Book Review: A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl by Nanda Reddy

 

About

A girl takes on a series of identities to survive, shrouding herself in layers of secrets, until years later she is forced to reckon with her past.

On an ordinary day in an upscale Atlanta suburb, Maya is making breakfast for her two sons, when her husband drops a red-and-blue striped envelope on the counter and asks a devastating Who is Sunny?

Maya is sent reeling back to her childhood in Guyana—a time when Sunny was her only name. Unbeknownst to her husband, Maya is not who she claims to be. The letter, from her long-lost sister Roshi, now threatens to expose her true identity and shatter the seemingly perfect existence Maya worked so hard to build.

As she frantically weighs the impact of the truth on her future, Maya relives the harrowing details of her past—her journey to America on the “backtrack,” the shock of being delivered into the hands of an abusive family while being severed from her own, and her many evolutions of self as she struggles to find a path forward against all odds.

This striking debut transports the reader from the sugar cane fields of Guyana to the world of immigrant laborers in Miami to the affluent suburbs of Atlanta. Nanda Reddy takes us on a wrenching journey of assimilation, survival, and reinvention that explores the very construct of identity and the resilience of the human spirit.

My Thoughts

What an emotional rollercoaster!!!! Wow, where do I begin with this review? This book painted a vivid picture of immigration to the US and the lengths people.would go for the American Dream.

In the novel we meet 12 year old Sunny,.a.bubbly girl from Guyana who dreamed of life in the USA. That dream came through but at a cost...a very painful cost. Her family, being poor and in search of a better life grabbed an "opportunity" to get ahead and this involved Sunny going to the US under an alias.

Upon reaching America, Sunny became Neena eventually Maya. Her life in the US came with abuse, drugs, homelessness and despair. In spite of the odds against her and the people who were enemies, Sunny became a strong woman.

This book deals with a number of emotional issues but that is what made me want to get to the end. I enjoyed it.

Book Review: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

 

About:

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

My Thoughts

This book was a very good book.

I have been seeing Abby Jimenez everywhere but I didn't think too much of it because I do not gravitate towards romance novels, I am more of a mystery/thriller reader. But Emma and Justin had me invested. I loved everything about the story, and As I usually say I am drawn to romances only if there is a story line.

Although it was part of a series this story read as a standalone so even though I had not read the first two books (which you can bet I am going to devour now) I enjoyed it. Jimenez did not only focus on the love story of Emma and Justin, I loved how she included themes of family trauma, mental illness and friendship as well.

Go get this book, this exceeded my expectations. I am now a fan.

Book Review: Can't Get Enough Skylands 3 by Kennedy Ryan

 

About

“Kennedy Ryan pours her whole soul into everything she writes, and it makes for books that are heart-searing, sensual, and life affirming.”―EMILY HENRY, #1 New York Times bestselling author Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that places her in the entertainment industry's rarefied air. Your vision board? She’s probably living it.

She’s a woman with goals, dreams, ambitions—always striving upward. And in the midst of everything, she's facing her toughest challenge caring for an aging parent.

Who has time for romance? From her experience, there's a low ROI on relationships. She hasn't met the man who can keep up with her anyway. Until...him.

Tech mogul Maverick Bell is a dilemma wrapped in an exquisitely tailored suit and knee-melting charm. From their first charged glance at the summer's hottest party, Hendrix feels like she’s met her match. Only he can’t be. Mav may be the first to make her feel this seen and desired and appreciated, but he’s the last one she can have. Forbidden fruit is the juiciest, and this man is off limits if she plans to stay the course she’s set for herself.

But when Maverick gives chase—pursuing her, spoiling her, understanding her—is it time to let herself have something more?

A deeply moving and personal novel about sacrifice, self-reliance, and finding true happiness from “one of the finest romance writers of our age.” –Entertainment Weekly

My Thoughts

This was one of my anticipated reads for 2025, and it did not disappoint one bit. I felt every emotion under the sun with this third installment of the Skyland series. Hendrix was fierce, independent and kind. In the previous books she was the friend and rich auntie. I was very excited for her story.

As I always say, romance is never my go to genre simply because most of them never really have a storyline beyond the couple. While the relationship between Maverick and Hendrix was exceptionally written, I also loved again, how Ryan, included other themes and issues, the main one being dealing with Alzheimer's (which Hendrix's mom had) and the challenges that caregivers and family members go through dealing with that.

It was nice to read about Yasmen and Soledad again also. I really enjoyed this entire series.

Book Review: A Summer Affair Nantucket #1 by Elin Hilderbrand

 

About:

Claire Danner Crispin, mother of four young children and nationally renowned glassblower, bites off more than she can chew when she agrees to co-chair the Nantucket's Children Summer Gala. Claire is asked to chair the benefit, in part, because she is the former high school sweetheart of rock star Max West. Max agrees to play the gala and it looks like smooth sailing for Claire-until she promises a "museum-quality" piece of glass for the auction, offers her best friend the catering job, goes nose-to-nose with her Manhattan socialite co-chair, and begins a "good-hearted" affair with the charity's Executive Director, Lockhart Dixon.

Hearts break and emotions are pushed to the limit in this riveting story of one woman's attempt to deal with loves past and present, family, business, and high-powered social pressures. Elin Hilderbrand's unique understanding of the joys and longings that animate women's lives will make this her newest summer bestseller.

My Thoughts

Since watching The Perfect Couple on Netflix, and enjoying the series, I began looking into Elin Hilderbrand's novels to give them a try and I am glad I did.

A Summer Affair is the first of the Nantucket series. In this story we meet Claire, artist, devoted wife, mother and best friend. Claire had what many would refer to as the perfect cookie cutter life. Claire's desire to help in her community led her to co chair the Summer gala for a Nantucket Children's charity alongside the powerful Lock Dixon.

Lock and Claire began working closely together and what began as admiration and professional respect, ended up in an affair, one with dire consequences. The story explores relationships of all kinds and friendships. It was a rollercoaster ride.

The story was a bit longer than necessary, with long chapters but it was enjoyable nonetheless. I will continue the series.