’ve tried and squeezed a couple of more books from the other authors but I’ve been pressed for time since I’m working more and my sister is getting married next month. I managed to complete the top line of authors and here is my wrap up and thoughts on the books I had read. (Full reviews of each book excluding Hungry will be published soon!)

2018-06-29 08.11.29 1.jpg — Part of the journal spread I made. Hungry didn’t have a cover since it was published on Tumblr. Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

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books, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/ Teen

Book Review: From Twinkle, With Love

June 29, 2018June 28, 2018by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

* I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

Told through letters to her favourite female filmmakers, Twinkle Mehra navigates her journey as she is approached to help direct a movie for her school’s upcoming festival. Wallflower Twinkle grabs at the chance of getting to show off her skills while using it as an opportunity to get closer to her long-time crush, Neil Roy. But she finds herself falling for her producer, Neil’s twin brother Sahil. Suddenly, a mystery person called “N” begins emailing her, Twinkle is dead set on it being Neil. Soon, everything spirals out of control but can Twinkle change the script in time?

Twinkle was such an adorable read. The characters are a bit younger than Menon’s debut characters, but you get the same feeling from this cast. Twinkle and Dimple share similar but different struggles when pursuing their passions so if you’re a fan of Menon’s first, you’ll definitely love this. There’s a lot to like in this book. The formatting was cute and worked well. The storyline with her family was one of the better parts of the book.

I enjoyed the dynamics of Twinkle and her friends. It’s more frenemy, but I liked how up and down the relationship went. It was a more realistic portrayal of teen groups in high schools. But I did feel like there was a lack of clarity as to why Maddie left Twinkle.

With everything that was good and enjoyable about this book, there was a lot that I didn’t enjoy. Everyone sort of becomes unbearable. Like all of them. Twinkle becomes really selfish and just belittles everyone around her and never really apologises for most of her behaviour even though she internally tells herself it wasn’t right to do that. And her stringing Sahil long when she begins to kind of date him even though she really just wants to date his popular twin brother, who literally doesn’t even know her. She uses him to try and shoe her way into the popular group, and her attitude towards everyone just didn’t make sense. She learns her lesson in the end, but that didn’t make it any better to read.

Overall, I’m glad I gave this book a chance since I wasn’t a huge of fan of When Dimple Met Rishi. I think I preferred Twinkle’s story over Dimple’s due to personal taste and how the plot developed and was wrapped up in the end. It was a fun, light read and great for the summer!

GOODREADS | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | AUTHOR SITE

books, top ten tuesday

Book Series I Don’t Plan to Finish

June 26, 2018June 26, 2018by Zaheerah2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature once hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, but has now moved to That Artsy Reader Girl! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten (or your own amount) accordingly.

I have a habit of starting book series and never finishing them. Sometimes I just forget to continue the series (this happens a lot, especially if I didn’t enjoy the first) but I do try and continue onto the second book which is really where the make or break moment happens for me. But I think these are five series I definitely don’t plan to continue.

1. The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

I’ve only really read The Mortal Instruments series of this collection. But I really have no intention to continuing onto the other stories and series within this world. I hear her newer pieces are much better and more thrilling but, sadly, I don’t have any interest in the Shadowhunter series anymore.

2. The Selection by Kiera Cass

This series is truly the ‘we could’ve had it all’ series for me. I stopped after the third book and I chose not to continue into the series where it follows the main lead’s daughter. But I was so disappointed by this series. There was so much hidden potential that was just wasted and I think I’ll always be disappointed by this in the end.

3. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Actually, this series is a maybe I’ll pick it up or maybe I won’t. Very much depends on if have the time. Cinder was an alright read for me and this series is so loved which makes me want to finish it but I just don’t have the energy and time for it at the moment.

4. The Folk of the Air by Holly Black

The lack of feeling I had for Cruel Prince was disappointing. I’m in search of a fairy series but I was disappointed by how uninteresting this was. I usually hold on until book two but here I didn’t even to 50% before deciding the series wasn’t for me.

5. The Nightside Saga by Tristina Wright

I think in the review of 27 Hours I was going to read the second but my interest in this is gone after hearing about Tristina. All interest is gone.

There’s probably loads more to this list that I can think of (like the Hunter series, Kricket series or The Queen of the Tearling) But I’m very strapped for time at the moment so couldn’t spend more time on this post.

What’s on your TTT this week? Leave me a link or let me know in the comments! 🤗

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature once hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, but has now moved to That Artsy Reader Girl! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten (or your own amount) accordingly.

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